I was really encouraged with James Williams reading improvement today. Perhaps I should make something clear--this James Williams that I tutor at Vaux is not Ronnie's brother James. Their names and ages are about the same and it would be easy to get them confused. Anyway, he has improved greatly over the past 4 weeks. He's actually reading, doing things successfully, and therefore enjoying it. He informed me that the reason James Clarke wasn't coming to school was because two boys from 21 C (21st and College Wall, Nathaniel's "Corner") are looking for him because of an incident. James says that the only way it will be settled is if James Clarke fights one of the boys.

James Williams said, "They don't mess with me they know better."

Kids have to put on such a tough front in this city.

Couldn't have Bible study at Mrs. Reddy's house so we ended up having it at Endira Jordan's house instead. There's a new group of kids that have been coming faithfully for the past 2 3 weeks and they are really enthusiastic. Althea and Rochelle came and were actually quiet and good! Endira's mother really seems to be a together lady. Her girls are well behaved, she speaks kindly and patiently to them, and carefully. Kind of different from many mothers I see who snap and yell and jerk, and slap.

Warren was at the playground and didn't show up for Bible study.

Made friends with Ronnie's kitten all day today. He was glad to have company, followed me all around, sat in my lap and chewed my belt and fingers he meowed pitifully when we had to lock him away from everyone when we had Vacation Bible School in the center tonight. The summer staff people are in training all day, and split up at night to teach a VBS at 20th Street and at Mt. Vernon Street. It's their breaking in experience.

Ronnie came home from school hot and tired. He slept most of the afternoon. I was sitting on the stairs with his kitten in my lap talking to Seydata when he got up. Sometimes he’s grouchy and untouchable and untalkative when he first gets up, but as he walked down the stairs today, he rested his hand gently on my head as he went by silently.

Well, since tonight was VBS, I didn't have my regular Bible study. I stopped by to tell Jackie, and she had me come upstairs to help her with the Navigator's book Susan sent her. Jackie, by the way, was saved through our summer film ministry last summer. The guys were at camp, so we girls went around with Barb and showed Christian films outdoors at night. One or two of the girls could play the guitar, and we had some good singers, and some mikes, so after the film we always sang and gave testimonies. When we did this at 20th Street neighborhood Jackie came up to one of the staff girls Susan and talked with her and received Christ. The decision was a serious one because after that she always sought us out no initiation on our parts. Even though Susan left after the summer Jackie wrote to her and called her and always kept in touch. Tonight she showed me underlined verses in her Good News for Modern Man and asked me to explain them. She understood when I explained them too! She's beginning to develop some maturity and insight into the scriptures.

Her father was playing the electric guitar, and all the rest of the kids were gathered around laughing and talking. Seems like a together family although Jackie seems to have problems with her brothers and sisters. She's the oldest child and has a hearing problem. She wears a hearing aid.

She did come to VBS, talked to Ruth afterwards, and came out all excited saying, "I had myself a good time!" She told me the missionary story, and the memory verse which happened to be Romans 3:23, a verse I casually gave her to work on a month ago! She's really serious about being a Christian so much so she's asked Jesus into her heart two or three times, just to make sure. She just needs someone to pay attention to her and listen.

This week and the ones ahead are going to be rough on Ronnie, Frostie, and Greg—they kind of get left in the lurch while Barb’s away directing the summer camp and street evangelism programs. It will be tough on Ronnie because he needs her just to spend time with him; Barb is Frostie’s stability and security—and he feels very threatened; and Greg because of the extra responsibility. Greg passed out the candy to the kids tonight 51 of them as they left after VBS! So tonight I sat out on the steps during VBS just to be there with them the live in guys, I mean. I ended up sitting with a whole group of kids including Olga, Audrey, and Donald, and Jo Jo. When the weather gets warm, everyone stays outside till late at night. These kids don't have much but each other. Audrey that's Gerald's and Barbara Maxey's older sister has a real reputation she slugs the guys, badmouths them, but also dresses and uses her amply developed body suggestively. Jo Jo made all kinds of gross comments and suggestions, and Donald threw seeds at her breasts, really slugged her around like a guy, and called her a slut and she just naturally accepted this standard of behavior from them. I got really irritated at Donald. He was one of our live ins for a while actually he's Frostie's older brother.

I told her, "Audrey, he's not a man, if he treats you like that!"

I really offended Donald, but I hoped that Audrey might respect herself a little more because of it. I feel for Audrey she should like herself and I worry about our guys who are daily exposed to her. I'll pray for all of them and the other kids who have to sift through so much crap as they grow up.

Aunt Joan called tonight and wants me to help her with a play she's directing for Off-Off Broadway! So, I'll go to New York Friday night.