7
"It ain't right daddy!" Arliss yelled now in anger.
"Who are you raising your voice at?" dad asked with authority. Arliss frowned and Ray stood up.
"She don't need to be working there with those boys especially since they do bootlegging around here. If the law suspects them then she'll be caught up in it." Ray argued.
"It's her choice. She's an adult and we haven't had a problem with them for a while so they're okay. If she is somehow hurt on their watch however… take as much action as you need to make sure justice is served. Now on your way to work you will drop her off and pick her up on your way home. Got it?" he asked.
"Yeah we got it." Ray said bitterly. I lied on my pillow after hearing their argument. Would they be mad at me? Most likely. I sighed and closed my eyes and wondered what tomorrow would bring. The next morning I was off to work. I wore pants this time and a tank top. My hair was braided back and Ray and Arliss simply drove not saying a thing to me.
"Are you all going to ignore me the whole day?" I asked not being able to take the silence.
"You are working for those Bondurant boys."Arliss said. I sighed.
"Look I needed the money and Maggie's leaving soon and they needed a replacement. I'm not there to be friends with any of them. Just get their money and leave." I replied. Ray looked up.
"She is huh?" he asked. I nodded.
"Yeah back to Chicago." I replied. It was silent in the car again and once we arrived at the bar we saw Forrest sitting in his chair watching the area. I noticed with the heat he had on brown pants and a white tank top. His hat remained snug on his head. My mouth dropped at the sight of him. His large muscular body was sitting so calmly in his chair. Once he saw us he kept a cool look on his face as if seeing my brother didn't affect him. I began to leave the car and then so did Ray. I was a bit nervous because now Forrest got up. I slowly moved up the stairs of the porch and watched the boys. Forrest looked at him now and Ray frowned up at him.
"Look Bondurant just because my sister works for you don't mean you can boss her around like she's a servant or something you treat her with the same respect you would treat a white woman." he said sternly. I tensed at his words now. Ray said everything I was thinking in my mind, well how I hoped he would treat me if I wasn't working for him. Forrest stared at him for a second and then looked at me and scanned his eyes over me before nodding with approval.
"You look ready to work." he replied. My body froze at his…compliment.
"Um thank you." I replied my cheeks feeling flushed so I looked away. Ray glared and took a step onto the porch making Forrest look down at him with warning.
"Hey. Did you hear me?" he asked. Forrest glared down at my brother and I was afraid my brother would start another fight again.
"Yeah clear now get off my property I don't want you around here unless it's for Eula." he told with authority. Ray glared hard at the man and I noticed Forrest' fist start to clench and tighten and Ray nodded slowly but I could tell he wasn't done with the Bondurant. He looked at me then got in the car. I looked at Arliss who frowned and looked forward and they drove off. I blinked now and looked down and then at Forrest to see he was already going inside. Maggie was at the door waiting for me and she motioned for me to come inside and I did without hesitation.
She led me behind the bar and I looked around at everything. It was still pretty empty. Maggie looked at me.
"It's all pretty simple. You take orders and give customers what they want. I'll handle cashing them out and such. Any of them give you problems you tell me okay?" she asked. I nodded with a smile.
"Eula." I heard Jack call and I looked over to see him coming through the front door. I smiled at him.
"Jack." I replied and he nodded.
"I see you're ready for work." he said trying to sound professional. I nodded then Howard came over making a snorting sound.
"Oh cut the act you two. We are all friends in here." he said sitting down in front of me and looking up at me with soft eyes and I tensed and smiled at him. Howard was hiding something from me like he was hiding something behind his eyes that I could not see.
"Hi." I replied. He nodded back.
"Hey Eula." he replied. I smiled in reply. After an hour customers came in and of course were not too surprised to see a black woman taking their orders and giving their food and drinks. But of course there were a few who gave me trouble and Howard threw them out. Jack and Cricket kept me comfortable now and then. In an hour or two it got quiet. I didn't know when I would be getting paid or even going home. I guess whenever Forrest said something or my brothers showed up. I honestly didn't care really if I got paid. Maggie ended up leaving early and I was the only woman in the bar. The sun was slowly going down and the bar was empty. Jack and Howard played cards and I was lost to my thoughts until I heard a familiar car honking. I looked out the window to see it was my brothers. I smiled and looked at Jack and Howard.
"I'm off guys." I replied. The two nodded and waved and I moved towards the door.
"Eula." I heard Forrest call and I turned to see him back in his jacket yet his hat was not on. I had not heard from him all day since I started working. I blinked wondering what he could want from me. He lifted his head and then his hand and with his pointer and middle finger he curled them motioning for me to come inside the room he had been in all day. I swallowed unsure on if I should come to him or not. But he was my boss so I had to do what he wished. I moved from the front of the bar and began to move towards the man. Every step felt so little and slow like I wasn't getting to him fast enough. Once I was in front of him he moved back so I could enter his room and I slowly moved inside and I heard the door close slowly behind me.