My dinnertime episode surprisingly didn't get me into trouble with my folks
but even if it had, I wouldn't have cared. Studying with Rev and Louie was
the best idea ever. After just three after of school, after practice
sessions, I'd already scored a "C" on the latest pop quiz. It wasn't the
best but it was passing and I was improving and I couldn't ask for much
more. More than making the grade, I was beginning to understand the
concept behind all those equations. Rev was an excellent teacher who made
learning math skills easy and surprisingly fun. And he was a great person.
I considered him, a friend, a real friend like so many other kids my age.
Why couldn't folks around town see what I saw? On the inside he was
beautiful so why was something on the outside as trivial as skin color so
important? For the life of me I'd never understand.
I waited outside the library for ten minutes. It looked closed and large, dark clouds swarmed the sky. You could almost smell the rain coming. After a few more minutes of waiting, just a few seconds before it began to pour, a beat up old pick up truck pulled up beside me.
"Sorry kiddo, we got here as soon as we could", Louie Lastik said, practically out of breath from the driver's seat. "Practice ran late and we just found out the library is closed today for some kind of inventory."
"Oh", I said, trying to hide my disappointment.
I actually looked forward to those three days a week hanging out with the guys.
"But I want you to be ready for that big test next week", Rev piped in from the passenger side. "You've been doing real well, Mary-Courtney. Louie and I were headed over to my house. You can come to, if you'd like. Just for a few minutes for a little last minute cramming."
"Oh I can't", I said quickly.
I was surprised at how fast I had declined the invitation.
"Are you sure?" Rev asked again. "I mean, it's really no bother and we'd love to have you. I bet my mama has supper on the stove if you're hungry."
"Come on, Mary-Courtney, it won't be the same without you", Louie added.
I gave it a few seconds thought. I was being absolutely ridiculous. If Gerry or Alan or Ray or even Louie for that matter had invited me over to their house for the same thing, I would have gone in a heartbeat, no questions asked. The only reason I'd refused Rev was because I was scared about going into a black person's house for the first time. I was being hypocritical and as narrow minded and ignorant as my parents and Ray.
"Uh sure Rev, just for a little while", I said as they grinned and made room for me.
We drove a few miles to the other side of town. It wasn't a bad neighborhood by any means but it was the "colored" side of town. I'd certainly never ventured there before. Finally we pulled up to a modest home at the end of the block. I was so nervous as we walked up the steps. Rev opened the door and was greeted by an adorable little girl who couldn't have been more than seven or eight years old.
"Mary-Courtney, I want you to meet my family", Rev said proudly. "This here is my baby sister, Eva and over there is my other younger sister, Cecile. And these are my parents. Everyone this is Mary-Courtney Davis. She's a classmate of mine and we've been studying together after school."
"Hello everyone. Nice to meet you."
Cecile and Mr. Harris gave me polite nods while little Eva ran up and gave me a huge hug like she had given her brother. Mrs. Harris slipped an arm around me and helped me with my coat.
"Welcome to our home, Mary-Courtney. We're delighted to have you. Won't you join us for some supper before you kids get started?"
My stomach was rumbling and they did seem like nice enough people. Before I knew it I was sitting at the table holding hands with Louie and the Harris family as Mr. Harris prepared to bless the food. "Dear Lord, thank You for Your bountiful blessings and for the food we are about to receive. Please bless it to be used for the nourishment of our bodies. We also thank you for our friends and guests, Louie and Mary- Courtney. Bless them as well. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, Amen."
"Amen", we said in unison.
Dinner, which included ham, potato salad, chicken, collard greens, homemade cornbread and candied yams, was spectacular. Mrs. Harris had definitely outdone herself. I had been so nervous and uneasy when I walked in the door but within minutes the family had put me at complete ease. They were such a tight knit warm and loving bunch. They included me in the conversation and made me feel like part of the family too. I couldn't remember having such a good time.
"Mrs. Harris, please let me help you with the dishes", I offered.
"Can I help too?" Eva asked with a grin that missed her two front teeth.
"You sure can", she grinned. "Mary-Courtney, it was just lovely having you join us tonight."
"Oh thank you for having me, ma'am. I had a great time. Dinner was wonderful and it was just nice being around such good people."
"Well if you'd like, maybe you could join us for church on Sunday. Services start at noon after Sunday School. It's Hope Methodist over on First Street if you can make it."
"Maybe I will", I said, giving it serious thought. "Thank you for the invitation, Mrs. Harris."
We chatted as we washed dishes and Rev set up the family room so we could fit in an hour or so of homework. There was a knock on the door and even before it was answered I could tell by the voices on the porch who it was. I'd know Petey Jones' loud mouth anywhere and sure enough it was him along with Blue, Julius and Leroy, another Titan.
"Mary-Courtney, what are you doing on this side of town?" Petey asked with a wide eyed grin.
I simply smiled and stated the truth.
"I'm hanging out with my friends", I shrugged.
With that we all headed to the family room to study where Mrs. Harris had already brought out a tray of snacks. For a solid hour while we munched, we solved problems aloud, took turns helping each other with equations and read flash cards. Never had I felt so ready and prepared for an exam and I owed it all to Rev and the guys.
"I don't know about y'all but all that studying is hard work", Blue stretched.
"You got that right, bro", Leroy added. "Rev, you think your pops will mind if we play some music on the radio?"
"It's cool man, just not too loud."
Leroy nodded and began fiddling with the radio dials trying to find a clear station.
"Leroy, wait", I said as I heard the chorus to Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's Ain't No Mountain High Enough. "I love that song."
"You?" Petey laughed out loud. "Come on now. Quit jiving us girl. What do you know about Motown and Marvin and Tammi?"
"Probably just as much as you. I like Motown. I have the records. I like Tammi and Marvin and Smokey and the Supremes and especially the Jackson Five."
The guys all laughed and gave each other high fives.
"Ain't nothing wrong with that", Julius laughed. "Looks like our girl, Mary-Courtney has got some serious soul power."
"I don't know about all that", Petey winked.
"Oh yeah?" I said, grabbing a hairbrush out of my back.
I did my best Motown spin and began singing the words to the song. The guys looked shell shocked. I couldn't tell if they were more surprised that I knew all the words or that I could actually dance. Listen, baby
Ain't no mountain high
Ain't no valley low
Ain't no river wide enough, baby If you need me, call me
No matter where you are
No matter how far
Just call my name
I'll be there in a hurry
You don't have to worry
And all of a sudden it was like an episode of American Bandstand as the guys and me were twirling around singing into our faux mics.
'Cause baby,
There ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough
Ain't no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you
As long as I live, I swore I'd never forget that night, acting silly, signing and dancing over at Rev's house. It was fun, real fun, and I was having it with my friends. At that one moment, color and the outside world didn't even exist. For that one night we were free.
I waited outside the library for ten minutes. It looked closed and large, dark clouds swarmed the sky. You could almost smell the rain coming. After a few more minutes of waiting, just a few seconds before it began to pour, a beat up old pick up truck pulled up beside me.
"Sorry kiddo, we got here as soon as we could", Louie Lastik said, practically out of breath from the driver's seat. "Practice ran late and we just found out the library is closed today for some kind of inventory."
"Oh", I said, trying to hide my disappointment.
I actually looked forward to those three days a week hanging out with the guys.
"But I want you to be ready for that big test next week", Rev piped in from the passenger side. "You've been doing real well, Mary-Courtney. Louie and I were headed over to my house. You can come to, if you'd like. Just for a few minutes for a little last minute cramming."
"Oh I can't", I said quickly.
I was surprised at how fast I had declined the invitation.
"Are you sure?" Rev asked again. "I mean, it's really no bother and we'd love to have you. I bet my mama has supper on the stove if you're hungry."
"Come on, Mary-Courtney, it won't be the same without you", Louie added.
I gave it a few seconds thought. I was being absolutely ridiculous. If Gerry or Alan or Ray or even Louie for that matter had invited me over to their house for the same thing, I would have gone in a heartbeat, no questions asked. The only reason I'd refused Rev was because I was scared about going into a black person's house for the first time. I was being hypocritical and as narrow minded and ignorant as my parents and Ray.
"Uh sure Rev, just for a little while", I said as they grinned and made room for me.
We drove a few miles to the other side of town. It wasn't a bad neighborhood by any means but it was the "colored" side of town. I'd certainly never ventured there before. Finally we pulled up to a modest home at the end of the block. I was so nervous as we walked up the steps. Rev opened the door and was greeted by an adorable little girl who couldn't have been more than seven or eight years old.
"Mary-Courtney, I want you to meet my family", Rev said proudly. "This here is my baby sister, Eva and over there is my other younger sister, Cecile. And these are my parents. Everyone this is Mary-Courtney Davis. She's a classmate of mine and we've been studying together after school."
"Hello everyone. Nice to meet you."
Cecile and Mr. Harris gave me polite nods while little Eva ran up and gave me a huge hug like she had given her brother. Mrs. Harris slipped an arm around me and helped me with my coat.
"Welcome to our home, Mary-Courtney. We're delighted to have you. Won't you join us for some supper before you kids get started?"
My stomach was rumbling and they did seem like nice enough people. Before I knew it I was sitting at the table holding hands with Louie and the Harris family as Mr. Harris prepared to bless the food. "Dear Lord, thank You for Your bountiful blessings and for the food we are about to receive. Please bless it to be used for the nourishment of our bodies. We also thank you for our friends and guests, Louie and Mary- Courtney. Bless them as well. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, Amen."
"Amen", we said in unison.
Dinner, which included ham, potato salad, chicken, collard greens, homemade cornbread and candied yams, was spectacular. Mrs. Harris had definitely outdone herself. I had been so nervous and uneasy when I walked in the door but within minutes the family had put me at complete ease. They were such a tight knit warm and loving bunch. They included me in the conversation and made me feel like part of the family too. I couldn't remember having such a good time.
"Mrs. Harris, please let me help you with the dishes", I offered.
"Can I help too?" Eva asked with a grin that missed her two front teeth.
"You sure can", she grinned. "Mary-Courtney, it was just lovely having you join us tonight."
"Oh thank you for having me, ma'am. I had a great time. Dinner was wonderful and it was just nice being around such good people."
"Well if you'd like, maybe you could join us for church on Sunday. Services start at noon after Sunday School. It's Hope Methodist over on First Street if you can make it."
"Maybe I will", I said, giving it serious thought. "Thank you for the invitation, Mrs. Harris."
We chatted as we washed dishes and Rev set up the family room so we could fit in an hour or so of homework. There was a knock on the door and even before it was answered I could tell by the voices on the porch who it was. I'd know Petey Jones' loud mouth anywhere and sure enough it was him along with Blue, Julius and Leroy, another Titan.
"Mary-Courtney, what are you doing on this side of town?" Petey asked with a wide eyed grin.
I simply smiled and stated the truth.
"I'm hanging out with my friends", I shrugged.
With that we all headed to the family room to study where Mrs. Harris had already brought out a tray of snacks. For a solid hour while we munched, we solved problems aloud, took turns helping each other with equations and read flash cards. Never had I felt so ready and prepared for an exam and I owed it all to Rev and the guys.
"I don't know about y'all but all that studying is hard work", Blue stretched.
"You got that right, bro", Leroy added. "Rev, you think your pops will mind if we play some music on the radio?"
"It's cool man, just not too loud."
Leroy nodded and began fiddling with the radio dials trying to find a clear station.
"Leroy, wait", I said as I heard the chorus to Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's Ain't No Mountain High Enough. "I love that song."
"You?" Petey laughed out loud. "Come on now. Quit jiving us girl. What do you know about Motown and Marvin and Tammi?"
"Probably just as much as you. I like Motown. I have the records. I like Tammi and Marvin and Smokey and the Supremes and especially the Jackson Five."
The guys all laughed and gave each other high fives.
"Ain't nothing wrong with that", Julius laughed. "Looks like our girl, Mary-Courtney has got some serious soul power."
"I don't know about all that", Petey winked.
"Oh yeah?" I said, grabbing a hairbrush out of my back.
I did my best Motown spin and began singing the words to the song. The guys looked shell shocked. I couldn't tell if they were more surprised that I knew all the words or that I could actually dance. Listen, baby
Ain't no mountain high
Ain't no valley low
Ain't no river wide enough, baby If you need me, call me
No matter where you are
No matter how far
Just call my name
I'll be there in a hurry
You don't have to worry
And all of a sudden it was like an episode of American Bandstand as the guys and me were twirling around singing into our faux mics.
'Cause baby,
There ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough
Ain't no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you
As long as I live, I swore I'd never forget that night, acting silly, signing and dancing over at Rev's house. It was fun, real fun, and I was having it with my friends. At that one moment, color and the outside world didn't even exist. For that one night we were free.
