Dream Lover

𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝟭

𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗢𝗻 𝗕𝘆

𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗬𝗢𝗥𝗞 𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗬, 𝗡𝗬 𝟭𝟵𝟱𝟯

   "Looks like another cloudy day, Georgia."
   "I wouldn't say that for sure, Eugene. I have a feelin' the sun just might show its face today."I smiled as I said my prayer hopefully.
   I tightened my grip on my thick heavy briefcase as the two of us strolled down the sidewalk. Eugene and I had to walk from the outskirts of town all the way into the city for work and I just can't afford to take the bus so Eugene always offers to walk with me for protection. I glanced through my thick ringlets of thick black hair over to the loudly passin' cars and buses. I guess you could say I couldn't help but stare.
   "Why does it gotta be this way Eugene?"I asked sighin'.
   "Why does what gotta be what way?"He asked confused watchin' the bus drive by as well.
   "Why can't we all just sit on the bus together and not segregated?"I asked and Eugene followed my sigh.
   "Oh. I gets what you mean. I suppose well that things are just the way they are."He looked down at me like a father to his daughter and said," All we can do is keep tryin' to make a change."He pats my shoulder."Like me!"He said with pride."One day you'll see me dancin' across the stage on broadway! And everybody will call for an encore and through roses instead of crumpled up popcorn bags! They'll scream, Eugene! Eugene! Encoré! Encoré!" He whisper-shouted to sound like a crowd cheerin' his name. I giggled at his enthusiasm."And you'll be there too!"
   "Really?"I smiled and looked over at him as he opened the door to the large auditorium and gestured for me to walk in before him.
   "Yep! Front and center! Singing for thousands of folks!"

•
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•

   I had the honor of being the main singa' for the plays they perform here at Jacqueline Hall. I've been workin' here for almost five years now and I wouldn't change my job for the world. Well, I guess I would change one thing. You see we wouldn't get much business if the audience knew it was a woman of color who was singin' all the difficult (but beautiful) songs in the plays. So Mrs.O'Hare, the manager of this establishment, keeps me behind the curtains so everyone can hear my voice, but never see my face. I mean I can't blame Mrs.O'Hare, we all gotta Pat bills. So far this is the closest I get to reaching my dream of singing for thousands of people on the biggest stages. Like Marilyn Monroe, and Billie Holiday, and Louis Armstrong! One day though. I will neva' give up on my dream.
But enough about me. If there's one thing you need to know this theater was full of outcasts. You could judge every actor, singa', painta', or stagehand that worked and performed here. So we all stuck real close to one another. Like a family.
      "Georgia! We're gonna need some more blue paint if we're gonna finish the fountain backdrop. Could ya be a dear and go check if that paints been delivered out front yet?"
"Sure thing Rich!"I said and made my way to the front of the large theater house. When I'm not doing the singin' on stage I'm doin' just about everythin' else around here.
Once I stepped outside the sun quickly began to show its face. Like it was waitin' for me to come outside to see it. I grinned with satisfaction.
   "I told Eugene the sun would come out today."I sighed peacefully placin' my hands on my hips after opening the door lettin' in the cool fresh air."Now, where is that blue paint?"I thought out loud. The wind blew harshly at my large black ringlets, so I had to keep my hand on top of my head so it doesn't ruin my hair too much.
   "Pardon me miss?"I felt a light tap on my shoulder.
I slowly stood up after liftin' the two hefty paint buckets, when I turned to see the person wantin' my attention.
   It seemed as though the sun shined brighter when he was in view. The sun not only kissed his skin but made love to it. Even with windblown hair, his brown locks looked thick and shiny. He had full lips that seemed puffier than a usual man's. Eyes as dark as chocolate and gotta be just as sweet. He did, in fact, take my breath away. We don't normally get good-looking folks like this in this city so his face was somethin' that demanded a double-take. Maybe triple.
   "Oh." I finally spoke up. "You must be lookin' for Mrs.O'Hare."I put my head down and opened the door for the tall dapper man dressed in a suit and long trenchcoat."She's right inside straight ahead."My head shot up when I heard the man chuckle to himself after what I said.
   "Well I am new around these parts and this is quite a fat city I'll say, so I don't know who this Mrs.O'Hare is, but I would be happy to see her if you would show me the way, sweetheart."He grinned showin' his charmin' smile lines and raised his elbow out for me to hold. I almost dropped my paint buckets when he offered his arm to me. I looked around and could already see a few people catch wind of the young man and someone like I even standing next to each other.
   "Sir. Follow me, please." I whispered grippin' the paint buckets as I held the door open for him. However, he refused and held the door for me instead. I could hear his heavy footsteps tap the old wooden floor behind me.
   "I didn't mean to offend you, miss."He chuckled handsomely once more."Where I come from a gentleman always offers their arm to a beautiful young lady."He spoke playfully.
   My eyes widened in shock but I just kept walkin'. I just can't believe what was comin' out of this man's mouth. Does he know I'm black? I wanted to say that where I come from you might as well ask to get arrested if a black woman were to accept the arm of a white man. I stopped when we finally got to the large door.
   "She's right in there, sir."I nodded.
   "My name is Marlon."He grinned reachin' his large hand out to me. I thought to myself and I suppose it would be rude not to tell him my name at least.
   "...They call me—."
   "Mr.Brando is that you?!"I heard Mrs.O'Hare's familiar raspy voice call from at the foot of the audience's seatin'.
   "Yes, ma'am! It is a pleasure to finally meet you!"He shouted into the theater. Before enterin', he spun on his heel to face me once more. Before I knew he gently took one of the heavy paint buckets out of my grasp and lightly kissed the top of my brown hand. He gave a wink before handin' the bucket back to me and going about his way. Not before sayin' that he hoped to see me sooner rather than later.
   I just stood there surprised until I was hollered at to bring the paint. I don't mean to judge or nothin' but what was wrong with that man? It was like he didn't even understand the word segregation. It was like he just...didn't care. Not one bit.

𝗧𝗼 𝗕𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝗱..