That same afternoon in Queens, New York, Marcus a chubby black boy, around 9-years old is in his family’s apartment in his bedroom with his older slimmer brother Richard who is around 14. Marcus turns to Richard and tells him, “You know Richard, my school was trying to figure out a way to get Diane D to come there and perform.”
“What?” Richard says. “Your school was trying to figure out a way to get Diane D to come there?”
“Well yeah. We sent the Diaz-Davidson Organization a letter today.”
“Y’all sent the Diaz-Davidson Organization a letter? Do you think they will respond? Do y’all think Diane D would come to your school?”
“I sure hope so. All the kids would really like to see Diane D, the Dianettes and the rest of the Diaz-Davidson performers. I sure hope Diane D comes.”
“Yeah that would be nice if Diane D comes to your school, but didn‘t her family ban her from performing for a while?”
“No, my school found out that Diane D‘s family just lifted the ban off her!”
“What? Diane D’s family lifted the ban off her?”
“Yeah! They‘re allowing her to perform again!”
“Really?”
“Yeah!”
“That‘s great Marcus!”
“It is,” Marcus says as he smiles to his brother, then fixes the pillow on his bed.
It is now evening. Michael, Mickey and some staff members come in the front door of the organization. Michael is carrying a big fancy cake box in his hands. He, Mickey and some staff members walk through the organization lobby with the cake box. Mike, Mitch, the other Youth Boys and some organization members hurry into the lobby towards Michael. “Hey you got the cake Michael?!” Mitch shouts.
“Yes I got the cake,” Michael says.
“What kind of cake is that man?” Mike asks.
“Let’s check it out!” Mitch says as he and Mike reach for the cake.
Michael holds the cake up away from Mike and Mitch and shouts, “Wait! Hold up you guys!”
The Dianettes hurry down the hall to Michael as Nancy shouts, “You got the cake Michael?”
“Yeah I got the cake Nancy,” Michael says. Diane D, Nicolas and Marilyn walk behind the Dianettes towards Michael. Michael sees Diane D and says, “Here’s your celebration cake Diane.” Diane D, Nicolas and Marilyn approach Michael as they stand behind Mike and Mitch. Michael reaches over Mike and Mitch as he hands Diane D the cake box.
Diane D takes the cake box and says, “Thanks Michael.”
“Let’s take a look at it,” Nicolas says. Everyone starts to surround Diane D, Nicolas, Marilyn, Mike and Mitch as Diane D lowers the cake box for everybody to see. Nicolas and Marilyn remove the cake box cover. Everyone looks at the cake. It is shaped like a stage with words on it that reads: WELCOME BACK TO THE STAGE DIANE!
“Wow,” everyone says.
“What kind of cake is this Michael?” Nicolas asks. “It looks like a stage.”
“A stage cake Michael?” Diane D asks as she puzzled looks at Michael.
“You got it Diane,” Michael says. “It’s a Return To The Stage cake.”
“A Return To The Stage cake?” Marilyn asks.
“Yeah Aunt Marilyn,” Mickey says. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s real swell Mickey,” Marilyn says as the staff members laugh. Nicolas and Marilyn replace the cover back on the cake box as Marilyn says, “Well why are we standing here? Let’s bring the cake to the Banquet Room and celebrate.”
“Okay,” the organization members say. Diane D turns around and walks away with the cake as everyone follows her with Mike walking on one side of Diane D and Mitch walking on the opposite side of Diane D trying to reach for the cake. Diane D lifts the cake high in the air away from Mike and Mitch. Mike and Mitch try to reach for the cake again as Diane D continues to walk away with it, holding it high up in the air. Diane D, Mike and Mitch then turn and disappear around the corner as everyone else follows them and disappear around the corner also.
Thirty minutes later, everyone in the organization is inside the Banquet Room. The cake is on the long table laying next to some food platters. Mike, Mitch and the other youth boys are being loud and rowdy as usual as they are all gathered around each other eating plates of food. The adults are happily surrounding Diane D telling her, “Welcome back to the stage Diane.”
“Thank you everybody,” Diane D says as she and everyone else drink glasses of punch.
Rosa approaches Diane D and says, “Welcome back to the stage Diane.”
Diane D turns to Rosa and says, “Thank you Rosa.”
“You’re welcome.” Rosa turns and starts to walk away.
“Hey listen Rosa, can I talk to you for a minute?”
Rosa stops and turns back towards Diane D and says, “You want to talk to me?”
“Yeah.” Diane D turns to everyone else and says, “I’ll be right back everybody.”
“Okay Diane,” everyone says.
Diane D turns and walks away from the crowd. She walks towards Rosa.
Diane D approaches Rosa and says, “Come this way.” Diane D leads Rosa away as she turns towards Miriam and shouts, “Miriam!” Miriam looks towards Diane D as Diane D shouts, “Come here for a minute please?! You too Gladys and Bonnie, come here for a minute?!”
Miriam, Gladys and Bonnie puzzled look at Diane D. They then look at each other, then back at Diane D. They start to head towards Diane D.
Diane D says to them, “Come this way!” Diane D leads Rosa to a corner. Miriam, Gladys and Bonnie walk towards the corner to Diane D.
Diane D and Rosa reach the corner. Diane D stops and turns around towards Miriam, Gladys and Bonnie as they approach her. Rosa, Miriam, Gladys and Bonnie puzzled look at Diane D. They then look at each other, then nervously look back at Diane D. Diane D looks at them all and says, “Listen ladies, I just want to apologize to you all for the way I’ve been acting when my family had me take over the salon.”
Rosa, Miriam, Gladys and Bonnie puzzled look at Diane D. They puzzled look at each other, then back at Diane D as Miriam asks, “You want to apologize to us Diane?”
“Yeah. I just want to say that I’m sorry for the way I’ve treated you all when I took over the salon.”
“You are?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh thank you Diane,” Rosa says. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know I didn’t have to do that Rosa, but believe me, I wanted to. I realize I was frustrated when my family banned me from the stage and I have been taking my anger out on you all. I probably made you all feel very uncomfortable at the salon. I got sort of suspicious when all of a sudden everyone started calling in sick.” Diane D suspiciously looks at them all. Rosa, Miriam, Gladys and Bonnie nervously look at each other. They nervously look back at Diane D. Diane D then says, “I don’t blame any of you. If I were any of you, I wouldn’t want to work with me either. That’s why I want to tell you all that I’m very sorry for the way I treated you.”
“Oh thanks Diane,” Gladys says. “You’re apology is accepted.”
“Yeah I accept your apology Diane,” Bonnie says.
“I accept your apology too,” Miriam says.
“Yeah me too Diane,” Rosa says. “And congratulations on returning to the stage.
“Thanks Rosa,” Diane D says. “Thanks ladies, and thanks for being here for my ’Back To The Stage celebration.”
“You’re welcome Diane,” Miriam says.
“Yeah you’re welcome Diane,” Gladys says.
“Now let’s go eat so we can have some cake,” Diane D says.
“Okay Diane,” Miriam says as Diane D leads Miriam, Rosa, Bonnie and Gladys back to everyone else.
A week later during one afternoon, Marcus is sitting on his bed looking very sad. His brother Richard suddenly walks into the room. Richard sees Marcus looking sad. He approaches Marcus and says, “Hey Marcus. What’s t
he matter? You look so sad. You okay man? Why you look so sad?”
Marcus looks at Richard and tells him, “We got a letter back from the Diaz-Davidson Organization.”
“What! The Diaz-Davidson Organization responded back to your school’s letter? What did they say? Is Diane D gonna come to your school?”
“No!”
“No?”
“That’s right no! The Diaz-Davidson Organization’s letter said that Diane D can’t make it to the school because Diane D only performs for charity!”
“What! The Diaz-Davidson Organization’s letter said that Diane D only performs for charity?”
“That’s exactly what their letter said! They turned us down Richard! The Diaz-Davidson Organization turned my school down! They‘re not letting Diane D come to our school!” Marcus puts his head down on the pillow and starts to weep.
Richard sadly looks at Marcus. He tries to comfort Marcus and says, “I’m sorry Marcus. I’m sorry Diane D is not gonna come to your school. I bet you all were looking forward to her coming there, huh?”
Marcus puts his head up and says, “We sure were!” Marcus puts his head back down on the pillow and weeps again.
“Boy Marcus, I hate to see you down like this, I really do,” Richard says as he sadly looks at Marcus. He then looks up in the air. He becomes excited and shouts, “Hey Marcus! I have an idea!” Marcus lifts his head off the pillow and looks at Richard as Richard shouts, “The Diaz-Davidson Organization states that Diane D only performs for charity, right? Well let’s make this a charity event!”
“What! A charity event? What are you talking about Richard?”
“Let’s send the Diaz-Davidson Organization another letter and tell them that there’s a sick child dying of leukemia who would love to see Diane D come to the school!”
“What! Tell the Diaz-Davidson Organization that there’s a sick child dying of leukemia?! You mean lie to them?!”
“Yes that‘s exactly what I mean!”
“Richard, that would be false pretense!”
“Marcus do you want to see Diane D or not? I know it’s a lie to send her family that story, but it might be the only way to see Diane D come to your school if you tell her family that!”
“But Richard, we don’t know any kid with leukemia!”
“No we don‘t, but we will! You could be the child who has leukemia!”
“Me?! Oh come on Richard, everybody in the school knows me! They know I don’t have leukemia!”
“Yeah, that’s true. We’ll have to find another kid we can use. Hey! Maybe we can use our three year old cousin Jeffrey!”
“What! Use cousin Jeffrey?!”
“Yeah!”
“Richard cousin Jeffrey doesn’t have leukemia!”
“Well the people in your school don’t know that! Diane D’s family won‘t know it! Diane D herself won’t know it! We can use cousin Jeffrey and claim he is the child who has leukemia! It might work! We won’t know unless we give it a try! How about it Marcus?!”
“Oh I don’t know Richard.”
“Oh come on Marcus! It might be the only way Diane D’s family will let her appear at your school!”
“I still don’t know Richard!”
“Richard stands there for a while. He begins to sigh. He then says, “Well I guess you’ll never get Diane D to appear in your school. I tried. Well, I gotta go Marcus. See you.” Richard turns away and heads towards the doorway.
“Okay Richard,” Marcus says.
Richard stops. He looks back at Marcus and says, “Okay what? You wanna do this?”
“No of course I don’t really want to do this! But if it’s the only way Diane D will ever appear at my school, let’s go for it.”
“Are you sure now?”
“Yeah, let’s go for it!”
“Okay then let‘s do this! I knew you would see it my way.” Richard goes to a dresser draw. He opens it and pulls a pen and some paper out of it. He closes the draw back, turns to Marcus and says, “We‘re going to start this letter right now.” Richard approaches Marcus with the pen and paper and says, “We’re going to write this letter to Diane D’s family‘s organization. We’re going to say in the letter that there is a three year old boy from the school who has leukemia, whose dying wish is for Diane D to come to his school so he can meet her.” Richard places the paper on a hard cover book and starts to write on it as Marcus worriedly looks on.
It is a week later. Around 16 Diaz-Davidson Youth Performers and Athletes surround Mike and Mitch as they all walk down the organization hallway being very loud and rowdy. Mike suddenly turns around to the other boys then jumps and shouts, “Oh you son-of-a-gun! You son-of-a-gun!” The other boys jump and shout with each other. Mike, Mitch and the other boys start to be loud and rowdy again as they continue to walk down the hallway.
Barry comes down the hallway and shouts, “Let‘s go fellas!”
Mike, Mitch and the other Youth Performers and the Athletes look at Barry as Mitch points to one of the boys and says, “He started it Mister Barry!”
“Yeah right!” one of the boys smile and shout as he, Mike, Mitch and all the other boys run past Barry.
Barry stops and turns around towards Mike, Mitch and the rest of the boys shouting, “No running in the halls guys!”
Mike, Mitch and all the other boys slow down. They turn around towards Barry as Barry stares at them. Barry turns back around and continues to walk down the hallway.
Mike, Mitch and all the other boys turn back around and race down the hall then quickly disappear around the corner.
Barry stops and suspiciously turns back around. He looks down the hallway. He doesn’t see Mike, Mitch or any of the other boys in sight. Barry turns back around and continues to walk down the hallway. He sees the Dianettes, Michael, Nicolas and Mickey coming down the hallway surrounding Diane D as she comes down the hallway. “Let’s go everybody!” he shouts.
“We’re coming Dad,” Diane D says. Diane D, the Dianettes, Michael, Nicolas and Mickey continue to come down the hallway and go past Barry as Barry continues to head the opposite direction down the hallway.
Most of the other organization is inside the meeting room. The door opens. Mike, Mitch and the other Youth Performers and Athletes enter the organization meeting room as they all continue to be loud and rowdy with each other. Diane D, The Dianettes, Michael, Nicolas and Mickey enter the meeting room behind Mike, Mitch and the other boys. Craig, a male white staff member around his late thirties approaches Diane D. He holds an envelope up to her saying, “Diane, here’s a letter to the organization about you.”
Diane D puzzled looks at the envelope and says, “A letter to the organization about me?”
“Yeah.”
“What kind of letter about me?” Diane D asks as she reaches for the envelope. “Who is it from? What does it say?”
Craig takes the envelope away from Diane D and says, “I can‘t let you read it now Diane. I have to wait for your Grandma and Grandpa to give this to you.”
“Really?” Diane D says as she places her hands on her hips. “So what are you doing with it?”
“Your grandparents asked me to hold on to it for them.”
“They did? Well if I can’t read the letter now Craig, why did you bother showing the envelope to me?”
“So you can know and get prepared.”
“Get prepared? Get prepared for what?”
“To take the letter out of the envelope and read it once your Grandma and Grandpa come in here.”
Diane D annoyingly stares at Craig. She then steps aside away from Craig and squeezes between the crowd behind Mike and Mitch as Mike and Mitch chit chat with the other boys. Diane D then turns and goes to the side of the front of the room near the window as the Dianettes, Michael, Nicolas and Mickey follow her.
Diane D approaches a stool and turns around. She starts to sit on the stool as the D
ianettes, Michael, Nicolas and Mickey surround her talking with her.
Mary, Margarita and Tomas enter the room. Mike and Mitch see Mary, Margarita and Tomas. They hurry and approach Mary, Margarita and Tomas as the rest of the boys follow them. They then shout, “Hey Miss Mary, Miss Margarita!”
“What’s up guys?” Mary says.
“What time is the meeting going to start,” Mike asks.
“Why?” Tomas asks. “Are you anxious?”
“Yeah we’re anxious!” Mike says.
“We’re anxious for y’all to pick us to be the captain of the team!” Mitch says.
“I’ve should have known that,” says Tomas.
“Listen boys,” Margarita says. “We’ll get the meeting started as soon as everyone gets into the room. More people are on their way.” Mike and Mitch turn and walk back to the other boys.
Barry soon enters the meeting room followed by Tonio, Marilyn and some other organization members. Margarita, Mary and Tomas turn around to Barry, Tonio and Marilyn as Margarita says, “Okay we can start the meeting soon.” Margarita, Mary and Tomas turn and walk towards the front of the room as Barry, Tonio and Marilyn follow them.
Margarita, Mary, Tomas, Barry, Tonio and Marilyn go to the long table as the organization members go the middle of the room. Margarita turns around to the organization members and shouts, “Okay everyone! We’re going to get the meeting started soon! We just want to take care of something real quick!”
“Yes,” Tomas says. “So everybody just sit back and relax for a few minutes.” The crowd turn and start talking with each other. Tomas looks at Craig and asks, “Hey Craig, you still got that envelope we asked you to hold?”
“Yes I do,” Craig says as he approaches Tomas. He hands Tomas the envelope.
“Thanks Craig.”
“You’re welcome.” Craig turns and walks away.
Diane D is sitting on the stool with her feet up on the rest bar, her elbows resting on her knees, her chin resting in her hands and her head to the side facing the Dianettes as the Dianettes, Michael, Nicolas and Mickey continue to surround her talking with her. Diane D then turns her head forward and looks straight ahead. She sees Margarita, Tomas, Mary and Barry walking towards her. Margarita, Tomas, Mary and Barry approach Diane D. Mike and Mitch suddenly approach Margarita, Tomas, Mary and Barry and turn around to two of the youth guys coming behind them as Mike shouts to them, “Go ahead and ask them! Go ahead!”
“What’s going on fellows?” Margarita asks.
Mike and Mitch turn around to Margarita as Mitch says, “Miss Margarita, didn’t you and Mister Tomas say that Mike and I can be the captain of the new team?”
“No we didn’t say that.”
“See,” one of the other youth boys says. “I knew y’all were lying.”
Mike turns around to the Youth Boy and shouts, “We’re not lying man!”
“Fellows can we talk about this later?” Tomas says.
“Come on fellas,” Barry says. “We‘ll talk about this once we get the meeting started, okay?”
Mike and Mitch turn around to the Youth boys as they and the other boys rush away back to the middle of the room becoming loud and rowdy again as Margarita looks towards them and shouts, “Let’s quiet down fellas!”
Mike, Mitch and the other boys quiet down.
Margarita, Tomas, Mary and Barry turn to Diane D as Tomas says, “Diane, we got another letter from that elementary school.”
“Another letter from that elementary school?” asks Diane D.
“Yeah.”
“Is that the letter Craig was holding for y’all?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, what does the letter say?”
“The letter is about some three-year old boy,” Mary says.
“A three year old boy?”
“Yeah.”
“Well what about this three-year old boy? What does the letter say about him?”
“Well the letter is right here Diane,” Margarita says. “Read it yourself.” Margarita hands Diane D the letter.
Diane D puzzled looks at the letter as she takes it. She starts to read the letter as her brothers, Marilyn, Michael and the Dianettes look over her shoulders at the letter reading it also.
A week later in the afternoon, Richard is sitting on the bed fixing his bike. Marcus suddenly bursts into Richard’s room with excitement and shouts, “Hey Richard, it worked!” Richard turns to Marcus as Marcus continues to shout, “It worked! It worked!”
“What worked Marcus?” Richard says.
“The letter!”
“What letter?”
“The letter you wrote that we sent out to Diane D‘s family‘s organization! The letter about a three year old boy from the school who has leukemia, whose dying wish is for Diane D to come to the school so he can meet her! Her family received the letter and she wrote back to the school!”
“What! Diane D wrote back to the school?”
“Yes Diane D herself!”
“Oh my god, what did she say?”
“She said she’s coming!”
“What!”
“Yes Richard! Diane D is coming to our school!” Marcus shouts as he excitedly jumps up and down.
“Diane D is coming to your school? I don’t believe this!”
“Yes it’s true Richard! That’s what she wrote in the letter that she’s coming to our school!”
“Wow, that’s great Marcus! I’m really happy for you that you get to have Diane D at your school! My god, when is she supposed to come there?”
“Next Friday evening!”
“Next Friday evening?”
“Yeah! She wrote in the letter that she’s coming to the school on the evening of September 26th! September 26th is next Friday!” Marcus continues to excitingly jump up and down.
“Wow that’s great Marcus! But isn’t school closed during the evening hours?”
“Yeah, but they’re going to open the school up on Friday evening just for Diane D!”
“Wow! I’m real happy for you and your school Marcus!”
“Yeah me too!” Marcus suddenly stops jumping and says, “But there’s only one catch Richard!”
“One catch? What catch Marcus? What are you talking about?”
“Diane D wrote in the letter that she feels real sorry for the three-year old boy who has leukemia and wants to meet him!”
“What! Diane D wants to meet the three-year old boy who has leukemia?!”
“Yes she wants to meet him! What are we gonna do Richard? I was afraid this might happen, that’s why I didn’t really want us to send that false letter to Diane D’s family in the first place! We don’t know any kid who has leukemia! When Diane D comes to the school next Friday evening, she’s gonna expect to meet the three-year old boy who has leukemia! What are we gonna do now Richard? What are we gonna do?”
“I don’t know Marcus,” Richard says as he worriedly looks into the air. “I guess we’re just gonna have to use little cousin Jeffrey to play the kid who has leukemia.”
“Use cousin Jeffrey?! Oh come on Richard! I don’t think we’re gonna be able to use or get Jeffrey to come to my school, Jeffrey doesn’t have leukemia! When Diane D comes to the school next Friday evening, she might become determined to meet the three-year old boy who has leukemia!”
“I think she’s already determined to meet this boy who has leukemia since she’s coming to the school in the first place!”
“That‘s the only reason why she‘s coming to my school at all is because she thinks she’s going to meet the little boy who has leukemia and thinks that this kid’s dying wish is to meet her!”
“Well Marcus, when the day comes and Diane D starts looking for the little boy who has leukemia, maybe you can just tell Diane D that the kid who has leukemia couldn’t make it to the school because of his illness. Can’t you tell her that?”
“She still might become dete
rmined to find out who the kid is or try find out who his family is or where they live! What if she starts looking for him Richard?! What if she starts looking for him?!”
“Well if worst comes to worst Marcus, I guess we’ll have no choice but to let Diane D know the truth,” Richard says as he worriedly looks into the air. He then turns to Marcus and says, “You’re gonna have to be the one to tell Diane D that there is no kid in your school who has leukemia.”
Marcus nervously looks at Richard.
The following morning at an old elementary school in Jamaica, Queens, New York, excited teachers and a bunch of students jump up and down screaming all out in the hallway, looking at the flyers and posters that read, ‘THE DIAZ-DAVIDSON ORGANIZATION presents ‘DIANE D’ coming next Friday evening!’. Marcus nervously looks at the flyers and posters. He turns and looks at the students. He sees some excited students turning to each other as one of the girls shouts, “Can you believe it?! Diane D is coming here next Friday! She‘s going to be right in our school!”
“Yeah, I can’t wait to see her!” says a second girl.
“Me either!” says a third girl.
“Is she gonna have the Dianettes or the rest of the Diaz-Davidson Organization with her?” asks one of the boys.
“I sure hope so!” says the second girl. “I wouldn’t mind seeing Mike and Mitch here! They are so hot!”
“I wouldn’t mind seeing them either!” says the third girl. “Ooooh they are so fine!” The girls scream with excitement as they jump and down, cheering with each other as the boys cheer with them!
Marcus sadly looks back at the flyers and posters and says to himself, “What have I done?” Marcus nervously looks back at the students, then looks back at the flyers and posters.
That same afternoon, a sad looking Marcus enters Richard‘s room and sees Richard at the desk on the computer. Richard turns to Marcus and says, “Hi Marcus. Wow, you don‘t look too happy. What‘s wrong? I thought you‘d definitely be in an excited mood knowing that Diane D is gonna be at your school next week.”
“That‘s the point Richard,” Marcus says. “Diane D is gonna be at my school only because of the lie you and I sent to her family! There were flyers and posters all over the school this morning about Diane D coming next Friday! All the kids in the school were so excited while they were looking at the flyers and posters! They all were saying that they can’t wait to see and meet Diane D and hopefully meet the Dianettes and some of the other performers of the Diaz-Davidson Organization! Boy Richard, I don‘t feel right about this. I don’t feel right about this at all. I feel so guilty about this whole entire thing! My conscious is really bothering me Richard! I want Diane D and her family to know the truth! I want to let them know that there is no kid in my school who has leukemia and I want to let them know the truth right now before Diane D makes a trip to my school next Friday. I’m gonna write another letter to Diane D’s family and tell them the truth about the kid who has leukemia.”
“But Marcus, if you let Diane D and her family know the truth now before Diane D even gets to your school, her family will get upset and change their minds and not let Diane D come to your school at all. The children in your school are already excited about Diane D coming next Friday. They’re looking forward for her to come there. They will surely be disappointed if her family change their mind and not let her come there. I’ll tell you what Marcus, if you really want to let Diane D and her family know the truth that there is no kid in the school who has leukemia, then you should wait till after the kids in your school get a chance to see and meet her. Then you can tell Diane D the truth.”
“Okay Richard, I will do that because I can‘t live with this guilt of lying to Diane D and her family just to get Diane D to come to my school. Once all the other kids finish seeing and meeting Diane D, I’m going to let her know the truth, that there is no kid in the school who has leukemia, that it was all made up.” Richard and Marcus nervously and worriedly stare at each other.
A week has passed. It is now Friday morning. Marcus is in his bedroom dressed in a school uniform ready for school wearing a knapsack, looking sad. Richard suddenly comes into the doorway and enters the room. He approaches Marcus and says, “Well Marcus, today is the day that Diane D will be at your school this evening.”
“I know Richard, that’s what worries me,” Marcus says. “So far, we’re not able to use cousin Jeffrey to be the boy who has leukemia. Aunt Wanda’s not going for it. She doesn’t want Jeffrey to be involved in a lie.”
“I know.”
“So what are we gonna do now Richard? Diane D is coming to my school tonight to see and meet the little boy who has leukemia.”
“I know Marcus. Just let Diane D come to your school, once she’s there and all the kids get a chance to see her, then you can tell her the truth that there is no little boy in your school who has leukemia.”
“Richard we don’t know how Diane D or her family might react to that. We don’t know how they might take being lied to like that.”
“I know Marcus, but we aren’t allowed to use cousin Jeffrey as the little boy who has leukemia and we have no other kid to use. What else can we do?”
Marcus worriedly looks at Richard.
It is now Friday evening. It is still daylight outside. It is slightly windy. There are some clouds hovering in the sky. A large excited crowd of students, teachers and parents are waiting outside the elementary school. A white female teacher approaches a black female teacher and asks, “What time is Diane D supposed to arrive here?”
“Any minute now,” says the other teacher.
A male student shouts, “Hey, I see a limousine coming this way! Is that her?” The teachers and the crowd turn and see a limousine coming towards the school.
“Hey!” an excited girl shouts. “That might be Diane D coming in that limo!” The crowd becomes excited and start to rush to the street. They rush towards the limousine. The limousine stops as the people crowd around it and try to peek into the dark tinted windows, but are having a hard time seeing inside. “Is Diane D in there,” the crowd says. “Is she inside this limousine?”
“I can’t see a thing in there!” a male student shouts. “The windows are too dark!”
“Diane D! Diane D,” the crowd shouts. “Come on out! Diane D!”
The entire school continues to try to peek inside the windows of the limousine.
Down the next block, Michael is driving in a regular mini-van as Diane D sits beside him on the passenger side dressed in a short dark green blazer with a white turtleneck shirt beneath it and matching dark green tight pants as Mary and Barry sit in the middle seats and Marilyn and Tonio sit in back seats.
“Well, here we are folks,” Michael says. “This is the school with the three-year old boy who has leukemia, right Ma?”
“Yes that’s what the letter said Michael, that this is the school,” Mary says. Michael, Diane D, Mary, Barry, Marilyn and Tonio look forward and see a heavy crowd outside the school, excitingly standing around a limousine. They puzzled look at the limousine.
“What’s going on down there?” Tonio says.
“I don‘t know Uncle Tonio,” Michael says. “It looks like a limousine down there and a lot of people crowding around it.”
“Why are those people crowding around that limousine?” Mary asks. “Diane, is this school expecting anybody else here besides you?”
“Not that I know of Mom,” Diane D says. “But whoever that person is inside that limousine must be real important.”
“Real important?” Barry asks. “Like who?”
“I don’t know Dad. Maybe an activist or someone like that.”
“An activist?” asks Marilyn.
“Yeah Aunt Marilyn, maybe.” Diane D, Michael, Mary, Barry, Marilyn and Tonio continue to stare at the people crowding around the limousine.
“My god,” Michael says. “Whoever the person is
inside that limousine, everyone seems excited to see them.”
“I don’t think we’re gonna be able to pull through there Michael,” Barry says. “You’re gonna have to back the car up and go around the corner.”
“Okay Dad.” Michael backs the car up as Diane, Mary and Barry, Marilyn and Tonio continue to look at the crowd surrounding the limousine.
Several minutes later, Diane D, Mary and Marilyn are walking in the empty back yard of the school building carrying shopping bags of stuffed animals as Mary holds on to Diane D and Diane D holds a basket of fruit. They walk up the school yard steps to the school. They suddenly hear a noise of something about to drop. They stop at the top of the school yard steps and turn around towards Michael as Diane D asks, “You got that Michael?”
“Yeah I got it Diane,” Michael says as he, Barry and Tonio walk up the school yard steps behind Diane D, Mary and Marilyn as Michael carries a big ride-in toy car and Barry and Tonio carry shopping bags of toys. Michael, Barry and Tonio stop on the middle of the school yard steps as Michael sighs and says, “Wow, you really went out of the way for this little boy, didn’t you Diane?”
“She sure did,” Barry says. “I mean whoever this little boy who has leukemia is, he’s sure lucky to have you bring him these gifts Diane.”
“I know Dad,” Diane D says. “It‘s the most I can do for him. I mean if I can‘t save his life, at least I can try to brighten up his spirit for the time being. Boy I can’t wait to see his face light up once I give these gifts and fruit to him.”
“Before you give these gifts and fruit to him Diane, let me have a fruit,” Michael says as he reaches for Diane D’s fruit basket. Diane D quickly turns the fruit basket away from Michael. Michael then says, “What, I can’t have a fruit?”
“No you cannot have any fruit Michael. It’s for the little boy who has leukemia. I thought maybe he can use a snack.”
“Use a snack? Diane I’m sure this kid got school lunch today. School lunches usually do come with a piece of fruit you know. The kid already had a piece of fruit right from his own school lunch. So what do you say, huh? Can you at least spare me a pear?” Michael reaches for Diane D’s fruit basket again.
Diane D quickly turns the fruit basket away from Michael again and says, “No pear to spare Michael! It’s for the little boy! You can get fruit later!”
“Diane it’s evening time now and none of us has eaten all day, that’s because you had us all going around shopping all morning and all afternoon in all the stores buying toys, gifts and fruit for this little boy!”
“That’s right! Look everybody! This little boy’s dying wish is to meet me! I came to this school to make sure his dying wish come true and I’m going to make every effort to make sure this little boy is happy during his last days on earth, alright?!”
“Diane, if we don’t get to eat, our days on earth will be numbered too! We‘ll die from hunger!”
“Michael, you all are going to eat right after we leave out of here okay?! I don’t want to hear anymore about how hungry you are!” Diane D glares at Michael. She then reaches into the fruit basket and takes out a little cup of yogurt. She holds it up to her family.
“Wow is that for any of us Diane?” Marilyn asks.
“No Aunt Marilyn, I was just wondering, do y’all think this little boy would like yogurt?”
“Do we think the little boy would like yogurt?” Michael says. “Diane can you please get this little boy out of your head for a few minutes and think about your hungry family?”
“That’s right Diane,” Tonio says. “Now I don’t know if this little boy likes yogurt, but I know I like yogurt.”
“So do I,” Barry says.
“Me too,” Michael says. “If only I‘m able to eat it! If only I‘m able to eat anything!”
“Michael, cool it okay?!” Diane D says. “You will all get to finally eat after this little boy gets a chance to meet me! Once I find out who this little boy who has leukemia is, I’m going to invite him and his entire family over to our organization for dinner!”
“Invite him and his entire family to the organization for dinner?!” Michael asks.
“That’s right! We’re all going to have dinner in the banquet room and the little boy and his family will be our honored guests, so come on everybody, let’s hurry and get inside the school.” Diane D turns around and quickly heads to the back entrance.
Michael turns to the others and says, “You know guys, I’m feeling a little jealous here. I feel she rather take care of this little boy who has leukemia than take care of us. We‘re hungry, but yet she bought food and snacks for this little boy, and now she‘s talking about feeding him and his entire family while her own family is hungry right here? I feel real neglected here.”
“I know,” Barry whispers. “I think Diane has become sort of obsessed with this little boy.”
“Not only obsessed Barry,” Marilyn says. “It seems like she’s adopting this little kid and his family.”
“I think she already has. I’m sorry we even showed her that letter about the little boy who has leukemia.”
“I‘m sorry too,” Michael says.
“Uh excuse me!” Diane D’s voice shouts. Barry, Michael, Mary, Marilyn and Tonio turn to look. They see Diane D standing in the back doorway of the school shouting, “The little boy is waiting! Let’s not keep him waiting any longer!” Diane D turns around and heads back in the building.
Barry turns to Michael and whispers, “See what I mean?”
“Yeah I see what you mean Dad,” Michael says. “I guess we all have to play sick in order to get Diane‘s attention.”
Mary turns to Michael and Barry and says, “It’ll be alright guys. Let’s just have this little boy meet Diane so we can all get this whole thing over with, because we did allow for Diane to come here.”
“Mary,” Barry says. “We didn’t know that Diane was gonna become obsessed with this little kid.”
“Yeah,” Michael says. “We didn’t know that she would practically have us starving over this little kid.”
“I know,” Mary says. “Listen everybody, once this kid gets a chance to meet Diane and she grants him his dying wish to meet her, maybe her obsession of him might ware off.”
“Yeah let’s hope so,” Marilyn says.
“Let’s just hurry and do this so we can get out of here then go out to eat because I’m hungry myself.”
“So am I,” Tonio says. Tonio, Michael, Barry, head up the school yard steps to Mary and Marilyn. They all go to the back door.
Diane D, Michael, Barry, Mary, Marilyn and Tonio enter the side of the lunchroom carrying the fruit basket, shopping bags of toys, stuffed animals and gifts. They go to a desk where a black male security guard around his late 40’s sits. The security guard sees Diane D and her family. He becomes excited and shouts, “Diane D!” He gets up from the chair and says, “Oh my God, Diane D it‘s you! You‘re here! I can’t believe it! You are actually here! How are you?!”
“I’m okay,” says Diane D.
“Good! Wow you’re beautiful Diane D!”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” The security guard turns to Michael, Mary, Barry, Marilyn and Tonio and says, “And how are you all doing?!”
“We’re fine,” says Barry.
“Good! Weren’t you all supposed to be coming in that limousine out there?”
“Limousine?” Barry says. “No we weren’t coming here by limo.”
“No? Well that’s why everybody out there is crowding around that limousine! They think you’re inside that limousine Diane D!”
“What?” Diane D says. “The school was expecting me to arrive in a limo?”
“Well yeah.”
“Wow Diane,” Tonio says. “Now we all realize that you’re the important person who all those people think is inside that limousine.”
“Well weren’t you all
supposed to come here by limo?”
“No,” Diane D says. “We don’t really ride in limos.”
“You don’t ride limos?”
“No, we ride in our own car.”
“Oh I’m sorry. Everybody was expecting you all to arrive in a limousine. Well I’ll go out there and tell the people that you’re all in here already, but before I do that, I’ll take you all upstairs to the principal’s office.” The security guard leaves his desk and says, “Step right this way.” The security guard brings Diane D and her family towards a stairwell.
An hour later, Michael, Mary, Barry, Marilyn and Tonio are inside the principal’s office eating sliced cold cut sandwiches, having coffee and donuts. Diane D is standing with the school principal, Principal Cole, a male white around his early 50‘s, over a file cabinet as Principal Cole shows her some school files and records. Diane D takes a drink from a bottled water. Michael then says, “Wow thank God we get to finally eat.”
Diane D looks to her left at Michael and says, “So now I don’t have to hear you complaining anymore, right?”
“Right Diane. You‘re right.”
Principal Cole turns to Michael and asks, “Would you like some more coffee sir?”
“Yes I can use some more coffee,” Michael says.
“Okay.” Principal Cole looks at Diane D and says, “I’ll be back Diane D.” Principal Cole turns to the side and grabs a pot of coffee as Diane D takes another drink from the bottled water. Principal Cole passes behind Diane D and walks towards Michael with the pot of coffee. He pours coffee into Michael’s foam cup. He then approaches Mary and asks, “More coffee?”
“Yes please,” Mary says. Principal Cole pours more coffee into Mary’s foam cup.
Barry holds his foam cup out too and says, “I’ll have some more coffee too.”
“Sure.” Principal Cole then pours coffee into Barry’s cup. Principal Cole turns to Marilyn and Tonio and says, “How about you two, more coffee?”
“Yeah I’ll have another cup,” Tonio says.
“And me too,” Marilyn says.
“Alright then,” Principal Cole says as he pours coffee into Tonio’s foam cup. He then pours coffee into Marilyn’s foam cup. Principal Cole then turns around and walks back towards Diane D with the pot of coffee. He passes behind Diane D and places the pot of coffee back down on the side. He turns back to Diane D and continues to show her the school files and records. Principal Cole then opens the file cabinet and pulls a small stack of Pre-Kindergarten class photos. He shows the stack of photos to Diane D and says, “Here’re some Pre-Kindergarten class photos. I don’t know if any of these boys is the kid who has leukemia.”
Diane D looks at the stack of photos. She takes the stack of photos and looks at the first photo. She sees a photo of a three-year-old looking Hispanic girl. She quickly tosses the photo aside on top of another file cabinet on the side. She then comes to the next photo. She sees a photo of a sad looking Indian boy. She shows the photo to Principal Cole and asks, “Could this be him?”
Principal Cole looks at the photo. He then says, “I have no idea Diane D. Like I said, I’m completely unaware of any little boy in this school who is dying of leukemia.” Diane D looks back at the photo. She sadly stares at the photo of the little Indian boy. She places the photo beneath the stack then comes to the next photo. She sees a photo of sad looking Hispanic boy. She leans one arm over the file cabinet and places her opposite hand on her hip as she sadly stares at the photo. She then places the photo beneath the stack and comes to the next photo. She sees a photo of a three-year-old white girl. She quickly tosses the photo aside on top of the other file cabinet. The photo lands crooked on top of the other little girl‘s photo. Diane D then comes to the next photo. She sees a photo of a little black boy. She sadly stares at the photo. She places the photo beneath the stack and comes to the next photo. She sees a photo of another black boy. She sadly stares at the photo. She places the photo beneath the stack and comes to the next photo. She sees a photo of a three-year-old black girl. She quickly tosses the photo aside on top of the other file cabinet. The photo lands crooked on top of the other two little girls’ photos. Diane D then comes to the next photo. She sees a photo of another Hispanic boy. She sadly stares at the photo. She places the photo beneath the stack and comes to the next photo. She sees a photo of another three-year-old black girl. She quickly tosses the photo aside on top of the other file cabinet. The photo lands crooked on top of the other little girls’ photos. Diane D then comes to the next photo. She sees a photo of a three-year old Indian girl. She quickly tosses the photo aside on top of the other file cabinet. The photo lands crooked on top of the other little girls’ photos. She then comes to the next photo. She sees a photo of a three-year old white girl. She quickly tosses the photo aside on top of the other file cabinet. The photo lands crooked on top of the other little girls’ photos. She then comes to the next photo. She sees a photo of a three-year old Hispanic girl. She quickly tosses the photo aside on top of the other file cabinet. The photo lands crooked on top of the other little girls’ photos. She then comes to the next photo. She sees a photo of another three-year old black boy smiling. She sadly smiles at the photo.
Barry gets up from the chair. He walks towards Principal Cole and Diane D. He approaches Principal Cole and Diane D. He sees around 12 photos of three-year old looking boys of different races and different nationalities lying across the top of the file cabinet as Diane D stares at them. He asks, “So have you two found out who the kid who’s dying of leukemia is?”
“No not yet Dad,” Diane D says as she leans her elbow over a third file cabinet with her legs crossed. “We’re still looking.”
“Oh yeah? Are these photos of the Pre-Kindergarten children?”
“Yeah.”
“How come I only see photos of little boys here? How come there are no photos of the girls?”
“That’s because I separated the boys’ photos from the girls’ photos Dad.”
“You did? Well where did you put the girls’ photos?”
“Over there,” Diane D says as she quickly points to the other file cabinet continuing to stare at the photos of the little boys.
Barry turns his head and looks at the top of the other file cabinet. He sees a crooked stack of little girls’ photos. “Wow Diane,” he says. “That is a crooked stack of girls’ photos.” Diane D looks at Barry as he says, “Are you sure you didn’t just toss those girl photos over there?”
“Yeah I tossed those girl photos Dad,” Diane D says as her eyes look back at the photos of the little boys. “I’ll fix them later.” As Diane D continues to stare at the boy photos, Barry looks at the sloppy stack of girl photos. He turns his head back and looks at Diane D. He puzzled looks at Diane D as she continues to stare at the photos of the little boys not taking her eyes off them.
Principal Cole then says, “I haven’t found any medical records of any students in this school who has leukemia.” Principal Cole looks to the side and says, “I see you got all these shopping bags of toys, stuffed animals, fruits and gifts sitting on the floor.”
“Well Diane wanted to get these things all in the little boy’s honor,” Barry says.
“Ah that’s so nice of you Diane D, but I still cannot find any record of any kid in this school who has leukemia.”
“Maybe this kid has leukemia, but his family just didn’t tell the school about it.”
“Maybe. Now are you sure that this child who has leukemia is a boy right?”
“Well that’s what the letter that was sent to us say. The letter say that the little boy is three years old.”
“Do you know which race, ethnic background or nationality this child is?”
“No, the letter didn’t mention what race, ethnic background or nationality the child is. It just said that the child is a three-year old boy who goes to this school.”
“I see. Do you have the letter with you?”
Diane D turns to Principal Cole and says, “My mom has the letter.” Diane D turns to Mary and says, “Mom, could you show Principal Cole the letter that was sent to us about the little boy who has leukemia?”
“Sure Diane,” Mary says.
Diane D walks away from Principal Cole and says, “In the mean time, I’m going to go downstairs to the auditorium and perform for the other children.”
“Okay Diane.”
“While I‘m down there, I‘ll try to investigate on my own and see if I can find out who the little boy who has leukemia is.”
“Okay Diane.” Mary turns to Tonio and Marilyn and says, “Tonio, Marilyn? Could you two and Michael go downstairs to the auditorium and stay with Diane. Keep an eye on her. Barry and I are going to stay up here and try to find out who this little boy who has leukemia is.”
“Okay Mary,” Tonio says. Diane D heads for the office door as Tonio, Michael and Marilyn follow her.
Twenty-five minutes later, Diane D is in the school auditorium without her short dark green blazer jacket on wearing her white turtleneck shirt walking around as Michael, Tonio, Marilyn, a couple of security guards, excited children, parents and teachers follow her with Marilyn holding and carrying Diane D‘s short dark green blazer jacket. Diane D approaches a black mother holding a three-year old looking boy. The mother is excited to see Diane D and says, “Hi Diane D! It’s so wonderful for you to appear at this school!”
“Thanks,” Diane D says. Diane D looks at the little boy and asks, “Is this him?”
“Yes he’s my son.”
“Is he the child who has leukemia?”
“Is he the child who has leukemia? No Diane D my son doesn’t have leukemia. He’s in perfect health.”
“He is?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m wondering who’s the child who has leukemia is.”
“Yeah I’m wondering who that child is myself because I hear that’s the only reason why you came to the school in the first place, is so that this child can get to meet you, right?”
“Yep, that’s the only reason. Well I’m glad your child is healthy. I’m gonna look for the kid who has leukemia a little more.”
“Okay Diane D.”
Diane D turns to Michael, Tonio and Marilyn and says, “Well it’s not him.” Diane D turns and walks away as everybody continues to follow her. Diane D spots another black three-year old looking boy with his mom. She walks towards the little boy and his mom. The mother smiles at Diane D as Diane D approaches her and asks, “Is this him? Is he the little boy who has leukemia.”
“No Miss Diane D,” the little boy’s mom says. “My son doesn’t have leukemia.”
“No? Well I’m glad he’s okay.”
“Thanks Diane D.”
“You’re welcome.” Diane D turns to Michael, Tonio and Marilyn and says, “Well it’s not him either.” Diane D turns and walks away as everybody follows her again. Diane D spots an Indian family with a three-year old looking boy who is sleeping on his father‘s shoulder. She walks towards the family as everyone follows her again. The mother and father smile at Diane D as Diane D approaches them and asks, “Is this the little boy who has leukemia.”
“No Miss Diane D,” the Indian father says. “Our son doesn’t have leukemia.”
“Well that’s good. I’m glad he’s doing good.”
“Thanks Diane D.”
“You’re welcome.” Diane D turns to Michael, Tonio and Marilyn and says, “It’s not him either.” Diane D turns and walks away as everybody continues to follow her.
Tonio then says, “Diane that was the sixth little boy that you asked if he is the child who has leukemia. Maybe you should give up on trying to find out who this kid is for now.”
Diane D turns around to Tonio and says, “No Uncle Tonio, we didn’t come to this school for nothing.” Marilyn suddenly pulls Diane D by her upper arm causing Diane D’s upper body to bend back a little. Diane D turns her head around towards Marilyn as she holds onto Marilyn’s shoulder with her other hand.
Marilyn says, “Diane, do you think that kid over there might be him?” Marilyn points out to a Hispanic three-year old looking boy in the distance. Diane D and everyone else look in the distance at the little boy as Marilyn says, “He looks three-years old.”
“Marilyn I don’t think we have time to find out if each little boy in this place is the kid who has leukemia,” Tonio says.
“Well this will be the last time I’ll try to find out Uncle Tonio,” Diane D says. “I’ll tell you what, if it’s not the little boy who has leukemia, I’m gonna get ready to perform for the rest of the students and look for this kid later.”
“Good.”
Diane D walks away towards the little boy as Tonio, Michael, Marilyn and the crowd follow her.
Principal Cole is still inside the school office with Mary and Barry as he says, “The entire school was very anxious to see Diane D. You must be very proud of your daughter.”
“Yes we are,” says Mary.
“I know the children must be having a good time with her right now. Can I get you some more coffee Miss Mary?”
“No thanks,” Mary says. “I had enough.”
“Okay.” Principal Cole goes to sit behind his desk.
Diane D is still in the auditorium pacing back and forth in front of a live audience with a microphone in her hand, speaking into it to the children, parents and teachers. Michael sits at the piano as Marilyn and Tonio stand in the front on the side with a couple of security guards as Marilyn continues to hold Diane D‘s short dark green blazer. Diane D speaks to the crowd saying, “And remember what I told you children! Education is very, very important, okay?!”
“Okay Diane D!” says the children.
“Good! You all listen very well! I’m proud of you!”
“Thank you!”
“And for you all being so wonderful and so well behaved, I’m going to sing an old nursery song to you!” Diane D goes to a large movie screen. She then says, “Now if you know this old nursery story, I want you all to sing it with me! You too parents and teachers! I’m sure you all remember this nursery story during your childhood years! I know I do! We all know the story of the old lady who swallowed a fly, right?”
“Yes!” the crowd says.
A large picture drawing of an old lady about to swallow a fly appears on the movie screen from a projector. The children become excited. Diane D then says, “I wonder if we could find out today why this old lady swallowed a fly and why she swallowed a fly in the first place!”
“Maybe she was real hungry and didn’t have any food left in her house!” one of the children says.
“That could be a possibility!” says Diane D. “Let’s sing the story together and see if we can find out! Here we go! I know an old lady who swallowed a flyyy.” Michael starts to play the piano along with Diane D as Diane D sings the second verse, “But I dooon’t knooow whyyy she swallowed a flyyy, I guess she‘ll die.” The children and parents sing with Diane D.
Back upstairs in the principal’s office, Mary and Barry are sitting with Principal Cole as Barry asks, “So Principal Cole, you still don’t know who this three year old boy who is dying of leukemia is?”
“No I have no idea who he is,” Principal Cole says. “When you all told me about the letter your family received from this school, about a three year old boy from this school dying of leukemia, I started checking the school medical records. As far as I know, there is no kid in this school who has leukemia.”
“No?”
“No.”
“Well the return address on the letter is the address of this school, just like the return address on the first letter we got from this school. That’s why we wrote back to the school.”
“What did the first letter you got
from the school say again?”
“The first letter we got from the school wanted us to let Diane come here and perform,” Mary says. “We wrote back to the school and said that Diane only performs for charity. The next thing we know is that we received a second letter from this school about a three year old boy dying of leukemia who’s dying wish is to meet Diane.”
Principal Cole looks at the return address on the envelope and says, “Wow. I don’t know who could have sent you this letter.” Principal Cole then looks at Mary and Barry and says, “Even though we still don’t know who this kid who has leukemia is or who sent you this letter, I’m glad Diane D still decided to go downstairs to the auditorium to be there for the rest of the children because those children were all looking very forward to seeing her.”
“Yeah, I’m sure those children were,” Mary suspiciously says as she looks at Principal Cole then suspiciously looks at Barry as Barry suspiciously looks back at her.
Back downstairs in the auditorium, Diane D is pacing back and forth in front of the audience as she says to the children, “And that is the end of the story boys and girls! We still don’t know why the old lady swallowed a fly to begin with! I guess we’ll never know! Did you all enjoy the story?!”
“Yeah!” the crowd says.
“Good!”
The students, parents and teachers applaud and cheer. They get out of their seats and hurry to the front of the auditorium as Marcus quietly sits in the audience.
The students, parents and teachers approach Diane D and excitingly crowd around her as a female parent says, “Oh Diane D, you’re so wonderful!”
“Yeah you sure are!” says a second female parent.
“Thank you,” Diane D says.
“The song you sang brought tears to my and my family’s eyes. You put so much emotion into the song and into the story.”
Marcus nervously stands alone on the side as everybody else crowds around Diane D. A female student approaches Diane D and says, “Hi Diane D! Could you sign some autographs for us?”
“And us too?” says a male student. Some students, parents and teachers take their pens and papers out and hold them out to Diane D as other students, parents and teachers take out their cell phone cameras. Diane D takes one of the pens and pads and starts to sign an autograph as the other students, parents and teachers point their cell phone cameras towards her. Diane D finishes signing the autograph and hands the pen and paper back to the person. She takes another pen and pad and signs another autograph. She finishes and hands the pen and paper back to the person. She takes another pen and pad from a black female parent.
The black female parent says to Diane D, “I usually spell my name a certain way.” Diane D firmly looks at the black female parent as she starts to sign the lady’s autograph.
Marcus nervously appears near the crowd. He calls out to Diane D shouting, “Excuse me Diane D!” Diane D does not hear Marcus as she signs the lady’s autograph. Marcus calls out to Diane D again shouting, “Excuse me Diane D!” Diane D still does not hear Marcus again as she takes another pen and pad.
A black girl around 10-years old reaches her arm and hand out to Diane D and slightly taps Diane D on her right shoulder. Diane D turns her head to her right towards the girl and annoyingly says to her, “Excuse you.”
“Sorry,” the girl says. “I just want to tell you that somebody is calling you. That boy over there wants you.” The girl points her finger towards Marcus. Diane D looks to the far right and sees Marcus. She firmly gestures for the girl to wait. Diane D turns her head back forward and signs another autograph. She hands the person back their pen and pad.
Marcus eases through the crowd and approaches Diane D. He then says, “Hi Diane D.” Diane D turns back to her right and looks at Marcus as Marcus says to her, “Thank you so much for coming to our school.”
“You’re welcome,” Diane D says.
“Diane D, before you leave the building, there‘s something I have to talk to you about.”
“Something you have to talk to me about?”
“Yeah. Something I feel guilty about?”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“Well what is it?”
“I have to tell you in private.”
“In private? Wow, it sounds serious.”
“It is. Can we go upstairs to the principal’s office and talk about it whenever you get the chance?”
“Sure we can, but let me sign some more autographs then I’ll meet you up there.”
“Okay.” Marcus turns and nervously walks away as Diane D turns back to the students, parents and teachers and signs some more autographs.
It is now 8:00pm. The daylight is now turning to dusk. It is slightly windy outside as some clouds still appear in the sky. All the students, parents and teachers are outside the front of the school saying bye to each other. Some of the students, parents and teachers start to get into many cars. The car engines start up. The cars pull off away from the school leaving the school. A lot of other students, parents and teachers walk away from the school. They walk down one of the blocks away from the school as other students, parents and teachers walk down a couple of different blocks. More students, parents and teachers get into many cars. The car engines start up. The cars pull off away from the school leaving the school. Other students, parents and teachers stay behind standing in front of the school gate looking on at the cars that are leaving.
Chapter 36
Marcus Makes A Shocking Confession To
Diane D