He used to dislike white people before the accident, but now he simply loathed them.
I remember my first day in Grade 1. He made a special effort to be at home that evening for dinner and I told him excitedly how June gave me one of her cupcakes. He inquired carefully if June was a white or a black girl. I replied innocently that she was white, and he then told me calmly and convincingly how I should and never could have a relationship with a white girl.
I never questioned him, because he was my father. I was young then, and growing up I never doubted him, because even though I liked June because her pink frosted cupcakes were the best I had ever tasted, I never liked her in that way, anyway.
Since Dennis, George, Simon and I started the band, and we started playing at venues, I have had many white girls falling over their feet trying to get my attention but never once did I feel the slightest attraction towards them. I have never even looked twice in the direction of any white girl before, until now.
I get up from my bed, and then I switch on my gaming console. Playing a violent game, should get my attention diverted.
I play until Maria calls me to come and eat.
Maria has been with me since my mom died. She has cleaned our house, cooked and looked after me. I wondered if I could ask her what she thought is wrong with me, but I do not, because she might tell my father, and this would just create tension in an already volatile situation.
My father told me once, in passing, how proud he is of me with the success of our band, after Mr. Jackson helped us sign a deal with a record company. When he told me this, I felt a sense of relief and I wanted to continue to make him feel proud of me. Maybe then, he would notice me more often because now we hardly talked. I would hate to disappoint him.
George, Dennis, Simon and I meet with Mr. Jackson. He tells us the release date for our first single will be in July. He also encourages us, convincingly, we should consider having a female singer included in the song because it is a ballad. He feels it might have a greater appeal if there was a female vocal included.
After much discussion, we agree and then decide we would hold auditions at school. The girl who gets the part can then also go on the tour which Mr. Jackson is trying to arrange for us during the summer break, and she could act as backup singer as well.