The Atlanta Lovebirds(BWWM)

The Last Day Of Summer

August 10,1963

"Mama I'm heading out to the park." I yelled to her while I collected my bag, that held my sketch book and pencils.

I heard her skipping out of the kitchen before she stood in front of me. My mother is a shorter woman. She came just below my chin, but she always made it clear that she could still whoop my behind.

"Okay honey, be careful on your walk. These white people have been getting crazy ideas lately." My mom told me before pulling my head down to kiss my cheek.

I kissed her cheek back and gave her a reassuring smile. "I know mama." I responded to her.

She nodded her head as she graciously opened the front door for me and placed her hand on her hip.

"Make sure you are home in time for dinner baby, I know you get carried away when you draw." My mother scolded me as I walked down the street to begin my walk to the park.

When I began my interest in art, around the age of ten, I quickly learned that public settings offer the best inspiration for my art. I could draw a father playing catch with his son, an old couple sitting on a bench as they held hands lovingly, or a simple sunset.

When I finally arrived to the park, I sat down on a nearby bench and pulled out my sketch book and pencils. I took a calming breath and allowed my body to absorb my surroundings. Since it was so hot today I decided to wear a yellow summer dress that reached a few inches above my knees. And I also pulled my newly pressed hair up into a ponytail, that was tied with a yellow ribbon to match my dress.

Once I took a view of my environment, I noticed these two boys around my age passing a football back and forth between each other. They were both white, and I soon noticed that I have been going to school with them for the past two years. I think they are on the football team, which would make sense because they were throwing the football around.

I hurriedly started my rough sketch of the boys while they were here. There have been so many times when I think I have the perfect muse to draw and then they get up and walk away.

Once I drew the the vast yard and adjacent playground the boys were on, I began to sketch the outlines of their bodies. They were both tall, but the the boy with blonde hair was a little bit more buff than the boy with brown hair.

I looked back to the blonde boy and started to draw a rough sketch of his clothing. He was wearing medium wash blue jeans that were rolled up to show off his white sneakers. He also was wearing a crisp white t- shirt.

Once I felt satisfied with the blonde boy's look, I raised my head back up in order to capture the look of his brown haired friend.

But I was unable to focus on him when I saw a ball hurling in my direction; right towards my face. I let out a high pitch yelp as I shielded my face. The ball collided with my arms and I was surprisingly not dead.

"Look at what you did. I told you not to throw the ball that hard, David." I heard a voice above me speak.

When I looked up I noticed the blonde boy was standing over me with the football in his hand. I immediately casted my eyes down away from his face. My parents always told me not to look in the eyes of white people, in fear that we could bring unwanted trouble.

"I'm sorry..." the blonde boy said to me, awaiting for me to provide my name.

"Lorrie." I said under my breath.

I didn't want to cause a scene, my family would lose their marbles if they knew I was talking to a white boy casually.

"Wow you're really good at drawing, Lorrie." The blonde said to me as he observed my sketch.

When I looked up, the blonde's friend was staring at us with a curious look. I swiftly packed my bag and stood from the bench.

"Thank you." I said to the blonde boy curtly Before quickly walking away.

I was in no interest of socializing with the white people in town. I knew of many negros around here that have been lynched and killed because of 'not knowing their place'.

As I walked away I could hear the muffled voices the boys arguing about who was at fault for me being hit with the football.

I continued to walk out the park until I was back to my side of town. I immediately became relieved when I saw my small blue house approaching.

Before I walked into my house I took a look at the last sunset of the summer, before taking a deep breath of the muggy august air.

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A/N

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