I almost had my first kiss today. - Democratic Underground

MiniMandaRuth

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Fri Jan-13-06 06:32 PM
Original message

I almost had my first kiss today.

Edited on Fri Jan-13-06 06:33 PM by MiniMandaRuth

My guy friend, let's call him A, was doing a video project for MLK day. He was asking me about the civil rights movement of the 60's. something that I do in fact know a little about. For those of you that have either studied it or lived through it, it's quite fascinating.

Anyhoo... he asked me yesterday to meet him in the auditorium. He needed me to help hook up some audio equipment, and since I kinda know how that stuff works, I was perfect for it.

Sooo....

I met him there this morning, before school.My band teacher gave me the O.K to miss the first couple of minutes.

When I got there, he was hooking up the video equipment. I took my place and began hooking the microphones to the little box thingy, the computer to the amp, and whatnot. After we were done, A started the movie.

We stood together in front of the table the projector was resting on. It started off with video of the marches, the blacks being put into jail, and other such things. I was very impressed.

Then, I noticed something warm on my shoulder! He had put his ARM AROUND ME! I acted like nothing was happening, and continued to watch the movie.

THen, it flashed to MLK's famous speech. I knew half the words, mouthing them as he spoke.

About in the middle, he talked for the first time during the movie.

"You know, I think it's awful that people will treat others like this," He said.

"Yeah," I answered, "I know."

"I mean... to think that people will still do this today...."

The speech was cut in the middle, flashing to pictures of fat, white men yelling the 'N' word at several protesting young men. It was horrible. Then, another man was on screen, violently putting MLK down, threatening him. I was a little scared... But my feeling was inside. I could feel my heart fluttering like a bird. A had still not removed his arm from my shoulders. I laid my head against him. It felt nice.

The movie cut back to MLK.

"He's amazing... I wonder what it would of been like if he had been here today..." A murmured.

"I don't know.... Who knows.... better? Worse?" I said, looking up at him.

Our eyes met for a moment. They were deep brown, with a ring of black around the edges. I felt like a fire was burning in my heart. My blood was pounding in my ears.

And, as the famous last words were spoken, he leaned down to me.

Just then, a teacher came in. He made it look like he was saying something to me as he drew away. The teacher didn't give us a second glance as she directed some kids into the auditorium.

"And when this happens, When we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

And although the words do not concern me, or him for that matter, my heart was ringing true and free, for the first time in my life.

mini