Read Into White for Free Online Page B

feet. “Don’t let Colossus get the best of you.”
    When he stood, the sharp corner of a letter peeked from his pocket. “What’s with the letters?”
    He stuffed the letter deep down and out of sight. “It’s nothing, really.”
    â€œThey come almost every day now, and they’re on fancy paper. Seriously, what are they?”
    â€œToya, drop it.” He walked ahead.
    He’d been guarding the mailbox since he’d started his senior year, and I had no idea why. Aside from the gross puberty stuff, we never held secrets from each other; so not telling me about the letters hurt. However, in that moment, Colossus hurt worse. Every leg muscle banded together, chanting in protest, Stoppp, you dirty heffa! Waaaait, you filthy mutha! I pressed on slowly, one foot after the other, and another after that one, too, until I conquered Colossus.
    Gasping for breath, we assumed the position.
    â€œAll right, fists in the air and biceps to the sky,” he announced between breaths.
    â€œI know, Alex. Come on.”
    â€œNo need to get snappy. Just because you’re white doesn’t mean you get to—”
    â€œCome on!”
    â€œFine. One … two … three!”
    â€œColossus the great,
    Colossus the cruel,
    Alexander and Latoya brought down your rule.
    Colossus, you’re tall,
    Colossus, you tower,
    But you will never conquer the Williams sibling power! HUUAAAHH!”
    When we first moved to Edgewood, neither of us could walk up Colossus without taking breaks. We made up the chant after we finally walked it without stopping.
    It was time to head home.
    With the empty castle in our sight lines, we saw Hampton Williams’s large head bobbling its way up the driveway. Half pit bull, half chow chow, and full-blooded demon toward anyone other than the four of us. He had broken loose from his restraints again. Luckily, the Alabama Power Company hadn’t picked today to shut off the power. A few months back, when our bill first went red, Dad came up with the genius plan to tie Hampton on the side of the house where the power box was located. No power man would dare attempt to get past such an animal. Once, a shaky cable guy banged on the door, yelling, “Mr. Williams! We need you to move your dog!” He stood there banging for nearly an hour. The man finally stormed off when Dad blasted Cat Stevens on his ancient surround-sound stereo system.
    Hampton, Alex, and I found the house just as we’d left it, bare. Hampton smelled like a garbage dump and left little golden hairs all over the place, but we were so excited to have him inside that we didn’t care. He was a loyal friend with a bad attitude like Kanye West. I dragged myself and my dog up to my room, threw myself into bed, and fell asleep before my head hit the pillow. I woke to the clamor of Mom and Dad fumbling with the front door.
    â€œYou crazy as hell, woman!” Dad bickered.
    â€œNo! You are!” Mom replied. They were like little kids fighting over a Kit Kat.
    Hampton sat patiently at my bedroom door, staring at the doorknob as if willing it to open. After rubbing at my eyes, I saw half of a french fry on my side table, and quickly realized someone had hijacked my portion of the McDonald’s. When I locked eyes with Hampton, he dropped his gaze to the carpet and let out a pitiful whimper. He’d undoubtedly eaten whatever deliciousness Alex had left for me.
    â€œToya! Alex! It’s time for Unsolved Mysteries . We’re late getting home because your dad’s car broke down on Malfunction Junction again. He made me get out and push on the freeway,” she tattled. “I asked the Lord to protect me from oncoming traffic and he did. Praise God!”
    â€œPraise God!” echoed Alex.
    â€œPraise God,” I said just loud enough for them to hear.
    â€œPraise God, but it didn’t go like that at all, kids! She can’t drive a stick, so she