THE BELLS OF CALVARY

Many top college football scouts came to Dothan, Alabama to see him play.The two hundred and twenty
pound running back received countless college scholarship offers to the school of his choice.
The seventeen year old was a cocky reckless youth
without respect for adult authority or the governing
laws of society or even his local community.

One Autumn evening James Earl Simson and two of his cronies decided on the crime.
The three seventeen year olds stood on the corner; James Earl,
Ronnie and Zeke Dennis.They waited in front of Goldblatt's Pharmacy, they searched for the right victim to pass them. A middle aged brown skin woman
walked by; she was rather tall and big boned, she
stood about five feet ten inches and weighed close to one hundred and seventy pounds.She wore a red
wool full length coat; it was November just before
Thanksgiving.

The woman walked hurriedly past the trio into the drug store. James Earl winked at Zeke Dennis and
then he said, "Sure you right."
James Earl Simson swaggered into the drug store behind the tall brown woman. The young pharmacist behind
the counter took notice of James Earl and asked
peevishly, "May I Help YOU?"

James Earl smiled and said, "Yeah, give me ten boxes of rubbers and a box of Kotex."

The young Asian clerk shot back sharply.
"Excuse me! I suggest you leave this store... NOW!...Or would you prefer I call on Sheriff Conklin?"

James Earl waived the woman off and walked out of the drug store.

Nurse Thelma Washington signed her payroll check and raised up from the counter.
"Lord, what is the world coming to? That child almost a man and he acting like he ain't got no sense at all."
The pharmacy clerk handed Nurse Washington the cash from her register and wished the woman a
happy holiday. James Earl cleared his throat loudly and Ronnie and Zeke Dennis snapped to attention. James Earl threw his filterless
cigarette to the ground and skipped over to
Nurse Washington; he jumped in front of her as she
made her way to her car.

James Earl's voice sang out impatiently:
"Excuse me, but I lost my wallet and I'm trying to get some money for the bus."

Nurse Washington noticed the other two boy's step
around and in back of her.
The fifty-three year old woman's voice quivered.
"I don't know... I, uh, what you boys want with
me? I ain't got nothing for you to take, now go on
and leave me alone. You boys should be getting
ready for Thanksgiving, but you got the devil in
you this evening."

James Earl sneered, "Shut up you old B---h!
Hey Ronnie git the bag."

Nurse Washington pulled up on her pocket book and
she clinched her fingers around the leather strapps of her leather bag.

Ronnie whispered: "She ain't lettin go!"

James Earl shoved Ronnie hard moving him back and
then he hauled off and punched the intense woman
knocking her to the ground. The boy named Zeke Dennis took off running and Ronnie ran off too.

James Earl looked down on the woman still cluching her bag.The high pitch sound of screeching brakes caused James Earl to flinch with fear; The Green Ford (F-150) jerked violently to a stop.
The driver turned his high beam head lamps and the lights flooded over James Earl and Nurse Washington.

Coach Carter shouted.

"James Earl! Boy you done it now!
I hope you NEVER get out of jail.
Boy! You bout as dumb as a bag of hammers.
I swear, I hope to God the White-Folks throw away the keys this time. Goddamit! Boy, you done really crossed the line this time! Get the hell outta my way!"

Coach Carter pushed James Earl out of his path and he went to the aid of Nurse Washington lying
on the ground, the coach checked the beloved nurse
for a pulse.

Coach Carter closed his eyes and held her wrist; he waited.

And off in the distance the Bells of Calvary Baptist began to toll; my eyes continue to blurr with moisture. Even now.

Story ID:	5644
Written by:	Charles Micheaux (bio, contact, other stories)
Story type:	Fiction
Location:	Dothan Alabama USA
Year:	1972
Person:	James Earl Simson