Thoughts about what he just did hit him full force, causing Thomas to stumble but Eli was leaning heavily on him, which brought them both to their knees.
“Oh god, Eli, what did they do to you?” This is definitely not good. Eli needs to get help and I-- I have to run but I can’t leave Eli behind! What should I do?
Panic rose in his veins. Where had that surge of confidence gone? There was no way any trial for him or any other colored person would be fair… Mr. Baker had been right. After what he had just done… his death was ultimately inevident and nearing quickly.
Only one option seemed realistic and feasible now.
“Look Edgar, how many times do I gotta tell you I ain’t interested- Oh! Thomas! It’s you!”
Thomas sent his mother a crooked smile.
“Is Ol’ Man Ed down the road tryin’ to pursue you, mother?”
His mother, a stout woman who’s bark was worse than her bite, scowled at her son playfully.
“You’ve got enough nerve to return home with a half dead Eli and not give your mother a kiss when you come waltzing through that door?”
Pressing a quick kiss to his mother’s cheek with a genuine smile, he half-dragged Eli to the dining table and collapsed on the chair opposite to him. His mother rushed off to get any medical supplies they had.
“Who would’a thought.. My little boy brought home rocks and dirt as a child… now you’re bringin’ home injured men.”
“It’s only one man. Next time, I’ll bring a woman, you never know.”
“Oh, you player.”
“Heya Tommy,” his younger sister, Betty called, waddling over to the table in nothing but a rag-like dress. His anger flared at the poverty every colored family, including his own, was forced to survive off of.
He scooped Betty into his arms while his mother washed Eli’s cuts. Betty giggled happily and a stab of pain pierced his heart. I.. I may never see you grow up.
“Hey Ma…”
“How in the world did you get-”
“Mother!” His mother turned, hand on hip.
“Thomas Thomas! Can’t you see I’m doin’ something?”
“Mom… I gotta leave for a while.”
“Oh good lord, what did you do this time?” she rolled her eyes, smacking Eli accidentally with a wooden spoon.
Thomas opened his mouth to speak, glancing guiltily down at Eli…
“It’s a long story, Ma.”
Thomas stared up at the old, rotting ceiling, thoughts clouding his mind. He ought to fix that when he returned. If he ever returned. Sitting up, he swung his legs over the side of the creaking bed and pulled on his worn loafers. He sat by his creaky desk, fingers threading through the peach fuzz on top his head as he thought of a million words to write, to explain his absence and his cowardice, throat hoarse from talking. The moonlight brightened against his slumped form, his hands shaking as he got up and packed his essentials with haste and silence.
Following along the sudden memory lane of pictures frame along the wall, he looked at the ragged and broken furniture, a sort of sadness and regret deep in his eyes. Spotting his mother and sister sleeping in the same small, pull out couch, he almost felt the urge to stay but quickly put that fire out as he kissed them both on the forehead. Neither woke up. Good.
“You didn't think I’d know what you’d do, Thomas?” Thomas’ heart gave a little start but he otherwise didn’t turn to Eli.
“You know me too well, Eli. Take care of my family, won’t you?”
“No.”
“No!?-- no?” Thomas quickly caught himself mid yell, which little Betty stirred for a second. She didn’t wake.
“I’m coming with you.”
“Oh no, you’re not! I’m the one in danger, not you, I can’t drag you into it.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, I was the one who got my ass beaten by a couple of white trash.”
“I--”
“Not a single peep outta you, you’re gonna wake them up. I’m going with you, I can’t let a wet blanket like you left unprotected in the real world. Plus... I packed while you were angst-ing out in your room.” Eli gave a small smile, half hidden by the dark room.
Thomas gaped his mouth open like a fish out of water at the smile before grudgingly speeding to the back door, hiding his face. Thomas felt a smile grow on his own face and his shoulders relax, but he knew that if Eli saw it, he would have that dumb shit-eating grin on his face. Once out the door, Eli closed the door and they walked at a inconspicuous pace, Eli’s injured by his side and the other draped over Thomas’ shoulders.
“This is pretty exciting, don’t ya think?”
“... Sure, Eli. Running from your family with no warning and a half-assed apology because saving your tactless friend could get you killed, is exciting.”
“Think on the bright side! We could explore the world together, we could make a better life for our families! You shouldn’t need to worry, you know our neighborhood loves your mom and your little sister.” Thomas smiled at the reassurance.
“You’re right. Let’s hurry, we got a train to catch!” So they ran, pain and worry temporarily forgotten.
The next morning any sign of the men were gone, only pictures and a note remained. You’d think that the mother and sister were angry, sad, worried or even betrayed, but they weren’t. Not at all because a note was all they needed.