"If you made a promise, than you surly have to keep it." Shawn was all about following through on promises. He knew all about them. He had made his most important promise to his mother and father when they asked him to watch out for his little sister and ever since he was eighteen, he had to become her brother, mother and father all rolled into one. The hate crime that killed his parents still burned within his heart, but he had tried to forgive them like a good Christian man should. He looked off to the side as he thought about this. His poor ma and pa, his poor sister. She had only been a couple years old when they were killed. Shawn did not have the resources to properly care for her, but the whole neighborhood pitched in and his sister turned into the fine young lady she is today.
"You've ate at the diner? I've never seen a white come in before. I always thought it would be a good place for our people to meet and greet, neutral ground so to speak. But since it's owned by black folk..." He trailed off. "I'm really glad you've came before. Next time, I hope you'll stick around so I have the chance to say hello."
He felt taken-aback when she agreed to come over to his house for dinner. That was a pretty huge step for the both of them, for their people in general. It was a nice thought, to think that maybe they could start something, stir something in other people's hearts, make others want to mingle more. It was a fools dream. Something like that would not be happening anytime soon, maybe not for decades.
"To be honest, Miss, I was thinking of reheating this for our dinner. It's still fresh and perhaps one day I could cook you a home cooked meal one day when I have the extrea money for ingredients." He blushed, not wanting her to realize how poor he was.
"My sister is named Lucinda, but she likes to be called Lucy. She's just turned fifteen. She was only a toddler when our parents passed. I've been raising her ever since then."
He wondered if he should hold out his arm for Robin? Would that be okay? He was escorting her to the dress shop and he wanted to be seen as a gentleman, but what would other's think. "I would offer you my arm, but I do not want to offend anybody." Shawn lowered his eyes, took a deep breath and then looked back up at her. "I don't wish to seem rude."