Love without colour

White men is nothing but trouble

Melody’s P.O.V

“Where do you think you’re going young lady?”

I rolled my eyes. Is she suddenly trying to be a mother? I’ve been spending days out of this house and not once has my mother or my father notice that I was missing. Now I’m packing a bag to go stay with Richie for the weekend and she’s suddenly notices. I ignored and continued packing.

“I’m spending the weekend with a friend, I’ll be back on Monday after school.”

My bags are packed and I’m looking around the room to see if I missed anything. I moved out of the room and go to the bathroom I shared with my parents. I got a few personal items out and threw them into my bag. I came out and saw my mother looking at me. I sighed and waited for it, and I’m not disappointed.

“Which friend be this? I ain’t know you have friends. Is this friend a boy or a girl?”

I know she’s my mother and I’m s’pose to respect her, but I don’t. She’s never done anything to make me respect her. I rolled my eyes, pushing pass her to get to the door, so that I can leave. She grabbed my bag, stopping me from leaving.

“I done ask you a question young lady, now you ain’t bout leave this here house until you answer me.”

I didn’t wanna argue with her so I answered.

“It’s someone you don’t know mama.”

“Is this friend of yours a boy or a girl.”

Her eyes are narrowed. This is what I wanted when I was growing, a mother who cared about what I did. Now I’m grown I don’t need it, it’s too late.

“It’s a boy, but I’m almost eighteen I’m old enough to have a boyfriend.”

I should learn to keep my mouth shut. My mother was calling my dad now. I ain’t have time to deal with this. I just wanna get out of this house and go meet Richie at the diner, where he’s waiting for me. I’ve never let him me pick me up from my house for this reason.

My dad came into the room. He looked upset, like he always does when my mom calls him.

“What the hell is it now, Nancy?”

He saw me and his frown deepen. My mom is holding one end of my bag and I’m holding the other. I heard my phone ring and I know it’s Richie. At this point I’m freaking out, because I know if I don’t answer he will come to get me. And my house was the last place I wanted him to be.

“Yo daughter done think she a woman. She’s gots her bags packed to stay at her boyfriend’s house.”

I ain’t have time for this bull shit. My phone starts ringing again and I know Richie is on his way.

“What boyfriend is this, Melody? And why haven’t I met him?”

Why? Uh, maybe because you people are crazy.

“He’s just a normal boy that I like, dad.”

From the look on his face I can tell whatever he’s about to say I’m not gonna like it.

“I wanna meet this boy who is interested in my baby girl. When is he coming to pick you up?”

No, no, no, no! I don’t want Richie to meet my parents. My mother will freak out and start acting embarrassing if she finds out he’s white. And my father will not like the fact that he’s rich. All in all, it will just be embarrassing.

“Dad, I don’t think I’m ready for that as yet. It’s just too…”

There was a knock at my door, interrupting me. I stiffened because I know it’s Richie. I watched as my father move over to the door and opened it. I saw Richie standing on the other end, and I heard my mother gasped.

I turned slowly to face my mother and she’s looking from Richie to me. The expression on her face is one of rage. I vaguely heard Richie introduce himself to my father, and my father inviting him in. You’d think at this moment I should be ashamed of my house, because it small and could probably fit in Richie’s entire bedroom. But that’s the least of my problems. My parents are what I’m ashamed of.

I braced myself because I know shit’s bout to go down. I looked at my mother pleading with my eyes for her to not make a scene. However, she wouldn’t be my mother if she didn’t.

“You couldn’t find yo self a nice black guy, is yo black ass trying to end up like me? These white men ain’t nothing but trouble, they only be looking at you cause they be trying to fulfil some sick fantasy. I bet you is the first black girl he ever been with and he be filling yo head with lies of loving yo black ass.”

I ain’t trying to hear this. I let go of the bag, I’m getting up outa here even if I have to go naked. I turned and grabbed Richie’s hands pulling him towards the door, but this fool is not moving. I look at him, I’m bout to ask him what the hell he thinks he’s doing, why hell isn’t he moving.

However, his eyes are on my mother and he looks furious. I tug on his hand, but he wouldn’t move. Instead in he pulls me more firmly into his arms and kiss the top of my head. I can’t deny, I love being in his arms, but now is not the time or the place.

“With all due respect ma’am, I don’t think myself in love with your daughter. I know I’m in love with her and it has nothing to do with race or the colour of her skin. When I look at her I don’t see colour, I see her. The person who she is and the person who I am when I’m around her. The only fantasy I have starring your daughter is us getting married and growing old and happy together.”

Did he just say married? Ok, I need to take deep breaths and breathe. My mother was not saying anything and for the first time I think she’s shock into silence. My father on the other was staring at us, like he’s trying to figure out something. His eyes widen and he started talking.

“What did you say your name was son?”

This can’t be good.

“Oswaldo Richards, Sir.”

My dad expression changes, but he nods. “As in Georgina and Rupert Richards’s grandson?”

My dad’s walking over to us now. Richie nods his head while answering.

“Yes Sir.”

My dad holds his hand out to me and I look at him confused. Richie hands tighten around me. I look at my mother and all the blood looks like it’s been drain from her face.

“Melody, come here baby, trust me it’s for your own good.”

I shake my head, I’m not going. “No!”

My mother step forward and starts freaking out. “Get her away from him, Robert! You get my baby girl away from him now!”

I don’t understand why she’s suddenly acting like she cares about me. I’m not leaving Richie’s side no matter what they say. They found out I have a boyfriend and now they wanna start acting like parents. It ain’t gonna happen. They’re a little too late.

“You ain’t slept with him, Melody? Tell me you ain’t slept with him? Oh my god Robert look what we done did.”

This is getting weird. What does she mean, what have they done?

“What are you talking about mama?”

My mother is crying now, and my father is comforting her. I’m shock because this is new to me. They never show any kinda love for each other ever. Something must be dreadfully wrong.

“This is my fault, all those times you ask I should have told you, and maybe if I had this would never had happen.”

I frowned. “Tell me what daddy, you’re scaring me now?”

“About my family.” He too is crying.

“What about them?” I ask, knowing the answer will not be good.

His eyes are sad as he looks at me. “My mother and father are Georgina and Rupert Richards. Oswaldo is my younger brother George’s son. He’s your cousin baby.”