I am sincerely grateful that the majority of comments to my stories are of a positive nature. There are a few that are negative but then you can't please everyone. One that continues to reoccur is wondering why race has anything to do with a romance story. In a perfect world it wouldn't, but we don't live in a perfect world. In fact, far from it. What I attempt to do is provide an alternative to the standard IR story of humiliation, degradation and sometimes downright thuggery. One where intelligent, good looking and articulate black ladies find love outside their given culture. My race is Caucasian, (I hate that word. It sounds like a pair of cheap knock off Italian shoes. "I'd like a pair of Caucasians in a 9D please.") Therefore the majority of guys I grew up with are white as well. Several of those men married girls of other ethnicities, most of them being black.
It was those families that originally gave me the idea to begin writing stories of a positive IR nature. One's where the second word of the category is in evidence, LOVE. These mixed-race couples have their up and down moments like any other marriage, but none have divorced, none are swingers or cuckolds, their marriages are balanced. Their kids are grown contributing members of society. Which tells me though skin color differences exist, they really don't matter unless we as adults make it an issue.
Mixed marriages can be a positive entity, I've watched it around me for decades. With my rant now over please something you like in the conclusion to Another Saturday Night.
Another Saturday Night
part two
The ride home was one of reflection. Our introduction started with her flipping me off. Followed by a huge argument in the parking, then her telling me I was taking her home after pizza. Which turned out to be a disaster, then an apology and a kiss. Why didn't I mind it when she said, "kiss me white boy?" I certainly wasn't offended, in fact it sounded seductive in an odd sort of way. The ride home, the kiss goodnight, us agreeing that if we can make it work it's between us and no one else. And now, now I'm to pick her up at 8 for coffee and donuts so she can go with me to bids? Talk about a WTF moment.
Was I capable of loving again the way I had with Louise? And more so, am I capable of loving a girl not of my own skin color? Personally I don't care what color her skin is, but am I willing to tell the naysayers to stick it and walk proudly with this woman? After all, she's been hating, or maybe I should say disliking, white guys for numerous years. Doesn't that take a lot of time to heal? I needed to talk with Cathy, she would have answers for me. Every bit of advice she had offered previously proved to be right on the money. I rang Butch and Cathy's as soon as I got home hoping I wouldn't wake them.
As luck would have it Cathy answered. After telling her my concerns she chuckled and then answered.
"You know Leon, you and I must be on the same wavelength. When Butch told me that you were possibly sweet on this girl, I called Bree. She wasn't sure but she wanted to give it a try."
Cathy was less than polite when she huffed, "I told her don't just give it a try. No sugar you go for the gold, or you don't play."
Cathy continued, "Bree began to tell me how the white guy in college had made her so mad. That's when I stopped her. This is what I told her. Bree honey this is my second marriage, my first was a disaster that only lasted fifteen months but it happened, and I was bitter. I met Butch and realized not all men are gaping rectums, what I didn't realize until I almost lost him five years later is that I had been taking out my anger toward Larry on him. I remember clearly the day he stood at the door ready to leave with tears in his eyes as he proclaimed. "I'm not Larry, stop treating me like I am."
I could hear sniffles as she kept on, "I broke down in tears wondering how he could say that to me. As I thought back to how I had been behaving I could see the error of my ways. I knew where he would be, Dan's bar, I called and told Dan to tell Butch to come home to his loving wife. Which he did and we've never had that conversation again."
I wasn't sure how this was supposed to help my situation so I asked. "Okay, I'm lost. How is this supposed to make me less suspicious? I want to believe her but geez, it seems awful fast for somebody who couldn't stand white guys."
"Leon, she can see that her attitude sucked, and that she viewed every white guy like the creep in college, until she met you. Her exact words to me were that she wanted to somehow redeem the time. I've said it before Leon, give her a chance. You know we love you and would never purposely put you in harms way. Goodnight, sleep well."
And that was the end of the call. I contemplated all she had said while showering. Maybe Cathy was right, maybe Bree saw that not all guys are the same. Maybe, just maybe, she would allow me to be a part of her life without any tension between us. Because if all she wanted was to rehash the past I wanted none of it. Oh well, I wasn't going to lose sleep over it, I would have a better idea after the next day.
Lying in bed staring into the dark I made a decision, I wasn't going to read anything into the relationship, nor was I going to look for flaws all the time. And if there would be those who probably wouldn't think we should be together, even though I couldn't think of anyone, screw them anyway. I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day. There seemed to be a bit of excitement in the air. Could it be because I was going to spend the better part of the day with Bree? Maybe, I'd know by midday.
After putting myself together for the day I jumped in the truck and headed east to Centerville. The sun was particularly bright, so I popped on a pair of sunglasses. Bree was sitting on the front stoop with her uncle when I pulled in the driveway. The sun was at their backs, it was a pleasant shady spot to be. I noticed an odd smile on Bree's face as I approached. She stood with a hand on my chest.
"So, are you a movie star now?" She giggled.
I laughed with her, "Nope, just a guy with the eastern sun in his eyes. You might want to grab a jacket, supposed to cool down and rain this afternoon."
Stepping back she said, "Good idea, I need to powder my nose anyway. I'll grab my sunglasses while I'm inside."
I sat where she had been and talked with her uncle. Hearing her walking toward the door he leaned over and patted my knee.
"She's a good'n boy. Jist treat her right and she'll do the same. She got one of them bodies built for 'havin babies."
As she stepped through the screen door she asked what about babies. Uncle chuckled and said, "Nuthin little girl, nuthin."
She hugged him goodbye and walked with me to the truck, yes, I opened her door. As we were driving toward Templeton she huffed as she spoke.
"Why he do that? Call me little girl? I'm a grown woman and he knows it."
I looked at Bree, "Ever think about the fact that he might not want to let that go? I mean the little girl part, heck, you been with him since your folks died. He's not saying you're a little girl, he's saying he loves you without using those words."
"Yeah, I think your right. Never thought of it that way."