Freedom Train

April 2, 1963

April 2, 1963

Annabeth was nervous about meeting up with the rest of the group at the black owned Gaston Motel, which was directly across the street from Kelly Ingram Park. She looked over at Bobby as he turned his truck down the street, passed 16th Street Baptist Church.

At least she had him with her. It seemed he barely left her side these days at all. He never seemed to make anything of it, romantically, which Annabeth was grateful for. After her falling out with Candy and Terry, all she really needed was a friend.

"You ready?" Bobby asked as he parked the truck and killed the engine.

"As I'll ever be," she replied with a tight-lipped smile.

Bobby climbed down from the pick-up and hurried around to Annabeth's door, opening it for her and offering her a hand down. Across the parking lot, Annabeth watched as Terry's car pulled in the lot. His eyes barely flitted their way before he found the nearest outdoor staircase and headed up to the assembly point. Annabeth couldn't help but notice that Terry arrived alone, Candy nowhere in sight.

"What room was it again?" Annabeth asked Bobby as they walked toward the same staircase that Terry had used.

"30." Bobby answered as he checked his watch for the time. "C'mon. We already missed last night's meeting. Don't wanna be late to this one."

Annabeth took a deep breath and nodded her head, diligently following behind him.

***

It was easily the most crowded motel room that Annabeth had ever been in. Sure, they held a few last-minute meetings at rooms in Mississippi, but nothing like this. People were practically sitting on top of each other in Room 30 at the Gaston Motel.

Reverend Joseph Lowry of Mobile, the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, stood before the group, waiting patiently for the late comers to straggle in and squeeze themselves into the crowded room.

Annabeth felt Bobby throw a friendly arm around her shoulder, pulling her close to his side. She smiled up at him briefly before turning her eyes back to Reverend Lowry- but not before she noticed a pair of familiar brown eyes shooting daggers at her from across the room. She quickly pulled her eyes away from Terry, snuggling closer to Bobby's side just for spite.

"Annabeth," she heard whispered beside her.

Annabeth turned her head, tilting downward and considering the face of Candy. For such a beautiful girl, Candy truly looked like hell. Annabeth felt her anger fade just slightly but tried not to let it show through her eyes.

"What can I do for you, Candy?" she asked coldly.

"After this is over, I'd really like to speak with you. Privately," she added for Bobby's sake as he was clearly listening to their conversation.

"We'll see what happens," she replied, turning away from Candy as the Reverend began to speak.

"I'd like to thank you all for coming today," Reverend Lowry began. "For taking the time out of your busy lives to take part in something so much bigger than any one of us. I'd like to start this meeting out with a prayer, if I may."

The group of people, black and white, bow their heads in respectful prayer.

"Dear Lord," he began. "We ask that you be with our brothers and sisters in protest today, tomorrow and always. Keep us safe, keep us resilient, keep our hope for a better future alive in our hearts..."

After the prayer, the Reverend went on to talk about declaring a boycott on all White owned businesses in town. He went over training techniques with the nonviolent activists, reminding everyone of the scripture, Hebrews 12:14.