The way âBig Johnâ looked at me made my skin crawl. He was big, black, and had to be 55--at least ten years older than my father.
It was the summer of 1988 and I had just graduated from high school. I felt great about myself because I had been voted âClass Beautyâ as well as âMost Likely to Succeed.â
My father was very proud that I had achieved a 4.7 grade average. He was also proud of my looks. He always bragged to others about how beautiful I was. Being the President of a mid-sized conglomerate, he also would insert things about my achievements, and looks, in the company newsletter. Iâd often thought, when heâd read these comments to our family over dinner, âGee, did the employees really want to hear about how great I was?â
But after thinking it over, I often thought that maybe they did. Maybe all the employees that worked for Daddy were just as excited about me and my achievements as he was.
As Captain of the Cheerleading squad, I guess I was a little bit vain, but I always tried to be nice to others. I was brought up that wayâwith manners. Scenes were to be avoided at all costs! With my smile, and looks, I felt I could always finesse any situation, especially with guys.
Rarely did I have to really turn a guy down in high school. Honestly, most were too intimidated to even make an attempt at asking me out. The few who did would get a smile, a âthank you,â and a ârain check.â I was always too busy. But I was always polite. The politely rejected boy would never attempt asking again. Heâd know better.
Once a black boy even attempted to ask me out. I thought it was cute; I almost started laughing. What would I want to go out with some black guy for? I was dating the quarterbackâwho was also captain--of the football team. I was already with the best. I was kind of amazed the black boy thought Iâd even consider him. Imagine me with some black guy. I just wasnât that hard up, Iâd find myself thinking.
Well, school ended, and here I was at seventeen in one of the national chain of paint stores my fatherâs company owned in Manhattan. Daddy was picking out paint for the large condo he and my mother would be leasing while he got a subsidiary straightened out in New York. I was so glad he invited me to visit with them for a week of my summer vacation; Iâd always wanted to see New York.
But now it was starting on the wrong note, as I was brazenly eyed up and down by some old, black, retail worker in the mixing department. I thought, this guy has got to be kidding. He better get a clue, this could mean his job if Iâd ever complain. But each time Iâd look back over his way, heâd have this smirk on his face, just standing there, toothpick in mouth, eyeing me up and down.
As he continued checking me out, I could feel my face begin to get red. I was really getting pissed that this animal would have so little respect for my father, just standing a few feet away, that heâd dare look at me so lewdly. But he did.
I tried ignoring him, but it didnât work. Somehow I just couldnât get out of my mind the crude way heâd just keep running his eyes over my body. At that point, I wished I hadnât worn the tight tank top I had on. I knew that I was a sight that would get a manâs attentionâblonde, blue-eyed, 5â7â, slender, and well proportioned (even then I was 36C-24-35)âbut I felt the way this old Black was doing it was just plain gross. He could be my damn grandfather, I fumed inwardlyâif heâd been white!
Finally, I just let it drop. If he wanted to look, there was no way I could really stop him. And I really didnât want to cause a scene over something like how some old man was looking at me. It would be so difficult to prove, after the fact. So, even though I couldnât help but notice his continual staring at me, I tried to pretend that I didnât.
After a few minutes, âBig Johnâ (the name on his name-tag) walked over to me and asked, âSo, sweet thang, anything I could help you witâ?â
This was my opportunity to put him in his place:
âUm...did you know that Iâm Mr. M--âs daughter?â I said casually, waiting for the shock to grow over his homely, arrogant face.
âYep,â he said, simply, âBut I didnât know you was soâs...ya know...stacked, so to speak.â
I couldnât believe the audacity that this half-gorilla had. He was speaking to the daughter of the company President, a man that could end his career instantly, yet he blatantly made remarksâright to my face--about my body.
Worse yet, as he said this to me he looked down directly at my chest. I was speechless. But what could anyone say to such a pig? So, like an idiot, rather than cause a scene, I clenched my teeth together and said, âThank you. Iâll take that as a compliment, even though itâs totally inappropriate.â
I expected an apology, but he either didnât understand the point I was making, or he ignored it.
He smiled back at me, âNo prob, baby, witâ a rack like dat, Iâm shoâ you gets lots oâ compliments, eh?â
He kept looking down at my ârackâ as he spoke to me, and in spite of my anger, my nipples began to respond to his lewd staring.
I really wanted to end this disgusting conversation with this disgusting man immediately, but I was having trouble ending it. On the other hand, he obviously wanted to continue it. He was enjoying the view my tight tank top was affording him. Meanwhile, I could only stand there trying to find a reason to excuse myself while my nipples grew larger, more obviously aroused with each passing moment.
âEverything OK over here, Princess,â my father said, as he came over to where John and I were talking.
âSure is,â John said confidently, âIâs just admiring your little girl here, Mr. M--. She shoâ is evrythinâ youâd described in yoâ newslettas.â
âWhy thank you, John,â Daddy said cheerfully. Then he proceeded to tell John about my grade point average, etc., all while John smiled and continued looking me up and down, very obviously staring at my tits.
I couldnât believe Daddy didnât notice this. It was very blatant. But although Daddy would sometimes appear a little flustered with Johnâs lewd ogling of my breasts, my father failed to call this old, black letch on it.
I was mortified that my father let this go on right in front of him. Was he in denial? I was furious and humiliated. Big John just continued his lewd smirk as heâd respond to my fatherâs bragging, âOh, Iâm shoâ she really somethinâ...no doubt âbout it....â All this, while heâd stare at my tits and lean over in an exaggerated way like he was checking out my ass.
Finally, my father could see I was upset and ended the conversation, explaining to John that the painters for the condo would be coming the next day. He asked if John could bring over the mixed paints later that night, around 5:00PM or so. John said that, of course, he could. And then, I couldnât believe it when my father asked him to try to get there by five because otherwise he and my mom would have to leave for an engagement, but of course, âLeasa can let you in.â
âJeez!â I thought, âThatâs all I need, to be left alone with this horny oldâvery blackâman!â
On the way back to our condo, in my Dadâs limo, he explained that Big John was one of the union leaders in the paint company and my father had just concluded some long and difficult sessions with him. I read between the lines that Big John had apparently outmanuevered and bested my father in the negotiations, pretty badly. Daddy obviously didnât want any more trouble with the unionâor with Big John.
I appreciated my fatherâs predicament, but for god sake, the man was checking out my tits and making vague references to my body, right in front of Daddy. I expected so much more from my father, but I saw for myself how he reacted. He meekly allowed it to go on and pretended nothing was happening.
When we got home I changed into a short denim mini skirt, but left my tank top on. For some reason I couldnât stop thinking about this old, arrogant black man and the way he looked at me that day. It made me feel strange in a way I couldnât explain to myself.
As five oâclock approached, I wondered where Big John was.
As I feared, John showed up right around five, just as my parents were leaving. My father nervously invited him in and showed him where to put the cans of paint.
I was surprised to see him dressed smartly in khakis, leather belt, loafers, and button-down shirt. Very nice, I thought. Somehow I didnât expect a black man to dress with so much taste.
When John was done setting down the cans of paint, I think my father expected him to leave. But the big black man just walked into the living room, looked around casually, and again, somewhat arrogantly, as if he owned the place.