Free Family Reunion by Mercedes Keyes Page B

have nothing to do with money. And I suppose his looks do have something to do with it as well. You think my hiring him will offend Esteban?"
    "I doubt it, if he's your cabin boy; he can't very well follow me around can he?"
    Manny chuckled. "I guess you're right, which brings to mind the issue of school. How is he going to take it when you tell him and the others they have to attend?" Mike looked at his father startled.

"School? My kids in a school? Oh we're asking for trouble now aren't we?"
    "They need to be in school son."
    "Father, what school is going to take my Esteban? And I won't have him going to one school and the others going to another. I won't split them up as if there's a difference, one is no better than the next, my four by Maria are partially Negro just as he is."
    "Yeah, but two could pass for white."
    "So can I, doesn't mean I want to, I'm not about to start them on that road either. They attend together or not at all!" Mike started feeling agitated by the subject.
    Manny realized as time went on that he and his son was heading for a clash. The more time they spent together, the more he could see his rebelling in some way. Not just any type of rebelling, but a racial one. He was a man afraid of losing his identity. Afraid of the life Manny was offering him that placed him in the position of being white. Times like this were making it clearer and clearer, what he considered himself to be.
    No matter how hard he tried to ignore it, Manny was hurt that his son obviously chose to be what his mother was, over him, to the point of aggressively holding onto it, rejecting any white structures, businesses or organizations. To ease the sudden tension, Manny offered a temporary respite. "Let's not worry about it right now. Later on, I'm going to introduce you to an old friend who could help us with this.”
    “ Know this son, whether you agree or not…they should be in school. What I'm going to say may seem an underhanded tactic; no matter, I'm going to use it all the same. Your mother would want her grandchildren in school if it was possible for them to attend and it is. Do it for her." Mike closed his eyes a moment hearing that. "You're right, that was underhanded."
    Manny smiled and clapped him on the back as they came to the Princess. "Did it work?" Mike looked at his father trying to keep from grinning. "Yeah ... it worked."
    "Good enough then."
     
    When Rory walked up the gang plank to the floating beauty, the magnificence of the ship took his breath away. Though eighteen yeas old, it stood demanding a look of awe, so majestic and massive. It stood out from the others easily, and when his eyes cut to the name of her, that too held his attention. The name, Princess Ceś alena seemed to jump out at him. He stared at it a moment. He'd heard that name before, Princess Ceś alena. It was so familiar that it echoed in his mind, for a moment haunting him.

Needing to move on, he dismissed the th ought because he could have read it in a book at school.
    "Beautiful isn't she?" Manny boasted boldly, it was the one shining prize of all his gains, the one that he took the most pride in. Coming up beside Rory, he stood in its profile. "Yes sir that she is. How did you come by the name?" He asked wondering. Mike felt his heart jump at the question. "I knew her once. Princess Ceś alena and she was as magnificent as what you see before you." His voice grew husky toward the end. Rory looked from Manny to Mike and noticed that his eyes had reddened. "Excuse me father." Mike pulled his attention to get by.
    Manny stepped aside so his son could pass. Turning to Rory and taking a deep breath, he invited him on to the lower quarters. "Come along Rory, I fear my body heat is now at its lowest."
    Mike, after a full day with his father went straight to the family room in search of his wife and children, as Rory, Leon and Manny headed for his cabin. While sitting to warm up, Maria came in with Lolita in hopes of seeing her husband,