“Wrong color?” she asked indignantly, then repeated, “Wrong color?” If she were a male, she would have spit; instead she balled her fists and let loose an angry growl. “You get out of here! All of you! Now!” A few people had the decency to look away, but the crowd didn't budge.
“What is this?” Mattie heard Meryl say as she strode through the mob and stood with her friends. Her hazel eyes, sparked with gold and fury, swept over the people. “I never dreamed this could be possible! I thought we were neighbors and friends.” She put an arm over both Mattie and Jasmine. “You two all right?”
“I'm perfectly fine,” Jasmine said with a defiant look at the aggressors.
“Well, I'm not,” Mattie said. “These people were attacking Jasmine, saying she shouldn't live here.” Her voice quavered.
Meryl turned back to the intolerant crowd. “You should be ashamed of yourselves. If I were you, I wouldn't show my face in public.” With that, she swung around, flinging wild curls off her shoulder and faced Mattie and Jasmine. Cheerfully, as if none of the ugliness had happened, she said, “I bought everything we need for lasagna. And I'm starving.” She fingered the paper bag she carried that was bulging with groceries. A loaf of French bread protruded from the top. Eyeing the narrow-minded pack, she said, “Please, excuse us.”
Sid puffed out his barrel chest and stepped in front of her. “Not until we're done with our business.”
“As far as I'm concerned, you are done with your business.”
“She don't belong here,” Sid growled, looking at Jasmine. “No coloreds allowed. That's the rules.”
“She has every right to live here,” Meryl said haughtily.
“No more. We got a new manager, and he don't want no coloreds in the building.”
Roseline Talbot hobbled up to the group. “What's all this ruckus, Sid?” She leveled pale blue eyes on the man. “Now, you just settle down. You know as well as any of us that Jasmine's never been any trouble. Why would you want her out?”
Sid seemed lost for words. He compressed puffy lips and his ruddy complexion deepened. “She'll only bring in more of her kind.”
Mrs. Talbot looked at Jasmine. “How long have you lived here, dear?”
“Nearly three years.”
“Hmm. Seems to me if you were going to bring in ‘more of your kind’ you would have done it by now.” She smiled at Sid.” 'Course that would be a good thing, since Jasmine here is such a good neighbor.” Placing a hand on Jasmine's arm, she said, “Come along, dear.”
Again Sid blocked the way. “Not so fast. She don't belong and you know it. Now, I ain't got nothin' against her personally, but you know if you let one in they'll all come in.” He unsuccessfully tried to hold Mrs. Talbot's gaze. “You know what I mean,” he added lamely.
Mattie stepped forward. “So tell me what terrible thing happens if they do?” He didn't answer right away, so Mattie repeated, “Tell me. What happens?”
The man eyed her. “The whole neighborhood goes to pot. Hoodlums move in, and pretty soon you've got drunks on the streets and you got to worry about being robbed…and worse.”
Mattie looked over the crowd. “How can any of you believe that Jasmine is bad for our building just because of the color of her skin?” Mattie knew she was heading for trouble but couldn't hold back. “Jasmine works hard and never causes trouble. She's a fine person.” She glanced at the Negro woman. “I'm glad she's my friend.”
“Two peas in a pod…” Sid said.
Another man sidled up beside him. He turned pale blue eyes on Mattie. “You're nearly as dark as she is. You sure you ain't a Jap?”
Momentarily shocked, Mattie didn't know what to say. If the situation weren't so serious, she would have laughed.
Meryl stepped in. “What she is or isn't is none of your business. Now let us pass, or I'll be forced to call the police.”
“So, she is a Jap. I knew it.”
“No. She's not.” Meryl glared at the man, and taking Mattie's hand, shouldered her way through. Jasmine and Mrs. Talbot followed in their wake.
“This isn't the end,” the man threatened. “Not by a long shot.”
Mrs. Talbot stopped and turned to face him. She peered at him, her watery eyes flashing with anger. “You'd best watch your step. The Lord doesn't take kindly to those who persecute his children. If you do any harm to any of these young ladies, he'll see to you.” With that, she turned and walked away, sliding her arms into Jasmine's and Mattie's.
Once inside the front doors, Mrs. Talbot said, “Why don't you all come up to my room. I'll put on some tea.” Everyone agreed, and Mrs. Talbot hobbled up the stairs, Meryl supporting her and Mattie and Jasmine following.
Mattie's mind replayed the incident over and over. She felt sick to her stomach. She'd never been part of such a volatile clash. It was disturbing and disappointing.
When they reached Mrs. Talbot's room, the old woman fumbled with her key but finally pushed it into the lock. After a moment of wrangling, she managed to open the door and smiled up at her companions. “This lock is nearly as cantankerous as that Sid.” She chuckled. “Come in.” She shuffled across the tiny apartment and opened a window. “Oh my, it's stifling in here.”
Meryl sat in a well-stuffed chair with a large doily on the back and two matching doilies on the arms. She slipped off pumps and planted her feet on an ottoman. “I can't believe what just happened.”
Jasmine settled on a sofa and stared at her hands. “I'm thinking of moving. My sister lives across town, and she said I can stay with her for a while.”
“You can't give in to them,” Meryl said. “You have to stand up to people like that.”
Her bravado gone, Jasmine offered a defeated smile. “I appreciate that you care, but you don't understand. It's not as easy as you think.”
“But—”
“Meryl, you don't understand,” Mattie said, anger growing. It was supposed to be different here, she thought.
Meryl frowned. “I suppose you're right. But this kind of injustice needs to be stopped. It makes me so angry.”
“It does need to stop,” Jasmine said, “but I'm not the one to do it. Someday things will be better. But not today.”
Mrs. Talbot carried a silver tray with delicate china cups and a teapot. She placed it on a coffee table. Her hands trembling, she filled the cups with golden liquid. Offering Jasmine a cup, she said, “This was a wedding gift to me and James. Of course, he didn't think all that much about it, but I've always loved it.” She smiled and tucked a wisp of hair back away from her face.
