Chapter Two (What a Day)

     If you are sensitive or politically correct you might want to stop reading now.  Oh, good grief, just grow up and read.
     As I walked outside, I could only gasp at the clarity of the deep blue sky, all the clouds and rain had been pushed away by the now gentle breeze coming out of the west.  the bright green leaves of spring would soon turn to an ugly burnt green of the summer sun.  Even though I had left my windows down in the storm, I was not upset. I needed to walk to limber myself up after my trip to the torture master.  It was just a short distance to the shop anyway and besides, what could possibly change this perfect moment.
     I arrived at the shop with that thought echoing in the empty recesses of my mind.  I could hear shouting coming from the inside.  As I stepped through the door, I could see William and Bobby shouting at each other.  They were close enough that shouting was not necessary, but I guess they were both hard of hearing.  I could understand William doing this if he were drinking, But Bobby was more in control of himself, usually. Not today.  Looks as if both had lost their temper and were going to be pissed off until they found it.  Bobby shoved William backwards.  I guess William was standing on his temper and he wanted it badly.  William was one of the fastest people I knew, but his speed at retaliation was blinding.  He body checked Bobby hard and as he went down, Bobby's ribs caught on the 2x4 frame of the easel.  Blood shot out of the wound and soaked his shirt.  He never made a sound, not even a grunt.  William jumped on top and they tumbled over with Bobby on top, holding William down by laying with his back on top of William.  I never knew he was that tough. He held William down that way as if he were powerless, all the while, air was escaping out of his lung as it billowed up against the sharp point of the broken rib.  He began to moan as the pain made it's way into his awareness.  That did little to dampen his anger.  William was strong as a bull and worked his way out from under Bobby.  As they climbed up into a standing fight, the fists flew and blood and skin were scattered around the shop.  I had never seen anyone hurt so bad, continue to fight.  Must have involved a woman.
     I was not about to get involved in their mess and not wanting to ruin my mood, I left.  Walking outside, I headed toward the creek.  I tried to think happy thoughts as I walked along the wooded path.  As bad as the fight was, my mind kept going back to the doctor's office.  Man, no one should be treated like that.  Looking back now, it seems as if everyone enjoyed the visit, except for me.  I guess that I piss everyone off just by being alive.  I plan on being here a while longer, so they'll need to adjust their attitude, I guess.  Lost in my thoughts, I did not notice that I had gotten to close to the rain-soaked bank of the creek.  As I put my foot down, I slid on the mud and fell into the deep water.  There was no good place to get out so I just floated down stream for a little while until I saw a good spot to get out, but it was in a part of town that I was afraid of.  It was so cold, that I climbed out anyway.  I found myself in the middle of a black lives matter rally.
     I thought at first that I was at the filming of a new Tarzan movie, but then I realized that Cheeta was president and I was in real danger.  I figured the safest thing to do was to keep my mouth shut.  If I did I would be ok, for my milk white skin was covered in dark mud.  When I was born, my umbilical cord was wrapped around my neck and according to mom I was a black baby.  So I was not lying too much.  I maneuvered  away from the crowd and over to the parking lot to see if I could find a ride.  No such luck.  Everything was locked up tight and no one was in sight.
     As I walked, my temperature rose and I started sweating. In just a little while the mud was streaming off my body and now I am a mulatto!  Off in the distance I can see the Mexican quarters......