About the Author
BEVERLY JENKINS has received numerous awards, including three Waldenbooks Best Sellers Awards, two Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times magazine, and a Golden Pen Award from the Black Writer’s Guild. Ms. Jenkins was voted one of the Top Fifty Favorite African-American writers of the twentieth century by AABLC, the nation’s largest online African-American book club. To read more about Beverly visit her website at www.beverlyjenkins.net.
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Prologue
Nine-year-old Mariah Cooper was ecstatic. For the very first time, her mother was allowing her to deliver a dress to one of the customers of her dress shop. The lady, a Mrs. Ainsley, lived a few blocks away, and because her house wasn’t far, Mariah had been trusted to get it there and herself back, undamaged, and in one piece. She and her mother lived on the Colored side of Philadelphia, and as she passed the homes of her neighbors and classmates, she didn’t tarry because she wanted her mama to be proud of her.
Her steps slowed, however, when she saw Liam Anderson sitting with some boys on his front stoop. He’d gotten in trouble in school earlier that day and blamed her. Their teacher, Miss Worth, stepped out of the classroom for a moment and left Mariah in charge. Mariah was told to write down the name of anyone exhibiting unruly behavior, and that person or persons would be dealt with upon her return.
The moment Mrs. Worth exited and closed the door, Liam ran to the front of the room where Mariah was seated, hit her on the side of her head, and ran back to his seat. The kids laughed—not loud enough to be heard in the hallway, but the snickering only added to her shame. Liam was the biggest and oldest person in the class, and not a day passed by that he didn’t bully someone smaller and younger. Mariah detested him because he seemed to set his sights on her more than anyone else.
Before she could recover from the sting of the first blow, he returned for an encore, and this time hit her harder. Blinking and determined to keep her tears in check while the children giggled, she snapped, “I’m putting you on the list, Liam Anderson.”
If you do, I’ll get you after school, Witch Hazel.” The derisive name was one she’d been given because of her gold-colored eyes. She thought the name as abominable as Liam.
To make certain Mariah took his threat seriously, he ran up and hit her again just as Miss Worth reentered the classroom.
When Miss Worth grabbed him by his ear and escorted him away to see the school principal, Mariah was admittedly pleased. Now, watching him leave the stoop and approach her wearing a nasty grin, she wasn’t pleased; she was afraid. But running away wasn’t an option, so she continued up the street where he stood blocking her path.
Get out of my way, Liam. I have to deliver this dress for my mama.”
My papa whipped me because of you.”
It was your own fault.”
He pushed her down. The dress in its brown paper shroud landed beside her. She scrambled to retrieve it before it got wet from the puddles left by the afternoon rain. “Leave me alone!” She picked up the dress and prayed it wasn’t damaged.
Witch Hazel!”
He pushed her down again, and she landed in the muddy street, which stained her white stockings and the front of her blue dress. “Stop it!”
By then, people were stepping outside to see what was going on, and a man’s voice rang out, “Leave her alone!”
Liam froze.
Trembling and trying not to cry, she picked up the dress. Her mother was going to whip her something fierce if it was ruined. Her rescuer was fast approaching. Beside him and hurrying to keep up with his determined stride was a new girl at school named Kathleen. Mariah assumed the man to be her father. She was so grateful to see them and wiped at the tears in her eyes. Liam, on the other hand, took off at a run and disappeared inside his house. His friends on the stoop scattered like rats.
Are you all right, little lady?” The concern in the man’s voice was mirrored in his kind gaze.
I think so, sir.”
I’m Mr. Jennings. Kaye says you’re in her classroom at school.”
Yes, sir.”
I’ll make sure his parents know about this.”
Mariah shook her head. “Please, don’t tell them. He’ll only pick on me more.”
She’s right, Papa,” Kathleen added. “He hit her three times today at school.”
Mariah looked down at her precious cargo.
What’s that you have there?” Mr. Jennings asked.
A dress from my mama’s shop. I was on my way to deliver it to Mrs. Ainsley.” The paper was bent and slightly crushed, but appeared to be intact.
How much farther do you have to go?”
Another block.”
Kaye will wait with you while I get my carriage. We’ll drive you there and see that you get home safely. Not sure what this city is coming to when a youngster can’t do an errand for her mother without being attacked by hooligans.”
I’ll be okay now, Mr. Jennings.”
But he hastened away.
Your papa’s nice,” Mariah said to Kathleen.
Yes he is. I’ll bet your papa will be mad when you tell him about Liam.”
I don’t have a papa. He died.”
Oh. I’m sorry.”
That’s okay. Thank you for helping me.”
I didn’t laugh when Liam hit you at school. Do you think we can be friends?”
I’d like that.”
Mr. Jennings returned and drove Mariah and her new friend to Mrs. Ainsley’s house. Once there, he explained what happened and why the paper was so dirty. She was appalled by the incident, and when she opened the paper the dress inside was undamaged. She was so pleased, she gave Mariah a few pennies for her trouble.
True to his word, Mr. Jennings drove her home and escorted her inside. Her mother looked from him and Kaye to Mariah and her muddy attire, and asked, coolly, “Who are you, and what happened?”
He opened his mouth, but she cut him off. “Mariah. Explain.”
Seeing the ice in her mother’s eyes, Mariah told the tale slowly, hoping she’d understand.
When she was done with the telling, her mother said in the same cool tone, “Thank you, Mr. Jennings. You can leave us now.”
He appeared concerned by her attitude. “None of what happened was your daughter’s fault. The dress wasn’t damaged—”
Good day, Mr. Jennings.”
Anger filled his face, but he didn’t voice it. “Good day, ma’am. Come Kaye.”
Once they exited, her mother fumed, “How dare you come home covered in mud. Do you know how much time I spent making that dress you’re wearing?”
Mama, it wasn’t my fault. I—”
Did Mrs. Ainsley give you money?”
Yes.”
Her mother stuck out her hand. Mariah, fighting back tears, placed the two pennies in her palm.
Now go get the strap. I’ll teach you to come home full of mud.”
But, Mama—“
Fetch the strap!”
Mariah swallowed her tears and hurried to retrieve the strap.