Horizons of Heroes Read online

  A tiny sampling of “stare decisis” which is the doctrine of precedent courts cite when an issue has been previously brought to the court and a ruling already issued. Generally, courts adhere to a previous ruling, though this is not unanimously excepted. Cameron was, therefore, required to learn and understand case law at a rapid pace:

  •Dred Scott v Sanford, 60 U.S. 383 (1857).

  •Yick Wo v Hopkins, 118 U.S. 356 (1886).

  •Plessy v Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896).

  •Powell v Alabama, 287 U.S. 45 (1932).

  •Missouri ex rel. Gaines v Canada, 305 U.S. 337 (1938).

  •Shelley v Kraemer, 334 U.S. 1 (1948).

  •Brown v Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 (1954).

  •Miranda v Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966).

  Cameron buckled down that first quarter and studied harder and smarter than he had ever done before. He was able to salvage his first quarter of law school by receiving a 2.6 GPA, but the downside was that he had to drop two classes that he would eventually have to make up. This setback would make it hard to graduate with his class, but that was the last thing he was thinking of because each day he was in survival mode.

  Nearing the midpoint of his second quarter, it was time to take his mid-term exams. He checked to see if he had sufficient quantities of “blue books” for the exams. Blue books were universally accepted blank pages covered by a blue cover to submit one’s written answers to course questions. He was low on blue books so he drove his firebird to his neighborhood Pay-n-Save store. He walked into the store and over to the stationary supplies. He picked up a handful of blue books, stood up and turned to see where he needed to pay for the blue books. Then it happened. It was the most romantic moment that Cameron had yearned for so long. Between wishing and praying Cameron saw a checker who literally turned a glance into wedding bells. He knew instantly that heaven had at last brought him real love. And it just wasn’t love at first sight. It wasn’t a pretend wedding bell sound, it was a full orchestra of wedding bells exploding loudly in Cameron’s mind. Cameron was 100% certain that this was the person he would marry. Now, how was he going to convince a stranger that she should marry him? He knew nothing about her. And she knew nothing of him.

  As he walked through her line, he wondered what he would say to his future wife. Absolutely nothing came out of his mouth. Not a word. She said all the usual greetings an employee would say to a customer. “Hi, How are you, Have a nice day.” He did notice her name, Michelle, on her store name badge. Cameron managed to give her a very nice smile.

  Cameron went back to his apartment and gave deep thought on how he might convince this beautiful young lady with long auburn brown hair and beautiful soft brown eyes to go on a date with him. He estimated that she was approximately 5’7” maybe 5’8” tall. She was the most beautiful women he had ever seen in his life. Cameron had seen some beautiful women in his travels around the world, but Michelle was one thousand percent more beautiful than them all including Abrianna and Kora. Cameron was in love. This was it. It was real love. So this is what happened next.

  Cameron wrote a note to Michelle that went like this: Hi, My name is Cameron and I am a first year law student at NU. I have a lot of potential. I would be absolutely so happy, if you would have a Coke or cup of coffee with me. Yours, Cameron Price with his phone number.

  Cameron drove back to the store and walked through Michelle’s line.

  “Hi again,” said Michelle, “did you forget something?”

  “Yes, I forgot to give you this.” He handed Michelle the note with a warm smile. She nervously accepted the note and gave Cameron a nice smile. Versions differ after passing years, but Cameron was certain the following happened next. As he walked back into his apartment, the phone was ringing off the hook. It was Michelle and she said she would be happy to go on a date with Cameron.

  Cameron asked Michelle if she would like to attend a hockey game with him.

  She said, “sure, it sounds fun.”

  Cameron called Michelle at her store after he had purchased the hockey tickets to let her know what time he would pick her up. When he called and asked for Michelle, a guy who answered the phone said, “who is this?” Cameron gave his name and the guy said, “I’m Michelle’s boyfriend and she won’t be calling you back.” Cameron laughed and told him to say goodbye to her because his time with her was over! He reached Michelle at home three hours later and their date was on. It took Cameron about a week or two to purge the boyfriend.

  Cameron picked up Michelle in his powerful Firebird 400. “My,” she said, “this looks like one fast racing car by the roaring sound of the engine.”

  “It is one of the fastest cars in Seattle.”

  Michelle asked Cam, “can you show me what your car can do?”

  Cameron smiled and said “watch.” A millisecond later the front tires were off the ground. The thrust pushed Michelle tightly back into her passenger seat. The rear end metal bar streaked flames, and the missile of a car sped down the road.

  Barely able to talk, Michelle said with a gasp, “nice ride Cameron!”

  Their first date was so fun and flirtatious. Their conversation was sparked with increased interest in each other. They laughed and hugged. On the radio, Earth Wind and Fire played “Shining Star.”

  When you have that special spark of love for someone, it doesn’t matter what you’re watching or listening to. Just looking into those eyes was so exciting and the action-packed hockey game made it a memorable moment. Cameron couldn’t tell you who played well in the hockey game or even who scored, but he could tell you how his love for Michelle increased as the game played on.

  Cameron picked up the phone and called Big El. “I finally found her. The girl of my dreams, the one I have been searching for all around the world. Big El, she is so sweet and wonderful and beautiful and she loves me. I know she loves me. Michelle is her name. I love her. I heard wedding bells when I first looked at her.”

  Cam, I am so happy for you. Believe me, I know she has to be so very special for you to say you want to marry her. Susan and I can’t wait to meet her.”

  Several days later, Michelle and Cameron went on their second date, skiing at Snoqualmie Mountain. Michelle was an excellent skier and so was Cameron. Again it wasn’t their skiing technique that was the most memorable activity that day, it was the surge of love that was growing. On the ski lift to the top of the mountain, Cameron said he was too warm and he took off his turtleneck sweater leaving only a T-shirt. Michelle smiled as she looked at Cameron’s large and powerful biceps and muscular chest. “Can I touch those muscles,” she asked nervously? “How did they get so big?”

  ‘I’m really into conditioning and I train every chance I can.” He didn’t tell her he was a 4th° black belt.

  He smiled at Michelle. He took his left hand and placed it on her cheek and he placed his right hand behind her head. Looking into her inviting eyes, he slowly brought her lips to his lips. Cameron’s brain exploded into colorful Roman candles that captured his emotions. There is no finer feeling than being in love, true love. Cameron could tell Michelle felt the same way.

  They had a wonderful day on the sun filled slopes at Snoqualmie.

  On the way back from skiing they stopped at a small restaurant for burgers and something to drink. After they finished their meal and were about to leave, two truckers came into the restaurant and sat down near Cameron and Michelle.

  “What do we have here?” said one of the truckers. “A white woman with a nigger! I think we should kick his ass.”

  Cameron immediately stood up, smiled at the men, and walked Michelle back to his car.

  “Darn, I forgot to pay. I will be right back,” said Cameron.

  “You be careful,” said Michelle.

  Cameron entered the restaurant and said, “boys, I heard you wanted to kick my ass. Here it is!”

  The truckers jumped up and ran toward Cameron like bears charging their prey. Unlike karate movies wher
e the fight scenes last five minutes or longer, it only took one swift karate punch to the temples of each man. In less than three seconds he had knocked them out cold. A little harder and Cameron sensed that he would have killed them. He paid the café owner, who had just returned from the back room and had not seen the fight. The owner was stunned to see two big men lying on his floor. Cameron told owner, “here is a tip for you and an additional five dollars over my bill to make two chocolate milkshakes. Give them to the boys on the ground when they wake up. Tell them, chocolate shakes are good for their health.”

  Back at the car, Michelle asked, “what happened?”

  “Oh not much,” he replied. “After talking for a few moments those gentlemen apologized.”

  Several days later, Cam introduced Michelle to his mother. Cameron’s mother loved Michelle from the moment she saw her. “She is so sweet and so beautiful, Cam. I love her. I want to take you both out to dinner.”

  “That is not necessary Mom, I know money is still tight.”

  “This is a special occasion and I want to take you both out.” Later, she took them to Canlis Restaurant in Seattle.

  Canlis was one of the finest restaurants in Seattle and very expensive. It opened its doors in 1950 and has spectacular views of Lake Union. Its cuisine was well known.

  The setting sun reflected sunbeams across lovely Michelle.

  Michelle and Cam’s mother had such a wonderful time getting to know each other.

  “Are you from Seattle?” Cam’s mother asked.

  “No,” Michelle replied. “I was born in Kansas City, Kansas. My father was studying for the ministry there. In fact, most of my dad’s brothers are ministers. The very first thing I remember as a little girl were two ladies from my father’s church who asked for my name when I was two or three year’s old. I told them my name is Michelle Don’t. I was often told don’t do this or don’t do that. So, I thought my name was Michelle Don’t.”

  “Shortly after my dad graduated, we moved to a really tiny city in Eastern Washington. He led a small congregation there. I have two younger brothers and a sister. My dad wanted to help more people so he decided to leave the ministry and we moved to Tacoma, where he went to NU and received his Master’s degree in social work. I don’t remember our family struggling financially, but we all lived in student housing. My mom also attended the University and became a teacher. My sister and brothers and I were so young and happy we never thought we were poor. My father got a job with the federal government and my mom got a job in the public-school system. My parents worked hard and eventually bought a house. We got our first dog, Tammi. Life in Tacoma was fun. I babysat and earned money working at a retail store. My brother cut grass in the neighborhood. We were so excited when my younger brother and I pooled our money, which was matched by our parents, to buy our first car. I was the only one who got to drive the car, as my younger brother was not yet sixteen years old.”

  “Cam says that you’re thinking about going to college. What do you want to study?”

  “Social work,” said Michelle. “I guess I’m following in my dad’s footsteps, as I would like to help people.”

  “Oh, Mrs. Price, Cam told me how you and Mr. Price met. I think you might find what I’m about to tell you rather interesting. My dad grew up on a dairy farm in Eastern Washington and his dad, my grandpa, bought an airplane. He loved to fly over the hills and valleys and streams. I remember him telling me as a very little girl, how much he loved to see dairy cows and horses from various heights in the air. Several years later, my dad met my mom in college and fell in love with her. Her parents owned a dairy farm in Idaho. My dad asked my grandpa to fly him over to see her. They landed on a highway near my grandparent’s farm. There were not a lot of airplanes at that time and I was told that neighbors near and far came to see the plane. It certainly must’ve made a big impression on my mom as she decided to marry my dad a short time later.”

  Cameron’s mother smiled at Cameron and winked.

  Following dinner, Cameron reached for the check, but his mother beat him to it. “It’s my treat,” she said.

  “I love her Cameron,” his mom whispered, as Cameron tipped the car attendant.

  Michelle had an awesome family. Her dad, mother, a sister and brothers were all very nice. Cameron was not certain if Michelle had told her parents that he was black before he joined them for Sunday dinner. Everyone greeted Cameron with smiles. Michelle’s mom gave Cameron a tall glass of water as they asked him questions to try to get to know him better.

  Cam talked about his background, his family, growing up in Tacoma, and serving in the military. He thoroughly enjoyed hearing about Michelle and her family. Michelle’s eyes twinkled at him across the dinner table. He smiled back at her.

  One thing that bothered Cameron was when he received a phone call from Minister Robinson asking him to come see him. Minister Robinson was Michelle’s family pastor. The church had a huge congregation, one of the largest in Tacoma. While Michelle’s parents seemed to be okay with Cameron dating their daughter, Cameron knew exactly what the pastor wanted to discuss. He had been down that road before with Katie Capriana from Bellevue years ago who was just a friend and the priest told Cameron, God does not want you to date Katie.

  Cameron knocked on the pastor’s door. The pastor, wearing his black clergy robe, said good morning. “Cameron, thank you for coming. Please come in.”

  Cameron walked into the pastor’s office and sat at a table in the center of the room. “Cameron, I want to talk to you about Michelle. “God doesn’t want...”

  Cameron interrupted the pastor with such fierce passion as he had heard this hateful lecture before. “No, I do not want to talk to you about Michelle. I will tell you this: I love her and no amount of words from you will change my belief. Now, I’m certain you believe that you’re a good pastor, but you’re not. You need to pray to God every day that he will forgive you for what you’ve attempted to do today.” Cameron walked out of that church.

  Several days passed by, when Michelle’s father called Cameron and said can we talk. Cameron knew that it wasn’t going to be a pleasant conversation, but he agreed to meet. Cameron anticipated that Michelle’s father would say that he wanted Michelle and Cameron to break up, but that is not what he asked. What he requested was as follows: “I know you love my daughter. She is young and we have made plans for her to go to college in Idaho. Her mother and I want her to have the opportunity to go to college. Cameron, if you really love Michelle, you will give her this opportunity. “

  Cam felt that if he agreed, it might end his relationship with Michelle. He thought about the wedding bells he had heard when he first saw her. In his heart he knew that no amount of distance or time could break up their love. He did not want to stop seeing Michelle. Cameron was facing a very tough second year of law school and it would require significant attention. So, reluctantly Cameron agreed to go along with Michelle’s father’s request.

  Late August arrived and Michelle and Cameron gave each other passionate kisses before Michelle went in her parent’s car for the long drive to Idaho. “I love you,” whispered Cameron, “and I promise to visit you in Idaho if I can.”

  Weeks passed and Cameron decided to sell his 1967 Firebird 400. He didn’t sell the car because he couldn’t afford filling it with gas, or having to put several new engines in it, or the potential speeding tickets that he might get. He sold it because he needed an economical car to drive to Idaho. He had never promised Michelle’s father that he would not visit her in Idaho.

  Law school had not started yet so Cam was able to drive to Idaho twice to see Michelle. She was so happy to see Cameron. They went on picnics, floated down the Boise River, and went to college parties. They had so much fun together. She even packed a lunch for him for the long drive back to Seattle.

  The first classes of law school had now begun. No one loves law school. Of the approximately 180 first year law students, 110 came back for their second year. Keep in mind
that those 180 students had very high GPA and LSAT scores.

  Criminal law, Evidence, Uniform Commercial Code, Comparative Law were law courses Cameron took during his second year.

  After law school started again, Cameron wanted more than anything to see Michelle but law school’s challenging studies made it nearly impossible. Days turned into weeks and weeks turned in to months.

  Michelle’s first year of college was a big transition for her. She met and made many friends, but she did miss Cameron. She played soft ball and studied hard.

  They did their best to communicate with each other. So, there was a letter here, a quick long distant phone call there. The difficulty of a long distant romance was showing.

  Cameron loved and missed Michelle so much that he delved into his studies with all of his energy as a means of coping with his missed girlfriend. He would often study in the law library with his black friend Ray, one of the smartest guys he had ever met. Ray was broke and needed money so he worked while going to law school which translated in getting behind in studies and dropping a few courses.

  When Cameron asked Ray, how he became a bartender, he said, one afternoon, he had read an entire book on mixology and later that night he found himself working as a bartender at one of the most exclusive and busiest bars in Seattle. Ray loved the tips and the lovely friendships, but instead of acing every test, which he was capable of achieving, he received B’s.

  While studying in his apartment, Cameron looked out at the beautiful May flowers when the doorbell rang. It was Michelle! She was home from college. Michelle kissed Cameron passionately. Michelle and Cameron were so happy to see each other. They certainly made up for all those long-missed kisses. It was pure love. Michelle was so beautiful thought Cameron.

  “Cameron, I can’t stand being apart. I wonder what we can do about it?”

  “Why don’t you transfer to NU so we can be together? said Cameron.”

  “I will talk to the University, and see if I can transfer,” said Michelle.

  Cameron’s G.I. Bill was coming to an end, and his finances were heavily depleted. He was about to know the meaning of what broke felt like. School was such a struggle, he didn’t know if he would ever graduate. Cameron needed to find another job in case he did not graduate from law school. He shared his concerns with Ray, who said he was also broke. After some discussion, they had heard that the FBI was hiring, so they went to the regional FBI headquarters to submit their application. It didn’t take the recruiting agent very long after listening to Cameron and Ray to say, “Gentlemen, I will consider your application on one condition only. You each must graduate from law school and pass the bar.” Dejected, they walked out the door saying, “If we were to graduate and pass the bar, there Would be a multitude of job opportunities.”