So Many Agoes

Chapter 5

February 1967

February rolled around and I was still in a sour mood, quite annoyed at the itchy rib brace, quite annoyed at sitting the bench during that basketball season and quite annoyed that no one got in trouble for hurting me and in the process, Emilienne.

My bruises had faded to a dull red and I no longer had an embarrassing hobble that made me feel like an old geezer. My attitude didn't help anyone. Why Emilienne stayed with me during those six weeks, baffles me. But she stayed by my side, walked slowly with me down the corridors of school, and often carried some of my books. At that point I was finally walking normally and able to carry all my books against the lumpy "space suit" of a rib brace.

The plan that Friday evening was to gather at my house and hang out, the four of us. I had picked Emilienne up from her last class of the day and we were on our way to join Francis and Eddie when Billy, Gregory and Roger blocked our path,

"You should probably watch where you're going lady," Gregory snarls at Emilienne as his shoulder bumps her rather forcefully. I turned around sharply to look at him,

"I would appreciate it if you didn't touch my girl."

     Gregory's eyes snapped to me and in one of the most uncomfortable moments in my life he looked Emilienne over,

"You're quite beautiful. But still a nigger"

he took his hand and swept her hair behind her ear. She made a point to look him directly in his eyes and show no emotion and Gregory noticed. He snarled and went to circle a ringlet of her hair around his finger but before he could I took a hold of his wrist and forcefully pushed it away. The threat was so strong in the air it was almost a scent.

"Don't call her that."

"Oh but see, I'll call her what I want. Wouldn't want a repeat of last month now would we?"

I backed off slightly at that point but wrapped a protective arm around Emilenne's shoulder and led her away. The feeling of them watching us still prominent in the air.

When we finally made it to our meeting spot with Francis and Eddie waiting, they both looked at our frustrated and solemn expressions shocked.

"Have you seen ghosts?"

"No, demons."

Francis and Eddie shook their heads in anger as we relayed the experience to the two of them and walked to my house. When we arrived, my mother had made some delicious chocolate chip cookies that made the whole house smell wonderful. It instantly relaxed my keyed up tone. When I settled in on the couch, my arm hadn't moved from its position on Emilienne's shoulder. My mother brought out the cookies and set them down on the coffee table, each of us took a couple

"Thank you Mrs. Walter"

     My mother nodded with a gentle, "Of course, sweetheart," and left the room.

Emilenne had been quiet for some time so in hopes to cheer her up and take her mind off of the events of the day I suggested we played a game of gin rummy.

Nearly five hours later, we had played six rounds of card games and eaten nearly all my mother's cookies. It was getting dark outside and I decided to escort Emilienne home. Francis Jr and Eddie left at the same time we did and we went our separate ways.

The entire walk to Emilienne's house she was silent, lost in her own world. As we neared she looked at me long and hard. A very troubling look it was, one that questioned both of our existences.

"What's wrong?" I asked, kicking a rock nearby. The air outside was oddly warm, an aggressive atmosphere presented itself in the form of honking car horns, cats fighting and birds arguing angrily.