The Soldier and I, talking in 2003.

“So you ate dinner with this guy after this?”

“Yeah. I was outside with my boyfriend’s… well he was my fiance. And I was outside with his brother there, standing by the car telling him jokes. I was trying to let him know I was okay and also just keep him distracted. Because this was a living hell for him. He looked like he was going to explode, or maybe implode right on the spot. So I made jokes.”

“Like what? How do you joke about something like this?”

“Easy. As far as I was concerned the guy was a cartoon so I just exploited that. I mocked him. Did you seen the veins sticking out, I asked. I’m sorry your father is a freak. Has he always been a freak or did this just start today?”

We both laughed.

“Yeah, I got him laughing and feeling better right away to the extent I could because he was reeling. Eventually my fiance came out and filled us in on the situation.”

“And then you went in there and ate dinner?”

“Yeah. We had a pow-wow about this. We were traveling together and we had a powerful synergy which I think it unusual for a trio but it was there. So we had these various options… splitting up, all of us leaving, all of us staying, etc. And in the end we decided to maintain our united front and go to dinner.”

“Hmm.”

“See, they were both trying to take care of me. They felt bad, you can imagine. But I told them not to take a stand on my behalf because the whole thing was meaningless to me. Don’t go defend my honor because I am not dishonored. And since I was the supposed victim, once I explained that there was no injury and it was clear this was true the whole air just went out of this thing. You know. There is a bag of hot air in there… he’s your father. Do you want to eat with him or no? Do you want to fight him and if so, do you want to do it today? Do you want to drive away? You guys figure this out and whatever you want to do, I’ll do it with you.”

“I see.”

“Yeah. It was all for one and one for all. We were The Three Musketeers. We really were like that, so we just stayed like that and we all went to dinner.”

“Well that does sound like you.”

“Yeah. I am a loyal and stanch ally. I am not going to cave on you just because someone calls me a nigger or any other kind of name. I may have dimples but I am not a flake. And you better believe this guy didn’t like it when he saw the three us heading back in all nonchalant, to eat his food.” I laughed. “I thought it was funny as hell. I actually walked in and shook his hand. Hi, I’m Elsa, I said with my regular grin.” I snorted. “I had his two sons, one on each side of me and I was defying him I suppose. I guess you’re going to find out what it’s like to eat dinner with a nigger, aren’t you?” I laughed. “I didn’t say that last part, I just thought it. And that’s exactly what happened. Dinner was served.”

Have you ever been part of a united front?

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