During the '77 - '78 academic year, which was second grade, a very memorable moment arose. It involved getting some solid swats in front of the classroom. It was such a dust-raising spectacle that the instructor, Ms. Blacksmith, who had falsified a grade report giving a "D" when a "B" or "A" had been earnt, even she looked hurt. She hated this young lion; but, not that much. Seeing that, signs of compassion arose on her "pitiful" face. As, a father said with the resounding echoes of solid "whallops" this backside, "You are not bringing home any 'D's! I had better not see another 'D' on your report card again!" Truth be told, as a young Mensan, who had not "officially" joined, the probability of a earnt "D" was slimmer that him winning a Powerball Lottery. And, all of those children, who were so fond of calling the young lion names, suddenly looked rather concerned for his well-being, health, and safety. It was apparent that he might have some "secret friends" among the classroom.
This was not more evident on one evening when he was heading home with the only other child who would speak with him regularly, a young Turkish lad, named Orkin. As, he rounded the swing set, a burly little girl, who named might have been Amy, blurted out, "My mother says that niggers are stupid!". At which, she received a box on the right shoulder that was barely a "soft tap". At which, she started rubbing he arm and saying "Owww!". Which was nothing more than an act. Her older brother, who name, Darrel Icabob, will never be forgotten, towered over all of us. Seeing that, he was a fifth-grader. Taking up for his little sister, he threatened some level of violence; however, in all actuality, she might have been more in more trouble than the young lion. Seeing that, upon approaching the swing set, she was overhead saying "That boy is smart in math! He knows all of his times tables!"
Life has taught that one cannot take a situation or the words said for surface value; something else might be well-below the surface. More interactions, mostly unfavorable, were had with that rotund little girl and her family. Her mother and her grandmother each had short beehive hairdos. Her grandmother's was a little taller than her mother's. And, it was her grandmother who had an attempt at running over the young lion on a gravel road that connected their small neighborhood with the main street near a crosswalk and light at 96th and Blondo. It will not be forgotten that she was driving a Ford Country Squire. Which was primary red in color with faux wood paneling. The hateful look on her face will never be forgotten. As, she glared over the steering wheel and "stomped" on the gas pedal. The engine in that early-70s or late-60s Ford could be heard revving. As, it slowly flooded itself. Thank goodness that woman could not drive. Interestingly enough, the young lion did not flinch or run as he crossed over near 96th Street. He simply looked at her like she was absolutely insane, heard the word "Judah" echo loudly in the recesses of his mind, and saw a lion resting on a African plain in his mind's imagination. And, he made it safely across in plenty of time. As, he walked along the sidewalk. He heard her apply the brakes wildly. Before, she entered the main street and potential traffic.
The next day, that rotund, burly little girl reported that her grandmother nearly had a heart attack. When, she almost ran over a little colored boy, yesterday. Everyone knew who that was; because, the young lion was the only one in the neighborhood. And, everyone knew what she was saying. When, she said colored; because, it was deemed more natural when Whites called us Black or niggers. The adjective "colored" was used when they were somewhat fond of us. And, it was likely her subtle expressions of "fondness for 'niggers'" around her family that resulted in their next assault attempt. For which, they compensated an elderly African American man.
It was recalled. That, while staying at a home-based childcare center, the young girl's mother with her short beehive stopped by the house. So, she could talk with older gentleman who was the husband of the daycare provider. She sold him that same Ford station wagon for fifteen hundred dollars. Then, she gave him three hundred dollars for the needed work. Which included a brake job. Without bringing up, many bad memories, for many folks whom are deeply loved, that man began abusing the children in an ugly way.
Only some of those experiences are recalled; because, we were drugged for some. As, a White classmate at Omaha Central discovered, when he thought that he had "the goods" on the young lion and his family. When, that classmate showed him, a picture of him and young girl, unclothed and in a compromising position; yet, one could see that they were each soundly asleep. Apparently, this photograph appeared in Odyssey magazine. Although, we were each under the age of eight. Which was a periodical shared by a regional community of "70s-style" swingers. For whom, sexual perversion was and is a daily norm. It was surprising that that particular young man had that magazine; because, he was quite proud of his participation among a local and regional Masonic lodge. Which was always assumed affiliated with the Christian church; however, such an organization has never been joined. So, it truly is unknown what the tenants and bylaws of their organization state. They were never joined; primarily because, that classmate and his friends whom he claimed were junior Masons were a very telling indicator of whom the Masons would proudly accept among them and what many of them might do.
And, the drums roll. In fact, that was the type of brakes found on all cars on all four wheels before '75 or so. Also, that is what needed repairing on that Country Squire. It is recalled sitting on the carpet in that dank, detached garage where so many children were hurt as the paid perpetrator struggled with repairing the brakes himself. Because, he intended on keeping the three hundred. Which he was given. And naively, like any curious child, the young lion asked, "How do those brakes work?" At which, he was scolded for forgetting his place as a child. And, he was told that his "simpleness" would not permit him understanding something as complicated as those brakes. Such was for adults and not children. At which, he said that was his problem. He thought that could understand things that were beyond him. And, he should "shut up" in class. So, the teachers could teach; because, "people" know and understand more than a "Black child".
And, that was an interesting perspective. Seeing that, he always called Whites "people" and Blacks "Black people". It might be understood. If, he called Blacks "people" and Whites "White people" or everyone "people". But, his language was very telling of his perspective in life and sense of self and social positioning.
Besides, the other silly suggestions recalled. It was remembered that the young lion's father and other adults were once commenting on drum brakes and the associated stopping distance. And, it was asked if a braking system that grabbed a wheel-attached rotor with a large mitt would be better. Simple and simple-minded, like a child might share an insight. Long story short, within twenty-four months, a number of adults were talking about the "new" caliper braking systems coming out of Detroit. They raved about them. Interestingly enough, it was during that same period. That adults were heard discussing the dangerousness involved with driving a semi tractor and trailer during the icy Winter months; mostly because, the large drum brakes found on tractor-trailers did not slow down the vehicle well. And, naively, it was asked if a turbine could be used which would produce air compressed by the vehicles forward motion and that compressed air's force could be used for increasing the "stopping" force. Although, caliper brakes could easily be found on bicycles and the world wide web reports that air brakes have been available since the late-1800s on trains and early-1920s as far as trucks are concerned. These simple independently developed insights show that the young lion had a capacity for reasoning that was unique in ways.
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