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"As long as we act like they think we act, we'll always be second class citizens," he declared. It was about as much as he would say about the issues. He avoided arguments and never got into discussions about these things. Ken ranted and raved sometimes about the inequalities, blaming his own poor state of affairs on everything from the time of the first slave ship, but Roy never joined in on his complaints and it always bothered Ken that his son didn't parrot the things he said.

"Did you enjoy the movie?" Roy asked as soon as we left the theater.

"Yes. Well, not the car crashes and explosions so much, but I liked the way he broke down at the end and admitted all he ever cared about was her."

Roy laughed.

Above us in an apartment building, someone had their windows open and the sounds of music flowed into the street. Off in the distant sky, a commercial jet rose toward the stars, taking people west, maybe to California.

"You're a sucker for romance, huh?"

"It's nice to have someone care more about you than he cares about himself," I said.

Roy gazed at me and we walked quietly for a while. A gang of teenagers passed by, running in the street and forcing cars to slow down. Some drivers sounded their horns, but that only made the kids more defiant. They disappeared around a corner.

"They're all just bored," I said. "That's why they get into trouble."

"Maybe they're just bad."

"They could be good," I insisted. Roy laughed.

"You're a real sweet person, Rain. You want to know why I don't go on dates so much? It's because I'm trying to find a girl just like you, someone who thinks about other people, too. Most of the girls I know are in love with themselves first and foremost. That's all they talk about when they're with me, themselves, their clothes, their hair, their figures and they're always fishing for compliments. Don't I look nice? Do you like my hair like this or should I wear more make-up? They know the answers. They just want to hear me sound like some fan club."

I laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"I never heard you go on so," I said.

"Well, I can't help it. It gets to me sometimes. You never brag about yourself or put Beni down. I watch and listen to the two of you, Rain. And you're the prettiest girl in that damn school, too," he declared.

"Oh, I am not, Roy Arnold."

"Yes, you are. They know it too. Why do you think other girls are mean to you? They're just jealous, is all."

"You just say that because you're my brother," I told him, smiling.

"I don't say it about Beni, Rain. She's not ugly, but she's not beautiful like you."

I felt myself get warm in the neck and face and looked away quickly. Roy had never said things so directly to me like this before and I didn't know how to respond.

"It's not good for a girl to be so vain. It's a sin, Roy. You've heard Mama say so lots of times."

"You don't have to be stuck-up. Just don't ever feel below anyone, Rain."

"Everyone's got faults, Roy. Me, too. Don't build your dream girl so high you can never reach her," I said. "I don't want to see you lonely. You deserve the best girl."

"Right now, I got her with me," he said. He squeezed my hand and as we walked on home, I wondered if I should dare to believe the things he told me about myself.

Mama was asleep when we arrived, but we were both shocked when we entered the apartment. There was a six pack of beer on the table. Roy glanced at me and then we walked slowly to the living room. There was Ken sprawled over the couch, his arm dangling. He was home again.

Roy and I looked at each other and he shook his head. We both felt like prize fighters about to start another round.

3

A Terrible Truth

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