There was someone who showed up at everything, at the block parties, the block club meetings, when I talked over the fence to Ron who lived next door, to the dinner parties I had for friends who didn't live in my neighborhood, even showed up when I was alone in my house. 

This person goes by a number of names: 

Race.  Racism.  Racial prejudice. 

It was always there breathing down our necks, jumping at us from behind the bushes, scaring the bejeebies out of us during a gorgeous, sunlit day when there is really, truly enough of everything to go around.