He took off in his car looking for Virginia. He wanted to tell her what was happening. Apologize for the mess that might be - because of him. He wanted to promise her, that he would get her out of it. Even if it meant forgoing school to get a job so he could pay off her debt to his father.
He needed a job and he needed it now.
This couldn’t be happening at a worse time. They were going through an economic crash - a fall that put everyone in financial stress. Considering that, where would he find a job? He drove first to her farmhouse. Upon arriving, he looked in her window to see that all of her furniture was gone. He stood looking around stunned, ‘Ginny! Where are you?’ His mind shouted. He pulled out of her drive heading down the country rode in heightened worry. In the beginning weeks of making all of this happen, he’d watched - spent time with her and gotten to know the kind of lady she was. Facts were clear that she was indeed a real lady. She took pride in all that she did. His father made it out like he had all of the work on that place done. In truth, he and Virginia did quite a bit of the house within - granted, his father paid for the supplies and extra labor, but they’d been there from the beginning to end. Spending that time with her had only cemented his feelings and need for her. She’d worked hard - because she wanted this so bad. Even her little girls did their part, not for a second getting in the way. They knew already, how to work.
Now, it could be wrecked by the truth.
As Jacob drove around looking for her, the panic he felt to tell her began to cool off. In the time it had taken to search for them, he’d had time to really think about it. He decided that maybe he wouldn’t tell her. What he would do, is find a way to make the money himself and pay his father off. There was no need for her to know what he’d come to realize. She could then focus on the shop, working with his mother to build her reputation and clientele.
After almost two hours of driving around looking for her, going by her friends, hoping to spot her walking along the road and worried because she was in none of those places - stressing, he decided to go home. He would ask his father for her whereabouts, believing that he would know. In route, on the very edge of town, right at the first street he spotted her and his mother.
They were standing out in front of what used to be a lady’s clothing boutique. It had closed up because no one could afford to shop there. Once more, Jacob wondered what he’d gotten Virginia into. To say it was a bad time was being delicate about the scenario in the south. Reason numbers of blacks were heading north - for that matter, whites as well. Abandoning their failing farms and debt while hoping to find a new beginning in the industrial cities of Washington, New York, Detroit, Chicago and Boston.
Despite his mother’s enthusiasms, he felt nothing but dread. After all, his mother had nothing to lose. She was spoiled and had the backing of his father. All Virginia Piercey had was him. Moaning from the grip in his stomach, he pulled up parking out front of the shop cutting his engine. He now faced that because he too like his mother had been spoiled - he’d jumped in without thinking things through or better planning. All done, because of wanting that woman. With his thoughtless actions, he realized he’d gone and set her up to possibly fail here. They hadn’t even kissed and yet - Jacob loved her. It wasn’t first time puppy love either. It was the kind of love that if she weren’t married, he’d find a way to marry her. He didn’t care about the laws against it. Everything about Virginia Piercey made his body ache and pine and groan in ways he didn’t know the body could.
His mother was waving at him trying to get his attention. He put on a smile and waved back, getting out of his vehicle. Virginia looked his way, smiling as well. She was holding the hand of Tara, her youngest - who was four. She was shy and glancing up at him. Her little girls and the way they were when they, -whites- were around, made him feel his whiteness. The part of their reputation that had been earned because of the wicked, ugly and mean actions of too many. She should not be afraid of being around white people, she should not be afraid of him. At the youngest age, they feared what they might say, do or how they might misbehave. Virginia’s four year old, acted nothing like a four year old, or rather, nothing like a white four year old. Virginia’s older daughter, Josephine, stood at her far side. She leaned forward to catch a glimpse of him and because she saw him looking, she quickly went back into hiding. She was six. Black children were well-mannered, quiet and careful. They had to be, because they lived around whites. Whites who didn’t care for black children. So they knew not to make a move or a sound that would bring attention to them.
Distracting his observations, he heard his mother ask excitedly, “Well what’a’yah think?” She was her usual exuberant self with not a worry in the world.
“I take it, this is the place?” He asked. He was forcing himself not to stand there filling his mind and soul with the sights, sounds, smells and actions of Virginia and her girls.
“It sure is! Your father bought it two days ago. You’re now looking at my and Virginia’s new shop. Guess what we decided to name it, guess?” She bubbled eagerly.
“Aaah mama, don’t make me guess, just tell me.”
Shaking her head, Lida Bell pouted, working the keys to open the shop door, “You’re gettin’ old too fast! There was a time you used to like my guessing games,” She pouted, whining with her heavy southern drawl. “Anyway… we agreed the name, “Bell of the Ball” would be perfect. Right Virginia?”
“Yes Ms. Lida Bell, it’s perfect.” Virginia responded with a smile. She had to give it to her, the name was catchy as it also included her name, being the Bell of the ball, which she considered herself.
Jacob wondered was that an auto response or did she really like the name? Negroes didn’t disagree, not unless there was a strong and urgent need that forced them too. Their eyes met.
Virginia could feel the intense penetration of his eyes on her. She noticed he was doing that a lot lately. Every time they were in each other’s company, should she look his way, his eyes were on her. Searching, inspecting, peering deep… like now. Virginia knew this was no ordinary young white boy - or rather, young white man. There was something in him different from all others. There were times when she felt he was older than his years. As she’d gotten to know him, listen to him talk, watch how he was with her and others, she realized he was compassionate, gentle and caring by nature. There didn’t seem to be a cruel bone in his entire body. He was soft and considerate. Or was he just that way with her? She didn’t think so. According to his mama, he was like that about everything living. She talked about how he treated the animals. Instead of just milking their cow, which he didn’t have to do - and did anyway - he would stroke the cow and talk to her and ask her how she was feeling as he did so - then he’d ask if it was okay to take her milk and use it. Lida Bell shook her head asking him, ‘Jacob, are you crazy? It’s just a danged cow - surely you don’t expect it to answer do you?’ and would laugh at him walking away with a wave of her hand. Leaving behind the sound of him singing to it as if giving the cow pleasure while taking from her. There were times Lida Bell thought him senseless wondering what in the world made him that way. She had told Virginia, ‘Oh the times I’ve had to yell at that boy to just get on with it for goodness sake! Just milk it if you’re gonna!’
Hearing it, made Virginia feel nothing but awe. She said he was like that about everything. The chickens, the pigs, their geese and ducks, and yes, their Negro workers as well. Virginia was drawn to him, despite the four year difference in their ages. He was going to be one helluva man one day, or rather, minister. That too Ms. Lida Bell shared with her. That he was going to school to learn theology. Theology was about God and the bible she was explained by Lida Bell.
Knowing that Jacob wanted to know about God and the bible spread a warmth through Virginia. Now, more than ever, she wanted to know more about Jacob.
They both walked behind Lida Bell, agreeing with most everything she said because in truth, they paid her little attention. There was an aur
a that surrounded them. Even her girls must have felt it, because they kept looking up at him. Especially her Josephine. She even smiled at him once, a little smile, but a smile just the same. It caused him to kneel before her, to look up at her, taking her little hand in his, he pat it gently, “How you doing this fine day Ms Josephine?” He greeted her, making her giggle and cover her mouth. People always said, you want to know the nature of a person, the true nature - watch children and animals around them, then you’ll know.
Her girls, liked Jacob. Around most other white folks, they wouldn’t make a sound or gesture. Ever since that day, around him, they’d begun to smile and giggle. Around him, they came alive - and there didn’t appear to be any fear of him. One thing, they didn’t detect any fear or hesitation from their mother - nor had she cautioned them that they should be silent and still when he was around.
Lida Bell had looked on at him doing it, making a sardonic face, she was used to that in him and only shook her head and called them to follow her. They were walking up the steps found at the rear of the shop. Lida Bell first, then Josephine and Tara, next Virginia and then Jacob bringing up the rear. Virginia had to catch her breath as she felt her heart take off - his hand was suddenly there caressing her hip - his thumb rubbed over the upper and then the lower curve of her buttocks. Such a small, bold intimate gesture made Virginia moist in response to the stolen touch. He’d given her no warning that he was about to do so. She couldn’t believe that he’d done it. Her heart wouldn’t stop racing. He wanted her. She was sure of that now. Because of what she knew about him, she couldn’t help what she was feeling. She may have started out just wanting him to see about her, protect her, for desperate reasons - but now - it had grown into something more. She was actually attracted to him, desiring him. First chance that they were given, she would give herself to him and gladly. She felt his need for her, want for her, desire for her in every fiber of her being. Married to Reginald or not, sin or no - Jacob could have her. He had her feeling breathless and aroused, a fine sheen of perspiration broke out on the surface of her skin, giving her a lowly glow. Jacob couldn’t help but notice, his own breathing was irregular.
“Look Virginia, it’s just perfect for you and your girls! Right above the shop - your very own apartment. What’s more, you got electricity! Now ain’t that somethin’? I bet you never thought you’d come to live where there’s electricity, did you now?”
“No Ms. Lida Bell, not ever. Not sure what to do with it.” Virginia murmured low, trying to hide the passion wreaking havoc within her system - butterflies were trying mightily to get out of her stomach.
Lida Bell laughed out with a wave of her hand as if that were hilarious, “Why you can see when it’s dark for one! No more lighting up lanterns and such - you can have a toaster, like me. You can listen to the radio, bet you don’t even have a radio, do you?” Lida Bell chirped on.
“No ma’am, no radio - maybe one day.”
“That day has come! Look - got your own bathroom too - no more outhouse. A toilet, a sink, a bathtub, all right here in the same room. Ain’t that something girls?” She asked Virginia’s daughters.
Immediately they nodded, with a soft and meek, “Yes ma’am.”
“What’s more, there’s a room for them, and you Virginia all your own. Oh look…” She clapped, excited for them, “A kitchen! You got the most perfect lil’ol kitchen. Yes indeed, things just looking right on up for you Virginia Piercey!”
“How is she going to pay for all this mother, since her farmhouse hasn’t sold yet?” Jacob couldn’t help but ask. All he saw, was that she was getting in deeper.
“Because we’re partners, my half is paying for this. Once the farm sells, she’ll be able to reimburse me. For now, we need to get this show on the road, get things in motion.”
He smiled on the outside, but on the inside, more from his father - like him, in truth, his mother had nothing.
“I went by the farmhouse, it’s empty, where are all your things?” That question was directed at Virginia.
Lida Bell wasted not a moment, “Why, we’ve loaded everything on a big’ol truck. We here to clean up, once it’s done, we’ll bring her things right on up here.”
With barely concealed sarcasm Jacob returned, “Clean - in those clothes mother?”
She played it off, smiling and slapping his shoulder, “You silly, I don’t mean me directly. I’ll be here to oversee thangs, make sure everythin’ is done just so, to our standard.” She smiled the entire time.
Jacob turned red with embarrassment at her words, ‘our standards.’ - as if Virginia had none. Obviously his mother thought black people had no standards. Had no idea how to do things right without white supervision. He turned quickly away from her biting his tongue before he said something that turned the mood sour. “I guess I’ll head on out and leave you all to it. Everything looks great.” As if the question were off handed and of no consequence, he asked, “How long will you all be here?” He was asking Virginia.
His mother assumed he was asking her, “Me? Just a couple more hours or so. Virginia, well - she lives here now doesn’t she? So naturally - she’ll be here from now on. There is much to do. You see all the fabric and dresses downstairs in the shop? We haven’t given you a tour of the backroom storage. There’s loads of fabric, sewing machines - and other such equipment. We bought it all. Now Virginia has everything she needs to sew to her hearts content, filling orders of course. The dresses here, can be custom adjusted to anyone that wishes them. They’ll be altered and made into gowns some of them. All of the clothing will be kept in the back room. The front will be used for doin’ hair. Can’t wait to get things going.”
Virginia was excited as well, saying carefully, “I can’t wait to show my friends, let them know where to come to now for their hair.”
His mother’s expression changed instantly. “Uh, your friends?”
“Yes, well - I figure, I can do their hair one day or - or Saturdays-…”
“Oh no no no, not here. Especially not on a Saturday - why you’ll no doubt be booked heavily that day. And even if not, we can’t have Negro hair and thangs in a’midst thangs for white folks. Why - why no one would dare sit in the chairs or come in this shop. No, you’ll have to make other arrangements for them. You’ll have to look for space in your spare time. There’s some kind of shack out back, why - I bet that would work out just perfect for them. When - that is, you have time. First thangs first… and tha’s gettin’ everything in place for the clients I’ll be bringing in.” Her tone had gone from Miss Happy-Clapping, to authoritative director.
Virginia stood a moment as if resigning herself to this “partnership”. Barely discernible, she sighed and gave the slightest ever of nods, accepting what she must have known all along about Ms. Lida Bell.
Jacob stood at the door, having turned around when his mother began the white only rules.
Giving it one more try, to be clear, Virginia stated, “I thought, we were partners - and that-…”
“We are!” Lida Bell snapped cutting her off, “You not complainin’ are you? After all, it’s because of me that all of this is even possible! I will provide everything you need and you - do the work. The hair, the sewing - once we’re paid back in full, you’ll start to reap your half of the business. After all, the house isn’t yet sold, is it?” Lida Bell asked emphatically, “Truth is, it may take some time for it to sell. In the meantime, you’ll be working to pay us back. You can’t be wasting precious time on Negro heads and such, why - most of’em are dirt poor and won’t be able to pay you anyway. So - you’ll - have to do them on your own free time, in the back - or - wherever you wish, long as it’s not in here.” Lida Bell turned from Virginia to her son, “As for you, we have loads to do, you’re distracting us. I want this place spic and span, slapped into shape and open before Christmas, and there’s New Year’s coming up as well. We got no time to waste, get going now.” She shooed Jacob with the wave of her hand, dismissing him.
> Ashamed, his eyes went to Virginia’s - the way he looked at her made her turn away.
He had to get out of there and made his way quickly down the stairs and away for now. More urgently than ever, he needed a job - he needed a way to earn enough to get her out of this hole closing up around her. Regardless of how hard times were, there was a way to get free of it. There was a way for him to earn money and whatever that way was, he would find it.
Series 13 - Episode 104 - Chapter 312
Jacob couldn’t believe the change taking place in his life. He’d gone from never needing anything, to needing money more than ever. Not any money, but his own money. Money that he could claim as solely his with a right to do with it, whatever he pleased. He was home from school and wouldn’t have to return until after New Year’s.
IF he returned.
Thing was, this was the wrong time to need a job. Who in the world would be hiring now? It was the holiday season and at best, he might get the local grocer to hire him on to deliver groceries. Few had a vehicle. He had to try, and went there to speak with the store owner. Who to his surprise took him on, only because he had a vehicle and because most of his workers had taken off, going north. He was struggling. While glad that he’d gotten a job delivering, sadly the pay was lousy. Then something occurred to him, if the store owner had problems with help, perhaps the local top farmers needed help as well. Three days, Jacob drove from one farm to the next, making sure to stick with those who had greater needs. Of the eight farms he hit, only two took him on. What won him was his way with the animals, his knowledge of their needs, and his speed with getting the work done. Between the three jobs, and the time he had left before the holidays were up and he was due back at school, the money earned would barely make a dent in what was owed to his father. He didn’t care, it was a start. What he hadn’t counted on, was learning the various things he did while working for others. He was hearing talk, learning things about why his father seemed to be fairing so much better than other businesses in the area. A few seemed to derive pleasure out of exposing certain truths about his father’s shady dealings. Mainly speaking, he was one of the biggest bootleggers in the area, as well, a gunrunner. His front, the hardware store and his nuts and bolts business. While hearing it had certainly stunned Jacob, he shook it off. He could take on only one thing at a time. He could do nothing about the man that his father was. As for the man he would be, that was all that he was in control of and seeing to it that his Ginny, wouldn’t get swallowed up, eaten alive by it all.
Beauty of Man and Woman - Volume 13: Bomaw Page 12
