With very tight lips and stiff jaw he asked, "I need to know the alternatives of my daughter getting an education, preferably somewhere other than this school, outside of home schooling." He pushed the registration forms across the counter at her. Pauline shook nervously, with her voice trembling, her gestures jerky she looked from Shawn to the principle.
"Stan..." She called to the principle who was talking to one of the teachers and hadn't heard her at first. "STAN! Mr. SHAW!! I need your - attention - now!" She barked.
All four people looked around at her, then at Shawn who was maintaining his look of belligerence. Not aware of what was going on, the principle was smiling when he walked over.
"Good morning sir, Pauline... what's going on here?" He greeted Shawn and then asked Pauline. He was a tall, slender white male of Shawn's height, head full of grey hair, cropped close to his head, wearing glasses over sharp features, looking to be in his early fifties.
"Ummm, they're here to register their daughter in school and-..."
"They?" The principle asked, aware of only Shawn and Angela.
Pauline nodded her head towards Sylvia who was looking anywhere but at them, fighting the urge to get up and leave and wait in the SUV.
The principle looked at Sylvia, then at Shawn, "Are you two together?"
"Yes - we are!" Shawn answered sharply.
The principle swallowed and looked down at Pauline. "What happened?"
"Ummm, I'm not really sure-..." The first bell rang cutting her off, she continued after it stopped, "...Beth - was here seeing to them first, and ummm... I'm not sure what happened, but something did."
The principle picked up the registration forms, "Are these her transfer records?" He asked, as if getting permission from Shawn to grab them as well.
"Yes."
"Will you and your wife follow me, this way - please." He asked looking from Shawn to Sylvia, who finally turned to look up at Shawn. "Please..." The principle repeated. Sylvia stood and walked to the swinging gate that led behind the main desk where one went to go into the principles office. Shawn placed his hand on Angela's shoulder and chose not to correct the principle on calling Sylvia his wife... in a few days she would be, and he wasn't about to change that status in their eyes. He walked up to her, placing his hand at her back and looking into her eyes, she glanced away and made her way toward the principle, following him into his office. He closed the door and invited them to have a seat. Angela sat between Shawn and Sylvia.
"Okay... let me begin by saying... I don't know what happened, but I can tell something did - I assume for the - obvious reasons." He meant their interracial relationship, which they were fully aware. "Before we go any further, I apologize for anything that may have happened that brought offence to your family." He said looking Sylvia in the eyes and then to Shawn.
"Lets get your daughter registered first, and then we can go from there."
"To be totally honest with you, I'm not feeling comfortable leaving her here. My wife and I feel insulted by your office worker Beth, who without words, but by her actions, catapulted us back 50 years in time, giving me the feeling that she'd wished she'd worn her white sheet today!"
"That's a little strong!"
"No, her actions were strong! Out of order and out of place for an establishment that brags and claims such high standards of education - enlightenment - broadening of young minds. We are worried about our daughter right now!"
"Sir, ma'am... we need to introduce ourselves. I'm the principal here, Stan Shaw." He reached over, extended his hand first to Sylvia. "Please... and you are?" He asked as Sylvia looked from his hand up at him. Trying to be fair to him, she reached up and answered, sticking with the assumption. "Mrs. McPherson, Sylvia McPherson." And shook his hand.
"I apologize to you directly Mrs. McPherson and I assure you, this matter will not end here...this is not the fifties, and this school is set up to broaden young minds and to educate."
Sylvia gave no reaction other than to let go of his hand and sit back as he offered it to Shawn, "Shawn Everett McPherson." Shawn introduced himself next and shook his hand, the principle then went to Angela, "And you young lady, your name?"
"Angela Rae McPherson." She responded in turn, shaking his hand.
"I'm delighted to meet you." He then sat back and looked to Shawn.
"I normally would not have to say this, but under the circumstances I must. We have three African American teaches here, one of them in fact, teaches fifth grade. Mrs. Dearborn - she's an excellent teacher - and an asset. The other two teach kindergarten and third grade. Mrs. Beverly and Mr. Jenkins."
"There was no problem in me being black until it was evident that I was with him. After seeing me - a black woman, with a white man - THAT sir - generated the problem. There was no hostility or resentment until she knew that we were here together." Sylvia spoke up.
"I see, so it really wasn't racially motivated, you two must admit, under the circumstances-..."
"What circumstances!? And further more, how in the hell do you come to that conclusion?! Not racially motivated!?" Shawn cut him off and asked sitting forward in his seat, his browns drawn and confrontational.
"I meant, that whatever her behavior, it wasn't directed because your wife is black. I mean -... " The principal stated, then gulped and turned red.
"Bullshit! That's exactly why she responded as she did! Because my wife is black! You're going to sit here and try to convince me - that we would have been treated that way if she had been white?! Further more, you commented under the circumstances!?? - Lets get something straight right here, right now. There is no circumstance! I am human! She is human! We match! I am a man! She is a woman! We - match! Due to early mans dividing off into tribes - for whatever reason... genetic selections have made me into what you see... and her into what you see! WE - FUCKING - MATCH!-..."
"Shawn! Calm down." Sylvia sat forward afraid for him to go any further.
"Mr. McPherson, I understand where you're going with-..."
"No! You think we have extenuating circumstances! We don't! You've just sat here and doubly insulted me and my wife thinking that we're so fucking thick - that we don't know when we've been racially discriminated against, you think I don't know when we've been cut, you gonna sit here and tell me that display of snobbery wasn't racially motivated?! Then add insult to injury by justifying her actions!" Shawn shot to his feet. The principle stood, growing red in the face as Sylvia stood unsure of what to do.
"Mr. McPherson can you just, just calm down and give me a chance here."
"Not when I'm this pissed off! The fucking problem here is not - my wife and I!!! The problem here is how you and those in this screwed up world perceive us that creates the circumstance! We - are normal! You sonofabitch! Your education hasn't done you a fucking bit of good thanks to thousands of years of effective social brainwashing and BULLSHIT!!! You wanna fucking make us out to be abnormal and I'm not standing for it! You as an instructor - a teacher should know what I'm saying - without me having to explain it to you. If you lack the proper facilities to educate my daughter - you need to give us the school districts alternatives!" Shawn's anger had him going from pointing at the principle to flexing his fists open and close, the urge flowed up through his body, gripping him, shaking his arms so he wanted to launch a punch to knock him out. Sylvia's heart was pounding as she could see the extent of his temper. Pauline out in the office could hear him as well a few students and parents that were in the office, there was also one of the black teachers that had been earlier mentioned, standing and watching, curious about what was going on.
The principal stood swallowing nervously as Shawn went into his rage at him. All the years he'd been in the board of education, he hadn't faced this situation. Simply because, he'd always avoided any and all racially motivated confrontations. Now here he was, facing it and not handling it well. Part of his problem was he had no one to blame for this but himself. He knew how Beth was. Mrs. Beverly's husband was white
and the two women didn't get along. As a matter of fact, he knew that Beth would not take messages to her class. Would not call her with any needed information because she resented her being married to a white male. Cora Beverly had come to him and expressed certain instances concerning Beth, but he'd made light of the matter, conjuring excuses. He had talked over her and discarded her concerns because she needed this job as a teacher, and he knew it. Even though making excuses - he had written it up, but it hadn't gone any further. Cora had simply resigned herself to ignoring Beth, this woman whom was hired on as just an office extra. She resented that, but was powerless as Beth proudly ignored her. Now it was a different story. The McPherson's didn't need anything from him. From the school. Mr. Shaw had a perfect school record and reputation that this incident could very well jeopardize - with all the other matters going on as well, it would now have to be dealt with, it didn't take a rocket scientist to see - that Mr. McPherson was not going to take any sugar coating from him, he had to stop this before it went too far.
"Let's go!" Shawn ordered having concluded what he had to say.
"Wait a minute - wait a minute. There's no need for this, have a seat... please."
"No! Screw this! I don't need anymore of you blowing smoke up my ass! As for that racist peace of shit bitch out there that you sit here and pretend not to have known about, she and you, will wish she had not insulted my wife as she did!"
Shawn was too angry to listen and stormed out of the office slamming to principles door back against the outer wall, the momentum forced it to swing back. Sylvia turned to grab her purse, taking Angela's hand and made to follow him. "Ma'am I'm asking you to please take a seat and give me an opportunity to deal with this. I don't wish this to end this way. Please... just a moment, let me follow him out and talk to him. I can fix this... please sit and wait... give us just a moment."
"I don't think that's a good idea." Sylvia replied.
"Look... I know where I went wrong. Please, have a seat and give me a chance to correct this." The principle urged and walked out of the office closing them inside.
Sylvia wasn't sure if she should wait or go outside. Shawn's temper scared her sometimes. She looked down at Angela, who asked. "My dad can really get mad! What'll we do now?"
Sylvia looked toward the door, it opened with Pauline bringing her coffee and Angela juice on a tray with cookies, looking pass Pauline's entry Sylvia spotted a black teacher looking in at her, she didn't know at that time that it was 'Cora Beverly'. She smiled at Sylvia and winked, turned and seemed to float out of the office after Pauline had shared a bit of what had taken place with her. "Please have a seat, I brought you coffee and juice for your daughter." Pauline offered, still nervous and feeling bad. She'd told Stan herself about Beth, but he'd discarded it from her as well. She felt in this day and age, it was common place to see such couples and it didn't bother her one way or the other. They had a state trooper on the interstate who was black, his wife was white, it was commonplace now but that Beth had ideas of her own.
"Thank you...but... I'm pregnant, not drinking coffee right now. Angela you want the juice?"
"No thank you." She answered. Pauline brought it in and placed it on the desk. "Perhaps some milk then?"
"No...we're fine." Sylvia returned, smiling at the woman.
"Well, just in case you change your mind, here it is, help yourself. If you need anything, you just get my attention Mrs. McPherson."
"Thank you but I think we should leave, my husband is angry enough."
"Stan will be able to talk him down. Just give him a moment, we'll take care of it... I assure you we will."
Sylvia turned back and had a seat. "Let's sit and give it a few minutes, see what happens." She instructed Angela.
"Thank you." Pauline added closing them in once again.
"I hope my dad doesn't hit him." Angela spoke her thoughts looking at Sylvia.
"Would your dad hit him?" Sylvia asked, having witnessed him attack another man, but that had been under different circumstances, understandable.
"He's hit people before... if he gets really mad - he'll hit him." Angela informed her. Sylvia groaned, and then asked, "Has he ever... hit your mother before?"
Angela looked surprised by that question. "No... he's been so mad that he hit stuff in the house, but he never hit my mom. He put holes in the walls sometimes, and he broke some doors too... but, he never hit her." Angela informed her with honest wide eyes. Sylvia groaned again, not sure of what to think and wondered if Shawn needed to attend a few sessions of anger management. The relief was that he didn't hit women, but his temper left one quaking in their shoes. They sat quiet a few moments giving Sylvia time to think and she suddenly asked, "Angela... how are you going to be able to face possible ridicule that is racist based. I'm black, you're not - your father is not. This is all new for you, a new school... and now this. Are you ready for this?"
She shrugged looking down at the floor, then up at Sylvia. "I don't understand what the big deal is? Why does it bother some people, so what if you're black... what's wrong with being black?"
"Angela, America was set up by a nation of whites who felt themselves superior or better than black people, or any other race for that matter. Trying to keep a hold on that superiority they feel is so precious, they get angry when someone like them... someone white, goes against their ideas, and involves themselves with someone black so intimately as your father has with me. They look at your father's actions, as an act of treachery, betrayal against their established social rank. It makes some of them angry that he's with me, they feel that he should be with his own kind...standing with them to maintain a pure white race...or better word actually... tribe."
"But why? Why are white people better than black people? Who says?"
"There is no such thing as one color of people being superior over another. Its all in the minds of men who need to feel powerful... ummm, look... it's too much to get into right now. We can talk about it a little at a time as you feel the need - but for now - I need to know if you're going to be alright with me coming to school to pick you up?"
"I don't like this Sylvia... this is so stupid! My dad loves you and I love you too, - as for them, they can all kiss our ass!"
"Angela! That - young lady is a no - not allowed! I'm not gonna have you using that kind of language, even if it is in my behalf...and - I love you too." Sylvia smiled and hugged her, "I'm just a little frightened that you may not be ready for this."
"I'm not afraid. If kids don't like me because you're my mom... then they don't like me, because I'm sure not going to be liking them! They better not get me mad!"
Sylvia gazed down into her lovely face and fought back laughter, she could see it already - this child was going to be a scrapper. She had a feeling she was going to be at this school quite a bit.
Stan walked out of the school to see Shawn leaning against his vehicle with his arms crossed, the second bell rang and the last of the students were going in.
"Mr. McPherson-..."
"Where is my wife and my daughter?!"
"I asked them to wait inside while we talked out here."
"I've said all I have to say... not in the mood to talk right now-..."
"Oh come on Mr. McPherson, let's be reasonable at least! Okay you want me to admit it!? Beth is a racist! The fact is, America is still just that! 21st century and still a bunch of narrow minded, pea brained individuals exist! For my part, I was wrong to try and dust over it, but Mr. McPherson - where are you going to run to get away from it? Its just about everywhere! Don't teach your daughter to run from it. Teach her to stand in the face of it and deal with it logically."
"I tell you what - you're the ruling authority here - make a stand for what you know is right! Don't sugar coat! Don't dust over! Don't look aside! When the powers that be, stand for what is right, then my little girl will have a chance! But until then, as her father, as my wife's husband... as long as they have me, I'll do the fighting for them - so don't you
tell me how to run my family."
Mr. Shaw sighed, this man was not going to let him out of this, he was not standing down. Now - he wished he'd just let Beth go, but that was going to create another little problem for him, but he couldn't let this happen again.
Shawn stood a moment, knowing that he needed to cool down, however when it came to Sylvia... he had a trigger temper, especially with race issues, no one was going to shame her and make her feel unworthy and cut her as that Beth had. He had to stare her down, because the alternative would have been to hit her, and he didn't hit women. As for Mr. Stan Shaw, he knew for the most part, a portion of what he said was right, however it was easy for him to be so logical about the whole issue, it wasn't the woman he loved being belittled. No... he would not back down, in wasn't in his nature to, but he would try to reason with him because Angela needed to be in school, she'd missed enough time already. He shifted his posture a bit and wasn't so ready to pounce, it was his turn to wipe his hand over his face and take a deep breath. Even so, something was going to have to give here.
"Mr. McPherson, I want to work this out with you. I don't wish you to leave here thinking I'm a racist bastard and this school is where we breed."
"Tell me something, why has her behavior been tolerated? You admit to knowing she's a racist, yet you let her go on working here in this office, where hundreds of children from whatever background must travel through and possibly face her ostracism. While this is most certainly a majority white area, I don't for a moment believe we are the only interracial couple in the area, I know better... I've seen others. So why has she been tolerated? Or should I be asking this question of others and present a case to the school district?"
"That won't be necessary. I give you my word... she will be dealt with."
"She shouldn't be here. This is a place for education and open minds... not psychological cripples."
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