Mystery of the Dark Tower by Evelyn Coleman

Author:Evelyn Coleman
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781497646537
Publisher: Open Road Media

CHAPTER 7

FIXING LEGS

All the way home, Bessie thought about the Dark Tower. Lillian and Eddie must have been thinking about it, too. Nobody was talking.

Bessie wondered what she could say when she saw Miss A’Lelia Walker. Would she be able to just walk right into the Dark Tower, or would there be an adult outside to keep children out, like at the rent party? Could she go there and ask for Papa? If she did, what would Papa do when he found out she’d been snooping around in grown folks’ business? Would he whip her? Bessie didn’t care.

But suppose he refused to leave? If that happened, there was nothing she could do. Nothing.

In that moment Bessie understood what action she must take. It was the only way. As they neared their block, Bessie said, “Lillian, do you think Miss Flo can put a conjure on a woman?”

“I don’t know,” Lillian said, stopping. “But what I do know is that going to that Dark Tower doesn’t seem like a good idea.”

“I-I don’t think y-you should g-go, either,” Eddie said. “What if it’s a really b-bad place?”

They were almost home. “Eddie, you wait on our stoop. If you see Aunt Esther, tell her that Lillian and me went around the corner to the store.” Then she took Lillian by the hand and pulled her along.

“W-w-where you g-g-going?” Eddie asked.

“Yes,” Lillian said, stopping. “Where are we going? I’m not going to that Tower.”

“We’re going to see Miss Flo,” Bessie said.

“Miss Flo?” Lillian said. “Are you crazy?”

“If Miss Flo can put a conjure on a man to make him fall in love, then she can put a conjure on a woman, too. I’m going to ask Miss Flo to put a conjure on Miss Walker.”

“I’m not going,” Lillian said.

“You have to come with me. You know her better than I do. Please. You said you’d help.”

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Lillian asked.

Bessie nodded.

“Well, I did say I’d help. All right. I’ll go with you,” Lillian said. “I’d rather go see Miss Flo than go to that Dark Tower place anyway.”

“I-I-I w-w-want to go with you,” Eddie said.

“No. It’s not safe,” Bessie said. “You can help by doing what I asked you, please.” She didn’t want Eddie to get mixed up in this. Bessie was afraid of what might happen. There was no reason to put Eddie in danger, too.

Eddie stomped on the ground. “It’s n-not f-f-fair.”

Bessie understood then that being without Mama and Papa must be even harder on Eddie than it was on her. After all, he was younger. Plus, Aunt Esther was always on him about stuttering. But this had to be done, and she couldn’t risk getting Eddie hurt. She was his big sister. She had to protect him. Bessie hugged Eddie. “Please,” she pleaded.

He shrugged. “But if you’re not b-b-back soon, I-I-I’m coming to get you.”

Bessie and Lillian walked down to the end of the block and up Miss Flo’s steps.

As Bessie reached up to ring the doorbell, she froze.

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