Chapter Five

Spencer usually went with Elowen when she was running errands. This time it was Henry who tagged along since their younger sister said she didn't want to go. Elowen wanted neither of them going since she was specifically leaving the house to meet Philip at the shop.

"Go in there and pick one thing." Henry nodded once and traveled to the very back in the cheap toy section. Philip had his face hidden in a comic book when really he was watching Elowen's every move.

She unknowingly traveled around his section waiting for him to walk through that door. Instead, she became petrified when a hand wrapped around hers. He covered her mouth just before she could scream. His laughter made her muscles relax.

"Philip, that isn't funny. I would've sprayed you." He released her which caused her to stumble forward a little bit.

"Woah there. are you getting dizzy for me?" He grinned. Elowen scoffed at his demeanor then turned away to head towards the newspaper section. "I already bought one." She turned to see him waving the rolled papers in the air. "Lets go outside and skim through it if you don't mind."

Elowen shook her head and left the store with Philip. They camped out on the curb and allowed themselves to get lost in the black and grey paper. Elowen turned to the latest news but Philip wanted to reread one of the comics he couldn't understand. She then took apart the paper and giggled when Philip was in complete awe.

"You can separate them? Geesh, Elo. You bookbusters are about to break the world."

"Elowen." She muttered. "You've been calling me Elo a lot lately." Although it made her blush, she didn't want him to shorten her name. She couldn't allow him to think they were becoming good friends. Especially after her mother told her it was a horrible idea.

"Maybe 'cause i'm lazy or maybe 'cause it sounds better. Either way, Elo is your name ain't it?" She nodded. "Then what's the problem with me saying it?"

Instead of replying, they went back to looking at their portion of the newspaper. Elowen found out the town's schedule for Saturday and read it quietly to herself. Philip let out soft laughs every now and then before setting his newspaper next to him and crossing his ankles over the other.

They looked at each other at the same time with their mouths ready to inform the other on what was missed. "You go first," Philip insisted while giving her his full attention.

"People are gathering near downtown to protest against the war." She showed him the column where it was discussed. His eyes grazed over it before shamelessly holding up his peanut comic strip. Elowen took a look at it and chuckled.

"It's funny 'cause one look at her and he was scared. So he said queen of the hill instead of king." He held the newspaper on his lap before sighing. "I wanna protest against the war with you, Elo. But I can't. My rents'll hate me. They think what we're doing to all those people is pure goodness. But it's a bunch of crap to me."

Elowen scooted closer to the boy who looked as if he was going to crack into tears any minute. "They'll never know. You can have your voice and still listen to theirs. You can be your own person and still be your mama and daddy."

"Why should I listen to you. Do you even have either?" The look in his eyes proved that he was asking a sincere question that just so happened to come out like a slap in the face.

"Well, I told you my daddy died when I was six. And my mama... she's fully recovered and does her best for all four of us. Sorry that I don't have both of my parents barking in my ear but at least I have a bit of softness in my heart to even be talking to someone like you."

"Like me? Look in the mirror will ya. I shouldn't even be here with you. About ten folks came and gave us death stares but this stupid comic took my head off the truth."

Elowen stood to her feet in protest. "And what's that?"

Philip followed her lead and threw the newspaper down while he was at it. "Your black and I'm white. So I shouldn't even be trying to become your friend. I was stupid enough to stop you from tuning me out when that might have been the best thing you could have ever done."

"And you wanna know the real truth!" She shouted while Philip puffed his chest. "Your a spoiled white kid who doesn't know what he even wants. You talk to me and just when I think there was some way I could be forgiving, you screw me over for kicks! Well to be truthful, I don't want to do a protest with you. I'd rather be shot!" She started to storm away but she turned right back around. "In the war!"

Elowen left Philip outside and headed to the back of the store to see Henry sitting down and playing with a stack of cards. "Hey, Elo. I want-"

"Put it back in the box and let's go. You either gettin' it or gettin' hit for taking it out the packaging."

He followed orders immediately and scurried to the front counter. The cashier eyes down their persons to make sure they didn't take without paying. "Eighty thoo thenths."

A dollar fell right in front of Elowen's face. She looked to see if Henry was throwing around money from his savings, but the hand that rested on the counter belonged to a white person. "I don't need your money," she muttered while sliding the dollar back his way.

"Take the damn dollar, sir." The man snatched the cash and returned the change before any other words can be exchanged. "And I'm taking you and your little brother home."

She knew Henry would tell but she didn't care. Her mother already knew her business and that Elowen was never good at listening. "We walked here then we can walk back. Right, Henry?"

"It's cold," he whispered.

Philip smiled down at the kid then went to open the door for them. They walked past him slowly then got in the backseat of his Cadillac. Elowen knew he couldn't make her sit in the front so they got comfortable in the position they were in.

The drive was five minutes max and Henry couldn't wait to get out. He rushed straight to the front door without even seeing if Elowen was behind him. "Can I apologize?" Philip said while watching her slide across his seats. "Can I say sorry to you without you thinking I don't mean it. 'Cause I do, Elowen. I really do try and watch my words with you but I-"

"You don't know no better and I understand that." She gave him one nod and exited his car altogether.

He rolled down the passenger window to make sure she got all the way to the front door before driving off.