
     ,,?ree
  ,lionel--,! ,li>
  ,lionel ,wa%+ton's p>5ts _h mov$ hm | (! 9n} c;y ( ,*icago :5 he 0 six ye>s old4 ,8 "m1 ,luc9da1 _h be5 a report} =! ,*icago (fice ( ,global ,weekly magaz9e4 ,:5 %e 0 promot$ 6bur1u *ief1 ! family cd af=d 6move 6! suburbs4 ,!y 7 am;g ! f/ blacks 6live 9 _! ,m.t ,prospect nei<borhood4
  ,n{1 sev5 ye>s lat}1 ?irte5-ye>-old ,lionel 0 hav+ tr|# decid+ ": he fit4 ,:5 he visit$ 8 relatives 9 ,*icago1 or :5 8 o!r relatives visit$ hm f ! ,s|?1 8 c|s9s criticiz$ hm = 8los+ yr black;s4 ,xs l y're :ite n{40
  ,x 0 nice 6live 9 a nei<borhood ": he didn't h 6be afraid 6ride 8 bike any": or run ) 8 frs1 ev5 af d>k4 ,& ,lionel 5joy$ hav+ m ?+s ?an he 0 us$ 6hav+ :5 he 0 small}4 ,8 c|s9s1 probably 6cov} _! j1l|sy ( 8 nic} clo!s & %oes &! fact t 8 p>5ts _h two c>s1 call$ hm 8ri* boy0 & 8:itey0 & sd he mi<t z well n ev5 2 black4
  ,luc9da ,wa%+ton 0 a no-nons5se woman4 ,%e _h 2come a well-pd executive )! l1d+ newsmagaz9e 9 ! c.try1 despite h} 2+ black &a woman4 ,%e lau<$ :5 h} nieces & nephews t1s$ ,lionel4 8,he's z black z y >e & alw w be10 %e sd4 8,n{ y j g on & l1ve hm al"o40
  ,/1 ,lionel didn't l x4 ,no way did he want 6give up :at he ?"| 0 a bett} & saf} life ?an he _h "kn4 ,b nei did he want 6be di6}5t f 8 relatives4 ,"! 7 few o!r black kids 9 8 junior hi<1 & n"o ( !m w5t 6his *ur*4 ,8 old} si/}1 ,cl>ice1 w5t 6,prospect ,hi< ,s*ool1 & 8 "y} bro!r & si/}1 ,ronnie & ,talia1 7 / 9 ele;t>y s*ool4
  ,t made hm feel all ! m al"o at 8 s*ool4 ,he grew quiet} "! & at home1 & he cd tell 8 "m 0 worri$ ab hm4 ,lionel didn't l ! *anges 9 8 body & 8 m9d z he 2came a te5ag}4 ,x 0 too /range4 ,he f.d hmf ?9k+ m4 ,he ?"| ab "ey?+4
  ,mo/ly1 he ?"| ab 8 ,uncle ,&r@e4 ,&"r`e 0 ! bad apple (! family4 ,he 0 a drunk & _h be5 "kn 6use & abuse drugs4 ,he'd be5 9 & | ( jail = ye>s & once ev5 s}v$ a %ort t}m at ,/ateville ,p5it5ti>y 9 ,joliet1 ,ill9ois4
  ,! ?+ ab ,uncle ,&"r`e 0 t he 0 a *>m+ guy4 ,:5 he 0 sob} & | ( tr|# & "w+1 "eybody lov$ hm4 ,he 0 fun & funny & grt 6be >.d4 ,:5 he 0 8sick10 : 0 ! family t}m = :5 he 0 do+ drugs or dr9k+ or runn+ )! wr;g cr{d1 !y all worri$ ab hm & pray$ = hm & tri$ 6get hm 6-e back 6*ur*4
  ,uncle ,&"r`e 0 a grt /orytell}4 ,he lov$ 6regale ! family ) exa7}at$ tales t made !m all lau<4 ,he told ! /ories 9 a hi<-pit*$ :9e1 mak+ up new ?+s z he w5t al;g1 & ea* /ory grew funni} ea* "t he told x4 ,he wd ?r{ 8 h1d back & grab 8 belly & lau< until he cd b>ely cat* 8 br1?4 ,te>s wd /r1m d{n 8 face until "ey"o else lau<$ "r al;g4
  ,t 0 puzzl+ 6,lionel4 ,h{ cd ,uncle ,&"r`e 2 "ey"o's favorite half ! "t & "ey"o's worry ! o!r half8 ,lionel's "m told hm x 0 all ab "u/&+ & =give;s4 8,i don't excuse :at he does :5 he's w1k & goes back 6do+ ?+s he "ks he %dn't10 %e sd1 8b :5 he -es back 6*ur* & asks =give;s & tries 6live =! ,"l1 well1 we h 6a3ept hm & help hm if we c4 ,i 2lieve he's re,y try+40
  ,lionel 0 pr|d ( 8 "m1 b = r1sons o!r ?an t %e seem$ wise 9 ! >eas ( =give;s & a3ept.e4 ,! tru? was1 ) h} job1 %e 0 ! /> (! family4 ,n j ,lionel's family1 b ! :ole ,wa%+ton clan4 ,!y trac$ _! roots 6! freedom rid}s on ! ,"ugr.d ,railroad dur+ ! "ds ( slav}y1 & _m ( 8 ance/ors _h be5 active 9 ! civil "rs move;t1 fi<t+ = equal opportunities am;g ! races4 ,8 "m 0 "o :o _h prov$ t a p}son1 reg>d.s (! color ( h} sk9 or ! h|s+ project %e _h gr{n up in1 cd a*ieve & make "s?+ ( h}f if %e re,y -mitt$ h}f 6x4
  ,luc9da ,wa%+ton told ,lionel %e _h be5 born & rais$ 9 a ,clevel& <etto4
  8,b ,i lov$ 6/udy4 ,& t 0 go+ 6be my way | (! projects40 ,%e sd %e fell 9 love ) j|rnalism1 report+1 & writ+4 ,%e graduat$ f j|rnalism s*ool & "w$ h} way up f9,y 6,global ,weekly magaz9e4
  ,%e made gd m"oy1 ev5 m ?an h} husb&1 ,*>les1 :o 0 a h1vy-equip;t op}ator4 ,he 0 z pr|d ( h} z any"o1 & secretly ,lionel 0 pr|d ( h} too4
  ,b ,lionel _h ano!r secret1 & x caus$ hm no 5d ( anxiety4 ,lionel knew "s?+ no "o else 9 ! family except ,&r@e ev5 suspect$4 ,nei he nor ,&"r`e 7 re,y ,*ri/ians1 ev5 ?|< ! :ole family hi/ory revolv$ >.d *ur*4
  ,*ur* 0 "s?+ t _h n *ang$ :5 ,*>les & ,luc9da ,wa%+ton _h mov$ 6! suburbs4 ,!y _h be5 a# 6"sh{ fit 9 6! /range :ite culture1 ?|< _m p made x cle> !y 7 n happy ab a black familys mov+ in1 w1l?y or n4 ,! ,wa%+tons _h qkly 2fr$ ~? home{n}s :o _h n mov$ | & 3v9c$ !m !y 7 gd nei<bors4
  ,f9d+ a *ur* !y 7 -=ta# 9 0 ano!r /ory4 ,lionel cd n rememb} :5 he _h n be5 att5d+ *ur*4 ,family leg5ds sd 8 "m took hm 6*ur* :5 he 0 less ?an a week old1 b 8 "m told hm t 0 sli<tly exa7}at$4 8,b y w}5't two weeks old10 %e sd1 gr9n+4 8,y mi<t z well h be5 born 9 ! *ur* & gr{n up "!40
  ,actu,y1 he lik$ *ur* a lot4 ,lionel 0 glad t 8 p>5ts drove all ! way back 96! c;y 6att5d _! old *ur*4 ,"s (! p :o criticiz$ !m = 8mov+ | & mov+ up0 7 glad 6see !y _h n =gott5 _! roots4 ,& ev5 if !y 7 j1l|s (! ,wa%+tons' abil;y 6move | (a hi<-crime >ea1 !y 7 glad 6see !m -e back e ,sun"d morn+ & ev5+ & e ,w$nes"d ni<t4
  ,*ur* 0 :at ! ,wa%+ton family 0 ab1 b ,lionel knew x w5t deep} ?an t4 ,8 "m n only lov$ *ur*1 %e truly lov$ ,god4 ,& ,jesus4 ,&! ,holy ,_s4 ,!y _h visit$ a few *ur*es 9 ! suburbs1 9clud+ a c|ple t _h bo? :ite & black memb}s4 ,lionel _h be5 a "y boy !n1 b ev5 he cd see t ~! j 7 n ! same z 8 home *ur* 9 ,*icago4
  ,~? p didn't seem 6h any _s4 ,8 "m assur$ hm1 8,!y >e c}ta9ly true 2liev}s1 & ,i don't "q _! salv,n =a second4 ,b ,i ne$ 6g 6a *ur* ": p don't m9d express+ !mvs4 ,if ,i 0 6jump & %|t praises or s+ at ! top ( my lungs1 or sway 6! music or ev5 d.e 9 ! aisles1 ,i wdn't want 6worry ab :at "s"o ?9ks40
  ,lionel knew :at %e 0 talk+ ab4 ,he lov$ 6clap & s+ & sway1 & :ile he _h n d.ed 9 ! aisle1 he 5joy$ wat*+ p :o did4 ,! s}vices at 8 *ur* 7 l;g & l|d & 5?usia/ic4 ,p 7 happy & joy;l4 ,he 0 z happy z any"o :5 8 p>5ts f9,y r1liz$ !y wd n f9d _! k9d ( *ur* 9 _! new nei<borhood4
  ,s ,lionel _h ! be/ ( bo? _ws4 ,he liv$ 9 a safe place1 w5t 6gd s*ools1 le>n$ 6"w & e>n & save b al _h :at"e he re,y ne$$1 & he got 6g back 8home0 = *ur* twice a week4 ,e ,sun"d1 8 family /ay$ ) relatives 2t ! morn+ & ev5+ s}vices4
  ,"o week :ile /ay+ ) 8 gr&p>5ts1 ,lionel got 6sp5d a lot ( "t ) ,uncle ,&"r`e4 ,lionel rode al;g :ile ,&r`e pick$ "s?+ up at ! /ore4 ,:5 ,&r`e came |1 ,lionel 0 surpris$ 6see hm foll{$ closely & qkly 0two o!r m5 ab ,&"r`e's age4 ,obvi|sly n notic+ ,lionel at f/1 "o ( !m sd 6,&r`e1 8,y he> :at ,i'm say+8 ,y get u t m"oy 0 ,fri"d or y 4appe>40
  ,&"r`e immly smil$ & slapp$ h&s ) !m1 n}v|sly 9troduc+ !m to 8my big si/}'s ll boy40 ,lionel %ook h&s ) !m1 b he 0 sc>$4 ,he pret5d$ n 6h he>d1 b ~? guys _h cle>ly j ?r1t5$ ,uncle ,&"r`e4 ,z !y drove back 6! nei<borhood1 ,lionel ask$ hm ab x4 8,!m80 ,&"r`e sd4 8,oh1 !y're j frs4 ,!y 7 hav9' fun ) me40
  8,x didn't s.d l x10 ,lionel sd4 8,i don't l !m4 ,!y sc>e me40
  ,&"r`e pull$ 6! curb1 s"eal blocks f 8 p>5ts' home4 ,he took a deep br1? & told ,lionel1 8,y're "r4 ,!y're bad guys4 ,i borr{$ "s m"oy f !m =a d1l t w5t bad1 & ,i don't "k h{ ,i'm "e gonna pay !m back4 ,i'll figure | "s?9'1 or ,i'll j h 6hide | =a :ile40
  8,>5't y sc>$80 ,lionel sd4
  8',c|rse ,i am4 ,b t's my life1 ,lionel4 ,t's :y x's gd y're a ,*ri/ian & be9' rais$ 0my si/}4 ,%e'll keep y on ! /rai<t & n>r{ pa?40
  8,huh-huh10 ,lionel sd4
  8,:at's t m1n80 ,uncle ,&r`e sd4 8,y 9 tr|# alr80
  8,no1 b ,i 0 j wond}+4 ,i m1n1 y're a ,*ri/ian too1 >5't y80
  ,uncle ,&r`e look$ surpris$4 8,me8 ,d ,i seem l a ,*ri/ian 6y80
  8,:5 y're n1 um1 ,i m1n--0
  8,:5 ,i'm n gett9' 9 tr|#1 y m1n80
  8,y1h40
  ,&r`e *uckl$1 b he look$ sad4 8,y've se5 me -e back 6! ,"l lots ( "ts1 huh80
  ,lionel no4$4 8,i'm gonna tell y ! tru? ab t1 ,nephew1 b y c't 2 tell9' any"o1 y he>80
  ,lionel no4$ ag4 h,i m1n1 ,i don't ev5 want y tell9' yr mama4 ,n{ li/51 ~? p c>e ab me1 ,i "k !y d4 ,& ,i ne$ a place 6cra% & p 6help me get back on my feet n{ & !n4 ,& :5 ,i get myf cl1n$ up & try 6/>t ov}1 ,i'm s}i|s ab x4 ,b ! tru? is1 ,i tell 'em :at"e !y want 6he> s !y'll take me back4 ,if !y knew ,i 0 s}i|s ab surviv+ b n s}i|s ab ,god1 ,i'd h nobody40
  ,lionel sat /unn$4 8,s1 y're n re,y a ,*ri/ian !n80
  ,&r`e si<$ z if he hat$ 6admit x4 8,no1 ,i'm n4 ,tru? is1 ,i don't 2lieve ,god wd =give "sbody l me4 ,i j keep mess+ up4 ,& e "t ,i g /rai<t1 ,i "k ,i'm gonna mess up ag40
  8,b doesn't ,god =give y e "t80
  8,i don't "e feel =giv54 ,my family =gives me1 b t's 2c !y 2lieve ,i'm ei try9' or ,i'm sick40
  8,b my mom says t's h{ ,god =gives p4 ,he uses ! p :o love !m 6%{ !m 8 =give;s40
  8,well1 ,i c't d5y my family has d"o t4 ,b ! tru? is1 ,i've n"e be5 a true 2liev}1 a r1l ,*ri/ian1 & ,i re,y 2lieve x's too late = me40
  ,lionel sat %ak+ 8 h1d4 ,? 0 sad1 b x 0 al sc>y4 8,s1 ,lionel1 tell me ,i'm wr;g40
  8,t's ! tr|#10 ,lionel sd4 8,i don't "k1 2c ,i ?9k ,i agree ) y40
  8,t's n :at ,i want$ 6he>10 ,&r`e sd4 8,i 0 k9d ( hop9' y 7 / "y 5 6believe40
  8,well1 ,mama says y're n"e too "y or too old1 & y're n"e too gd or too bad 6become a ,*ri/ian40
  8,i "k %e does4 ,rememb}1 ,i grew up ) h}4 ,b :at'd y m1n 0say9' y agree ) me80
  ,lionel wasn't sure h{ 6say x )|t -+ "r | ) x4 8,i've n"e re,y 2come a ,*ri/ian ei40
  ,&"r`e squ9t$ at hm & smil$4 8,s we're ! two secret h1!ns 9 ! ,wa%+ton family80
  ,lionel did n f9d x funny4 8,x's a secret all "r4 ,"eybody ?9ks y're a ,*ri/ian :o has bad spells once 9 a :ile4 ,!y ?9k ,i mi<t 2come a pr1*} or a mis.n>y "s"d40
  ,&r`e pull$ away f ! curb4 8,y "| 6talk ) yr "m ab ?10 he sd4 8,i'd r see y gr{ up l h} ?an l me40
  8,i c't talk 6h}10 ,lionel sd4 8,x'd kill h}4 ,%e ?9ks ,i'm "o (! be/ "y ,*ri/ians %e "ks4 ,y won't say any?+ 6h}1 w y80
  8,n if y don't want me to4 ,y cd spill ! b1ns ab me too1 s we'll j keep ea* o!r's secrets1 ,,ok80
  ,lionel no4$1 b he didn't feel gd ab x4 ,he wond}$ if ,&r`e 0 z worri$ ab ,lionel's n 2+ a ,*ri/ian z ,lionel 0 ab ,&re4 ',>5't y afraid x mi<t all 2 true80 ,lionel sd4 8,& t wemi<t 5d up 9 hell80
  ,&r`e p>k$ 9 ! alley 2h 8 p>5ts' home4 ,he ?rew back 8 h1d & cackl$ t crazy lau< ( his4 8,n{ t10 he sd1 8,i d n 2lieve4 ,i may h once1 b ,i've |tgr{n t4 ,"s ( ~! /ories & leg5ds ab :at's go9' 6happ5 at ! 5d (! _w1 ,i don't "k ": ! pr1*}s get !m4 ,i c't imag9e !y're 9 ! ,bi#40
  8,my mom says !y >e40
  8,well1 maybe "s"d %e c %{ me1 & !n ,i'll ?9k ab x4 ,m1n"t1 ,i'm n go9' 6worry ab fairy tales1 & y %dn't ei40
  ,b ,lionel did worry4 ,:5 !y got back 6! re/ (! family1 "ey"o 0 ga!r$ >.d ! piano & s++ old hymns4 ,lionel lik$ t4 ,he sang well & 5joy$ bl5d+ h>monies4 ,uncle ,&r`e sang "r al;g )! re/ ( !m1 b once he w9k$ at ,lionel4 ,!n he "w$ 8 way ne> hm & :isp}$1 8,? /uff makes = gd s++1 b rememb}1 half ( x's a gd way 6live &! o!r is j fairy tales40
  ,lionel wond}$ if ,uncle ,&r`e re,y 2liev$ t4 ,he 0 a cool guy & old} & seem$ wise 9 ! ways (! _w4 ,if anybody %d worry ab :at happ5$ 6hm :5 he di$ or :5 ! 5d (! _w came1 x %d 2 ,&r`e4 ,b he didn't seem worri$4 ,he _h a plan1 a s*eme4 ,he _h 3v9c$ hmf he cd play ! game well 5 6keep 8 lov+ family >.d hm4
  ,lionel wd r h be5 l 8 "m ?an l 8 uncle1 b he knew he & ,&r`e 7 pretty m* ! same4 ,&r`e did a lot worse ?+s1 b if :at ,lionel's "m &! re/ (! family 2liev$ 0 true1 ,lionel knew t he & ,&r`e 7 ! 9 same boat4
  ,&r`e 2gan danc+ 6! music1 & 8 relatives clapp$ & urg$ hm on4 ,lionel cdn't help b smile1 see+ 8 joy|s uncle 5t}ta9+ "ey"o4 ,lionel's "m put h} >m >.d hm z %e wat*$ ,&r`e4 ,%e pull$ ,lionel 6h}f & sd1 8,isn't ! ,"l wond};l8 ,don't we h a gd ,god80
  ,lionel tri$ 6ignore h}1 b %e notic$4 8,hmm80 %e sd4 8,>5't y glad 6s}ve a ,god :o loves y s m*80
  8,um-hm10 ,lionel li$4 8,sure1 ,mama4 ',c|rse ,i am40
  ,he felt t}ri#4 ,l a hypocrite4 ,l ! li> he was4
