FICTION

LOVE FROM ACROSS THE TRACK

Helen - Alabama

Dr. Darsell towered over my slim, five foot three inch frame, by a minimum of eleven inches, and from this vantage point he proceeded to read me out of his daughter's love life.

"I am sure that you would rather me be frank with you and not beat around the bush .. so I'm going to do just that. I think it is time that you and Deborah end this puppy love affair. Your background is not that which I desire for my daughter, even though there is nothing that my investigation of your life has uncovered that is bad. It is simply that I do not consider you good enough to marry her, and want her to be free to find someone who is.”

"But Dr. Darsell . . . we love each other . . . why we have exchanged our class rings and I'm saving up to get her an engagement . . . I protest!

"Enough of that kind of talk," he said loudly, "I said it's to be ended. Here and now!" Pointing his extra long finger at my face he continued. "You are henceforth not to call her, write her, or come to see her. You aren't welcome any longer. Do you understand that?"

I was about to try to reason with him further when Debby spoke up: "Daddy, I love Gene. I don't care what his social standing is. I am going to select my own husband, not you. It's not fair for you to act like this!"

"This is my business, Deborah. I didn't raise you to marry the son of a sharecropper. You are forbidden to call him, write him, or see him intentionally. Disobey me and you will be severely punished. You ill find that I mean it."

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