“It’s because I ‘m white.”

“It has nothing to do with you being white.”

“I prefer it to be an anonymous donor.”

“There is nothing wrong with a friendly donor.”

“I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

“You would prefer a black man you don’t know to a white man

you do know?”

“I should have never told you.   You are taking this way

too personal.”

“How would I not take it personal?   It’s because I’m

white.”

“Let’s just go to lunch, okay.”

Revere turned off her computer.  She put on her sunglasses

and grabbed her purse.  She watched Tyler start walking out of

her office.  She knew the increasing redness of his ears was a

gauge for how mad and upset he was getting.

Revere first met Tyler three years ago.  She had to sit

next to him during a company recognition luncheon.  The effort

to make small talk revealed they both had a love for the cinema.

“Who is your favorite director?” Tyler asked.

“Alfred Hitchcock,” Revere told him.

“What, not Spike Lee?” Tyler said in shock.

“Why does my favorite director have to be Spike Lee?”

Revere wanted to know.

“Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X,” Tyler reminded her.

“Those are good movies.  I just personally prefer Notorious

and Rear Window.”

“I don’t believe this,” Tyler replied in amazement.

“Can’t a black woman love a short, fat, white man who makes

movies about psychotic killers?”

“Fine,” Tyler surrendered.  “Fine.”

That particular conversation led to one lunch date after

another.  They finally decided to stop trying to find others who

shared their love of the arts and began attending movies and

plays together.  Tyler then convinced Revere that sharing

vacation expenses could help them see more places in the world.

He promised to be a gentleman in the hotel rooms.  However, he

gave her permission to do what she wanted to him.  Revere had

assured Tyler that he would be safe from any sexual advances on

her part.

Sometimes Revere forgot that Tyler was a white man. She

enjoyed his friendship.  He was funny and caring.  When she

bought her last car, he had to go along so that he could be sure

that they did not take advantage of another black woman.  When

she bought her house, he read the contracts over and over to

be sure she got the best deal.

Revere had never even considered Tyler as husband

material.  He was white. There was no way she could live day

and night with a white man.  What if she went into one of her

rants about the evil white man?  How could she do that if that

evil white man was her husband?  Her mother already had high

blood pressure.  Even though her mother really loved Tyler,

referring to him as my daughter’s husband could bring on a

stroke.   Revere had erased any thought from her mind long ago

of Tyler as a relationship option.

However, finding a man of color to spend the rest of her

life with was not going very well.  Revere decided she would

just skip the husband chapter and go directly to the having a

baby section in the book of her life.  She would seriously begin

investigating the possibilities of a sperm donor.  She made the

unfortunate mistake of thinking she could discuss this matter

with her friend, Tyler.

“Where are we going for lunch?”

“Valdez,” Tyler said in an agitated voice.

Tyler walked to the outer office to continue waiting for

Revere.  The three administrative assistances giggled and

blushed at the sight of Tyler.

“How have you been Mr. Norman?”

“Very good.  Are you ladies keeping busy?”  Tyler sternly

asked.

He was visibly annoyed by this useless chatter.  He was

anxious to get back to his discussion with Revere.  He did not

even hear the reply to his question.  When Revere finally

emerged, he grabbed her by the arm and began rushing out of the

office.

“Miss Wynn and I are going to lunch.  She will be extremely

late coming back.”

Tyler knew his words were gospel to these administrative

assistants.  He was a member of the executive committee so he

had clout in this company. He did not let go of Revere’s arm

until they reached the sidewalk. They began walking toward

Valdez.

“You did not have to be so rude to them,” Revere said.

“Who?”

“Tyler, those girls think you are cute.  They are all vying

to be Mrs. Tyler Norman.”

“Why?”

“I work in human resources, remember?  You have the proper

credentials for the position of good husband.  You are a lawyer.

You are on the executive committee.  Your family has a little

bit of cash in their pockets. And you are very tall and quite

handsome.”

“Not handsome enough to be your baby’s daddy.”

“Oh my God!  You have lost your mind!”

“I’ve lost my mind?  Out of the blue, you tell me you want

to go get some bottled up sperm juice and make a baby in the

lab,” Tyler yelled. “You don’t want to use my sperm because

you think I’m ugly, don’t you?”

“You look good for a white man,” Revere admitted.

“Oh, that makes me feel good.  For a white man, I am at the

top of the list.  However, when placed on the chart with all

men, I am butt ugly.”

“You’re putting words in my mouth.  You are a very

attractive man, Tyler. “You have dimples when you smile. No

woman of any color can resist a pretty smile.”

“That’s why I should be the donor.  Our child will have

dimples.  We would make a beautiful baby.”

“So, you think I’m attractive?” Revere asked.

“Are you kidding?   You could be one of those video vixens

if you were not so uppity. Smooth brown skin, those long legs,

and those big breasts, that big round . . . . .

“Okay Tyler,” Revere stopped him.  “I get the point.”

“I’m just kidding,” Tyler said laughing.  “You’re a walking

goddess.  That’s why you can’t be putting some strange sperm

inside of you.”

“Listen, I told you because you are one of my best friends.

I wanted a male perspective. I realize now that you were

absolutely the wrong person to have consulted.  Just forget I

said anything.”

“Why can’t you be like the rest of the world?  Find

someone, fall in love, get married, and then have a baby.”

Revere stopped walking and took off her sunglasses to

confront Tyler.

“Do you know the percentage of black women that never get

married?  In case you have not noticed, I am an unmarried black

woman.  I will be thirty-eight years old in three weeks.  I am

director of human resources. I have a very good job. I am

buying a house. I’m healthy. I have a loving and supportive

family.  I want to start my own family now. I cannot keep

waiting for Prince Charming to come along.   So, I plan to do

something about it.”

Revere began walking again.  Tyler was outraged.

“Families consist of a man the last time I checked.  Have

you ever heard the words husband and father.”

“Tyler, you are not my husband or my father.  Let’s just

change the subject.”

They reached Valdez and it was crowded as normal.  They

walked up to the beautiful brunette hostess who totally ignored

Revere’s presence, but immediately addressed Tyler.

“Hello Mr. Norman,” the hostess said in a sexy Spanish

accent.

“Hello, I need a table for two.”

“Ramon will show you to your seat. Enjoy your meal

Mr. Norman.”

Ramon suddenly appeared with menus.  Revere and Tyler

followed him to a table in the middle of the room.

“Your waiter will be with you shortly,” Ramon told them.

“You can be her baby’s daddy,” Revere whispered.  She’s

ready to start working on it right now.  Hello Mr. Norman.

Enjoy your meal, Mr. Norman. What was that?  Am I invisible?”

“She was just being courteous.  Don’t be jealous.”

“Please, jealous of what?  What are you getting to eat?”

The waiter brought them glasses of water.

“Are you ready to order or do you need a minute?”  the

waiter asked.

“We need a few minutes,” Tyler quickly answered.

When the waiter walked away, Tyler put his menu down.

Revere continued searching her menu for the right selection.

“I would be a good father.”

Revere put her menu down.

“I am going to be both mother and father.  That is why I

need an anonymous donor. I don’t want any involvement from a

man.  This will be my baby, alone.  I will take full

responsibility and make all the decisions, alone.”

“Why can’t I be involved?  Tyler Norman Junior will need a

man in his life.  You can’t teach him about football, you can’t

give him his first cigar, you can’t tell him about girls.”

“What if it is a girl?”

“If it is a girl, I really need to be involved.  Not one

boy better say a nasty word to my daughter.”

“Tyler, look at us.  There is no way that would work. It

would ruin our friendship.”

“It’s because I’m white,” Tyler said disappointed.

“That is only a fraction of all the reasons put together

that you can’t be my baby’s daddy,” Revere conceded.

“Then tell me why,” Tyler wanted to know.

The waiter reappeared for their order.

“What can I get you today?”

“The chicken quesadillas and ginger ale,” Revere said as

she handed the waiter her menu.

“Very good. And what about you sir?” the waiter asked.

“Just give me whatever she is having,” Tyler quickly

replied.   “Okay, give me the other reasons.”

Revere waited for the waiter to leave the table and then

took a deep breath.  She was reluctant to go down this road but

felt she had no choice.

“You’re a Republican.”

“What?”

“I’m a Democrat.  I believe that we still need affirmative

action.  I don’t think they should privatize Social Security.  I

think war should be the last option.   If gay folks want to get

married, hallelujah somebody wants to get married.  I personally

would never have one, but I still believe abortions should be

legal.  But you Tyler, you believe in money.  That’s all you

believe in.  How to make money, how to keep money, and how to

spend money.  And don’t even get me started on that Trump.

That man-child has us all stuck in that Twilight Zone episode

and nobody but you think “It’s a Good Life.”

“There is nothing wrong with a healthy respect for money.

And, I don’t really think that being a registered Republican

makes me evil.  Trump is not the Anti-Christ.  Well, nobody has

proved that yet.  Okay, our child will just be a

registered Independent.”

“You’re Catholic,” Revere continued.  “Do you know how far

that is from being Baptist? My mother is on the usher board and

sings in the choir.  Her grandbaby has to go to church with her

on Sunday morning.”

“That’s fine,” Tyler said. “We still both believe

in God.”

“Also, my Aunt Jean is a Jehovah’s Witness and my cousin

Keith converted to the Nation of Islam during his long vacation

at the state penitentiary. I have a religiously diverse

family.”

“That is just fine with me,” Tyler compromised. “I will let

you handle teaching our child about the religions of the world.”

“What school would our child attend?” Revere inquired.

“Catholic schools are the best in the country.”

“See, we are back at you being Catholic again.  I went to

Washington-Dubois Academy. It is one of the best private

African-American schools in this country.”

“When he goes to college, he has to go to my alma mater,”

Tyler said pounding the table. “I am putting my foot down on

this one.  What about his name?  If I have to plant the seed, I

should at least get to name the flower.”

“Did they teach you how to talk like that in law school?”

“Tyler Hannibal Norman, Junior.”

“What if it is a girl?”

“Tyler Hannibal Norman, Junior.”

“I think the child will be able to figure out who his or

her real father is with that name,” Revere explained.

“What about money, Revere?  You need a lot of money to

raise a child.”

“I have a master’s degree.  I’m not worried about earning a

good living.”

“I have a law degree.  Together, the kid is driving a

Corvette by age six.”

“So, you really would be willing to go to the lab and give

a donation for me?”

“Nope,” Tyler quickly responded.  “I only make babies the

Biblical way.”

“No way!” Revere strongly informed him.

“Don’t believe that myth about white men,” Tyler advised.

“There is enough in these pants to make you sing the black and

white national anthems at the same time.”

“Don’t flatter yourself.  This discussion is over.”

The waiter returned with their meals.

“Is there anything else I can get you?” the waiter asked.

“You have any sperm she can have?” Tyler responded.

“I beg your pardon, sir.”

“We’re fine, thank you,” Revere quickly intervened.

She waited for the waiter to leave their table.

“You are being ridiculous now,” Revere continued.  “I am

very serious about this! Do you actually believe you could be a

father to a biracial child? You think your family would really

accept a biracial child? Would our child be welcomed at the

country club?  I don’t think so!  Our child would be considered

black to the entire world. The whole world will treat little

Tyler Hannibal Norman, Junior, like a black man!  Being a black

man in this country is not easy. Are you ready for that type of

life for your son?

“Yes, I am!”

“Why?” Revere screamed. “Why?”

Tyler sprang up from his seat and roared back.

“Because, I love you!”

The entire restaurant went completely silent as Revere

looked at Tyler in shock. There was a long awkward moment of

silence.

 

 

Copyright:   Julie Williams
Published:   JUNE 2019

Publisher:    Julie Williams/JXW Communications

 

The persons and events in this story are fictitious.  Any similarity to actual persons or events is unintentional. 

 

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted without written permission from the publisher.