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The federal government had stepped in to help get the country out of the recession. People who were out of work were building roads and even built a new school for the blacks of our community. The government would be forever changed for now there would be decisive action to not only pull us out of the depression but hopefully make sure it never happened again.
Rosa was a senior in high school and I had tried on several occasions to get closer to her but young women never seemed to be interested in anyone younger than they were. After all I was a mere sophomore. She had also continued her practice of the piano and had begun to teach Beverly to play.
We had regular correspondence with Roy and Esther. They were doing great and had bought a small home and started a family. Zack and Betty were so proud.
Next spring we all went to Rosa?s graduation and were all bursting with pride. On the way home Mr. G. told Rosa he wanted to send her to college. She was so surprised she nearly fell out of the truck. The next fall all of us piled into the truck and took Rosa to Alcorn State and stayed long enough to make sure everything was OK. Mr. G. had bought her an entirely new set of clothes and she looked gorgeous. Everyone was sad to see her go. Rosa was going to study English so she could become a teacher and also was going to continue her study of the piano.
I was happy when school started for me. I missed Rosa so much. She was like a breath of fresh air on a crisp spring day. When a letter arrived from her Betty would show it to me and that was good in a way but still left me feeling sad.
When Christmas arrived Zack took the truck and went to bring Rosa home for the holidays. On Christmas eve we all gathered at the big house for dinner and then opened our presents. After dinner we all went into the living room and listened as Rosa played the piano. Then Beverly took her turn at the piano. I think it was the happiest time I had ever seen.
Late that evening as the party began to break up I followed Rosa into the yard and as we were saying goodnight I leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. She looked at me with that funny look she sometimes had and said, ?Why did you do that?? I answered that it was something I had wanted to do for a long time. Then I walked her home. Later that week Zack took her back to college.
When summer came Rosa returned home and took a job teaching kids that needed help to pass to the next grade. Whenever we could we would sit together and I wanted her to tell me all she could about college.
THE REVELATION
The next year I graduated from high school and just as he had done with Rosa he told me on the way home that he wanted to send me to college. Later on that summer he told me he wanted me to take courses in business and I thought that kind of strange because the only jobs I knew of for black men with a college education would be teaching.
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