The Cost Of Deceit

Chapter 6

"Elmer? Well that is you, isn't it?" Lucille asked as she leaned toward him. It was far too late, she recognized him. Normally he'd tell a girl like that to get lost, but Joan's words repeated in his head. Couldn't let that booty go to waste.

"Oh, Lucille." He popped back up with a fake smile. "Good to see you here."

"Isn't it? Well, it's good to see you too." Lucille nodded. The other girls were shocked by the exchange. Francine especially was discouraged when she saw it.

"So. What's going on, Lucille?" Asked Elmer.

"Well, given that we hit it off so well earlier, I was wondering if you'd want to go out some time. Maybe go for a drive." Lucille suggested. The thought of going on a drive with her was almost torture, but Elmer had no choice but to say yes.

"I'd love to go on a drive with you, Lucille." Answered Elmer. Francine's hopes were officially shattered when she heard those words. "How about Friday?"

"Friday it is—" Before Lucille could agree, Elmer decided to change the date. Friday was far too crowded and populated around town.

"No, no, a Wednesday. We can do it on a Wednesday after school." Elmer changed his tune. He hoped that on a Wednesday, no one would really see him with her.

"Wednesday. Alright, well it's not as ideal as Friday. I have to be home by ten." Lucille shuffled her feet as she stood in front of him. She played with her wrinkled dressed."I'll go any day you'd ask me to.

Elmer glimpsed over at Francine, and yes, she was indeed watching. That caused him to jump from his seat. "Great. Wednesday. See you then!"

Elmer rushed out of the parlor. Lucille waved excitedly as he left. "See you!"

When he was gone, Lucille stood tall. She slowly walked her way back over to her friends in a way Ms. Elizabeth Taylor would. She took a slow, theatrical seat back at the counter. The other girls applauded.

"I have to be honest with you, Lucille, I didn't think you could do it." Ruby admitted. "You know just for that, your shake is on me."

"Really? Was it really that good?" Lucille said with hope.

"Don't push it." Maya jumped into the conversation. Francine looked upset. She thought that there was something going on between she and Elmer. Was it all in her head? Or was it more so first come, first serve?

"What's wrong with you?" Ruby asked Francine.

"No, nothing. I'm alright, actually." Francine nodded. Lucille had an idea what was bothering Francine. She saw when she and Elmer were walking down the halls. She figured that if Elmer were to like any of the new girls, it would probably be Francine. But she didn't want to come to terms with that reality. And so for once in her life, she kept her mouth quiet.

Ruby called out to the man behind the counter. "Sir, my friends and I have been sitting here for quite a while. Can we order please?"

"I think it's best that you didn't order." The man answered as he dried a glass. "You ran out three customers just in the time you've been here."

"That last fella was a friend of mine. We go to school together." Lucille spoke up awkwardly. All of the girls glared at her for a moment.

"Look, I'm not sure if you've realized, but we're students of Eastview. We didn't come in here to start any trouble, it's just that we just got off of school and we want milkshakes." Ruby explained. "We have the money for it, so please just serve us."

"I don't care what school has you colored girls feeling so uppity, I'm not serving you!" The man insisted. Now the girls were a little bit scared. Ruby, being as stubborn as she was, put on a brave front.

"Maybe we should get out of here, Rue." Whispered Maya.

"We won't do anything of the sort." Ruby answered. "You see, I understand this is your private business. And you can pick and choose who you serve. But if you are going to do that, you need to have some kind of sign indicating you don't want negroes in here! Otherwise, you have to serve us!"

The man leaned down under his counter. The girls braced themselves to see what he'd take out, hoping he wasn't going to harm them. It was a little white piece of paper, which read:

No Irish
No Blacks
No Dogs
Allowed

With the most calm demeanor, the man walked over to the window and taped the sign up. Then he returned to the counter. "Is it clear enough for you now? Or did they not teach you to read in your negro school?"

"That's not fair. You put that up after!" Ruby argued.

"Ruby, it's not worth it. Let's just leave." Francine tried to convince her.

"No, we should call the police!" Ruby shouted.

"With what phone, girl?" The man laughed. "I should be calling them on you, it's you who's not leaving."

"And we'll tell them that you put up that sign after we showed up here!" Ruby shouted.

"I'd like to see you prove it." The man stood firm. Francine and Maya practically had to drag Ruby off of her stool and out of the parlor. She was in a fit of rage.

Lucille wasn't too far, but she lagged behind to tell the man one last thing. "Your parlor isn't so nice anyway!"

"It's just not fair." Ruby hyperventilated while they stood outside. "It's not fair that even after gaining access to the best high school in town, they still treat us like this!"

"Ruby, you can't allow it to control you this much. There's nothing you can do at the moment." Francine hugged her friend. Maya joined in next. Lucille watched as the girls hugged, admiring how close they were to each other. Then she decided that she probably shouldn't impose. And so she walked off away from them, leaving them alone.

As the girls dried their cheeks, Maya looked up to the sky. "The sun should be going down soon. We should get going."

"Well, alright then. I guess we don't need ice cream that much anyway." Ruby said and they laughed together. Lucille, who was much younger than them, was off alone without the other girls even noticing. She didn't understand that sun down truly meant to be out of town. And so she took her time as she explored the strip of stores along the road.