I stopped by the Corny Collins studio and said,
"May I
speak with the sponsors, please, Corny?"
"I guess you can.
Good-luck."
They said,
"Crystal,
I thought you quit."
"Well, you made a poor descion of me
having to choose one. I never got a chance to explain anything. I did
dance competitions to help another out an' Corny told you that. I
paid a bail from a Montrose girl because the owner was keeping her
there. An' he raised the bail from two hundred to four hundred
dollars. I paid it. I used that money I earned as part of the
competitions. I said before-'Pageant people are meant to help
people.' And, as for dancing competitions and commitment, doesn't
dancing competitions show commitment to dancing? Your show without
the best dancers will never be the same."
"We could have
auditions."
"Not the same. And you both know it."
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Crystal, there's someone here!"
It was the owner of the Reformatory.
"Give me
a hundred dollars an' you shall not have to worry about me
anymore!"
"No, you said four hundred dollars and then changed
it. You won't find anymore money from me."
"See you
in court."
"I'm not going, for you see, I've called the
news and gave warning. And if you don't want to leave me alone,
then I'll make sure that the NAACP investigates you."
"Crystal, you're crazy."
"No, I am battle for someone there 'cause of a racial reason. She paid her time, you wouldn't release her. I paid her bail, but now go away."
"Good job, Crystal!" Corny said.
"Then, I saw Fender and Tracy. And Link.
"I knew you set me up, Crystal."
"I didn't lead you here."
"Then, who did."
Amanda walked in!
"I did it!"
"What are you doin'?"
"You're
here and I need my competition. But…"
"I'd love to beat
you without even trying."
"You won't," I replied.
Amanda didn't want me to compete, but I think she wanted me, too anyway.
"There won't be a need for it." One of the sponsors said.
"We have decided that you can compete 'cause you're right. You were helpin' someone. I think the only reason we had these rules because we never thought we'd have someone in a dance competition. There's one condition, though. You still have t go to court for that girl. You'll be found innocent because you paid the bail."
A few days later, Mary and I went in front of a judge. To make a long story short, we made a fool of the owner. I told them,
"This owner has kept a young person in contempt at Montrose longer than the time she was supposed to be there. Doesn't the law say when a person has served their time they are free? Her crime was minor, but the owner was racist. He raised the bail twice from two hundred to four hundred dollars. I came here to pay and he lied and said now five hundred dollars. Angry, I left the agreed bail and Mary and I ran. But I risked getting arrested and sent away-but if that racist owner hadn't lied again, I'd not be here."
After listening to everything, I did my best to convince them I was right.
After the jury made a descion,"We found Crystal and Mary innocent."
The judge said,
"Therefore, the owner must be even in the release of the bail Crystal has paid. And we can all go. Thank you."
I had done it. Mary told me,
"Thank you."