I had also noticed he liked talking to me. He would call for no reason at all, mostly when he was on the bus. So why hadn't we taken things to the nex... level? Was Tina right? Was I scared what people would think of me? I saw and heard how people talked about others, especially those who dated outside their race. It wasn't what I thought, but what about my kids? Robin and Robert were dating others. Robin didn't care what people thought about her and Shannon. I know Robert was thinking about. Be careful." I stepped back as she pulled away and proceeded up the street. As I walked on my imagination wandered at the 'what-ifs'. Cresting the hill I turned right on to my street, Woodrow. I live about 10 houses or so down the street, and was pleasantly surprised to see the Volvo at a house about 2 down and across the street from mine. I walked on and finally came to my house. After a warm shower and changing into some dry clothes, I crashed on my bed and dozed a bit. A knocking on my door. " I'll look forward to it."Mum actually cried when I gave her the necklace."It's beautiful Micky, really beautiful." It's only nine-carat mum."Her voice was shaking as she turned her back on me and asked me to fasten it round her neck,"I don't care if it's gold paint Micky, it's beautiful, I'm never taking it off."I was embarrassed, although we had always been close, she'd always been fiercely protective of my dad and his errant ways and God help anyone who dared to criticize him in her. ’ Dianne nodded her head and quietly left the room. Allison closed her eyes and flowed with the memories, following them back to Virginia, back to the old plantation where she grew up. The great house, now neglected, and the slave quarters a little more that just a bunch of collapsing buildings, but in her mind they were still full of splendor and strength. She remembered a time when she would run and play in front of the great house. Gathering the little black children and marching them back.