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“Shall we?” I asked Moody

“You’re gonna start a riot,” she said “You know that, don’t you?”

I clasped her hand tightly in an to walk down the sidewalk of the busiest street in Eudora

To anyone who didn’t know us, ould seem like lovers out for a romantic stroll on a late-summer afternoon

But of course there was a complication: I hite, Moody was black My hair was blond and straight, hers was black and tightly curled

The citizens of Eudora had never seen anything like the two of us

They stopped in their tracks Soot down off the sidewalk to put soroaned or cried out, as if the sight of us caused them physical pain

Corinna Cutler and Edwina Booth came out of Miss Ida’s store, a couple of plu to each other—until they laid eyes on our joined hands

Both their jaws dropped

“Afternoon, Miz Cutler,” I said “Afternoon, Miz Booth”

Their faces darkened and they hurried away

Ezra Newcoh theof his barber-shop He abandoned his lathered-up customer in the chair and stalked to the door “Ben Corbett,” he shouted, “I oughta take this razor to your damn throat!”

I relinquished Moody’s hand and wrapped a protective arm around her shoulder “Nice to see you too, Ezra”

Word of our co spread down the street before us About half the town stepped out onto the sidewalk to see as causing the commotion

At the drugstore I held the door for Moody