***I do not own these characters, I am only borrowing them for
entertainment. No money is being made of this.
March for Freedom by: Shirleyfan16
"Are you really going to where that to school?" Lucy asked Mary.
She looked down at her clothes and shrugged her shoulders. "What's wrong with it?"
"Nothing if you want to look like a bum at school."
"For your information Luce, lots of girls where these pants with shirts similar to this one. I'm in style. Look what your wearing, that pretty little dress with that pretty little sweater. You don't want spill anything on that. I wouldn't wear that to school."
"Well, it's the style for my age. Most of the girls wear dresses and sweaters like this one with penny loafers."
"Then stop complaining to me about what I wear since it's the style. Besides I'm going to the boutique today after school to buy one of those dresses that Twiggy wears."
"No way! Mom and Dad won't let you wear one of those! They're too short and showy, even though they're totally awesome looking."
"What they don't know won't hurt them. You have to cover for me please." Lucy gave her a look that said I always cover for you and I don't want to do it anymore. "Please Luce! One more time please."
"No way! I'm not getting caught again and get punished for what you did."
"I'll tell you what. Once I save up enough money. I'll buy you one of those dresses and you'll knock out every girl in school. That is if you cover for me. Please!"
"Okay, okay. But, you owe me!"
"I know, I know!" Mary said as she ran out of their bedroom all giddy and down the stairs to the kitchen.
************************************************************************
"Where's Lucy?" Matt asked.
"Upstairs, doing her hair. What else would she be doing?" Mary said all excited.
"Why are you so happy this morning?"
"No, reason." Mary smiled. "I'll meet you outside." She kissed Eric and Annie good-bye.
"Have a good day at school today honey." Eric said.
"I will!" Mary yelled as she walked outside.
Matt looked at his watch. "Lucy, let's go! We're going to be late if we don't start walking now!"
"All right, all right I'm coming." Lucy said as she ran down the stairs. "Bye, Dad. Bye, mom. Love you."
"I'll see later pumpkin." Eric said.
"Bye, sweetheart." Annie said.
************************************************************************
Ring, Ring. Ring, Ring.
The telephone was ringing.
"Hello?" Eric answered.
"Hi, Reverend Camden?"
"Yes, this is him."
"This is Pastor Henry, there has been a young man killed this morning. His name was Billy Young."
"That's horrible. I assume it was racist white men who killed the young man."
"Yes, I'm afraid so. I was wondering if you would like to come down to the church with me to hold a service for that young man. His family doesn't have any money so it's the least we could do for them."
"I would be glad to. I would do anything for that family. It isn't fair that all of these young African American kids are getting killed just because of their color. I'll be down at the church as soon as I can."
"Thank-you Reverend."
"Sure thing Pastor."
************************************************************************
"Did you hear that Martin Luther King is coming to Glenoak Wednesday?" Mary whispered to Matt as they were walking to school. She didn't want anyone to hear her for she didn't know how they would act if they knew she was friends with African Americans.
"Yeah, he's holding marches for the rights of African Americans."
"Can, we go?"
"Yeah, can we go?" Lucy interrupted.
"No, you aren't going." Mary said.
"Why not? I'm twelve I'm old enough to march. Besides our good friends are black."
Mary rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Sorry guys, I wish we could. Mom and Dad won't let us."
"Why?" Mary asked.
"They say those marches are dangerous. That racist men beat whoever is marching if they don't get out of their way."
"That's horrible."
"I think I'm going to hurl." Lucy added.
"See what I mean, you're such a baby you wouldn't be able to march for more than two blocks." Mary snickered.
"Mary, shut-up. You never know, Luce just might prove you wrong one day."
Mary just sighed. "I guess you're right. Sorry Luce."
"Apology accepted."
"Matt, is there any way you can get Mom and Dad to let us go....excluding Lucy."
"Hey! That's not fair!"
"You're too young and it's way too dangerous for you Luce." Mary said.
"There, might be a way we can sneak out of the house . . . . . I know! Instead of going to school we can march. We'll just leave at our regular time for school make sure Luce gets to her school, and then we'll go march with Martin Luther King. How does that sound?"
"Great, idea! I can't wait!"
"Matt, please, please will you take me! Please!" Lucy gave him a pouting face.
Matt thought for a minute and decided that she should be included. Even though he knew that the marches were dangerous, what could possibly happen if he was there with her?
"Fine, you can go."
"Oh, thank-you, thank-you!" She ran to him and gave him a big hug. Mary and Matt just laughed.
"You better get inside your school or you'll be late, Luce." He said as they reached the Jr. High.
"Okay, see you later!" She said as she ran towards her school. ************************************************************************
"Now, lets sing our last song before, Billy is finally laid to rest. Hymn 230." Reverend Camden said to the weeping and sorrowful family in the church. They all sang Old Rugged Cross. Afterwards the devastated family cried and wept as they put flowers on top of the young man's coffin, said their good-byes and left.
"I think that was the hardest thing I've ever had to do." Reverend Camden said.
"I know, I know." Annie said comforting him.
************************************************************************
"We're home!" Matt yelled as he and his sisters walked through the door.
"Shhh! Daddy is taking a nap." Little Ruthy said.
"Oh, I see. Thanks pumpkin."
"Your welcome." She said as she marched out the room.
Mary and Lucy stared at Matt.
"What?"
"Matt, Dad never takes a nap. Something has to be wrong." Mary said.
"You don't think I know that? Just leave go okay?"
"Fine. Come on Luce let's go upstairs."
************************************************************************
Knock Knock.
Matt knocked on his father's den.
"Come in."
Matt entered the room with his hands in his pockets. Which is a clear sign that something is troubling him. Reverend Camden looked up at him.
"What's wrong?"
"That's funny I was going to ask you the same question."
Reverend Camden chuckled. "Why would you ask a question like that?"
"You took a nap today. That's unusual. The last time you took a nap was when you had just came back from doing a service for a funeral."
Reverend Camden fell silent and cleared his throat. He avoided the question.
"So, how was school today? Did you learn anything interesting?"
"Why did you just change the subject?"
"I didn't."
"Yes, you did. I was asking you what's wrong and you changed the subject."
"Oh, well you see when you get older your mind wonders. I guess that is what my mind just did."
"Come on Dad, you can do better than that. Because that was a lame excuse."
"Look Matt, I'm keeping whatever I'm keeping from you for a reason. Not because I'm trying to avoid it, because I'm trying to keep you safe."
"Whatever." Matt was angry and didn't feel like fighting with his father anymore so he barged out of the room and slammed the door behind him.
Reverend Camden sighed and shook his head.
************************************************************************
"Did you get through to Dad?" Lucy asked as Matt sat on the edge of her bed.
"No, he won't budge and I quit talking to him about it. There is no way I'm going to get it from him unless I figure out what it is."
"Well, when was the last time Dad took a nap?" Mary asked.
"When he came back from doing a funeral service." He said quietly. Suddenly he hit his hand off of his forehead. "How stupid can I be! He did a funeral today, but the question is who's funeral? I can't believe I didn't think of this before."
"Well, it had to be someone that was killed. Because Dad does lots of funerals, but he never acts weird unless it's someone that was killed. Remember his last funeral? It was a poor little black girl who got hit by a car. Deliberately."
They became silent and remembered that horrible tragedy. "Good, thinking Luce. See Mary, just when you think our Luce is here for nothing she comes up with some great clues." Matt chuckled and tweaked her nose gently.
"Yeah, Mary. I'm not useless you know." She snickered.
"Yeah, yeah."
"Okay guys, I've got to do my homework and so do you. We'll talk more about this later okay? And Luce, your pretty good at this I bet you can come up with more clues."
"Okay!" She said happily. She loves to be included in things especially big things like this one. After Matt left she remembered that Mary was supposed to go to the store after school. "Mary! You forgot to go get that dress today!"
"Oh, shoot! I knew I forgot something. I'll get it tomorrow after school."
"Whatever, just remember that you owe me."
"I know, I know."
************************************************************************
"Ruthy, I have to talk to you." Simon said to his 4 year old sister.
"Go ahead, I'm listening." She said as she fed her stuffed animals tea and biscuits.
"You have to stop telling on me."
"I don't tell on you. They ask me questions and then I answer them."
"But, don't you know how to keep your mouth shut? When Mom or Dad or anyone else asks you a question about me don't tell them anything that I told you not to say!"
"Okay!" She said in her play voice pretending she is one of the guests at her tea party.
"Don't tell anyone that I told you not to tell on me. Okay?"
"Okay!" She said in her play voice again.
"Stop talking in that voice you're driving me nuts!"
"But, we can't help it Simon!" She said again.
Simon put his hands on his face like he had a headache and moaned.
"What's going on in here?" Annie said as she walked into the kids' bedroom with her bright and warming smile.
"Simon, is telling me not to tell on him anymore."
"Ruthy!" Simon yelled.
Ruthy covered her hand over her mouth. "Oops, I forgot."
"You forgot! Ugh!"
Annie put her hands on her hips and looked a Simon.
"Well, well she's always telling on me so I told to stop."
"She's four Simon, she can't help but tattle. It's a phase that all you went through. Besides it is a little bit helpful to me."
"Mom!"
"I'm sorry." She laughed. "You're right, it isn't right for her to tell on you or anyone else all the time. But, remember she's four. She'll get over it." She winked at him and left the room. "And, by the way, dinner is almost ready. Make sure you come down in 10 minutes."
"Okay." He said disappointed. "Ruthy I just can't believe you."
"We're sorry Simon!" She said in her play voice one more time.
"Ugh! Quit it!"
***Please Review!
March for Freedom by: Shirleyfan16
"Are you really going to where that to school?" Lucy asked Mary.
She looked down at her clothes and shrugged her shoulders. "What's wrong with it?"
"Nothing if you want to look like a bum at school."
"For your information Luce, lots of girls where these pants with shirts similar to this one. I'm in style. Look what your wearing, that pretty little dress with that pretty little sweater. You don't want spill anything on that. I wouldn't wear that to school."
"Well, it's the style for my age. Most of the girls wear dresses and sweaters like this one with penny loafers."
"Then stop complaining to me about what I wear since it's the style. Besides I'm going to the boutique today after school to buy one of those dresses that Twiggy wears."
"No way! Mom and Dad won't let you wear one of those! They're too short and showy, even though they're totally awesome looking."
"What they don't know won't hurt them. You have to cover for me please." Lucy gave her a look that said I always cover for you and I don't want to do it anymore. "Please Luce! One more time please."
"No way! I'm not getting caught again and get punished for what you did."
"I'll tell you what. Once I save up enough money. I'll buy you one of those dresses and you'll knock out every girl in school. That is if you cover for me. Please!"
"Okay, okay. But, you owe me!"
"I know, I know!" Mary said as she ran out of their bedroom all giddy and down the stairs to the kitchen.
************************************************************************
"Where's Lucy?" Matt asked.
"Upstairs, doing her hair. What else would she be doing?" Mary said all excited.
"Why are you so happy this morning?"
"No, reason." Mary smiled. "I'll meet you outside." She kissed Eric and Annie good-bye.
"Have a good day at school today honey." Eric said.
"I will!" Mary yelled as she walked outside.
Matt looked at his watch. "Lucy, let's go! We're going to be late if we don't start walking now!"
"All right, all right I'm coming." Lucy said as she ran down the stairs. "Bye, Dad. Bye, mom. Love you."
"I'll see later pumpkin." Eric said.
"Bye, sweetheart." Annie said.
************************************************************************
Ring, Ring. Ring, Ring.
The telephone was ringing.
"Hello?" Eric answered.
"Hi, Reverend Camden?"
"Yes, this is him."
"This is Pastor Henry, there has been a young man killed this morning. His name was Billy Young."
"That's horrible. I assume it was racist white men who killed the young man."
"Yes, I'm afraid so. I was wondering if you would like to come down to the church with me to hold a service for that young man. His family doesn't have any money so it's the least we could do for them."
"I would be glad to. I would do anything for that family. It isn't fair that all of these young African American kids are getting killed just because of their color. I'll be down at the church as soon as I can."
"Thank-you Reverend."
"Sure thing Pastor."
************************************************************************
"Did you hear that Martin Luther King is coming to Glenoak Wednesday?" Mary whispered to Matt as they were walking to school. She didn't want anyone to hear her for she didn't know how they would act if they knew she was friends with African Americans.
"Yeah, he's holding marches for the rights of African Americans."
"Can, we go?"
"Yeah, can we go?" Lucy interrupted.
"No, you aren't going." Mary said.
"Why not? I'm twelve I'm old enough to march. Besides our good friends are black."
Mary rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Sorry guys, I wish we could. Mom and Dad won't let us."
"Why?" Mary asked.
"They say those marches are dangerous. That racist men beat whoever is marching if they don't get out of their way."
"That's horrible."
"I think I'm going to hurl." Lucy added.
"See what I mean, you're such a baby you wouldn't be able to march for more than two blocks." Mary snickered.
"Mary, shut-up. You never know, Luce just might prove you wrong one day."
Mary just sighed. "I guess you're right. Sorry Luce."
"Apology accepted."
"Matt, is there any way you can get Mom and Dad to let us go....excluding Lucy."
"Hey! That's not fair!"
"You're too young and it's way too dangerous for you Luce." Mary said.
"There, might be a way we can sneak out of the house . . . . . I know! Instead of going to school we can march. We'll just leave at our regular time for school make sure Luce gets to her school, and then we'll go march with Martin Luther King. How does that sound?"
"Great, idea! I can't wait!"
"Matt, please, please will you take me! Please!" Lucy gave him a pouting face.
Matt thought for a minute and decided that she should be included. Even though he knew that the marches were dangerous, what could possibly happen if he was there with her?
"Fine, you can go."
"Oh, thank-you, thank-you!" She ran to him and gave him a big hug. Mary and Matt just laughed.
"You better get inside your school or you'll be late, Luce." He said as they reached the Jr. High.
"Okay, see you later!" She said as she ran towards her school. ************************************************************************
"Now, lets sing our last song before, Billy is finally laid to rest. Hymn 230." Reverend Camden said to the weeping and sorrowful family in the church. They all sang Old Rugged Cross. Afterwards the devastated family cried and wept as they put flowers on top of the young man's coffin, said their good-byes and left.
"I think that was the hardest thing I've ever had to do." Reverend Camden said.
"I know, I know." Annie said comforting him.
************************************************************************
"We're home!" Matt yelled as he and his sisters walked through the door.
"Shhh! Daddy is taking a nap." Little Ruthy said.
"Oh, I see. Thanks pumpkin."
"Your welcome." She said as she marched out the room.
Mary and Lucy stared at Matt.
"What?"
"Matt, Dad never takes a nap. Something has to be wrong." Mary said.
"You don't think I know that? Just leave go okay?"
"Fine. Come on Luce let's go upstairs."
************************************************************************
Knock Knock.
Matt knocked on his father's den.
"Come in."
Matt entered the room with his hands in his pockets. Which is a clear sign that something is troubling him. Reverend Camden looked up at him.
"What's wrong?"
"That's funny I was going to ask you the same question."
Reverend Camden chuckled. "Why would you ask a question like that?"
"You took a nap today. That's unusual. The last time you took a nap was when you had just came back from doing a service for a funeral."
Reverend Camden fell silent and cleared his throat. He avoided the question.
"So, how was school today? Did you learn anything interesting?"
"Why did you just change the subject?"
"I didn't."
"Yes, you did. I was asking you what's wrong and you changed the subject."
"Oh, well you see when you get older your mind wonders. I guess that is what my mind just did."
"Come on Dad, you can do better than that. Because that was a lame excuse."
"Look Matt, I'm keeping whatever I'm keeping from you for a reason. Not because I'm trying to avoid it, because I'm trying to keep you safe."
"Whatever." Matt was angry and didn't feel like fighting with his father anymore so he barged out of the room and slammed the door behind him.
Reverend Camden sighed and shook his head.
************************************************************************
"Did you get through to Dad?" Lucy asked as Matt sat on the edge of her bed.
"No, he won't budge and I quit talking to him about it. There is no way I'm going to get it from him unless I figure out what it is."
"Well, when was the last time Dad took a nap?" Mary asked.
"When he came back from doing a funeral service." He said quietly. Suddenly he hit his hand off of his forehead. "How stupid can I be! He did a funeral today, but the question is who's funeral? I can't believe I didn't think of this before."
"Well, it had to be someone that was killed. Because Dad does lots of funerals, but he never acts weird unless it's someone that was killed. Remember his last funeral? It was a poor little black girl who got hit by a car. Deliberately."
They became silent and remembered that horrible tragedy. "Good, thinking Luce. See Mary, just when you think our Luce is here for nothing she comes up with some great clues." Matt chuckled and tweaked her nose gently.
"Yeah, Mary. I'm not useless you know." She snickered.
"Yeah, yeah."
"Okay guys, I've got to do my homework and so do you. We'll talk more about this later okay? And Luce, your pretty good at this I bet you can come up with more clues."
"Okay!" She said happily. She loves to be included in things especially big things like this one. After Matt left she remembered that Mary was supposed to go to the store after school. "Mary! You forgot to go get that dress today!"
"Oh, shoot! I knew I forgot something. I'll get it tomorrow after school."
"Whatever, just remember that you owe me."
"I know, I know."
************************************************************************
"Ruthy, I have to talk to you." Simon said to his 4 year old sister.
"Go ahead, I'm listening." She said as she fed her stuffed animals tea and biscuits.
"You have to stop telling on me."
"I don't tell on you. They ask me questions and then I answer them."
"But, don't you know how to keep your mouth shut? When Mom or Dad or anyone else asks you a question about me don't tell them anything that I told you not to say!"
"Okay!" She said in her play voice pretending she is one of the guests at her tea party.
"Don't tell anyone that I told you not to tell on me. Okay?"
"Okay!" She said in her play voice again.
"Stop talking in that voice you're driving me nuts!"
"But, we can't help it Simon!" She said again.
Simon put his hands on his face like he had a headache and moaned.
"What's going on in here?" Annie said as she walked into the kids' bedroom with her bright and warming smile.
"Simon, is telling me not to tell on him anymore."
"Ruthy!" Simon yelled.
Ruthy covered her hand over her mouth. "Oops, I forgot."
"You forgot! Ugh!"
Annie put her hands on her hips and looked a Simon.
"Well, well she's always telling on me so I told to stop."
"She's four Simon, she can't help but tattle. It's a phase that all you went through. Besides it is a little bit helpful to me."
"Mom!"
"I'm sorry." She laughed. "You're right, it isn't right for her to tell on you or anyone else all the time. But, remember she's four. She'll get over it." She winked at him and left the room. "And, by the way, dinner is almost ready. Make sure you come down in 10 minutes."
"Okay." He said disappointed. "Ruthy I just can't believe you."
"We're sorry Simon!" She said in her play voice one more time.
"Ugh! Quit it!"
***Please Review!