Isaac Brown heard the rustling of the brush before he saw who was responsible for invading his territory. His primitive campsite had gone unnoticed in the two days since he arrived in this rural back-country location. Even the occasional canoeists had not noticed his little pup tent set up just off the shore of Cincinnati Creek in Central New York.
Isaac grabbed the ax-handle that served as his only protection and waited as the rustling got louder and closer, but when he saw the tall and pale white girl he let go of the weapon. She was even more shocked at seeing the old black man sitting by the tent that the drifter was, and after they both got over being startled the beanpole put her hand on the backs of her hips and pawed at the ground with her toes.
"What you doing here?" the girl said after a moment of silence.
"Sitting here," Isaac said. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing. Saw some smoke down here last night and got to wondering."
"That was me," Isaac said as he squinted at the girl who was probably close to six feet tall, dressed in a baggy checkered blouse and shorts with dirty blonde hair in a shaggy cut that looked liked the character on the label of the Dutch Boy paint cans.
"Daddy don't like people camping back here."
"That so? Is this his land?" Isaac asked, and after the girl shrugged her shoulders he added. "If it ain't it's none of his business, but if he's worried about fires he don't need to be concerned because I love the land as much as any man and always leave a place like it was before I arrived.
"Daddy don't like Negroes either," the girl said as she looked the the stranger whose skin was as black as hers was white.
"That's his problem," Isaac said. "I take people as they come. How about you?"
"I guess. Don't see many Negroes around here."
"Most of the ones you do see are probably hanging from nooses I suspect," Isaac chuckled.
"No, we ain't like that around here," the girl said.
"That so?" Isaac asked, and as he looked at the tall drink of water his eyes went to the long legs which were not very shapely and had a dusting of very light hair on the insides of the calves that was only visible because it sparkled in the sunlight. "Just curious. You a girl or a boy?"
"You trying to be funny?"
"No, like I said just curious," Isaac said even though he was doing just that. "Saw you had furry legs so that got me wondering."
"Didn't know I was in a beauty pageant."
"You aren't," Isaac replied, thinking that if there was a beauty contest back here she would have trouble winning even being the only contestant because the girl was homely. "What's your name honey?"
"Joyce," the girl said. "Joyce Ann Barker and I live back there a piece. Me and my Daddy, and I ain't a girl. I'm eighteen last month."
"Well happy birthday Joyce," Isaac said with a smile. "Sorry I missed the party. My name is Isaac."
"Weren't no party," Joyce replied as she looked over the little clearing where the drifter had settled. "What's it like? Being a bum I mean."
"What makes you think I'm a bum?" Isaac asked while smiling.
"Looks like it."
"I suppose, but while it might look it I do have a home down in the city. New York City. Heard of it?"
"Course I have."
"No fun being in the city during the long hot summer so each June I take off and travel around for the summer, and when fall comes I head back home," Isaac said.
"Sounds like fun," Joyce said.
"Beats a stick in the eye," Isaac said.
"You hungry or anything?" Joyce asked.
"Why?" Isaac asked, and although he had supplies of his own he wondered whether she was offering, which would mean another visit.
"I could go home and make you a sandwich or something," Joyce suggested.
"Wouldn't want you to get in trouble Joyce. I suspect your daddy wouldn't like his daughter feeding a Negro," Isaac added, drawing out the old term for black folks to make it sound like it had a dozen o's in it.
"Don't like being made fun of," Joyce said with a hurt expression on her face. "I get enough of that round here as it is."
"You're right. I'm sorry," Isaac said. "That was very considerate of you to offer. Guess I'm a little defensive. I won't make that mistake again."
"You like peanut butter and jelly? I think we got bologna too," Joyce said. "Nothing fancy I'm afraid. We ain't got much."
"Anything that you want to bring me would be wonderful," Isaac said. "If it brought you back here to visit me again that is. Nice to see a friendly and pretty face."
"I'm not pretty," Joyce said, blushing a little and showing some pearly white teeth.
"You are to these tired eyes. Especially when you smile," Isaac said, and when she grinned in response the drifter decided that maybe he had been wrong because Joyce wasn't as homely as he had first thought.
"Okay. I'll be back in a while," Joyce said before adding "Isaac."
"Looking forward to it Joyce," Isaac said, tipping the beret-like hat he was wearing as he watched his new acquaintance depart. "I truly am."
It was a couple of hours later when Joyce returned carrying a worn paper bag that was holding a peanut butter sandwich, some crackers and an apple along with a thermos of water.
"Sorry it took me so long," Joyce explained after handing the lunch to Isaac. "Daddy had me doing chores and I had to wait until he wasn't watching to sneak back here."
"I appreciate your kindness Joyce," Isaac said as he took a bite of the sandwich and motioned over the the other part of the fallen tree that served as furniture. "Want to sit down? I've got an extra log there."
"Have to get back soon," Joyce explained as she sat down. "Maybe I can come back again tonight though."
"I'd like that," Isaac said. "Heck, you could join me in a swim before it gets dark."
"Don't have a suit."
"Neither do I Joyce, but that don't stop me," Isaac chuckled. "Hardly anybody goes by this part of the creek and besides, who would want to look at an old black man anyway? Now a pretty young filly like you - that would be a different story. You'd have those kayakers hitting the brakes for sure."
"I could never," Joyce said while blushing.
"Well even if you just came back to talk I'd like that. Maybe you could be my lifeguard."
"If I can come back, I will," Joyce said as she rose. "Lots to do first."
"I'll be here if you can," Isaac said. "Wasn't in any hurry to leave even before I met you, and now? Heck, I might stay until the snow flies."