Prologue

I have never felt so uncomfortable in my entire life. Was that scholarship really worth it if I was going to end out being some sort of oddball. I sat with the other two oddballs in the back of the class. Everyone’s eyes were on us. They looked like they’d never seen three people like us before. I wouldn’t be surprised. These are all rich kids with privileged backgrounds, they probably never even left the confines of their precious rich cities and towns.

“Alright class,” the teacher said getting everyone’s attention, “these three girls are our scholarship winners.” She looked at us disdainfully, then continued with much difficulty, “we have to accept the removal of the separate but equal law and accept these young ladies into our classroom here at UCLA.”

Trying to hide her discomfort, unsuccessfully at that, she pointed to the young lady on my right and said, “This is Carmen de la Pica Morales.” Her Spanish accent was so terrible I saw Carmen cringing and forcing a smile onto her face so no one would notice her discomfort.

Pointing to the girl on my left, the teacher continued, “This is Tasha Williams.”

Tasha made no motion, she simply acknowledged the introduction with a nod and crossed her arms over chest, keeping a firm face. The three of us had gone to high school together and we were really good friends. Tasha’s behavior was typical of her. She wasn’t one to show weakness.

“And in the middle,” the professor continued pointing at me and trying not to scoff-I can tell, “was the highest scorer on the entrance exam. Her name is Bette Porter.”

I smiled slightly with a nod to acknowledge the introduction. I got several curious looks from our classmates, probably because my parents had broken the “Separate but Equal” laws to conceive me. I was the definition of an abomination to these people, and the professor, most of all, showed her disgust.

“So welcome,” the professor said as if forcing it out of her throat, “my name is Mrs. Buckley.”

“I don’t know if I can take this shit,” Tasha whispered.

“Come on Tash, we went through worse when we came out of the closet,” I whispered.

“Yeah, we’re here to get a degree and make something of ourselves,” Carmen whispered.