Disclaimers: As always, any and all people taking part is sexual things are 18 or older. Again, as always, THIS STORY IS FICTIONAL, For all you legal scholars, and law enforcement professionals, anything I relate, in the practice of law and law enforcement is according TO ME!! This story could also be in the romance department, too.
Onto my story. I grew up in a rural area Northeast of Seattle, that is now a very growing area. In the 1960's when my family moved to this area, it wasn't much of a town. Duvall, Washington was maybe 350 people, or so. Small enough that to go to a middle or high school, we would have to go to the next city to our south. The city of Carnation.
Oh, did I forget to introduce myself? I'm Gene Davis. Now, I'm a forty-two year old industrial engineer, self-employed, and the father of three of the best kids in the world.
OK, OK, I'm a bit biased, as is my wife of just over twenty years. And to say we are polar opposites would be a gross understatement.
Even at my advanced age, I'm still just about 6'3" and on a good day, might weight 175 or maybe 180. You see, no matter what I would eat, I just never seemed to gain weight. And my wife, Penny, at nearly 6 feet tall, and is on the very full figured side.
Also, I'm white as white can be, and Penny is half Caucasian and half African-American.
We met as we both were starting high school, in our district's brand new high school, now located in Duvall. As a growing district, we were becoming more diverse. Our quaint, little city was growing, with some very nice homes being built.
With both of my parents being school teachers, we were comfortable, but nothing too lavish.
As our school year was starting, I'd heard that a former NBA player was moving into our area. First day of school, as I'm getting reacquainted with the kids I'd gone to middle school with, I noticed a fairly tall, light skinned, black girl, who I figured could be the NBA player's daughter.
Since nobody was talking with her, I went up to say hello.
"Gene Davis, glad to meet you."
"Penny Jackson, and its nice to see someone who isn't totally ignoring me."
"That's because you are taller than they are," I replied with a grin. "Do you play basketball, like your dad, Patrick does?"
"He's retired, and no, I can barely walk and chew gum at the same time," she said finally smiling. "With no athletic abilities I'm thinking about becoming a teacher," she added.
"Wow, both my parents are teachers. and you should smile more offen, Penny, it's a very nice smile."
When I said that, I noticed the cutest blush on her face, making me realize how shy she was.
"See you around, Penny Jackson."
Throughout the first week of school, with us being in two classes, together, we would just talk, for a minute, or two each day. It sort of pissed me off how it seemed to me the other girls seemed to ignore her. Whether it was her very full figure, or her milk chocolate colored skin, I didn't know.
As my basketball season started, I noticed Penny in the stands, the first game. Sitting beside her was her dad, Patrick, who had played either twelve or thirteen seasons in the NBA. While never what would be called a superstar, he was always a very good, steady ballplayer.
While standing just about 6'6", his playing weight was near 245, and to call him tough would be very accurate. He always guarded much taller players, using his bulk to outmuscle the larger players.
I was the only freshman on our team, and saw little playing time. I noticed Jackson kept a keen eye on how our team played. I didn't know it at the time, but after a few more games, he gave our coach some pointers.
Our coach was smart enough to listen, and we got better. After one mid-week practice, where Patrick was watching, he walked up to me, asking if I minded him giving me some hints.
"Not in the least, Mr. Jackson, I'll take any advice you want ti give me."
"First off, I'm Patrick, got it? Second, you need to front the man you're guarding. It doesn't matter if you're shorter, or taller, if you let him get by you."
I stood there and picked up a ball, and started dribbling in place.
"Go around me."
I started moving one way, and he backed up a half step and slid right in front of me.
"How'd you know which way I was going to move?"
"Because I'm watching your belt buckle. If your buckle is going left, you aren't driving to the right. Understand?"
I now knew why he was on the All Defensive Team for many years.
I thanked him, and each practice I remembered his sage advice.
Every now and then, my parents and I would see the whole Jackson family in town, and would make every attempt to make them feel welcomed.
Several times, Penny and I would wander away, by ourselves, just to talk. Either about a school assignment, or just life in general.
She did tell me that there were still several girls, who thought they were "the in crowd" who would go out of their way to ignore her. I kept telling her to ignore them, because they weren't worth the bother.
Finishing my freshman year, our basketball team did actually win a few games, and my game did improve, a little.
At the end of the school year, I made an effort to see Penny, but she visited her grandmother, in Texas for almost six weeks.
Besides, I attended a basketball camp, and was kept very busy.
Starting my sophomore year, I was practicing every day, even before the organized team practices started. My coach took notice of my improved defense, with me remembering what Patrick had taught me.
Penny and I continued as friends, and sometimes would get backwards glances from some of the same girls who ignored her last year.
I played a lot more that season, and even started a few games. Coach kept trying to get me to shoot more often, as my offense did need improvement.
It seemed as if Penny's tormentors eased off, and we just became closer friends. We would study together, with me helping her with math, and she helping me with english.
Our junior year, I became a starter on our team, and she was my biggest fan. Outside of my parents, of course.
Starting our senior year, we started talking about dating. My parents, Ed and Jan, having met Penny and her parents, did talk with both of us, about the perils of interracial dating. You have to remember, this was the late 1990's.
It helped having Patrick and his white wife, Jackie, giving both of us their actual history, of what they had overcome, in their twenty-one year marraige.
Our real first date was on her eighteenth birthday, with my big day just one week before hers. We went to a nice chinese restaurant, and just talked. We talked about everything, except school.
My basketball season was going to start the following week, and I was already getting some attention from local colleges.
Penny was already accepted at Centeal Washington University, just about a hundred and twenty miles to the east. I was still weighing my options, and wasn't sure where I'd be going.
