- Olly Neal (ON): I was a rather troubled high school senior
at the time, about 16 years old at the time.
I spotted this book that looked rather risqué,
called the Treasure of Pleasant Valley.
On the cover was a drawing of a woman who appeared
to be wearing something that was basically see-through,
but the symbolism was really great for me
[woman laughs] at that age, at 16.
And then I realized if I read the book,
two of my classmates, girls,
were volunteering in the library,
and if they saw me taking out a book,
they would tell the boys and my reputation would be down
because I was reading books.
And I wanted them to know
that all I could do is fight and cuss [woman laughs]
and so, finally it come to me, just steal the book.
And so, when I finished the book in about, oh, a week or two
I brought it back.
And when I put it back, there was another book by Frank Yerby.
So I thought maybe I'll read that too.
So I took it under my jacket, and later I brought it back.
And God, there was another book by Frank Yerby so I took it.
And I think that semester I read four books by Frank Yerby.
And several years-- thirteen to be exact,
we were at a gathering at my high school,
for my class reunion,
and the teacher who had been the librarian,
Mrs. Mildred Grady, was there.
She told me that she saw me take that book when I first took it.
She said her first thought was to go and tell him,
'Boy, you don't have to steal that book.
You can check it out. They're free.'
Then she realized what my situation was.
I couldn't let anyone know I was reading.
So she said that she decided that if an old boy would read
a book, she and Mrs. Saunders would drive to Memphis
and find another one for me to read.
And they would put it in the exact same place
where the one I had taken was.
And every time I took one out,
they headed to Memphis to find another one.
Now, you gotta understand that this was not an easy matter then
because this was 1957 and '58.
Black authors were not especially available,
number one, and number two, Frank Yerby was not such
a widely known author and number three,
they had to drive all the way to Memphis to find it.
And I credit Mrs. Grady for getting me in the habit
of enjoying reading
so I was able to go to law school and survive.
- Karama Neal (KN): That's pretty cool.
- ON: Yeah.
*