Hurricane Warning:

I dreaded that evening. Jim would meet momma and daddy. I already saw how this would turn out. But, what could I do? I couldn�t back out on this promise then. Too late for that. All I could do was grin and bear. Your grandfather came up next to me after graduation.

�Hey Star-girl!� he said. I forced myself to smile.

�When will we do it?� he asked. I blinked at him.

�What?� I asked.

�You know��

�No��

He held my waist. �Oh come on. Don�t tell me you forgot already!�

�Forgot what?�

�You did, didn�t you?�

I frowned at him still. �Look, what are you talking about? Start there.�

Your grandfather frowned. �We�re going to meet your parents!�

I tried to keep smiling. �Oh yes��

�Did your really forget?�

I pressed my lips together. Jim frowned at me.

�Not funny!�

I shrugged at him. �Sorry��

�Are you bailing out on me now?�

�No, no!�

�You sure?�

�Yeah!�

�So what time then?�

I drew in a deep breath. �Seven o�clock tonight.�

�You promise?�

�Yes!�

He kissed me on the cheek. �Love you.�

�Yes, yes. I do too.�

He gave me that goofy grin of his. Oh, I wanted to punch him then. So frustrating.

I tried to smile until seven. I hated it. I could already see how this would play out. I didn�t want daddy to kill your grandfather. But yet, I couldn�t stop it. Jim wanted to meet my folks.

Oh shit, I thought the whole time. No use complaining.

Seven o�clock came. Jim came up next to me at the YMCA.

�Ready to go?� he asked.

�Yes, yes,� I said defeated.

�You did tell them I was coming, right?�

�Of course!�

�You sure?�

�Yes��

Jim stared me down with caution. I threw up my hands at him.

�I did, okay?� I said. �Let�s just go!� I marched out of the building, red-faced. Your grandfather followed close behind.

We took the bus back to my neighborhood. Jim held my hand the whole time. I fought to keep myself together and not scream that whole trip.

Live through this, I kept thinking. Live through this and get out. I hope� We came to my front door. I reached in my purse and unlocked the door.

�I�m home!� I called out.

�In here, dear,� my mother replied. Jim and I walked into the dining room. My parents sat at the table waiting for us. Daddy turned to us, smiling.

�Hello Pumpki�� he began to say. It didn�t take long for their jaws to drop. I stood there sheepish-looking.

�Hi momma� daddy�� I said. �This is Jim�� Long, awkward pause there. I swallowed hard as I waited for the next thing to come. Daddy�s face turned blood red.

�This is Jim?!?� he shouted.

�Yes!� I yelped.

�Pleased to meet you,� Jim said gracefully as he grew them a little bow. My mother looked away, blushing. I held my breath.

That�s overdoing it!, I thought. No one moved for the longest time. Then, daddy sat back down, frowning. Temporary peace offering?

I could only dream.

Dinner became my vision of Hell. Daddy glared at us the whole time. Momma tried to keep the peace between us all.

�So, Jim,� she spoke up. �How long have you and Starlette been dating?�

�Beginning of the school year,� Jim answered.

�Beginning of the school year?� she asked.

�That�s right!� Jim bragged. I lowered my head and sighed.

Please let this be over soon, I kept thinking. Daddy said nothing the whole time. He looked like he wanted to kill Jim. Momma put her hands on the table.

�Well, who�s up for dessert?� she asked.

�Me,� I said in a rush.

�Sure,� Jim replied. Daddy just grunted. Momma breathed out.

�Right,� she said. Then, she got up and went into the kitchen. The silence grew worse from there. The clock ticking in the background didn�t really help the situation either. My eyes shifted between the two guys. Daddy snorted.

�What�s wrong, daddy?� I asked.

�You could�ve done better!� he snorted. I blinked at him.

�E-Excuse me?� I asked.

�A negro!� he snapped. �What were you thinking?!?�

�But I love him!� I shot back.

�He�s a negro!� daddy yelled.

�But I�m good to your daughter,� your grandfather cut in.

�So what?!?� daddy shouted with a red face. �No daughter of mine is dating a negro!� My face turned beet-red. Momma walked back into the dining room, holding a pan of blueberry pie.

�Uh� dessert anyone?� she asked nervously. I huffed out hard.

�No!� I barked. �In fact, Jim and I are leaving!� I grabbed your grandfather by the wrist before he could speak and stormed out the door.

I had never been so mad before in my life.

1984