First Forbidden Love
A chapter from my historical fiction novel Paper Ghost
1936 Seattle Helen was right. Max liked her. Not only is Max cute, he’s rich and a senior, just like me. And he’s white. Not like me. A whirlwind of thoughts raced through Vera’s mind. Wouldn’t it be grand to have a real boyfriend before I graduated Broadway High? But what’s Papa going to say? But Max didn’t seem bothered by the fact that he was so obviously out of Vera’s league. In fact, Max didn’t seem to care what anyone thought.
During the Movie Club’s discussion of Shanghai Express, which had won an Academy Award in 1932, one kid made a remark, “Yeah, the Japs are trying to take advantage of the Chinese.”
Vera wasn’t offended. No one is the club thought of her as Japanese. In fact, she agreed. Even Papa had said, “Da-me. Da-me. It’s no good. What the Japanese are doing in China.”
So Vera was a little shocked when Max said, “It’s not right Americans point fingers at the Japanese in China. Americans are hypocrites for crowing about human rights in China while negroes right here in this country are treated like garbage.”
Susie gasped while Helen giggled and mouthed See? to Vera. Mr. Smith interrupted Max with a gentle hand on his shoulder, “Last time I checked this is Movie Club, Max, not Politics Club.”
“But in a democracy, aren’t we supposed to speak up?” said Max.
Mr. Smith smiled. “You’re right, Max. But there’s a time and a place. You’re going to be out of high school soon. ”
Vera laughed along with everyone else but she felt flattered Max was willing to stick his neck out to impress her. She smiled her appreciation to Max.
After Movie Club, Max lingered after everyone else left to help Grace wipe down the chalkboard. Then he suddenly leaned down and kissed Grace on the lips. Grace was so surprised, she didn’t push him away. His lips were soft and warm. His blue eyes glimmered like the rare clear skies of Seattle. My first kiss is as good as anything I’ve seen on the silver screen.
She was so stunned, she barely heard him say, “Let’s meet at Pike Market this weekend. I wanna show you something.”
Vera was thrilled. Was this a date? But then she whispered to him, “Please don’t tell anyone about this.”
She wasn’t sure what made her say that. Was it the fact that she was a little scared of Max? Or was it what Papa and Mama might say if they found out their daughter was going out on a date? They never talked about romance. Papa had never said anything about boyfriends, but she couldn’t imagine him welcoming any boy, Japanese or Hakujin, who was interested in her.
Vera wanted to be the first one to tell George about Max and get his stamp of approval. From the first time she met George in elementary school, she admired him like the big brother she never had, George was only a few months older than her but she felt an immediate kinship with the only other Japanese kid in their class. Mama and Papa weren’t friends with George’s parents but Vera liked the tall, outgoing boy right away. George had the confidence she wished she had. In fact, for a short while, she had a secret crush on George. He had always been popular and well liked by the teachers and other kids in whatever school he was. At Broadway High, she watched George grow into a handsome, popular basketball player with a knack for public speaking and performance. And now, George was dating the cute Italian brunette, Connie. Wow. George was so cool, a white girl fell for him. All the kids knew about them but the teachers were kept in the dark. But she didn’t know of any couples made up of a ordinary Japanese girl like her, and a Hakujin boy. For sure, the teachers would frown on an Honor Roll student dating someone of a different race but that didn’t matter as long as George supported her.
The next day while George was waiting for Connie behind the building, Vera decided to tell him about Max. But instead of a smile and a word of encouragement, George said, “I don’t know if it’s a good idea to go out with Max.”
“Don’t be so judgmental,” Vera said, hurt at his words. “Look who’s going out with an Italian.”
“I love Connie. And you don’t know about what her family went through to get here,” said George.
“What are you talking about?”
“Vera, there’s awful stuff going on in Europe you don’t know about. Connie’s family had to leave their hometown because of the Fascists.”
“So are you saying Max hasn’t suffered enough?” said Vera. “Because he’s a rich American?”
George looked pained. “Max is suffering a different kind of pain. He’s suffering from guilt.”
“Guilt? He hasn’t done anything wrong,” hissed Vera. “In fact, he’s always sticking his neck out for other people.”
“I’m not saying he’s a bad guy, Vera. He’s just confused.”
“Well, I thought you of all people would back me,” said Vera.
The old friends glared at each other. George broke the uncomfortable silence. “Your eyes have to be wide open when you date Hakujin. I know a lot of folks aren’t happy with me with Connie. But we really like each other. We really understand each other. I think Max wants you for the wrong reason.”
“I suppose you know everything, Sensei. So what’s wrong with Max?” snapped Vera.
“I can’t explain it but I can tell Max isn’t the right guy for you.”
Tears stung Vera’s eyes. “No. That’s not true.”
George’s eyes warned Vera to end the conversation.
Connie approached and waved, “Hey, Vera. Good to see you.” Vera felt jealous when they kissed each other.
But Vera escaped before Connie could ask what was wrong. XXX Tears stung her eyes as she rushed away.
Well, George can’t stop me. Anyway, they would all graduate and scatter soon. Maybe Max would just be a high school thing. But at least I’ll have one boyfriend this year.
The days until the weekend seemed to crawl by. At Movie Club, Vera avoided looking at Max and sat by Helen and Susie. When the club members discussed films with German directors and actors, Max suddenly said, “I saw Shanghai Express. Marlene Dietrich was all right but Anna May Wong was super.”
Grace blushed furiously at the mention of that Asian actress. Did Max think she was like Anna May Wong? Sexy. Chic, Helen nudged her and winked. Then Susie said, “What was so great about Anna May Wong?”
Helen shoved Susie and glared at her. Susie gave Helen a “what did I do wrong?” look.
* * *
That Sunday afternoon, the clouds hung low but thankfully the rain had let up. Vera met Max in front of the Virginia Inn restaurant on the corner of Virginia and 1st.
“Can I hold your hand?” he said.
“No,” she said and she wrapped her arms tightly around her pocketbook.
Max laughed. She softened and said, “Look, I’m sorry, Max. I’m new at this.”
“That’s okay. You’re smarter than me, but maybe not about everything,” he smiled.
They started walking over to the market, Vera stiff with nervousness while Max put his hands in his pockets and slowed his gait to keep pace with Grace.
Suddenly she noticed how many farmers were in their stalls at the market. They were Japanese. Do any of them recognize me? Maybe one of them remembers me and Papa from our trips to the Furuya House on Bainbridge Island. Oh, God. What if someone says something to someone who knows Papa? “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea,” said Vera as she stopped and turned back.
“What? Why’re you so worried?” said Max. “No one cares.”
Vera glared up at Max. “You don’t know what it’s like to be me.”
“No, I don’t. But that’s why I like you,” he said. “You’re not like the other girls.”
Vera thought, why am I so afraid of Max? He’s just a boy.
Max suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled, “Come on. I want to show you something really neat.”
Vera laughed. His legs were so much longer than hers, she had to run to keep up. He led the way down a wet narrow cobbled street into a penny arcade. The shop was crowded with kids, all too busy playing with the coin-operated machines to notice a Japanese girl like her. She had never been here. Smells of tobacco, sweat and gum. Noisy bells and laughter filled her senses as Max led her deeper into the den.
One boy with slicked back hair whistled at her. “Mighty fine looker,” he said and grinned with a missing tooth. She noticed a few Asian faces in the arcade. Filipinos? Chinese? No one from Broadway High, I hope.
Vera flushed with excitement. No boy had ever looked at her with lust, much less whistled at her.
Max stopped. “Here. This is my favorite - Princess Doraldina,”Vera found herself in front of a large wooden fortune-telling machine with glass windows. Seated behind the glass was the life-sized figure of a gypsy - beautiful dark hair wrapped in a purple head scarf and large hoop earrings glittering from her ears. Her one hand was on a crystal ball while the other hovered above a set of tarot cards spread out on the table before her.
Max put in a nickel in the copper slot, and suddenly the gypsy came to life. The machine whirred, the crystal ball lit up, and the gypsy’s head moved. Vera gasped, “Oh my God, she looks alive!”
The gypsy waved her hand over the cards and even her jeweled chest moved with every breath as if she were listening to the spirits. She stopped at one card. Then a pink card appeared in the slot below. Max said, “Let’s see what she says about me this time.” He picked up the card and read, “You are a hummingbird destined to enjoy the nectar of many blossoms.”
Max turned to Vera and smiled, “Are you a blossom?”
Vera felt her cheeks redden. Then Max gave Vera a nickel and said, “Here. Let’s see what Doraldina predicts for you.”
Vera put the nickel in and watched the Princess come to life again. Then in the slot below, her pink card appeared. Her hand shook as she read, “When the desert moon is full, love will appear.”
Max laughed, “Well, there’s no desert moon around here, so you’re out of luck.” Vera slipped the card into her pocketbook. I’m going to remember this forever.
“Max Thomas, all this time in Movie Club, I didn’t realize what a smooth talker you are,” said Vera. It was true. There was a lot more to this boy than she suspected.