“It’s a mighty handsome necklace,” Ibby said. “But I can’t see Fannie out shopping for jewelry.”
“She don’t have to go shopping,” Birdelia said. “They come to her.”
“Who do you mean, they come to her?”
“If Miss Fannie needs a necklace, she calls up Mr. Norman, and he brings a case over from his shop. She needs some shoes, Miss Odille from Gus Mayer brings over a dozen pairs to choose from. If she wants something and they don’t deliver, then Crow goes and picks it up for her.”
“Oh,” Ibby said. “Things don’t work that way in Olympia, where I’m from.”
As they slurped their snowballs, a policeman in a blue uniform came up to Ibby and bent down.
“Do you know this colored girl?” He pointed at Birdelia.
“Yes, officer,” Ibby answered, puzzled by his question.
“Where’d you get that black eye?” he asked.
“A neighbor girl did that to me,” Ibby said.
“Mind stepping over here a minute?” He pointed toward a tree up the street and smiled.
Ibby didn’t understand why he wanted to talk to her, but she did as she was told. Birdelia stopped eating her snowball and watched them.
When they got to the tree, the policeman bent down to talk to Ibby. “Did that girl you were sitting with give you that black eye?”
He had a kind face, but the question was making her nervous. Why would he think Birdelia punched her?
“No, sir. Like I told you. Another girl did that. And my knee, too.” Ibby pointed down at her skinned-up knee.
“Who is the little colored girl you’re sitting with?” He pointed at Birdelia, who was craning her neck in their direction.
“Birdelia.”
“And how do you know her?” the policeman asked as he stood up.
“Her mama works for my grandmother.”
“Who is your grandmother, if I may ask?”
“Her name is Fannie Bell.”
“Why didn’t you say so?”
“You know her?” Ibby looked at him, surprised.
“Sure do. I’ve known your grandmother for a long, long time. My name’s Lieutenant Kennedy. And Birdelia is Dollbaby’s daughter. I just didn’t put two and two together.”
Ibby recognized him now. It was the same officer who’d come over to the car the other day when they were downtown buying perfume.
“Why don’t you let me take you on home?” He pointed toward his squad car.
“I’d get in trouble if I didn’t show up with Birdelia,” Ibby said.
Lieutenant Kennedy adjusted the peaked cap on his head. “She can come, too.”
Ibby and the policeman walked back over to where Birdelia was sitting.
“Why don’t you come along with me?” he said to Birdelia.
“I didn’t do nothing,” Birdelia protested as she stood up.
“I’m going to take you home, as a favor to Miss Fannie,” Lieutenant Kennedy said. “That’s all.”
Birdelia eyed him suspiciously before tossing her container in the trash can. On the way home, they passed the Friedrichses’ house. Annabelle was still sitting on the swing in the front yard. When she saw the squad car pass and the two people looking out the back window, she jumped up and shouted for her mother. Ibby slumped down in her seat, just imagining what Annabelle was going to tell her mother this time.
Lieutenant Kennedy pulled up to Fannie’s house and walked the girls to the door. When he rang the doorbell, Doll answered.
“Good day, Dollbaby,” Lieutenant Kennedy said, tipping his hat. “How are you?”
“I’m fine, thank you.”
“Good, glad to hear it. Fannie home?”
“Miss Fannie’s taking a rest. Something I can help you with?”
“It’s just that some ladies down at the snowball stand, when they saw the black eye on Fannie’s granddaughter here, they thought there might have been some trouble. We’re being extra vigilant this weekend, given the announcement by the president yesterday. Thought I’d bring the girls home, just to be on the safe side. Might want to keep them around the house today.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant Kennedy,” Doll said, ushering the girls inside.
“You got a right fine daughter there, Dollbaby. Take good care of her. And please give Fannie my best.” He tipped his hat again.
“Sure will.”
As soon as Doll shut the door, Birdelia piped up. “I didn’t do nothing, I promise.”
“I know, child.” Doll put her arm around Birdelia’s shoulder and squeezed it. “I know.”
Chapter Sixteen
Ibby yawned as Queenie held up the Saturday paper and pointed at the front page, where there was a sketch of the American flag with LIBERTY written in bold letters beneath it.
“Lookey here, Miss Ibby. They got your name right on the front page of the paper today. They must have known it was your birthday!”
“Gosh, I completely forgot.” Ibby took the paper from Queenie and looked at the front-page headline.
“How could you forget your own birthday?” Queenie asked.