Her Secret, His Child

Slowing her approach, she listened to determine whether it would be appropriate to interrupt. To see whether they were discussing Poe or basketball scores.

"So you've got this linebacker…" Okay, so she'd had the wrong sport. Jamie headed toward the classroom door. "What's his name?" Kyle asked, but he didn't sound nearly as casual as his words implied.

"Number eighty-five. Jim, just Jim, no last name."

Whoever he was talking to didn't sound casual, either. Was this some kind of test?

Stopping just short of the door, Jamie leaned against the wall and listened a little longer.

"Right," Kyle said. "What else can you tell me?"

The question was met with total silence.

"Jim's got this manager…" Kyle prompted.

"Uh, right, a manager, and she's a woman."

TARA TAYLOR QU1NN

"What's her name?"

"Miss Watson." The answers were flowing a little faster.

"What do you know about her?"

"She's like this Bible-totin' do-gooder broad who's always goin' around preachin' about doin' right."

Didn't sound like any sports manager Jamie had ever heard of.

"Okay."

"Except she ain't so right 'cause Jim's good— best linebacker anybody's ever seen. He's got the chance to make something of himself, and she won't let him."

"Why not?"

"She's a two-faced bitch."

"Maybe so." Kyle didn't seem put out by the reply. "But there's more to it. Why doesn't she want to sign Jim to a contract?"

"'Cause he's black. She makes deals for the white boys."

"Is that fair?"

"Hell no, it ain't fair!"

"Why not?"

Mesmerized, Jamie continued to listen. She didn't recognize the other male voice at all, but there was no mistaking the seriousness of this odd conversation.

'"Cause Jim's a guy just like the rest. What matters ain't the color of his skin but how many guys he can cremate so they don't score."

"So why doesn't somebody can her?"

HER SECRET, HIS CHILD

'"Cause the people where she lives feel just like she does. They think blacks are lesser citizens."

"Where do these people live?"