A Lost Boy
A most unforgettable trip41 total reviews
Comment from jenintorre
Congratulations on winning story of the month. It is so well deserved. I really enjoyed reading it. So glad it had a happy ending. A wonderful read. Love Jen.
reply by the author on 06-Mar-2024
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Congratulations on winning story of the month. It is so well deserved. I really enjoyed reading it. So glad it had a happy ending. A wonderful read. Love Jen.
Comment Written 06-Mar-2024
reply by the author on 06-Mar-2024
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Wow. Thank you, it is a chapter from my eventual book of my life.
Comment from papa55mike
Just as soon as they crossed the line, things changed. What a telling statement. Thank you for this wonderfully written story and congrats on the deserving win!
Have a great day, and God bless.
mike
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2023
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Just as soon as they crossed the line, things changed. What a telling statement. Thank you for this wonderfully written story and congrats on the deserving win!
Have a great day, and God bless.
mike
Comment Written 07-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2023
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Thank you for a fantastic review. This is merely a chapter from the forthcoming yet untitled book about my life.
Comment from karenina
Fascinatingly honest story. I'm indebted to you for your service, sir...and I'm ashamed that anyone in the country you served would treat you in such a manner. You showed tremendous courage in filing charges of abuse against that sergeant. Your calm demeanor on the train likely diffused what was intended to be a trigger to make you lash out and thereby kick you off...or arrest you...or worse. I read this earlier and voted for you and I'm thrilled you received the recognition you deserve for "Story of the Month" ~~ I was also delighted to see you received a rare "seven-star" rating. Bless you!
Karenina
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2023
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Fascinatingly honest story. I'm indebted to you for your service, sir...and I'm ashamed that anyone in the country you served would treat you in such a manner. You showed tremendous courage in filing charges of abuse against that sergeant. Your calm demeanor on the train likely diffused what was intended to be a trigger to make you lash out and thereby kick you off...or arrest you...or worse. I read this earlier and voted for you and I'm thrilled you received the recognition you deserve for "Story of the Month" ~~ I was also delighted to see you received a rare "seven-star" rating. Bless you!
Karenina
Comment Written 07-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2023
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Thank you so much. I am thrilled beyond measure to have received such verification from the committee, and authors such as yourself. I am nearly overcome with gratitude for the honor.
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You've earned every bit of it!
Comment from forestport12
Appreciate this bit of history. I'd like to think we are living in a world where we are noticed for the content of our character. It seems these days are about recognition of our color than seeing the soul. I too was in AF and like all San Antonio was the first destination. Appreciate you.
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2023
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Appreciate this bit of history. I'd like to think we are living in a world where we are noticed for the content of our character. It seems these days are about recognition of our color than seeing the soul. I too was in AF and like all San Antonio was the first destination. Appreciate you.
Comment Written 07-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2023
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Thank you. I am currently working on the full story of so far 80 year old life, including the four years I spent in the Air Force.
Comment from Contests
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2023
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 A seven star rating from the Contest Committee for the recognition this post has received from the FanStory community. While this was not a Contest Committee decision, the committee recognizes this achievement with a seven star review. |
Comment Written 07-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2023
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I am deeply honored to have received this recognition. I am also humbled. I only want to continue to develop my writing skills and the helpful direction I have received from my fellow writers here has contributed greatly towards that end. I Thank the committee with all my heart for this great honor.
Comment from Annmuma
Your story is written with such honesty and quiet emotion. Exceptional post and I couldn't even find a spag to mention!
I grew up in Louisiana in the 40's and 50,'s -left in 1962 at 19. I often thought -- were I black, I would have never seen adulthood. It always seemed so cruel to me. As a teenager, I did things which I know - though my heart in the right place - endangered black lives. It was a rule, if walking down our country road, a black person approached, they had to move to the other side. In some sort of weird place in my mind, I would move too -- only causing the person to move again. When I rode the bus to town, I would go back and sit on the back seat --- which just made everyone uncomfortable. Once when going to Missouri to see my sister, my mom and I rode the train. I was 10 years old. There were no black people in our car until St Louis. When the sudden integration happened, I remember asking my mom if black people in the south did not travel. A black lady with a baby sat across from us and she was feeding her baby a cold bottle. My mom said you need to have that heated and she responded that the conductor would heat it for her. My mom immediately asked to hold her baby, took the bottle and requested the conductor heat it. Immediate success. I was so proud of my mom!!
The list of injustices were too many to list and I still find the actions nauseating. I know as a black teenager, I would have lost my life because I could have never shown the courage and character that you did.
Thanks for sharing your story. Good luck in the contest.
ann
reply by the author on 05-Jun-2023
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Your story is written with such honesty and quiet emotion. Exceptional post and I couldn't even find a spag to mention!
I grew up in Louisiana in the 40's and 50,'s -left in 1962 at 19. I often thought -- were I black, I would have never seen adulthood. It always seemed so cruel to me. As a teenager, I did things which I know - though my heart in the right place - endangered black lives. It was a rule, if walking down our country road, a black person approached, they had to move to the other side. In some sort of weird place in my mind, I would move too -- only causing the person to move again. When I rode the bus to town, I would go back and sit on the back seat --- which just made everyone uncomfortable. Once when going to Missouri to see my sister, my mom and I rode the train. I was 10 years old. There were no black people in our car until St Louis. When the sudden integration happened, I remember asking my mom if black people in the south did not travel. A black lady with a baby sat across from us and she was feeding her baby a cold bottle. My mom said you need to have that heated and she responded that the conductor would heat it for her. My mom immediately asked to hold her baby, took the bottle and requested the conductor heat it. Immediate success. I was so proud of my mom!!
The list of injustices were too many to list and I still find the actions nauseating. I know as a black teenager, I would have lost my life because I could have never shown the courage and character that you did.
Thanks for sharing your story. Good luck in the contest.
ann
Comment Written 05-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 05-Jun-2023
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Thank you so much for your compassionate comments. Your story is not uncommon, many whites I have talked to have flirted with laws they have the power to question, while for a black person to do so could cause them harm, jail or even in some extreme cases death.
Comment from Lady MJ
Great Read! Although your story reflects life back in the 60's, it is still relevant today (SADLY). With dignity comes respect. History not learned from the past is doomed to be repeated. Thank you for sharing your personal experience.
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2023
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Great Read! Although your story reflects life back in the 60's, it is still relevant today (SADLY). With dignity comes respect. History not learned from the past is doomed to be repeated. Thank you for sharing your personal experience.
Comment Written 01-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2023
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Thank you for reading and for your generous and sympathetic, supportive comments.
Comment from Ginda Simpson
Thank you for serving our country. Thank you for writing this story and sharing it with us. Thank you for keeping your composure and respectful attitude in the face of prejudice and ignorance.
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2023
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Thank you for serving our country. Thank you for writing this story and sharing it with us. Thank you for keeping your composure and respectful attitude in the face of prejudice and ignorance.
Comment Written 01-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2023
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My mother spent lots of time training me in the way that I should act. She did not try to teach me what to think, rather she taught me how to think and how to use the things I had learned. My mother only had a 3rd grade education, but she was smarter than many with college degrees. I owe her everything.
Comment from Goodadvicechan
This is a touching personal story.
You did the right thing: " filed charges of physical abuse against a sergeant." That was a brave act.
What a quiet train ride to Chicago!
Eating in the kitchen of a restaurant is another discrimination.
Thanks for sharing your story.
reply by the author on 31-May-2023
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This is a touching personal story.
You did the right thing: " filed charges of physical abuse against a sergeant." That was a brave act.
What a quiet train ride to Chicago!
Eating in the kitchen of a restaurant is another discrimination.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Comment Written 31-May-2023
reply by the author on 31-May-2023
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Thank you. If I am in a restaurant that does not feed people of my ethnicity, eating in the kitchen while talking to the cook is I feel, safer than eating food I did not see being prepared for me.
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
Good for you for sticking to your guns and achieving a conviction for this abusive man. I enjoyed learning about your life here and these incidents of unjust behaviour. If there are no consequences for bad behaviour then it just continues and people suffer. I enjoyed your post very much, love Dolly x
reply by the author on 31-May-2023
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Good for you for sticking to your guns and achieving a conviction for this abusive man. I enjoyed learning about your life here and these incidents of unjust behaviour. If there are no consequences for bad behaviour then it just continues and people suffer. I enjoyed your post very much, love Dolly x
Comment Written 31-May-2023
reply by the author on 31-May-2023
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Thank you Dolly. As bad and scary as it was, I believe that I have emerged a better and stronger person.
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Yes I think this is true, our experiences shape us x x x