Unexpected Turns

School

September 2, 1941

Dad has finally let me go to school after Dick trying to convince him for months now. I attend Danville High School now with Dick and Jerry. We all have one class together which is an elective, Theater. Dick is a very good actor and he is in many of the Shakespeare comedy plays but he also plays a really good Hamlet. Jerry and I just sit back and watch the plays, only participating when it is part of the grade and with the smallest roles. As you probably already know, it's my favorite class.

"To be or not to be.." Dick says.

Jerry yawns.

"Rude," I hit him in the arm.

"Ow" he puts his hand on his arm.

"Weak," I silently laugh.

"You've got a pitchers arm. It's not fair for you to say that."

"Okay, I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?"

He smiles, "No."

"No?"

"You can't just get away with it just because your a pretty girl."

"How can I make you forgive me? I feel really bad. Don't you care that I feel bad?"

"The only way I could forgive you is if you let me hit you in the arm as well."

"what?"

"Just because your a girl doesn't mean you get to beat me up without me defending myself. Self defense is part of the amendments, you know."

"Okay do it, just don't do it hard," I shut my eyes hard and tighten up my arm for the punch.

"Here goes nothing."

He punches my arm gently. As if someone poked you in the arm.

"What was that?"

"My arm is weak for your punch, but now I forgive you," he laughs.

"Shh," Ms. Shire calls to us.

When it's lunch we sit with each other at a table in the cafeteria. Dick doesn't like sitting outside because he burns easily, unlike Jerry who just gets tan. He's kind of like Dracula.

I've met a couple of other friends but I choose to stay with Jerry and Dick, and they choose the same. Dick has a lot of other friends but their mostly girls who are trying to seek his attention. However, he doesn't think that way and whenever I point it out he never believes me. I believe they like him because he's a smart, tall, and handsome boy. Jerry on the other hand has more friends that are men. He likes to hang around the jocks who play football, baseball, and basketball. Girls tend to go after him but he also never pays attention to any of them, except one. He talks to me about her a lot and it sometimes makes me feel uncomfortable when he tries to explain the way he feels and asks for advice. But I don't show it.

On the other hand, my friends are a lot like me, they are alike in grades and in color. They treat me like family and when I hang out with them, we have the best talks.

They had once asked me why I hang out with Jerry and Dick and I explained how they were one of my first friends. Most of them accepted that explanation other than this one boy named William. He thought that until segregation is over, you could never trust a white man or woman. That is also why I never mentioned that my parents are white. I've only told one person and her name is Linda.

Linda is my only best friend that is a girl and she is the perfect best friend. You can trust her with anything and talk to her about things you can't talk about with a guy. She knows almost everything about life which makes her as wise as dad, and that's the best part about her.

When I told her we were walking to our second period, she laughed and told me to tell the truth.

"No I'm serious, my parents are white."

"How can you be black and your parents white, it just doesn't work that way, Mary."

"I'm adopted," I let out, "do you believe me now?"

"You really are?" she stopped, "You're not lying?"

"I'm not. But their good parents, just don't tell anyone that I have white parents."

She begins walking again, "Oh, I'm sorry. Of course I won't tell anyone but how?"

I explained everything and she began to cry.

"Come on, Linda, you're making a scene," I try to make her stop.

"I can't help it, I feel so bad."

"Well I would be a lot happier if you stopped crying and didn't feel bad. I was seven, it was long ago. Don't worry about it."

She wipes her tears and breaths in and out, "does anyone else know?"

"Other than my parents and Gregory, Dick and Jerry only. Your the only one I told from school."

"Can I come over, I want to meet your parents," she asks. I think she began to think of them as saviors.

"Sure, I'm sure they'd love to meet you," we reach the door of our classroom and sit in our assigned seats. Then begin our lesson of the day.