Jennifer was silent.
“Of course,” Lee continued, “getting off the reservation isn’t always the answer. Take my sister. Please.”
Jennifer waited for what was to come. The old joke was stated in a bitter tone that signified more.
“Her name,” Lee said, “is Spring Flower, except now she’s changed it to ‘Reur.’ She says it sounds more sophisticated, but what she really means is that it sounds French, which is okay, as opposed to Indian, which is not.”
His voice was filled with rancor. “She won a scholarship to college, like me, except once she got there she forgot where she came from. She hasn’t been back to see my parents in six years.”
Jennifer didn’t know what to say.
“She’s a research chemist for some big laboratory in New Jersey. It’s not that far from here, actually, but I haven’t been able to bring myself to go see her. She acts like she has no past, that her life began at eighteen when she left home. I’m sure none of the people she works with know about her background. She’s careful to conceal it That doesn’t explain her looks, though, so I understand the guy she’s engaged to tells everybody that her mother is Greek.”
Jennifer couldn’t imagine why he was telling her all this. Her innocent question about the picture had prompted this outpouring of personal information.
“Well,” Lee added, “I’m sure they’ll be very happy. The only successful marriages I’ve ever seen between Indians and non-Indians occur when the Indian is totally absorbed in WASP culture. And my sister is well on her way to becoming an imitation WASP. Something,” he said with precision, “that I will never be.”
Jennifer was sure of that. If the transformation hadn’t occurred by now, it never would.
“Your sister doesn’t mean to hurt anyone, Lee,” Jennifer said soothingly. “She’s probably just confused.”
“I’m not,” Lee said firmly. “I don’t know how people can just dismiss their heritage like that, no matter what it could gain them or how much they loved someone. I could never do it.”
Jennifer felt a chill. Was he trying to tell her something? But his expression was abstracted, as if he had forgotten she was there and he were talking to himself.
“Surely it doesn’t always have to be like that,” Jennifer said softly, “with one person selling out for the other. I’m certain that sometimes both people can accept what they are and love each other while still keeping their identities intact.”
“I’ve never seen it,” Lee answered.
Jennifer had nothing to add to that. After all, he was in a position to know.
He turned his head and seemed to remember the reason for her presence.
“Let’s go, counselor,” he said, sighing. “Our chariot awaits.”
* * * *
The parade route began at the Museum of Art and traveled through downtown Philadelphia, winding up at Independence Hall. Lee rode a float with several other athletes, including Joe Thornridge, while Jennifer used the interim time to advantage talking to the newspaper and television people about Lee’s visit to the children’s hospital, scheduled for that afternoon. It was a great human interest story, and Jennifer planned to get a lot of mileage out of it.
After the parade there was a short press conference, and Jennifer waited for Lee in the background. She was looking over her notes when she felt a touch on her shoulder and jumped.
“Hi,” Lee said.
She had been so absorbed that she hadn’t realized he was already finished.
“Don’t creep up on me like that,” she said breathlessly. “How’d it go?”
“Fine. I waved at everybody and looked appropriately macho. The crowd seemed suitably impressed.”
His tone was dry. Obviously, being on display was not his favorite thing.
“Well, you have a couple of hours before you’re due at the hospital,” Jennifer said. “The driver can take you home if you like.”
“Are you going home, too?” he quizzed.
“I guess so. I have to change.”
“All right. You can drop me off on the way.” He folded his arms and surveyed the impressive facade of Independence Hall over her shoulder. She turned to follow his gaze, taking in the colonial brick structure with the gleaming white bell tower.
“Look at this place,” he said. “You ever been inside?”
“I took the tour once, a while ago.”
“The walls speak to you, don’t they? You can almost imagine old Patrick Henry making that speech: ‘Give me liberty, or give me death.’ Great stuff. Them’s fightin’ words. Quite a phrase to echo down through the generations. You have to admire those people. They risked everything, and I mean everything, for what they thought was right I remember some history teacher talking about that comment John Hancock made when he signed the Declaration of Independence. You know, ‘I’ll write this big enough for King George to see without his glasses on.’”
“Yes, I remember.”
“Well, this teacher said that people repeat it today as though it were a joke or something, but they forget that Hancock thought he might have been signing his death warrant What courage that took. When I saw the original, preserved, the way they have it, there was John’s signature, three times as large as the others, and I couldn’t believe it You hear about something all your life, and it becomes almost a myth, as though it doesn’t really exist anywhere but in your mind. It was a kick to finally see the real thing.”
Jennifer stared at him. Here he was expressing admiration for the colonial patriots, the forerunners of those who had eventually enslaved his people.
He saw her look, and knew its meaning. He shrugged. “Great Britain was wrong,” he said. “It’s my country, too,” he added quietly. Then he cupped her chin in the palm of one large hand and turned her face up to his. “In fact, it was my country before it was yours.”
That was certainly true. She locked eyes with him for a few seconds, and then stepped back, saying briskly, “I’ll go inside and call Max to pick us up.”
Lee leaned gracefully against a lamppost and said, “I’ll be here.”
As Jennifer walked away she thought about what he had said Upon closer examination, his enthusiasm for the Founding Fathers was more understandable. She could see how their actions would appeal to his sense of style. He had a flair for the dramatic himself. She had seen him pause in the end zone after making a touchdown and hold the ball aloft, like a lady’s favor in a joust, to the vocal delight of the fans. Then he would bend from the waist in a sweeping, courtly bow. She had thought at first that the other players might resent these histrionics, and think him a hot dog, but he really wasn’t one, and they apparently knew it In interviews, he never failed to give credit to his defense people, the blockers and tackles who cleared the way for his flashy footwork, and he always praised Joe Thornridge for his magic arm.
On the way back he was quiet and merely nodded when she reminded him of the time she would return for him. She watched him walk up the path to his house, admiring, as always, the broad shoulders and narrow waist, the perfect proportions of his athlete’s body. The sun made a shining black helmet of his hair. Then she tore her eyes away and ordered Max, in a firmer tone than was necessary, to take her back to her apartment.
She told herself sternly that she really hadn’t been hoping Lee would ask her inside.
* * * *
They were due at the hospital at two, and Jennifer ate a quick lunch before changing into a tailored dress and brushing her hair. She glanced at the evening dress laid out on the bed for the dinner that night Sponsored by the Freedom’s management, it was being held at the Bellevue Stratford downtown, to welcome the new players and kick off the season. It was a social event, rather than business, so she wouldn’t be going with Lee. For lack of a better idea, she had asked John Ashford to escort her, and she assumed Lee was bringing a date also.
Jennifer shook her head. One thing at a time. She had to get through this afternoon first. She would worry about tonight when the time came.
Lee remained introspective during the ride to the hospital. He sat next to her in the back seat of the limousine, his knee almost touching hers, staring out the window. He had changed also, into dark slacks and a light blue shirt and a knit tie. He turned once to find her watching him, and she looked away.