by D. Camille
True to form, Bill ran through the door, punching his card just in the nick of time. He smiled at Henry as he joined him on the line.
“I dreamed of Honey last night,” Bill told him.
Henry studied the part he was working on. “And I want to know this because?”
“So what would you do Henry?”
Henry looked up. “About what?”
“I mean you’re good with the girls. What would you say to Honey?”
“Nope, not doing that with you,” Henry went back to his part.
Bill frowned. “Come on Henry, help a brother out.”
Henry stopped for a moment. “Bill, you don’t want to use another guy’s words to get your girl. I’m not your Cyrano.”
“Who is Cyrano?” Bill asked confused.
Henry shook his head and went back to his part. “Read a book before you propose.”
“Are you coming to the next game? It’s the last one before the championship.” Bill informed him.
Henry shrugged. “I might.”
Bill smiled. “You gotta admit I was right about Honey.”
“If I do, will you shut up and do your job before you get us both fired?” Henry asked.
Bill looked at Henry. “On second thought, I don’t want you thinking about Honey. You might try to steal my girl.”
“The girl whose real name you don’t know?” Henry challenged.
Bill frowned again. “Honey just doesn’t go around talking to guys.”
“Interesting…” Henry continued with his work duties.
******
Millie Gaines sat in class replaying her game from last night. She’d played well along with the rest of her team. Two more wins and they would be the champions. Millie loved baseball. It was the one thing she’d shared with her father that was special between the two of them. She knew he would have been proud of her and what she’d accomplished. Not only was she a great baseball player, she was an excellent nursing student. Her dream was to finish school and get a job at Detroit Memorial Hospital.
With her grades and personality, she seemed to be a shoe in but in this day and age black nurses had to be exceptional to gain the coveted positions. Her training program at the community college was created for that purpose, to train black nurses to be able to compete and Millie took her studies seriously. She’d allowed herself one distraction: softball. When a few of the students wanted to start a team, Millie had been completely on board. This was their second year playing and they were vying for a championship.
She opened her book and hid smile. She might as well let her mind focus a few minutes on what had been running through it since last night. Mr. Henry Patterson. He’d gotten her attention…attention that she didn’t relinquish easily. He was handsome and…and…charming, effortlessly. He had an aloofness that intrigued her with his nice haircut and clean shaven face. She secretly hoped that he would attend another game. Maybe she’d get to hear that deep baritone with the southern accent once more.
“What are you over here smiling about Honey?” Irma asked taking the seat next to her.
“Just thinking about the game.”
Irma smiled. “Did you see the guy with your stalker?”
“Don’t call him that, that’s mean.”
“What’s his name then?” Irma asked.
Millie shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s never talked to me.”
“So he shall remain your stalker.” Both women laughed. “Back to the guy he was with…I’m diggin’ him.”
“Irma Anderson, stop it!” Millie admonished.
Irma smirked. “You thought the same thing. I saw you watching him from in the dugout.”
“I wasn’t watching him,” Millie protested.
“Okay Honey, you can fool everybody else but I know you.” Irma watched her. “Where’d you disappear to after the showers?”
Millie closed her book. “I needed a minute to settle my mind. You know the crowds get to be too much sometimes.”
“That’s what happens when you’re so good,” Irma teased.
“We’re all good.”
Irma smirked. “It’s okay Honey. We all know you’re the star. We’d lose nearly every game without you.”
Millie laughed. “I’d call that a hyperbole, if I’ve ever heard one.”
“A what?”
Millie focused on her book. “Irma, read one of these outside of school work.”
******
A few days later, Henry found himself sitting on crowded bleachers next to Bill, listening as the group chanted Honey’s name. Her team was down by two runs and he could see the concentration on her face as she approached the plate with two women on base.
She lifted her bat high and waited on the pitch. In his mind, Henry chanted, “Come on Millie…” She swung at the first pitch and missed. The crowd grimaced before she retook her stance.
“Relax, wait on the ball,” Henry told her silently.
The pitcher sent the ball towards the plate and Henry smiled when he heard the crack of the bat. He was on his feet along with everyone else as the ball sailed over the wall. Pandemonium erupted as the runners ran around the bases with Honey doing her now familiar showboating. Henry couldn’t help but applaud her. She was something else.
After crossing the plate, she jogged over to the bleachers. Henry watched her search the crowd until their eyes connected. She removed her cap and presented her flawless bow before lifting her head again. She smiled and replaced the cap before dragging her eyes from his and heading to the dugout.
“Honey, you’re the best!” Bill yelled next to Henry as Henry’s eyes followed her to the dugout until she disappeared.
“You see that Henry?” Bill asked.
“Yeah, I saw it Bill.”
The game continued and Honey’s team emerged as the victor by one run. News spread through the crowd that a victory party was being held for the players at a nearby home.
“You going to the party?” Bill questioned.
Henry looked at his watch. “What time does it end?”
“They said around one in the morning.”
“I might not stay the whole time, but I’ll come. I haven’t been to a party in a while,” Henry agreed.
Bill smiled. “I might get with Honey tonight.”
Henry nodded. “You need a ride?”
Bill shook his head. “Nah, had a Plan B tonight.”
Henry laughed. “Good. I guess I’ll see you there.”
The two men clasped hands then Henry walked through the crowded parking lot to his car. Since the home was near the field, he arrived within a few minutes. Finding parking down the street, he cut the engine and watched the people arriving at the home.
Since he’d planned to attend the game today, he’d had the foresight to bring another shirt so he wouldn’t be walking around with his name and company on his chest. He checked his attire then in the rearview for a look at his face. Satisfied, he exited the car and approached the home.
When Henry arrived at the door, a girl sat at the entrance.
“Twenty-five cents,” she told him. “The money supports the team.”
Henry produced a dollar bill from his pocket and handed it to her. “Keep the change.”
She smiled at him. “There’s punch and food for sale inside if you’re hungry.”
He nodded. “Thank you.”
As soon as Henry stepped inside, the smell of fried chicken tickled his nose. “Definitely trying some of that,” he said aloud.
He walked into a room that was beginning to fill with people and spotted the stereo in the corner. Two guys were stacking 33’s and 45’s in preparation for the dancing that was to come. Following his nose, he walked towards the kitchen where a line was formed for the delicious smelling food.
When he finally got to the front of the line, he ordered the chicken with macaroni and cheese along with green beans. Being a boy from the South, Henry appreciated good food. He paid his bill and made his way to f
ind somewhere to enjoy his food in peace. Stepping out of a back door, he found a secluded area where a lone individual sat.
Smiling he walked over to her. “We meet again Miss Millie.”
She looked up at him. “Hello Mr. Henry Patterson. Are you following me?”
He shook his head. “No ma’am, just looking for a spot to eat my food.”
Millie looked at the plate in his hand. “Smells really good.”
Henry took the seat next to her. “Please have some.”
“I can’t eat your food.” Millie refused. “I’ll buy some later. It wasn’t ready when I got here.”
He looked into her pretty face. “It would be rude of me to sit here and eat in front of you.” He lifted the plate to her. “Please.”
Reluctantly, she agreed. “Okay, but later when I buy food, you have to help me eat it.”
“Agreed,” he said handing her the plastic fork.
Millie took small forkfuls of macaroni and green beans before finally snagging a chicken wing from the plate. She swallowed and smiled at him. “Thank you.”
“Do you want more?” he asked.
She laughed while handing the fork back to him. “I think I’ve eaten more than enough of your food.”
“You’re welcome to all that you want Miss Millie,” he said like a sweet southern gentleman.
Millie took a bite of chicken. “I like your accent.”
He smiled. ‘’I’m a country boy.”
She settled back as he began to eat what remained on the plate. “So what brings a country boy to Detroit?”
“Lynchings,” he answered without looking up.
Millie sat up. “I’ve read about those.”
“Three years ago, three civil rights workers were abducted and killed in Mississippi by a lynch mob because they were registering blacks to vote,” he told her.
“Just three years ago?” she asked appalled.
Henry nodded and paused his eating. “KKK and the local police did it. They killed two white men and one black.” He looked down in his plate. “I figured if they’ll kill their own, that was not a place for this black man.” Henry resumed eating.
“You came here alone?” Millie asked.
He nodded and she watched him finish off the rest of the food. “How old are you Henry?”
“Twenty,” he answered looking up at her. “How old are you Miss Millie?”
She smiled. “I’m twenty-one. That’s why when you continue to call me Miss Millie, it makes me feel old.”
“I don’t do it for that reason,” he explained. “There’s nothing old about you.”
“I was just raised to be a gentleman,” Henry added.
“And you are. I don’t think I’ve met one before,” she admitted.
Henry smiled. “Then you’ve been meeting the wrong guys.” He wiped his hands on a napkin then placed it in the empty plate as the music began playing inside the house.
Millie watched as he got to his feet. “I should find a trash can. Enjoy the party Miss Millie.”
“You’re supposed to share my food later,” she reminded.
Henry smiled down at her. “I’ll be around for a while.”
She watched as he disappeared into the house thinking that Henry Patterson would probably continue to run through her mind for many days to come.
Henry found a trash basket inside the home before going to the large room where the music was coming from. He leaned against a wall and watched the dancers on the floor. Henry looked over as he was joined by Bill.
“Hey Henry,”
“Hey Bill, enjoying the party?” Henry asked.
Bill frowned. “Not yet. I haven’t seen Honey. I wonder if she’s coming.”
“She’s here.”
Bill looked confused. “You’ve seen her?”
“Yep, I saw her.”
“Where?”
Henry shrugged. “She’s around Bill, look for her.”
Bill smiled. “Now that I know she’s here, I’ll find her.” Henry shook his head as Bill headed off in one direction. While he was watching Bill, a girl approached him from the opposite direction.
“Did you come to dance?” she asked and Henry turned.
“I can do that,” he told her.
She smiled. “I’m Irma.”
“Henry,” he replied. “You play on the team right?”
She nodded happily. “I’m surprised you noticed. Everybody just knows Honey.”
“I’m very observant,” Henry said smiling.
“So am I. I’ve seen you at the games.”
“You have a really good team. You play well together,” he commented.
Her eyes lit up. “You know baseball?”
“Yeah, I know a lot about baseball.”
“So we have something in common,” she teased.
Henry laughed. “I guess we do Miss Irma.”
She looked Henry over. “So we’re dancing right?”
“Lead the way ma’am.” Henry followed her to a spot for dancing in the room as “Come See About Me” by The Supremes began playing.
Henry and Irma began to sway and jerk to the Motown beat. They joined hands and began to Detroit “bop” – a simple two-step where Henry spun her around in between steps. Irma smiled at him after coming out of one of his spins.
“You can dance Henry!” she said impressed.
“You’re a good partner,” Henry told her and she beamed as “Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch” by The Four Tops began to play.
The two continued their motions until others began to watch and comment.
“Alright now!”
“We see you!”
Millie went to see what was going on and froze as she entered the room. Henry and Irma were lighting up the dance floor. Both were smiling and having the time of their lives. The song switched to a slower beat and the two slowly bumped against each other’s chests and lower, causing Millie’s eyes to widened.
The next song changed to a slow number and Irma looked up at Henry. “A slow dance?” she asked.
“I need to get a drink. It’s pretty hot in here.”
Irma winked. “Okay Henry, I’ll get my dance later.”
“Yes ma’am.” Henry headed to the kitchen to order a cup of punch. He walked up behind Millie who was waiting for her food. Ordering his punch, he took the cup and downed it in one swig.
Millie looked over at him. “You need another one?” she asked.
“No, I’m fine.”
She nodded. “I ordered food, but I don’t want to interrupt your dancing.”
Henry watched her. “I’m done dancing now.”
Millie was handed her plate then Henry gestured her to walk ahead of him. “Where do you want to go?” she asked over her shoulder.
“It doesn’t matter.”
Millie kept walking. “It’s pretty crowded now. People are everywhere.”
“Let’s go to my car,” Henry suggested and she stopped causing him to run into the back of her.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized taking a step back.
She turned. “No, that’s my fault.”
He smiled. “I’m guessing my car was not a good idea.”
“You surprised me,” Millie admitted. “But your car is fine. We can at least sit down.”
Henry nodded and took the lead as Millie followed.
Bill had caught a glimpse of Honey across the crowded dance room earlier but he hadn’t been able to locate her since then. The party was in full swing now and people were shoulder to shoulder inside the house. He decided to wait until the crowd thinned out to find her.
Chapter 3
Inside the car, Millie turned to Henry and handed the plate to him. “You go first this time.”
He shook his head behind the wheel. “Eat the food Miss Millie.”
“You make me feel bad,” she pouted.
Henry laughed. “Why?”
“I feel like I’m taking advantage of you,” Millie confessed.
; “If I offer, it’s not taking advantage.”
Millie handed him a utensil. “Well, I brought two forks so we can at least eat at the same time.”
“That works.”
Henry waited until Millie began eating before taking any food from the plate. They watched eat other as they consumed the delicious fare.
“What do you study at the college?” Henry inquired to break the silence inside the car.
“Nursing.”
He nodded. “I can see you doing that.”
She smiled. “Really? Why?”
Henry shrugged. “You’re nice to be around and easy to talk to.”
“You like talking to me?” she asked staring down into her plate.
“In the two times that I’ve spoken with you…yes I do,” he answered quietly.
Millie smiled. “I like talking to you too, Henry.” She laughed. “And eating too, apparently.”
“Good food, good conversation and a pretty girl…what more could a man ask for?”
She took another bite of food to avoid answering his question.
“Do you like women’s softball now?” she asked and he laughed softly at her change of subject.
“I must say that I do like it a lot more,” he admitted. “Baseball is my favorite sport.”
Millie beamed. “Me too.”
“Not too many girls that love baseball.”
“I guess I’m just special,” she boasted playfully.
Henry looked at her. “I think that’s a given Miss Millie.”
She blushed and picked up a piece of the golden fried chicken. “Thank you.”
“Why do they call you Honey?”
Millie pursed her full lips. “Most people think it’s because of my coloring, but actually my Daddy gave me that nickname. He said I was the sweetest thing he’d ever seen...like honey.”
Henry nodded in agreement as she continued. “I loved my Daddy. He developed my love of baseball.”
“Did he teach you that killer swing?” Henry asked.
She smiled and finished her piece of meat. “Yeah, he did…and my showmanship.”
“It’s very entertaining,” he told her. “Honey is quite a sight to see.”
They both looked down at the now empty plate.