Chapter 1: Anthony

Every day starts the same. I start the day to the, rather annoying, sound of ravens outside of my window. Their large black wings carry them to my window sill where they pester me endlessly. After the fifth or six raven cry, I run my hands through my curly brown hair, slip out of bed, and open my window. I like my view; it's rather poetic in my honest opinion. Over 1000 acres of lush green crop filled pastures and the sun casting its eye over the new growth is just... breathtaking.

Around 9 or 10 am is when the real busy work begins. I shower, then after slipping on a cotton shirt and an old pair of overalls I head downstairs to start the day with a glass of OJ and a new argument awaiting me. "Can you please just hush your mouth for one got dang second? Excuse my language children" my mother says. "Well if you knew what the hell you were talking about maybe I would!" screams my father. Just as I expected, Mr. and Mrs. Harrison (my parents) were right back at it again. Bickering.

"Perfection" that's how everyone thought the Harrisons were round here. When in reality? We were just a dysfunctional broken family trying to save face. After the cheating scandal between my mother Helen and the new judge in town Paris, our household was left in shambles. Due to my fathers ability to hop back on his feet so quickly however, he was able to maintain our reputation. The thing to know about that man is that he has never been deemed good enough. Not in his own eyes; and at times not in the eyes of others. Don't get me wrong, he's hardworking and very successful in the farming and trading business. But growing up? His eyes were never as blue as his sisters' or he was never as fast as his brother. Now, he's not good enough for his wife. I would have sympathy for him most people would. Even so, in his inability to love himself and his lack of love from others; it ruined any love he had left for other people. To be specific, other people that don't look like him. Hence why I wake up so early around here and also why I'm considered so "different." He doesn't want any hired help unless they work outside or are white. Those are the rules. I don't mind colored folk . They ain't done nothin to me and I ain't done nothin to them and it ought to stay that way. I'd rather read a good book than worry about something only in God's control. My father on the other hand thinks differently. He hates them every last one of them. Does he have a reason ? No. So sorry if I seem brash but he deserves no sympathy from me .

My mother rushes out of the room with my father hot on her trail. My sister Anna walks down the stairs with a puzzled look on her face. "They're back at it?"

"Yup."I give her a small salute with my cup of orange juice. Anna is 2 years younger than me. She's 18 to be exact. If I look like my dad then Anna is a photo replica of our mom. She has the same soft almond shaped blue eyes, golden ringlet curls, fair skin and small frame. Although she's a natural beauty, she is extremely particular about her appearance and will take up to 3 hours a day preparing, not that there is anything wrong with that. Although, today she missed a spot. I openly laugh at her and she glares at me with disgust. "Whats so funny mutt" she exclaims. Anna seems to be sweet as a peach to everyone BUT me. I continually laugh and point at her neck. Her hands reach for her throat in horror. To my amusement, she forgot to cover the area of her neck where her boyfriend had left a brand new dark purple hickey.

"NO!" she screamed to the top of her lungs. "The whole town will think I'm some sort of hussy. Unlike those tramps at school I have Class." She storms upstairs and I call after her " See you at dinner hus- I mean Anna." Everyone knows about Anna and Thomas. They've been going steady for 8 months now and are getting pretty serious. Thomas is one of my best friends. We've known each other since before we could talk and I'm sure he's liked my sister for longer. Me and him are kindred spirits. We like the same things, played the same sports, and had the same interests. We've always just been inseparable. He's already like a brother to me so I was more receptive to their relationship. I already had a feeling there was something between the two of them. Thinking about what I had seen that confirmed their relationship I grimace slightly.

Last summer, when the 3 of us went to the our lake house, like we always do they seemed a bit "close" but more close than usual. I had just finished up another one of my favorite plays by Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet. Although I feel as though Juliet's death could have been avoided and the whole thing was slightly dramatic, it was still a classic nonetheless. I had finished it rather quickly and for some reason felt prompted to see what Thomas and Anna had been up to. They had been gone for a while. Before they left they told me they had some urgent things to take care of concerning food and such back at Thomas' cabin. Sure, I was gullible but it's Romeo and Juliet how could I pass up on that. Regardless, I had made my way over to Thomas's cabin. I was going to knock but privacy was a sort of mutual agreement me and Thomas for a long time had, (mutually) ignored. I barged in and almost immediately my hands flew to my eyes. "Get out Anthony!" my sister yelled and threw a pillow at me. She was sprawled beneath Thomas tangled in sheets and she was red as a freshly picked strawberry. Thomas froze and we all sat in complete silence for 10 minutes. I was in utter disbelief. "My sister is under my best friend" I continued to repeat to myself as I walked outside until it finally clicked. By the time I got the hint Thomas was dressed and had caught up to me. "Anthony come on. I- she- we-" Thomas continued to stutter on his own words and I looked at him as if he's speaking Spanish. I am not bilingual. "Save it" I tell Thomas. "We are brothers and if you like her well... I guess I'll get around to the idea." He pats my back happily and I slap him gently in the face. "But don't let me catch you like that again". Rubbing his cheek he follows sheepishly behind me and says "noted."

The sound of lily barking snaps me out of my daydream like trance. Lily is our German Shepard we got a few years ago and I love her to death. She prances over to me and I run my hands through her brown and black fur. I grab a treat for her from our drawer. "Back so soon?" She barks at me in anticipation and I put the bone in her mouth. She happily skips out through her doggy door to her home outside. I smile and check the clock for the time but my smile quickly fades when I realize I'm late to work.

I started working at SMITH'S bookstore two springs ago. After finishing high school I had decided I would take two years off before going to college and work locally. My dad wanted me to take over his work but it wasn't the life I wanted. In reality, I wanted to be a teacher, or author, or historian. I want to do something I love. I grab my coat, hop on my bicycle, and peddle as quickly as I can to smith's. The bike isn't moving as fast as I want it to and I only have so much momentum to get it there. Smith's isn't far from me but I still could take an extra jog or swim this week to get my legs back in shape.

By the time I get there at 12 the store is already bustling and Mr. Smith is fuming. "Where have you been Anthony! We have customers now get a move on." "Yes Sir" I say and slink off to the back to set my things down. Around 3 or 4 as I'm cleaning the shop I hear the door open then almost immediately after I hear Mr. Smith in a heated debate. In my curiosity, I peak through one of the shelves to see exactly what's going on. Then I see her. I've seen colored women before don't get me wrong, and they are attractive. But, she ... this girl no this woman is absolutely captivating. She is medium in stature about 5 feet 5 inches. Her skin was hazelnut brown and the color of chocolate. Her deep black curly hair was securely kept up in a ponytail in a way that framed her face perfectly. Her frame was medium but not quite small. Hints of her curves peeped through her black and white uniform that was so large it seemed as if it was swallowing her whole. Her face was heart shaped and her lips were full but the most captivating thing about her were her eyes. I couldn't see them well because she kept them firmly planted on the ground. But... they were roundly shaped and a little big but not in an unnatural way. In a way that would make you want to gaze into them for lifetimes. Her eyes were a deep brown that carried some sadness, slight tiredness and a hint of bitterness. As I inched my head closer to the bookshelf I could make out clearly what they were saying.

"READ the sign girl if you can read that is. It says WHITES ONLY." says Mr. Scott. She responds in a meek voice, "But sir, I really need this job and over the phone you said I could start today. I.. won't be in anyone's way now- I just can do the cleaning." Mr. Scott runs his hand through his hair and looks up in thought "Anthony get on out here we see you behind that shelf anyway." Startled, I hit my head off the shelf and walk around to the front. Rubbing my head I say "Yes?" The young woman looks over at me slowly and I can see her more clearly. She looks around my age possibly a year younger and I was correct. She is gorgeous. "Anthony this girl here wants to work for me so I reckon I ought to ask all the staff what they think. Since you're the only one working for me that decision falls to you." I look back between the girl and Mr. Scott. My gaze lingers on the girl a bit longer even though she now refuses to look back at me. After pretending to think it over, even though I've already made my decision I say "She can stay just make sure she stays to the back where I work so that our white customers aren't bothered. She can come to me if she has any questions." " Thats fine with me. I'll leave you to it" Mr Scott eyes the woman one more time and walks away. "Whats your name miss?" She fidgets a bit and tells me her name is Alika. I reach my hand out to shake her hand and say my name is Anthony. I almost curse myself for doing so. "I can't take your hand sir my apologies. I'm glad to be met...but thank you for earlier." In her response there's a bit of fierceness subtly masked behind her quiet demeanor. Her thank you however, seemed extremely sincere. Regardless, I don't think she is a fan of me. Hesitant to rock the boat with her anymore, I retreat back to my work and direct her to the cleaning supplies. I tell her it mostly gets dusty towards the back so it shouldn't be much trouble for her to work. She nods silently and heads off towards the closet. Around 7:50 pm, I tell Alika we close at 8 and send her off with payment documentation.

Mr. Scott settled with a price of her making .40 cents an hour and working up to 8 hours a day. Six days a week. He made sure to make a note that she would only be working an 8 hour day if the store was extremely dusty or if he was in a very good mood. I was shocked and outraged. Although it is a smaller bookstore, Smith's is exceedingly well off. Not to mention I make 4.50$ an hour working the same shift. But as I keep absentmindedly forgetting, I'm white and here in Georgia she's blessed to have gotten a job here at all. After I flick off the lights and close up the shop I go home with two "treasures." I acquired them while working today. Two phone numbers from pretty girls that live not too far from me. Molly and Charlotte are their names. Any guy would be ecstatic to have their numbers and they could have their pick at them all. But as I unchain my bike and begin my journey I can not get her off my mind. Those eyes, those lips, her subtle fierceness that could stop any man in his tracks with a glare. As I make my way up the trail to my house I let that name slide of my tongue. "Alika" I say and a smile immediately comes to my lips. I cover my mouth, shake my head and set my bike down by the guest house. After jogging to my house and going in to greet my parents, I head upstairs and lie on my bed. I position myself to my window to get more comfortable. As I stare out Alika seems to be all that comes to mind. Those foolish ravens are back at making noise but for some reason they seem a bit less annoying than they did this morning.