The Louisiana Uproar - Pilot Chapter
Summary: A Black Mob battle with the Haitians leads Dottie to make new allies; Lincoln comes home from the war.
New Bordeaux, Louisiana 1968.
There’s something about this town. Amongst the tourists, loud music, and fireworks----there is something deeply sinister. I can feel it in the humid air, but I can’t put my finger on it. I have been in New Bordeaux for years, now. I attended Brandt University after it opened its doors to select “talented and gifted” colored people. That’s me, Dorothy Vera Jetson, talented and gifted.
Frisco Fields, where Brandt is located, doesn’t allow colored people to do many activities. Instead, I found my fun in the Del Ray Hollow. A convivial area for black people, and cheap place to live. Headed by Sammy Robinson, the Del Ray Hollow is the only place in seven years where I have truly felt safe. Granted, I had only found the district right after sophomore year. At Brandt, when you’re colored, it’s hard to find people who will speak to you. One day, I met a young woman who brought me to the Hollow after a school day.
After graduation, I worked as a waitress at “Perla’s NightClub” until Sammy referred me for a secretary position in River Row. That is what a Master’s Degree in Finance at Brandt University got me---a job as a secretary. At least it paid better than waitressing, and I could tell my father that I had a desk job.
“Mr. Stanfield?” I stood at the doorway of my bosses office.
“Dottie.” My boss, Rick Stanfield, greets me. Rick Stanfield is a southern “gentleman”, who worships Remy Duvall, and acts as if he is too good for working at the dock union. I can’t stand him.
“I was just about to leave. Do you need anything further?” He looks hot. He always does. His tie is pulled down and his underarms are sweating.
“No. I-”
“Good.” He gives me some papers. “Go back to your desk and wait for him to arrive. He will be here. Tell him that I am taking care of the problem.” Rick says, and he starts rushing out. “He will be here.”
It gets later and I figure that I will have to call a taxi to get home, as the last bus is about to arrive. Though I have never had a conversation with Mr. Vittorio Scaletta, I know who he is. He is Rick’s boss, he has a unique Empire Bay accent. We’ve only passed each other as he’s gone to Rick’s office.
“Need a light?” One of the dock workers asked me. I stepped outside to get some fresh air, and have a cigarette.
“Oh, thank you.” There are some dock workers that I regularly interact with, most of them don’t speak with me. There are black men having a cigarette.
“Are you leaving?” I notice that they have an accent, like Sammy. It makes me a bit uneasy. Sammy has been having issues with the Haitians, in the Hollow, it’s just recently gotten violent.
“For the day, yes.” I let out a puff. “Did you need something?”
The two men look at each other. In fact, it’s ominous how they look at each other. I get a bad feeling so I take a step back. It’s like something out of a movie, they just seem different now.
“Excuse me.” I drop the cigarette, I can’t bother to smush it. Instead, I reach for the front door, and feel myself being grabbed.
It’s like I am dreaming. One man has me lifted by my shins, the other has me under my shoulders. I’m willing to try anything, to scream, beg for my life. They open the door and take me inside the office.
“Please! Please! Stop! Let me go!” It feels so hopeless to try to push at them---when I attack one, the other holds me down. The first man has hunched me face forward into a desk, I’m not sure whose. Due to my disadvantage, it’s unknown what the second man is doing. I know, however, that they find this treatment amusing. Both of them grab my shoulders and force me into the supply closet.
“Hey!” Someone says. The two men turn their attention to whatever is around them. That is my opportunity to break away. I use my shoulder to rush into the closet door. The first time doesn’t work, so I try again.
“What’s going on here, fellas?”
It’s silent. I rear myself back and slam into the door again. It’s much easier to open, this time. I think someone was trying to open the door for me. In any case, I crash on the floor of the office. Now I see in addition to my two attackers, there are two other men. It’s Mr. Vito Scaletta and someone else, I have never met.
I crawl from between the stand off between the four men. Mr Scaletta extends his hand to yank me to my feet.
“You alright?” I can’t answer. The man with Mr. Scaletta lunges and slams one of the men’s head into the wall. I let out a scream. My attacker sinks down the wall and he’s leaving a blood stain.
I can’t take it anymore. I don’t want to be here. It’s too much violence. My wrist wiggles out of Mr. Scaletta’s grip and I simply fade away from it. Without another word, I grabbed my purse and left the office. On the way to the bus stop, I adjusted my clothing. Right on time, the final bus appears to take me to the Hollow.
The next morning, I decided to be near people that I could trust. I walked from my apartment unit to Sammy’s Bar. In addition to my work as a secretary, Sammy Robinson uses me as a statistician for the lottery racket.
“Dottie.” Ellis greets me at the bar. He touches me, from behind, on my shoulders. It makes me jump.
“You alright?”
“Yes, I-.” I adjust my dress. “I’ve had an interesting few days.”
“Oh.” He gives me a skeptical look. “What happened?”
“Oh, you know. River Row.” I flick my wrist. I realize that I am not helping my own case. “What’s going on, Ellis?” Ellis shakes his head and decides to continue speaking with me.
“Pops is gonna be over the moon when you see him. We got a letter from Lincoln, this morning.” His adopted brother, Lincoln. He went into the war, just as I discovered the Hollow. Sammy and Ellis talk about him all the time. “Looks like he’ll be coming home in a little while.”
“That’s great!” I am truly happy for him. Ellis goes to hug me and I move. “I’m sorry, Ellis.”
“Now, you gotta tell me what’s going on.”
“Ellis.” I let out a breath, and rub the back of my neck. “The other night when I was getting off of work, I was harmed. They just locked me in a closet.”
“Who?” He’s instantly alarmed.
“It’s over.”
“Who did it?”
“I don’t know...I mean I think they were Haitian. The dock...man...Vito Scaletta handled it.”
Our conversation was interrupted by Sammy coming into the bar. I give Ellis a look, he needs to not say anything. I don’t want Sammy to think that anything is wrong. He’s been having a hard time with the Haitian mob, recently, I don’t want to add to it. Ellis’ body language tells me that he won’t.
“Ellis was just telling me about your son.” I walk to him with a smile, and open my arms for a hug. I have to force myself to hug him. I feel so dirty.
I can’t stop thinking about that scary incident. I did return to the office, Monday morning. What else was I going to do? Mr. Stanfield would love to fire me, and I can’t give him a reason to.
“Dot.” Someone simply saying my name makes me jump. I look up at Rick.
“The boss wants to see you outside.” Slowly, I stand up and point to myself. “Yes, you.” Rick rolls his eyes at me. My heart drops. What does he want with me? I head to the front door.
The boss is surrounded by people. He is smoking a cigarette.
“There she is.” He looks amused. “Smoke?” I don’t know how to speak. I’ve forgotten all my words. Should I say yes? Perhaps, I should say no. He moves on.
“Sammy called me...about the situation on Friday night...Sounds like some shit with the Haitians.” I shouldn’t have told Ellis anything. I hope I didn’t start anything. “Cat got your tongue, kid?” I sniffle trying to hold back my tears. “I…” He looks at the men around us. “Why don’t you take the day off, alright? Feel better.”
I nod to him, then, I take a step back. He gestures for me to come back.
“You take the bus here, kid?”
“There we go. She speaks.” He chuckles to himself. “I can have my boy Paulie take you home, if you’d like.” I don’t want to impose. Plus, my father taught me not to accept rides from strangers.
“I’ll take the bus.” Mr. Scaletta chuckles again. It sounds more like a scoff.
“Hey, white flag is up, kid.” He tells me. “I surrender. Those goons were idiots.” He sighs. “Bus, still?” I nod. He goes in his pockets and gives me money. “On me. Come back when you’re ready.”
“I just got here.” Mr. Scaletta gives me a look as if I am not listening to him.
“I should go..get my purse.”
“You do that.”
When I get inside his office. I peek over the doorway and he’s speaking to someone. Our eyes immediately connect and I try to hide.
“Hey, thanks.” Mr. Scaletta stands and so does the man. He proceeds to walk the man to his doorway. They shake hands and part ways. I watch the man leave and turn back to Mr. Scaletta. He’s looking at me like he expects something. He gestures for me to follow him to his desk.
“Look who it is” He say, while I’m walking into his office. This is my first time being in here.
“Hi, Mr. Scaletta.” I’m nervous. I’m not sure how any of this works. I can’t even look him in the eye.
“Dottie, right?” He comes around his desk, “It’s nice of you to come by and formally introduce yourself.” He extends his hand and I take it. “Have a seat.” I pause.
“It’s quite...uhhh alright.” I stumble.
“I insist. What do you drink? Wine? Liquor? Coffee?” He chuckles.
“You appear college aged so maybe coffee?”
“I really just came to thank you.” I say while taking a seat.
“You’ve done that. Now, hang out.” I can hear the sound of drinks being poured. “I am really sorry about the way those boys acted. They won’t be coming around no more.”
“It’s okay.”
“It wasn’t.” He puts a drink in front of me and we drink. “So, you in school?”
“Graduated.”
“Degree?”
“Finance...from Brandt.”
“Ah, so you’re a math kinda girl.”
“I can dig it.” I force a laugh.
“I hear you’ve been real helpful with old Rick and organizing.” That’s about all he has me do everyday.clo
“Yeah, it was tough finding a job after college.” Why did I say that? I can hear him laughing.
“That bad, huh?” I’m nervous. “Hey kid, it’s alright, I get it.”
The conversation progressed for about an hour. This white man has managed to tear down some of my social walls.
“It’s ummm getting late.”
“You want a lift?”
“I’m okay.”
“Yeah, I guess I should have figured.” I stand up and grab my purse.
“Mr. Scaletta?”
“Vito, please.”
“Vito, I could be very helpful to you.” I blurt.
“But more so! I’m really good with numbers. I run the black mob’s books---I think that’s what those Haitians wanted.”
“Dottie-” His face changes. “I-look, do you tell people that?”
“No.’
“Good. Don’t ever.” He says, “They were after ya, kid.”
“Sorry.’ My shoulders drop.
“I won’t do anything about it.” He sighs. “It’s dark. Make it up to me and let me give you a ride.”
“Well, when you say it like that.”
“Come on.” He stands. “I don’t mind the ride to the Hollow.”
“Dottie.” Rick says standing above my desk.
“I just finished processing those dues.” I lightly point.
“In his office?”
“Yes.” He pauses. “I think it’s funny that you ask me where his office is. Now, he wants to see you.” I’m not sure what to say. “I know what your kind can do.” He gives me such a hateful stare. “Don’t keep the man waiting.’
“Vito. You wanted to see me?”
“Yeah. Took ya long enough.”
It is a bit of a walk to get from my office to Benny’s ristorante. “Get comfortable. You off work?”
“I am.”
“Great. So uhhh telll me about your uhhh what you’re good at.” He stumbles.
“Finance?” He nods to me. “I went to school at Brandt. I got my undergraduate and graduate degree, here.”
“Yeah.”
“Didn’t think they let in black people.”
“Good grades.” I shrug. “There was three of us.” I nod. “I was thinking...as I’ve been working here, I could use last year’s information to give a prediction on how many men are needed this year and budgeting.” I can see the wheel’s turning in Vito’s head. “It’s not like Rick is keeping track of these things.”
Vito’s head snaps to me. I blew it. He’s going to kill me and have Rick fire me.
“Seriously?” He leans back. “And you can do that for me?”
“I could.” It would take some serious digging.
“We’ve only just started talking and you’ve given me something to think about.” He shrugs. “Listen, Sammy and I have been talking about you.” Really? “I’ll tell him that I’m interested in giving you some side jobs.”
“Okay.” I try to hide my smile. It’s quite a relief. Sammy and the black mob have been having issues with the Haitians, as of recent. Sammy has not been able to pay me. I still did the work because I love Sammy.
“Dottie, this is River Row. I might be able to put just enough money in your pocket.”
Vito and Sammy must have worked something out. For the next few weeks. My time is being used in the Hollow, at the docks, and in the office. It’s hard work and it’s difficult to manage my time. The money from Vito is helpful. Plus, when I’m in River Row, some of the white men treat me much nicer. The best thing of all this is I’m untouchable, Rick Stanfield has no power over me.
“Hey, kid.”
“Oh my god.” I jump. I drop my pencil and take a breath. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see what was going on.” He pulls up a chair. “The place definitely looks more organized.”
“Yes, if you are looking for everything I promised you.” I pause. “It’s coming but I have to figure out where everything is.”
“So you’re auditing?”
“Exactly.”
“Ah, I’d pay you just for getting this place in shape.”
“I’d give you, your cut of the union dues.” I shrug. “I finished counting an hour ago. The last time I put it in your hand, Rick felt he needed to show me who is boss.”
“How so?”
“He just told me about myself. I don’t care now.” I stand and start putting papers away.
“He didn’t have nice things to say about you, today.”
“He hates me.”
“Yeah? He told me that you are bossy, manipulative, and you make the boys uncomfortable.”
“Do you believe him?”
“Not necessarily.”
“You know me better than everyone here, now.” I pause. “I hope not.” Take a seat next to Vito. “I swear that guy has never looked at me until you started giving me work to do.He thinks I’m ratting him out.”
“See anything you should...tell me about?”
“Just how poorly his business is run.” I shake my head. “He doesn’t have a place for anything. He should be thanking me.”
“Call it a night.” Vito stands. “Some of the boys have been saying that you’ve been working late.“
“Reminds me of my internship.” With more respect, of course.
“Pack your stuff. You wanna eat, kid?” He shrugs.
“It’s a nice night at the restaurant.”
“Yours?” I feel like hesitating.
“Yeah.”
“I’m...okay.”
“Ouch.”
“I really have stuff to get done. I gave myself a deadline.”
“Come on, kid. We just started to get comfortable.” That’s correct.
“I hired ya. I wanna get to know you.” There’s a silence between us. That’s nice of him.
“Me too.” I want him to know that the feeling is mutual. “The water by your office always looks nice.” A small smile forms on his face.
“Would you like to take a walk?”
The walk was a good idea. He talked me into eating with him by the water.
“Funny, before I got here. I fucking hated fish-crabs. I eat all that shit now.”
“It’s good!” I say. “As a kid, I lived near Maryland---the crab state.”
“So, do you like the ristorante now? Or did I force you?”
“I like it...yes, you forced me.” I laugh. “Look, when I first started working here. I got invited to a happy hour, here.” I blurt. “Someone put a bug in my food.” Vito goes to speak. “It’s not your fault.”
“Just doesn’t feel right that you keep having these...bad experiences.”
“I was spoiled back in D.C.” That wasn’t even that great. “Amazes me. We’re in the tailend of the 1960’s!”
“You said it.” He starts smoking a cigarette. “So tell me about your life in Washington.”
“It was alright, you ever been?” He shakes his head.
“I lived up there with my dad, my step mom, half brother. It was alright.”
“School made you come here?”
“Brandt has an excellent Finance program.” I nod. “My old man was into it.”
“Yeah? He into Math, too?”
“For me.” I wink. “He was always helping me with homework and after school programs.” I smile. “I love that guy. He wants me to come back.”
“Sounds like you have fond memories.” I know what’s the next question: Why not go back?
“I’d like to be apart of something bigger than me.” I pause. “Like Tony DeRazio.”
“Derazio?” He makes a face. “What’s so appealing about him?”
“You know, he’s...he just does the stuff that I’d like to do.”
“No, I don’t think he does.” Vito seems serious. “Stick with me, kid. I think this will be an eye opener for you.”
“I’d like that.” I pause. “What about you? How did you get here?”
“I relocated for work.” He shrugs. “Not everything I do is legal---why do you want that?” He changes the subject.
“I don’t have an answer for you, yet.” This is something I’ve thought about. “I’m not sure if the things that are the most fun...are the illegal stuff.” I chuckle nervously. “I didn’t even know I enjoyed it until I started running with the Hollow.”
“It only gets bigger, kid.”
“It was just...fun, man.” I say thinking back to my first night at Perla’s.
“You don’t honestly think that’s gonna put you on Derazio’s level, right? The black mob.”
“I’m not following Vito Scaletta around for no reason.” We both smile at each other.”
“You’re…” He stops. “Different.”
“From most African Americans?”
“For your generation, in general, why is it all about race with you?”
“Well, when you’re negro...” I say with a shrug.
“I’ll show you some things, kid.”
