The story of a woman who crosses social and racial lines in 1920 New Orleans.

Editor’s note: This is the fourth installment of a five-part serialization of a novella by local Bill Hunt, “Willie.” This week’s installment is illustrated by the author’s daughter, Carole Foret. Read installments one through three online at www.enewscourier.com

What has gone before…

John Abbott’s pregnant wife is unable to manage a household and a small child. Abbott crosses New Orleans to visit the tenant of one of his rental houses, Willie London, a widowed domestic servant, to ask her to come work in his home. He notices a marked change in her demeanor. She has grown cultured since last he saw her when her husband, George London, died two years before.

The story continues…

Everything had changed in the little white house on Louisa Street except the small kitchen table, where in its center, two red roses stood in a small red vase.

“Yeah, Willie, Donald’s getting to be a big boy, he sure is, and not only that, we’re going to have a new baby in about six weeks. Can you believe it? I bet George couldn’t,” and I stopped as a sudden change came over her expression. “I’m sorry, Willie. I’m sure you miss George a lot, and I’m sorry to have brought up his name. Forgive me, please.”

“Oh, Mister Abbott, that’s okay,” she said, glancing downward and speaking slowly. “Everybody thinks the same as you about George. He was a good man. He was good to me, anyway, and to everybody else. But nobody knows what the full story is, and it doesn’t really matter anymore.”

She patted my arm above the wrist, as if to console me, when it was she who should be consoled. “Y’all want a girl this time, I bet. Mrs. Margaret needs a girl to even things out.” A tear glistened in the corner of her eye.

“Yes, we do want a girl, but Willie, what do you mean by the ‘full story?’ What do you mean? What are you talking about?”