Free Rescued (Flowers of the Bayou) by Arlene Lam Page B

could be heard returning.
    “A minute my ass.”
    “Jessie.” Amelia scolded.
    Lenora stepped back into the room, making sure not to drag all her accessories on the floor. “What we need is a little pick me up to add to your whole outfit is all.”
    “Like what?” Jessie wanted to know. Looking at the little necklaces and earrings now scattered across the table she raised a brow in understanding.
    “I need to get home I never told Lorraine I would be coming to your house.”
    “I swear you worry too much, remember mama took care of that.” Taking up a few or her prized possessions Lenora moved to her friend. “You like it.” She said pulling up a dark red dress
    “It’s very nice. Are you going to wear it?”
    “You are honey.” Jessie supplied the answer.
    “Come on now Amelia, get yourself on up on this chair.”
    “You’re gonna fit it?” Jessie asked already knowing the answer.
    “Yes and you’re gonna finish it off after.” Lenora watched as her sister shrugged in agreement she supposed.
    Amelia once again let herself be led to a chair where instead of sitting; she stood stiffly, and stripped down to her chemise while she went through the process of being pinned again in a different sense. “You’re sure we are going to have enough time to get this all put together?”
    “It’s not even five yet and everybody knows that nobody can start having fun til it’s good and dark and most important, late. Jessie can fix the dress up as soon as I get it all pinned.”
    “And we all know that girl can sew like the dickens—only one best her is Nina.” Laughing Lenora turned her friend around pleased with what she pictured would soon be the outcome. The dress was a crimson red made of soft satin, coming down low at the bodice, in the back the material fell down in a great heap.
    It was not a grand dress not embellished with lace or embroidery, but it fit Amelia so well. Better than the plain green cotton. “Go on and step out my part’s done now. Let Jessie have it.” Pulling it down before her feet Lenora let her friend step out of the dress before hurrying it over to her sister where she dropped it unceremoniously in her lap.
    Watching Jessie leave, Amelia took a seat on the hard floor folding her legs inward toward herself. She was fast becoming sleepy from all this, which was why she probably never went to any of the small socials that were held.
    “No time fo’ a nap girl sit here.” Lenora pointed at the chair.
    Yawing Amelia instead went back to the bed, spread her arms out and fell backwards toward it, letting her mind wander away from the here and now.
    Tomorrow she would get to go back to Georgia and Vivian and today would be but a dream. She would be happy to see them, but she couldn’t deny that each passing day that she spent with Nina, Jesse and Lenora she felt more and more in her proper place. As much as she loved both of them her status and friendship with them would always have limits.
    They understood her because they were like her. Facing the same fears, pains, problems and of course racism, only they could understand this because almost every day they came into contact with it.
    Try as she may Vivian couldn’t fully grasp her situation because she was white, and Georgia she was white and a child she was just now starting to learn that there were people in the world who hated others simply because of their color. It was like being torn and it was painful. Everyday she was away from them to told herself it was good. They could never be her real family. Life prevented it. She was who she was and they could not be a part of her life outside of the Bradford walls. For all of their sakes.
    Amelia did however treasure the moments they did have. Those moments were heavenly and the time she did spend with them was blessed. Seeing them filled a void, the part of her that missed and longed for their friendship and her little white room, all the books in the library, and that big old