Young Stranger

By Melvin

This story is about a young daring black boy growing to man hood in the 50th through 60.

'When time came for him to start school, he was so proud of himself. But that pertilay day to go to school, his mother told him Son, you will start school in the First Baptist Church in Woodbine.

In those days back in the 50th and 60th in the state of Georgia, everything was segregated for blacks, that meant they black people were not allowed to go in any public places to get even a piece of bread. But that did not worried Melvin much, the reason, he was a clever young boy, he learned good in school and
sport.

He was confidence that he will make in life, why because his mother pearl was her name taught him in very tender ages to show all people respect, regardless what race, and that what he did. He always had a smile on his dark face that makes him many friends in Woodbine with all citizens.

His character helped him to full his dream, yes it was not always smooth for him but his paradise he found in his life, not in woodbine Georgia, but in Germany, where he had his own business for many years, and his home. There is where he lives until this day.

It is the story of a young black boy from Woodbine who grew to a young man, went there to Ralph J Bunch high school for a while, then he left Woodbine on his journey to seek his paradise.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Sep 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524594084

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 by Melvin.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2016914997

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-5245-9407-7

      Softcover      978-1-5245-9406-0

      eBook         978-1-5245-9408-4

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Rev. date: 09/02/2016

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This story

is written in the authentic speech

that was spoken by the citizens of Camden County, South East Georgia,

in the fifties and sixties

One

Melvin was born in a small town, by the name of Woodbine Ga., on the south east coast of Georgia that joins Florida, Highway 17. Melvin grew up a young black boy to roam the streets of that little town down in south east Georgia. Woodbine with it two thousand citizens, "yes it was his town where he was born. Woodbine is wedge in between Brunswick, Georgia north, and south the big city Jacksonville, Florida.

Back in those days the famous high way 17 ran from Washington DC to the last state on the eastern coast through the city Jacksonville Florida, a big city where the teenagers and the beautiful girls from Woodbine and Kingsland enjoyed those days. They went to Jacksonville for sports, and night clubs, dancing. The summer time was the best to watch games, go swimming, and to dance to the soul music in the clubs. All the high school girls liked baseball and basket ball just as much as the young men did.

The baseball games they saw in Jacksonville were indeed exciting to watch players like Hank Aaron, many more good players at that time with the Jacksonville Braves. It was a ball team; they know could play very good. Large parks, in those parks full of all types of trees. There were many benches for visitors to sit down on. They were young at the time very young, they did not know what that word mean tired. Jacksonville at that time, a modern large city, where many people from Woodbine were working

Jacksonville with it large Parks, large shopping centers, nice sandy beaches and many clubs, where the black young men and girls enjoyed going to on the week ends. Play pool, there where they found their big brothers hanging out with their girls, but they were not allowed to say a word to them, when they were in the Clubs With their friends.

Jacksonville had a very good Baseball Team, the Jacksonville Braves

(A Ball) on that team back in 1950th Hank Aaron played, before going to the major Leagues. Hank was an outstanding player in center field. They went to the games as often as they could, sometime two times a week, when the Braves were, playing at home, in Jacksonville the whole Stadium was always full. Now to Woodbine, the small town he loved so dearly. The people were friendly, and they got alone blacks and whites. Woodbine could have become a economically booming town, but there were those land owners, who did not want that to happen. So the white business men’s from the north carried all the Factories to Saint Mary’s. The town grew to become the most booming town in South Georgia, second to Brunswick. In regards to development of all types of business, Polk wood which gives both towns a great economic growth there in Saint Mary was the first town in Camden County with 2 large high schools. Blacks and one School for whites. In those days, there was strict segregation back in 1950th through the 60th in.

Woodbine, was a romantic little town, right on highway 17 at the time in 50th and 60th, the white folks were making their living mostly from the Yankees, at least that the name were given them after the silver war back in 1865th, but who cares about the past, since all the tourists were driven through Woodbine on highway 17 to Florida. Many white folks had their restaurants and Souvenirs Shops not to forget the Gas Stations on high way 17.

Some of Melvin friends were working in their holidays trying to help their parents out with a couple of dollars to meet ends. The salaries they got paid for their hard work was only few dollars in the summer time, from 8 am until 4 o’clock. Pm the food, they got perhaps a few hamburgers, which were sandwiches from one of their cousins slipped out to them during lunch break. Their female cousins who were working as house maids for the business people in town were working there daily for a few dollars a day.

Their neighbor hood was located on the south side of town. Like his friends said some time the Nero’s’ had to live on the south side, because those white folks though they should. Every time Ernesto talked funny things to Melvin, some of their friends had to laugh until some older men who were passing by toughed, they were drinking moonshine. No, they called it fun not to deny, that they were so hungry, their stomachs were yelling, as if they were letting some loud sounds out from behind them. Those were the day that Melvin experienced in Woodbine. The black folks were so friendly, especially the older ones in the ages of Pupa. Melvin’s mother Pearl., his cousin handful, and his dear cousin Anne. Melvin remembered when he was, coming-home from work one day, he was compelled to pass by Cousin Annie’s house. She called him, Melvin she said, she knows his stomach is letting out air she could hear it across the street where she is standing. Get over here and eat a piece of this good cold water melon! "Before she could get the word out of her mouth, he had jumped over the fence, was on that water melon doing it a job, that’ the way the black boys talked in their slang’s back in those days in 50th in Woodbine Georgia. That means of good English. Melvin eat as much water melon as he could. Cousin Anna allowed him to eat almost all of it. She saw the water melon was getting smaller every minute went he eat from it.

Mrs. Pearl was Melvin’s mother, a tall beautiful brown skin woman, with dimples in her cheeks. Pupa the name her children called her. She was highly respected in Woodbine, from white and black folks in town. She never talked loud, and she had a smooth quiet way to speak. She really was a working woman. Like most of the black women, she draws much attention to men. The boys were some time so black, that they were hard to detect at night, but Melvin has always noticed, when it was a girl, they always had a lighter completion than the most of the boys, but in the tenth grade in biology class, he learned that it could had something with the females genes genetic in the girls body. So the boys had to be darker he supposed.

It was raining on that Monday in woodbine. Melvin was out mostly every day on Highway 17 on the side walk playing with his car tire.

The main highway 17 was famous in those days for the white tourists driving south to Florida. holidays. The high way 17 ran through the center of Woodbine. That was where of course, all the shopping areas were for the tourists who were driving south, to do some shopping, or to eat in the restaurants. There were no Mc Donald cafes during those days, but they made some of the best hamburgers in the State of Georgia. In Woodbine, they tasted better than other towns.

They had all kind of souvenirs shops with favorite candy bars, called pecan fudges. Melvin went ever day to the souvenirs buy a candy bar. When he did not have cash, to buy some candy he wanted. He asked some time a tourist, Sir he is so hungry, and would he please buy for him a bar of fudge candy?

Always when he was begging for something, there was a smile on his little dark face. Some time Melvin had luck, the most time they said nothing to him. Little color boy he doesn’t need any candy, than the boss of the shop came out side. They always told Melvin get his little black behind away from their store! Behind in Georgia slang in those days meant your little (behind away from there property ok) smile.

That was mostly in the summer time, when all of the older children were out of school in holidays. He always liked to run with his old worn out car tire on highway 17 at the age of twelve years old, he surely was the fastest running boy in town. That came to an end. It was getting time for Melvin to start school again. That was for him, as if he would be going to the chain gang. He did not want to go to school, but there was Pupa, Mrs. Pearl. Had six children they called her Pupa as a nick name when they were very young, it was not easy for them to say Pearl, so the kids called her Pupa for Pearl.

It was time for the bell to ring, because that coming Monday was day x for the street runner to start school. His mother went down to the store in Woodbine mostly where she always shopped; she bought for him of course a pair of that blue jean. Melvin was so skinny, the jean almost did not fit. . He had a pair of old worn out shoes that his mother bought for him about six months earlier. The black boys always wore white shirts when they walk on the roads at night.

The drivers in the cars could see at least the white shirts they were wearing in the night time when it was very dark., a young boy at age 9 Melvin was thinking he will be going in a school building. That was not the case in those days 1950, through 54. The black children had to go to school in churches in Woodbine. Yes that where they were compel to go. Their parents were paying taxies just like all the citizens, black and white, but blacks were denied all of their rights. They did not have many rights; they were compelled to live at the mercy of their white neighbors, who were not always kind to blacks. Even at the age of twelve,; Melvin could see the way his people were treated, although the afro American people were still to this day, people who were taken from west Africa, to work as slaves, in the so new world called America for just a small amount to eat. The white men called them selves in those days Christians, but their work proved different. It was how they treated the black people in those days not like Christians should have, no love because of the color of their skins.

At the age of thirteen he started to realize that his dear mother was compel to work in order to take care of the three children who were sill living at home. Harry was older than Melvin, their little sister Virginia was just a little girl at the time.

He started his sevenths grade in the church of course. His teachers always told him, he was a smart young boy, just keep learning at home, and stay away from that old car tire on the street!" Melvin asked Miss Annie his teacher, if she thinks he is good in his grades? She replied he is very smart boy in school. He reads quit good; he can spell and write excellent. Just keep learning she told him. She is sure he will have a great future, if he only could finish high, and perhaps go to college. Melvin asked Mrs. Annie thinks if he continues to work hard to learn, he could go to a high School? What is a high school, dose that means the school is up on a high hill? She got angry, she said to Melvin, he is still a young boy, but in a few years he will know much more about a high school, she will show him in a book what a high school is ok she said. He just smiled at her, said yeah Miss Annie.

The time came to go to School in their new bus to St Mary’s black High School

After 7 years going to school in the two churches in Woodbine, time came for many of them to ride on the bus to St Mary’s about twenty miles away from Woodbine. After going to school in the two churches for seven years, they were driven with a bus to St Mary’s there was always a high schools, in St. Mary’s one for black students and one for whites. The town had a large paper factory, "it was so large many employers were working their, at least eight thousand employees. The two schools were constructed out of bricks they always looked clean. had in the back of the school of their school was a gyms for sport, and basketball, The boys loved to play the game, so after about week in school, they were introduced to their new teachers. There were men and women teachers Mrs. Wilma Atkinson coughed his eyes quickly She was a beautiful woman dark skin, very attractive, nice figure, she impressed him, she spoke a outstanding English. He will never forget, she was from Montgomery Alabama. Since he was at that time in the eight grades, she was his math teacher for the following 3 years. He was fifteen years old at the time. He started high school in Saint Mary, was a cozy little dreamy town, located on the river with it lovely oak trees, crown with long moos hanging from their branches.

When his dream came true, for Melvin to ride in a car, it was a thrilling event, for him to ride in a large school bus, but much exciting. Melvin dream came true just to ride in a car with his mother to Brunswick. It was the largest city close to Woodbine. He felt as if he was a riding to New York city, anyway, some time his mother and her cousin Annie cousin Handful, that was the mother of Bryant Edith Mother" where did she got that name from? At that time, people were saying, cousin Handful was so small and tiny, that she was only a handful to look at. Anyway, she had also seven children, four girls, and three boys, who were all very close, related to Melvin, and his mother and cousin Handful’s mother, were sisters the children called their mother Pupa, they were children of two sisters. Melvin mother and Handful were first cousins

When Bryant and Melvin reached the eight grades, they started goings to school in the same class in St. Mary’s high school. The two were at that time in the 8h grade. They love looking at the older boys play base ball. They promised, when they got older and grew stronger, they will by all means play the game they like so much, base ball. The years went by quickly for them to join the team in Woodbine; the team got new faces in the line up.

THE DAY OF EXCITEMENT ON THE BUS ONE EVEING

If it had been the days of Mohamed Allie and Joe Frasier that fight on the bus between Loretta Williams, and Annie Meyers, that fight would be called the fight of the century.

The bus was returning back to woodbine. So the students got in line, waiting to board the bus. Well some how Loretta Williams who known all the school.

Loretta was known to be the meanest girl in Woodbine. The two girls were in the same class to gather, the 9th grade. Anyway Melvin saw Loretta, when she shoved Annie Meyers. She did not say a word, perhaps three feet, but Annie Meyers kept quieted until the bus started to move, perhaps ten miles away from Saint Mary’s, Melvin was talking to Bryant, than all of a sudden, some one said, they are fighting up front!, quest who they were, Annie and Loretta. All the students on the bus began clapping their hands, saying, Hit her Annie give her a right cut! and that what she was donning, hitting Loretta with the hardest blows. Melvin had ever seen a girl threw a punch so fast. Annie Meyers was getting back at her "with some left hard jabs, just like a man would throw. They were hitting each other extremely hard.

After the driver of the bus came to the back to them, he wanted to stop the fight. Loretta hit him with a deadly blow, than he was also hit from Annie Meyers with one of her right hook. The bus driver just fell to the floor, but he got up quickly. Some one shouted, he has a gun, but it was not a gun, it was something that fell out his pocket. So things cooled down. Those two girls really fought like men. After that happened, a day later, going from woodbine to Saint Mary’s on the bus to high school, they saw a terrible accident. It happened about one mile before they arrived to school. Saddest thing about it, al of the students was from their school in St. Mary’s they all attended the same high school. What happened? Melvin did not know, but anyway they all were shocked to see their friends and students who were going to their high school got killed they know so long, lying on the highway dead.

"A DAY OF SORROW WAS IN THE AIR IN WOODBINE (Five)

Melvin will never forget that evening, they were in the movie. One could call it a movie, while in those days; there was only one place for the young black girls and boys went on the week ends, the movie that was up stairs in the roof top, just like the farmers put their chickens up in the roof at night. That Friday night, the movie had just started. Some young man came up stars; Mr. Jason had been killed by some white man. He was always running with him together, It was a fearful time for all of the young blacks that night. The young people were thinking, who will be next? The Sheriff came up stairs; of course the movie was empty in just 5 minutes. Melvin will never forget, it was very hot that night," and to make it worse, Mr. Jason was only living, very close where the shooting occurred. One may ask, what happened to the men who killed him? Well the Sheriff carried the two white men to jail, but the next morning they were free again and sitting in their pick up truck in front of. ’a grocery store.

IN THE SUMMERTIME, WHEN the Boys BEGAN WORKING ON THE LETTUCE FARM IN WOODBINE

Melvin will never forget the first day Herbert Bryant and him started to work for first the time that year. They were very excited, because that means money honey for them. Oh boy" they started on that, Monday to cut the lettuce as fast as they could. They were getting paid accord, the, more they cut, the more their salary were. Melvin was the smallest of the three boys, but he was the fastest when it comes to base ball, and track running. They were, very fast at least when it came down to talking and laughing, making jokes, on Mr. Teddy’s farm. There were women and girls working during the school vacation time, and of course the boys. Always work, they spend all their money quickly.

They were getting paid mostly on Fridays about three pm in the afternoon, some time earlier. It depends on what time the banks personals would have the cash counted out. Anyway, the moment they received their money, no one could hold them any longer. They left with their bikes as fast as they could ride down yonder where the black people lived All three of their mothers were waiting for them. Melvin’s mother w was always setting on her porch. She liked that, so cousin Handful was waiting on Bryant too. She always, said to him, boy how much you got paid? He would some time becomes very angry, than he said to her, don’t worry Mama, she will get some money from him today. She screamed at him she said," he are right she will, so long as he puts his big known what in-her house. He will pay like all other children for the food the same like Pearl’s two boys paid. Living there cousin Handfuls boys Pupa Bryant James who was the youngest of three boys.

THE NIGHT AT MR; RUDOLPHS CLUB

It was on a Friday night, which was the night when the young men would go out hunting for adventures, and that prettily nights they found it. What happened? On that Friday night, theywere playing pool and listing to music. A strange man came in who he was they don’t know, no body knew anyway, he came in walked directly to the pool table and said to one of our friend, who was shooting the ball at the time, said boy, give him that pool stick! James looked at him, just wait for your time buddy! The big man looked at James, he is not going ask no more, he Shoved James. That was his mistake he made. Do all James friends who were in the club go on the dance floor; they started to swing at that big guy with all the power in their arms. They battled with him for about three minute. Mister Randolph the owner of the place came on the scene. He lifted the big guy up over his head and threw him head first out since that night, they never saw him again.

On that night they were always asking Jerry a friend of their if they buy the gas he needs for the car, would he drive them to baseball game that coming Friday night to Jacksonville Florida? That was the city where Hank Aaron started playing baseball in the major league, in regards to Hank he plays right field, and he was outstanding, in that position, he never let a ball fall out his glove. Well anyway, Jerry droved them that Friday night to the base ball game. The Jacksonville braves played against the Brunswick Angels. Of course the Braves won.

No wonder, when they had Hank Aaron on the team to day he holed the best Record of most Home Runs with Babe Ruth’s

On that coming Sunday, Woodbine team had to play base ball in Waverly, a small town about 15 miles north of Woodbine. The team in Waverly was a very good team; they had 2 pitchers, who could throw the ball with a very high velocity, so hard than any other pitcher who could pitch the ball so hard. But anyway, the game must go on that Sunday. The team from Folkston arrived with their team in woodbine. They had talked already to Mr. Louis their Manager, he lived very close to Tarboro. He was a very good man, ideal to manage a good baseball team, and he proved it many times. The main player on the team was as following

Center field Melvin 2 left field Tommy Watts, in third right field Henry Smith in right field. 1 base jimmy 2 base Andrew 3 base the one and only Bryant, Melvin first cousin he was the best one who could really play 3 base Bryant could field the ball. He throws the ball always very hard.

Bryant threw the ball to first base just as fast like a rocket flies. That was their team of middle 1950th in woodbine; Georgia one could say a small town, but popular in those days, after all, it was on high way 17! And it was full of tourists going to Florida in vacation.

Summer time was ending slowly in to autumn, that meant school time was approaching. What would they do? The boys who were still in school, would they continue, to learn and get prepare for their future?

All though Woodbine was a very small town, it had mush charm one could see. Had some beautiful homes. Pretty gardens, with palms trees orange trees and tangerine trees pecan tree, and in many gardens Rhododendrons in all colors.

The boys going to school would fall out of school due to money problems. The most of them were very poor boys, fatherless, like always the men made them, but left their mothers; before they were borne. Mothers of the boys had to work in the kitchens of the white people to earn enough money to feed their kids. Melvin was always thinking about his mother. He was walking some days to meet her coming home from the chicken farm, always, walked so slowly. Melvin felt very sorry for her. He felt in his heart, if he ever gets the chance, he will help his mother, who he called Pupa.

She was always thinking of a profession for him to start his live out there in that terrible world, which was a jungle. Harry was 7 years older than Melvin. During the Korean War, Harry was drafted in the Army. However people were surprise he was taken, because of his feet. He had flat feet. He putted his shoes on. He could not walk well due to the pains. He likes to play base ball, also baseball, but he was always at time jealous of Melvin, His brother, because he was much faster than him, when the team mates on the field was giving all credit for catching the most balls, he got very angry always said to why he always showed off on the field, just play like he always played, stop acting like that! Just jealous of him, Melvin said. A use car a Buick Harry purchased as soon as he brought the car home; the lovely girls were always behind him. "They were nice looking girls: Harry his friend they called him little man 2 sisters Janine and Dorothy, beautiful girls in Woodbine. And Harry had very good manners. All the people in town liked him more than they did Melvin; he only had advantages over him by playing base ball. Melvin was better than him and running track in sport that what Melvin likes the most in regards to Harry his brother. He was his second oldest-brother, a fine young man, with great manners he was liked

By every one in Woodbine, yes he was.

They were always at the beaches in the summer time in Jacksonville. There were many good restaurants, where they could eat soul food. In those days, one didn’t call it soul food, just black man’s food, they always tried to swim in the ocean, but the waves were very rough and high. It was difficult to go swimming in the ocean, the waves were very high. The black boys in those days were afraid go in the water to swim. Just like a bob cats they were, like to drink the water, but swimming in it, "no sir buddy.

At times, they would look for other work in the summer months. Some times the young boys worked at the fish market in Woodbine at the river. Other jobs only working on the lettuce farm, the pay was not to good. And they were always spending too much money out there with those school girls.’ Freeman, worked for a large merchandises store, in Woodbine. Mr. Mc. Cowman was the owner of the store. First white man Melvin knew who was very polite to everyone; even to his black customers. He had a large super market in Woodbine. He sold also in his electric appliances store to Folston and all the surrounding towns in Kingsland. He sold Hot Point electric appliances in all the area around Woodbine. Freeman was the first man, who worked for Mr. Cowan. Freeman was a short young man maybe five feet five he always had his hair straighten with potash, but did not mater to him. His brother was older than Freeman. Name was Jimmie. They came to woodbine when they were very young from the Yankee State of Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

He was a little taller than his brother. He also spokes very good English, but the two of them were always laughing at other young men when they did not comb their hair. Freeman started talking, he would say some time, hello there young man. It was not good for Jimmie; he got married to a wild girl, who did not love him what so ever. She was in love with Melvin cousin Justin

She was a very attractive looking girl. She was only twenty two years old when they met. Jimmie should never marry her. She attended school also in Saint Mary’s high school. She was good in all her grades. So when she met Jimmie she left school and they ´got marry, they were not living far from Melvin’s house. She lived with her’ mother and father, Mr. Whitaker, he was a man who liked to talk with Melvin, because he likes base ball very much. He was a fan of the game. When ever he saw Melvin walking by his house, he always said to him, Melvin he plays center field darned, good but that old glove of his will one day let the ball fall though to the ground, but he is always good in center field.

Last Saturday Woodbine played ball in Waycross. Melvin saw Whitaker was here watching the game. Very good game to day Melvin! Gee, thanks you very much Mr. Whitaker, he. Walk to the other side of the field to talk with Mr. Louis.

Especially in the summer time when they did not know what to do, the 3 Bryant Little Joe and Melvin stared talking, what should they do that after noon, they can aggravate some one when it gets dark? Where is an older person who they could make angry? They asked each other? Suppose they take some hand crackers, go to their Cousin Annie’s house and light one throw in the yard than run away. "The three waited until night time arrived. The moon was shining bright, at nine o’clock pm they walked down Main Street, not far from Bryant’s house. Just around the Conner they reached Cousin Annie’s house. Bryant asked, who will throw, the first fire cracker? Melvin wanted to show the other 2 boys, that he was a brave young man. Give him the fire cracker he said! So they gave it to him, to throw, but look, a car drove up close. Who was in it, the car, the Sheriff of Woodbine? He turned his spot light on, he saw Melvin dark face.

The light shined, in his face. He was so skinny with his dark skin, and the bright light tracked him. Melvin started to run that nigh. He was faster than a car on the street. Track field in Brunswick, when they had sport competition. Anyway, each one ran a way to his home. The next morning, when Melvin got up to eat his breakfast, his mother called him. Boy gets his little behind in the living room. He thought Oh my God; he will get his behind whip that morning. His mother will whip his behind for a least 10 minuets

Melvin walked up to her, "good morning Pupa, did she sleep good last night, and he hopes she did.

She said don’t show his white teeth to her Where was his little ass last night? Melvin said, they were out talking to each other. Is something wrong Mother? She just looked at him with those pretty dimples in her cheeks. But he knew her good, when she began to breathe heavy, that means that he had to move out of her reach, after all, his mother was larger and stronger than him. She had a right jab, better than that of Joe Louis. So anyway she said to him just pull down his pant, and she wants to get right close to his behind to tease it with that stick. It was a large one. Melvin felt the pains. His Flesh smelled like burnt meat. Melvin was yelling, Pupa, mother he will never do something like last night again. But she was still at it as hard as she could hit Melvin on his behind. Than his sister Mae came out of the kitchen, she said, stop it Pupa, she will kill him. Than Melvin screamed, he said with his loud voice. He felled like he was dying already." Slowly she stoped beating Melvin on his but. That was the last time his mother ever whipped him the black boys called beating by their mothers a job, well done because they had very big mothers, only Bryant’s mother handful was a tiny woman

The next day Melvin was walking to town do some shopping for his mother. There drove up the Sheriff. He saw Melvin "he ask him what they were doing last night? He answered the Sheriff. Sir he was so sorry for what he did, he was punish already from his mama. The Sheriff asked Melvin they three little rascals, what were they doing out there by that old woman’s house last night? Melvin thought it was just a question. Was sure he could explain to the Sheriff why they were out on the road by Mrs. Annie’s house. Sir, they were out on the road playing, throwing a few rocks over the road, in the forest. Melvin always talked fast, and in his Georgia accent, he was sure that he could convince anybody. Melvin started his defense in front of the Sheriff, by saying Sir, They were just out side talking and making a little fun just jiving each other that meant making joking with each others.

Dose he understand him? The Sheriff looked at him, he laughed. Than he said, If he ever catches him and the other boys standing in front of that house, again, he will put them in jail, dose he understand him? Melvin, yea sir, he answered. The Sheriff said, he can continue now to shop. Melvin was very happy he could continue his way to shop for his mother. Because he knew when he talks sweet, and fast. Melvin he could convince, every one, he was able to get away with everything. Melvin found in the store what his mother wanted. Later in the day, he saw Little Joe, he was just coming from the store, buying some meat for Mrs. Jones. When he got closed up to him, he could see in his face some red scars, as if he was hited in the face, Melvin hello Joe, what’s up? He just looked, he said Melvin dose he want to know what his mommy told him to do? No Melvin replied to him what? She told him just stay from, that bad boy. Said to Joe, he is not any danger then" he or Bryant, Melvin became very angry tell his mother, that if he is such a bad boy, why all the parents said Melvin is one of the friendliest boy in school? It not his fault, Joe interrupted Melvin from talking. He knows only if they can remain friends he said. They can not be friends with each other any more. Melvin left Joe where he found him on the rail road tracks. Melvin was so angry; he could not eat all that afternoon. Bryant came by to visit him; he wanted them to pr throw a few base balls, to warm up his arm. When he saw him with that short sleeve shirt on, his strong muscles, Melvin though why this young man is not