excerpt
His ears were still ringing with Christian’s wizardry when the
insistent clap of the brass knocker on the front door broke his concentration.
He was paralyzed for a moment, not knowing whether he should answer
the door or let whoever it was think that no one was home. While he was
considering this, he heard the door open. He turned off the Victrola and
made his way to the living room. His mother stood in the open door, her
arms crossed, her head tilted to one side, looking him over.
“So? What are you doing home? I thought you had choir practice
today.”
“I got out early.”
“How come?”
“Sister Rose…” he broke off and looked away.
“What about Sister Rose?”
He made a face.
“She said I wasn’t paying attention.”
Andrea watched him. He looked upset, resentful. She wanted to
know what was going on.
“So, were you?”
“Was I what?
“Paying attention.”
“Well, sure, kinda… “
She arched an eyebrow, surprised by his answer. It sounded
uncharacteristically inarticulate, evasive.
“Kinda?”
“Well, yeah. I knew what was going on.” He paused, peeked up at
her. “I was looking at the stained glass windows.
The light was coming
through them, they were real bright. Then I was looking at that new statue
of the Negro saint.”
“Hmm. I thought you liked choir.”
“Yeah, I guess I do. The singing part. But they’re so slow. They
can’t read and it takes them forever to learn one measly song.”
“Did you talk to Sister about it?”
“No.”
“Don’t you think you should?”
“Yeah. I guess. She knows already though. She just wants…
everybody to be the same, and we’re not.”
“Would you like me to talk with her?” Andrea was Vice-President…
