Alabama 1960

[Janice Johnson]

I wrote this story when I was a teen, and rewrote it into a new notebook a few days ago (The original notebook I wrote it in looks like it's been through a tornado)

Spoilers. Some parts are unrealistic, but bear with it. And you will see the words “Heart and innocence a lot during this story.

Part 1(Could go on to Part 150!(J/K!)

Alabama 1960

Ryan Harris really liked blacks, but he was separated by law to them.

"Boy, I wish I could interact with them," he said to himself.

Trandy Willis, his best friend said, "Talkin' about those black again, are ya?"

"Yes, I am," Ryan replied.

"You gonna get in a lot of trouble if you keep that up," Trandy replied

."So what? What about the law? They're human beings, just like us."

"Little Rebels, aren't we? " Trandy said teasingly.

"I'm not a rebel. I just think the law is unfair," Ryan said with a little exasperation.

They were at a party and the blacks were there too. The blacks were on one side and the Whites were on the other side.

"That's it," Ryan said, starting to walk over to the blacks. When he reached them, he said hi and smiled at them.

I look like a total friendly geek, he thought to himself. They fleetingly said hi and looked uncomfortable. They acted like they had said "hi" in secret.

"Come on guys. You don't have to be uncomfortable around me," Ryan said.

They started shifting. Oh great, I made them nervous, Ryan thought.

"I wanna get to know you," Ryan continued.

They didn't answer. Oh well, Ryan thought, turning to leave.

"I want us to talk," a voice said from the blacks. Ryan turned around. “Who said that?” He asked, his heart beating double-time.

“I did.” A girl came forward from the blacks. She’s very pretty, Ryan thought.

She had light milk chocolate skin, a cute tiny nose and these beautiful brown eyes. Her hair was half curly and half wavy. She was wearing a short floral dress that showed her slender legs.

Ryan was very attracted to this young woman.

“Ryan, stop staring at that girl,” Trandy whispered to Ryan.

“Am I that obvious?”

“It’s written all over you.”

“But, she’s so beautiful,” Ryan protested.

“She’s black.”

“Do I care?” Ryan retorted.

“No, but the law cares.”

“Um, hi,” The girl said to Trandy.

“Hi,” he said shortly.

“Let’s have a party!” Ryan said loudly to break up the tension.

Everybody danced to a few fast songs. Then a slow, soft song came on. It was called, “Melody of Moonlight,” by a popular band. Ryan found himself pulling the mysterious girl into his arms and dancing with her. She and he rocked to the beat of the slow song. When she looked up at him, he saw mysterious gentleness and soft innocence in them.

When the song was over, they let each other go. “I will remember this dance,” she said to him.

“I will too.” He said. “I have to know your name.”

“It’s Tracy Andrews. What’s yours?”

“Ryan Harris. Do you still wanna talk?”

“Sure,” she said.

They went to a couch in the living room.

“What do you wanna talk about?” She asked.

“Anything.” Ryan said. “Can you keep a secret?” She said yes. “I,” he started with his voice low and conspirational, think that this black and white separation sucks. It should be terminated. I also think that you are very beautiful.” She blushed.

‘OK., my turn,” she said. “When you came up and said hi to us, we were uncomfortable. We were like, ‘Why is a white talking to us?’ Most whites when they see us don’t wanna have anything to do with us.”

“I am not like that,” Ryan said. “ I totally am OK with blacks. What school do you go to?”

“Pennsyla School.” She answered. “Oh that All Girls, All-Black school,” Ryan said.

“Where do you go to school?” She asked.

“I go to school at George Oaks School.”

“Oh, that all-White school,” she said teasingly.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” Ryan asked. All of a sudden, she looked sad. “No, I don’t,” she answered in a soft, low voice.

“What’s the matter?” He asked, putting an arm around her. “I want one. But it’s so hard to in an all girl’s school.”

“I could be your boyfriend.” He said.

“But you’re white.” She said.

“We could go out in secrecy. No one would have to know. Except us.”

“I don’t know.” She said. “I just met you.”

He took her hand and held it in his hand. His heart swallowed when he saw how small her hand was to his larger hand. His hand swallowed her hand.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” She asked. “No, I don’t.”

“Why don’t you?”

“because most of the girls I meet my heart tells me she’s not the one for me, but I feel connected to you. I don’t know why.”

She smiled. His heart lit up when she smiled. Her smile was not tricking, manipulating, conning or deceiving. It was just a smile full of gentle innocence, genuine and happiness. He released her smile.

“You have an amazing smile,” he said.

“Thank you,” she said, and the smile got wider, added with blushing.

She is an absolute beauty, Ryan thought. “Tracy, let’s get something to eat,” Ryan said. “Ok,” she said, getting up. They went to the kitchen. There were bowls of chocolates, chips, and other “junk food.”

Ryan took a square of chocolate and slowly put it in his mouth. He savored it instead of chewing furiously like some other people did. He let it roll over his tongue and all over in his mouth. Ryan was a pure chocolate lover. “Mmm,” he said aloud. It was so good.