The White Lilly

Deborah Tisha Swinton was originally from Dilworth. She was a blonde Venus. One spectacular beauty. She was a dancer and singer who performed about town. Tisha often wore white feathers and white lily flowers on her dance costume. So she picked up the stage name of the White Lilly. She was a strip dance band a whore. There were crime people that she associated with who lived low lives. Tisha or Lilly was a gangster’s girlfriend. The Jack Rabbit was a lounge, bar, night club where many gangsters hung out. Likely was it that the gangsters owned that place. Another joint Tisha worked at a lot was the White Swan. A gangster friend of hers, Bud Hobson, owned the White Swan club.

Howie bought Tisha a dinner and a drink. Howie, Tisha, and Joe sat at a table, eating, drinking, and talking. Howie spoke, “I am a North Charlottean. My father drove a coal truck. I had a hard time making a clean straight living. I got mixed up in several crimes and did time. I just got out a month ago. I got sick of that pig pen. It was no life. Lately I been a looking for a good job but somehow my luck has been no good. He looked at her and over to Joe. Joe puffed on a cigar and looked the room over. It was full of different people getting drinks, eating snacks, talking, and just plain relaxing. There was a bar along a wall with a counter and about ten stood. Most of them were full. An old man and a middle aged woman were the bartenders. About eight square tables took up half of the floor. There was an open spot where bands, dancing, or a long time ago two pool tables were. Not it was just unused space. The walls were decorated with photographs of sports people, some politicians, four paintings of large male gray rabbits, jack rabbits, and a long rack that hats and coats were hung on. Joe seldom talked. Tishiq watched Howie speak and looked into his eyes as she ate. Tisha heard Howie’s sob story. Surely what had happened to him had been his own fault. She finally spoke,” When you look through the years, all of us have some hard times. We just keep on going hoping for better than bad times. I have had rough years myself. But I do not think about that or let it stop me from going on.” Joe spoke to state, “Howie I feel sorry for you. I am an excon myself with four stretches. I pulled many a job and was busted for some of it. Yes,