C A T C H 22 |BWWM|

Ch. 10• Karma Caught Ya

Jackson, MS. October 1943
Saturday 6:53 pm

Deen

"Paislee?"

Paislee and I quickly broke away from each other's grasp as a gasp escaped her lips. Her hand subconsciously squeezed mine as I turned my head to the right. There stood her parents and sisters. One of them I recognized from that one day at the diner.

"Paislee Margaret Miller." I hear the women seethe as she averted her eyes from Paislee to me. I nervously gulp, I know how all mothers are. "So this is 'hanging out with Beverly' right? Oh, child!"

"You better get over here Paislee, now," the man says. Pulling the small girls close to him, I notice the way her parents looked at me. How they held each other's hands as if I'll spazz and pull something from my pockets.

Paislee looked like a deer caught in the middle of traffic. Her hand was still in mine and she turned her head to her family as if she was contemplating. Easing my hand from Paislee's gently, she turned her head to me. Almost asking for a way out but there was none.

"Just go with your family and explain. You don't need me causing any more trouble," I said quietly. I placed my palm on her back and urge her to walk to her family.

"Get your hands off her!" I quickly raised my hands from her and put them up in surrender.

"Mama could you please just listen to me," Paislee tried to reason.

A few tears had slipped down Paislee's cheeks and I was fighting the urge to wipe them off her face. One of the little girls broke free from her father's hand and marched her way to Paislee and I. Her parents called for her to get back but she persisted. Coming to about my knees I looked down at the girl, who was the cutest little girl ever. With four twists in her hair and her chocolate skin resembled Paislee's.

"You're the guy from that place down there," The small girl said. The space fell eerily silent as the young girl sparked conversation. I could feel her parents' worried glare.

"That I am."

"I'm Pamela and you and my sissy were about to smooch. That's bad. Who are you?" I raised my eyebrows as she fired questions at me.

"I'm Deen. You have a nice name," I said, glancing at Paislee's parents quickly.

The young girl giggled furiously while hiding her face in her hands. I smiled watching her below as she glanced at Paislee.

"Pamela get over here!" Pamela looked at me one final time.

"You're funny," She said.

"Thanks, hon'."

She ran off into her father's arms where he grabbed her tightly. Her mother scolding her about talking to me.

"Well whoever the hell you are, stay away from our daughter. She does not want to hang around you or your people. Stay away from her and stop putting our daughter in harm's way. Get!"

Before I could even do one single thing, I watched as Paislee was snatched from beside me and was being pulled by her mother. Paislee turned just before she was pulled from the side of the building, flashing me a sad expression.

I saw Paislee's car ride off into the distance of the street. Rubbing my hands over my face I sighed deeply. Our night had taken a very sour turn. I knew Paislee would be knee-deep in trouble with her parents.

And I didn't even get to kiss her. . . But maybe that was a sign. Everything was moving fast, too fast. We weren't being our true selves. If it weren't for this faint attraction to each other we wouldn't be doing this.