Louise knew she shouldn’t feel envious. She was twenty-two and had a decent-paying job, and these days, any job was a prize. Moreover Mrs. Clark permitted her to leave work every afternoon to continue her training with Coach Quain and the Onteora Track Club. Since Los Angeles, she had continued to place well in races, even twice becoming the national champion in the 50-meter dash. After 1932, Mary Carew retired, but Louise continued to race against Olive Hasenfus. And much to the delight of Coach Quain, Louise’s younger sister Julia also joined the Onteora Track Club to run and compete, but she never appeared fixated on racing, certainly not in the way that Louise had.
Julia was clever and had a good head for numbers, but with graduation less than two months away, her future remained unclear. College was unlikely for a girl without means, especially a black girl, and without a college degree, a job as a teacher or nurse was equally unlikely.
“Lou-ise,” a familiar voice sang, interrupting Louise’s thoughts.
From the shadows of a copse of trees at the other end of the park, Julia appeared, waving as she skipped toward them. “Yoo-hoo, girls, I have some lollys for you two sweeties.”
Ann and Barbara clapped in delight at Julia’s appearance, and she handed each girl a lollipop while making a show of admiring the piles of pebbles. “My goodness, you’ve both been busy. Look at all of this,” she said, but the girls barely even registered their earlier occupation as they popped the sweets into their mouths.
“Thanks for providing distraction. Things were too peaceful here, and I was just waiting for an argument to break out,” Louise said.
“Between those two angels? I don’t believe it.” Julia laughed as she patted both girls on their little blond heads before joining Louise on the bench, a smug look on her face. “So, guess what’s happened?”
“What?”
“You know how Mrs. Jackson told me to come by for tea when I saw her at church on Sunday? I just stopped in to see her, and she’s found a job for me this summer. I’m going to leave town.”
“Really?” Louise hoped her expression looked enthusiastic, but a twinge of dread took form within her. Sometimes it felt as though everyone was moving on with their lives without her.
“Apparently her cousin owns an inn in Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard and Mrs. Jackson put in a good word for me. They’ve offered me a spot as a chambermaid until Labor Day. Usually jobs start on Memorial Day, but they’re making an exception for me, and I can come after graduation.”
“My, that’s wonderful,” said Louise, tenting her hand over her eyes, ostensibly to watch the girls, but really to hide her disappointment from Julia. Oak Bluffs. Every black girl in Massachusetts knew its significance. The small beach town had become a summer haven for well-heeled black families. Judges, physicians, entertainers, even politicians, anyone who was anyone went to Oak Bluffs. After spending a summer there, Julia would return with connections and possibilities. Who knew what doors would open for her?
Louise swallowed, trying to push past her jealousy. Why should she envy Julia when Coach Quain had all but promised her a trip to the Olympic trials in Providence? For the last four years she had been readying herself to compete in Berlin. And not just compete, but win. So why did Julia’s job in Oak Bluffs leave Louise with a sting of regret?
At that moment, Ann clapped her hand to her face and howled. Within seconds, her howl intensified into a scream as she tottered to her feet and stepped toward Louise and Julia, but as she moved forward, her toe caught on something, and the girl went down flat onto her face.
Louise leapt toward her. “Annie, you’re fine. Let’s take a look.” She peeled the child from the grass and was met with a constellation of red welts rising on Ann’s face, but more alarming was the blood pouring from the girl’s chin. Blinking against her tears and blubbering, Ann stared from giant blue eyes filled with panic. Through the gash on her chin, Louise could see the white of bone.
Louise froze.
Her only movement was frantic swallowing against the rising bitter taste of fear in her throat.
It was as if she had been thrust underwater and lost all oxygen for a moment, but then, overtaken with a sense of resolve, she scrabbled for the surface. She yanked off the handkerchief she wore tied around her head and pressed it against the wound to stanch the bleeding.
“Bees! Bees! They got me!” Ann screeched as Louise pushed on the girl’s chin. Immediately the dark blue handkerchief turned a dark plum color with Ann’s blood.
“Julia.” Louise kept her voice even. “Please go to Dr. Conway and tell him to meet me at Mrs. Clark’s.”
Julia, pale and stunned, nodded.
“Run,” Louise commanded to her sister before leaning over Ann. “There, there, little one, you’re fine.”
Ann slackened in her arms, though whimpers made her chest tremble.
Louise raised her gaze to see Barbara wide-eyed and open-mouthed at the sudden ruinous state of her older sister. The little girl’s face crumpled, but
