Rainy Season:

Graduation came for us in 1984. I did my best to look good. I fixed up my hair, painted my nails, did my make-up, I mean the works! I looked good. Graduation was one of the top three best days of my life. We’ll get to the other two later. Back to my graduation.

4.0 and valedictorian, baby! Your grandfather did great with his own grades. 3.7, in fact. His family and I were so proud of him.

“Do I get a prize later?” he asked me the day he got his grades. I smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

“We’ll see,” I said. Jim pouted at me.

“Aww, come on baby!” he said. “Don’t tease me like that!” I gave him a little smile.

“Sorry,” I said. “That’s how it is!”

“Drat!” your grandfather mumbled. I only giggled at him.

“So, when do I get to meet your parents?” Jim asked. I remember freezing up at that question.

“What?” I asked, pretending not understand him.

“You heard me,” he said. “I want to meet your family.” I felt my body panic.

“Why?” I asked in a high-pitched voice.

“Cause,” he said.

“Cause why?” I asked. Jim dropped his shoulders.

“Oh come on, Starlette!” he said. “Are you ashamed of me?”

“Don’t do this to me.”

“Well, are you?”

“No!”

“Then, introduce me to your parents.”

I bit my lower lip. “It’s not that easy.”

Your grandfather raised an eyebrow at me. “What do you mean?”

I sighed aloud. “Well… It’s my family.”

“So, you met mine.”

“Yours is different. Mine are…”

“Are what?”

I took in another breath as I bit my lower lip. I reached for his hand. “Jim they still have the old way of thinking.” Your grandfather gave me an odd look.

“What? This is the 80’s not the 60’s,” he said.

“Try telling that to them,” I said. I noticed him frowning at him.

“I’m sorry!” I wailed. “That’s just how they are!” Jim rose to his feet from the YMCA couch.

“No,” he said. “I’m sorry for expecting you to be ready to be a better person!” He stormed out of the room.

“Jimmy!” I cried as I ran after him. “Come back! Come back!”

“Don’t call me ‘Jimmy’!” your grandfather shouted.

“Jim!” I yelled. I chased him all the way outside. He stopped in his tracks with his back turned to me.

“What do you want?” he asked. I stopped within inches of him.

“Look,” I said. “I love you, but my parents just wouldn’t understand.”

“I don’t want to hear it!” he said. “I thought you were committed to me!”

“I am committed to you!”

“Then introduce me to your parents!”

“I can’t!”

“Why not?”

“They wouldn’t understand us!”

“Goodbye Starlette.” Jim began to walk away again. I trembled at first.

“Jim, wait!” I cried. Your grandfather paused with his back to me again.

“Now what?” he asked. I clenched my fists.

“After graduation,” I said. “I’ll introduce you to my parents after graduation.” Jim turned around to me.

“For real?” he asked. I swallowed as I nodded.

“Yes!” I said, almost shouted with red cheeks. We didn’t speak for a long time. Jim walked up to me and gently placed his forehead up against mine.

“I’ll hold you to your word,” he said. “Don’t disappoint me.” I couldn’t help but to smile at him. Now, I just had to make it through graduation and the party before I walked through the belly of the beast. Which reminded me…

“Are you coming with me to the graduation party tomorrow?” I asked. He grinned and shook his head.

“No,” he said. I frowned at him.

“Why?” I asked.

“Cause,” your grandfather said. “I’m going to another party then.”

“But what about me?” I asked.

“You’re coming too,” he said. I gave him a blank stare.

“Am I now?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he said. I forced myself to smile. Okay… Hadn’t expected this. Same thing with tomorrow night.

1984