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When the service was over everyone began to bring picnic baskets and settled around the stands. Rosa and I walked over to our bench under the big oak tree and when she sat down I got down on one knee and said; ?I have loved you all my life, will you marry me?? She said: ?You stupid jerk, I thought I was going to have to ask you.?
I reached in my pocket and handed her the box with the engagement ring and when she opened it she said, ?Oh, my God.? She slid it on her finger and it fit perfectly. I told her why it fit so well. We had not even noticed that while this was going on all of the family had gathered around us and they all gave out a big cheer.
When we started home Rosa jumped in the front seat and snuggled up so close to me I could hardly drive. It gave me such a warm feeling. We laughed, sang songs, and talked all the way home. Rosa wanted to just run off and get married but I told her she would not know what she was missing if we did not have a proper wedding. It took about two weeks to get ready but it was a beautiful wedding on our front steps and then we left for a honeymoon in New Orleans.
I had called ahead and found there were several nice hotels that catered to blacks. When we arrived we went straight to our room and made love for hours. The next day we were told many of the fine restaurants had a seating area for blacks. We ate at the best of them. We also walked along the banks of the river and took a cruise on a paddle wheeler. It was amazing how open New Orleans was. For every door that was closed there seemed to be another open. We had the most wonderful honeymoon.
THE TRIAL
Not too long after we returned home it was time to go shopping for school clothes for Beverly and William and we decided to take them to Jackson. You can?t imagine the look on the faces of the store clerks when we walked in with two white children.
After all the shopping was done we went to the Paramount Theater. I gave them money for the show and popcorn and after they went in the front we went to the colored entrance and bought tickets and went upstairs to watch the show. It was ?Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.? Everyone enjoyed it. As soon as we were in the car and headed home they fell asleep.
Things settled down for a few weeks and we could not believe how wonderful everyone had been to us. Then we were shocked back to our senses. A sheriffs deputy came to the house one morning and served us a summons. We read it carefully and couldn?t believe what it said. They were going to try and take Beverly and William away from us.
We were devastated. How could anyone be so inhumane as to try and take our children away.
We rushed to the phone and called the children?s grandparents. They said not to worry that they would be with us throughout. Then we called our attorney and told him the bad news. He was optimistic but cautious.
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