Amanda in the Summer Read Free Page A

Daddy would’ve been on my side, but he had to stay in the city and work. He’s never able to be here all of the time. Maybe you’ll see him. I bet you see him as much as we do. He thinks you’re crazy wonderful, but then we all feel the same about you. Anyway, if you’d been here, you would’ve had to speak your true mind. You’re the real thing, not plastic like so many people your age.
    It’s blissful on this stretch of beach. I guess I’m glad Mom shamed me into coming for the fourth of July. The fireworks have come and gone except the ones Mom’s shooting out of her eyes right now from the deck. She’s still seething over my part in the protest at Columbia. At one point I thought of you, Auntie Tilly, walking those same grounds, loathing the materialism and the direction society started moving in the forties. Ginsberg, Kerouac and my Auntie Tilly. However did you and Mom stay such fast friends?
    I know you’re just dying to know about Kevin, but first, did you hear the whole story on my arrest? Mom was actually relieved I was arrested. She’s convinced it saved me from getting shot. Tearing down the fence around the Morning Park Gym landed me in jail. It was a symbol of injustice and prejudice. The halls of higher learning can’t just turn its back on the black community at its back door! Anyway, if I hadn’t been detained so long at the jail, I would’ve been at Hamilton Hall for the sit-in. You know how badly that turned out. Pigs! But once the students were inside, the doors were locked. All I could do was ferry them food for the next seven days. In Mom’s eyes, my arrest saved me.
    She’s more upset about me moving in with Kevin in August than she was about my jail time last April. And to think if I hadn’t taken part in the protest at Columbia State that day, I wouldn’t have met Kevin. We’re soul mates.
    So, now the crisis du jour is my moving in with Kevin, but not getting married first. Marriage isn’t my bag. Besides, if I’m not bringing a child into this world of war and assassinations, why should I get married? It would be unconscionable to bring a child into a society of inequality and racist values where individual creativity is suppressed or punished. Can you dig it? I know you’ll understand. You never married and never had children. Auntie Tilly, you really must speak to Mom on this. After all, I’m twenty, and there isn’t much she can do about it.
    Honestly, I don’t need the confines of a marriage certificate to be happy. If only she’d see that. The thing is, I do want to have the sort of lifetime love and relationship she and Dad have had. Aren’t they still just the cutest couple? Oh God, don’t tell her I said so.
    Do you think she’s more upset knowing there won’t be any more Amandas in the line or I’m not getting married? If the future does improve and I have a child, I wouldn’t name her Amanda anyway. My child would be set apart with her own name like Moonshine or CatEyes.
    I wish you could call me when you get this letter. Why Mom insists on carrying on Grandma’s idea of keeping this house a phone-free retreat is beyond me. I’m so out of touch. Of course, Mom is probably thrilled I can’t call Kevin. But she can’t call Daddy either. Maddening. Warn Daddy so he’ll be prepared to take my side when he gets here. Yes, I’m sure you’ll see him.
    Write me or come see us!
    Peace and love,
    Amanda

July 28, 1968
    Dear Auntie Tilly,
    I didn’t get the whole of what happened while you were here. You and my parents seemed all happy and cool when you left though. You three are the most important old folks in my life. What an odd threesome you are to me, at times. You’re so very cool, free-spirited and groovy. Mom is—I don’t know what—going through menopause? Daddy is Daddy and seems to understand both of you. I felt some tension I’d never noticed before, but I could’ve been projecting my own insecurities into the atmosphere. Taking this step