2022-10-31, Monday morning 5am NYC ≈ 1957

Willie is a friend of mine, sage age, about 12, who lives on 97st one block over from Madison ave toward Lexington Ave direction. One day Ruth asks me if I would like to take a trip to nation's capital, Washington, DC. I say yes and I ask if Willie can go along. She says OK if his mother agrees.

I tell Willie and he asks his mother and she says OK too. We take the Grayhound bus for the long trip. We arrive and we go visit the many sights including the Washington Monument.

Willie and I climb up the stairs to the top. Ruth says she will wait for us. At end of day we return to the bus station and wait on the platform.

Ruth opens her purse and realizes that her wallet is missing. She tells us what has happened. Willie goes running up the platform hoping he can catch the pick-pocket man. No nogo. Ruth goes into the station and talks to the manager. I don't know how she does it but she comes out with a new set of tickets.

It is time to load up for trip. Willie and I run to the door of the bus and start to climb the steps. Ruth comes after us fearing we might get separated. She barges ahead of a big black woman.

The woman looks at Ruth and says, "Just 'cause you a white woman ain't no call for you to push ahead of me."

Ruth starts to try and explain but then goes ahead and gets on the bus. We find seat on the passenger side of bus near the back. Ruth sits across from us. Then the big black lady comes down the isle and sits in front of us.

We two boys are rambunctious. Ruth calls over to us and says, "You boys quiet down, you are disturbing the lady."

She starts to laugh. She says, "Lands no, they ain't no bother to me." Ruth replies, "Are you sure." The black lady keeps chuckling and say, "No, No, its OK. And chuckles a little more."

We get to Manhattan late that night. Ruth hails a cab. I guess some of her money was in a side pocket. We drop Willie off at his apartment and then we come home to 12 E. 97th street where the door man greets us.

Willie and I continue our friendship. But then one day Ruth tells me that we are going to move to St. Louis where she has got herself a better job. About a month later we move. I never see Willie again.

div class sherman2

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