Ty & Cinda, A Tale of Forbidden Love - S01 E03

1 week ago

Ty & Cinda, A Tale of Forbidden Love - S01 E03

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 3

Mom knocked on the door frame a few minutes later. She sat next to me after closing the door, putting her arm around my shoulders. "What will happen if I take you back to the school tomorrow?"

"The same thing, Mom-I do not want to go there...period. Mom, I met a lot of kids at the park. I like them. I met a girl, too. She spoke up for me when I first went there. Some of the guys made some racial comments. If I ever had any doubts what it is to experience racial discrimination I found out that day. She stood up for me even though she'd never met me. like her Mom-I like her a lot."

"You haven't..."

I laughed. "No, Mom we haven't done anything. She did kiss my cheek this afternoon, but that was mostly encouragement. I did kiss her briefly and I'd do it again if I could. She took me home and her mother welcomed me like I was family. They live in a dilapidated house off a dirt path, but there's more love there in a single day than there is here in a year. She's smart, too. She has some of the same textbooks they used last year in advanced classes in eleventh grade. I remember Jeremy having them."

"Ty, you know I can make you attend that school, don't you?"

"Sure, Mom, but you can't make me do any work so what's the point? I'll go to all my classes and just sit there. After I've flunked out you'll have to put me in public school."

"Your grandfather thinks we should send you to military school."

"Gee, why not just send me back to Indiana? It would be a lot cheaper and then Grandpa would be happy. I wouldn't be here to remind him what a bigot he is. Don't you ever stand up to him, Mom?"

"It's complicated, Ty. He never wanted me to marry your father. Where would I go if he threw me out?"

"You could go back home and try to work things out with Dad. We both know he didn't want this."

"How could you know that, Ty?"

"I'm not deaf, Mom. I could hear you arguing and I heard Dad plead with you. I heard a lot of your arguments and, truthfully, I couldn't understand why you were pushing him." Mom held her head down

and I could see a tear in her eye.

"I don't know where to begin, Ty. You're right the separation was my fault, all my fault. I wanted more than your father could give me. Maybe I'm more like your grandfather than you think."

"I know better, Mom. You may be his daughter, but you're nothing like him. I've seen you hug the parents of my black teammates plenty of times. Somehow I can't see Grandpa ever doing that."

"What will happen if I let you go to the public school?"

"I'll go-1 promise-and I'll do my very best, just like I've always done."

"Very well-I'll take you tomorrow and you can register. Happy now?"

"Happier," I said as I returned my mom's hug. Later I could hear her in the living room telling my grandparents. They weren't happy- Grandpa swore a blue streak, ranting and raving like a lunatic-but I didn't care.

I was up early the following morning dressed as I would for school in Indiana with a short sleeved shirt and khakis. I ate a good breakfast, but turned down a sandwich for lunch. I'd rather buy lunch in the cafeteria than carry a sack like some elementary school kid.

Mom and I were in the car and driving toward the park and school beyond when I saw Monroe and Cinda waiting for their bus. "They're my friends, Mom, Can we give them a lift?" Mom agreed and we stopped next to them.

"Hi, Cinda, Monroe-want a lift to school?" They did and I introduced them once they were safely in the car. They were glad I was coming to school with them. Monroe talked about informal basketball workouts, mostly to get into playing shape. Cinda was quiet, but I was sure Mom knew it was Cinda who had kissed me. We walked into school together. I thought Mom was surprised at how many kids knew and greeted me, some with handshakes some with hugs. Mom showed my birth certificate to the main office staff and my transcript to the guidance counselor. I had a schedule-all advanced placement classes and Physics Instead of Chemistry which I'd taken last year-about forty minutes later and was off to my first class. I'd missed math, but doubted that would be a problem-math was my best subject. I had some help from other students in my classes finding my way around the school. All in all I enjoyed my first experiences and was pleased to learn that I hadn't missed much the first day. I had just paid for my lunch and was looking around the sea of mostly black faces for a seat when I felt a hand on my arm. turned just as I had my first day at the park to see Cinda smiling behind me. She held my arm as she led me to a table.

"Forget It, girls-I saw him first." I laughed, but I could see she was serious. I sat at the table and Cinda asked to see my schedule. "Damn, Ty you must be a genius."

"No...I just work hard."

Cinda laughed. "I know that's not true. We're in the same English and History classes this afternoon and Geometry first period. I know that no amount of work is enough unless you're smart, too. What was your average last year? Where were you in your class?"

"Um...do I have to answer?" Cinda laughed again as did her friends. *98.4-first...satisfied now?"

"Like I said-you're a genius and an athlete, too." I ignored her comments and dug into my tacos. They weren't half bad for school food. We finished eating, cleaned up our table, and Cinda led me outside to the back of the school building. I knew that there was but a single high school in this county, what they called a "parish" here in Louisiana. There were almost 1,700 students here, many more than in my high school back in Indiana. Cinda and I talked with her friends. I was relaxed and at ease, especially when some of my friends from basketball stopped by to say hello. Marquis told me more about the informal practices, but said I'd have to get the coach's okay first. I resolved to see him before school tomorrow morning.

Cinda and I walked together to English class. I showed the teacher, Ms. Ross, my schedule and was told to find a seat. I chuckled when I saw one next to Cinda. I'd sit next to her, but there'd be no fooling around. I'd promised Mom I'd do my best and I always kept my promises.

World History was next period and, once again found myself next to Cinda. I couldn't understand why such a beautiful sexy girl wasn't surrounded by boys. I debated whether or not to ask her about it, but not now-Mr. Harris had begun his lesson. Mid- paragraph he delivered a textbook to my desk. It was heavy, but

that was the price of taking AP classes.

I'd been in the gifted program in elementary school, but begged my parents to let me out after less than a month. "The kids in this program are freaks, Dad, was what I had told him. At first he didn't believe me, but after attending several classes both he and Mom agreed that many of the kids either lacked basic social skills or were just snobs. Worse than the kids were many of the parents who thought they were God's gift to the community. They took me out shortly after their first encounter with the so-called Gifted Parents Association who wanted all the school's money spent on their kids and nothing on the rest. I never looked back. Once I was in middle school I was enrolled in enriched courses the same subjects, but in much greater detail and depth. I was the only "non- gifted" student in the program. In ninth grade, my first in high school, I'd taken all high achievement courses including Advanced Placement Algebra and Biology for which I could receive university credit. Tenth was pretty much the same.

My final course of the day was Physical Education, a course that alternated with a study period. The entire class was assigned lockers. I was surprised later in the week to learn that hardly anyone dressed for the class, wearing their regular clothes instead. Personally, I couldn't stand being sweaty in my good school clothes. I was the only one in class to take a shower. was also the only one who went all out in class, especially when we played team sports.

Cinda met me after school and showed me to the right bus. I got off at her stop even though there was one closer to my grandparents' home. still couldn't call it my home and I doubted that I ever would. Some other kids walked straight home, but Cinda and I lingered behind. I was leaning against an old live oak tree, one with a huge trunk and standing more than forty feet high when Cinda walked right up to me and kissed me. "You can kiss me back, you know." Cinda giggled as she took my hands in hers and placed them squarely on her hips. My fingers rested on her firm round butt as she reached up for a second try. I was ready this time. My mouth opened slightly and my tongue encountered hers. I felt that same jolt of electricity that I'd felt yesterday. I assumed that Cinda felt it, too. She moaned into my mouth. She broke the kiss a few seconds later and laid her head on my chest.

"Soon, Ty I'll let you touch my titties. Nobody has ever touched them, but want you to be the first."

"Cinda...why aren't guys falling all over you? You're beautiful and

sexy, too. You have an incredible body."

"I'm glad you think so, Ty. It tells me a lot about you. Most black

guys are turned off by my skin color and so are most white guys,

too "What? That's crazy!"

She reached up again to kiss me gently before continuing, "My daddy was a white man, someone Momma met at the hospital where she works. That's why my skin is the color it is. I'm not dark enough to satisfy some people and I have the wrong kind of body. Most black men prefer women with big hips and butts. Most white men either want a black whore or a woman who's as lily white as they are."

"Personally, I love your hips and butt. They're cute...just like the rest of you." I joined Cinda in giggling.

"Then there's Monroe; he's sworn to kill any boy who touches me." She laughed when I recoiled in shock and horror. "Relax, Ty that doesn't apply to you. Monroe likes you and he knows I'd kill him if he ever touched you."

I looked down at Cinda who couldn't have been much more than five feet five inches tall and 100 pounds while Monroe stood six feet three and weighed 200 pounds easily. "Somehow that's not very reassuring."

"This is-Monroe promised me he wouldn't touch you. He knows how much I like you. I don't know anyone who doesn't."

"You obviously haven't spoken to my grandpa. I really think he hates me, but that's okay-I'm not too keen about him, either."

"It's hard to believe you're related. You're nothing like him."

"Thank you." I leaned down and our lips touched again. I felt the shock again and I knew that she did, too. She was breathing heavily when we broke it. "I'd better get going. I know my mom will be worried." She gave me a peck on the cheek and I began the mile-plus trek down the road.

I walked into the house twenty minutes later, kissed my mom and excused myself to begin my homework. The door was open when Mom came back a few minutes later. "How was it?"

"Great, Mom; I saw almost all of my friends from the park and Cinda is in three of my classes. I got off the bus at her stop. I hope you don't mind."

"No, Ty I was young once, too."

"You're still young, Mom and you're still beautiful, too."

"Flatterer! I assume that Cinda is the girl who kissed you yesterday."

"Yes, Mom; I kissed her again today. I felt a shock-like electricity- and I know she felt it, too."

Mom smiled and hugged me. "I'm glad, Ty. She seems to be a very nice girl, and pretty, too. Just don't do anything you'll be sorry for." I knew what she meant-don't get her pregnant.

I won't, Morm. I'd never do anything to hurt Cinda or to embarrass you." Mom turned away and I dug into my homework. I was almost done by the time Mom called me for dinner. I finished about an hour later, after helping Mom and Grandma clean up, showered, and went straight to bed.

I caught the school bus the next morning, sitting alone until Monroe and Cinda boarded. I was happy when she sat next to me, taking my hand in hers. We chatted quietly until the bus stopped in front of the school building. I walked in, going straight to the gym with Monroe who introduced me to the basketball coach. "What's your name, young man?"

"Feldner... Ty Feldner."

He sat back and was obviously thinking. "You're new here, aren't you?"

"Yes, sir..I moved over the summer with my mom from Indiana."

"What is the greatest honor a man can receive, Ty?" I was confused and it showed on my face. "The greatest honor is when your best friend names his son after you."

I looked down again at the name plate on his desk-Beamon.... Beamon. Then it hit me: "You played with my dad at Indiana! You're Ty Beamon!"

"That's right and you're Todd Feldner's son. My God...I never thought I'd meet you. Your dad was the best I ever played with. He was All Big Ten and would have made All American if he didn't hurt his knee. Now...I want to hear all about your playing experience. Start at the beginning."

I did-how I began in fourth grade, how I went to basketball camps every summer, all about my AAU experiences-everything right up to starting on my high school varsity as a freshman and sophomore.