Tokyo-Zion Academy Times

Heavy Drops:

Your grandfather invited me out to a party. Not just any party. This was a party for mostly Negros. That’s right. I was going to be the only white girl at the party. Talk about awkward. I didn’t even want to go at first. Jim pushed me to go anyway.

“Come on baby,” he coaxed me. “Don’t stand me up like that! You have to be there!”

“Are you sure?” I asked. Jim tightly held my small waist close to him. I blushed at his touch. I stared deep in his eyes in surprise. Jim nodded at me once.

“Yes,” he said. ”I would be bored without you!” I raised an eyebrow at him.

“And what does that mean?” I asked. Your grandfather gave me that goofy grin I got used to in a few minutes. He shrugged at me a little bit.

First Drops:

I started my escape the day after I met Jim. Your grandfather knew he had the charm to get what he wanted. That’s how he won me over. Anyway, at school the next day. I acted on my role as queen bee. Everyone had their eyes on me. It gave me a sense of power over them. But, that didn’t last long. I became bored right away. That was always the same for me then. Come to school, be the center of attention, be teacher’s pet, and much else. Overtime, that had lost its appeal. That day seemed like another boring day. Until I saw your grandfather in the hallway. He stood among four other black boys talking. I literally froze up in the hall. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. That boy towered over his friends. He did have a nice body, I would have to admit. That boy had me sold already. I watched him talk on to his friends. At one point, he looked up and saw me. I looked away blushing.

“Hey Starlette!” a voice yelled to me. I looked up right away. My old friends, Jackie and Mitsy raced up to me. I gave them a forced little smile.

*Starlette*

I, Starlette Daily, have the perfect life. Head cheerleader, straight A’s, rich family, great friends, best style, and every guy’s fantasy. Yes. I had it all. My life was so perfect. My life was so… boring. Until I met Jim.

Autumn 1983

I met Jim Robinson in the local drug store. He was, as I will bluntly put it, black. I know it’s not a big deal today, Frieda. But that was the 80’s in Maybloom, Texas. Even though segregation was dead, old racism still lived on. Your great-grandparents were bigots. I was guilty of being of closed-minded until I met your grandfather.

 Anyway, I met Jim while I was buying rollers. He was in front of me, buying cigarettes. At first, he meant nothing to me. I actually thought he was crass, harry, and a plain n****r. He and the clerk’s wife were fighting with each other like howler monkeys. Two ladies behind me and I became annoyed. I wanted to straggle that nigger for holding up the line.