“When will you be back?” Lonnie asked his dad, who had two large suitcases that he packed. His dad was on the shorter side, but was broad, solid, someone most people wouldn’t want to mess with. His dad had on red and black sweats and wore glasses. He looked at Lonnie with a sense of compassion. For weeks Lonnie has heard his parents argue. More than they ever had before. Now, all of a sudden, his dad, was leaving without saying where.
“I don’t know, boy.” was all he mustrered out. Walking towards the steps of their two story row home. Lonnie, confused, looked at his mom. She was taller and skinnier than his dad. She also wore glasses and was in blue jeans and red top. Her arms crossed as she leaned against the the door. Eyes staring at her husband as he started plodding the down the steps.
“Where is he going?” Lonnie asked her.
“Ask him.” she said with a hateful tone as she stressed each word.
Lonnie went to the steps where his dad, struggling, still managed to make it down the steps. His sister slept soundly in her room as he passed it. Lonnie called out. “Where are you going?”
His dad turned breifely and was about to answer Lonnie, but stopped. “I’ll call you when I get there.”
With that his dad went out the back door. Lonnie turned to look at his mom, who was crying silently to herself. She went in theri room and closed the door. Lonnie didnt’ know what to think. He didnt’ understand. Was his dad going TDY, which meant temporary duty location like he’s done in the past? Was he visiingt Lonnie’s great grandmother, Na-Na? Why was he leaving so late? It didnt’ occur to Lonnie that the argumetns could be a factor. All he knew was that his dad left, and was going to leave, without saying goodbye. Lonnie went to knock on his mothers door and could hear her on the phone.
“He left, He left us!” she sounded enraged, tears almost audible dropping her face. Lonnie couldn’t make out who she was talking too, but he knew one thing. She wasn’t expecting Dad to leave. Which raised more questions than answers. He continued to listen and could make out some of the words. It sounded like Dad was moving into his own place. But why? Did Lonnie do something? He wasn’t exactly the son he knew his dad wanted. He was sensitive, didnt’ like the outdoors like his dad, and didnt’ care for cars. But they were always close. After all his dad was his coach in basketball and soccer. Some may say it nepotism, but he was held to the same standard as the other kids. His grades were okay this year, usually a great scholar, but with all the arguing that he wasn’t use to seeing, they strteatd to drop.
“But he would of say something about it by now.” Lonnie thought. He did recall Gerald, his dad, making fun of him about having a white girlfriend at school and that was the reason his freade were nto where they usually were.
The whole conversation at the time after the first quarter made Lonnie question why was dating a white girl. He did liike Jolene, but not as much as he liked Tasha and Ayonna, who were black. His dad almost seemed like he was disappointed. Lonnie couldn’t help it though. Jolene liked him and well, he wasn’t exactly prince charming, so when she aksed he happily said yes. They dated for a day in 6th grade last year, after riding home from a district wide competition at the middle school that each 6th grade class from each district would be attending. It was a field day of sorts with a lot of running events. Lonnie couldn’t remember why, but Jolene was crying on the bus ride back to their school. He felt bad and wanted to cheer her up. So when they got back to class, he wrote her a note asking her out. His thinking at the time was that if she said yes it would take her mind of whatever made her sad. He didn’t like seeing others be sad and figured if he could make her happy it would be worth it. She said yes, and the next day everyone knew that they were dating, but the day after she broke up with him. He didn’t mind it. They barely talked before he asked her out. Now in 7th grease, when she caem to about dating, he was surprised but againwanting a girlfriend and not wanting to hurt her feelings, he said yes. Despite having a huge cursh on Tasha and Ayonna. His dad would tease him about her evrey
