#garnette

My hand draped a SOLD sign around the mannequin’s neck. I had to be straightforward with Miss June or she’d try to convince me to sell it to her for half. That woman had tried gettin’ my Papa’s last name since before I was born, so we had gotten accustomed to a bit of rudeness between us.

Lisa gave a small smile, “We’ll be more busy tomorrow, but I need ta get going back. Try not to sell the blue one over thee or the red one with flowers ‘til close. Daddy said he’ll stop by, and I’m sure he’ll get one of those for Mama.”

“I’ll do my best, but you know I’ll be happy to make y’all somethin’ custom.” I assured her.

She shook her head, “And we both know Daddy won’t let me.”

We nodded heads to one other and then Lisa Chow left my store. Before opening up my own place, I had been a mending service that went through the Chows. Even the white folk had gotten my services. ‘Course, they didn’t know it was me. I did the work and got my share of the money, so I didn’t need the notoriety over on that side anyway.

I heard the bell ring followed by Big sis askin, “Where’s my sista? Garnette? Henry, where she at?”

People were already talkin’ ‘bout how she was so beautiful. How they knew her. What her job was. A singer. Talented and more than passionate. I came ‘round and gave her a big ol’ hug.

“There she is!” She squeezed me tightly.

“You actually made it!” I exclaimed.

She looked at my face, “Of course I did! Wouldn’t miss today for the world, but I can’t stay long. I just wanted to request a dress from ya.”

I smiled at her, “Why? You know you gotta pay like the rest of ‘em, but I’ll consider givin’ you a discount cuz you kin.”

“Keep the discount. My job’s paying for it. Had an unruly customer ruin my best dress, and I’ve been lookin’ for a new one anyways.” She saw me grab my notepad, “Imma need it powder blue. It’s startin’ to trend, So I’m sure you got the fabric for it already. Nothin’ too fancy, just a little looser than usual. I’m hopin’ my tummy starts gettin’ rounder by fall but still needa hide it until I can’t no mo’.”

She had been trying hard to get pregnant recently, and that crusade wasn’t gonna end anytime soon.

“Powder blue, yep I got some satin that’ll stretch if needed, folds real well. I’mma make you a scarf to match. I already got your measurements, and y’ain’t much bigger or smaller than that. When do you need it by?” I asked and looked into brown beautiful eyes that mirrored my own.

“As fast as you can. I’ll convince ‘em to pay a rush fee.” Pearline said, flashing her smile.

“Imma write you a proper invoice to give to your boss. Let him know it’ll cost extra if he wants beading or anything like that.” I copied down all that man needed to know and put a number at the bottom.

I ripped it and handed it to her. That’s when I noticed it was near closin’ time. I didn’t wanna stay open past sunset just in case the dog-catchers got bored. Had about half an hour left if the sun was actin’ normal today.

She folded it up and put it her purse, “Thank ya, sis.”

“Pearline!” Her husband entered looking for her. “Why are you takin’ so long?”

“Because she’s my sister, and I’ll take my time when I’m with her. We just finished up.” She put a gentle hand on his chest and kissed his cheek.

“Hey, big brother.” I greeted the man twice my age and then some. “We got a few ties if you’re interested. Tried to appeal to a wide crowd.”

His eyes became more gleeful when they saw me. He looked around to make sure Henry was busy before hugging me too long and too tightly. His greasy hands holdin’ a bit too low.

“Babygirl! Nah, I ain’t got time to look. We runnin’ late as is. Gotta get this one to her job and then me to mine.” He said as if he didn’t drink away the money his wife wasn’t hiding. “But I might come back and hang out while she’s busy.”

Henry checked out what would be the last customer of the hour and kissed my temple, “Sorry, big man, but only the womenfolk get to mill around without buyin’ anything. We’re ‘bout to close up anyway. Don’t wanna be out too late even on a day like this.”

The two men glared at each other.

Pearline held his hand, “We should get goin’. We’ve taken enough of your time, Miss Garnette. See y’all later.”

The two left, and I felt like I needed to change. I didn’t have time, though. A lady came in soon asking if that was Pearline. She needed a remake of one of her dresses, the one that got ruined. I decided to redirect her into something that was the same shape, but a better color for her high yella tone.

Two weeks later, my older sister came back and checked on the progress of her dress. The first layer of it was done. She had written me a letter saying she did in fact want some sparse beading. I knew my sister’s form well since I had been making her stage dresses for three years now. Making a dress for her didn’t take much time. She was even wearing the floral dress I had made two years ago that day with Mama’s hat.

Then she returned two hours later. She needed the dress now. For tonight.

“I’m not done with it, though!” I exclaimed.

“I’ll return it in the mornin’ but I need it tonight. It’s mostly done anyway. There’s a juke party goin’ on, and…” She paused and pulled me to the back. “There’s a fella who I wanna see. I don’t expect it to go anywhere, but, Garnette. I deserve a real night off.”

“You deserve a divorce.” I spoke freely. “I ain’t gone judge you. I know how your husband is. We both do. He ain’t looked your way since you turned 20.”

She held my face, lookin’ at me for a good long moment. I wasn’t sure if she would curse at me or tell me to watch my tongue. Instead, her own eyes grew sad and she hugged me tight.

“I’m sorry. I hate that I’ve brought you into this.” Pearline held my head. “I could’ve handled it alone. I should’ve--”

“I got my shop. You got your songs, and we’ve got each other. That’s all that matters.” I held her arms. “Let me make the scarf and tighten some seams. Then it’ll be all yours for the night. I don’t want it to tear before I get it back.”

We checked out the last few customers and closed up an hour early since the rest were just millin’ about anyways. She looked gorgeous in that dress. I’d let it back out once I had it back in the morning. I was just gonna spend the rest of the night with Henry who was a man of 18. Both his parents and mine were dead, but his left him the house. So that is where we lived. We invited Lisa Chow over since both her folks were gone to help with the Juke Joint, and she hated to be alone.

The three of us drank and listened to her complain about customers until Henry went to sleep. Then the two of us shared a look. We went outside for a walk in the dark and held hands. This was the only time we could do such a thing without people asking questions and us having to lie. We knew this place like the back of our hands, and decided to play tag in our gleeful drunkenness.

There was something in the pit of my stomach that told me to go home, but I was having fun with my girl. We hadn’t gotten to hang out recently because I was so busy. Before that, we were just too far away. Now that we lived closer and had time, I just wanted--

A hand was around my throat. The person connected to it was as pale as moonlight.

“You too young to be out this late, ain’t ya?” He asked.

“Burt, now what did I tell ya?” Another white stranger said.

The first pulled his hand back and the first one looked me over. Whatever they did to me, I hope they’d make it quick. Lisa called out my name and stood in front of me.

She bowed, “Please don’t hurt her. She’s a free woman and we were just playin’, sirs.”

The second man backed up, “Now now, we ain’t gone harm ya. You’re just girls.”

A woman with a fiddle joined the trio, “You’re young. They’re fresh. You sure we can’t--” her eyes were reflective like a stray dog.

All of them were…they weren’t human.

“What are you?” I asked.

The one in the middle looked at her and smiled, “You promise you ain’t gonna tell nobody.”

“No, sir.” I replied.

“No, sir.” Lisa echoed.

“Ya ever heard of a Vampire?” He asked and continued when we shook our heads, “We’re an eternal union. Powerful beings who have nothing to fear. We can only travel by night. The sun…rejects us.

“Now, I know we might seem like we already don’t got nothing but power and pride..” The first man said.

“But we want something more important now.” The woman said. “A family of our own. One not limited by the bonds of society. I’d personally love a daughter like you.” She reached out.

Both Lisa and I stepped back.

“It just ain’t time yet.” She looked sad for a moment and put her hand back at her side.

The first man held her hand. I wanted to hold Lisa’s.

“We should get goin’.” The young Chinese girl said instead. “May we leave?”

The middle one said, “Before y’all go. Do you know of any parties goin’ on tonight? I hear a song, but I’m not sure where it’s comin’ from.”

It felt like we had no choice but to answer. I didn’t want to say anything. I really didn’t.

“There’s an old sawmill. It’s far by foot.” I said.

“And how might we get there?” His eyes glowed a hypnotic red.

Lisa answered this time, “Follow the main road and you’ll smell the swamp before you see it.”

All three bowed in an eerie unison, “Thank you. Yer free ta go. Be safe now.”

Both us girls hightailed it back to Henry’s place. We didn’t say a thing as they went through the door. Vampires. I thought of the word as I snuggled next to Henry in bed while Lisa took the couch. 

I should’ve told Pearline not to go. I should’ve told her to stay and worry about her husband instead of chasin’ after some young thing. Not much younger than her, but still. I try not to regret supporting her, and I don’t think I would’ve made another choice. However, I wish every day she was still here with us.

When a young man with three scars on his face was at my shop door waitin’ for me, I was concerned.

Henry asked him, “What business you got?”

His sad eyes looked at me, “You Garnette?”

“Who’s askin’?” I grazed him up and down with distant curiosity.

He took out a powder blue sash from his pocket, “I’m sorry.” his trembling hand held it out to me. “I was with Pearline lasht night, and she told me ‘bout chu before she…”

I grabbed it from him, and I fell apart. According to Henry, the man couldn’t explain what had happened to my big sister. He could only apologize. He gripped his broken instrument like I clutched the scarf. He got into his car and left once a crowd started formin’. We didn’t open the shop that day. Or the next one. Lots of folks had gone missin’ the same night. Everyone who had gone to the Juke Joint. They found burned bodies in the back and Klan bodies up front.

People made up their own stories and theories about what happened. Most agreed that Klan got ‘em and then Smoke n’ Stack got those devils right back.

Stack and his friend Mary showed up at Henry’s place of work, a car repair store. They asked for a roofed car and paid in cash. Northern stuff. The real.

“We did what we had to do.” Was all Stack could say.

Then Mary had asked, “Your girl got a dress I can buy before she closes tonight?” and it made sense since her’s was covered in blood. A symbol of survival, but not one anybody’d wanna keep.

The three showed up to the house to see me with Pearline’s scarf ‘round my throat, tighter than it should have been. My feet off the ground. I wasn’t dead yet. They saved me, bought a dress for more than it was worth, and then left. It’d keep the store open while I got back on my feet. I wanted to ask if it was vampires. If it was what they were now, on account of their eyes. Henry pretended like he didn’t see them.

“Do you want to be like us?” Mary asked as I was looking for a dress I knew would fit her well. “You won’t hurt anymore. You won’t need to pretend you’re someone you’re not.”

When I didn’t reply, she continued, “When I joined him, I saw what he saw, and they saw you and Lisa for everything you are.”

“What I want, you can’t give me. My sister is dead.”

“And I’m sorry for that, but--”

“I said no. Do you want the dress or not?” I found what I had been looking for.

Mary sighed, “Alright, then.”

We let them go. I knew we weren’t powerful enough to make them stay, though I let them know even if they wanted to come back, they couldn’t. They weren’t welcome anymore. Stack looked at Mary who nodded. I knew, and they knew I knew what they were.

“You better keep an eye on your lil girl. She gonna outgrow you before you know it.” Stack flashed his grill and drove off into the night.

I went back inside and stayed awake until the sun came up. Henry had to go to work. He kissed me on the cheek and I couldn’t help but think those two must’ve been far gone by now. Perhaps I should’ve gone with them. I don’t remember what I did that day other than burning the clothes they left behind. I remember the next day, I went to Annie’s apothecary.

Surprisingly, it hadn’t been raided for ingredients. However, maybe it wasn’t that surprising. She always knew how to protect a place. I remembered to knock before I went inside. It was the first time in days I felt like a future was possible, even if my sister was gone. I sensed I was to look on the shelf. There it was. A protection…a mojo bag for me and my sister.

They were in lavender pouches. I left the remainder of the payment and thanked Miss Annie. For some reason, I felt her there. I had always had a sort of second sense for that sort of thing. She had even asked once if I wanted her to mentor me. I had the gift, I had no mother, and she had no daughter to pass it onto. We were supposed to…well, that didn’t matter now.

She felt my throat, and I explained, “I was heartbroken. I know. I know where you are, and I have a feeling Pearline isn’t there. I also know who did it.” My voice was hoarse from crying, then I listened.

I waited. She made a book fall. I picked it up. It was a guide on how to incorporate the practice into my life. This was her way of giving me approval. I reached out for her hand and for a moment, I felt it.

“Thank you. I know you did your best. Give the little one my love.”

Something caught fire. A pipe.

“Smoke’s with you?” My voice was in disbelief, but I smiled. “That boy was yours, somehow, huh? Stack is ok. He and Mary bought some stuff from me and Henry before leaving. Lisa is working through her feelings. Her grandmother took over the one here while she went to go work in the other town.”

Something pushed my head towards lavender, but I shook it, “She don’t wear this stuff, but I’ll put my energy towards that. I’m sure you have to. I’ll be ok.”

And then she left. I never felt her again unless I reached out first. She was happy and at peace wherever she was, and I didn’t want to disturb her too much. I worked there on days my dress shop couldn’t be open. It kept me sane and plugged some of the holes in my heart. I learned about vampires and what they were. Then they started to be depicted more often in popular culture.

Wild.

Years passed. Me and Henry didn’t last much longer. Maybe another year and a half. I really did end up outgrowing him. It’s funny. I had done a protection spell to make all things that trouble me go away. Next day, he said he was leaving me and the house to be. He had already dealt with the paperwork. There was a better job waiting for him in another state. We hadn’t been working out for a good while, so it was a bittersweet goodbye.

I had gotten several shop workers to be at the store. Lisa hadn’t come back to this side for months on end. When she turned 18, she got married to some man I had only met when she gave me the invitation. When she said “I do”, she looked beautiful. She hugged me that day. Tightly. She had never held me like that before or after. They ran that store in the white neighborhood together now. I focused on my own shop. Folks were always gonna need dresses and ties, and I even started dabbling in vests at one time. They didn’t sell very well, though.

She didn’t believe me when I told her vampires were the one that had taken her parents back in the day. That was ok.

GARNETTE’S was doing well enough. It had just celebrated 5 years of being open when I realized I was done with this place. Not life. I had a lot of that left, but I wouldn’t be spending it here. There was no man I wanted. No lady. Nobody worth my time was in my life anymore. I don’t know why I did it the way I did it, though.

I had $80 saved for a rainy day. No grand closin’. No goodbyes. I just saw a gorgeous lady across the way, and she had a shiny car. The reflection of the door opening was what caught my eye. She came into the store. I don’t know what for. She was wearin’ pants. A nice suit. A pair of long black braids.

“Welcome in.” I told her, soudin’ sweeter than I had intended.

And her smile. Oh, her smile. It was covered in jewels. She kissed my hand.

“I’m Maya. Heard you’re a woman who sells ties.” She said.

“That I do.” I replied, heart beatin’ outta my chest and not because of the heat.

Maya tilted her head, “Where might they be?”

I exhaled, “Over here. Though, I ain’t seen much women who wear ties.”

“I do.” She replied.

“Clearly.” I smiled back at her and asked, “What color you lookin’ fa?”

Her hand went down my sleeve, “Somethin’ to match this.” Several of her fingers had tattooed bands on them.

“Right. I’m all sold out, but I’m makin’ a fresh batch in the back. They just ain’t out yet. You can come back there if you wanna make sure you like the color.” I offered, hopin’ she’d understand.

She took off her hat and followed me. I watched her take off her previous red tie and she watched me get a lilac tie from a box.

“Allow me.” I said and began to wrap the tie underneath her crisp white collar.

I started to tie it the way I had done for Henry before she stopped me, “Not like that.” Maya said.

My eyes flickered up to her strong and brown face, “How?”

“Ya ever heard of a Windsor Knot?” Her eyes went to my lips for a moment.

I nodded and began to tie a double. Maya inhaled as I worked, our faces so close. Closer than any other body than had come in to buy a tie. She then looked at herself in the mirror and straightened it up a bit.

“That car out there your’s, fully?” I asked.

“It is.” Maya answered. “Why, you wanna ride in it? I’m only here for the day. Heard there was a lady who had her own place from a few towns over and headed North. So if you wanna take a spin, now’s your only chance.”

“What if I went with you? All the way.” I swallowed.

“All the way?” Maya repeated.

I closed my eyes and nodded, “Yes.”

Her hand rested on my hip and it felt so right.

“With me?” Maya’s braids touched my curls.

I kissed her. She told me to grab my purse. I did, and she grabbed my hand. The two of us hopped into her car and went! Credence was left behind the counter. It was her shop now, if she wanted. They’d find the paperwork among the recent orders. I was done living in Pearline’s and Annie’s shadow. As much as I loved them still, I had to let go. My sister’s scarf was the handle to my purse that I took with me. Maya and I drove and drove and flew down dirt roads until they changed to city streets.

Seemed like it was fate, though. Pearline’s shadow had become a light, a club. I recognized the founder’s scars, and decided to come in during the opening day. He recognized me, too.

“You came all thish way to shee me?” He joked. “Or did ya recognize yer shister’s name?”

“The second, but if you’re here, it seems worth a stay.” I replied and showed off my girlfriend. “This is Maya.”

“Y’all together?” Sammie asked.

I looked at him, “Maybe.”

The older man talked to the bar tender, “Make sure these two ladies don’t spend a cent. Give ‘em everything they want.” And then he looked at us. “I know what love looks like, and it looks like y’all.” Sammie said, his gaze filled with memories. “So it don’t matter what or who you are. We’ll be a’ight.”

And there were times I worked as his stylist. Made him some new ties over the years since we settled down near there. Now, I’m nearing 50, and realize I only figured out how to be myself when I was 30. Even after Maya and I found each other, I kept trying to treat her like Henry. Like a big man who needed to take care of me until we fought, and she made it known she wanted to be taken care of too. So we’re doin’ that now. Taking care of one another.

I opened a new shop. Same name but more professional. The vests sold well up here. They called them waistcoats, though. I didn’t understand that, but it made more people buy ‘em once they were renamed.

She waited for me while I packed up the last of my things from the studio and then Maya and I would head to Pearline’s. Today was Sammie’s 40th birthday. She went to go pull up the car, giving me a kiss on the cheek.

“I always did have a feeling about you.” A voice like an echo called out to me.

“Stack?” I turned around.

He was there alone.

“So, that was you last week, wasn’t it?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

He shrugged, dressed for the 50s. The man made sure he blended in.

“My cousin inside?” He smiled.

I nodded, “But I don’t have permission to let just anyone in.”

Stack chuckled, “I don’t wanna see him just yet anyway. But I need you to do me a favor. Can you get me one of his albums? I wanted a signed copy for this version.”

I pulled one out of my purse, “I had an extra.”

He took it from me, “You and your girl must face a lotta prejudice. Wouldn’t you like to see a world where that wasn’t so? You could make it happen, too…with a little help.” The man who hadn’t aged a day flashed his fangs.

I thought about it and Maya came up beside me, “This young’un botherin’ you?”

“A bit but don’t do nothin’.” I told her. “You know the man your uncle was hunting? He turned him and his girl the night I lost my sister.”

Stack raised his eyebrows, “Seems like you figured it out.”

“I’ve had a lot of talks with your cousin over the years. I had enough info that he didn’t hesitate to tell me the rest.” I nodded. “In any case, the answer is no. When it’s my time to go, I wanna go. I know my sister ain’t waitn’ for me, but I got lots of folks who are.”

“Where’s Mary?” Maya asked.

“Gettin’ dinner.” He said, “I’m gonna go join her. My offer still stands, but don’t tell Preacher Boy I was here, alright?”

“As long as you leave me and mine alone, sure.” I said.

“You Annie’s prodigy. I couldn’t unless you let me.” He replied, smelling the herbs in my mojo bag. “I’ll see you again, though.”

I shook my head, “Try not to.”

He turned and left. In the dark, Maya held my hand and took me to her car. She opened my door for me and waited for me to sit before hopping into her side. Twice in my life, I have been faced with vampires. I survived both. The first with luck. The second with love.

Mary turned up at my house the night before Maya’s funeral. She just wanted to give me flowers and to ask one more time. I was ‘bout 80, and she was still young. I think it was the 90s. In any case, I said no. Then a year to the minute, there was a knock on my door.

I opened it, and an old face with her hair in a ponytail was on the other side. I couldn’t believe it.

“Lisa?” I gasped.