An Elderberry Fall Read Online Free Page A

visited with my brothers, sitting around the kitchen table playing games by candlelight and oil lanterns and secretly wished he could be my boyfriend. And that day when he told me he wanted the same, I felt I was the happiest girl in Jefferson County. Now he was my husband, my knight in shining armor, the one who rescued me from Jefferson County. Now, he was just like the character in the book our teacher Mrs. Miller made us read.
    My thoughts had taken me back to a place where I believed only the sun could shine, and a smile had draped my face. It wasn’t until Simon asked me, “Are you lonely, Carrie?” that I was snapped back into the present.
    â€œI miss you all the time, especially when you are gone for weeks at a time, so when you are away, I am lonely,” I answered, remembering the nights when we first moved to Richmond, and the sounds of the city made me nervous. The cries of the night, the sizzling of steam coming from the street trolleys had replaced the chirping sounds of crickets, and the street light lanterns had brightened the blackness of the night. The empty space on his side of the bed was cold. I was scared. I wanted him near me, snuggled up close to my breasts. I loved the security of having him in the same room.
    He smiled. “Nadine’s husband is gone too; she would be good company. Maybe she could keep you occupied until I can get back home.”
    â€œNadine’s got two children to take care of, and I’ve got little Robert.”
    â€œYou need somebody to talk to when I’m away from home.”
    â€œI’m doing fine by myself.” I didn’t need Nadine any more than he did. She was just the lady across the street.
    â€œI hate leaving too, but baseball is my life. I can’t wait to playbeside Pete Hill or one of them cats. They are some bad colored boys, Carrie. They are three times better than some of them white boys.” Simon’s almond-shaped eyes lit up when he talked about playing ball, and for a moment, I felt embarrassed because I wanted him home with me.
    â€œSimon, I don’t think Nadine and me are alike at all. She’s different . . .”
    â€œI just don’t want you to feel alone. You need somebody to talk to; that way you won’t be worrying about me.”
    â€œI like Mrs. Hall. She is so good to Robert, and she loves it when we sit on the porch with her.”
    â€œShe’s old enough to be yo grandma, and she is white.”
    â€œBut she is nice, and that is all that matters.” In the back of my mind I thought, and she don’t have a longing for my husband.
    â€œOkay, I thought you and Nadine could talk about husbands and children together. You know, cookin’ and things about the house. The kind of things women talk about.”
    â€œI am seventeen, and she’s at least twenty-five. She’s not my type, Simon.”
    He shook his head, knowing there was no win for this conversation. He changed the subject.
    â€œLet’s do something instead of talking about Nadine. Why don’t we go downtown today?”
    I grinned. I hadn’t been downtown but twice since I’d been in Richmond, though it was only several blocks to the east and another few blocks north past the lady dress shop that sold the cloche hats, and pleated chemise dresses I had been hoping to buy one day. The blocks were so much different than the yards of land in the country. Everybody lived feet and not miles away from each other. I loved walking the blocks. The sweet aroma of the foodcooking, and the sounds of chatter did something to me. It did the same thing to Simon too, because I had noticed the grin on his face whenever we spoke to someone sitting on the front porch or steps. The sight of children playing in the streets had both Simon and Robert enthralled, until I coaxed them to come along.
    Everyone thought Robert’s smile was electrifying. It was a strange thing to say, since I’d