It's been three days since the big argument between Sue and me. My calls to her phone go unanswered. Being off from work, and the ForeRunners on break, I had more alone time than usual to consider things. Sue had called me a racist. How can I be a New Yorker, home of liberalism and be a racist at the same time? I almost followed Doug and voted for Obama. Almost. I'm no racist. I wished ill on no one. And I've always been attracted to black women. How can I be a racist? I am the least racist person alive. But the more alone time I had, the more I thought of how I do everything in my power at the company to block non-whites from getting ahead. I don't see anything wrong with putting my people first. But didn't brown skin people have families to care for too? Didn't they work as hard as white people to get ahead, perhaps even harder? And then the inhumane killings and senseless shootings...George Floyd for instance. Why did that policeman kneel on the man's neck until Mr. Floyd's life was snuffed out? And that black guy in Kenosha. The police had shot him times in the back with his kids in the car? I scratch Rufus's head and sigh.
I think of the few black people I knew...Tray, who works at the receptionist desk in the lobby. I didn't like him at first. He was a temp. But he was so good with the residents and guests, I had to keep him. And Tony, the delivery man. Real funny guy. Always had a joke or two up his sleeve. He's got six kids, I think. Why do I hate these people again?
It's the day before Christmas Eve. I grow tired of being alone. I haven't spoken to Barbara in weeks and preferred to keep it that way. I go on the dating app and meet a pretty brown skin girl. She looks Indian and is opened to going out tonight!
Later, we go to a Christmas party held at a ritzy pub in the city. I see Ted and Ronald at the pub, both are senior bankers, and members of ForeRunners. My date is okay. She is pretty, laughs at my jokes and smiles with me a lot, but I'm bored stiff. I keep missing Sue. She should be going out with friends at a popular club, SolidRock, in Brooklyn tonight. She mentioned it, the night of our fight. I grow anxious, feeling the need to see Sue. This date is going nowhere fast anyway. That's why I prefer dating apps. It's impersonal. No strings attached. It's easy to have my chauffer just take this girl home. "Are you sure you don't want us to hang out some more?" the girl purrs, rubbing her palm on my chest. From the way she's looking at me, this girl wants to do more than just hang out. "Sorry." I say with a thin smile, removing her hand from my chest. I order my chauffer to take her home.
Ted and Ronald are open to going clubbing with me in Brooklyn. It's tough to gain access to some of these nightclubs during the merry season, but I have an app due to my influence that allows me access to practically any night life activity in New York. "We'll make it a wild night! Probably pick up some chicks..." Ted laughs, already looking a little woozy. I ordered Ronald to drive. I'll drive my own car.
The men arrive at the club before me. It's late and the club is packed. It takes me a while to shoulder my way through dancing bodies to locate the guys. It's good to just hang out with friends and not overthink things too much. Ronald is seated in a booth and have an ice-cold beer waiting for me. On greeting Ronald, I ask for Ted. Ronald points to Ted standing with a few ladies near the bar.
"He's totally wasted! You know Ted and the ladies." Ronald shouts above the music. The lighting in the club was poor, but Ted seems to be arguing with one of the women. I take two swigs of my beer, then decide to walk over there and help the poor girl out. As I get closer though, I see a tall slim gorgeous black girl standing beside the Latino girl with whom Ted is sparring. She is wearing a wig, but I can recognize Sue anywhere. An ache forms in my chest when I see Sue throw whatever she was drinking in Ted's face. I am close enough to hear Ted utter, "bitch!" I restrain Ted's arm before he hits her. Instead, I slap the Ted across the face several times. Ted starts telling me some derogatory things about Sue and her friends. To be honest it hurts. No one gets away with trash talking a sweet woman like Sue. Nobody. I punched Ted's lights out.
YOU ARE READING
Chocolate Vanilla Sweets
RomanceMichael Henry Mitchell is nobody's fool. He doesn't like people of color. As heir to the Mitchell dynasty, he's in control and easily has his pick of women. Except he has always loved only one girl. Suzanne - and to his frustration, she happens...
