On to Richmond (66 page)

             
The questions twirled in her brain as her fingers nimbly sorted the shells in front of her.  As soon as one container was done, she rose to get another one, grateful for the brief respite to stretch her back and flex her hands.  She smiled at the women who glanced up, then carried her new box back to her place, and settled down to sort more shells.  She was only on her second box.  She usually made it through ten boxes before the day was over.  She sighed heavily and let her thoughts carry her out of the armory.  It was going to be a long day. 

             
She was on her fourth box when she heard a commotion at the door.  Her supervisor, Mrs. Whiteside, strode into the room and looked around.

             
“Is there someone in here by the name of Opal?” she called loudly. 

             
Opal stared at her with a sick feeling in her stomach.  Something was wrong. 

             
“I say, is there an Opal in here?” she called again.  “I was told I would find her here.”

             
Opal stood slowly and walked over to her.  “I’m Opal,” she said, her voice trembling.

             
Mrs. Whiteside looked at her closely.  “You got a cousin named Fannie?”

             
Opal nodded, her eyes wide with fear.  She waited silently, too frightened to speak.

             
Mrs. Whiteside’s rough face softened a little with compassion.  “You’re needed over at the Iron Works.  Fannie is asking for you.”

             
Opal finally found her voice.  “Fannie... is she all right?  Has something happened?”

             
“There has been an accident.  An explosion.  Fannie is asking for you,” she said grimly.

             
Opal swayed and then straightened.  Fannie needed her.  At least she was alive.  Her voice was firm when she spoke this time.  “May I go right over?”

             
Her supervisor nodded, her voice strangely soft for one who was so hard and demanding, as she said, “You may take the rest of the day off.”  Then her voice became rough again.  “Just today, though.  I will expect you back here tomorrow.”

             
Opal nodded, ran back to grab her coat, squeezed the hand Mabel reached out, and then dashed out of the room.  Unmindful of what people thought, she ran all the way down the hill to the Iron Works.  Her first look reassured her somewhat.  All the buildings were still standing.  There were no flames.  The explosion must not have been a bad one.  Fannie could not be too seriously injured.  Then she remembered the look of compassionate pity on Mrs. Whiteside’s face.  She ran faster.

             
She was gasping for breath when she broke through the door into the office of Fannie’s building.  A young lady behind the front desk looked up immediately. 

             
“You’re Opal?”

             
Opal nodded, her fears increasing as she saw the serious look on the lady’s face.  “Come with me, please.”

             
“What happened?” Opal pleaded.

             
“There was an explosion.  Some of the gunpowder went off.  We’re still not sure why.”

             
“How many people were hurt?”

             
“Just Fannie.  She was carrying a box of shells to be stored.”

             
Opal stopped in her tracks.  “Fannie was carrying a box that exploded?” she whispered.  But the young lady kept walking.  Opal stuffed down her feeling of horror and ran to catch up with her. 

             
They rounded a corner, and Opal caught sight of a figure on the floor.  With a moan, she dashed forward and knelt down next to her cousin.  “Fannie...” she said softly, trying to control the tears rolling down her face.   Her cousin lay on the ground where she had fallen.  Opal fought the nausea crowding her throat.  She had to be strong.  Fannie needed her. 

             
At the sound of her name, Fannie managed to open her eyes just a tiny bit in spite of the swollen, charred condition of her face.  She struggled to raise a hand.  Opal bit her lip to keep from crying out.  Both of Fannie’s hands were missing.

             
Opal groaned at the confused pain on her cousin’s face.  Choking back her sobs, she rested her hands lightly on Fannie’s shoulders.  “I’m here, Fannie.  I’m here.”  That was all she could think of to say.  She knew there was nothing she could do.  There was nothing anyone could do. 

             
Fannie managed to nod slightly.  Her lips opened, and Opal leaned closely to hear what she was trying to say. “My children... my children...”  The words were slurred and gargled, but Opal understood.  Fannie’s lips continued to move, but nothing else would come out.   Tears edged down her charred face as she cried in agony.

             
Opal moved back far enough to gaze into Fannie’s eyes.  “I’ll take care of your children, Fannie.  I’ll take care of them.  I’ll treat them just like they were my own.”  Her voice broke as she choked back her sobs.  “I promise you.  I’ll take care of your children.”

             
A measure of peace settled over Fannie’s face.  Then she opened her lips again.  Opal could barely hear the words she struggled to say.

             
“Ed... die... love... him...” she managed. 

             
Opal nodded.  “I’ll tell Eddie.  I’ll tell him you love him.”  She could no longer control the sobs racking her body.  “I love you, Fannie.  I love you!”

             
Fannie gave one last faint nod and then her eyes closed.  Moments later, Opal felt her go slack beneath her hands.  She didn’t know how long she knelt sobbing hysterically next to her cousin before she felt hands reach for her. 

             
“It’s me, Opal.  Jamilla.”

             
Opal gazed up, the words barely registering in her mind.  Jamilla... Fannie’s closest friend at the Works.

             
“She went quick, Opal.  It’s best this way.  There would have been too much suffering.”

             
Opal stared at her.  She heard the words, but they weren’t penetrating.  Fannie...  Fannie, her only family, was gone.  One minute she had been laughing, waving at her.  The next minute she was dead. 

             
Eventually, Opal let Jamilla lead her back to the two-story home she had shared with her cousin.  Numbness had begun to set in.  Along with the numbness was the realization she would have to be the one to tell Eddie and the children what had happened to their beautiful mother.  Her grief thickened as she thought of the children.

             
“When is Daddy coming home, Opal?”  Amber asked in a lost voice.

             
Opal shook her head and drew the little girl closer.  None of the children had left her side since she had gathered them together and broken the horrible news.  Amber had refused to leave her lap all day.  Susie was holding Carl close, soothing the little boy’s broken cries.

             
Opal exchanged a long look with Susie.  “I don’t know, Amber.  I’m sure he’ll be home soon.”  Actually she wasn’t sure of any such thing.  Where was Eddie?  He was always home by five o’clock in the evening.  It had been dark for at least an hour.  It had to be close to seven o’clock.  Where was he?

             
Opal tried to swallow her fears.  She had to be strong for the children.  In the midst of their grief, they were looking to her for strength and comfort.  She had to control her desire to scream out her own pain and anguish.   She looked around at them now.   

             
Little Carl had begun sobbing immediately when Opal had carefully told them of the accident.  She had left out the details that would have haunted them the rest of their lives - the details she knew would never leave her mind.  Carl simply knew his mama was never coming home again. 

             
Amber had said not a word - just listened wide-eyed.  Then she had walked quietly to Opal and snuggled close to her.  The question about her daddy was the first words she had uttered. 

             
Sadie had asked a few careful questions and then had withdrawn into her own shell.  Opal was most worried about her.  Sadie’s look of sorrow had gradually turned into a gaze of hardened defiance.  What was she thinking?

             
Susie had cried quietly when Opal had told her.  She had told Susie first.  They had clung together for a long time as Opal tried to answer the questions Susie asked.  There hadn’t been many.  Opal expected more later.  Then they had gone to find the rest of the children. 

             
Outside, a slashing rain beat at the house.  Opal shuddered and drew Amber closer to her side.  She wasn’t hungry, but she knew she would have to get the children something to eat soon.  She was sure no one would feel like eating, but they must keep their strength up. 

             
Again, Opal gazed at the windows. 
Come home, Eddie.  The rain will hide your movements in the night.  We need you, Eddie.  Please come home
, she pleaded silently.   

             
None of them heard the back door open.  Opal almost screamed when she heard a noise and looked up to see a man standing in the doorway.  She gasped and clutched Amber to her side.  “Frank!  What are you doing here?  You scared me near to death.”

             
Frank, a friend of Eddie’s who had often been at their meetings, moved forward.  “I’m sorry, Opal.  I had to make sure no one saw me come in here.”

             
Opal looked at him more closely.  There was stark fear in his widened eyes.  Quickly she turned to Susie.  “Why don’t you take the children in the kitchen and fix them a bite to eat?”  She tried to keep her trembling voice casual.  “Frank and I will join you in a minute.”

             
Susie stared long and hard at Frank with knowing in her eyes.  Then she rose and took Carl by the hand.  “Come, everyone.  We’ll fix something hot.”  Woodenly, the children followed her. 

             
Opal turned to Frank as soon as they were out of the room.  “Eddie?” she whispered.

             
Frank frowned, his face a mixture of pain and worry.  Then he shook his head.  “I’m afraid Eddie won’t be coming home, Opal.”

             
“Why not?” she asked quietly, amazed at her own control.

             
“They been watching him, Opal.  Somehow they got wind of what we was doing.”

             
“The police?” Opal breathed.

             
Frank nodded.  “They was waiting when he left the shop this morning.  They took him to jail.  Him and the owner of that shop.”

             
Opal groaned and lowered her face in her hands.  She heard a slight noise and looked up.  Susie was standing in the doorway, staring at Frank with a hard, set face.

             
“How long?”  Susie asked.

             
Frank started at the sound of her voice and then shook his head.  “I don’t know.  It could be a right long time. Once they put us niggers in jail they ain’t in no hurry to let us out.”  Then he looked around quickly.  “Fannie. Where is Fannie?  I need to tell her.  I promised Eddie a long time ago I would be the one to tell Fannie if something happened.”

             
Tears filled Opal’s eyes.  “I’m afraid you won’t be telling Fannie, Frank.” 

             
Frank stared around.  “Why not?”

             
“My mama is dead,” Susie announced quietly.  “Killed in an explosion at the Works today.”  Tears filled her eyes, but her voice was even. 

             
Frank groaned and shook his head again, tears filling his own eyes.  “I’m sorry.  I’m so sorry,” he moaned. 

             
Silence filled the room for several long minutes.