Many years ago I found myself in the city of Charleston in South Carolina

I was there on business and had not found much time to see the city

But my American colleagues determined to show me a good time

Insisted that I dine with them one evening at a swanky hotel

I met Bob in reception and he looked at me in horror

Whats wrong I asked as he looked at my shoes my dark maroon shoes

I would not wear them Will only faggots wear red shoes down here

After a short delay I returned to my American friend wearing black shoes

The evening was so memorable that I have forgotten it totally

But during my stay I picked up a book which investigated freedom and freedoms

That was the actual title of the book Freedom and Freedoms and I read it over a couple of nights

The author at length discusses how in his view freedoms were being eroded in the USA at the time of writing (1987) and how different people were in the Southern States in comparison to those in California

The book was not a biased polemic rant but an intelligent discussion put forward in an ordered fashion

Although I read the thin book with interest I felt uncomfortable reading it and left it in a drawer in the hotel bedroom next to a Bible which incidentally had a maroon cover

About a year after my visit I left my job and have never visited Charleston since

 

 

From My Life Will Perry (2021)