The Girl on the Outside by Mildred Pitts; Walter Page A

took on a different glow. Her heart raced under her thin dress as Cecil took her hand and led her to the center of the floor. They danced.
    Before long everybody was dancing. The sandwich trays emptied and the punch vanished. Noise swelled and over the shout, “It’s show time,” Eva got herself together to do her number.

Chapter 10
    Street lights were already on when Sophia emerged from the skating rink. It was just minutes before eight, that hour when those who were spending the evening out were gone and those staying in were settled to some activity. The streets were quiet.
    The area was familiar and Sophia had walked home many times before, enjoying the night fragrances and sounds. But tonight, even though houses were lighted, windows and doors were open, and people could be seen on porches and inside, Sophia felt uneasy.
    She hurried down the street not seeing the distant stars, not hearing the night birds and crickets, not smelling the honeysuckle vines. Alert to some unseen danger, her whole body was intent on getting home.
    As she entered her street she suddenly became aware of her fear and was annoyed. Why am I afraid, she asked herself. Why this feeling of shame, guilt, and anger?
    Did it have to do with the curiosity she felt about Negroes? That Burt! How could I have ever thought it might not be so bad knowing them? I must never stray that far again. Her mind flashed to her disbelief of Burt’s assertion that their parents had gone down to colored town with him and May.
    She would ask her mother about that this very evening, she told herself. But did she really want to get to know Negroes? No! She wanted no part of them. Hadn’t she just formed a pact to ignore them? She thought of the brilliant idea she had helped formulate and felt a rush of pride. They are not our kind . Ignore them and everything will be all right. But she would ask her parents about what Burt had told her .
    Lights were on in her house and she felt a surge of relief that she would not be alone. She hoped that May had sent her some supper. I’m starved, she told herself.
    Her mother and dad were in the small study off the hall. Sophia went in, kissed her father on the forehead and sat near her mother. “Haven’t seen you all day, Mother,” she said.
    â€œI got an early start. Good thing, too, the spring was crowded.”
    Sophia looked at her mother whose face was glowing. “You look great.”
    â€œWhat was your day like?”
    â€œGood. Burt drove me out to the stables.”
    â€œDid you ride with Arnold?”
    Sophia’s heartbeat quickened. “No. Did he call?”
    â€œNot since we’ve been home. Where were you after riding?”
    â€œWent skating, but that was just so, so. Too crowded.” How could she ever get the conversation back to Burt now? She had missed her chance when she did not follow through on his taking her to the stable, she thought. She had to know if what he had told her was true, yet she could not bring herself to ask. “Did May send me some supper?”
    â€œShe sent you some angelfood cake,” her mother said.
    â€œYou feel like an angel?” her father asked.
    â€œNo. I’m hungry as the devil,” she said without laughter.
    â€œYour brother should be home any minute, starving, too. Deserve that cake by making enough supper for him,” her mother said.
    â€œWhy me? You gave Ida two days off and because of your generosity, I’ve had nothing to eat all day,” Sophia’s voice betrayed annoyance.
    â€œIs that Ida’s fault? You’d better learn to get on without Ida,” her mother said ignoring Sophia’s tone.
    â€œI guess I’d better. Like the rest of them, she’ll be calling the shots and you’ll just cave in.”
    â€œWait a minute, young lady. You don’t talk to your mother like that,” her father said firmly.
    Sophia slumped in the chair, not understanding why she