Juke Jam

Chapter Nine

Gladys' Point of View

Gladys sat down on her makeshift bed in the basement of her aunt's house to read one of the books Charlie had bought her. It was the weekend and Gladys didn't have anything to do, so she spent her morning reading. Reading was one of her favorite things to do because she loved learning new things. She often found it hard to pronounce certain words, but she would spend a lot of time trying to do so. Her favorite type of books to read were poetry books because it made her forget about everything bad going on in the world today.

Just by looking at the books made her think about Charlie. Charlie was kind enough to go to the library with her and buy her books. He was kind enough to walk her home, even though she could tell he was scared out of his mind. She knew nothing was going to happen to him because any black person would be stupid to harm a white boy. The police and other white men would be at their door so fast, they wouldn't have time to plan their escape. Even though Charlie was scared, he still walked her home and that made her appreciate him a little.

She wouldn't categorize him as a friend just yet because she didn't know any white and black kids that were friends. Her family would be highly upset if they found out she even held a conversation with a white guy. They would go deep into the history of their family and talk about how their ancestors were slaves. They would talk about black men and women who died to fight for equality that they still didn't have now. It was just frowned upon for white and black people to associate with each other.

Gladys knew her peace and quiet wouldn't last long, when her brothers walked down the basement stairs. Randolph was still mad at her for letting Charlie walk her home, so Gladys hadn't talked to him that much. However, her little brother, Herman, had no idea who Charlie was.

There were only two bedrooms in this house and one bathroom, so the families had to compromise with space. Gladys' family lived in the basement—all seven of them. Gladys was the middle child out of five children, so there wasn't too much space between everyone. The boys shared one part of the basement, the girls shared another, and Gladys' parents were in another part. For now, all of them were sleeping on makeshift beds, but Gladys' aunt and her husband were working on getting some sofas and mattresses. Furniture was not cheap, especially if you were black and trying to buy it.

"Auntie Betty said come do the dishes." Herman said to Gladys, sitting down on her makeshift bed.

"Why cain't Anne Mae do em?" Gladys groaned. Anne Mae was Aunt Betty's daughter, who was twenty-one years old.

"Because Anne Mae at work."

Anne Mae was Aunt Betty and Uncle Leroy's only child, so that was why they were so accepting with open arms. Their child was all grown up, so they thought it would be a good idea to have their nieces and nephews come live with them. They also didn't think it was safe where Gladys' family used to stay.

"Ugh." Gladys closed her book and stood up.

"Stop complainin'. You always complainin'." Randolph rolled his eyes.

"Why you so mad at me? I ain't do nun to you." Gladys crossed her arms over her chest.

"Betta go do dem dishes befo I snitch." Randolph narrowed his eyes at his little sister with a smirk. Randolph was twenty years old, yet he was so immature.

"Snitch on me fo what?" Gladys knew what he was referring to. She wanted to hear him say it.

"For walking with a cracker."

"He ain't no cracker." Gladys found herself defending Charlie.

"He white ain't he?" Randolph raised his eyebrows.

"You was walking wit a white boy!?" Herman exclaimed, placing a hand over his mouth.

"Shut up, Herman!" Gladys whisper-shouted to her little brother. "Auntie Betty cain't hear you!"

"Cuz you know it's wrong." Randolph said.

"I ain't gone walk with him again, so what's the problem." She threw her hands up in the air.

"Just go wash the dishes." Randolph waved her off.

Gladys stomped up the stairs, furious with her brother. She knew he was mad about that, and she honestly did not care anymore. As long as Herman and Randolph didn't snitch on her, then she would be good.

She walked into the small kitchen with tiled floors and wooden cabinets. Her Aunt Betty was sitting at the kitchen table completing a crossword puzzle; it left Gladys puzzled as to why her aunt couldn't wash the dishes herself. Gladys obliged to the rules and washed the dishes. After all, Gladys was a good kid; she never really broke the rules or talked back to the adults. However, she thought she broke the rules as soon as she held a conversation with Charlie. It went against what her family believed in and that's why she felt so guilty. How could something so wrong feel so right?

"Thank you, baby." Betty said to her niece.

"You welcome." Gladys sat down at the table. "Aunt Betty, can I ask you a question?"

"Of course." Betty put down her pencil and crossword puzzle book.

"What would you do if you wanted to be friends wit somebody but was afraid of what other people thought about it?" Gladys sighed, resting her chin on her hand.

"If you think they cool, then be friends wit em. If they make you happy, den be friends wit em." Betty shrugged her shoulders. "Who cares what somebody got to say 'bout it?"

"Okay." Gladys nodded her head. "Thanks."

"This ain't 'bout that lil boy y'all was talkin' 'bout downstairs, is it?" Betty raised her eyebrows.

"You heard that?" Gladys face-palmed herself.

"Yes, I did missy. Don't let yo parents find out."

"You not gone tell?"

"That ain't nun of my business."

"Okay, then." Gladys nodded her head and stood up.

"You a smart girl. You a figure something out."

•••

What's your favorite Christmas movie?

Mine is Elf.