Jonathan was a tall, good-looking, bald-headed light-skinned black man. One of four ethnic minority members of the Men’s Ice Hockey team. He’s one...of those rich and naïve black folks who’ve never heard of hardship. Not my favorite kind of person. Of course, that was before he invited us to spend Spring Break with him at his parents mansion in Oak Bluffs, the wealthy black enclave on Martha’s Vineyard. When the big day came, we all crammed ourselves in Jonathan Shay’s big red Hummer and set a. Ask me how it happened? I really don't know! All I know is that I had becomean aggressive, benevolent dictator in any group that included me. Go figure! I remember two bitches in particular in high school ? Rosalee Kroger and JudyRawlins. They were rich kids, snobby, and capable of treating us ?lower-class? kidslike pure shit. They were tall for girls in high school ? both 5'11?. Rosaleedid not particularly have a great figure ? really a bit on the slim side ? butshe had a slight Asian cast to. ” I take a sip of Chardonnay and look at all of him. “I like your tie.” He beams. “You do? It’s my favorite tie. I had it specially made.” “Really?” “Yes. I like smiley faces, they cheer me up. It’s like magic. And I do know for a fact that my tie is magic.” “I see,” I say, trying not to laugh. His tie is magic? What the hell is he talking about? “Whenever I feel gloomy,” he continues, “I don my magic tie. It transforms me, Karla. It transforms me into a happy person. This tie turns sadness. Why she stayed with me, I’ll never know. Actually, I do know and I always knew. Even in my darkest hour and at my lowest point, she saw something in me that brought me back from my self-destructive behavior to make me want to be a better man for her and my children. ‘You’re the one, Tommy. I’ve been waiting for you all my life,’ she said talking to me in that sweet, melodious voice, before giving me that soft, sensual smile that softened my impenetrable resolve not to fall in love with her. .