Catfish Alley by Lynne Bryant Page B

today, but the
sheriff looks agitated and hot. The man near the door of the schoolhouse walks
over to where Miss Wilson and the sheriff are standing. He's holding something
small wrapped in a handkerchief, but I can't see what it is. The sheriff and
the other man and Miss Wilson talk for a few more minutes; then the men get in
a big black car and leave.
    Miss Wilson turns toward us. Her
face is pale and ashy-looking and she has a black smudge down the front of her
dress. One small strand of hair has come loose from her bun and she reaches
back to tuck it in. I realize this is the only time I've ever seen her look
afraid. She takes a deep breath and looks down at the ground like she is
gathering herself; then she calls to us to come inside. School is in session.
    What a strange day it is, with the
smell of burned wood and the breeze blowing in from the open door. Even though
it's scary to think someone tried to burn down the school, I can't help but be
excited for the end of the school day. Mama has given me permission to visit Adelle
at her house over on Fifth Avenue. Adelle is going to loan me a book by Mr.
Charles Dickens called Great Expectations. Miss Wilson says I will love it.
Zero and I agree that while he goes to the bank to talk to Mr. Morris about a
savings account, I will go over to Adelle's house. Zero promises he'll be by in
an hour to pick me up for our walk home.
    The Jacksons' house is so beautiful
I have to be careful not to walk around with my mouth open. I didn't know
coloreds could live in a house like this. It's made of brick, has a staircase
and big windows, and a real library. Adelle takes me into a room where one
whole wall is filled with books. Adelle says her daddy is especially fond of
books. He's been collecting them for more than thirty years. Adelle's mama
brings us tea cakes and milk, and I decide I could just stay here forever. I
get so caught up in the house, and the cookies, and the books that I don't
realize how late it's gotten until Adelle's mama comes back to ask if I'll be
staying for supper.
    "Oh, no, ma'am," I say.
"My brother is going to be back here to get me by four o'clock."
    "Honey, it's already five
fifteen. Do you think he meant five o'clock?" Mrs. Jackson sounds worried.
    I am shocked. First of all, because
all that time slipped away without me noticing, and second, because Zero is
never late. He prides himself on being on time. Plus, he knows Mama will be
madder than a wet hen if we're late. As it stands, we won't be home in time for
him to milk the cow before supper.
    "Grace, where did your brother
go this afternoon?" Mrs. Jackson asks me.
    "He said he was going over to
the Penny Savings Bank. He was going to see Mr. Morris about opening a savings
account. He got a whole nickel for his birthday. I don't know why he's not here
yet." I twist a braid in the back of my hair, trying to think what I
should do.
    "Mrs. Jackson, can you tell me
the way to the Penny Savings Bank? I'd better go check on my brother."
    I try my hardest to sound brave,
even though the thought of walking the streets of Clarksville alone to look for
Zero scares me to death. Mama told me to never go out on the streets by myself.
Just last week, a colored girl from down by the river cut through the yard of
the white Baptist church on Main Street on her way to work at the Riverview House.
A white woman saw her and told her boss lady. That colored girl almost lost her
job.
    Mrs. Jackson gets a stern look on
her face. "Adelle, go knock on your father's office door. Tell him that I
need to see him. Tell him it's urgent."
    Something in her voice frightens me
even more. I hope I haven't gotten Zero in trouble. What if these nice people
go look for him and he's goofing off somewhere, maybe meeting his friend for a
Coca-Cola over at Mr. Green's store? What if I'm not allowed to see Adelle anymore?
    A large handsome colored man comes
into the room behind Adelle. He's wearing a white coat over his white shirt,
with a tie