An Elderberry Fall (13 page)

“We are married.”

“We were not married. I wouldn't do that to you. She and I had a conversation and that is the end of it,” he answered, glancing in every direction but mine.

He didn't appear believable. When he talked about her, he intentionally didn't look me in the face, and the darkness in his eyes led me to think he was hiding something. Simon was one of the most sincere people I knew. He kept promises, and was mature beyond his twenty years. This was the first time I felt he was not telling me the truth, and it bothered me even if she meant nothing to him.

Simon reached over to touch me. “She just wants what you have.”

“Why, though?”

“I danced with her one time in the club. I told her my name and I told her about you. She still tried to catch my attention. I don't want her, just like I don't want Nadine. I waited for you. You are the woman I married.”

All of a sudden, the fence I had around me fell down. I could feel the sincerity again. I believed what he said. However, the story about one dance I didn't feel certain about.

I soon realized it was my last night with Simon before he was off again. And this time he said he'd be gone a month. They were
doing the last of the fall training. Afterward, he would be home for the entire months of January and February. Now that Rube Foster had already established the National Colored League, and Simon played on the associated team on the East Coast, he was headed south to try out for the newly formed Colored Southern League and he had a good chance of playing for the Birmingham Black Barons. If all failed, Simon would continue playing on one of Virginia's independent teams. Simon would not rest until he played next to the greats like Pop Lloyd, Rube Foster or Virginia's own Pete Hill.

“Carrie, this is our last night together for a while. Let's enjoy each other.”

“I know.” It was the moment my emotions began to kick in. I couldn't wait to be with him. “But, I have one more question…”

Simon put his hand over my lips, “No more questions. You are my wife—only you.”

He led me to the bedroom. Before I could undress, he lifted me onto the bed, passionately kissing me. He assisted me in peeling off my clothes, first my blouse and then my skirt. He kissed me on the neck and then my back, so passionate I became breathless, and vulnerable to his touch. He used his tongue to titillate my skin, sending chills all the way down to my spine. I kissed his neck, too, and rubbed his hairy chest. His breathing was rapid. I could hear every breath he took. He was anxious, and so was I. After he was fully naked and so was I, I wrapped my legs around his athletic hard body, and inhaled as he entered me in full force. I forgot about everything, and concentrated on enjoying making love to my husband.

I
woke up to the aroma of food cooking in the kitchen. Before I could get dressed fully, Simon came into the bedroom with Robert in his arms. He coaxed me back into the unmade bed, and placed a plate of food in front of me. I smiled. He had prepared bacon, eggs and toast. It was the first time I'd been served in bed. I ate as slowly as I could, knowing afterward Simon would be packing his things for a long trip down South.

All morning I expected a knock on my door. However, this time Nadine didn't show up and I found myself smiling from the relief. I had been practicing for over a week on a way to tell her to stay home and find a man of her own. I was tired of her interruptions and passes toward my husband. My plan was to get rid of her for good. Late in the afternoon, as I watched Simon neatly fold his clothes and place them in the duffle bag, a knot came in my throat, as I struggled to find the words to tell him about me going away to school.

“I want to talk to you about something,” I struggled to say.

“Please don't start with me about that woman. I told you she is nobody to me,” he immediately assured me.

“That was not what I wanted to talk to you about,” I said, wondering why he was always on the defensive lately.

He turned toward me, but a frown greeted me. “What is it, then?”

“Nothing,” I mumbled. His reaction had silenced me.

When his face finally relaxed, he said, “Come on; tell me what is bothering you.”

“It can wait. We'll talk when you get back,” I said, escaping from the conversation.

He gazed at me hard. “This time I hate to leave. I've never been gone this long. Will you be all right?”

“I'll be fine. The Halls are downstairs. They are like family. Robert really loves them, and they treat us like family. We will be all right.”

“I will be back home as soon as I can,” he said, throwing the last pair of pants in the bag.

“You have to be careful going way down south,” I said, remembering Bobby, Mrs. Ferguson and most of all the other white people in Jefferson County. “They ain't too keen on socializing or getting along with colored people.”

“It's a bunch of us going. We know the way white folk treat coloreds. They are always searching for a reason to hang us or lock us up. We're gonna stick together. When we do stop, it will be at other colored's houses. They will feed us and give us a place to sleep. Besides, I ain't no fool. I can handle myself.”

While he was assuring himself, I got up, went into the kitchen and packed up the leftover chicken that had been in the icebox. I put it in a brown paper sack along with several slices of white bread. I put a cloth napkin in the bag also. I knew there would be no place for them to eat along the road. Colored folk couldn't eat at white folks' places. The papers said two colored boys had been dragged and killed in North Carolina. They had been beaten and dragged behind a car until they were not recognizable. The only way they could be identified was by the clothes they were wearing.
Simon was not a fearful kind of man, yet I couldn't believe it was safe to travel anywhere alone. I was glad there would be four of them.

“You be careful,” I said to him.

He forced a smile, “Now don't worry. I'll be all right.” He patted his shirt pocket. “We got papers with us. We got identification. We will be on the main roads all the way. It is two cars of cats trying to get with the Barons. It is four of us, and three in the Chevy behind us.”

Deep down I didn't want him to make the team down south. Mrs. Miller, my grade school teacher, said colored people in the South were treated worse than a dog. She told us to try to move north if we could and get away from the Jim Crow laws. She said the South didn't like coloreds and the men who wore the white sheets were as “dumb as a nail.” She said they killed just because they could and would get away with it. I couldn't stand the thought of things being any worse than they already were for colored people. We had our own businesses, restaurants and schools; we really didn't need white people. There were a few complaints about the quality of the colored places, but at least we had our own.

Simon handed Robert to me. He kissed me tenderly on the lips and gave me a “month hug” as he called it.

“I love you!” I said.

When he went out the door, Robert and I watched him get into the car and drive through the trees down the street and out of sight.

“It's just you and me, baby,” I whispered to Robert.

He pursed his lips to cry, but ended up smiling instead.

I got back in the bed and held Robert close to me. He closed his little eyes and we both went off to sleep.

When the moon had crept out into the dark sky and the stars
appeared close enough to touch, we woke up. Robert was a good child. He was nothing like his father. Or was his father like that before the world got to him? I didn't know. Robert was so precious. When I finally opened my eyes in the dark, he was awake beside me, contently playing with his toes. I turned on the lamp. I got up and finished putting together Robert's clothes for my trip to Petersburg, Virginia. I felt bad for deliberately not sharing my information. I didn't think Simon would take too kindly to me leaving Robert for the week. As I laid out my clothes for my trip to Petersburg, tears welled up in my eyes. I didn't know how I could leave Robert either.

Simon had not been gone but two days before Nadine knocked on the door. I opened the door with my arms full. I was about to take Robert's things downstairs to the Halls.

She peeked in my door. “You here by yourself?” she asked, looking around as if she expected Simon to jump out and surprise her.

“Yes,” I answered, opening the door wide enough for her to enter.

She sat down in the paisley-colored chair across from the davenport. “My ole man said he saw you on the train,” she said, crossing her legs and looking away from me as if I made her sick.

I stared at her before I said a word. My palms were clammy and my nerves were rattled. Nadine had that effect on me. Her annoying and flirty ways bothered me.

“Why were you messing with my man?” she boldly asked.

I cleared my throat and took a deep breath before answering her. “Nadine, I only spoke to him. I don't mess around. I have a husband.”

“When I seen him, he come talking about how good you looked,” she said as she cut her eyes my way.

“He can say whatever, Nadine. I don't have any feelings about
your husband. All I did was speak to him. He is my neighbor, right?”

“Why did he make it seem like ya'll had something going on then?” she asked, leaning in, her eyes wide open and fully engaged as if I irritated her.

“He was trying to make you jealous, I guess. Maybe he wants you back. Don't you want him back?”

She threw her head back. “He wants me at home all the damn time. I'm too young to be tied down. I ain't that type of girl.”

“I understand you, but I have a husband. I don't need yours too.”

“Simon ain't around,” she snapped.

“But, he is my husband.” I put my hand on my hips. “Nadine, listen, I'll say it again. I don't want your husband. I have one of my own.”

“You act like Simon is so special. He ain't nobody.”

“Nadine, please leave,” I said, walking toward the door.

She did not budge.

“Tell me, Carrie, why did he mention you to me?”

I walked back toward her. “I don't know and don't care,” I said. “Is there a reason you don't believe me?” I asked. “Why would I lie? I love my husband.”

She smacked her lips. “Sound like you are too good for Simon then.”

“Why did you say that?” I asked, watching her body language. She had something on her mind.

“Never mind,” she mumbled.

“I'm a woman just like you, Nadine. I know you think I am not telling the truth.”

“I can see you are telling me the truth. I don't know why my husband tried to make me jealous.”

“I wouldn't do that to you,” I said, knowing she would stab me in the back as soon as I turned around.

“Too bad you over here by yourself.”

“I don't mind. Simon is doing something he really wants to do.”

“Are you sure about that? He is always gone,” she said, looking at me, her eyes shifting like there was a reason for doubt.

“Yes, I am.”

She shook her head. “Simon probably out there with one of his women.”

“You don't know him!” I shouted.

“I've lived across the street from him for over a year. He is no saint either,” she said and stood up to leave.

“Sit down, Nadine. What do you know?”

She sat right back down. “Well, I probably shouldn't tell you this, but since you are so naïve, maybe I should school you on your athlete husband.” I could see she was upset. “No, I'd better leave now.”

“Nadine, do you have a thing for my husband?”

“He's all right.”

“All right?” I repeated.

“Simon is a handsome man. He used to be checking me out before he got married to you.”

“Are you married, Nadine?”

“Yes and no.”

“So you were interested in my Simon?”

“He is all right.”

“He is my husband and not a single man. Besides, you came over here accusing me of coveting your husband, while all the time you want my husband.”

“I could have had him before you got here.”

“What makes you think that?”

“I used to see him watching me, winking his eye when I walked by. He even whistled a couple of times.”

“Nadine, he is my husband. We are together. I do not want your husband and I would appreciate it if you would act like a lady, and leave me and my husband alone.”

“My husband told me about you. It is the reason I came over here. I don't want Simon. He used to watch after me. Before you came, he would talk to me. Now he acts all strange.”

“He is married and so are you.”

“That man ain't my husband. He was just living with me. I don't want to be tied down to no boring man who is never home,” she responded, twirling the ends of her curls.