First Chapter
“Sean, wait up,” said Danny as he jogged toward Sean, who was leaning into his car, placing his paperwork into it.
He pulled up, breathing hard.
“You avoiding me?” he asked.
Sean turned away from the car, extended his arms and motioned with his finger tips for Danny to come over. They gave each other a man-hug.
“Sorry buddy, just been real busy this week.” The day was a replicate of the day before: clear, cold, brilliant sunshine. “Trying to get back into the groove after the holidays, you know, teaching, tutoring, the squad. How was your holiday?”
“Pretty good. Visited the family, all that good stuff.”
“Nice. Me too. I beat my brother in one-on-one, thanks to the Saturday games. Looking forward to this Saturday.”
“Yeah, me too,” replied Danny. “Should be good. We play Lamont’s team for first place so it might be brutal.”
“It’s always brutal for you and me. You know being TWB [Two White Boys] and all.”
Danny chuckled.
“Yeah, TWB. Just that alone makes it brutal for us. Too bad it’s like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like the way they treat us. You know, discriminate against us. Like we’re racists or something”
Sean shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.
“Well, that’s how it is. Guess they’ve been told for so long how bad we white boys are, that they believe it.”
“C’mon, give me a break. I’ve been here for over two years and you’ve been here for more than one and they still don’t trust us? I mean, Obama never would have gotten in if it weren’t for us white folks. That’s the ultimate, isn’t it? President? Thirty years ago it never would have happened. I just don’t get it.” He shook his head.
“They still harbor resentment against us for slavery.”
“That’s bullshit Sean,” quipped Danny. “Shit, there haven’t been any slaves for over a hundred fifty years. None of these people today have a clue about slavery.” He shook his head. “It’s those stupid liberal politicians who keep reminding us how bad we were, how we repressed the blacks, how the blacks should continue to harbor resentment against us. Like I’m a racist. Like you’re a racist. It’s bullshit, plain bullshit. And until the asshole politicians and press wake up and stop the constant barrage against us, against themselves, since most of them are whites, the blacks will continue to hate us and blame us for their problems.” He shook his head again. “It’s not fair.”
“I never heard you talk like this Danny.”
“Yeah, I know. Usually I let it slide but it got to me today considering the news.”
Sean shook his head. “What news?”
“You haven’t seen Harpy on TV, running his mouth about the shooting in New York?”
Sean shook his head again, chagrined.
“A white cop shot a black kid, the kid had a fake gun and pointed it at the cop and the cop shot him. Killed him on the spot.”
“Shit.”
Danny nodded.
“Shot him in the back. The kid didn’t have a chance.”
“Shit,” replied Sean again, shaking his head. “Why didn’t he shoot him in the leg or something? In the back? Aren’t the cops trained not to kill, just take down the punks?”
Danny nodded. “Yeah, that’s what they’re supposed to do but this was a new cop, just graduated from the academy. Guess he panicked. Shame. Damn shame.” He shook his head again. “And then fucking Harpy gets on the TV and starts blaming the cops, the whites, you know the same old bullshit racist crap, and just inflames the situation.”
He looked into Sean’s eyes.
“Guess that’s why I’m so pissed. A real tragedy, a dead kid, a new cop who will never be on the squad again, will be on trial and get convicted, wind up in jail, two families devastated, and this asshole Harpy just exacerbating the situation. Shit, it was a fucking mistake but Harpy brings up the race card and everybody continues to think we’re deliberately killing the blacks. Asshole.” They both stared into space. “It’s time for reconciliation, not retaliation.”
Sean nodded.
“Yeah, reconciliation, not retaliation. I like that message. Think I’ll bring it up in class tomorrow, I’m sure the kids will have gotten an earful from the media.”
“For sure. They’ll come in here, all pumped about ‘Whitey’. I mean, this is crazy. Of course there’s differences between blacks and whites, that’s what makes the world interesting.”
Sean nodded.
“Definitely. Otherwise we’d be an international homogenous race of people and everybody would be the same, no one would hate each other, argue with each other.” He paused. “Pretty boring, huh?”
Danny chuckled.
“Yeah, pretty boring. But you know what?”
“What?”
“Some asshole politician or reporter would find a way for us to hate each other anyway.”
Sean grunted.
“You’ve been here for a couple of years. You ever feel…what’s the word? Scared? Intimidated?”
Danny clasped his hands together and nodded.
“I used to, at first. But I grew up in the streets so I knew what to expect. It was obvious the black teachers aren’t racist, neither are the kids, even though they say shit to be cool. A few of the parents are racist to some extent but once they got to know me I think they realized I’m not here to screw them so in a way they’ve become somewhat protective of me.” He chuckled and shook his head. “No, I’m not intimidated by them. Although the streets themselves are tough. But they’re tough for everyone, not just me or you. Not just because we’re white. It’s a tough neighborhood.”
He looked at Sean.
“What about you, you intimidated?”
Sean shook his head.
“Not anymore, just like you. Except for the battleaxe.”
Danny laughed out loud.
“She’ll intimidate anyone. Even the dead.”
They shared a good laugh. Jeanne Fredericks was the principal, a black woman, and her intimidation factor superseded all forms of racism; it was almost supernatural. Although they were teachers they felt like students in her presence. It was uncanny.
“She’s something else, huh?”
“She’s unbelievable. But she still can’t restore order to the school. She expects us to do it. We have to break up the fights. We have to confront the parents. We’re the ones who take the blame for everything. I’ve grown in the past year and a half, but teaching here is still tough.” Sean examined the parking lot, looking toward the school. “I’d still like to teach in a better district. Closer to home. Especially now, after the holidays. Being home, seeing my folks and my brother reminded me of how fortunate they are, in a Lily white neighborhood.”
“Lily-pad, huh?”
They both chuckled.
“Lamont has a way with words, you know?”
Danny nodded in agreement.
“But you know, Sean, he wouldn’t have called us that if he and the boyz didn’t accept us, at least somewhat.”
Sean nodded. “Yeah, I know. I mean, despite the shit that’s gone down, I’m getting used to it here. I’m not actively looking for another job. Just keeping my ears opened. Just in case.”
Danny nodded.
“I figured that. Guess you don’t have it too bad. You get along with the teachers and kids. Even the battleaxe likes you.”
Sean laughed out loud.
“And so does Brenda.”
Sean shuddered. Her name would come up eventually.
“So what you doing about her?”
Sean shook his head slowly.
“We’re, um. We’re good friends.”
“No shit.”
“No, really. We had a great talk, an understanding, and realize that our friendship trumps everything.”
“You’re an idiot Sean. A fucking idiot.”
Sean looked nonplussed.
“Think about it. Brenda loves you, it’s so freaking evident. She’ll say and do anything to keep you around.”
Sean nodded.
“She wants you so why wait? Why not just give in now? Cut the charade and step forward. Be a man. You’re not going to find too many like her.” He paused and lowered his voice. “She’s a fantastic catch and you’d be a fool not to keep her.”
Sean blinked a few times to clear his head. He cleared his throat.
“Landi told me last night that she would be civil from now on. She apologized for her behavior and said she would treat me with respect.”
“So? It’s about time she apologized. What are you saying?”
“That, ah, maybe I should devote my time to developing a relationship with her and just, um, drop Brenda.”
Danny let out a long, deep breath.
“Whew, Sean.” He shook his head. “You’re an ass. You’re gonna give up a beautiful women who loves your ass because another one apologized to you? Are you that dumb?”
Sean gritted his teeth and nodded.
“Yeah,” he said quietly, nodding with more assertiveness. “Yes, that’s exactly what I intend to do. I’ll give up Brenda, her beauty, intelligence and friendship, to be with Landi.” He shook his head and sighed deeply, biting down on his tongue. “I don’t know why, I know it’s stupid, I know I’m stupid, I know Brenda will be pissed…”
“She fucking kill you.”
Sean laughed. “Maybe. But, ah. How do I say this?” He paused. “Landi’s special. I’d give up everything. I’d live in the streets, just to be with her. I haven’t felt this way about anybody since Kim left and although it seems so, so, what? Outrageous? Perverse? Crazy? Whatever. I know what I have to do and I just have to do it. Or just leave this whole place and go back to Massachusetts.”
He stared at the ground.
They stood quietly; the cold air permeating their gloves.
Sean looked up.
“I gotta run. If we don’t talk tomorrow I’ll see you Saturday at the game, all right?”
“My man, just do me a favor?”
“What’s that?”
“Don’t say anything to Brenda or anyone else yet. Just wait before you make a decision. You need to think about the ramifications, especially Brenda. Okay?”
Sean nodded.
“Yeah, I know. That’s what I was doing, you know, what I told you, just thinking out loud. I don’t know exactly how I’m going to approach this. It’s between you and me for now, okay?”
They hugged again, patting each other’s back.
Danny shook his head as he watched Sean drive out of the lot.
Stay Tuned
on future projects