**This is more of a fetish story from my view point. Although, I would understand why readers would decide it should be in the gay male category. We're all entitled to our thoughts. This is a first for me so I appreciate the feedback**
*
I'm a runner, mostly to keep in shape though not to actually compete. I live in the suburbs, but close enough to the city that I sometimes find myself running through city roads, especially when I'm feeling like pushing myself an extra mile or so. Sometimes this leads to running through what some people would call the rough area of town. I've never had a problem with it although most of the time I've been down that way, which is few, has always been mid-day when there's plenty of light. This particular incident happened at dusk with the sun setting pretty quickly.
I had ran like I always do out the door of my duplex towards town away from the city, I prefer to make a full circle rather than back tracking. On the way back I decided to go an extra mile into the city knowing I have to make the circle through the mostly minority section, but like I said I've always felt safe doing so and continued on. The weather was changing and the clouds had covered the sun, but there really wasn't a shorter route back. Even though it was only 8pm in the middle of the summer it was getting dark quick with the rain clouds rolling in. I was hoping for just a sprinkle and I noticed the street lights coming on, dim as they were. The rains came...I was soaked however, it stopped just as quickly as it started. It was getting increasingly darker though as I ran. Somehow I had missed a turn, whether it was the rain or the hour, I knew I was on the wrong street. I thought I knew which way to go, but was definitely on the wrong street.
I could see a group of what appeared to be a 4-5 guys ahead of me at the corner, I could hear them and they sounded like you'd expect urban youths to sound like. I suddenly wasn't sure if I should run by them, I was a bit alarmed by my thoughts as I don't normally think along those lines. As I turned around I could hear one of them saying "Yo, where you going, white boy?' I ignored it and continued back up the road with the plan of trying another street to avoid them. I didn't get far as a couple of houses', on the street, porches lit up and there was people peering out the windows to see what the hollering was about. I tried to ignore it, but the catcalls were getting increasingly louder. I finally stopped, tired, drenched and now thinking I was lost, stood in the street. I start walking up the side walk to one of the houses to ask how to get out of there, as I was now completely disoriented. I could hear the group from the corner coming my way still saying things about the color of my skin and questioning what I'm doing in their neighborhood. Suddenly the door of the house to my left swings open and a large black man appeared.
"Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing, white boy?" he demanded.
I replied, "I'm just out for a run and I've seem to lost track of the time and which way I was headed. I was going to see if I could get some help."
"Well you're not going to get any help from that house, no one is even home. And I wouldn't be hanging out here all by yourself if I were you." He says. "Why don't you come over here and I'll help you out, I don't think you want to tangle with those thugs."
He pointed down the street and I can see the 4 guys that were on the corner getting closer and still calling out to me.
"Don't worry, I won't hurt you, can't promise they won't though. It's their neighborhood."
I made my assessment and decided to heed his warning as I wasn't a match for the 4 thugs, although I wasn't a match for this guy either really. I quickly walked over to his porch and he guided me into his house.
"You must be a damn fool running out there in this weather. Don't sit anywhere let me get you a towel and some dry clothes" he says.
"I thought I had more time," I say.
He hands me a towel and says "Here, take those clothes off and dry yourself off"
I look at him like what...
"I'll throw them in the dryer for you, here's something to wear while you wait."
He places clothes on the arm chair and I take off my shirt and wrap the towel around my waist and remove my shorts. He departs with the wet clothes as I stand there drying off. Once I'm done I reach down and notice all he left me was a t-shirt. I leave the towel wrapped around my waist. When he returns he looks at me and explains he didn't have any clean shorts and throws another towel at me and says sit on that.
I finally get a good look at him, about 6' 5" over 200 pounds, muscular, looks like he might work out. Not an ugly guy by any means, if I'm to judge. He introduces himself.
"I'm Terrence by the way." He smiles with his hand extended.
"Joe, pleasure to meet you," I shake his hand, which is enormous and powerful. I know he sees me noticing this by the smile on his face.
We engage in some small talk. Mostly about running and what I do for a living, etc. I find out this guy has a Masters in psychology and is very well educated.
"What makes you think it's ok to be running through this neighborhood by yourself?" he asks.
I explain how I've done it in the past, although not this late, but still I've never had a problem.
"I see," he says, "and the fact this is an all-black neighborhood never worried you?"
"No," I reply, "I don't believe in the stereotypes and myths of our races, I like to believe we're all good people and do the right thing by one another."
He laughs, "Well I appreciate your confidence in our culture. I don't think that group out there on the corner would agree with you, however."
He continues, "As you know I'm a psyche major, also minored in sociology, so let's talk about these stereotypes or myths as you call them, what ones don't you believe?"
I drew a deep breath, knowing this topic could become potentially unfriendly.
