Chapter 8: Jessi

I always feel just a little weird coming home to Stoneybrook. After all, Stoneybrook hasn't been home for a long time. I was in New York for all of high school and I've been at Georgetown University in Washington, DC for the past two years.

Even weirder, was the fact that my sister Becca picked me up from the airport. I can't believe my sister is old enough to drive, hell, I can't believe that I'm officially out of my teens and in my 20's already.

Becca was her usual animated self on the car ride home. Every time I come home Becca always has a ton to talk about. For being such a shy kid growing up, Becca sure does talk a lot!

"So are you excited about seeing all of the baby-sitters?" Becca asked me as soon as we pulled onto the interstate. I sighed. I honestly didn't know how I felt. The hardest part about this was that Mallory and I had really lost touch in high school. Neither of us were in Stoneybrook for high school, and while we were great about calling and e-mailing for awhile, college was a different story.

"You're worried about seeing Mallory, aren't you?" Becca asked. I smiled. Becca can read me so well. I nodded. "Yeah, I am. I don't know why, it's not like we had a big fall out or anything, I just feel bad for not keeping in touch as well as I should. I mean, she doesn't even know about Brett yet," I stated.

Brett Thompson is my boyfriend, well sort of I guess. We just started dating last semester. I met Brett through the campus College Democrats association. Brett is a year younger than me, but he's more mature than most of the other guys I've met so far!

What most of my old friends would be shocked to discover is that I was no longer pursuing a career in dance. While I still love ballet, and do teach young kids at a local dance studio in town, I just couldn't see myself performing for my entire life. Perhaps I did too much when I was younger. In my high school years (if you could even call dance academy high school) I toured all over the world, dancing in some of the most famous ballets and at some point I figured, where else can I go from here?

I just didn't want to be touring all over anymore. I wanted something more stable. That's when I decided I wanted to go to a normal college.

DC as a whole intrigued me, because in the back of my mind I've always held an interest in history and politics. That's why I ended up deciding to double major in the two subjects. I think I might like to hold a political office someday, or teach in a high school.

Anyway, I met Brett through the College Dems at school, and we just hit it off right away. Brett's not quite sure what he wants to major in yet (after all, he is a freshman) but he's leaning towards Communications and Marketing. Which is fine, I always joke that he can be my PR manager whenever I run for office.

Brett is gorgeous, really. He plays basketball so he has a bit of an athletic build, and he's taller than me, so that's a plus. He actually was born in Holland, but they moved over to the US when he was in grade school. His mother is from Holland, and his father from the US. They both met when his mother studied abroad for college, and the rest is history.

So, what does Brett look like? Well, if you guessed tall, blond and blue eyed you'd be almost right. His hair is really more of a dark blond, light brown. And he has a bit tanner skin than his mother, since his dad has more of an olive complexion.

At first, I was concerned how my parents would react. Why, do you ask? Well, for one I'm black and he's white. I don't see this as a big deal anymore but I know a lot of society does.

My parents were really cool about it though. They've met Brett and really like him. The only person who really wasn't fond of the fact that he isn't black is my Aunt Cecilia, which was really no surprise to me. My aunt and I have never really seen eye to eye on much of anything. Sometimes it's hard for me to believe that she and my father are siblings, because they certainly don't have a lot in common.

Brett said in Holland, and over in Europe in general, color doesn't really matter. No one would really give a second glance to an interracial couple. I wish the US was more like that. I can only hope that as time passes America becomes more tolerant of race, ethnic background, those who are disabled, and basically anyone who is significantly different from what is conceived to be the status quo.

When I was younger, even younger than Becca, I didn't really see how prejudices can be on both sides. Moving to Stoneybrook and being one of the few black families in the community, I often felt that it was non-black people who had the problem, not us.

However, as I've grown I know that we can be just as bad. Prejudice is all around us, and part of the problem is that the United States really is a melting pot of people, of all different backgrounds. In theory, it always has been. It's just that in the beginning those differences were mainly all white Europeans (the Irish, Germans, Italians, etc). Who can really tell the difference between an Irish person and a German person? You can't really, because all of the European races have mixed themselves.

But the blacks, Hispanics and Asians are a little more noticeable. I think America has come a long way, but we still have a lot of work to do.

And…I'll get off of my soap box. As you can see, this is sort of a passion of mine, which is why I find history and politics so intriguing. I want to educate people, and hopefully teach young people to be more opened minded and less prejudiced about people who are different from them.

"Wow Jessi, where did you just go now?" Becca teased. Obviously, Becca had asked me a question and I had not responded. "Sorry Becca. Just thinking…"

Becca nodded. "You know mom and dad support your relationship with Brett, right?" I nodded. "Hell, even Aunt Cecelia sort of kind of hinted that he was a 'nice young man,' the other day!" Becca stated and I laughed.

"Really?" Becca nodded. "Wow, that's pretty significant, coming from her!"

We pulled up to the house and my little brother John was playing catch with one of his friends from school, Clayton I think was his name. Becca parked the car in the driveway and my brother and his friend came over to help carry my luggage into the house (honestly, my brother is so thoughtful! I sometimes wonder if it's because I missed so much of him growing up that he just enjoys spending as much time with me as possible when I'm around).

"Thanks Squirt," I said, ruffling his hair lightly as my brother groaned. Squirt was a nickname that the nurses game him in the hospital when he was born, because he was so tiny. We called him that for awhile, but once he started going to school regularly he insisted we start calling him John (his full name is John Phillip Ramsey). His friends all do, but the family, well…we still can't help but throw the nickname out there every now and then, even if "Squirt" is now a tall gangly middle school kid and in no way a squirt at all.

My brother and Clayton took my bags upstairs to my old bedroom while I greeted my parents. Mama had a terrific dinner cooking in the kitchen, and dad was in his usual spot before dinner: in front of the TV. My dad makes it a point to watch the local and national news every day before dinner. I hate to admit it, but I'm kind of news crazy myself, especially when it comes to politics.

"Anything interesting going on daddy?" I asked. My dad chuckled. "Oh, the usual. Someone's attacking the president for this or that, America is obese, and the stock market is down," daddy replied and I groaned. "Geez dad, could you be a little more optimistic?" I asked.

"Hey, don't blame me, it's NBC that's all gloom and doom today," dad replied with innocent eyes. Just then my mother walked in shaking her head. "Dinner will be ready in about 15 minutes," mama stated.

"Jessi, I wanted to let you know that Mallory called. She said she'd be available after 7 and would like you to call her," mama said. I just nodded.

Mallory called? I guess she got in town awhile ago. I wasn't sure when schools in California dismissed. I had stayed at Georgetown a little later because I had some friends who graduated this year and I stayed through graduation. I guess I would just have to wait and see what she wanted later. For now, there was quite a feast set out on the table and I was ready to dig in!

Shortly after 7, I found myself meeting up with Mallory at a local coffee house in downtown Stoneybrook (Becca let me borrow her car). When I walked into the coffee house, I saw her sitting in a quiet corner. She waved at me and I headed over to her table.

As I approached, I noticed how different Mallory looked. I suppose everyone goes through an awkward phase and Mallory and I went through that in middle school.

Mallory's chestnut hair flowed nicely below her shoulders in light waves. She wasn't wearing glasses anymore. Fortunately her parents caved and let her get contacts in high school. She was wearing light makeup, and a cute pair of jeans and a black tank top. Not anything fancy, but she was well put together. On top of that, she was glowing.

"You're glowing," I blurted out as Mallory blushed slightly as we hugged. "Is it that obvious?" she whispered as we broke apart. I nodded. "Well, something is definitely different about you," I stated.

Mallory sat down and I pulled up a chair next to her. She picked up her coffee and took a sip thoughtfully. That was when I noticed the huge rock on her left hand and as soon as she set her cup down I grabbed her hand and stared.

The diamond was gorgeous…elegant, yet simple. The sparkle was blinding. It had a simple gold band, I noticed, and then…I noticed another gold band next to it and my mouth dropped.

"Shit Mal, did you get married?!" I squealed as Mallory tried to shush me as other patrons stared at us.

"It would appear that is the case," Mallory replied as I just simply stared at her in complete shock. As far as I knew, Mal hadn't even been dating anyone, and for her to get married without even telling me…something was up.

Mal recognized my distress. "Listen, it's a bit crowded in here. Do you mind taking a walk to the park? I'll explain everything then," Mal stated. I nodded as we stood up and walked in silence out of the coffee house.

The local park wasn't too far away, so it wasn't long before we had found a quiet park bench to sit on.

"All right Mal," I said softly, "what's going on with you?"

Mal sighed. "Jessi, I don't even know where to begin. Everything happened so fast..." Mal trailed off.

I put my hand comfortingly on her shoulder. "Mal, it's me. No matter how distant we may have been lately, you know you can tell me anything. So what's up?"

Mal took a deep breath and smiled. "Thanks Jessi. Well, I suppose it all began when I reconnected with Jeff Schafer when I went out to California for school." I eyed her curiously. "Jeff Schafer? As in Dawn's brother?" Mal nodded. "We...well, we fell in love. Jeff is so...laid back, caring, fun and everything I could want in a significant other. He's so understanding and way more mature than most guys his age," Mal explained.

"Anyway, we had been dating for awhile, and then...well, when I got home I discovered I was pregnant," Mal stated. My eyes widened. "Oh Mal," I said softly but Mal brushed it off. "It's my fault. We had been so careful...I was on the pill, we generally used condoms...I was just blessed with my mom's super fertile genes. Anyway, when Jeff arrived I told him, and Jessi, he was amazing. He didn't even flinch. He figured out everything. How we would get through it, securing an apartment for us back in California, getting Sunny to agree to help with the baby-sitting at her daycare...I fell in love with him all over again."

I wasn't quite sure what to say. I liked Brett a lot, but I wasn't sure I was in love with him. Jeff sounded so different from the Jeff I remembered, then again, Jeff moved away from Stoneybrook shortly after I arrived, so my interaction with him was limited. Clearly, he seemed to be a very mature young man.

"Anyway, he decided to surprise me with a getaway to Sea City. I agreed, thinking it would be a good distraction and before I knew it, he had proposed and we were married at this beautiful little gazebo along the beach, with Byron and Vanessa there. It was...amazing." Mal stated in a sentimental tone.

I smiled. "Mal, I'm happy for you. It sounds like you and Jeff really have something special, and I admire both of you for handling your pregnancy with such maturity. I am curious though, how did your parents take it?" I asked.

Mal groaned. "Um...we haven't told them yet," she admitted. She looked at her watch and stood up. "I actually have to meet Jeff at his mom's place now," she replied. "I just needed to talk to a friend before opening up to my parents about this, you know?" Mal looked at me with bright eyes.

I gave her a hug. "Of course I understand. Thank you for telling me. And if you need anything, just let me know." Mal gave me a quick squeeze and then was on her way.

Suddenly, I felt like I had grown another 10 years.