Tragic

I am a black, athletic girl with an overprotective ex-boxer father and a home maker mother. Mom and dad's marriage was ever one of those ideal romances. My mom got pregnant with my older brother when she was very young and so they had no choice but to marry.

They never really loved each other like those old movies seem to always portray but they respected one another. My dad is old school and has always been very protective of his little girl.

I, on the other hand, am rather a little boyish having grown up in a black, male dominated family. I used to go to this back alley where I'd do stunts on my board. Nothing major but I've had my share of bumps and bruises. But despite being boyish on the outside I'm still all girl on the inside.

On one occasion I went home to visit my folks. It was a reunion of sorts. Some of the family would usually come by to visit and, well, do nothing but hang out, have a barbeque and generally just have a good time. These were one of those times, only some of the med in the family, including my dad, went out to the local park to play some ball with other folks in the neighborhood.

Some of the kids stayed behind but most of the women and older children went out to watch their husbands and father play. Mom stayed at home and I volunteered to help out with the small children.

Now our home was an old one. And there's this particular AC my dad loved but mom absolutely abhorred. And by all standards it was rather hideous. But my dad was adamant that it was to stay where it was. And so it did.

While mom was going up the stairs carrying a tray of juice boxes for the small children she happened to have bumped into the big old AC and as it happens I was in the hall right into the crash path of the AC as it slowly started to tip and fall over. I was taken aback. Caught by surprise, all I could do was cover my face and braise for impact.

Seconds later the wind was taken out of my lungs but the impact never came, instead I felt cradled in a soft and warm cushion. Slowly I opened my eyes. I saw the AC flat on the floor on the spot when I was and my mom still on the stairs holding the tray, frozen on the spot.

Then there was a slow groan from the cushion I had fallen onto. Slowly I look up and see a grinning face. In fact, I had not fallen unto a cushion but am actually within the embrace of a good looking boy. (About my age)

"Hi… are you alright?" the boy asked.

My eyes went round… "Oh my… I'm so sorry!" I tried to get up and inadvertently elbowed him on the abdomen. "I'm really, really sorry"

"Oooff!!! No, it's ok. No problem." By the time he had got up my mom had already ran down the stairs towards us.

"Oh, my dear!!! Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, mom."

"Oh, my boy! Thank you so much! But I'm afraid I don't know who you are or why you're here…" My mom asked obliquely.

"Mom!!!" I protested 'Couldn't we at least offer him a drink or something before you start interrogating him?"

"Oh! Well, where are my manners. Come on, dear. Let's go to the kitchen. I do need a calming cup of tea myself" she ushered us to the kitchen.

When she was done preparing the tea and some biscuits, "So now, dear, may I know who you are and how you got in here?"

"Well, ma'am, I just started over at Hank's Tool Shop and I was sent over here to deliver some supplies." He took a sip of his tea.

"Yes, I do remember your dad saying something about that." She took a sip of tea and looked at him over her cup.

"But that doesn't explain how you got in the house." I interjected.

"Well, about that… there was this curious boy who answered the door and he kind of pulled me to the back, I believe so I could guard his toys from the bad monsters who take them way after he goes to sleep." He chuckled, "He was rather cute in his intensity. I don't think he had realized I wasn't one of his uncles."

"Well, it's good that you were there or else my daughter would have probably been flattened" she tried at humor. "Well, since you're here. Can I possibly trouble you some more to help put that hideous think back up? My husband loves that blasted old thing and saying I accidentally bumped into it… well, he would never believe me."

We set about putting the house back to rights. And mom went up to bring the juice boxes to the kids.

"Thank you again… for everything. I owe you my life." I said as I showed him out.

"Don't mention it. It was quite a pleasure." I blushed. "Thanks for the tea." Slowly he turned and walked out the door. Halfway through, he seemed to change his mind and turned back.

"You know, you could thank me by helping me out… I've got his thing this weekend and I was hoping you could accompany me? It's just a casual thing. A dinner with friends, of sort."

"You mean on a date?"

"If that's ok with you… I mean."

"It's the least I can do after saving my life."

"Ok then, I'll pick you up at 8, Friday."

"It's a date."

*****

We went out a few times after that and soon we were a couple. I found that we had a lot in common. We both liked sports and in some instances we both liked extreme sports, although for me, I love to watch while he loved to engage in it…

We were so in love… he was the ideal man. Protective, loving, considerate and we always have fun… he is also very gallant, I guess, is what I could call him. He talked of marriage some day and of family and of waiting… he was simply perfect…

My folks, of course, have no knowledge of him aside from knowing him as Hank's delivery boy. He has come by the house a few times only to deliver some things for my dad. At one such delivery the old AC once again gave out, thankfully this time without anyone near it to hazard any harm. We were in a darkened part of the hall flirting and talking with each other before he had to go back to Hank's. My folks, of course, were in the backyard. When the old AC fell down again we quickly separated, as the loud crash drew my parents back into the house. My mom was berating my father about "that blasted old thing" and they started to argue. I remember, showing Dan out and whispering to him, "I don't want us to be like that."

"We love each other… I assure you, we won't." he said as he planted a quick kiss to my forehead. "I'll see you soon."

We had agreed to meet each other at an abandoned unfinished building just off Maine Street where people use for sports and stunts. It became a local place for kids to hang out and for vendors but they weren't all the decent kids of the neighborhood there also junkies and hustlers who resided in the deep parts of the building. We were to meet with other kids of our gang who were also into sports.

When we got there it was raining lightly. Even better climates for our stunts… it made it a little more risky but there were stunts that were best done in wet weather than in dry, and it added a little flair as trickling water can be visualized in our videos.

We got a great work out; and by the time we finished it was getting dark. I was drenched with both sweat and rain water, so I went to a darkened corner to change my shirt. As I pulled my shirt up over my head I felt hands pull me to one side and into a doorway. I thought it was Dan teasing me again. When I was free of the shirt I saw a bearded junkie in front of me blocking the doorway. His eyes were red and he was clearly very high. He was coming at me and pulling at the shirt I had just taken off. Thankfully he was too high to be strong enough to overpower me and I was able to pull the shirt hard enough to overbalance him and he toppled enabling me to step over him and out the door still holding my shirt over my bra.

Shortly after I ran out the door I collided into solid chest, I tried to fight off the hands that were holding my upper arms, crying out when the arms wouldn't let out. "Hey… hey… it's me, Dan…"

I looked up and my eyes went round and tears started to well… I buried my face unto his neck and let the hot tears fall. He held me close and his warmth seeped into my skin. Slowly the tears stopped. "I'm sorry… I just got spooked… I'm fine now." I gave him a wan smile.

I put on a clean shirt, this time with him beside me. We exited the building and he walked me home. Before we parted he gave me a deep, intense kiss.

*****

We kept on going out and became more serious. We were so in love… he had been talking of wanting us to marry…

On one occasion I emboldened to ask him about letting our parents know of our relationship. So when he asked for us to meet again in the abandoned building to meet a few friends I said yes. When we got there the place was filled with music and the rain was pouring.

There was a ballroom themed event. When I got there one of Dan's friends pulled us together for a waltz. We held together in the usual pose with our bodies meeting from chest to legs, our bodies swaying with the music of the waltz. I looked up and met his eyes and what I saw was pure love. I loved him so…

"Can I ask you something?" I whispered to his ear…

"What is it?" and in that moment he dipped me and gave me a passionate kiss. At the same time just outside the door my father and brother were just passing by on their way home our scene inside was clearly visible in the window set into the door.

The door burst open suddenly and as if the very universe had realized what was happening, everything went very still. The music stopped and the rest of the noise muted down over the rain. My father was in an absolute rage, my older brother close behind him.

Dan was standing very still behind me… I could sense their eyes meeting above my head and I was very afraid. Dan maybe athletic and sporty but my father was a boxer and he may have grown older but his punch could still knock out a man twice his size.

"Dad, please, this isn't what it seems… I was going to tell you…" as clique as it sounded it was the only appropriate thing my mind could come up with.

Dad was charging forward and I could see my brother's eyes went round with fear. He knew that if our dad had the chance he'd knock Dan down in seconds.

"Dad, please don't!" I was afraid now but I wouldn't budge. If he was going to hit Dan he'd have to hit me first.

"You choose him before your family!?"

"Dad, please understand… I love him… and he loves me, too." I pleaded with him. My brother was physically trying to stem his rage now.

"I don't ever want so see your face again!" this time he spat at me. Abruptly he turned around and walked out into the rain and with a last sympathetic glance at me, my brother ran out after him.

It had felt so surreal. I turned stunned eyes around to Dan. I had yet to see his expression ever since my father had accidentally discovered us. His face was an intense mask. He was still looking into the distance after my father, apparently deep in thought. I wrapped my arms around his waist. Seeking both comfort and to comfort him.

"Jane… "He said as he slowly eased my arms from around him. And the way he said my name struck a discordant cord of fear in my heart.

"What? Don't worry about dad… I'll talk to him. It's going to be ok." I told him trying to lighten the mood.

"Jane… "He said again. "I've decided to go to with Stan on their tour…" my heart plunged and the ground started to give way…

"You don't mean that…" his expression was masked and I couldn't see… His head was bent, hiding his true feelings… I didn't know that underneath it all, his own thoughts were whirling…

He turned around and walked the other way. Stan was there waiting with a cable… and then he was gone.

The tears wouldn't stop falling… I couldn't believe it. He left… he just left… I stayed in that building. No home… no family… no friends… I was alone…

I will not let her choose between me and her family. She is better off without me…

The end.