by D. Camille
“We’ve emptied another plate,” he commented.
“I’ll take care of putting this one in the trash,” she told him.
Henry sat back in his seat and looked out at the now darkened street. “It’s no problem.”
Millie looked around as well. People were still walking around and the party was still in full swing.
“I’m keeping you from the party,” Millie said turning to him.
Underneath the streetlight, he locked eyes with hers. “It’s your party.”
“Are you coming back inside or are you leaving now?”
“Are you going back inside?” he inquired.
Millie looked at her watch. “For a little longer.”
Henry did the same. “Then I will too… for a little while longer.”
Henry climbed out of the vehicle then walked around to open the door for Millie who grabbed the empty plate and trash before stepping out of the car. Side by side, they walked back into the home and Millie disappeared to dump the garbage.
Henry leaned against the wall and surveyed the room. The crowd had thinned considerably and the music was now all slow tunes with couples nestled against one another. Millie returned and stood looking up at him.
“Would you like to dance Miss Millie?”
She grinned. “I was hoping you would ask me.”
Henry took her hand. “I’m glad I didn’t disappoint you.” He led her to a small spot then she turned to him placing both hands on his shoulders as Smokey Robinson and The Miracles began to sing “Tracks of My Tears”.
Millie smiled to herself as he placed his large hands on her small waist and they started to move slowly to the smooth tune. Henry stared down into her face and concentrated on keeping his hands in a respectable place on her tight, lithe body. He braced himself as Millie moved closer and looped her arms around his neck.
Millie could feel Henry’s solid strength through his nice shirt. He looked good in his work uniform so she was definitely digging him in regular clothes. She liked his height and the gentle way he held her in his arms. The song faded into another without either of them missing a beat.
Neither of them spoke as one dance turned into two then into three until they lost count. Henry pulled her closer wrapping a strong arm around her back and Millie could only lay her head on his broad chest and inhale his masculine scent.
After a long while, Henry lifted her face to his. “Miss Millie, do you need a ride home?”
“Irma is my ride.”
“We should find her because it’s getting late,” Henry informed her.
He took her hand and she followed him through the house in search of Irma. When they were unable to find her inside, they headed outdoors.
“I know she didn’t leave me,” Millie said confused.
Henry looked around outside. “I don’t see her anywhere.”
“That’s not like her,” Millie frowned.
“Well, I’m not going to leave you here, so let me take you home.”
Millie agreed. “I’ll try to call her when I get there and see what happened.”
Henry escorted her back to his car, opening the door for her and settling her inside before going around to the driver’s seat.
“Just tell me where to go.” Henry started the car before looking over at Millie who was deep in thought.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“I don’t know why Irma would just disappear and leave me stranded like that.”
Henry shrugged. “Maybe she had to leave for an emergency?”
“She could’ve let me know something,” Millie complained.
“I’m going to make sure you get home safely.”
Millie looked at him. “Thank you Henry.”
As Henry drove in the direction Millie indicated, he glanced at her. “When is the championship game?”
“A week from now; the teams get a week’s rest before the big game,” she answered.
“Are you nervous?”
She laughed. “Honestly, I’m always nervous but I’m going to do my best.”
“I don’t think they’re ready for Honey,” he told her.
Millie bit her lip. “Are you coming?”
He looked over at her. “Would you like me to?”
She pursed her lips and sat quietly for a moment. “Yes, I want you to come.”
Henry laughed. “Did it take that long to decide?”
“No, I just didn’t want to seem anxious,” she answered honestly.
“I’ll be at your game Miss Millie, whether you’re anxious or not.”
All too soon they arrived at Millie’s home and Henry parked in front of the house. He turned to her with a smile. “May I walk you to the door?”
She nodded and he got out to come around to let her out of the car. Quietly and side by side, they walked up the driveway to the front porch.
At the doorway, Millie looked up at him. “Thank you Henry. I’ve had a good time with you today.”
Henry nodded. “I’ll see you next week.”
“Okay,” Millie whispered.
Millie waited while he lightly touched the edges of her hairline. “You are a very, very pretty girl Miss Millie.”
She smiled. “I’m glad you think so Henry.”
“Have a good night,” he told her as his gaze slid to her lips.
“You too.”
With one final glance, Henry turned and walked back down the driveway. He waited in his car until Millie was inside then took off to head to his apartment.
Millie watched until the headlights disappeared then went to call Irma.
“What in the world is wrong with that girl?” Millie said as she went to the phone.
She dialed Irma’s number and was surprised when she answered on the first ring.
“Hello?”
“Irma?”
Irma sighed. “What do you want Honey?”
Millie looked confused. “What do you mean what do I want? Why did you leave me at the party?”
“I figured you would go home with Henry since you spent most of the night with him,” Irma informed her.
“Since when do I go home with guys I just met?” Millie snapped. “And that’s still no reason to just leave me stranded.”
“You got home didn’t you?” Irma questioned.
Millie frowned. “That’s wrong Irma.”
“I told you I was diggin’ him Honey. So you’re the one that’s wrong.”
“Irma, I ate with him. He offered me some of his food and I returned the favor,” Millie explained. “We didn’t do anything else.”
“You danced with him too,” Irma accused.
Millie huffed, “You danced with him too!”
“I didn’t disappear with him.”
“This is crazy Irma,” Millie told her. “I’m not going to argue with you over a guy we don’t even know. We need to be preparing for the next game.”
“Henry Patterson is a nice guy, but I’m focused on winning a championship and finishing school,” Millie told her hotly.
There was silence on the line for a few moments before Irma spoke again.
“I’m sorry Honey,” she said quietly. “I shouldn’t have left you like that.”
“It’s just that I thought me and Henry had a connection, but then he was on your heels the rest of the night,” Irma finished.
Millie smiled wistfully. “Believe me Irma, Henry Patterson is not on my heels.”
“You sound like you want him to be…” Irma pointed out.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t mind.”
Irma pouted. “So you are diggin’ him?”
Millie held the receiver in her hand. “I am, but like I said I’m focused on other things right now.”
“Of course you’re diggin’ Henry, he’s fine and he drives that nice car,” Irma surmised.
“It’s not either of those things, Henry is far more than that,” Millie said adamantly.
Irma lifted a brow in surprise. “Wow!
I can’t believe somebody has gotten Honey’s attention.”
Millie remained silent.
“Okay Honey, you can have this one, but the next tall, fine, sexy brother is mine,” Irma conceded.
Millie laughed. “I know the next time you leave me stranded, we’re going to fight…teammate or no teammate.”
Irma laughed too. “Did Henry take you home?”
“Yes, because he’s a gentleman.”
“Did you kiss him?” Irma asked eagerly.
“Goodnight Irma. See you in class tomorrow.” Millie promptly replaced the receiver before Irma could respond.
Chapter 4
The next day, Henry was back at the plant working across from Bill who had been unusually quiet. Henry focused on his work, enjoying the silence.
“Patterson!”
Turning at the sound of his name, Henry watched his foreman, Scott Schmidt coming over to where he stood. He stepped away from where he assembled his parts and met the man half way.
“What can I do for you?” Henry asked.
The angry Scott yelled at him. “You’re putting out bad parts!”
Henry paused. “No sir. That’s not true.”
“We got defective parts on the end of the line and they came from you!” Scott challenged.
“Let me see them,” Henry told him boldly. “We can clear this up very quickly.”
Henry took pride in his work and knew that every part he assembled was above standards.
Scott walked closer. “Are you challenging me?”
“You should step back,” Henry told him watching his light blue eyes flash.
“And if I don’t?” Scott yelled moving closer until they were nearly touching.
Henry looked around as an audience began to form then looked down at Scott. “Like I said, there’s nothing wrong with my parts. You should check somewhere else.”
“I’m the damn foreman! You don’t tell me where to check. You hear me boy!”
Henry’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not your boy.”
“Get your ass out!” Scott yelled and grabbed Henry’s arm.
Henry snatched away from his hold. “Don’t put your hands on me!” he snapped angrily.
By this time, another foreman arrived and saw the two men in confrontation. Before he could intervene, Scott had begun pushing Henry in the chest with both hands yelling for him to leave the premises. Henry responded quickly, grabbing Scott around the neck.
It took Bill, the second foreman and three other workers to pull Henry away from Scott. When he was finally released, Scott’s face was a dark red and he was struggling to breathe while clutching his neck. The plant security arrived and Scott yelled for them to take Henry to the police.
“Take his black ass to jail. I’m pressing charges!” Scott choked out.
Henry was led out of the building until a police cruiser with two white officers arrived a few minutes later. He was handcuffed and placed in the back of the car. During the ride, Henry put his head down.
How in the hell was he going to get out of this?
At the station, Henry was booked and charged with assault. Inside his cell, he dropped his face into his hands. He knew that assaulting a white man was a serious crime even here in the north. In addition, racial tensions were still very high in Detroit so briefly after the riots. Scott Schmidt had always had it in for Henry since he’d first started at the factory. Henry was liked by everyone and did his job exceptionally well. However, he stayed to himself and wasn’t overly talkative or friendly. Scott liked to have his power and position applauded and Henry wasn’t one to provide that. While some other workers would cheerfully yell, ‘Hey Boss!’ when Scott came around, Henry on the other hand would acknowledge him with a simple ‘Good Morning or Good Afternoon’. This didn’t sit well with Scott and he’d always looked at Henry with disdain.
Even with all that being said, Henry was in deep. His bail had been set but he didn’t have anyone who could bail him out. The family that he had stayed with upon his arrival had gone back to Mississippi shortly after the riots. Since there was no one else he could rely upon at this time, he prepared himself to deal with whatever the outcome was to be.
******
A few days later, Millie was on her way to class when she heard someone call her name. Turning she saw one of the Black Student Leaders.
“Hey Thomas,” she greeted.
He smiled at her. “Hey Honey. We need your help with something.”
“What’s going on?”
“The Black Student Union is organizing a protest and we need your support.”
Millie nodded. “What are we protesting?”
“A black Ford worker was arrested for assaulting a white foreman, but all the witnesses say he’s getting a bum rap,” he explained. “They’re holding him at the County.”
Millie felt a chill go down her spine. “What’s the worker’s name?” she asked warily.
“Henry Patterson. From all accounts, he’s been working there a few months with an excellent work history. We think he was targeted for some reason.”
When Millie heard Henry’s name, her heart stopped.
“How long has he been there?” she asked.
“Three days,” Thomas answered. “We’re worried about his safety. Assaulting a white man can get a black man mysteriously killed in custody.”
Thomas looked up in surprise as Millie took off running down the hall towards the doors leading outside.
“Honey?” Thomas called after her. “Can we count you in?”
“YESSS!” she screamed as she continued out the door.
Millie took two city buses to get downtown to the County Jail. She entered and walked up the desk staffed by an officer.
He looked up. “How can I help you?”
“I’m here to see someone you have in custody,” she told him.
“Name?”
She cleared her throat. “Henry Patterson.”
The officer checked a log next to him then looked up at her. “Who are you?”
Millie thought fast. “I’m his wife.”
The officer looked at her skeptically before glancing at her empty hand. He gave her a look as she touched her empty ring finger.
“His wife?” He lifted a brow.
She stood firm. “Yes.”
He handed her a pen along with a clipboard. “Sign your name on the Visitor Log.”
Millie took both then signed, Mrs. Henry Patterson on the form. She then handed both back to the officer. He looked at the signature then smiled as he stood.
“Okay Mrs. Patterson, come this way.” He led her to a small room and motioned for her to have a seat.
“I know that you’re not Henry’s wife, but I like him. I’m glad someone has come to check on him. He’s a good guy.”
Millie smiled. “Thank you.”
“He’ll be in shortly,” the officer said before leaving her alone in the room.
Millie wondered how Henry would feel about her coming here. Her only thought had been to check and see if he was alright. He’d told her that he had come to Detroit alone, so she assumed that he had no family in the city. The officer had said that no one had come to check on him, so maybe he’d be happy that she’d come.
The door opened and Henry entered. He looked from the officer to Millie then back.
“You have ten minutes with your wife Henry.” He smiled then walked out, closing the door behind him.
Millie watched as Henry slowly took the seat across from her. “Miss Millie, what are you doing here?”
“I came as soon as I heard Henry. What happened?”
Henry looked away. “I’ve jeopardized my job, my freedom and my entire life.”
“The Student Leader told me that you were possibly targeted. Tell me what happened,” she pleaded.
He looked at her. “My foreman came accusing me of making bad parts. I know that not’s true so I told him,” Henry paused. “He grabbed me, I told him not to touch me then he
started pushing me so…I retaliated.”
Millie frowned. “He had no right to put his hands on you!”
“He wanted an excuse to get rid of me,” Henry told her.
“First, we need to get you out of here, then you can get a lawyer or something,” Millie said watching him. “How much is your bail?”
“Two hundred dollars,” Henry told her and her eyes widened.
“I don’t have that kind of money Henry, but I can try to raise the funds at school,” Millie offered.
Henry took her hand. “I have the money Millie. I just need you to go and get it for me.”
She looked confused. “Where?”
“At my apartment.”
“Uh…okay,” Millie said slowly.
Henry locked gazes with her. “Go to my apartment, tell my landlord what happened and that you need to get inside. Tell her I sent you and she’ll let you in.”
Millie listened intently.
“In my bedroom closet underneath a pile of blankets is a shoe box. Inside the box is my savings,” he told her.
“You trust me to go into your savings?” Millie asked shocked.
Henry’s grip tightened on her hand. “You came to help me right?”
She nodded slowly looking into his troubled brown eyes. “You’re all I have right now Miss Millie.”
Millie squeezed his hand in return. “Okay, I won’t let you down Henry. I’ll go as quickly as I can and come back.”
“Thank you.”
Millie touched his handsome face. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”
“I just want to go home,” he told her.
She removed her hand. “I’ll be back to get you out.”
Henry gave Millie his address before the door opened and the officer returned. He looked between the pair.
“Are you going to get your husband out of here Mrs. Patterson?” he asked.
Millie stood. “Yes, I’ll be back for him shortly.” She glanced at Henry once more before leaving out the door.
Henry watched her go before getting to his feet. The officer led him back to his cell and locked the door.
“When you get out of here, you marry that girl Henry Patterson,” the officer told him.
******
Another bus ride and Millie was at Henry’s apartment. His landlord was upset to hear what had happened to him. She’d wondered where he’d been for the last few days. Millie took the key and went to Henry’s apartment. Stepping inside, she closed and locked the door behind her.