Page 53 of The Women of Oak Ridge
I wasn’t sure what a psychiatrist was, but I didn’t need a doctor. I just needed to know Sissy’s whereabouts.
“I appreciate that, sir. I’m fine. Just a little problem with my roommate, but nothing to concern you about. I’m sure everything will work itself out.”
“Ah, I see. If you need a recommendation to move to a different dorm, let me know. Although, I hear housing is at capacity, in Townsite as well as Happy Valley. You’d do well to stay where you are.”
I thanked him and we parted ways.
I felt a bit deceptive, allowing him to think Sissy and I weren’t getting along. I hadn’t lied though. There was indeed a problem with my roommate, but I couldn’t reveal the details to my boss. Not yet anyway. Not until I discovered Sissy’s whereabouts.
To accomplish that, a plan had begun to form in my mind early this morning as I lay in bed mulling over the situation. My instincts told me it was reckless, insane, and potentially illegal, but the more I thought about it, the more it seemed my only option.
I needed to search Clive’s trailer.
Even thinking such a thought made my heart race. I’d never broken the law before, but that’s exactly what I’d be doing if I went forward with this crazy scheme. Yet it was increasingly imperative I locate the documents Sissy had seen and somehow determine if they were evidence of espionage or simply part of his job.
I spent the afternoon filing paperwork in Mr. Colby’s office, yet it was Sissy’s suspicions about Clive possibly being a spy thatheld my focus. Her words, although brief and unsubstantiated, were written with obvious fear. If Clive was indeed a spy and had threatened Sissy in some way, forcing her to leave Oak Ridge, he should be held accountable.
But if I was going to put the plan into motion, some things had to fall into place.
First, it could only happen on my day off, which was tomorrow. Second, I had to confirm Clive wouldn’t be home. Obtaining that information hadn’t been as difficult as I’d thought. Earlier, I’d mentioned to one of the fellows working in the control room that I was supposed to deliver some documents to Clive later that week and needed to know his schedule. The unsuspecting SED took a sheet of paper from a file, looked it over, then assured me Clive was scheduled to work the next four days.
The final obstacle, however, could prevent the mission from even getting off the ground.
I didn’t know where Clive lived. Sissy only mentioned going to his trailer in Happy Valley once in her diary, but she didn’t include an address. There were thousands of trailers in the housing community not far from K-25. If I couldn’t discover the name of the street where he lived, I’d have to resort to canvassing neighborhoods, knocking on doors, asking if anyone knew Clive Morrison. That could draw a lot of unwanted attention.
My brain was as exhausted as my body by the end of the day. Garlyn was working the late shift, so he wouldn’t be at the portal waiting for me. I had to confess I was glad. I hadn’t shared Sissy’s fears or my plans with him. He wouldn’t approve of my idea, and I couldn’t sit across from him at the cafeteria and pretend all was well. If I went through with my scheme and discovered anything incriminating in Clive’s trailer, I’d tell Garlyn as well as Mr. Colby.
On weary feet, I made my way to the bus stop amid a nippybreeze, glad for the headscarf that kept my ears somewhat protected against the biting air. Instead of joining the group of employees waiting for a bus to take them to Townsite, I walked toward the larger group of people going to Happy Valley. I wanted to see the neighborhood again and get my bearings before tomorrow.
More people joined the throng, and I was pleased to find Velvet near the back. It had been weeks since I’d last spoken to her.
I wound my way to her. “Hello.”
“Mae,” she said, a genuine smile on her face. “It’s nice to see you.”
“And you. How have you been?”
“Busy.” She chuckled. “But I guess we can all say that, can’t we? The Lord has been good to me, so I can’t complain.”
We chatted about the chilly weather and the upcoming Christmas holiday, all the while inching forward in line to board the next available bus.
“Are you visiting someone in Happy Valley?” she asked.
I bit the inside of my lip. What story should I give her?
“A coworker lives there.” I forced my voice to remain normal. “I need to pick something up from him, but I didn’t write down his address. Maybe you know where he lives. Clive Morrison. He’s staying in one of the trailers and drives an Army sedan.”
She looked thoughtful. “I’m not familiar with the name, but it seems like I’ve seen military vehicles parked along Wheat Avenue. The bus sometimes takes that route, dependin’ on the driver.”
A full bus pulled away, making room for an empty one. People ahead of us began to board, and we followed.
“See you later, Mae.”
I bid her goodbye and watched as she moved toward the back of the bus where other Black people sat. I was tempted to join her, but I didn’t need the unnecessary attention it would bring. Other than Velvet, no one on the transport knew me, so no suspicionswould be raised when I got off on Wheat Avenue, the street Velvet mentioned. It seemed the best place to begin my search.
Velvet sent me a small smile when she passed down the aisle and exited the bus at the hutment residential area. It bothered me that she and the others lived in such crude conditions, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it. Jim Crow laws were still in place, which meant legal segregation. From living areas, to dining options, to schools. It seemed ludicrous to me, especially considering we were fighting a war in Freedom’s name.
The bus started up again and made a left turn, away from the hutments.
