My Family’S Cotillion

By Dietra Reid

What power does a memory of an event hold? For Ms. Castle. Ms. Jones , Mr. Jaccaby and others it was the work, hope and transformation of the young people for one day that they will always remember. But for the journalist seeking a window into his new discovered racial heritage its new and old truths he learns. But its the authors yearning to remember the good hearts of loved ones passed away that this story was woven. And to remember their hopes for the next generation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Aug 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9781491779330

Dietra Reid

The author dedicates this book to both sides of her family the Curry’s and the Franklin’s who came together to do the cotillion and to love her. She was born in Manhattan, New York and grew up in New Rochelle, NY. This is her second Fiction book. She is the mother of three. She is thankful for the kindness of the Henry family for their help in her new start in Baltimore. She has a BBA from Iona College. She has worked in Retail, Education and US Postal Service. She is currently living her dreams despite end stage Kidney disease.

Book preview

Copyright © 2016 Dietra Reid.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-4917-7932-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-7933-0 (e)

iUniverse rev. date: 08/26/2016

Contents

The President’s Message

My Family’s Cotillion

1968 ‘Debutantes

President%27s%20Message----.jpg

THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

MRS. MILEY FRANKLIN

(My mother - Died March 8, 1985)

Tonight we offer our congratulations to you. We wish each of you all the things that make life more abundant. How wonderful it is to share with you and your parents the deep joy of your first achievement in graduating from high school and the making of your debut into society.

Our lives touch you, the young, the beautiful and the hopeful. You brought something into our lives by sharing your dreams with us. You gave us new hope. The future of the world lies in the hands of the young, for you are the leaders of tomorrow.

I implore you to prepare yourselves and find a place and serve humanity in the best way possible. Do not underestimate any position because anything that is worth doing at all is worth doing well. Give all that you are capable of giving. Go as far as you can and when you get there, I promise you that you will see further. The rainbow is just beyond the clouds. Watch for the silver lining.

The hour of decision is at hand. The world awaits you and we need your constructive ideas to help us to make this world a better place.

MY FAMILY’S COTILLION

A screenplay by Ms. Dietra Reid based on the real cotillions by The Arista Society of Queens.

Interior of NYC Office Building/Plush office/Present day-Man Holding Picture-

He stands near his desk. He wipes his eyes as the phone rings.

MILES KENNEDY(mid 40’s, news journalist)

Hello, yes I am working on a story for next week.

He sits down. The light is close up on the black and white picture he his holding. He closes his eyes as he remembers,

The next day. The exterior of a hospital. People going in and out of it.

Miles Kennedy entering the room of a patient,

MILES leans closer to his mother.

MILES

What?

SUSAN KENNEDY(mid 60’s. dying of cancer)

Miles, your father is black. We met at C University in New York as students there. We dated And eventually married. (SUSAN paused for a moment looking out the window)

I could not handle the problems of being an interracial couple. Strangers said such ugly things to us. I loved him very much.

MILES

What?

SUSAN

I asked for a divorce after leaving him because of that. I didn’t find out I was pregnant with you until after I left. When I went back home my father was sick and then he died soon. My mother was diagnosed soon after with Cancer and died too. Son, I’m so sorry to tell you this now. Please forgive me. (she burst into tears)

MILES (there was an intense shock on his face, quiet for a minute)

Mom, you are telling me now that I’m black?

SUSAN

I’m telling you that you are half black. But no one has to know. You’ve been passing for all white your whole life. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. Please don’t be mad at me. Your father doesn’t know anything about you. He doesn’t know you exist. I heard he made it as a journalist somewhere in NY just like you. Or the other way around.

MILES

What happened to him?

SUSAN

Your father remarried a year after our divorce. Son, please don’t hate me. I made a terrible mistake out of fear of others. Fear of how my parents would react. Fear of how society would treat you. I was a coward. Don’t hate me.

MILES (put his head down, took a deep breath)

Mom, I don’t hate you. I just don’t understand how you could have not told me before.

SUSAN

I regretted that. I went back twice to tell your father but didn’t. The second time I saw his new wife was pregnant.

MILES

But mom, he still could have been my father.

SUSAN

I know that now son. I realize how selfish that was. When you see him it will be your decision whether to tell him about you or not.

MILES

What a horrible decision to have to make?

SUSAN (putting her face in her hands)

I know son and I am sorry. I just wanted you to know you had a good man as