The Cost Of Deceit

Chapter 7

Lucille walked down the street, looking through the store windows. She came across an antique store, whose exterior looked like it was from the turn of the century. Instead of having a large store window like the other businesses, the store window was made of small ones put together. Inside were many objects from eras of the past

But one particular object that caught her eye.

It was a dainty little thing. It was a gilded music box that had a little ballerina inside. This was unlike any other ballerina music box she'd seen before. The ballerina inside wasn't white and made out of porcelain, but she was made out of brass. Her skin was black. Sure, as were her hair, her eyes, and about every other part of her aside form her dress. But it was the closest thing to representation Lucille had ever seen. In front of the box was a little card that read Degas Inspired Music Box.

Lucille wished she could buy it right then and there, but she hadn't had the money. She figured she'd save up for the pretty little thing.

"What are you doing here on this side of town?" Someone asked over her shoulder. Lucille's body went cold at the man's low voice. As she shifted her eyes in the reflection of the window, she saw that a police officer stood above her. "You should be getting back home."

"I was just," Lucille couldn't get out words. Her teeth were chattering out of complete fear. Another police officer joined.

"What do we have here?" The other asked. "A little juvi nigger looking for trouble?"

"Seems like." The first officer agreed.

"I don't want no trouble. I just wanted to look around." Lucille began to cry.

"Look around? Look around. Do you hear that? She wanted to look around." The second officer looked to the first.

"What do you possibly want to look at here? Nothing is for you here." The officer told her. Lucille began to cry. She couldn't get out the words to explain what her reason for being there was. "I see, you must be one of the coloreds who transferred to Eastview. You live close enough so now you're going here, right?"

Lucille nodded as she nervously played with her hands in front of her.

"Hands at your side." The first officer insisted.

The second one looked up at the sky, which was now a dark purple from the growing absence of the sun. He took out a flashlight from his belt and pointed it in Lucille's face. Her eyes squeezed shut at the sunny light.

The first officer stepped toward her, close enough where his breath was brushing against her cheek. She didn't dare look either of them in the eye, she only looked to the ground. "Do we make you uncomfortable?"

"Yes." Lucille answered quietly. The two officers laughed at how shook up Lucille was. Somehow Lucille felt a streak of bravery inside. Her fear subsided and she was as light as the ballerina in the window. "But I'm not afraid of you."

She said it at such a low volume, the officer could barely hear her. "What'd you say?"

"I said, I'm not afraid of you!" Lucille shouted out. The officers looked to each other, shocked by her sudden outburst.

"Do you know who you're talking to, girl?" The officer holding the flashlight asked.

"Sure, you make me uncomfortable. Your breath in my face isn't the most pleasant thing at this moment. But I'm sure as hell not afraid of you." Lucille told the officer who was standing closest to her.

"You little—" The officer reached out as if to harm Lucille, but he was quickly interrupted.

"Hey!" Shouted a boy. Lucille was already crouching with her hands above her head, bracing herself to be hit by the officer. When she allowed her head to be held up high once again, she looked past the officer. There stood Elmer, leaning on his parked car. "What's going on with her?"

"She's starting problems." Answered an officer.

"What problems?" Elmer asked as he stood up and walked toward them. He stood there strong and firm.

"Listen, boy, I don't know what's gotten into you but if you interrupt us again we'll be dealing with you next." The second officer shined his flashlight at him.

"I know her. We're classmates." Elmer told them. "And I don't know her to cause trouble."

"Is that so?" The officer with the flashlight walked toward him. "Why is that? Is that your little girlfriend?"

Elmer looked to the floor when the light illuminated his blue eyes.

"Cause you know in this town we don't tolerate race mixers." Said the officer.

"She won't bother anyone. Just let me take her home." Elmer asked of the officer. The officer thought for a moment, and Elmer begged some more. "Please."

The officer looked to the first officer, who seemed upset that his assault was stopped by Elmer. He gave Lucille one last look before walking back toward their cop car. The second officer began to follow.

"Make sure by the time we run our patrol, she's gone." Said the first officer.

"I'll do that, sir." Nodded Elmer. The cops turned on their car lights and drove away. When they were out of sight, Lucille let out the biggest sigh of relief.

"I don't know if I can think you enough." Lucille said as Elmer made his way over to her. "I was so scared I didn't know if I'd make it or—"

Lucille's words stopped when she felt Elmer's arms around her. She tried to fight her smile. Elmer noticed her reaction, and tried to hold back his laugh. "Alright now, Lucille, let's get you into my car."

"And we can go for a drive?" She asked.

"No, I'm gonna take you home!" Elmer told her as they walked to his car. When they sat inside, it was silent. Lucille could hardly blink when she looked at Elmer, she wanted to take in his every movement. Elmer glimpsed at her for a moment, then tried to ignore her hard stare.

"Why are you out at this time of night? Doesn't the town close at sundown?" Lucille asked.

"I was making my way over to a friend's house." Elmer answered as he started up his car. "I should be the one asking you that question."

"I guess I lost track of time. I saw the prettiest little music box in that store." Lucille looked back at the shop that she was admiring through her car window. "But I was foolish to let myself get so attached to that thing. Not like I can afford it anyway."

"Maybe one day you can." Elmer said. There was silence for a moment in the car as they drove down. "Now tell me, do you live around here?"

"Yes! I practically live on the East Side. But because I'm right on the cusp people don't count it as that." Lucille told Elmer. "That's how it is for all the negroes at your school."

Elmer licked his lips as he gripped his steering wheel. "Even Francine?"

"Yeah, what about her?" Lucille asked. Deep down, she knew why he was asking about her. But she didn't want to allow herself to face that. "I was dumb to stay out that late in that area. I'm sorry I caused you so much trouble."

"Don't think about it, Lucille." Elmer insisted.

"No, really. You really could've gotten hurt too. I don't know how to say thank you." Lucille told him. She gave him the directions to her house, and eventually they parked outside. "I'll go inside. No need for you to meet my parents. I'm sure they're already wondering where I was all this time."

"No problem." Elmer nodded. Lucille quickly got out of the car and slammed the door shut. She began to make her way to the door, but Elmer quickly leaned over and opened the opposite car door a crack. "See you at school, Lucille!"

Lucille turned around and gave him a nod. Then she quickly rang the doorbell to her house. Elmer watched as her parents rushed out of the house and hugged her. Lucille held onto her mom and dad like a child who just fell and scraped its knee. Then they all went inside, shutting the door behind them.