𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕕 | ℙ𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝟚 𝕠𝕗 ' 𝕙𝕠𝕨 𝕔𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕙𝕖 ' HIATUS

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" Stay here, sugga',"

Evelyn watched in horror as two policemen backed a young boy up against a shop wall, " What were you doin' loiterin', boy?!" yelled the red faced officer, jabbing the boy in the chest with his baton.

The boy's chest heaved and she saw a trickle of sweat roll down his brown forehead, " I-I was just waitin'-,"

" Waitin'?!" barked the other one, a cruel smile on his pale face, " I don't believe that for a second."

Evelyn looked around and saw no one bothered to pay any attention to the officers and watched as the beautiful woman who had told her to stay put approached the three, her head held high and a stern look on her face.

" There you are!" she said sharply, pushing past the two men and grabbing the boy by the shoulder, " I am so sorry if he was troublin' you, officers," she said sweetly, " It's so hard to find good help nowadays, with all this civil rights nonsense, y'all have a blessed day now!"

Evelyn watched as the woman guided the boy back to where she was standing. He looked back at the police officers and then to the woman, he opened his mouth to say something but she cut him off, " Don't say anything, honey, just go with it," she murmured as she looked straight ahead.

He followed her instructions and looked to the ground, his eyes wide and his hands shaking. Evelyn glanced back at the officers out of the corner of her eye, they seemed pleased with the woman's words and turned the other way, walking back up the street.

" C'mon, Evelyn," she said, her hand still on the boy's tattered jacket.

The three walked in silence before rounding a corner where the street was practically deserted. The brunette let out a shaky breath and looked around, " What's your name sugga'?" she asked.

" Leroy, ma'am,"

Her dark almond eyes looked at him with pity, " You take this money and get on home, and please be careful. . . it's dangerous for someone like you to be out at night,"

Leroy stared at the money in her hand, his eyes as wide as saucers, " Ma'am I can't-,"

" Yes you can," she persisted, grabbing his hand and placing the wad of cash in his palm, " Now put it away because if they see you with it they'll say you stole it, stay safe Leroy,"

He shoved the money into his pocket and looked between the two, " Thank you kindly, ma'am,"

" You're very welcome,"

And with that he was gone. Evelyn watched as the woman got down on her knees, making her eye level with herself, " Now you listen to me, Evelyn, no matter how someone looks, no matter if society says they ain't your equal- you treat people the same and with all the love and kindness in your heart, do you understand?"

There were tears in her eyes and Evelyn felt a sense of injustice evade her small body, " Mama I don't understand why they were so mean to him,"

Her mother bit her lip and cupped her daughter's cheek, " Because the world told them he was beneath them, but if you wanna see how someone really is, take a good look how they treat their supposed inferiors, not their equals,"

" They were bad men, but you'll understand better when you're older, alright?"

" Alright,"

-

She woke with a gasp and looked around the room.

A shiver ran down her spine and Evelyn stood while rubbing her shoulders, she must've fallen asleep.