LATER IN NOVEMBER 1964
LATER IN NOVEMBER 1964
Mr. Hirschkop calls.
“Mrs. Loving, I have good news.
You and Mr. Loving may return—
not to Caroline County—
but to one of the nearby counties—
Essex or King and Queen County,
as long as
political tension doesn’t mount.”
That is the “off-the-record truce.”
He says we won’t be bothered.
He says, “If it gets too hot
you’ll have a week
to leave Virginia.”
He says, “If there’s some problem
and you get arrested
we’ll get you out of jail
within an hour.”
He advises us to keep our apartment
in Washington
just in case we need
to leave Virginia
quickly.
While I’m waiting for Richard to come home
and tell him the news
I start packing the children’s clothes.
Laura stands in the doorway
and smiles at me.