As the meeting ended, Evelyn was finally able to get up to the front of the room to see how Annie Mae was doing. She needed to tell her that she had seen Sissy and her friends go to the high school. The tension in the room had turned to relief. Everyone was anxious to get home. Their high school seniors had been bold and brave, and now they probably thought they were invincible. Was that a good thing? Evelyn admired them and their effort, but she knew that the victory was also due to Penelope.
Annie Mae was at the edge of a rush of parents thanking Penelope for her words and support. Evelyn took her friend’s hand before she realized that Annie Mae was dabbing at tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Evelyn, you’re here. I didn’t see you. I was worried that you hadn’t come.”
“I have something to tell you. I left late, and on my way here I saw Sissy, Pearl, and Kendra walking toward the high school with blankets and food.”
“What? Those girls. I should have known they were up to something. And Frank? Did you see him? Oh, Lordy. Are they all at the high school? Of course they are—I can feel it in my bones. I need to go home.”
“I can take you, or do you need to go with the reverend and Penelope?”
“No, no, please take me, Evelyn. It’s out of their way for them to take me back.”
As Evelyn and Annie Mae drove up to the high school, they saw police cars parked along the road. Evelyn drove around the back of the school, where she had seen the students gathering. They both gasped at the sight of more than seventy students sitting on the grass in a circle with their arms linked together. Behind them, by the trees and the fence that bordered the school property, were more police cars and about six officers standing and watching the seated students.
As they got out of the car, Evelyn said, “Annie Mae, what do we do?”
“Looks like we don’t have to figure that out. Look who’s coming.”
A lone figure walked toward them, his stride confident, a bullhorn in his hand, his billy club swinging.
“Good evening, missus. I’m Captain Eastman. Do you know any of these students?”
“Good evening, Captain. I’m Annie Mae Woods, and this is my friend Evelyn Glover. My son and daughter might be here. We’re coming from the parish school board meeting.”
Evelyn sensed some relief in the man’s expression as he said, “Good—then you’re aware of the decision to let the students graduate on time? These kids didn’t trust us, wanted to wait for their parents to tell them. I told them, but they won’t leave.”
While they talked, a few more cars passed the school. Evelyn noticed one turn back instead of going into the unpaved road leading to their community.
“Annie Mae, look—some of the others saw us. They’re coming back.”
Captain Eastman turned to see the cars arriving. Evelyn saw him slip his hand around his belt to move the billy club to his back.
“If you ladies could come with me so the students can see you while I tell them again that they can graduate next week and that it’s time to go home, we would appreciate it.”
Evelyn looked wide-eyed at Annie Mae as she thought, A white man is telling me he would appreciate it?
They followed Captain Eastman, who raised the bullhorn to speak at the same time that a few more parents walked toward them.
“Students, I believe you know these women, Missus Woods and Missus Glover. They just left the meeting that I told you about. They agree that you can go home and that you will graduate.”
Evelyn and Annie Mae nodded their heads. Evelyn scanned the group of students and spotted Frank and Dedra but not Sissy and her friends.
“There’s Frank, Annie Mae. He’s coming over.”
The students gathered their blankets and sacks of food quietly. Evelyn stepped back as Frank greeted his mother. “Ma. Don’t be upset. I’m fine.”
“Where is your sister? Miz Glover told me that Sissy was here too.”
“When the police started to arrive, I told her to go home by the path behind Miz Glover’s house. She’s safe. Nothing has happened since that captain got here.”
Evelyn gave Annie Mae a worried look. Since he got here? What happened before?
“Frank, I’m driving your mother home. Come with us to find Sissy.”
The captain was on the bullhorn again, this time with more force and less patience. “You are trespassing on public property. You all need to leave now.”
As Evelyn drove away with Annie Mae and Frank, she doubted that any of those white officers had ever worried before about protecting their black school, now their “public property.”