Ty & Cinda, A Tale of Forbidden Love - S01 E01

Story 1 week ago

Ty & Cinda, A Tale of Forbidden Love - S01 E01

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 1

"HL, I'm Lucinda....call me Cinda."

"Uhh...I'm....I'm Ty. I'm new around here."

She laughed and smiled. "I already figured that out. You here to play ball?"

Now Ty laughed as he twirled his ball in his hand. "I guess it's pretty obvious. I hope I'll get a chance."

"Not to worry... Monroe, let Ty play. I'll tell Momma if you don't."

"He can take my place," DeJuan said. "I'm already late for work."

Monroe came over to him and asked, "Can you actually play or are you like most of the white kids around here?"

"I guess time will tell." Ty stripped off his t-shirt exposing his pale white skin. He recalled his father's admonitions. "Self praise stinks, his dad had often said, "Let your actions speak for you." Ty could have bragged about playing on his age-group AAU team, a team that had gone to the national finals under his leadership and play or how he had been a starter for his high school varsity as a freshman and sophomore. He'd comment on it if the subject arose, but otherwise he'd not mention it at all.

Cinda came up to him with a bottle. "Ty, you'd better have some of this lotion. You'll look like a lobster if you don't. You wait a minute, Monroe while I save Ty from a bad burn." She poured some lotion into her hand and wiped it over his shoulders and back. He was amazed at her touch. Ty had known some girls in Indiana, but none

like Cinda, of that he was certain.

"Uh, thanks.. Cinda." He jogged onto the court, asking Monroe who he was supposed to guard. The game began anew with Ty guarding one of the lesser players on the opposing team. He more than held his own while Monroe was helpless with a guard on the other team. Marquis went around Monroe like he was standing still. After a drive and basket Ty suggested they change men. When Marquis dribbled confidently into the front court Ty had his number. He sliced left just as the ball left Marquis' hand, knocking it away just after it bounced. Ty was on it in a flash and dribbled toward the other basket. Marquis was sure he'd block the layup, but Ty bounce-passed behind his back to the streaking Monroe for an uncontested shot. Marquis never scored another basket while Ty controlled both the offense and defense for his team. He only scored three baskets, but fed his teammates for six easy layups. They won 21-15, easily overcoming a 14-10 deficit. Ty was covered in sweat when Monroe clapped him on his shoulder.

"That was pretty good, Ty. You've obviously played some."

"Yeah, it's really big where I come from in Indiana."

"What're you doin' here?"

"Living with my Mom and grandparents. My folks are getting divorced. I'll probably never see my dad again."

"At least you got to know him," Cinda exclaimed. "I never even knew my daddy. He skipped on Momma before I was born."

That's too bad; he missed out knowing a wonderful person. Well, I gotta go now. Will i see you tomorrow?"

"I'll walk with you if you're going toward the levee." I agreed and a minute later Cinda and I left the park, me rolling my expensive racing bike alongside. It was priceless to me, probably the last gift I'd ever receive from my dad.

We walked slowly down the quiet road. "Where do you live, Ty," Cinda asked.

"Down the road a couple of miles," I replied, "just beyond the marina."

"You don't live with Capt. Lew Walker, do you?"

"Yeah, he's my grandpa. I only met him yesterday, why?"

"I'm havin' second thoughts about defendin' you, Ty. He's the biggest racist in this parish."

"I can't say anything about him good or bad. Like I said, I only met him yesterday and that was only because my mom decided to move here with her folks. Just because he thinks like that don't mean that I do."

Doesn't... Ty, not don't. I may be black but that doesn't mean I don't know how to speak."

"Sorry," I said with a laugh. "You sound like my mother." Now It was Cinda's turn to laugh.

"I like you, Ty. How old are you, anyway?"

"I like you, too.. Cinda. I'm seventeen, but I'll be eighteen in another week-on July 1st."

"You're two days older than I am, Ty. Are you going to be a junior or a senior?"

"Yeah...I mean yes, I'm going to be a junior. She giggled then told me she was entering her junior year, too. We walked the rest of the way in silence until Cinda turned up a dirt path toward her home. I waved her goodbye, hopping onto my bike once she was out of sight. I was back home in a couple of minutes. I had the bike up to thirty on some of the paved areas.

"How was the park, Ty? Did you get to play?"

"Yeah, Mom," had a great game. I met....."

"You were down at the park with those niggers?" My grandfather had interrupted rudely. I could understand Cinda's feelings.

"I was there with a bunch of black kids, yes," I replied. "They were okay once they got to know me."

"You're not to go there again. You hear me, boy? I forbid it! I absolutely forbid it."

"How could I not hear you, Grandpa? I'm right here and you're yelling in my ear. Frankly, I was treated better by the black kids. I'll go back there if I feel like it. I didn't ask to come here. I was forced, but I'll gladly go back to Indiana if you'd prefer." I couldn't believe I had spoken to my grandfather that way. My mother was appalled.

"You don't mean that, Ty."

"You know I do, Mon. It was bad enough that I had to leave my

home where I had lots of friends to come here where I have none.