American Girl

Mississippi

Cissy Robinson had to go. She knew she shouldn't have had that third cup of coffee. Earlier that morning, she'd met up with her two best friends at Woolworths. They shopped for a while, picking up odds and ends. Since it was still early, they decided to eat breakfast at the lunch counter. Sitting at the only table marked 'colored,' they waited for service. It took a long time for the waitress to approach. When she did, she did not wear the friendly smile she reserved for white customers.

The three friends ordered bacon, eggs, toast, and coffee. It quickly became apparent that other diners were served before them. When several newcomers first received their orders, Cissy began to protest loudly. Finally, the server plunked their plates on the table rudely. It took her a long time to refill their coffee cups. Nevertheless, Cissy and her friends decided to linger.

After an hour and a half, they paid their bill without leaving a tip. Although their treatment was typical, it irked them. They should have as much right to eat at Woolworths as anyone else. Segregation wasn't fair. The three African American women thought they were just as good as the whites, who were treated better.

"Something has to change, girls," Cissy grumbled. She stood on the sidewalk outside the 5&10, frowning.

"What can we do about it?" Vikki Helms asked. "No one will listen to us."

"Ain't nothing we can do," Peggy Stillman reinforced the negative. "We live in the south. They don't want to know about us around here."

"If we do speak up, the Klan shows up," Vikki added, frowning. "They burned a cross on Cousin Milt's lawn after he applied for a job at the Mobil station. Milt's a damn good mechanic too, but Old Man Clemmons won't hire no negros."

Cissy and Peggy nodded disdainfully. They'd both witnessed the white-hooded Klan members outside Milt's house and the cross burning. It infuriated both of them.

"Move along," Officer Gardner ordered, stomping up to the women. "You're taking up too much room on the sidewalk." He swung his Billy club toward them. "No lingering."

Cissy said goodbye to her friends quickly and hurried along the sidewalk. She crossed the street and halted beside the bus stop. Suddenly, her stomach tightened. Cissy knew she shouldn't have taken the third cup of coffee. She only did it to prolong the breakfast. When her tummy tightened again, she knew she couldn't hesitate.

Walking at a quick pace, she moved along the sidewalk. Without thinking, she entered the public restroom between the hardware store and the bank. She bolted the door on the first available stall and sat down right on time. Her bowels let loose, and she broke wind loudly. Finally, feeling relieved, she exited and approached the sink.

"Of all the nerve," Estella Broadwick announced brashly.

"I never," Mildred Myers cried, wringing her hands.

"Oh," Cissy cried, staring at the white women surrounding her. "I...I beg your pardon. I...uh...I had to go desperately. I guess I didn't realize." Backing away from the sinks, she stumbled over her excuses. "Any port in a storm, as they say." Trying to make a joke, she could see she was failing miserably.

Estella and Mildred continued to stare at her, their expression appalled. Tears sprang to Cissy's eyes. She'd made a terrible mistake by entering a whites-only ladies' lounge. If she'd gone further down the alley, she could have used the colored restroom.

The well-dressed women continued to menace her with their eyes. Stepping backward, Cissy moved toward the exit. When she reached the door, a pair of strong arms grabbed her.

"That's her," Joyce Burns stated unnecessarily. When Cissy entered, she occupied the restroom with her friends, Estella and Mildred. Thinking quickly, she rushed to find Officer Gardner.