Chocolate Vanilla Sweets

Chapter 11

"Go home Ted!" I say before pulling Sue from the raucous.
Sue is wearing a long black hair wig which didn't look good on her. Her natural curly hair texture is much nicer. Anyway, the tiger stripe mini dress, black leather jacket and thigh high boots makes her smoking hot. But I didn't like guys seeing her in that outfit.

"Where are you taking me?" Sue screams, eyes flashing with anger.

"I saved your butt in there!" I shout.

"I can take care of myself!" Sue asserts.

"Why all that makeup? and you hardly have any clothes on..." I didn't get a chance to finish speaking, as someone hit me hard across the face.

For a moment, I am dazed. But I am revived when I get an extra uppercut under the chin. I taste blood and I'm now seeing red. Ted is trying to launch a fresh attack and he's calling Sue every disrespectful, sexist name in the book. I unleashed all my pent up anger over the last few days on him...beating him with my fists. By the time, I'm done he's flat on his back. His lips are swollen, a tooth is missing, and his face is barely recognizable. I vaguely remember Sue and Ronald trying to hold me back. The thing is, after I'm done hammering the guy, Sue is on the floor administering first aid.

Ronald is angry and tells me how much of a loser I am, and he's going to report all that I did tonight. He said there is no way I can be head of the ForeRunners anymore. I shake my head and let him know I didn't want to even be a member. The organization was dumb anyway. It's soley based on treating people like crap because of the color of their skin, their religion or sexual orientation. It's stupid. Why should I be a part of an organization whose sole existence is to put other people down? Like...how stupid is that?

While Ronald and I were arguing, Sue must have gone inside and gotten her friends, as a bunch of attractive ladies are now outside rendering aid to Ted.

"You nearly killed him." Sue whispers, as I help Ronald put Ted in the car.

"His mouth is filthy." I state.

Before Ronald drives away. He looks at me and says, "I am so disappointed in you Mike. You could have been a very powerful man in Washington one day. You would have done a lot for the cause."

I grin and tell him, "You wouldn't support me Ronald. You see, I believe. Black. Lives. Matter."

These words are loaded and are blasphemy to the movement. He sticks up the middle finger and speeds off. I turn to see Sue smiling while giving me a quiet applause. I bow and when I hold my head up, she realizes that I have a cut on the chin. Sue begins to fuss, but I put my fingers on her lips, telling her to be quiet.

"I'm sorry for everything. I thought about all that you said to me...and you're...you are right. Why should I hate others because they are different from me? The truth is all lives matter. But sometimes black lives don't matter enough to people. Aaaah...you see, the ForRunner movement wants to create a white multicultural society. And we tried to do it through education. But the underlying message, despite us trying to soften it, was hate. Hate them. Hate others. But it makes no sense Sue. I am angry at people I don't know, and I have no real idea why. I'm just angry. I want to stop being angry. I don't want to act like how Ronald and Ted just acted. It's stupid. Just living in a world of fear...for the Jews, the blacks, the immigrants...aaaah, it's all too convoluted. There is no justifiable reason to hate people for being people," I finally say.

Suzanne wraps me in a warm loving hug.

"Does that mean Christmas at my family's place is still on?" I ask, hopeful.

"No, but I am thankful for everything you said. It's just that things are so fractured right now Michael. Too many people see the world through your friends' eyes. There's just this huge divide," Sue sighs.

"I was part of the problem. Let me use my resources to be part of the solution. Allow me time in the new year to put together a team to see how we can fix this. Or play a part in fixing this. We also need to start a mass re-education campaign on tackling race issues. It's going to be a tough conversation for many." Michael shakes his head.

"A tough one indeed. I want to work with you on this Mike. I have lots of ideas," Sue smiles. I hold her hand. My eyes communicate, I would like that very much. "I'm sorry I can't come to your family dinner tomorrow but a bunch of us got invited to spend Christmas with our attending physician. But...there is still Boxing Day and the days after that." Sue smiles. She's beautiful.

"I look forward to many, many days after that." I say, pulling her close. It's getting cold and a few drops of snowflakes are beginning to fall.

"Kiss me Michael." Sue whispers. Our lips meet and it's no longer cold. It feels like a hot day in July. For the first time in forever, I'm keeping love alive. I am committed. It's going to be a happy new year.