Shadows of St. Louis by Leslie Dubois Page A

miss this."
     
    ***
     
    Inside the hotel, Mrs. Goodwin was in a panic. She stood at the edge of the stage and tried to discretely get Rebecca Jane’s attention. But Rebecca Jane just ignored her and kept singing. At one point, Rebecca Jane actually sat down in the lap of the nigger who was playing piano. Mrs. Goodwin almost fainted. Why was she always so obstinate? For the first time in her life, she found herself wishing Rebecca Jane was more like Emma Lynn. Emma Lynn always did what she was told.
     
    Not able to take the embarrassing torture any longer, Mrs. Goodwin went on stage and snatched her daughter away from the piano.
     
    "Isn't my daughter quite the comedian?" Mrs. Goodwin said to the audience. "She has aspirations to be an actress one day. Wasn't that quite a show?"
     
    As the audience began a sparse round of applause, Mrs. Goodwin grabbed Rebecca Jane's elbow and forcefully pulled her off stage.
     
    "Are you mad? How can you do this to me?" Elizabeth asked.
     
    "And to me," Mary Anna added, joining them. "Mother, she ruined my party!"
     
    “Let’s go, Becky. It’s time we take our leave.” Charles grabbed his sister and led her toward the exit. He knew it was the only way to avoid an all out fight between the Goodwin women.
     
    ***
     
    "We weren't doing anything." Henry didn't like the sound of his own voice at that moment. He sounded weak and afraid. Unfortunately, he was.
    "That's not what it looks like." Frank lit his cigar and took a long drag. Then he blew the smoke in Henry's face. Henry turned away gagging and coughing. "It looks to me, you were about to kiss her. I can't blame you. She tastes pretty good for a nigger. I've been thinking about kissing her again myself." Frank looked directly at Emma Lynn though he spoke to Henry.
    Emma Lynn backed away from Frank slowly as she searched for something to strike him with.
    Frank smiled as he strode toward Emma Lynn, forcing her into a corner. Then he reached out, grabbed her neck and forcefully pressed his lips to hers.
    "Henry! Please!" she called. But Henry was frozen with fear. This was not how it was supposed to go. They were supposed to kiss and hug each other alone together in the alleyway. He was going to tell her how much he loved her and how much he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He was going to propose marriage to her. He even had a ring that he had fashioned out of piece of wire. He was going to give it to her as her birthday gift. But not like this. This was all wrong.
    Emma Lynn was screaming under Frank's crushing embrace.
    "Leave her alone!" Henry yelled, finally coming to his senses. He reached for Emma Lynn, but Frank released her just long enough to punch Henry in the face. Henry fell to the floor. Before he could get to his feet, a streak of blond whizzed past him.
    "Get off of her!" Charles yelled pulling Frank away from his sister. He threw Frank to the ground and start pounding in his face.  Frank didn't stand a chance against Charles.
    Henry stared at the fight in ... awe. Why wasn't he strong enough to defend Emma's honor?
    "Charles, stop he's not moving," Rebecca Jane said as she hugged her sister, Emma Lynn.
    Charles didn't stop.
    "Henry, do something."
    Henry heard Rebecca's plea, but still he didn't move.
    Finally, Rebecca Jane let go of Emma Lynn and pulled her brother off of Frank herself.
    "I hate him as much as you do, Charles, but you can't kill him," she said as she pulled him away.
    "The hell I can't." He shook off his sister and lunged for Frank again.
    "Charles, please," Emma Lynn said through tears.
    Charles stopped mid-punch and looked at his baby sister as she hugged herself.
    Slowly he got to his feet. He spit on Frank, then pointed to Emma Lynn and said, "She's the only reason you're still alive." Charles picked up Emma Lynn then the three of them walked out of the alley.
    Still Henry didn't move.
     
     

Jesse
     
    “Charles, I can walk. I’m fine,” Emma Lynn said moments