"Negros aren't supposed to be living in this world" a man said standing up there and preaching to all the white folks, he had on a white gown with a pointy hood connected to it. There were folks like him dressed and scattered every, some where even wearing black with red badges.
Ironic right?
"We should leave" i whisper to the boy next to me who was my crush durning that time.
"Why, im'a tell my papa about this" he said holding the bushes and spreading them further and further apart. He stepped further in, i was afraid they would catch us because lord knows what they will do. I mean this is the...the.....KKK!...They killed more people than anything..
"Please" i said in a pleading tone, "I'm scared" i pulled my old shirt that used to be Louises (my older sista) down so it was covering my knees, i felt him look at me and he grabbed my hand.
"It'll be okay"
"I like you"
"What?"
"To white jesus!"
"To white jesus!"
They all screamed and cheered as the crossed burned, they started pulling on their hats and walked around each other chanting some prayer of theirs. I started backing up when i hit my back upon a tree branch. I screamed, and it was af everything stopped, they stopped walking and chanting, and i stopped breathing.
"You hear that Jon?" one of the men that is dressed in the white gown says
"Sounds like a little child"
"It betta not be a negro child"
I hide so fast, and i pulled Johnny with me. Johnny was only a year older than me, i was 11 and he was 12. Johnny knew if we get caught by the KKK, then our behinds are skin cause dont no negro get alive when they counter a Klu KLux Klan leader.
"Johnny" i say as i start to whimper and cry, "Let's leave"
Johnny nodded his head and put his finger upon his lips, telling me to be quiet, without saying anything of course. We heard footsteps walking around on the dry grass, it was summertime and it was hot as hell. I was sweating out my hair and Johnnys shirt that looked like he must've bought at the local Negro shop, was getting wrinkled. And i could see a little sweating coming down from his forehead.
But damn he sure was handsome, the first time i met Johnny felt like yesterday. I mean it isnt like i go to school because most of the negro kids that are privilgend enough that can go to school, teaches those that cant. Johnny taught me, that's how i know what the KKK is, because of Johnny, he never yelled at me like the other boys did, he sat down with me and helped me learn even if it took me a whole night. Johnny told me that one thing we all have in common is death, doesn't matter what ya skin color is, you're bound to die.
"Come on let's go, before they see us" He said as he crouched and headed back into the forest were we came from. We got far enough were we could walk normal, but we still whispered afraid that they could be lurkin. Johnny walked in front of me of course, and i walked behind him watching his long legs move, and how he gripped his fist everytime he think he heard something, he said he will protect me and i believed him.
"Johnny" i barley say, but some how he still heard me
"Yes"
"Thank you" i said as i catched up behind and grabbed his hand, "Thank you" i said again
"For what?"
"For teaching me, if it wasnt for you i wouldnt have know anythin" i held my head down, i felt him staring at me, and i was afraid that if i looked up he would've rolled his eyes, and call me a sissy, but he didn't, he squeezed my hand tighter.
"Don't thank me, you actually knew stuff, it just took someone to help you expand on it"
I smiled and held his hand as we arrived to the shack i call home. My Mama was outside with my older brother holding her dresses in her rugged hands looking like she was about to cry. My older brother was wrapping his long and muscular arms around her, hugging her, like a husband. They didn't see us until my brother stared for awhile at me then you could tell he squeezed mama's shoulders because hear head popped up in a flash.
"Combs!" mama said more relieved then she was angry, "Were, where you at?, i was worried sick!"
"Sorry Mama, i didnt mean to upset you" i let directed my eyes toward my brothers, he was staring at our hands, and i aint talking about the ones that were by ourside, no, the ones we hand intertwined with each other. He was glaring so hard that he could've burned holes through them.
"Why were you out so late, didnt i tell you to come back once the sun starts to set" she rambled and rambled about how it is unsafe for a little black girl like me to be walking the streets along. That there are men out there who could've done more dangerous things then just lynching me. That i'm to young to be alone at this time of day.
"But i wasnt alone" i say as i gripped Johnny hands tighter, "Johnny was with me"
And Mama stopped talking, she looked at our hands that were interwined together, shook her head, and walked back into the shack, my brother on the other hand stood and stared at Johnny till mama told him to come inside. He went away soon, and it was just me, Johnny, and a whole bunch of chripping birds.
"You can stay here till Morin" i say offering him the not so roomy home
He laughed and rubbed his freshly cut hair, "It's okay, i better be gettin before my folks become crazy"
I smiled and let go of his hand, feeling the cold come inbetween my fingers, i was walking away until Johnny said something.
"Goodnight" he said walking towards me, at first i thought he was giving me a hug, but when i put my arms out like i was holding a basket, he walked right up to me...
And kissed me...
before i could react he pulled away and started walking, and soon i couldn't see his figure anymore. I stood out feeling his soft lips on mine, but for that spilt second it felt better than magic princess or getting seconds of mama's cooking when she has enough to spare. It even felt better than freedom, i felt what you would see in your MIstresses house when two pale faces would kiss and the sappy music comes on. i felt that..
"Johnny" i said one last time before i heard mama call me..
"Goodnight"
