The Governor's Sons by Maria McKenzie Page B

flowers.”
    Kitty nodded.   “And they’re as respectful as can be.   They always say please and thank you.   They don’t treat us like we’re nothing,”
    Russell glanced out the window.   “We’re nothing to all white folks.”
    “But not to them!” Kitty said.   “Our daddy didn’t want us working in a white man’s kitchen either, but Mama’s aunt’s been working there for years.   She’s the one that told us Mrs. Kroth would pay good money if we worked for her this summer.   And Aunt Izolla speaks highly of the whole family.   She’s the one who convinced Daddy that it would be alright for us to work there, and—”
    “And,” Betty Jean interrupted, “Mrs. Kroth wants us to do well in school.”
    “So does Mr. Kroth,” Kitty said.   “He says that the more Negroes get educated, the better off we’ll all be.”
    “Who knows if that cracker really means what he says?”   Thomas was skeptical.
    “The best way the white man can keep us down and control us is to keep us ignorant,” Russell said.   “So you don’t need to go telling that white boy, Ash, what we’re studying and what we have.”
    “Yeah.” Thomas smirked.   “He and his Klan buddies might just come around and lynch us.”
    Angered, Kitty said, “The Kroths don’t approve of the Klan!”
    “What about Old Man Kroth’s political views and all those hate speeches?” Russell asked.   “You do know that he was Governor ‘Torch’ Bedford’s political advisor and speech writer, don’t you?”
    “Mr. Louis didn’t really believe all that nasty talk back then,” Betty Jean said quietly.
    Kitty clicked her tongue.   “It was all just politics.   They had to say what the people wanted to hear.”
    “Don’t be naïve about a white man.” Thomas scowled.   “When you’re working in his kitchen, there’s only one thing on his mind.”
    Russell looked at his cousin and agreed.
    “You might talk about that Mr. Ash being a gentleman,” Thomas said, “but all he wants to really do is get into your drawers.” Kitty and Betty Jean gasped.   “Maybe he’ll talk sweet, but most likely, he’ll use force.”
    “Someone like him just wants to take advantage of you,” Russell said.   “He’s strong—and rich.   He doesn’t think you’ll be brave enough to fight him off.”
    “And if you try to put the law on him, no one will believe you, your word against his.”
    “All those crackers do is degrade our women.”
    Betty Jean fanned rapidly as she gazed out the window.   “Well, you don’t know the Kroths like we do.   They’re decent people.”
    Thomas took a deep breath. “No white folks are decent.”
    Russell looked back at Kitty and Betty Jean, draping his arm over the seat.   “If Old Man Kroth, or any of his boys try something, you kick, you scream, you fight!   Don’t let them think they can get away with touching you!”
    “Don’t be silly, Russell,” Betty Jean said.   “They’re gentlemen.”
    Kitty remained silent.
    Russell gazed at Kitty.   His eyes bore deeply into hers and she looked away.    She felt as if he could read her mind. “I’m not being silly,” he said, “I’m being realistic.”

Chapter 5

    Aunt Izolla made the world’s best mashed potatoes, Kitty thought, while she stood at the kitchen sink peeling spuds.   This was her assigned task while her aunt and sister had gone to market, and Ash’s mother was at her Tuesday bridge luncheon.
    Miss Joan had given Kitty and Betty Jean permission to come in late because of last night’s affair.   So by the time they’d arrived, Ash wasn’t home.   Aunt Izolla mentioned that he’d gone into town to buy something.   That was just as well.   Kitty hoped he wouldn’t return until after Aunt Izolla and Betty Jean had come back.
    Kitty finished peeling one potato, then picked up another.   Her aunt’s mashed potatoes were rich and creamy and tonight she’d fry up pork chops and make a peppery onion