Dancing at The Orange Peel – Directory
Dancing at The Orange Peel – Directory
A Serialized Historical Novel
Synopsis: 1968. Kent Creek, North Carolina.
When nine-year-old Libby and her widowed mother Gwen befriend their town’s first prominent Black businessman, they're forced to come to terms with the reactions of their family and community... and their own. As Libby struggles to understand her place in this world, Gwen grasps for what little remains of her own identity, her hopes, and her dreams.
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What’s here:
Content Notes: Important things to know before reading
Table of Contents: A listing of the novel’s episodes with synopses, as well as articles that are related to each episode
Content Notes
Even though Libby, the main character, is only nine years old at the beginning of the novel, this story is NOT middle-grade or young-adult fiction. Without being the primary focus, sexual abuse and its related effects are relevant to the story. Though they are not explicit nor frequent, I’d rather you/the reader know about them in advance. Toward that end, a content note will appear at the beginning of those episodes.
Additionally, while I strive for historical accuracy, believable characters, and plausible events, these elements can sometimes be at odds with my own beliefs and values. In both the short story and the novel, language and attitudes—including racism and women’s roles, among others—are representative of the cultural climate at the time and in the place: 1960s-70s in the Southern U.S. The values, beliefs, and perspectives of the characters are not a reflection of my own.
My intention in this telling is to help us remember the people we don’t want to be today.
Table of Contents
“For What Nate Did”
The story that started it all. This is the origin and foundation for Dancing at The Orange Peel, and ultimately, for the Kent Creek Chronicles.
Episode 1: “Alleys and Shadows”
Synopsis: From the school bus, nine-year-old Libby Billings observes the alleyway beside The Orange Peel nightclub where her father and her uncle, both deputy sheriffs, were shot three years earlier. She struggles with fear and confusion about the murders and the club’s reputation, contrasting with her otherwise ordinary life and close-knit family. After arriving at her mother’s workplace, the Kent Creek Chamber of Commerce, Libby settles in to do homework until Jeff Misener, a prominent businessman and Chamber member arrives with more than his checkbook.
Episode 2: “Watchful Eyes”
Synopsis: Local businessman Jeff Misener has come to the Chamber of Commerce with Nate Boniface, the manager of one of his businesses. Libby recognizes Boniface as the new Black member everyone in town is talking about. After Mr. Bolden, the head of the Chamber, refuses Nate’s handshake, Misener and Bolden exchange harsh words. Libby recalls an encounter with Misener’s daughters, and she tries to piece together the interactions between this new member and her mother.
Episode 3: “Hard Questions”
Synopsis: On their ride home at the end of the day, Libby quizzes her Mama about the Black man she’s just seen at the Chamber. Libby worries what the other kids at school will think if they find out her Mama has befriended him.
Episode 4: “Awkward Introductions”
Synopsis: Libby eagerly awaits Mama’s return from a Saturday movie with her friend Miss Cheryl. They finally arrive, laughing and chattering about Sean Connery. The mood shifts quickly, though, with the the unexpected arrival of Mama’s new acquaintance, Nate Boniface. Mama makes polite introductions, but Aunt June, who’s been babysitting Libby, is clearly unnerved by his presence. When Mama insists he is welcome, Aunt June departs in a huff of disapproval.
Episode 5: “From Kent Creek to the Eiffel Tower”
Synopsis: With all their guests gone, Libby is curious about her mama’s new friend. Noticing how different Nate is from all the people she knows, she watches him and Mama closely, her mind filled with questions. Only a few does she dare to ask.
Episode 6: “The Knight Alone”
Synopsis: When Grant arrives for supper without his date, Libby is delighted to get all his attention. Gwen, on the other hand, wonders what this loss of yet another girlfriend in a long line of women will mean for the relationship she and Libby have with Grant.
Episode 7: “The Promise”
Synopsis: Gwen grapples with her emotions as the evening unfolds in a night of revelations. She finds herself in a complex dance with Grant, who is bound by a promise to her late husband that has blurred their boundaries of friendship and love.
Episode 8: “Nosy Neighbors”
Synopsis: As Gwen waits up for Nate, Libby insists she stay awake too. The Cosgroves, their neighbors, come calling, full of questions and suspicious of the colored man who visited Libby and Gwen’s apartment earlier in the day.
Episode 9: “Carter’s Eyes”
Synopsis: With Libby tucked back in bed, the anticipation of Nate’s arrival stirs in Gwen a mix of excitement, guilt, and worry. She attempts to navigate these conflicting emotions, fully aware of the risks of discovery and inevitable judgment from her family.
Episode 10: “Half Mast”
coming soon
New episodes of Dancing at The Orange Peel publish monthly with extra tidbits in between from THE MAILBAG.