Lenore McFarlin, high school softball standout. By the end of her senior year she had several full boat scholarship offers. It didn't take her long to decide. Tired of the cold of Detroit she decided to go to UCLA. She could play ball and pursue her criminal justice degree. Living in the year round warmth of L.A. would be different, but very nice.
During her freshman year in '84 the Lady Bruins won the D1 softball women's college world series. They repeated their run the following year. Two championships and the world was Lenores oyster. Life was great. Until she injured her knee during a pick up game.
The doctors told her and the coaching staff she'd never be quite as fast as she had been before. And to cap it off if she reinjured it that would be that, no more sports at all. So Lenore took her two year degree and set out into the world. Although she had the skills on paper she found it difficult to find a good satisfying job. So after six months of looking and a couple of menial jobs she moved to Lawton with her sister and brother-in-law. At the time she felt like she had mad a big mistake. But after landing a loss prevention job at the PX through AAFES things began to look up. Not to mention the choice of guys she had to choose from on post. After all it was the 80's, why shouldn't she go after what she liked.
It was, according to her parents, her choice of guys where she came up short. Lenore had a preference for tall, handsome, and white. Something her parents never understood. The only one that didn't seem to care was her sister Ruby. When Lenore was younger she had a David Cassidy and a Bay City Rollers poster ripped from her wall and thrown away by her mother. During her time in college her father used to to tell her regularly that she could find a black man with the same intelligence and ambition as any white guy. The more they spoke out against her 'behavior' the more Lenore was determined to do as she pleased.
It was just before six when the phone rang breaking her reverie. She was sitting there looking at the TV but not really watching. Ruby had answered the phone.
"Hello? Hey boy what's up?"
Hey boy? Who was Ruby talking to?
"Yeah, uh huh, I'll ask Leon but I don't see why not. Ok, bye Joe."
The guy they play cards with Joe? 'Crap, home alone again.' Thought Lenore. She almost felt like she was getting cabin fever.
"Hey Leon, that was Joe. Pizza, booze, and cards! We in?"
"Hell yeah! It's that or rent a movie."
"Want to go Lenore? Get you out of the house for a while."
"What movies we getting?"
"None now."
"Fine! In that case, sure. Give me ten minutes to shower and change."
"Hurry up girl, Leon and I could leave now."
"Just give me ten minutes, I'll be ready."
******************************************************
The ride over to the apartment didn't take long. In fact Lenore had wondered why they just hadn't walked. She hadn't really wanted to play cards but she did want to get out. Her attitude quickly changed however when Joe answered the door. Joe had blonde hair and sky blue eyes and at just a hair over six feet, his well toned body had made a few heads turn. It was all she could do to stifle a gasp.
Lenore didn't say much initially. It wasn't until a deal was being struck that she spoke up. She knew she had to watch what she said and did but for her that would be difficult. She had always been used to saying whatever came to mind with few exceptions.
Once the pizza and small tall were done they headed to the table where Lenore watched as Joe started to take his seat. Quickly and without hesitation she sat in the seat across from him. After making her sly remark she noticed Joe turned a little red but smiled at her nonetheless. Ruby on the other hand showed her displeasure by kicking her foot as she sat down. Once the second hand had been played Ruby nudged her foot and Lenore knew that was her cue to follow.
"Lenore, that is a married man out there!"
"I'm well aware of that."
"Then what was all that 'you can play with me tonight' shit all about?"
"I don't know. It just came out. Besides if he's so married there's nothing to worry about. Right?"
"You just behave yourself girl."
"Oh, I'll behave alright."
The last remark got her a hard sideways look from her sister.
"Besides, if you weren't married you telling me you wouldn't be flirting with him too? Just because you caved in to mom and dad doesn't mean that I will."
"I'm very much in love with Leon girl!"
"I know. But if you hadn't met him who would you be married to? Or have you forgotten?"
"I haven't forgot a damn thing. I just choose not to talk about it."
A tense thirty seconds passed before Lenore spoke again.
"Look, I didn't mean to throw that in your face. I'm sorry."
"It's fine. Just, behave. Please. Let's get these beers out there before they get hot. Just..."
"I know. I'll be good."