Finding Our Morning
Mickie B. Ashling 2020
All Rights Reserved
Snippet
David’s
statement was sobering, and Ginny lost her enthusiasm for the event after the
first line dance. People she’d known all her life gave them wide berth, and the
dawning awareness that she’d also been living in a privileged bubble was a real
eye-opener. As long as she chose someone from the right social stratosphere, no
one gave a damn, but David was a foreigner and closer in color to the Mexicans
dishing up the buffet. Remnants of his recent altercation—now a purplish nimbus
around his left eye and a crusted slash on his lower lip—gave him a thuggish
look that could easily be misconstrued. It was easy to surmise he was bad news,
but the thought of anyone thinking less of her date without asking for details made
her so angry she turned to David after the song ended and huffed, “Let’s go.”
“We
just got here,” David reasoned. “Don’t run away on my account.”
“I’m
no coward,” Ginny asserted, “but I’m not sticking around while they talk shit
about you. The next person who says anything to my face will regret it.”
“Are
you always this aggressive?”
“When
I’m pushed. Small-minded people are no friends of mine.”
“Stand
down, Ginny. I’m used to being the odd man out and can easily defend myself.
This isn’t the first time I’ve been subjected to prejudice. And to be fair, I
don’t look my best at the moment.”
Ginny
waved away the admission. “You’re better looking than most of the guys in this
place.”
“Thank
you, but we both know it’s not true.”
“To
me you are,” Ginny maintained. “Getting back to your early statement. Do you
encounter this in other parts of the world?”
“Americans
don’t have a patent on hatred.”
“Bunch
of chuckleheads,” Ginny muttered.
“Most
of them have never heard of Iran.”
“Instead
of asking questions about your country and credentials, they fixate on your skin
tone. Maybe it’s a Texas thing.”
“Don’t
be naïve,” David said kindly. “The human race is essentially clannish. They
mistrust anyone whose views are different, and if they happen to be a few
shades darker or lighter, it compounds the problem.”
“You’re
a lawyer and capable of seeing both sides of an argument. I’m the opposite,”
Ginny volunteered. “I’ve been subjected to bullies growing up and won’t
tolerate this sort of behavior. Can we go?”
“Of
course,” David said agreeably.
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