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)