CHAPTER 1

            It was so hot in this car.  I couldn’t believe we’ve been driving for so long.  It’s 1957; the beginning of July and we were headed to Rosé, Louisiana.  Mama and Daddy said we had to move from Neshoba.  I didn’t like it there; it was many mean people, mostly white.  I didn’t understand why they didn’t like me but Mama said that would happen a lot.  Daddy found a job fixing up houses.  I think that’s nice, they said we’ll be living around all blacks and we’ll be happier.  That sounds real good to me.  Now my brother, Lawrence, and I won’t have to run home anymore.

              “Waaaaaahhhhhhhh! Aaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!”  Oh no!  Bobby’s awake.  He was quiet for a little while, Mama say that the baby will make us happy, all he’s done for me is given me an earache. 

“It’s okay, Bobby, we’re almost there…” Mama whispered. 

I looked out the window and hoped that Mama’s right.  Mississippi didn’t have much, just a lot of grass and trees.  Whenever we went through a town, the white folks looked at us as if we were crazy.  I just acted like I’m sleep so I won’t have to look at them.  Lawrence must have been real tired; he’s been sleeping the whole time.  I looked around and just sighed.  Daddy looked really serious and mean.  He’s really nice, he just got that look whenever he thought something’s going to happen.  Mama rocked Bobby to sleep but he fought it.  Lawrence had his mouth open like he’s about to speak.  I wondered what he would do if I put a bug in it?  I looked out the window again and slowly fall asleep.

            After what seemed like hours, we finally got to the town of Rose.  I now knew why it was called that.  Flowers were everywhere, along the road and in the houses’ yards.  We drove past a lot of people:  men working on their roofs, kids playing in the street, and women talking on their porches.  It seemed too good to be true.  I never seen black folks happy like they were.  They waved to us as we passed.  I rolled down the window and could smell all different smells from fresh apple pie to pine from the trees.  I think I’m going to like it here.

            We found our new house.  Daddy says that the company he’s working for gave it to him as long as he fixed it up, and boy, did it need it.  We sat in the car and looked at it for a while.  The roof needed boards, the front window was broken, the grass seemed like it had been growing for years, and the house needed paint.  

“Mama, it’s gonna take forever to fix this mess,” Lawrence hollered.  Mama turned around and gave him that look that said shut yo’ mouth. 

“Now look here, my job was real nice to give me this house.  You better be grateful and stop being so lazy!” Daddy said.  Lawrence and I looked at each other and got out the car.  I noticed the smell of rain and mist. As soon as I got out, I stepped into a puddle of mud.  I then noticed that I just messed up my shoes.  I walked along the driveway and looked closer at the house.  I could see myself painting and cutting the grass.  A bead of sweat rolled down my forehead.  I guess moving doesn’t get you away from the heat.  I helped Lawrence get the bags out the car while Mama and Daddy went into the house.  Behind me, I heard kids were playing.  I turned around to look and saw Lawrence had his attention on something too.  Across the street, two houses down, was this girl and two boys talking. 

“Lawrence?  Lawrence?  Mama is calling us.  Come on!”  I said. 

I hit him on the back of the head and ran to the house. He caught up with me, hit my back and got to the house first. 

“Will you two stop playing around and bring in the rest of the stuff?”  Mama said. 

She walked around the front room with Bobby.  I pushed Lawrence outside and laughed out loud.

            It’s nine at night.  It took four hours straight to unload and set up everything.  My room’s not finished yet.  I put up my curtains and unpacked some of my clothes.  I looked out the window and saw a big oak tree.  I felt the cool breeze of the wind on my bare arms.  I still tasted the chicken that we had for dinner earlier.  I heard crickets that made music in the grass.  I smelled the bubble bath Mama was using on Bobby.  I sat on the bed and began to think about tomorrow.  Mama already got a lot of things for us to do.  Made me sleepy just thinking about it.  Good night.

“That’s good, Bobby, eat it all up—well, it’s about time you got up,” Mama said.  I came downstairs and could smell eggs and bacon.  I then saw that there wasn’t anymore.   

“Mama, why didn’t you wake me?”  I cried. 

“Girl, I am not your alarm clock.  Now I called you once.  You snooze, you lose.  Go on get dressed and help your brother with the painting.  I don’t want to hear from you until it’s done,” Mama said and with that, she finished feeding Bobby and went upstairs.  I felt my stomach growl but I ignored it.  I leisurely walked upstairs to get ready.  My throat got drier with every step.  I tried to ignore it but the heat seemed to steep through the walls and windows like a fire.  When I got through getting ready, I noticed a plate of food on my bed.  Thank you Mama!!  I devoured the scrambled cheese eggs and the crispy bacon.  I nearly choked from eating so quickly, but it tasted great.  In the corner of my eye, I saw Mama standing by the door smiling. 

“Okay, now that you’ve ate, go out and paint!”  She laughed and went into her room.  I smiled and ran downstairs.  I thought Lawrence would have the front and the left side done but when I reached the door, I found out that I was wrong.  There was Lawrence and some girl playing around in the paint. 

“Lawrence, I believe Mama asked me and you to paint!” I said sarcastically. 

“’Ney, there’s some paint on the other side.  Go on and start before I get ya!” he snickered.  I rolled my eyes and went to the side of the house.  I began to paint, but after a while, the strokes began to come along slower and slower.  Not only was I hot and sweaty from just being in the sun for what seemed like a couple of hours, but I was also bored.  Every once and a while, I heard a giggle or a “Stop, Lawrence!” followed by a giggle. I hoped I wouldn’t act like that when I get a boyfriend.  I then thought it’s going to be a long day.