American Girl (Mississippi)(Lea Sheryn) Cissy Robinson had to go. She knew she shouldn't have had that third cup of coffee. Earlier that morning, she'd met up with her two best friends at Woolworths. They shopped for a while, picking up odds and ends. Since it was still early, they decided to eat breakfast at the lunch counter. Sitting at the only table marked 'colored,' they waited for service. It took a long time for the waitress to approach. When she did, she did not wear the friendly smile she reserved for white customers.

The three friends ordered bacon, eggs, toast, and coffee. It quickly became apparent that other diners were served before them. When several newcomers first received their orders, Cissy began to protest loudly. Finally, the server plunked their plates on the table rudely. It took her a long time to refill their coffee cups. Nevertheless, Cissy and her friends decided to linger.

After an hour and a half, they paid their bill without leaving a tip. Although their treatment was typical, it irked them. They should have as much right to eat at Woolworths as anyone else. Segregation wasn't fair. The three African American women thought they were just as good as the whites, who were treated better.

"Something has to change, girls," Cissy grumbled. She stood on the sidewalk outside the 5&10, frowning.

"What can we do about it?" Vikki Helms asked. "No one will listen to us."

"Ain't nothing we can do," Peggy Stillman reinforced the negative. "We live in the south. They don't want to know about us around here."

"If we do speak up, the Klan shows up," Vikki added, frowning. "They burned a cross on Cousin Milt's lawn after he applied for a job at the Mobil station. Milt's a damn good mechanic too, but Old Man Clemmons won't hire no negros."

Cissy and Peggy nodded disdainfully. They'd both witnessed the white-hooded Klan members outside Milt's house and the cross burning. It infuriated both of them.

"Move along," Officer Gardner ordered, stomping up to the women. "You're taking up too much room on the sidewalk." He swung his Billy club toward them. "No lingering."

Cissy said goodbye to her friends quickly and hurried along the sidewalk. She crossed the street and halted beside the bus stop. Suddenly, her stomach tightened. Cissy knew she shouldn't have taken the third cup of coffee. She only did it to prolong the breakfast. When her tummy tightened again, she knew she couldn't hesitate.

Walking at a quick pace, she moved along the sidewalk. Without thinking, she entered the public restroom between the hardware store and the bank. She bolted the door on the first available stall and sat down right on time. Her bowels let loose, and she broke wind loudly. Finally, feeling relieved, she exited and approached the sink.

"Of all the nerve," Estella Broadwick announced brashly.

"I never," Mildred Myers cried, wringing her hands.

"Oh," Cissy cried, staring at the white women surrounding her. "I…I beg your pardon. I…uh…I had to go desperately. I guess I didn't realize." Backing away from the sinks, she stumbled over her excuses. "Any port in a storm, as they say." Trying to make a joke, she could see she was failing miserably.

Estella and Mildred continued to stare at her, their expression appalled. Tears sprang to Cissy's eyes. She'd made a terrible mistake by entering a whites-only ladies' lounge. If she'd gone further down the alley, she could have used the colored restroom.

The well-dressed women continued to menace her with their eyes. Stepping backward, Cissy moved toward the exit. When she reached the door, a pair of strong arms grabbed her.

"That's her," Joyce Burns stated unnecessarily. When Cissy entered, she occupied the restroom with her friends, Estella and Mildred. Thinking quickly, she rushed to find Officer Gardner.

"I knew you were trouble the minute I saw you," Cray Gardner exclaimed, snapping handcuffs on Cissy's wrists. "Come along, you." He dragged her roughly toward the police station.

******

Cissy sat in the jail cell with her head in her hands. She could not believe her misfortune. All her life, she'd obeyed the rules she couldn't agree with. She'd lived on the outskirts of Clarkton, Mississippi since she couldn't remember when. Her father owned the general store, and her mother bartended at Red's House of Blues. Both were black-run businesses in the African American part of town. Although segregated from the white section, she felt her family was respectable.

Her heart sank. Both her mother and father avoided trouble at all costs. They taught their daughter to go about her business and not call attention to herself. Cissy knew she made a huge mistake by using the white restroom. Because of her stupidity, the Klan would visit her parents' home after midnight. They would burn a cross on their meager front lawn.

Cissy knew Cray Gardner was a member of the Klan. Furthermore, she suspected Judge Broadwick was the Grand Wizard. Jake Myers and Alf Burns were also involved. Her tears began to flow. She covered her face and bowed her head lower.

"What are you keeping this gal for?" a loud voice boomed out.

Cissy raised her head and then rushed toward the bars. Vikki Helms approached her cell and squeezed her hand. Together, the women stood, one free, the other a captive. A broad-shouldered black man with graying hair approached the Sergeant's desk. He slammed a heavy briefcase down and snapped it open.

"Well, speak up, boy. What's it all about?" the man boomed again.

"Using the bathroom," Sergeant August Brand stated firmly. He rose and faced the imposing African American man.

"Surely you jest," the man laughed.

"I ran to Lawyer Johns as soon as I saw Gardner haul you away," Vikki explained quickly. "He'll get you out."

"Thank you, Vik." Cissy squeezed her friend's hand.

"Set her free! Set her free!" voices chanted from the sidewalk. Two dozen men and women formed a circle and shouted loudly, waving signs. "End Segregation!"

"Peggy rounded everyone up," Vikki continued enthusiastically. "She's out there too."

"Better get them outta here, Johns," Sergeant Brand threatened. "I'll arrest the lot if they're not gone in sixty seconds."

"Not on your life, Brand," Hercule Johns responded, slapping a writ of habeas corpus onto the desk. "Release Miss Cecelia Robinson from custody immediately."

"Where'd you get this, Herk?" Sergeant Brand slowly put on his reading glasses and lifted the writ. He took his time reading it.

"You can see the Judge's signature," the lawyer snapped, pointing toward the bottom line.

"Ain't Judge Broadwick's John Hancock." The Sergeant closed his glasses and pocketed them. "Ain't no good 'round here."

"That there's Judge Willis' signature," Lawyer Johns stated. "It's as good as any and probably even better."

Cissy and Vikki exchanged glances. Judge Samuel Willis was the first black-appointed judge in the area. He quickly became a hero of the African American community.

"All right, you win," Cray Brand gave in. Jangling his keys, he took his time walking toward Cissy's cell. Slowly and meditatively, he opened the lock and swung open the door.

Cissy emerged and hugged Vikki tightly.

"Thank you, Lawyer Johns," the newly freed girl exclaimed.

"Much obliged, young lady," the lawyer returned. He swung back at the Sergeant. "I better not hear of you or your white hooded conspirators' paying any visits tonight. If you do, you might find yourself in that cell over yonder—you and your buddies. Are we understood?"

"Yeh…yes, sir." Sergeant Brand snapped to attention.

The lawyer and the two young ladies exited the police station together. The sign-carrying protestors raised a cheer when they saw Cissy. Hercule Johns motioned for them to disperse. Only Peggy Stillman remained. She hugged her friend tightly.

"Go on home," the lawyer directed. "And don't worry about any trouble tonight. It won't happen."

Cissy and her friends thanked Lawyer Johns again. They walked along the sidewalk, holding hands. Many heads turned as they passed, but the girls ignored them.

"Next time I have to go, I'm going to watch where I'm going," Cissy exclaimed with a slight giggle. "It ain't worth the bother going in the wrong place."

"Wish we didn't have to worry 'bout it," Peggy sighed.

"Me too," Vikki chimed in.

"Maybe someday," Cissy stated, shrugging.

"Hey, you're Mississippi's Rosa Parks," Vikki decided, smiling.

"That's right," Peggy quickly agreed.

"Maybe," Cissy shrugged again, "but Rosa refused to get up. I sat down."

The three friends continued to walk homeward. Silently, they reflected upon the day's events. Perhaps one day, the only white and colored signs would come down. They hoped for the end of segregation so everyone (black or white) could enjoy the same freedoms.

"You can't imagine how embarrassed I was when I stepped out of that stall," Cissy laughed. "You should have seen the looks on Estella's face when she saw me."

"I can," Vikki chuckled. "I bet she had to pick up that ugly face off the floor."

Peggy imitated a woman stooping and replacing her face. When the women laughed merrily, passersby stopped to glare at them.

"Go ahead and stare," Peggy cried, walking backward to confront the oglers. "I don't particularly care!"

"Come on, girls," Cissy urged. "Let's go home."

They left Main Street behind, and the houses became more rundown. Blues music blared from Red's as they passed. Cissy looked in and waved at her mother behind the bar. Several men and a few women occupied the joint. It would become more crowded after dinner. A little further along, she turned in at the general store.

"You gonna tell your daddy?" Vikki asked, remaining on the sidewalk.

"Maybe, maybe not." Cissy shrugged. "It's according to whether the gossip has reached him yet. He might already know the way tongues flap round here."

"Your Mama already knows, that's for sure," Peggy quipped.

"I suspect so," Cissy answered. "I won't lie to them regardless." She hesitated on the doorstep for a moment, thinking. "I broke some might fine wind in that fancy ladies' lounge." Cissy laughed hard enough to bring tears to her eyes.

"Stunk up the place, did ya?" Peggy hooted, grasping her stomach and bending over.

"Nah, Estella and Mildred were already doing that!"

"I bet!" Vikki added merrily.

"Yeah."

The women stood silently, Cissy on the steps, Vikki and Peggy on the sidewalk. A few moments elapsed while they composed themselves.

"Want to go to the cinema tonight?" Peggy finally asked.

"What's playing?" Cissy asked.

"Friendly Persuasion," Peggy stated. "Gotta love Gary Cooper."

"Anthony Perkins is mighty fine, too, if you ask me," Cissy remarked. "Meet you, there are seven?"

"Yeah, sure." Peggy and Vikki continued along the sidewalk together.

Cissy stood at the door for a moment, watching her friends. Despite her horrible experience, she felt lucky to have them as her companions.

---