Nothing In This World (BWWM) ✅

Chapter Eighteen

Gail and Wallace didn't go directly home after the party. Many of Janis's guest didn't. Her grandparents and aunts and uncles got a room at a nearby motel. They then returned the next morning for breakfast and a tour of the city. Charlene knew she and her mother would not be partaking in that tour. It was fine because they both were tired from carrying the weight of the party on their backs.

"You can come listen to this podcast with me?" Called out Gloria to Charlene who was reading a book next to the open door. "It's about the war."

Charlene didn't pay attention to worldly matters and she didn't care much about the world at all. She often lived in her own bubble and took in what her mother told her every now and then. When Gloria mentioned the war, Charlene had no clue it was still going on.

"I'm fine. It's too hot to be in the living room." With that response, Gloria turned the radio up a bit louder while relaxing in the arm chair.

The noise frustrated Charlene. She wanted to read her book in peace and thought this was the perfect place to do it. Just when she was to plead with her mom to turn it down, the sound of a car door closing out front made Charlene jump to her feet.

"Ma! It's Wallace!" Both women scurried to their spots. Gloria almost broke the radio knob trying to turn it off and Charlene put her own book into the shelf in the process.

Wallace swung the screen door open and took his hat off as he entered the building. He looked around slowly and stopped on Charlene who was looking at her feet and Gloria who did the same thing.

"You ladies always standing around on your asses?" Charlene gulped when he looked her up and down. "Huh?!"

"No sir!" Gloria blurted.

Wallace smirked before letting out a loud burp. He was drunk and although he didn't look like it, he smelled like it. "I have a headache. Why don't you make me something to rid me of it?" He pointed to Gloria. "And you can run me bath water." When his hand pointed to Charlene her eyes almost fell out of her head. "Get to it."

Her mother began to panic as Charlene started walking to the back. "I can run the water! Charlene is really good at making tea!"

"Did I ask Charlene to do it or for you to do it?" Gloria pleaded with her eyes but he wasn't budging. This only made him angrier so he pushed Charlene to the back by her head. "Hurry up black... thing."

Charlene figured if she moved quickly enough, his actions wouldn't be able to catch up to her since she'd be done by then. So she reached for a drying towel first and started the water up second. By the time he made it to the bathroom, the bubbles were already in the tub and all he needed was his privacy. When he closed the door behind himself, she knew that wasn't enough.

"Where I'm from it's been a look but don't touch scenario. Since you guys can lay up in a white man's house with no repercussions then I guess that don't exist here." He started unbuckling his belt to his big loose pants. "Gail told me I shouldn't talk about you but a good slap let her know that she don't tell me what to do." Charlene gulped as he stumbled closer to her which knocked her up against the wall. "Fine black one like you seem more like the type to listen. Obey."

Charlene turned her head  away from his horrid stench. "Your bath is ready sir." His hand fell on her breast just as she said that and all Charlene could do was scream. "I said your bath is ready sir." She was never good at protecting herself physically as good as she was talking to people. This man was heavy and him being drunk and leaning on her for support made it worse. "Mr. McLeod..."

His hand slipped under her blouse and that's what crossed the line for her. Charlene couldn't think clearly with him touching her the way he was. The first chance she got, she kicked her feet behind his and used her arms to push him back. This all caused him to trip right over her foot and fall back first into the tub. The thud and splash made her jump and the next thing she heard was a pair of feet rushing down he hall.