by BJ Haring

Created on: January 24, 2008

Years ago my husband and I owned a RV park, small grocery store and marina. Our children were like three and five years old at the time. The RV Park was actually quite fun to have as we met lots of great people. We had befriended a young couple who were staying in our park because the father was working on a long term construction project in our town. The father and mother were white however, Kera their little girl was black. I have to admit we live in town that had very very few blacks for whatever reason, my children really hadn't seen many black people and if they did in their pure innocence they didn't make in distinguishing differences.

Kera was 10 years old. Every morning her mother would bring her down across the highway to our store to get a treat. On this particular morning Kera's mother didn't feel well as she was 8 months pregnant and wasn't up to the walk down to the store. Kera begged her to please let her go by herself, she would be very careful plus, she was a big girl. After a long debate Kera's mother gave in and allowed her to go down to the store herself.

Our store was across the street from the RV park. The highway in between was a US highway that had moderate traffic. Kera stood by the road waiting because she saw a log truck coming. When it passed she started to run to cross the highway..coming the other way was a full size motor home she neglected to see. Kera was hit by the motor home and thrown to the side of the road. The next thing I know is the log truck driver came screaming through the door for me to call 911 as a little girl had been hit by a car. Of course my sons were right there with us and heard and saw through the store windows everything. To ease your minds Kera ended up recovering fully after a duration of recuperating.

That afternoon the boys were so concerned about their little friend that we drove to the hospital to make sure see would be o.k. She had broken her femur and had other bumps and bruises but was doing well. The boys had wanted to take her a prize so we stopped and got her a teddy bear for them to give her. They played awhile and we left to head home.

When we walked in the door at home our 5 year old eagerly started telling his Dad about our visit with Kera and how "she is doing real good Daddy but, her face is still black!"

Innocence...that was absolutely the epitome of innocence to me. My son truly thought at that time that she was dark because her face had been injured in the accident. It was so sweet!

Learn more about this author, BJ Haring.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.