The note was written in a scrawl

Chapter 31)  Susan
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Returning to town, blinded with dejection, and cutting through alleys to avoid the street, River Boy didn't see three men hoisting a piece of furniture out of the auction house loft. Nor did they see him.
Some level of calamity was about to overtake his future when Harold Wilkerson stepped out the back just in time to see River Boy coming down the alley.

Remembering his wife Bethel's comment that their daughter Susan needed a date to the high school football game that evening, Mr Wilkerson grabbed his arm and pulled River Boy into the shop.
With his daughter's future on the line, he had to forget the priceless armoire dangling out the back as he laid up the plan and offered to let River Boy use the telephone, as long as he promised that Susan not discover collusion by her parents.

Instantly turning from glum to stark confusion, River Boy agreed to call Susan.
Mr Wilkerson rushed out the back door to protect his investment.

Now River Boy kinda knew the basics of dialing a phone, but hadn't actually used one.
He called Mr Wilkerson back inside, who explained it real fast and went back outside.

River Boy dialed the number wrong.
Mr Wilkerson came back in.
River Boy tried again, and viola, after several rings Susan answered except River Boy didn't know how to start so he hung up and called Mr Wilkerson back inside.
Dang boy, do you want me to ask her for you? Just act regular. Then he went back outside.

So ok, ok ... regular ... that's it ... pretend she's here ... and dressed.
He called again.
She answered, hello.
Hi.
Who is this?
River Boy.
Did you just hang up?
He couldn't think of a lie.
Susan said, go ahead, it was you.
Ok.
Well, admit it.
He laughed.
Weren't you just over here?
Yeah.
Well didn't you see enough?
Maybe not.
That caused her to laugh. You masher.
No, I'm not like that.
Well hurry up. I can't stay on phone forever, mimicking how her mother said it when local ladies called to gossip.

Well we could go to the football game.
I don't want to go.

Your fa.... he almost spilled it about her father ....uhhh, we could go anyway.
Where are you? You're at my father's store? He put you up to this?

Uh, I don't know, would you like to go with me?
With you? Alright. But I'll meet you there. You're not coming over here again.

Okay. Meet you there.
He hung up and walked out the back door.
Mr Wilkerson asked, well what happened?
The men were down from the loft and roping the armoire onto the truck, waiting to hear the answer.
Satisfied he'd done pretty well, River Boy said, we're going to meet at the game.
Mr Wilkerson threw his head back, howling ... joined by a chorus from the other men.
You're an amateur. Hahaha. She pushed you around. She does the same thing to everybody.
Oh. I don't know?
She's figured you out.
The men were buckled over laughing harder.
River Boy felt like a dope. However, he was aware of the case now. He liked Susan, and not just for the earlier display of assets. So he decided to walk back to her house, and didn't want the men see him skulking away, so he turned out of the alley and took the next street up the hill, straight through the town square.

Oddly enough, Thomas and Maggie had already agreed to go to the game, and were at the square so she could buy a new pair of winter gloves.
River Boy was coming up the sidewalk just as Thomas and Maggie walked out of Woolworths running face to face into each other.

Thomas immediately recognized the Mayor of Blacktown from his visit to the mansion, and with his father needing all the votes he could muster, said, hello Mr Mayor.
Taken by surprise somewhat since the residents of Blacktown had been calling him Mayor as a half-joke they put over on the white folks, River Boy said, hello, not remembering exactly who the blond fellow was.
Sticking out his hand, he said I'm Thomas Churchail III, the Commissioner's son.
Oh yes, how is your father?
He needs every vote now. We want you to get your folks out to the polls.
Well we're doing that for sure. We definitely support the Commissioner.

Of course folks in Blacktown were afraid to take the literacy test and few of those were brave enough to register or vote.
Thomas said, we're counting on you for the support. Oh, by the way, do you know Maggie Winston?
Maggie for her part was confused why Thomas would know River Boy or more to the point... Mayor?

River Boy was giving it a long pause, trying to remember if he knew Maggie, but not before Maggie offered cover, wanting to look all the sophisticated lady about town, said no.
Close enough. River Boy nodded and continued walking up the street, having won a slight moment over his disappointment with her.
Yeah, it felt good being Mayor.
He had an inkling that Susan wouldn't put up with that nonsense and decided not to share the story with her. It would get around school soon enough and he could dodge it later.
He would see Maggie later in school too. There was a pang across his heart when he looked back and saw Thomas put his arm around her.

Bethel Wilkerson came home and Susan was in the parlor waiting for something. Susan knew River Boy would show up. He was too predictable.
Sure enough, River Boy knocked.
Susan jumped up, wanting to see him again and punch his nose at the same time.
Her mother, not missing a stroke, whispered real loud, invite him in.
Distressed that her mother was going to keep standing there, Susan let River Boy in the door and introduced him, as if nobody in town could possibly know who he was.
River Boy exchanged greetings and Bethel said, I'll make ice tea.

River Boy and Susan stood in the parlor with nothing to say.
Sensing disaster, her mother yelled out, Susan makes fishing lures.
Oh, what kind you make?
The kind that work, what kind you use?
Bethel added, hum-m-m-m the tea's about ready.

Susan reminded herself to be nice and said, oh yeah, my father got me a book and showed me how.
Bethel yelled out again, tea's ready, why don't the two of you go out back so she can show you where she makes them.
The budding young couple took the cold tea and walked out to the garage.
Susan showed him her father's workshop where she and her father made lures and carved willow poles then added a cork handle.
River boy was looking at the lures, especially the red-eye. I've seen these at Louis' place.
Yeah he sells them. He's my father's friend. They grew up together.

Go ahead. You can touch them. River Boy started picking up the carpenter’s tools, tiny screwdrivers and looking through the magnifying glass, the whole while kept bumping into her.
It all seemed pleasant enough until he put both his hands on her waist.
She spun around, not unfamiliar with a man's touch, but less experienced and caring to wait, she said, not for you fella. Some fish are harder to catch.
River Boy withdrew and said, what do you recommend?
Try it from a different spot.
So he reached around and touched her behind slightly.
She firmly put her hand on his chest pushing him away, pointing to spot farther away in the garage.

The moment of contact from this woman, with her rejection, plus the rejection of Maggie, threw him unexpectedly back to his childhood.
He didn't feel that way often, going back to the small beaten and unloved boy, but now, no matter how he tried to slough it off, it was on him like he hadn't felt in years. His shoulders slumped and he looked straight down into emptiness.
Susan saw a man without excuse or reason. She knew of his dispair, having heard rumors around school, and moved close, looking down, pretending to be busy with a lure. She leaned her shoulder gently against his chest and said you're with me. It's okay.
Bethel could feel it from the kitchen. She knew those two would match.

While this was going on, Latchy was giving her out-of-town guests a tour of Trinity to introduce local businessmen. Main Street was impeccable, the flower pots turned out in color, every inch cleaned to sparkle in a display of absolute mercantile glory.
They walked through Louis' shop with his hand-crafted furniture and collection of imported chandeliers.
Louis extended invitation to Latchy and her party to the football game that night. Since most were staying the night at Latchy's, all agreed it would be a nice end to the day.

Across the street, they were impressed with the antique house, especially the prices Wilkerson was asking.

Latchy spoke with Wilkerson for a second. He'd already heard the fishing tournament had an unexpected turn for the better because of Bangin' Gypsy's band.
Latchy told him she suspected River Boy of the shenanigan, followed by the suggestion that he be kept from further mischief, causing them both to chuckle.

Several guests in the group remarked that Trinity was quite unique with the clean storefronts and streets.
One of the men saw opportunity, and said bluntly that real money can be made here with the right approach. You guys really have something here. The others nodded ... it was exactly what Latchy and Wilkerson wanted to hear.

Latchy's longtime confidant and friend, Pale Wexford, leaned over and said, Trinity is beautiful. It's a complete surprise. You're so lucky and the Negroes are well behaved.
Latchy nodded, hoping the death of Reverend Diik and issues at Blacktown wouldn't explode in the news or worse.

Earlier, Bethel called her husband at the antique store and told him River Boy showed up at the house, so he called back and told her to keep him there until the game started. Set another plate for dinner and we'll all eat together.
I'll be home around 4 and we'll take him upstairs and let him try one my brother's jackets. Wilkerson's brother spent his final months in their home, and his well-fit expensive clothes were never discarded. Bethel giggled, oh yes, that coat he brought is all muddy.

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