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Category:
Romance
Publisher: Randolph J. Giles
Type: Fiction
Pages: 368
Copyright: Feb 19, 2015
Price: $4.99 (eBook)
Youth adult Romance, Fantasy, Urban Romance, Drama, serendipity, New Urban Romance.
What is love? It's one of the questions in life that has run through everyone's mind at one time or another. Not many people can describe what it means to love. Some people have been in love and some people have been in love so deeply that everyone around them can feel it in their souls. And sometimes, love balances on the fragile line that separates soul-wrenching happiness and jealousy and envy. Less
What is love? It's one of the questions in life that has run through everyone's mind at one time or another. Not many people can describe what it means to love. Some people have been in love and some people have been in love so deeply that everyone around them can feel it in their souls. And sometimes, love balances on the fragile line that separates soul-wrenching happiness and jealousy and envy.
True love can stand the test of time. True love makes it impossible to label it with simple words. There's no mountain high enough to climb to achieve it, there's no sea deep enough to swim across for it. True love is so strong that you can find that someone wherever they are and there's nothing that can stand in your way.
True love is like the changing of the leaves. Every year, the metamorphosis begins. From green to amber, from amber to orange. And then the leaf slowly falls from the tree, only to rebuild itself once again, bringing with it new life. Love can withstand the falling of the leaves, for love is many things, many colors. Love, like the tree and its leaves, is life itself.
Read and discover love. Discover The Colors of Autumn.
Description: Young Adult Romance, Fantasy Romantic Drama
Excerpt
The Color of Autumn
By
Randolph J. Giles
Copyright 2015 Randolph J. Giles
Dedication
I dedicate this book to the love of my life, my soulmate and best friend my wife Marisol Giles, who had me at “Hello.” Love you always forever and a day till the end of time until eternity passes . . . your husband Randolph J. Giles
Chapter 1
Joseph & Audrey
Fall - 1858
Borough Park - Brooklyn, New York
The leaves created a rust-colored canopy over most of Brooklyn, which served as a comforting blanket against the graying autumn skies. The westerly wind blew through the park gently but assertively. There was a slight chill within its slowly whipping heart but the crisp air felt refreshing as it settled on the faces of the two Jewish mothers who were occupying the park bench lining the play area. Their eyes felt the slight sting of the cooling wind as they talked about their weekend and watched their children play in the sandbox.
The two children were in serious play mode in the sandbox as the leaves slowly fell from the trees around them, blowing in the wind as they sat in the sand. They licked their ice cream cones that their mothers just got from the ice cream man’s wagon. They weren't particularly clean about it either, but then again, their mothers chalked that up to the simple, innocent act of kids being kids. Ice cream dribbled from their chins, it oozed down their wrists and mixed with the bits of sand that was also clinging to them for dear life.
As they sat there, messily licking the rich, creamy ice cream, they made sly remarks in between brain freezing gulps about one another. The laughter and belly-deep giggles rode the chilly air through the park.
Five year-old Audrey called her friend Joseph a Bubble Head and then took it a step further: “What kind of story was that, The Can That Talks, Cans can’t talk!”
Joseph laughed out loud at Audrey’s remark. After Joseph finished his fit of laughter and got Audrey giggling into a fit, the five year-old Joseph responded: “Well this one can! My uncle drew it!”
“Well cans cannot talk,” Audrey sternly replied.
“Well in my story he could,” Joseph firmly responded.
“Your story is silly,” Audrey blurted out as she laughed.
“Well you’re a freckle face strawberry head,” said Joseph wearing a big smirk on his face. And with saying, that Audrey’s hazel blue almond shaped eyes open wide along with her tiny pouty mouth in shock and displeasure.
Audrey then took her ice cream cone and smashed it on top of Joseph’s head, retaliating for Joseph’s harsh words.
Joseph, sat there with the ice cream on top of his head has the look of total surprise on his now funny looking face and even Audrey was shocked by her own actions as the both sat in the sandbox looking at one another and they began to laugh out loud.
Both Joseph’s and Audrey’s mothers see what had happened and hurry over to the sand box to get their children. “Audrey,” Audrey’s mother shouts.
“Joseph,” Joseph mother exclaimed as she goes into the sand box and pick up their two children.
“I don’t believe it, you’re in big trouble little lady,” scolded Audrey’s mom as she picked her up. “Joseph are, you alright,” Audrey’s mom asked with deep concern.
“He’ll live,” responded Joseph’s mom.
“I can’t believe that you did this young lady,” said Audrey’s mom, “No dessert for you tonight,” Audrey’s mom said sternly.
And as the two distraught mothers took their children’s hands to take them home, both Joseph and Audrey looked at one another, each wearing a smile of innocent pleasure and happiness that could only be appreciated by the two of them and their unique friendship.
As the years passed, both Joseph’s and Audrey’s friendship grew stronger as they went from elementary school, Junior high school and to high school together and their friendship went from best friends to love. After Joseph and Audrey graduated high school they decided to get married.
Audrey and Joseph’s marriage was beautiful and all of their friends and family attended. Everyone at the wedding knew that one day that Joseph Weinstein and Audrey Goldwyn would be married as the love that they shared could be felt by anyone who was in their presence. Their love was unlike any love any one had known and Joseph and Audrey’s family and friends called them soul-mates, one soul occupied by two separate people.
After 4 years of marriage Audrey and Joseph had a son who they named Alex. Alex was their dream child, the one they knew that they would always have. Two years later they were blessed with a daughter who they named after Joseph’s grandmother, Lestelle who they called Stell for short. Three years later Audrey gave birth to another baby boy who name Joshua.
The Weinstein family was known throughout the community as the happiest and most loving family. No one could ever say that they had ever heard an argument coming from the Weinstein’s house. The family was a friend to the community always supportive in neighborhood events and affairs, fundraisers, street cleaning, elderly assistance and of course affairs that took place at the synagogue.
All of Audrey and Joseph’s children grew up and became successful in the careers of their choice, but never once did they forget what it meant to be a Weinstein, to be family and they always met for Sunday family dinner which would often include some of their neighbors as well.
For the Weinstein’s life was beautiful filled with peace, love, good health, success and prosperity until one early winter morning in November Joseph and Audrey were both found dead wrapped in each others’ arms after 64 years of marriage. It was as if the light of their soul had gone out at the very same time.
Although their children were saddened by the sudden loss of their parents, Alex made his sister Stell and brother Joshua remember the love that lived in their house and where the love originated from and how it filled them, their family, and their friends to the core. It was a love like no other.
Giant snow flurries slowly fell to the ground during the funeral ceremony held for Joseph and Audrey Weinstein. All the Weinstein’s’ friends and family were in attendance in a semicircle about their burial plot as Joseph and Audrey were in the same coffin and were to be buried together.
After the Rabbi said his prayer and a few kind words for the deceased couple, friends, family and their children Alex, along with his wife Eleanor approached the podium . . .
Alex released his wife’s hand as he stepped in front of the podium, glimpsed at her for a brief second and as she nodded Alex began to speak . . .
“My family and I would like to take this moment to thank all of you, our friends, neighbors and family for coming out today, said Alex as he looked at the faces that were there for his now departed parents. As you all know my parents had a love like no other. We could always feel their love that they shared whenever we were in their presence, and their love had never failed them or their children as my sister and brother can attest. Not only can we attest to it, but all of you here can as well. Let this not be a day of sadness or of loss or a day filled with grief, but a day of celebration as that is what my parents would want. My parents would want us to remember their happiness, their love and for us to realize that they and their love have now gone to a much better place where their love will continue on forever, till eternity. So in accordance with my parents’ wishes, my wife, sister and brother would like for you all to join us in dancing to my parents’ favorite song.”
Joseph and Audrey Weinstein’s favorite song, Frank Sinatra and Tommy Dorsey’s I’ll Never Smile Again begun to play on the phonograph near the podium and Alex led his wife Eleanor to an open area near his parent’s burial site and his sister and brother joined them with their husband and wife and then the rest of the friends and family joined in.
Alex smiled at his wife Eleanor, his sister and brother who were dancing nearby as big fluffy snow flurries continued to fall.
As Alex began to spin his wife around and around her grey sheep wool coat fanned out twirling and twirling and twirling as the snow fell down all about them and eyes from heaven looked upon them as they danced. . .
A beautiful sun rise off shore with a rainbow in the distance reflecting off the water with a row boat that was pulled up upon the white sugar like sand as a man pushes his wife in a swing.
It’s a beautiful picture, almost like a painting but so much warmer and unlike any picture anyone has ever been painted. It contained all the beautiful colors that spun slowly in and out of the color spectrum, almost like a dream.
The day was perfect, butterflies floating through the air and soft white blossoms caught in a warm summer breeze flew about the couple as the man helped the woman off of the swing that hung from the tree branch.
Holding his wife tightly the man noticed something coming towards them in the distance that he could not make heads or tails of.
The object as it approached the couple seemed to be an image surrounded by bright light in a shape of a person with what appeared to be fabric flowing from their body which was being obscure by a haze of what looked like heat rising from a hot desert or highway.
As the person got closer to the couple it appeared change form and the couple could almost make out what the image was that was approaching them.
For just an instant the figure or form looked as if it had wings and then when it got in range where the couple could make it out they both realize that it was an angel . . .
Holding one another tight the couple looked on as the angel seemed to float over to them.
“Joseph and Audrey, the Weinstein’s,” said the angel with a voice that sounded like music.
“Yes,” both Joseph and Audrey answered in awe of what and who hovered in front of them.
“I am Michael,” said the angel, “and it is time for you both to return back to Earth.”
“Why must we go back,” Audrey questioned.
In hearing his wife question the arch angel Joseph quickly said to Audrey, my love you are not suppose to question an angel of God.” “The decision must come from the most high,” Joseph continued as he held Audrey close to his side.
“Audrey your husband is correct this decision does come from the most high,” said the archangel. “We are sending you back because the Earth needs more good souls like you to help those poor souls that are lost,” continued Michael.
“Will we still be together,” Joseph hesitantly questioned.
“I can’t say whether or not you will find one another,” answered Michael.
“I don’t want to go back if I won’t be with Joseph,” Audrey responded adamantly.
“Don’t fear my dear, responded Joseph with great optimism in his voice, we will find each other, I will find you no matter what it takes, Joseph continued, we are one soul and meant to be together,” Joseph concluded as he faced his wife and stared deeply into her eyes.
“I love you Joseph,” Audrey said amorously and deep heart felt words.
“And I love you too my angel,” Joseph responded with equal heart felt verses.
“So archangel, when are you sending us back,” Joseph queried.
“Forthwith,” responded the archangel.
“Okay, okay,” said Joseph as he looked into his wife’s face one last time and as he did so he whispered, I will find you my love, I will find you.”
With those very last words they are sent back to Earth in what appeared to a kaleidoscope of shade and tone lights whirling about and indiscernible music, voices, and sounds . . .
“The law of selection justifies this incessant struggle, by allowing the survival of the fittest. Christianity is a rebellion against natural law, a protest against nature. Taken to its logical extreme, Christianity would mean the systematic cultivation of the human failure,” said Adolph Hitler . . . “I had a dream,” said Martin Luther King, . . . “Let my people go,” Moses exclaimed . . . “They said that I am anti-white, but I am for anybody who’s for freedom,” said Malcolm X, . . . “The cost of freedom was always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we will never choose, and that is the path of surrender or submission” said President JI F. Kennedy . . . loud explosions and aircrafts can be heard and automatic gun fire and as the sounds get almost unbearable like constant roar and then there is a silence followed by complete darkness then a blinding light and then crying, crying of newborn babies . . .
Chapter 2
1955
The Bronx, Morrissiana Hospital 1:20pm, A baby is born in the delivery room. “It’s a baby boy Mrs. Williams,” said the doctor and he hands the newborn baby boy over to his mother.
“Doctor, said the mother as she was handed her newborn son, “I thought that babies were supposed to cry when they are born,” queries Mrs. Williams.
“Sometimes newborns come into the world quietly,” responded the doctor. He is pretty quiet,” remarked the doctor.
“Yes he is,” replied Mrs. Williams. He must have gotten that from my side of the family,” Mrs. Williams said with a big smile on her face.
“So what are you going to name him,” asks the Doctor.
“Jason,” answers Mrs. Williams. “Jason Isaiah.”
“What a strong name,” responded the nurse.
“Yes, he’s will have to be, he’s my first born, so he will have to be understanding, because this is my first time being a mother,” said Mrs. Williams.
Brooklyn, Brookdale Hospital 6:20pm crying in the delivery room could be heard. “It’s a girl Mrs. Bernstein,” said the doctor as he handed the baby over to the mother.
“Isn’t she just gorgeous,” said the nurse while looking at the mother’s face.
“Yes, she is so beautiful, but such a noisy one, said Mrs. Bernstein. “She sounds like she going to be a difficult one, spoiled even,” Mrs. Bernstein continued.
“So what are you going to name her,” queries the nurse.
“Her name will be Elizabeth Marie,” answered Mrs. Bernstein.
“Elizabeth Marie. repeated the nurse, what a beautiful name” continued the nurse.
“Yes, it is, isn’t it” said Mrs. Bernstein as she covered her new baby girl and looked at her in awe.
Chapter 3
Its’ 10am East 56th Street Manhattan New York streets are filled with sounds of children shouting, and sounds of a busy city, horns honking, ambulance sirens, buses, and police whistles and standing in front of the stair steps of the prestigious New York High School of Art and Design is JI and his friends.
JI and his friends are standing out in front of the school talking and reacquainting themselves with the guys and girls whom had gone away for the summer.
Of course the guys were checking out the girls as they approached the school gate and some of JI’s friends were attempting to run their game on the females as they passed by.
There is a mixture of various nationalities of young teenagers here which made the high school multi-cultural.
As JI and his friends talked, hit on girls and joked around, Elizabeth a Jewish girl and her girlfriends who also were of the same faith approached the school.
All of a sudden some strange feeling ran right through JI’s body, made him feel funny inside when he first saw Elizabeth. JI’s eyes met with Elizabeth’s and hers with his, but Elizabeth’s eyes quickly turned away looking at her friends as they continued talking.
Not one of JI’s friends realized what had taken place, they were too busy checking out the Jewish girls themselves and attempting to rap to them as they walked through the school gate with no success.
After registration JI decided to go check out some of his teachers from last year and in entering the room of his old history teacher Mr. Gebo JI finds Mr. Gebo having a discussion with the girl that he had saw outside of the school, the girl who gave JI that strange feeling that went straight to his very core.
JI was about to turn around and check Mr. Gebo later, but then he heard a voice call out to him . . . “Mr. Williams, where are you going?” “Aren’t you going to come in and tell me how your summer went,” said Mr. Gebo after he had politely excused himself when talking with Elizabeth.
“Hi Mr. Gebo,” JI responded as he approached Mr. Gebo and while JI approached he kept looking at Elizabeth.
“Mr. Williams this is Ms. Bernstein she’s just transferred from Brooklyn Tech to join us here in Art and Design,” said Mr. Gebo.
JI put out his hand and Elizabeth hesitantly took just barely holding on to JI’s fingers, but in touching of JI’s hand Elizabeth felt a strange wonderful feeling flow through her which gave her goose bumps.
“Ms. Bernstein and I were discussing some of John F. Kennedy’s famous quotes,” said Mr. Gebo and with that both Elizabeth and JI in almost in unison recites: “The cost of freedom was always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we will never choose, and that is the path of surrender or submission.” And in completing the quote both JI and Elizabeth laughed a little then smiled at one another.
“Wow, that great, but a little spooky,” remarked Mr Gebo. “You two, didn’t research that together so to freak me out when you got in class did you,” Mr. Gebo jokingly asked.
“No sir,” responded JI
“No sir,” answered Elizabeth.
“Well it’s good to see that you two young people take such an interest in history,” said Mr. Gebo looking at both JI and Elizabeth. “It’s only knowing where you’ve been that you can know where you’re’ headed,” Mr. Gebo remarked.
“Well Mr. Gebo,” said JI “President Kennedy is my favorite president.”
“Mine as well,” said Elizabeth as she glanced at JI’s then looked back at Mr. Gebo’s.
“He is my favorite as well,” said Mr. Gebo, “and it was a great lost to the American people the day that he was assassinated,” Mr. Gebo concluded. With those final words, Mr. Gebo excused himself as he had a meeting to attend. “See you both in class,” said Mr. Gebo as they walked out of the classroom and into the hall with Mr. Gebo going left and JI and Elizabeth going right.
Both JI and Elizabeth watched as Mr. Gebo walked away to his meeting, then turned and looked at one another each one hesitant to make conversation . . .
Then just like when they both quoted President JI F. Kennedy in unison both JI and Elizabeth said; “Well,” followed by a smile and little chuckle . . .
“So, “said JI
“So,” said Elizabeth, which again was followed by a little chuckle from the both of them.
“You go first,” said JI, which put a smile on Elizabeth’s face knowing that there were still gentlemen out there.
“Well, I was going to say that I guess that we should be going,” said Elizabeth.
“Do you mind if I walk with you,” asked JI
“No, I don’t, but I’m going to meet my friends and I think that they would mind,” Elizabeth responded.
“Why is that,” asked JI “Why would they mind you socializing with me?”
“Well, my friends are Jewish and so am I and we don’t have any Negro friends nor do we socialize with any,” Elizabeth almost shamefully replied.
“And why is that,” questioned JI,
“It’s because we have nothing in common,” answered Elizabeth.
“Not according to history,” remarked JI “We have plenty in common and if you read the right history books and not just the ones that the board of Ed allows, you would know that,” JI continued.
“I know that you are right about what you’re saying Mr. Williams, but,” responded Elizabeth before she was abruptly interrupted by JI.
“My name is Jason, but my friends and family call me JI,” responded JI removing the formal name addressing from their conversation.
“Oh, okay, JI,” responded Elizabeth, “you can call me Elizabeth. “By the way JI, if your name is Jason why does your family and friends call you JI,” Elizabeth curiously questioned.
“My mother named me Jason Isaiah and so she would always called me JI for short,” JI answered.
“Oh, okay,” answered Elizabeth.
“So Elizabeth, if know that both of our people have things in common, why don’t your friends,” questioned JI as he continued the conversation between him and Elizabeth.
“To be honest, it’s our parents, they have instill this racial difference in us,” Elizabeth feeling somewhat embarrassed by her answer hesitantly responded.
“Well my parents never taught that to me or my sister, JI remarked. I have friends from various cultures and we all grew up together,” JI continued.
“My parents appear to be nothing like yours’, responded Elizabeth. My parents are very old fashion,” Elizabeth concluded.
“So are you going to let me walk with you,” JI asked determined to get Elizabeth to change her mind.
“Yes JI, you can walk with me, but when we reach my friends we will have to go our separate ways,” Elizabeth reluctantly replied.
“Cool, I can deal with that,” JI responded with a toothy smile which brought a smile to Elizabeth’s face as well.
As JI and Elizabeth walked through the school hall toward the stairwell JI asked Elizabeth what things she enjoyed doing?
Elizabeth smiled, because that was the first time anyone ever asked her other than her teachers what she enjoyed.
She told JI that she enjoyed writing stories and poems, that she also love to draw that’s why she was here at Art and Design.
Elizabeth told JI that if it wasn’t for her teachers at Brooklyn Tech that her parents would have her become an engineer or maybe even a lawyer which she had little or no interest in becoming.
As they got to the second floor where they took an escalator to the ground floor of their school Elizabeth said that she would like to become a playwright or write a screenplay that some big or independent production company would make into a movie.
“Wow, that sounds truly awesome,” said JI as he looked over at Elizabeth as they continued to walk together.
As they both exited the front doors to the stairs that led out of the building Elizabeth could see her girlfriends at the bottom.
Elizabeth could see the dirty looks that her friends were giving her as she walked down the stairs with JI, she knew that she would be put through and interrogation once she was in their presence.
“Well JI, I think that its’ best that we part ways here,” said Elizabeth as she looked JI in his big brown eyes that almost look light brown due to the sun light reflecting in them.
Extending his hand to shake Elizabeth’s hand once again with Elizabeth taking hold on only JI’s fingers, JI said; “Maybe we can continue our conversation at another time?”
“I don’t know JI . . . maybe, I’m not sure . . . we shall see, “responded Elizabeth.
“Well hopefully I will see you later,” said JI.
“Bye JI, said Elizabeth “Thanks for walking me.”
JI smiled and watched Elizabeth walk toward her friends who didn’t look too happy with her.
“Well, who the hell was that,” questioned Margaret Ann.
“Who what,” responded Elizabeth.
“You know who we are talking about, said Margaret Ann, that Negro boy.”
“Oh that was JI,” responded Elizabeth nonchalantly.
“JI, said Margaret Ann, what kind of name is JI and what did he want?”
“I just met him in my history class,” said Elizabeth as she began walking toward the subway for her ride home.
“So what were you two talking about,” questioned Margaret Ann.
“We were discussing history, what else would we be talking about,” Elizabeth answered with attitude that said it was none of their business what JI and she were discussing.
“History, history, questioned Margaret Ann. Well it didn’t look like you were discussing history from where we were standing did it girls,” remarked Margaret Ann with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
The girls all chimed in “No it didn’t Margaret Ann!”
“Well that’s all it was,” Elizabeth sparkly replied, it was a harmless conversation about history regarding one of President John F. Kennedy’s quotes.”
“Which quote,” asked Margaret Ann as she continued interrogate Elizabeth.
“None of your bees wax Margaret Ann, Elizabeth responded, I am not going to allow you to interrogate me as if this was the Spanish inquisition, You’re not my mother,” Elizabeth sharply concluded as she began her decent down the subway stairs to the “F” train.
As JI walked to meet up with his friends, he thought about how he felt being around Elizabeth. He couldn’t explain the feeling, but it was strong. It felt as if he knew her, but they had only just met. How could this be he asked himself. JI did not have the answers to the questions he only knew that some way he had to see her again and spend some time alone getting to know her.
Arriving home Elizabeth is greeted by her grandmother Dorothy her mother’s mother.
“How is my little angel doing today,” Grandmother Dorothy asked.
“Bubby, it was a good day,” Elizabeth responded as she gave her grandmother a big hug. Elizabeth called her grandmother Bubby which only Elizabeth called her due to their close knit relationship.
“So tell me EM how do, you like your new school?” Grandmother Dorothy questioned. Did you make any new friends at school today?”
“Yes, Bubby, I like the school and the teachers so far,” Elizabeth answered.
“Did you make any new friends,” Grandmother Dorothy reiterated?
Elizabeth not wanting to tell her grandmother about her meeting JI a Negro boy hesitated telling her, but because she could not lie to her grandmother due to their unique connection, Elizabeth went ahead and told her grandmother about meeting JI and their fondness of the late President JI F. Kennedy.
“Well EM, he seems like a very intelligent young man, remarked Bubby, but you better not mention this to your parents, especially your mother, as you know how race sensitive she is,” said Bubby.
“Well it’s nothing Bubby, nothing at all,” said Elizabeth, not wanting to tell her grandmother about the strange feeling that flowed through her when she touched JI’s hand, like electric energy or something like that, but thought it was nothing. Not to mention that he was the first person other than Grandmother Dorothy that listened to what she had to say and what she wanted to do with her life. JI was genuinely interested and she liked that about him.
“Hi Ma,” said JI as he entered his house.
“I’m in the living room,” JI’s mother replied.
Sitting down on the living room sofa JI’s opened his drawing pad and sat next to his mother, Mrs. Williams who was crocheting.
“So how was your day at school,” Mrs. Williams queried.
“It was good, answered JI, I talked with Mr. Gebo today.”
“Your history teacher,” Mrs. Williams questioned.
“Yes Mom,” answers JI.
“That is one fine man,” said Mrs. Williams.
“Ah Ma, he’s my history teacher,” JI responded embarrassed that his mom would be attracted to his history teacher.
“Nonetheless, he’s fine,” continued Mrs. Williams. So did you meet up with your friends,” Mrs. Williams asked.
“Yes, mom, James, Tony, and Kenneth,” answered JI.
“Meet anyone new,” JI Mom’s asked.
“Yes, Mom, I met this girl named Elizabeth,” JI answered, “Her favorite president is J.F.K. as well.”
“Oh that’s nice baby,” Mrs. Williams responded.
“Yeah, we even recited J.F.K’s the cost of freedom quote in unison which bugged Mr. Gebo out, JI said with a chuckle, He actually thought that we rehearsed it so to freak him out,” said JI with a chuckle.
“Sounds like you like this girl,” said Mrs. Williams.
“Ma, I just met her,” responded JI.
“Is she pretty,” Mrs. Williams asked.
“Yeah . . . she is very pretty,” answered JI as he visualized Elizabeth’s beautiful smile and big brown eyes and continue to sketch in his drawing pad.
“So are you going to ask her out,” Mrs. Williams curiously questioned.
“Mom, I told you, I just met her,” JI responded.
“That’s no reason not to ask her out, said Mrs. Williams. Remember I told you that the universe likes speed.”
“I know mom, slow you blow,” JI said in acknowledgement.
“That’s right, my son, slow you blow,” said Mrs. Williams.
“You know mom, when I first saw Elizabeth I got this funny feeling in the pit of my stomach, It was like an electrical charge that went through me energizing me, JI told his mom, “I never felt anything like it.”
“Wow she must be some looker,” Mrs. Williams responded.
“Yeah . . . she is mom, she really is, but it’s not just that,” said JI as he continued to sketch in his pad.
“Oh it’s not is it,” said Mrs. Williams.
“The funny thing is she seems so familiar, said JI, It’s really easy talking with her, JI continued, and she likes art and writing, said JI to his mother. She wants to be a playwright or make a movie,” JI continued.
“That’s sounds wonderful, said Mrs. Williams. It would appear that you two have a lot in common. So when you’re going to ask her out?”
“Ma!” said JI, “Stop it.”
“You take her out to a nice restaurant, said Mrs. Williams, “Maybe Italian.”
“I don’t think that she can eat Italian Ma,” JI responded.
“Why not, everyone loves Italian, said Mrs. Williams, Spaghetti and meatballs, veal parmesan and bake ziti.”
“I don’t think that she can eat that stuff,” said JI, “because she’s Jewish.”
“Oh she’s Jewish,” Mrs. Williams responded, well then you’ll have to take her to a good Hebrew restaurant then. Matzo Balls soup, potato knishes, Mm, yummy,” Mrs. Williams concluded.
“She lives in Brooklyn ma,” said JI.
“Well you know how to take a train, responded Mrs. Williams, I taught you how to take the train when you were eleven, so you know how to travel by subway.”
“Yes, Ma,” JI responded.
“So ask the Elizabeth out to dinner,” said Mrs. Williams.
“Okay mom I will when I see her next,” JI responded.
“JI, before you get comfortable, could you please go in my wallet, take out some money and run to the store and get us some milk,” said Mrs. Williams.
“You got it mom,” JI replied.
The New York City in midtown Manhattan on the eastside buzzed, traffic backed up, sirens blaring, the smell of soot from the chimneys burning coal, bus and car exhaust mixed in with coffee from the concession stands, bagels, donuts, bacon, eggs and home fries all in the mix as JI made his way to school.
Seeing his friend James, he walked over to him and they greet one another by slapping one another five.
“Hey James, what’s up,” said JI as he slapped his friend James five.
“School, that’s what’s up,” said James in response to JI greeting,
“Man, I can’t believe that summer is over so soon,” said James, “It seems like only yesterday that summer had just begun and I was making out with Sandra in Kevin Crosses’ hallway.”
“Yeah, you told me, Tony and Kenneth about that,” JI responded.
“By the way, whatever happened to that,” asked JI.
“Sandra’s aunt happened,” answered James, Her aunt didn’t want me around her, thought I was a bad influence on her, answered James. Told Sandra mom’s that I was going to get her daughter pregnant, James continued. How am I going to get her daughter pregnant when I use condoms,” James concluded.
JI laughed at his friend and his friend’s story and told James that he better be careful that Sandra’s aunt who’s from the Island will put a voodoo curse on his ass for messing with her niece.
“Your dick might fall off” said JI and with JI saying that James laughed along with him as they both walked toward the High School of Art and Design.
As JI and James approached the school off in a distance JI sees Elizabeth walking with her girlfriends. JI wonder how to get her attention, but before he could do anything Elizabeth’s friends veered off and went into another direction, but he caught Elizabeth glimpsing back at him.
Leaving home room JI heads for his first period class history with Mr. Gebo and sees Elizabeth entering the classroom after saying goodbye to one of her friends.
As always Mr. Gebo’s class was challenging as well as enlightening and he kept most of his students on their toes, all except Mr. Williams and Ms. Bernstein who was ahead of the class.
The bell had rung for classes to change and as Mr. Gebo’s students rolled out of his classroom he made a remark to JI and Elizabeth . . .
“So what are you two trying to do to me,” Mr. Gebo asked Elizabeth and JI. You know that I have to stay within the Board of Ed’s guidelines and the syllabus that they provide,” said Mr. Gebo.
“I’m sorry Mr. Gebo, said Elizabeth. I guess I just got a little over zealous. It’s just when JI, I mean Mr. Williams started talking about Columbus’s brutality toward the various indigenous people of the countries he visited, I had no other alternative but to join in,” Elizabeth concluded.
“Well the two of you are going to make this semester very interesting,” Mr. Gebo remarked, I just hope that the department head or the assistant principal doesn’t gets wind of it.”
“We will try to curve our enthusiasm Sir,” JI responded.
“Yes, we will try,” said Elizabeth as she looked over at JI and smiled.
“Well that’s good to hear, just don’t curve it too much, you two are what this class needs,” said Mr. Gebo. Well, I know you both will be late for your next class, so I’m going to write you late pass so your teachers won’t write you up,” said Mr. Gebo as he wrote the passes out for JI and Elizabeth.
“Thank you sir,” said JI as Mr. Gebo handed him the pass.
“Thank you Mr. Gebo,” said Elizabeth as Mr. Gebo handed her hers.
Leaving the classroom JI asked Elizabeth which way she was going to walk that he would like to walk with her.
As JI and Elizabeth walked with no hurry to their next class there was silence between them . . . then the silence was broken by Elizabeth . . .
“So JI, you wanted to walk with me to make sure that I get to class safely,” Elizabeth said jokingly.
“No, no, responded JI, I wanted to walk with you because I enjoy your company,” said JI.
“Oh you enjoy my company, said Elizabeth, Well that’s nice, because I enjoy yours’ as well,” Elizabeth said with a smile which caused JI to blush.
“Well Elizabeth, that’s nice to hear, responded JI, because I was wondering?”
“Wondering what JI,” Elizabeth queried.
“I was wondering if you would let me take you out to a movie and dinner this coming weekend,” said JI nervously.
Elizabeth totally thrown for a loop by JI’s unexpected invitation for the movies and dinner made her stop in her tracks.
Turning to face JI, Elizabeth looked at his eyes, his face with such gratitude, that he would want to take her out. She was so overwhelmed by his gesture she almost took hold of his handsome face and gave him a kiss, but she refrained from doing so.
This was the first time a boy has ever asked her out on a date, because the boys who know her, know her family and were afraid of her mother even more than her father or older brother.
“JI, I would love to go out on a date with you, said Elizabeth sweetly, but you would have to ask my parents and there is where the problem lies.”
“No problem, I will ask your parents then,” JI said quickly happy that Elizabeth said that she would love to go a date with him.
“JI, you don’t understand, my parents wouldn’t allow me to date outside of the Jewish faith much less a Negro boy,” said Elizabeth as she apologetically explained her and JI’s current situation.
“Understand JI, I am so honored that you would ask me out on a date and I really would love to go to a movie and have dinner with you, but it’s impossible,” Elizabeth sadly concluded.
“Well this is America the land of the free and the brave, JI responded, and you should be able to date who you want to date.”
“But JI, my parents aren’t going to allow me to go on a date with a Negro boy,” said Elizabeth with the sound of hopelessness in her voice.
“Well,” said JI with confidence and enthusiasm, like our favorite President J.F.K once said; “The cost of freedom was always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we will never choose, and that is the path of surrender or submission.”
“What does that mean JI,” Elizabeth confusingly queried.
“That means, if there’s a will, there’s a way,” said JI as if he already had a plan.
“Huh,” Elizabeth responded.
“Elizabeth, do you wanted to go out with me on a date,” JI asked again.
“Well, yes I do JI, I would love to go on a date with you, but . . .” responded Elizabeth.
“There’s, no buts Elizabeth, said JI, We’re going to make this happen just trust me," said JI really psyched about the possibilities of going out on a date with Elizabeth.
“Well, we’re going to be late for class, said JI as the wheels turned in his head, Here’s my home number just in case you are surrounded by your girlfriends and we are unable to talk you can call me, said JI filled with excitement, Oh by the way, my mother knows about you, so just say that your Elizabeth and she will get me for you.”
Elizabeth softly reads out the number that JI had written on a piece of loose leaf paper, WY23964, Wyoming 23964. . Elizabeth looked at JI in amazement and at the same time wondered if he was going crazy or something.
“I will let you know what the plan is as soon as I find out,” said JI as he rushed to his next class.
“Find out, find out, you mean you don’t what the plan is already,” Elizabeth softly shouts as JI ran down the school hall . . .
“Call me . . .” said JI as he rushed to his class . . .
Before catching the train to go home, JI managed to see Elizabeth heading for the train station with her girlfriends. As she was descending down the stairway Elizabeth managed to look back and give JI a big beautiful smile.
Chapter 4
JI arrived home excited and immediately told his mom that he did what she told him to do and asked Elizabeth out on a date. JI’s mom was happy for him until he told her about Elizabeth’s parents and how they would not allow her to date a non-Jew much less Negro boy. JI asked his mother for help, she was always able to fix things and JI was hoping that she could fix this . . .
“You really like this girl,” JI Mom asked already knowing the answer.
“Yes Ma, I do,” answered JI, I don’t know, but there something about her, I don’t know, but I really feel good when I’m with her, JI continued. It’s like as long as I’m with her, I am alright,” JI concluded.
“Wow, that’s a lot for a young man to feel so early in life,” Mrs. Williams responded.
“I know ma, but I have this real strong attraction toward Elizabeth and although I don’t know what it is at this moment, I have to see or find out what it is,” JI responded.
“Well the fact that she wants to see you despite her family prejudices tells me that this girl has a mind of her own and is one who follows their heart and that’s enough for me, said JI’s Mom, So let’s see what kind of plan I can come up with,” Mrs. Williams said with a smile on her face.
JI’s mom said that she would get her brother, JI’s uncle Bernard to have his limousine service to go to Brooklyn to pick Elizabeth up and drive her to Manhattan to the Jewish restaurant, but first she would speak with Elizabeth’s mother pretending to be a Jewish mother Mrs. Williamsburg. “You mean like the bridge,” JI questioned.
“Yeah, It leads to Brooklyn doesn’t it,” JI’s Mom remarked.
JI laughed out loud when his mother told him of her plan.
“So Ma, you’re going to talk in your Jewish accent and pretend to be a Jewish Mom,” JI asked his mother.
“You know how I like to do my little characters and imitate the accent of some of the patients and co-workers at the Veterans Hospital,” said JI Mom.
“I will call Mrs. Bernstein and let her know that you my son Isaiah Williamsburg would like to take their daughter Elizabeth Bernstein out to a movie and dinner. I will tell her that due to your studies that day that you will not be able to meet them, but we will send a limo to pick Elizabeth up and to return her as it is important for you to get your rest before attending school the following day. This will appear to be reasonable as Elizabeth would be returned home at a descent hour since she too has to attend school the following day,” concluded Mrs. Williams.
“Wow Mom, now all you need is a deck of cards,” remarked JI.
“Well, you know me and 500 rummy, and bid whisk,” said Mrs. Williams which was followed with laughter from Mrs. Williams and JI.
“Wow, I can’t wait to tell Elizabeth the plan,” said JI excitedly.
“Yes, you have to tell her, said Mrs. Williams, so she will let her parent’s know to expect my call.”
The school day appeared to be longer than usual for JI as he had not seen Elizabeth all morning which was odd, because he would regularly see her in passing throughout the school day.
Even though JI knew that he would see her in history class he was hoping to see her before then, because he wanted to share his mother’s plan with her.
He was like a child holding on to a secret that was trying to find its way out of his mouth and couldn’t wait to share the secret with his best friend.
Entering Mr. Gebo’s history class, JI saw Elizabeth sitting at her desk. When Elizabeth saw him step inside the door she smiled. Elizabeth’s smile put JI at ease, but now he had to wait an entire 45 minutes before he would be able to speak with her and disclose his mother’s brilliant plan.
As per usual JI and Elizabeth were the last to leave the class always ending in a little conversation with Mr. Gebo.
Mr. Gebo always reminding them of how their class discussions went outside of what the Board of Ed guidelines where but how he welcomed it, because it kept the students in his class interested.
Exiting the classroom, with the look of anticipation was on Elizabeth’s beautiful slightly freckled porcelain face with her big beautiful big cow brown eyes waiting for the plans for their date that JI had to share with her.
JI with a big Kool-Aid smile on his face, his big brown eyes opened wide as he looked at Elizabeth’s beautiful face finally being alone with her.
As JI and Elizabeth walked together toward Elizabeth’s next period class, JI told Elizabeth about his mother’s plan . . .
“So are you sure that your mother can imitate a Jewish mother,” asked Elizabeth.
“Oh you should hear her, she’s a snap when she imitates her co-workers or some of the patients there, said JI, she has us dying laughing she does it so well.”
“Wow, said Elizabeth, “okay if you say so, but I don’t know whether my mother will let me go without meeting you first,” Elizabeth remarked.
“My mom said that since the following day is school that she feels that your parents would understand how important it was for both of us to be home at a reasonable hour, said JI, “My mom feels that since I would have to be picked up from my studies for us to be able to have dinner and make the movie would make sense to your parents as well.”
“Well, I hope your mom is right about that,” said Elizabeth.
“She’s a mom like your mom,” JI stated.
“Yeah that is true, but Jewish moms are so much different than your mom, said Elizabeth, they are always suspicious, “especially my mom.”
“It will work, just trust the plan,” said JI as he looked deep into Elizabeth’s beautiful big cow brown eyes, which made Elizabeth smile that he was paying so much attention to her and wanted to spend some time with her.
“Okay, I will trust in the plan,” said Elizabeth. . .
Ring, ring rang the phone, “Hello,” said Mrs. Bernstein.
“Hello Mrs. Bernstein, this is Mrs. Williamsburg,” said Mrs. Williams with a Bronx, Jewish accent.
“Oh hi, my daughter Elizabeth told me to expect your call,” Mrs. Bernstein responded, as her mother Dorothy sat on living room sofa, not noticing that all the while Elizabeth was on the stairwell outside the living room listening to the call.
“Well, I am calling on behalf of my son Isaiah who has befriended your daughter Elizabeth while attending school, said Mrs. Williams, It appears that they both have an interest in history,” Mrs. Williams continued.
“Yes, Elizabeth has told me that much about your son,” Mrs. Bernstein commented.
“Yes, yes,” said Mrs. Williams while waving JI and his sister off, because JI and his sister was standing at her bedroom door softly giggling.
“Well I know that it’s proper etiquette for the boy to ask the young lady’s parents’ permission to take her out and I apologize for that, but due to my son’s extra-studies, you see he wants to be a technical engineer an architect, said Mrs. Williams, the time that he would be able to meet you and your husband it would be too late for him to take your daughter Elizabeth out for dinner and a movie, Mrs. Williams continued, “this is why I am calling you to ask your permission for him, mother to mother,” said Mrs. Williams.
“I totally understand about the importance of your son’s studies, responded Mrs. Bernstein, but I have a similar concern regarding my Elizabeth, continued Mrs. Bernstein, as I don’t allow my daughter to travel so late in the day unescorted,” Mrs. Bernstein concluded.
“I recognize your concern, but your daughter Elizabeth will not have to travel unescorted as I will be sending a limousine to pick her up from your residence and to return her once the movie is over,” said Mrs. Williams.
“A limo,” said Mrs. Bernstein, “then in that case I will allow Elizabeth to go out on a date with your son Isaiah,” Mrs. Bernstein responded.
“That is great,” Mrs. Williams replied, I will have the chauffeur pick up your daughter Elizabeth at 1 o’clock and take her to meet my son at Ratner’s at 111 second avenue between 6th and 7th streets in Manhattan where we already have reservations for this event., said Mrs. Williams, afterward they will go to the Carnegie Hall Cinema located at 881 7th avenue to see a comedy is titled: Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice starring Bill Cosby, Dyan Cannon, Elliot Gould and Natalie Wood, which afterward the driver will bring Elizabeth back home by 7 o’clock, just in time for her to get ready for school,” concluded Mrs. Williams.
“I love Natalie Wood, said Mrs. Bernstein, Well I see that you thought of everything,” Mrs. Bernstein remarked.
“Yes, I like to have all my, I’s dotted and my tees crossed, my ducks lined up all in a row” said Williams.
“That’s nice, responded Mrs. Bernstein, so when the limousine brings Elizabeth home, my husband and I will have a chance to meet your son Isaiah,” Mrs. Bernstein observed.
“No, I’m sorry, but my son will not be taking the ride to Brooklyn with your daughter as he too has to get ready for school,” responded Mrs. Williams, after the movie Isaiah will have to take the subway home, so you and your husband won’t be able to meet him this time around,” said Mrs. Williams, maybe the next if situation permit,” Mrs. Williams concluded.
“Oh I see, responded Mrs. Bernstein, Well hopefully, we get a chance to meet your son Isaiah in the near but not distant future,” remarked Mrs. Bernstein.
“Yes, I know and that’s what he would like as well and looks forward to that day,” said Mrs. Williams with JI and his sister shaking their heads and mouthing “NO WAY” and Mrs. Williams again waving them to go away from her door.
“Well, it was nice to talk with you and I hope that eventually we will be able to meet,” said Mrs. Bernstein.
“Yes, I look forward to that day, responded Mrs. Williams,
Well you have a wonderful evening,” said Mrs. Williams.
“Yes, and you as well,” said Mrs. Bernstein as she hung up the phone. . .
Chapter 5
JI and Elizabeth arrive at Ratner’s and people stare as they exit the limousine together. Entering Ratner’s JI and Elizabeth are greeted by a young man who greets them in Hebrew, “Shalom,” said the young man.
JI responded to the young man’s greeting in Hebrew as well, “Shalom,” JI replied which surprised Elizabeth as well as impressed her.
Taking Elizabeth and JI to their table the man lead them to the back of the Deli so not to be seen by the passer-byers. Then the young man then asked JI a question in Hebrew, but before JI could respond Elizabeth jumped in and had put the young man in his place.
JI asked Elizabeth what that was all about and when she explained, JI tells Elizabeth that he could have answered the question in Hebrew or English that his mother’s friend from the job prepared him just in case someone would ask him that question. Again Elizabeth was impressed.
After the young man brought them to their table, JI pulled out the chair so that Elizabeth could sit and then took a seat across from her.
As JI and Elizabeth sat at the table waiting to be waited on, JI began telling Elizabeth about Ratner’s history that, Jewish performers, actors, musicians and gangsters frequent Ratner’s, like Bill Graham, Al Jolson,Fanny Brice, Marty Allen, Eydie Gorme’, Walter Matthau from the Odd Couple, Elia Kazan, and Max Gordon, Grocho Marx and Alan King while gangsters like Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky frequented the Delancey street location.
Elizabeth listened to JI tell her of Ratner’s frequent celebrity clientele and as she listen attentively, so did a man who sat a few tables away from them.
Engross in conversation JI and Elizabeth finally having a chance to get to know one another hadn’t paid attention to how long they had been sitting there without a single waiter coming to tend to them.
Then a man called out to the young man who first greeted JI and Elizabeth when they first entered the restaurant.
The young man quickly rushed over to the man’s table and when he arrived at the table the man reprimanded him for his cruel, disrespectful and unprofessional behavior that he had shown the two young people sat across from him.
He told the young man to apologize and for his lack of service, for him to service them his self also that there were to be no charge for the young couple’s meal.
In hearing the man two tables down scolding the young man for not tending to them both JI and Elizabeth said; “Rav todot,” which means thank you very much in Hebrew and the man raised his glass and said “L’chaim Shalom aleichem.”
Elizabeth and JI talked as they ate their split pea soup with onion rolls and gefilte fish. The two of them were in a different world so much so that they never saw the people in the restaurant watching them.
Elizabeth told JI about her grandmother Dorothy who along with her husband escaped the German death camps and came here to the United States from Poland.
She told JI that her grandmother’s marriage was arranged and that her grandmother tells her not to end up like her, being in love with someone then marrying someone else just because her family arranged it.
“Wow,” said JI, Your folks would make you marry someone that they hand-picked for you and that you didn’t love,” JI questioned.
“They will try,” responded Elizabeth, “but I will not marry anyone who I do not love,” Elizabeth answered.
“You know that many cultures believe in prearranged marriages,” JI remarked Many cultures that had Kings, Queens, Prince, Princess, Medicine Men and such. The King and Queen would marry off their daughter to the medicine man, or a King or Princess from another tribe or country, making the country or tribe stronger through the union, JI continued. What is the reasoning behind your parents setting up a prearranged marriage for you, what benefit does it serve?”
“Other than for my mother to have control of me and my decisions, I can’t think of any other reason, Elizabeth answered disconcertedly, But I’m not going to allow the talk of my mother and her selfish ways interfere with this wonderful time that I am having with you right now,” said Elizabeth cheerfully.
“So JI, all this talk about me and we talked so little about you and your family, the things that you want to do in life,” Elizabeth remarked.
“Well Beautiful, I guess we’re going to have to save that until our next date,” said JI wearing a big toothy smile on his face.
“Beautiful,” questioned Elizabeth surprised by JI’s remark.” “You think that I am beautiful,”
“Yes, I do,” answered JI as he got up from the table to help Elizabeth out of her chair.
Exiting the Ratner’s the young man was much more pleasant and told JI and Elizabeth to come visit them again. As they walked out of the door way Elizabeth took JI’s hand and that was the best feeling he had ever experienced.
JI could feel the heat the energy coming from Elizabeth’s hand and he felt stronger than he’s ever felt before. He felt complete . . .
It was a nice ride Carnegie Hall Cinema and Elizabeth held JI’s hand for the entire ride and while they sat in the theatre watching the movie. She even squeezed his hand when she laughed. JI was in heaven and there was no other place that he would rather be and no one else that he would rather be with.
What JI didn’t know was Elizabeth was feeling the same way about him. It was definitely a night to remember for the both of them. JI placed his arms about Elizabeth’s shoulders which brought their faces closer to one another.
During the movie while they were laughing their cheeks touched. It felt nice. So nice, that they stayed close like that through the rest of the movie.
At one point Elizabeth’s face turned in such a fashion that it brought their lips closer together and for a moment JI was just about to kiss Elizabeth, but didn’t thinking that he might be moving too fast. JI was his mother’s son, a gentleman.
As he had his arm about Elizabeth’s shoulders JI thought to himself that she has to be feeling the way that he did, that what he was feeling wasn’t one sided, it couldn’t be.
After the movie ended as they left the movie theatre Elizabeth took JI’s hand again as they walked toward the limousine. The driver then exited the vehicle to open the door for his passengers. . .
“I had a wonderful time, said Elizabeth. It was the best date ever!”
“It was my best date ever as well, although this was your first date,” said JI jokingly.
“Yes, yes, said Elizabeth, “but if I had been on many dates this would still be the best date that I have ever been on,” said Elizabeth with a big beautiful smile.
“Well, I guess I will see you tomorrow in class,” said JI.
“Yes, you will, said Elizabeth. Get home safe and be careful while riding the train.”
“I will and you have a safe ride home,” responded JI.
“Well, I better it’s a limousine,” said Elizabeth lightheartedly.
With the driver standing there watching them, it made them both uncomfortable, so taking Elizabeth hand he told her goodbye.
“Man, JI this limo driver reminds me of Lurch, remarked Elizabeth, does he have to stare down at us like that, he’s a bad as my mother and I know that I left her at home,” she remarked, next time you have to get a driver who’s not all in our business.”
“I will, responded JI as he chuckled at Elizabeth’s remark, no more Lurches,” said JI which made Elizabeth laugh.
“Goodbye E, said JI as he looked deep into her eyes.
Then Elizabeth said in return; quoting Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet “Goodbye, goodbye brings such sorrow until we meet tomorrow.”
Both JI and Elizabeth then laughed not realizing that their current situation was not that much dissimilar a fate than the two doomed young lovers in Shakespeare’s play.
Helping Elizabeth into the limo then shutting the car door, JI and Elizabeth watched one another as the vehicle pulled off to take Elizabeth back home to Brooklyn.
Once the car was out of his site, JI walked toward the subway to catch the train back home to the Bronx . . .
When Elizabeth arrived home both of her parents and her grandmother watched as the chauffeur opened the door for her to get out of the limousine and walk toward the house.
“So how was it,” Elizabeth’s mother asked as both Elizabeth’s father and grandmother stood there waiting to hear her answer.
“I had a wonderful time,” answered Elizabeth and as she looked over to her grandmother her grandmother smiled and winked at her.
“He was the perfect gentleman, Elizabeth continued, he opened the doors, pulled out my chair at the restaurant and we had delightful conversations.”
“Well are you planning on seeing him again,” Elizabeth mother asked.
“Of course mother, I see him every day at school,” Elizabeth answered annoyingly not wanting her mother to get a glimpse of how she was really feeling about JI.
“I mean going back out on another date,” responded Mrs. Bernstein making her question clear.
“It’s a possibility, Elizabeth replied, I really don’t have time for boys, I have to concentrate on my studies,” Elizabeth remarked so her mother wouldn’t get any crazy ideas.
Elizabeth knew that her mother could see the money signs when JI’s mother sent a limo to pick her up and drop her back home.
Just then the phone rang. It was JI’s mother calling to confirm that Elizabeth made it home safely.
After Elizabeth’s mother finished talking with JI’s mom, Mrs. Williams handed the phone to JI so he could personally thank Elizabeth’s mom for allowing him to take her out on a date.
JI being very articulate in his speaking with Mrs. Bernstein; “Mrs. Bernstein I would like to thank you and your husband Mrs. Bernstein for allowing me to take Elizabeth out today, it was most gracious of you.”
“You are quite welcome,” responded Mrs. Bernstein, Elizabeth said that she had a wonderful time.”
“Elizabeth is most kind,” JI replied.
“Well Isaiah, I do hope that the next time you ask to take my Elizabeth out that will do so properly and come to our and meet with both my husband and I,” said Mrs. Bernstein.
“Yes, Mrs. Bernstein, JI responded, I will.”
“May I speak with Elizabeth,” JI asked Mrs. Bernstein.
Looking over to her daughter with a look of satisfaction after talking with Isaiah, Mrs. Bernstein signals Elizabeth to come and take the phone.
“Hi” said Elizabeth to JI as she answered to phone.
“Hi, JI responded. Is your mother listening and watching you,” asked JI.
“Yes,” Elizabeth responded and she glimpsed over to her mother and smiled.
“How about you,” asked Elizabeth?
“No, she’s watching television, JI responded, Well with your mother watching, I guess we can’t really talk freely,” JI commented.
“Yes you are right about that,” Elizabeth responded.
“So I guess we should say goodnight then,” said JI.
“Yes, we should,” said Elizabeth.
“Then I shall see you tomorrow in class,” said JI.
“Yes,” Elizabeth responded.
“Isaiah,” said Elizabeth sweetly.
“Yes,” responded JI.
“I had a wonderful time, said Elizabeth, thank you for asking me out,” Elizabeth continued.
“Thank you Elizabeth for accepting my invitation,” JI responded graciously.
“Goodnight Isaiah,” said Elizabeth as she looked into the phone.
“Good night Beautiful,” said JI which brought a big smile on Elizabeth’s face before Elizabeth hung up the phone.
As Elizabeth got herself ready for bed her grandmother Dorothy knocked on her door and peaked in.
“EM may I come in,” asked Elizabeth’s grandmother.
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