Nothing In This World (BWWM) ✅

Chapter Twenty Four

Lance laid out his work clothes for the next morning after ironing them to perfection. Charlene couldn't figure out why he was so worried about how he dressed when he came back drenched in oil and dirt regardless. Even though it sparked her curiosity, she didn't question it because he looked happy and it made her happy.

"You didn't eat dinner that well tonight. Something bothering you?" He looked up at Charlene while folding his shirt.

"Ricky threw up some milk. Couldn't get it out of my head." The moment the conversation started she began to fold herself under the covers. "Can you wake me up when you leave in the morning. I want to take an early stroll around the neighborhood."

"That's your definition of getting out of the house?" She didn't respond to his question. "You've seriously been here for weeks strolling the neighborhood and cleaning. That'll make anyone stir crazy."

Charlene chuckled. "I'm not depressed. I'm fine. Every night I get to be with you makes everything fine, okay. Don't worry about me."

"You should write your mom. Tell her where you are and make sure she ain't too worried about you." He sat on the edge of the bed and gave Charlene's ankle a little shake. "You're not stranded working for the Watsons and you're not working for your brother. Do some of the things you've always wanted to do and... get out of the house. The neighborhood even."

Today was Ricky's doctor checkup which means Darla was out of the house before lunch and Charlene was alone looking at the wall. Her early morning stroll was the same as always and every time she wasn't moving meant she was thinking about Lance. That also meant she was thinking about what he told her.

Lance's first check wasn't enough to buy a shirt so he kept the check and gave the money to Charlene to use whenever she needed it. Right now, she needed it.

The bus stop wasn't too far off. She saw Darla walk that way a couple of times to grocery shop and come home and cook. Charlene decided it was her turn to see the city of Portland and take in what she's been missing.

She's heard plenty of good things about the north but she's never heard that it was the perfect place for blacks. It meant that her twenty-minute journey on the bus would be the only time she should keep her guard down slightly. The rest of the time she would have to be completely alert.

On the way to the end of the main road, she saw a few other black people sitting or standing as they waited for the bus. She held her small purse close to her the second she saw a white family standing a few feet away. They didn't seem bothered with the crowd of black people sharing a bus with them which made Charlene a little nervous. The moment the bus stopped in front of them all, she looked away from the family and waited her turn to get on the bus.

One nickel was the cost and everyone had their money ready. Charlene was so excited to leave the neighborhood that she forgot about all her worries just a few seconds ago. When the time came to take her seat, she almost fainted at what she saw. Black and white people were scattered around the bus. There was no section for the whites or section for the blacks. The two groups even sat in seats opposite each other.

"Are you going to sit down?" A woman muttered from behind Charlene's head.

In order to avoid an angry uproar, she quickly found an empty aisle seat in the middle of the bus that was also next to a young white man and someone who could be his sister or wife. She tried not to look at them too hard out of fear they wouldn't like it, but they never attempted to make eye contact or move away from her.

The woman who rushed her took a seat in the spot diagonal from her. "Where you from, little girl?" She turned and asked.

"Just outside of Springfield, Missouri."

"Hm..." She hummed. "The dirty south. You come all this way for a bit of freedom, huh? I'll tell you now. You ain't as free as you think." The white man turned to look at Charlene who wanted to get off the bus and go back home. She knew she should have waited for Darla to get back or Charles with the car. The bus has started moving already and she didn't know where it was safe to get off. Her only option was Portland. "But don't let me tell you. You won't listen until you see with your own eyes."

One short bus ride later, Charlene allowed everyone off the bus just down to the last few people. She thanked the driver on her way out the doors and a bit of relief took over her when she stepped onto the sidewalk. What felt like hundreds of people walked by. Some laughing, some drunk, some trying to get to their destination. She couldn't believe the amount of people out on a weekday and a part of her hoped she wouldn't have to deal with such a crowd.

She attempted to get away from the road and into the inner sidewalk to look at the shops, but pushing through people made that a bit difficult. The moment she saw twenty-five cent pancakes painted on the wall, she realized how hungry she was.

"Welcome, seat yourself."

Charlene didn't think it was a coincidence that black people sat on one side and whites on the other. She took her spot at an empty round table and smiled at all the people around her. There were families and couples. She even saw a baby.

"Hello, ma'am. Here's your coffee to start off with and can I get you anything else?"

"Those quarter pancakes out there on the sign."

"A stack for twenty-five cents?" The woman smiled and Charlene quickly nodded. "Coming right up." The moment she walked away, the diner door opened up signaling another set of customers. "Welcome! Choose your seat."

Charlene looked up from her coffee to see Lance walking in with another woman by his side. She started to jump up and say something but she kept herself hidden on her side of the diner.

"No way! Really? I always thought it was the opposite!" Lance chuckled as he pulled out her seat. "I actually work in the shipyard. Sorting parts and things like that. Walked here to grab a bite for my lunch break."

Now that they were both sat down, Charlene turned to look at the two and saw that Lance's back was to her but he still sat in her ear shot.

"Sorting parts? Do you need supervision cause you are quite clumsy." The woman giggled.

"Oh no! I'll pay for the coffee and anything else. It was all my fault. That's why I'm treating you to these-" He turned around in his seat with the intentions of pointing to the sign outside but his finger landed on Charlene instead. His words fell back in his throat as she released her spoon into her coffee cup and got up from her seat to leave.

Charlene wanted to go back home and she wished she never listened to his suggestion for her to leave the house. She no longer wanted to leave the neighborhood.