Dear Lily,
It has been four years already since we’ve
seen each other. Time elapses so fast…. Lily, I’m
now a high ranked lawyer in Tiburon, all the colored villagers lionize me. I was thankful for the villagers’ support
but without Mr. Forrest’s help, I wouldn’t be a lawyer in Tiburon. As you know--work
for Negros like me were shackled in Tiburon.
Eight-teen years ago, he assisted me by giving me law books that he finished using,
although being a lawyer was a bizarre thing to
do at that time.
This “lawyer” thing was the second idea
that came in mind after you when desegregation seemed imminent.
I always had a meticulous check on my
back to see if someone was following me because some of the white villagers had
dissensions about a Negro lawyer like me. During
the days, when I was studying to be a lawyer, there was a point I felt scared. I
felt villagers around me would conspire to have
my dreams of becoming a lawyer halted. There were newspapers that said “A Negro
person tries to become a lawyer but gets apprehended
by the police,” also it said that many others were arraigned,
interrogated and beaten by the white villagers. Some
days it seemed like we lived in total anarchy. This
was assimilating all the bad impressions, it was
frightening for me and I nearly gave up because I didn’t want to end up like
those people, tangled in a calamity brought on
me due to my pursuits. Nevertheless, I was going to be a lawyer—as long as you
are in my mind. The one that motivated me was you. You told me that one day we
will be together, I was thinking about those words and made a turbulent journey—look
at me now; I’m a high ranked lawyer.
Tiburon is as usual with sweltering summers, but without you I feel a hole in
my life. I miss you terribly Lily and by the way, I read your new book “The
Other Side.” It’s great! I liked how you put my name as the main character. I
hope to see you soon Lily, and come and visit—me, August, June, Neil and the
bee house—over the winter!
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