Creative Response
Dear diary,
Today I helped Ruth work in the store after school. I had to watch Dee-Dee for a minute while Ruth’s mom got more BC powder from the back; some lady bought the entire box. Sometimes I wish I didn’t live in this town. Ruth hates it when the KKK passes by unexpectedly. I do too. It’s horrible; sometimes Ruth and I stand in front of the store on the look out for them. They always come from the Woolworth corner. When we see them we rush the black folks out because we’re always afraid they will kill someone right in front of us. That thought scares me to death. When some sailors came to invite us on the boats today Ruth’s mom told them to go away in Yiddish. It was funny, but she was serious. I have to go set the table now so bye.
Frances.
Dear diary,
Today I went with Ruth to buy her new moccasins. Her dad came with us too. Ai was surprised because her dad never buys her new clothes or shoes. She always gets hand-me-downs. Do you even know how much Ruth had to beg for those shoes? Give it a few hours. Ruth is crazy. I could tell she wanted those shoes bad because they fit her two sizes big and she still took them. Even her dad told her they were too big. She didn’t care she just said “That’s how there supposed to fit”. I didn’t want to be mean or sound jealous, but I told her everyone was going to make fun of her.
Frances.
Dear diary,
Today Ruth wore her new moccasins to school. As we walked through the hallway to our math class everyone pointed at her feet and laughed. I felt so bad. Ruth was upset and embarrassed and she just took them off. I gave her my gym sneakers and she wore them for the rest of the day. After that day she never wore them again. I told her they looked funny, but she didn’t listen to me. Told her you could hear her feet squeak and squish in them. Today at the store Ruth met this boy named Peter. He is black and he lives in one of the houses behind the store. Ruth was pumping kerosene out of the tank and he asked her if she could take a walk with him. While she was with him I had to keep a look out for her mom and dad. If anyone saw them together they would kill them both. I could already see Ruth’s dad chasing after Peter. I’m afraid for the both of them.
Frances.
Dear diary,
It’s been a while since I’ve written. I’ve been busy with school and all. Well, today was another day helping out Ruth at the store. She has been seeing Peter a lot lately. They were having their own little secret rendezvous. They always met each other in the yard or the passage behind the store. I always have to lie to keep her cover. This is getting too risky. They even write each other little notes and slip them under the door. Ever since she found Peter she has changed. She was always smiling, but lately she has been crying a lot and she looks like she has a lot on her mind. If Ruth is pregnant and doesn’t’ want to tell me I guess I understand. I just feel so useless because she doesn’t want to let me help her. I think her mom knows something is up because she found Ruth’s bracelet, the one that she had dropped the other day. She asked me what was Ruth doing behind the store and I told her we needed more gum and she went to get some. She said she was sending Ruth to New York.
Fences.
Dear diary,
Today I finally saw Ruth again! She was in New York the whole time. I missed her a lot. She told me she got back a few days ago and how she found out Peter got another girl pregnant and that he had to marry her. I was surprised because I heard about that, but I didn’t think it was true. I always knew he was no good for her. Now we’re finally seventeen and about to graduate from high school. Ruth doesn’t want to come to graduation. She said it was against her religion because the ceremony was going to be held in a protestant church. On top of that her dad didn’t want to give her the money for her cap and gown. Her mother spoke to her father and he finally gave her the money to buy her cap and gown. There we were walking into the church everything was going good until Ruth steps out of the line. So I got off the line too. She said she couldn’t go through with it and for me to go in there and graduate. And that’s how it went. The next day Ruth took a grey hound buss back to New York.
Frances.