Where the Neighborhood Ends
High School: Grades 9–12
Story
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The other person Lane would have liked to bring into his imaginary psychologist's office was his classmate Robert. Lane and Robert had known each other since ninth grade. Yet, in all the years of their alleged friendship, Robert had never invited Lane home, never introduced Lane to his family. Robert had dined with Lane's family once or twice, but usually the two young men met at a movie, a park, or a street corner. Lane hadn't thought the situation peculiar until that morning when he was waiting on the school steps for the doors to open.
A petite brunette had come up the sidewalk and stopped in front of him. "Hi! You must be Lane. I'm Robert's sister, Alice."
"Where's Robert? I mean, pleased to meet you," Lane blabbered. "You're a freshman, aren't you? Doesn't Robert usually walk with you?"
"Yes. I'm a freshman. Big Brother, my personal bodyguard, escorts me to school but this morning he forgot his civics book and had to run back home for it." She glanced over her shoulder. "Here he comes now."
As Lane turned to look, he met stares from the white girls standing on the sidewalk. But then all his attention focused on Robert, who charged toward his sister as though she were trapped in a flaming car.
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Robert leaped between Lane and Alice. Taking her by the hand, he pulled his sister to the safety of the group of girls. Then he angrily returned to Lane. "You stay away from Alice," Robert commanded. "Don't talk to her."
"Why not?" Lane asked, perplexed by this unexpected hostility.
"Because," Robert answered, "Alice is white."
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