The Secrets of Silk

by Allison Hobbs

  “No, Miss Silk,” Myron said, looking contrite.

  Silk gawked at the child. “What did you say?”

  “I mean, no, M’dear.”

  “That’s better. Now, get in that bathtub. Both of you. Before I spank your little, black asses.”

  She walked toward the bathroom door, and then turned around and glared at them. “How’s it feel going to bed on an empty stomach?”

  “It feels bad.” Myron’s lips trembled.

  Silk chuckled. “I bet you two hard-heads won’t sass me tomorrow, will you?”

  “No, M’dear,” they both said at the same time.

  Satisfied that the boys were sufficiently chastised, Silk closed the bathroom door.

  While the boys were in the tub washing up, Silk went to Dallas’ room. “You’re the only good one in the bunch; that’s why I love you.”

  “I love you, too, M’dear. Are you going to say prayers with me tonight and stay in my room with me?”

  “No, not anymore. I have to sleep with Daddy from now on. I have to treat him good and give him lots of thrills.”

  “Are you gonna make Daddy laugh?”

  Silk snorted. “Yeah, something like that.”

  CHAPTER 22

  After their early morning wedding ceremony at the justice of the peace in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, Buddy and Silk drove to Atlantic City, New Jersey for an overnight honeymoon. After checking into a hotel, they walked the boardwalk hand-in-hand. The boardwalk with all its shops and neon lights was fascinating to Silk. They bought saltwater taffy and fudge, and so many souvenirs, they had to make several trips back to the hotel to drop off the heavy bags.

  At the Steel Pier, they rode the Ferris wheel and other rides, played carnival games, and took in a rock-and-roll show.

  Silk had never had so much fun in her life. Back in the hotel room, Silk gave Buddy the special treatment to try and convince him to stay over one more night.

  “We can’t stay, Silk. We have to leave at checkout time tomorrow morning. Our neighbor, Mrs. Sudler, was kind enough to watch the kids overnight, but she has her own household to tend to. Besides, I have to be on the job first thing Monday morning. I missed so much time after everything with Ernestine, I can’t miss another day this year. Not if I want to keep my job.”

  “But you got all that insurance money, now. With that kind of money, you can afford to miss a day’s work here and there, can’t you?”

  Buddy’s face clouded. “About the insurance money…” Buddy looked down guiltily. “I struck up a deal where I’d accept a smaller settlement instead of fighting in court. When my lawyer stopped by last week, he told me that a court fight with the cab company could last for years.”

  “I’ve been meaning to ask you how much you got out of that accident.”

  “Eleven thousand dollars.”

  “That’s a lot of dough.” With eleven thousand dollars, Silk could get a new car, build on extra rooms, get herself an electric clothes dryer, go on endless shopping sprees, and get the basement remodeled to look like a honky-tonk with a full bar and a Magnavox stereo console. She’d throw parties in the basement every Saturday night. There were unlimited ways to spend eleven thousand dollars once she weaseled the money away from Buddy.

  “No amount of money could make up for the loss of Ernestine,” Buddy said gravely. “But it doesn’t matter. I had to sign most of it over for the twins’ medical bills. My health insurance doesn’t cover all the care they need.”

  “What are you saying? We lost all of the insurance money?” Silk’s mouth went dry and her heart plummeted to her stomach. That sneaky-looking lawyer had come by the house while Buddy was in deep mourning. The crooked lawyer and that politician had probably gypped Buddy out of most of the dough he was entitled to. Silk was pretty certain that the lawyer and the politician had pocketed most of the insurance money for themselves and Buddy was too grief-stricken and gullible to realize it. Had she been married to Buddy at the time, those two crooks would have had to get past her before they could get their grubby fingers on one thin dime of that insurance money.

  “The money’s not lost,” Buddy said. “It’s keeping the twins alive and I used some of the money to pay off the mortgage on the house. I also signed up for new policies for me and the children. I’ll have to add you on now that we’re man and wife,” he said as an afterthought.

  Silk was raging mad over Buddy wasting good money on brain-dead babies. She’d had her heart set on getting a shiny new car ever since Nathan Lee had promised to buy her one. But she didn’t say anything. Instead of complaining like she wanted to, she patted Buddy’s hand comfortingly. “You’re a good man, Buddy. The way you look after me and the kids makes me proud to be your wife.”

  “I truly love you, Silk. I don’t want you worrying about money because I earn a decent living. With the house paid off, that’s one less bill. You’ll never have to worry about being provided for. You’re the queen of my house and I’m going to do my best to always treat you like royalty.”

  “You’re making me blush, talking all sweet and tender.”

  “You’ll see, Mrs. Dixon. I plan to pull as much overtime as possible to make sure you have the finest things in life.”

  “Thank you, Buddy. But I don’t want you breaking your back over me.”

  “Shoot, you’re well worth breaking out a little extra sweat over. Didn’t you notice how every man on the Boardwalk, both white and colored, couldn’t keep their eyes off you? I felt like poking my chest out with pride. I could hardly keep myself from shouting out loud, ‘This beautiful woman is my new bride.’ ”

  “Aw, Buddy, you say the sweetest things.”

  “I only speak the truth. Now, get back under these covers, woman, so I can show you how much I love you.”

  Silk wondered if Buddy was finally going to give her the special treatment to demonstrate his love. Back home, white men loved pleasuring her with their lips and tongues, but colored boys always acted real funny-time about it. Most flat-out refused, and others hesitated and required a lot of persuading.

  “In my time of need, you were good to me, Silk. And I want to return the favor. I always thought oral sex was something only white fellas with little peckers did. You’ve opened up my eyes and shown me sexual pleasures I’d only heard about. I love you so much, I’m willing to try most anything to keep you satisfied.”

  “I’m already satisfied.”

  “I want you to be even more satisfied,” Buddy said softly, moistening his lips in preparation for the task ahead.

  “Okay, Buddy,” Silk said, leaning back and widening her legs. “The main thing you need to know about oral sex is that it feels better to the woman when you don’t rush through it. It’s much, much better when you take your time.”

  “I’ll take my time,” Buddy agreed as he lowered his head between Silk’s smooth thighs.

  • • •

  Monday morning before leaving for work, Buddy gave Silk her weekly house money. She had yet to spend all of last week’s money, and since the money wasn’t doing any good sitting in her purse, she decided to go over town and browse around, and maybe buy herself some more new clothes, some shoes, and personal items.

  “Boys!” Silk called. Myron and Bruce rushed to her bedroom.

  “Yes, M’dear?” they both said.

  “You’re both old enough to look after yourselves. I’m going over town, and I’m taking Dallas with me. You two can eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches after you finish your chores. I better not see a speck of dust on anything when I get back, or I’ma take switches to y’all little narrow behinds. Do you hear me?”

  “Yes, M’dear,” the boys chorused.

  Holding Dallas by the hand, Silk walked along Flower Street until she reached the bus stop on Ninth Street. When the bus arrived, she and Dallas boarded, and Silk gave the bus driver a quarter. From a metal case that was strapped to his waist, he gave her five cents change. Silk and Dallas took seats in the front of the bu
s, and Silk felt like a grand lady.

  The last stop was Seventh and Sproul Streets. Silk and Dallas walked along the street and gazed through the window of the YWCA, where little white girls were dressed in tights and leotards, taking ballet lessons. With money to burn, Silk was ready to start spending.

  “Do you want to be a ballerina, Dallas?”

  “I don’t know how to dance like that.”

  “The ballet teacher will show you how. I think you’d make a pretty ballerina, so let’s go in and see about getting you signed up for some lessons.”

  Inside the building, there was an older woman at the desk. She gazed at Silk and Dallas as if they were intruders.

  “I want to sign my little girl up for ballet lessons,” Silk said.

  “Uh, you’re at the wrong branch. The West branch Y at Seventh and Yarnall Streets is where the Negroes go,” the woman said.

  “Do they give ballet classes at the colored Y?”

  “No, but there are tap dance classes as well as interpretive dance.”

  “My little girl wants to be a ballerina,” Silk said stubbornly. “Is there a law that says she can’t dance with those little white girls?” Silk pointed to the girls standing at the ballet bar.

  Flustered by Silk’s bluntness, the receptionist turned a pinkish color. “There’s no law. But historically, here in Chester, the coloreds tend to congregate among their own kind.”

  “I didn’t come in here for a history lesson. How much is the ballet class, and how soon can my daughter start?”

  Red-faced, the woman shuffled through some papers, and then handed Silk a card. “Your child will have to become a member of the Y in order to take dances classes or use any of the facilities, such as the pool. Fill out the information and bring the card back on Saturday, along with the five-dollar registration fee. The summer session begins Saturday at two.”

  “Okie-dokie,” Silk said, with smug satisfaction.

  “She’s going to need dance attire. Soft ballet slippers, black tights, and a black leotard.”

  “Why do they have to wear all that black? I thought ballerinas wore pink leotards with pink crinoline skirts.”

  “They wear tutus when they perform at their dance recital, but the girls rehearse in standard tights and leotards. Black only,” the woman said pointedly, clearly annoyed by Silk’s lack of knowledge.

  “So, what store carries ballet getup?”

  The receptionist sighed. “Weinberg’s carries the tights, leotards, and slippers. But if she makes the cut for the recital, you’ll have to get her costume from Baum’s Dancewear in Philadelphia.”

  “I suppose we’ll be traveling to Philly to pick up a tutu because my little girl is a natural born dancer. She’s gonna make the cut and put all those other children to shame. Isn’t that right, Dallas?”

  “Yes, M’dear.”

  Giving the receptionist a look of triumph, Silk tucked the registration card in her purse and escorted Dallas out of the building.

  “I didn’t expect to encounter a bunch of prejudiced people up North, but I suppose they’re everywhere,” Silk said.

  “What do prejudiced people look like?” Dallas inquired in a wary tone.

  “They look like crackers.”

  Dallas scowled. “Like Saltine crackers?”

  Silk sighed. “Never mind. You don’t need to concern yourself about prejudiced people because I’m gonna protect you from them.”

  Silk and Dallas approached the State Theater and gazed at the advertisements for the coming attractions. An animated movie, 101 Dalmatians, was scheduled to show the upcoming Saturday.

  “You want to see that picture about those spotted dogs?” Silk asked Dallas.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “I’ll tell you what. If you’re a good girl, and if you give me lots of thrills, we’ll go to the picture show after your ballet class next Saturday.”

  “Okay,” Dallas said with a giggle, thinking that all she had to do was tickle Silk or tell her jokes.

  They entered Weinberg’s Department Store, which Silk noticed had a hoity-toity air. “I need ballet slippers and a dance getup for my daughter’s ballet class. Oh, and I want a slew of satin ribbons for her hair,” Silk added, giving Dallas’ hair a critical look. The babysitter, Mrs. Sudler, had fixed her hair in two thick braids with a part down the middle. Silk didn’t like that style—it looked too country. She wanted Dallas to wear her hair in ponytails and pigtails, tied up with bright ribbons.

  They left Weinberg’s with Silk proudly carrying the bag with its prestigious logo by the handles. She spotted Woolworth five-and-dime on the other side of the street. “I’m ready for lunch, how about you?” she asked Dallas.

  “I love Woolworth. Mommy always let me pick a balloon—” Dallas caught herself, and her eyes widened in fear. “I didn’t mean to talk about Mommy. I’m sorry, M’dear,” she said in a scared voice.

  “It was an honest mistake, but don’t let it happen again.”

  “I won’t.”

  “Good. Now, let’s go get us some food, sweetiekins. I could go for a cheeseburger or maybe a double-decker, ham and Swiss cheese sandwich. You can get a hot dog, French fries, and a root beer float, if you’d like.”

  “Ooo. Yummy!” Dallas responded, looking relieved that Silk wasn’t upset with her.

  Sitting at the lunch counter amongst white folks was another new experience for Silk. The North was strange in many ways, but it had its good points. Above the counter was a bouquet of colorful balloons, and despite Dallas’ Mommy slip-up, Silk was as gleeful as a child about the prospect of picking out a balloon that the waitress would pop with a pin. Inside the balloon was the surprise cost of lunch—for kids only. The cost could be as low as a penny or as high as a dollar, depending on the customer’s luck.

  “Do you feel lucky, Dallas?”

  “Yes, M’dear.”

  “Which balloon do you want to pick?”

  “The red one, over there,” Dallas said, smiling and pointing.

  The waitress popped the balloon and announced, “The grand total for the little lady’s lunch is five cents.”

  Sitting on the swivel stool, Silk and Dallas clapped their hands happily.

  Silk had to admit, she had a good life, and even without the insurance policy money, she couldn’t complain. Buddy worshipped the ground she walked on, and now that she had those bratty sons of his straightened out, she didn’t have to worry about them acting up or giving her any lip. Timid, little Dallas was so well-behaved, she was the apple of Silk’s eye. And the child adored Silk almost as much as her daddy did. If Silk told Dallas to jump off a cliff, she was pretty certain, Dallas would do so with a smile.

  The waitress placed their food in front of them, and Silk and Dallas dug in. After they finished eating, Silk paid the tab and reached down to pick up her Weinberg’s bag, when a familiar voice said, “I’ll get that for you.”

  Butterflies fluttered around in her stomach, and she drew in a sharp breath. It took a few moments for her to get the nerve to look up, and when she did, she found herself staring into the gorgeous, light-brown eyes of Tate Simmons.

  CHAPTER 23

  “Well, well. If it isn’t the New Orleans Geechie girl,” Tate said with a smirk.

  Even though Tate was dressed as sharp as a tack in a crisp, short-sleeved shirt, a white cap, and white pants, Silk scowled at him like he was trash. “I’m not from New Orleans, I’m from another part of Louisiana. And I done told you that I’m not a Geechie, I’m a Creole.”

  “And I told you that you voodoo ladies are all the same to me,” Tate said with teasing laughter.

  Silk slid off the stool, and helped Dallas off hers. “I don’t know anything about voodoo.”

  “That’s a relief because you already got my nose open, and I would hate to think what would happen if you put some roots on me. Would be a shame if I started barking like a dog every time I saw you or smelled your perfume.” Laughing, Tate lowered his head to Silk’s nec
kline and took a whiff. “Man, oh, man. That perfume you wear drives me wild.”

  “There ain’t no reason for you to go wild over me. I’m already spoken for.” Silk held up her left hand that sparkled with her new diamond ring and gold wedding band.

  Visibly disappointed, Tate said, “I thought what I heard about you and Buddy Dixon was only a rumor. His wife’s body is barely cold, but he didn’t waste any time. Oh, well, I guess he beat me to the punch.”

  “He sure did,” Silk said snidely. “Nice talking to you, Tate. I’ll catch you later.” She took Dallas by the hand and walked away.

  Unwilling to give up easily, Tate followed Silk and Dallas out of the store. “Say, it’s pretty hot out today, and I’d hate for you to burn up while you’re standing around, waiting around for the bus. I can give you a lift home.”

  “That’s okay. I have plenty more shopping to do.”

  “I bet that insurance money Buddy collected is burning a hole in your pocketbook,” Tate said scornfully.

  “You need to mind your business. I don’t want a ride from you. In fact, I don’t want anything to do with you, so leave me alone and stop talking to me.” As Silk’s voice escalated, Dallas nervously squeezed her hand tight.

  “Calm down. I was only kidding around. Where’s your sense of humor? Can’t you take a joke?” He eyed Silk up and down. “Look, I know all the fellas got you thinking you’re hot stuff, and maybe you are. But all I did was offer you a ride home, and that’s no reason for you to bite my head off.”

  “You’re right. I’m s…”

  “Save it,” Tate interjected before Silk could apologize. “If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a stuck-up broad.” With anger flashing in his eyes, Tate was more handsome than ever, and Silk had to briefly look away.

  “I tried to apologize, but if you don’t wanna accept it, then don’t. It’s no skin off my back,” Silk spat, her own temper beginning to flare.