Love Again Read Online Free Page B

asked. 
    I nodded my head, “Y…yes ma’am.”
    A lady wearing a black dress with a white apron tied around her waist appeared a few short minutes later with a stack of steaming hot pancakes.  She walked around the table and placed two on each plate.  “Thank You!” I said excitedly. 
    “You’re very welcome young man.” She smiled and patted my shoulder before walking out of the room.  Mom helped me put some butter and syrup on my pancakes, my mouth watered from the smell and sight in front of me.  I looked up and Virginia was smiling at me. 
    “Dig in!” she motioned at my plate. 
    I ate a total of four pancakes, “Boy you keep eating that much and you’ll be ready to play football in no time!” Harold said with a laugh.
    “Sorry.” I looked down at my lap. 
    “No need to be sorry son, I’m glad to see you have such a healthy appetite.  What do you say we go out back and play some catch with your new football or shoot some hoops with your basketball?”
    “I don’t have one.  Daddy said I didn’t deserve new toys.  If I played with a basketball or a football it was at school.”
    “Sure you do, go look in the foyer by the back door.” He grinned at me. 
    I looked at mom, she raised her eyebrows and smiled, “Better go see!”
    I nodded my head excitedly and excused myself from the table.  I ran out of the room, through the kitchen and skidded to a stop by the back door.  There were brand new toys in a wooden box.  “Wow!” I whispered.  Hockey sticks, footballs, basketballs, roller skates…”Wow!” I said louder.
    Harold’s laugh startled me, “So, what’ll it be?” He nodded toward the box. 
    I picked up the football, “I want to learn how to play football…please?”
    He nodded, “Let’s go then.”
    Harold took his time showing me the proper way to hold the football, how to throw it, and how to kick it.  “You’re pretty big for you’re age and you’ve got some speed, I think you’ll be a linebacker.” He told me and patted the top of my head. 
    “Is that good?” I asked.
    He laughed, “If it’s what you want to do.  Go wash up then we’ll see if we can find a game to watch until lunch is ready.  How does that sound?”
    “Awesome!” I sprinted into the house, past a couple of people and upstairs.  Mom was sitting on the bed with Virginia. 
    “Hey baby, did you have fun?” She asked and wiped at her eyes.
    “So much fun, Harold says I’m big and can play football someday!  Why are you crying momma?”
    “I’m just happy, these are tears of joy baby.” She hugged me. 
    “Harold and me are going to watch a football game on TV!” I told her and jumped up and down in my spot. 
    She smiled, “Good for you, I’ll be down there in a little bit.”
    Harold and I watched the Dallas Cowboys play the San Francisco 49ers.  It was after watching that game that I set my own goals, I was going to become a professional football player. 
    That night while mom watched TV and gently stroked my back I looked up at her, “Momma, what happened to daddy?  Is he dead?”
    Her hand stilled on my back, “No baby, he’s not dead he’s in jail and will be there for a very long time.  He got mixed up with the wrong people and hurt the wrong people, we’re safe now.”
    “But…Harold and Virginia are white.  Daddy said never to trust white people.”
    “Honey you’re going to be told a whole lot of different things all throughout your life, judging a person by their skin color will be something people hold against each other forever.  Just remember, no matter what color their skin is we are all the same inside.  Our skin color doesn’t make us who we are.”
    “Okay momma.” I smiled at her and she smiled back.  “Night momma I love you.”
    “Love you to baby.” She kissed the top of my head and hummed until I could no longer stay awake. 
    ~~~~~~
    “Earth to Dominique!” My assistant Tiffany snapped her fingers in front of me.  “Did you