As Time Goes By: A BWWM Interracial Romance by Tiffany McDowell Page A

amalgamated the two districts to save money.
The other fellow was black and had far more black supporters living in his
riding. Go figure.”
     Marg giggled and shook her head from side to side. “Sounds
like reverse discrimination to me.”
     “What are you talking about?”
     “Isn’t it obvious? When you white politicians win, you
claim that the best man won, but when you lose, you claim it was because you
were the wrong color.”
     “Guilty as charged, I suppose,” he agreed, suddenly
enamored by her fun attitude and warm smile.
     The barking got louder, and the one that seemed to be
foaming became far more aggressive.
     “We should get away from these damn dogs,” he suggested.
     She took out her mace and sprayed some onto the leader of
the pack. He yelped and scampered off, causing the others to reluctantly turn
and follow suit.
     “That’s a neat trick,” he said, suitably impressed. “But is
it even legal?”
     “Not sure. I only know that I prefer that to getting bitten
or raped. This damn city is going to the dogs, both figuratively and
literally.”
     “I couldn’t agree with you more. Say, I have some time to
kill. Would you like to go for a coffee or something?”
     His invitation peaked her interest, but the only thing in
her purse was dust. She had been out all day job hunting and could honestly use
a coffee, and perhaps a muffin or sandwich to go with it, but only if he were
stipulating that the bill belonged to him.
     “My treat, of course,” he clarified.
     “Getting out of this cold before my next interview would be
rather nice,” she said, adding, “sure, why not.”
     “There’s a good deli on the corner,” he said.
     “Yes, I know the place, small but very charming.”
     They walked side by side, exchanging pleasantries about the
bitter cold and how out of control the damn stray dogs had been getting lately,
becoming dangerous, especially for mailmen, and filling the street with stinky
poop.
     XXX
     “An ex what?”
     “An ex-councillor.”
     “As in drug counselling?”
     “No, mother. As in a city councillor, you know, like in
politics?”
     “You’re marrying a politician?”
     “Not marrying, silly. Only dating. And it’s an
ex-politician to be precise.”
     “Same thing, those political types lie and say anything and
everything to get elected. And you know what they say.”
    “No, mother. What do they say?”
    “Once a liar, always a liar.”
    “Honestly, mother. You’re being silly. Not all politicians
are dishonest or corrupt.”
    “Now you’re the one being silly, and naïve as well. Can’t
you find yourself a nice electrician or plumber? They make about fifty bucks an
hour. At least you won’t starve. But an ex-politician who is down on his luck?
Why hook up with a guy who isn’t working?”
    “I am not hooking up with him mother. I merely agreed, over
a lunch which he bought, to go out with him to a hockey game on Saturday.”
     “The Red Wings?”
     “Uh-huh.”
     “Hmm, well at least that’s something. A Saturday night
hockey game? Those tickets cost an arm and a leg. Some scalpers have retired
flogging those. Maybe he’s got money after all.”
     “Maybe. I didn’t think to ask him.”
     “Well maybe you ought to before you go investing any of
your heart into him.”
     “It’s only a hockey game, mother. Besides, you know how
much of a fan I am.”
     “Don’t I know it. Who are they playing?”
     “The Leafs.”
     “Toronto?”
     “Yep.”
     “The Detroit-Toronto ongoing feud. That’ll be a wild one.”
     “It certainly will. I agree that they’ve got quite a
rivalry going on this year.”
     “That’s for sure, but we got the edge. Toronto’s goalie
sucks.”
     “It’ll still be a good game.”
     “Probably, because you’ll be watching his dimples and big
brown eyes the whole game instead of the ice.”
     “He does not have dimples, mother, and for your information
his eyes are green.