I'd seen her worried before when her pants got a little tight or she couldn't get her hair to do what she wanted, or, heaven forbid, her period was la...e. But this was different.The Valentine's Day dance was less than a week away and she hadn't been asked. Oh, she'd been asked by most of the jocks in the senior class, all of whom anticipated spending a dance or two before suggesting that "We get out of here." That was the code phrase for "Let's go somewhere and fuck." But she hadn't been asked. After a light lunch, I assume that this was as far as this meeting was going to go. But it was still worth the trip. An enjoyable afternoon spent with a beautiful blue eyed blonde with a wonderful smile would never be a disappointment.We get up to leave. After paying our tab we walk to the parking lot hand in hand. I give you a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek and tell you how much I enjoyed our time together and how I wished it wasn't about to end.Suprising me, you reach up and put your arms. Through the ventilation duct that runs from the basement to the first floor, I could hear them talking in the living room. Beth was telling Derrick that it just wasn't going to work for a black boy to date our daughter. When Derrick asked why, Beth explained that it was just too taboo for our family to accept having a black boy with a white girl. Derrick explained that he had dated lots of white girls and women. My wife was shocked and asked what he meant by women. Derrick told her about his. Cold-bloodied, selfish, self-satisfying self-indulgence taking it out on another guy's flesh and bones because it makes you feel powerful and superior…. No concept of sharing the hurt, of giving pleasure, of listening together to the musical thwump of the flogger, of serving the floggee… It's all academic and selfish, - mutuality is dead, spiritual enjoyment gone….I used to row on the river (at Henley too), and a rhythm of 35 strokes to the minute was regular for me so that's what I look for.