Lavender

North Carolina, 1953

Fitz large palm fixed the felt-brimmed hat on his head. There was a significant amount of sweat on his brow as he walked along the lonely, stirring road. There hadn’t been anyone in sight for over a mile. He couldn’t spot for the common necessities from his last location, he was forced out. He caused too much of a ruckus in the small town, he was far too backward.

And so Fitz traveled slowly in the North Carolina sun, his shoes mucked with dirt as they shuffled. The road slowly became paved, and Fitz could practically smell that he was close to civilization. Until finally the white noise of shuffling leaves and tweeting birds was cut through roughly by the motor of a car.

Two girls sat in the front seat, both dressed eloquently. Both had on their small white gloves, fancy shading hats, and tailored dresses to their figures. Fitz hoped he could hitch a ride with the girls, their attractive nature surely helping the situation. But he wasn’t sure if they’d be interested in giving him a ride due to the fact that they were black and he was white, and even the black elite had a reason to steer clear of those who were white. That didn’t stop Fitz from wanting to show the girls that he didn’t mean them any harm, he’d only need to get from point A to point B.

The girl behind the wheel seemed to only look forward, behind her dark eyes you could tell there was apprehension as they stopped the car beside him. Her skin was dark, and the hot sun caused it to glisten. The girl beside her was of a fair complexion, and she appeared ecstatic to have spotted Fitz. She lifted herself higher out of the convertible and leaned onto the door, her breasts resting on her forearms. She appeared as if she was about to tip out the car.

“Hey there!” She called out excitedly. “Where are you trying to get to?”

Fitz stood there with a slanted, relaxed posture and his thumbs hooked into the waist of his Levi’s. At the sight of women, being the gentleman he is, he removed his felt hat revealing his dirty blonde hair. “Trying to get into town.”

“Well hop in, we can give you a ride.” Said the fair girl in the passenger. Fitz was surprised two girls all by themselves were so comfortable to let him ride with them. But he caught a glimpse of the one in the driver’s seat, and she didn’t seem happy at all. He thought to himself that her face was far too beautiful to hold such a scowl. Still, he was desperate for the ride, so he threw his suitcase in and hopped in the backseat. Before he could hardly get situated, the one in the driver flung her large hat to the backseat, almost hitting Fitz. Then she slammed her foot onto the gas pedal of her automatic convertible.

“Do you always drive like this?” Asked Fitz who seemed to be flung from side to side in the backseat with every swift turn the gorgeous dark skin girl in the driver’s seat took.

“That’s an interesting question to ask someone whose doing you a favor.” She said from behind the wheel.

The girl in the passenger looked back at him as she rested her elbow on the armrest. “She always drives like this, don’t worry, she’s never crashed.”

Fitz flicked his eyebrows up as he adjusted himself in the seat, only to once again find himself sliding from the hectic driving.

“You’re so tall, you could barely fit in the backseat.” The fair skin girl said as the tip of her tongue touched her corner tooth. Her eyes raked up and down Fitz.

“I didn’t get your names.” He grinned. Fitz had traveled quite a bit, and he wasn’t opposed to getting to know beautiful girls on the road. Regardless of color.

“I’m Regina.” Said the one in the passenger, her dainty finger pointing to herself. Then, her gloved hand flickered over toward the girl in the driver’s seat. “And that’s Ivy.”

“Ivy.” He repeated under his breath. The brown skin beauty seemed like she couldn’t care less about his presence. Fitz was an attractive guy, he had a nice build from all of the active work he’d done, a nice structured face, strikingly blue eyes and wavy dirty blonde hair he kept slicked back. It wasn’t often that he came across a girl that had no interest in him.

“What brings you to our little town?” Regina asked, snapping him out of his curiosity toward Ivy.

“I’m in need of work.” Fitz called from the back of the car, trying to speak over the loud motor. The girls gave each other a glimpse, then Ivy’s intimidating siren eyes pointed ahead. In the reflection of the rearview mirror, Fitz looked into them. Ivy glimpsed up into the mirror and made eye contact with him for a moment, and despite that excitement, her stare caused he kept his cool. Fitz leaned back, rolled his tongue and looked off to the side.

“Work?” Regina turned her body slightly to look back at Fitz, her small white-gloved hand firmly holding her hat onto her head. “Well, we’ve got some work for you!”

“Do you?” Fitz looked intrigued, a crooked grin spread on his face.

“Sure thing, what are you good at?” The girl in the passenger asked.

“Usually I do farm work. Sharecropping, things like that.” Fitz said in a low voice.

“Well, how about serving?” Regina asked. “We have a party going on tonight and we need all the help we can get.”

“I’ve never done it before but I’m sure I can figure it out.” Said Fitz. “There’s not a job I’ll say no to.”

“Great! You’re hired. We’ll just take you back to our place.” Regina smiled. Ivy was entirely silent, you could tell by the look on her face she had deep disapproval for this little setup. Still, she drove on. And eventually the car rolled onto some property that Fitz had only seen in the pictures.

“This is where you live?” He asked as they drove past manicured lawns and hedges, all toward a large brick house toward the end of the driveway.

“Sure thing,” Regina said proudly. “Really it’s Ivy’s father’s house. He’s in the pharmaceutical business.”

In those days, it was common for the local colored elite to be in the pharmaceutical business. But this was the first Fitz saw a house so vast and beautiful owned by a colored family. He could hardly catch his breath. That is, until the car came to an abrupt stop off to the side.

“Alright, you can let him out.” Ivy said.

“I’m assuming I’m the ‘him’.” Fitz said as he hopped out of the car. He stood before the passenger door and looked into the front row of the car where the girls sat. He tipped his hat before placing it firmly on his head. “Thank you for the ride, and the job.”

“You just get cleaned up at the outhouse over there.” Regina pointed. “Then you come back to the main house and we’ll introduce you to Sylvester. That’s the man that’ll help you get situated for the party later.”

“Later? The party’s today?” Fitz asked with shock, he didn’t know he’d have to learn how to be a server all within a few hours.

“Mhm. Be ready!” Regina laughed, then the car took off with the two girls, leaving Fitz in a fog. Fitz’s strong arms swiped the fog away, then quietly he took his things and began walking toward the outhouse.