Rantings of a Creole Princess

"Marco Polo" - 2

Marco Polo

She was never the type of woman who would end up cheating.  Truth be told she was always adamant that it was the only deal breaker she could imagine in marriage.  If her husband ever cheated on her that is.

He was against the desk in the hotel room as she kissed him.  As he kissed her.  She stood between his legs and kissed him, inhaling as she did.  His smile, his aura, the breathe flowing from his nose.  Her hands pulling his shirt out of his pants so she could touch him.  Feel the warm skin of his back under her fingertips, fully extending her hands feeling that jolt she always feels whenever she is skin to skin with him. 

His kissed her completely and sighed as he stopped, both hands on either side of her face.  His forehead on hers.

"It's been too long."  he whispered.  Hoarse from their kiss.

Her hands came out of his shirt, up his neck, rubbing lightly over his hair.  "I know."

And the silence hummed with all the wishes and wants.

"Marco Polo"

Outside the weather was nasty.  Cold and rainy with a sharp wind that slung the rain sideways.  In the quiet of the house she could hear the weather.  Through the window by her bed she could feel the cold air. 

Her husband hates that she has to have a window open to sleep when it's cold but she does it anyway.  She needs that air to breathe.  She needs a reminder that the air in this house isn't the only air she has access to.

She's been awake for an hour listening to her husband snore.  A sound that has become unbearable as his weight has increased and his sleep apnea has gotten worse.The look on her face is one of a woman who is trying not to think too much but has no choice.  She sighs and her husband stirs, his large arm drops on her chest and she closes her eyes briefly and then she gets out of bed.

As she stands at the base of the bed getting dressed in her running clothes she watches her husband.  Listens to him.  Takes him all in without emotion it seems.

She heads down the hall and stops to look in on both her children.  Her daughter still in the same spot she fell asleep in and her son upside down in bed without covers with his arm slung across their dog, Rasta.

Rasta opens his eyes and watches her but doesn't move.  She picks the duvet off the floor and gently places it over her son and dog.

And then...

Bridal Party

She woke wondering if it was real.  She used the pad of her thumb on her left hand to feel for the solid cool of the band and there it was.  Slowly, she lifted her hand and saw it.  Her lovely new engagement ring...the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen and she smiled.  A genuine, huge, lovely smile. 

He stirred next to her and she  watched him sleep.  Loving the way his face was expressionless. Picturing him as a sleeping child.  Fighting the urge to kiss him.

"I'm engaged." she thought.  "I'm engaged to the man I love...who loves me."

And she snuggled up close to him as his arm reached behind him protectively, "You okay Bey?"  he said sleepily.

"Mmmhmmmmm..." she smiled into the back of his neck.

And she drifted back to sleep.

Lilly Dahlin

"Daddy!  Come see my new flip!"  Michael ran into his father's study wet from the pool.  His footsteps making watery footprints along the dark floors.  He slapped his hands on either side of the armchair Gregory was sitting in.  Droplets of water fell on the documents in Gregory's lap.

He looked up at his son who was beaming.

"MICHAEL!"  his mother screamed!

"Looks like you're busted podnuh.  Your mother is yelling for you."

"Crap.  Hide me dad!"

"No can do.  You're a man.  A Stinson at that.  Stinson men face their music."

"Aw man..."

Rachel walked in the room visibly angry.

"Michael why in the world are you running through the house getting everything wet.  Either you're in the pool or you're out and if you're out, shower and put some clothes on now!"

The phone rang and Gregory picked it up. Rachel stepped aside so Michael could pass through the doorway and followed him fussing.  Gregory laughed and answered the phone.

"Hello."

"Is this Gregory Stinson?"

"Yes it is.  Who's calling?"

"It's me daddy.  It's Lily."

"Um...I'm sorry?"

"It's Lily daddy.  Your daughter."

"You must be mistaken young lady.  I don't have a daughter named Lily."

"Oh...I'm so sorry to have bothered you.  My apologies.  Have a good day."

And she hung up.

Gregory sat deeper into his chair and put the phone back on it's cradle.  Rachel came back in the room with a towel.

"Who was that?" she asked while wiping up water.

"Wrong number."

She continued drying the watery footprints saying nothing. 

"I'll be ready for you to start grilling the steaks soon."  She walked out of the room.

Gregory grunted at her and listened to her footsteps and she walked down the hall.  He then picked up the phone and called the last number. 

A man answered.  "Hello."

"Hello, may I speak to Lily?"

"I'm sorry there is no Lily here." said Samuel.

"I just received a call from a young lady from this phone number."

"I let a girl use it when she asked could she.  I don't know who she was."

"My apologies but do you know where she went?"

"No."

"Where are you located?"

"New York."

"I'm sorry to have bothered you."

"No problem."  said Samuel.

He hung up the phone.

"Honey I'm running out to the store.  You want anything?

"No. But thank you for asking."

"Who was that calling?" she asked.

"Nobody honey.  Wrong number."

Lily leaned over and kissed her husband.  "I love you"

"I love you too baby.  Drive careful."

Lily walked out the door closing it softly behind her.

Samuel put the phone back on it's crale.  Finished watching the game.

"Grande Mocha Latte"

"Carolyn?"

"Yes?"

"This is Debra, John's wife."

"Oh...hi Debra.  I was just thinking I needed to call and get something on the calendar with you guys.  How delightful that you called!"  She sat back in her seat and pushed away from her desk a bit.

"I hope it's okay that I called you at your office."

"Of course.  What's going on?"

"Well, I was wondering if you were available for a quick coffee?  I'm at the Starbucks on the corner by your office."

"Right now?"

"Yes.  Right now."

"Debra, is everything okay?"

"Not really, but I'd like to talk to you about something."

"Okay.  I'll be there in 5 minutes."

"Carolyn?"

"Yes?"

"Don't call Mark before you come."

Silence.

Carolyn sat up straight in her chair.  Cocked her head to the side slightly.  With a bemused look on her face she said sharply, "Okay."

She hung up the phone and pulled out the bottom drawer of her file cabinet and got out her city shoes.  Changed out of her heels, got her coat and her wallet. Her Blackberry.  Wrapped her scarf around her neck twice and pulled one end though the other. 

"I'm going to the Starbuck's on the corner.  Would you like anything?"

Her assistant jumped.  Startled.  Probably doing something she should't be doing like blog hopping. 

"No, but thank you for asking."

And she walked down the hall...her shoulders were squared and her chin set.  A good looking woman.  A confident woman.  A women who knew control.

She walked out of her office past the receptionist and made a left.  Walked down the stairs to the main level of the building.  The cool marble shiny and yet warm.  The security guard nodded in her direction and she nodded back.  "Malcolm."

She walked out of the revolving doors and took a right.  Adjusted the belt on her coat and breathed in the cold air.  Walked steadfastly as her breathe breathed warm air out for all to see.

A woman with a stroller was struggling to get into the door of the Starbucks and she rushed ahead and grabbed the door for her.  The woman gratefully clipped a thank you and went inside. 

Carolyn stepped through the door and immediately saw Debra sitting at a table by the window. 

She walked over and sat down loosening her scarf.

"Okay...I'm here.  What's wrong?"

Debra reached behind her and pulled out an envelope from her purse.  She laid it on the table.

"I think you should have this."

Carolyn reached for the envelope, saw a T-Mobile logo and looked up confused.

"What?"

"That has been coming to my home now for the past three months.  It's Mark's."

"Why would a bill for Mark come to your house?"  She already knew.

"I wondered that too.  Thought it was for John.  Thought he was cheating on me.  Again."

"Again?  What do you mean?" She already knew.

"John cheated on me three years ago.  Summer of '05."

"Summer of '05?  But that was the summer we..." She already knew.

"...we all rented that villa in Spain for 6 weeks.  Yes.  I know.  Guilt.  That's how it goes.  But hey...we worked through it."

"So you say this bill is for Mark?"  She already knew.

"Yes.  I got it out of John's office.  I make periodic sweeps of it for anything suspicious and ran across them.  I only took one."

Carolyn picked up the envelope.  "How do you know it's not John's?"  She already knew.

"Because I checked.  I've been cheated on once.  Maybe twice.  I've learned a lot."

Carolyn pulled the bill out.  Looked at her husband's name with Debra and John's address.  Surprised at the calm she felt.

"He travels a lot more than I ever thought he would at this stage you know?"

"Yeah.  I know.  He golfs a lot less with John too."

"What am I supposed to do with this?"

"Whatever you want to do with it."

"I already knew you know?  This doesn't shock me."

"When it happened to me, I knew too."

"How did you let him know you knew?"

"I was getting ready for bed and I just casually mentioned it.  He's been making up for it ever since."

"How did you get over it?"

"I haven't.  You don't.  You can't.  You won't."

"Do I know her?"

"No."

"Should I be worried about her?"

"No."

"What should I do?"

"That's up to you.  I can't tell you what to do.  I know I couldn't be single again.  A divorced woman with three children and half the income I'm used to?  No.  I couldn't do it."

"How do you love him still?"

"Who says I do?  I'm realistic about my options is all."  She took a sip of her coffee.  "You should get some coffee, or tea.  We might be here for a while."

Carolyn stood up, folded the envelope up and put it in her pocket.

Got in line and ordered a grande mocha latte.

"Sisters"

"What?"

"Is there valet at this place?"

"Yes."

"Then Imma need you to wait for me cuz I don't have any money."

"Of course you don't. *sigh*"

"I don't know why in the world you're sighing."

"I don't either.  How far away are you?"

"Right around the corner."

"Okay.  I'm just pulling up now."

"Don't leave me out there looking dumb Candice."

Silence.

"Candice?  Did you hear me?  Don't leave me hanging."

"Have I ever left you hanging Rebecca?"

"No."

"Exactly.  I'm here and I don't see you.  Where are you?  Oh...I see you now."

"Shatter Proof"

When I looked up and saw you my heart skipped a beat. Not for the reasons you'll probably tell everyone, but because I've dreamed of this moment for years now...the moment you'd see me and realize you didn't break me.

And realized you didn't break me.

I looked good because I always do, always did...regardless of what you said.

You tried to break me and you know you did.

I've often wondered why. Why would you treat my heart so?

I was so in love with you then I didn't see it. I didn't see the hate you had for your mother and how she treated you during your childhood. I didn't see it because you pretended to love her so much. You did everything she asked of you suffering in silence, pretending to be the Cosby's because the truth was so many years ago that maybe the years wiped the slate clean.

It didn't.

I realized you were never alone with her. I realized your disdain for her when speaking of her to me WAS HOW YOU REALLY FELT.

I realized how jealous you were of my family...of my life. Of the fact that we were the normal. That my father loved my mother. That he loved us. That he went to work and came home. That he didn't kick our asses.

Like your father did.

AFTER your mother left him.

AFTER she left you WITH him.

It wasn't your fault.

It wasn't my fault either.

My hair was beautiful, as it always was. Gleaming dreads, natural. Gorgeous. Not ugly and nappy. You know...like you used to call them.

My legs, strong. Still. In lovely heels and a FABULOUS skirt. A little extra than you liked according to your snark. But strong and smooth, shapely. My waist, defined. My breasts...happy.

Happy to see you, and you, and you, and you.

And DAMN did I smell good.

I longed to see you so many times. Out of pain, out of remorse, out of loneliness, out of vengeance, out of spite.

And now...

Out of pity.

Looks like no one takes care of you. Looks like no one cares.

I look like someone takes care of me. I look like someone cares.

Today when I saw you...my heart skipped a beat out of gratitude to God above because you dumped me. Because you forced me to see your lack of love for me. Because you rubbed my face in my sheltered life like it was bad...like yours was better.

Yes it was painful. Some days...I thought I couldn't, wouldn't be able to go on. But I did. My daddy and my brothers packed me up. My mother cooked my favorite foods. My family helped me then...

As they do now.

My daddy will walk me down the aisle.

My mother helped plan my wedding.

My friends, who were NEVER jealous of me because of you, will stand beside me as I pledge myself to him.

Him.

A man like my daddy.

It wasn't your fault.

It was my own.

1 + 1 = 2

"Mommy, why come spiders have eight legs?"

"I don't know baby." She flipped through the mail that she'd picked up from the box out front.

"Mommy, why come spiders eat fly's?

"Because fly's fly into their web." She looked at a bill she'd never seen before.

"Baby, go change your clothes and get ready to do your homework."

"Okay mommy."

She looked at the bill with her husband's name on it and tapped it on her chin trying to jar her memory. Nothing happening. She was unfamiliar and the dread crept up from her stomach to her heart. With a foreboding sense of dread she opened it and wished with all her heart she hadn't.

The roaring started almost immediately. She could barely hear her thoughts for the beating of her heart, the roar of her emotions. The sound of her breath, in and out, in and out. The bill was for a credit card she was unfamiliar with and the charges were for charges he would have wanted to keep hidden from her.

She picked up the phone and dialed her sister's house...arranged to drop her Mia off and then called her husband and arranged to meet him for dinner by the office as a surprise.

She'd have a surprise for him alright. And she'd bet he'd never, ever forget.

407

"Please...tell me why you are that way...no...really?"

"You know good and well you were thinking it too."

"Thinking it and saying it are two entirely different things....hey...I'll call you back, I see my girl. She just got off the train."

"Okay Lashamquetta!"

"Stop calling me that or I'm going to start a rumor that your left boob is larger than your right."

"Whateva heffa! I ain't scared of you! Bye!"

"Bye!"

She pulle dup to the Kiss and Ride and popped the back of her truck so her friend could put her luggage in the back. It was raining so she decided not to get out. Seconds later, her friend was in the passenger seat and they were on their way grooving to music.

"Who is this?"

"I cannot believe you asked that. It's Frankie Beverly and Maze."

"I love this song and hear it all the time. I never know who sings what."

"Instrastin."

They hadn't seen each other in over a year and caught up on the ride home. They'd been friends now for about 5 years and it always amazed them how much they had in common seeing as though they met on the internet initially. Funny how bloggers end up finding people just like them online.

When they pulled up to Jessie's home, her husband walked out the front door and retrieved the bags from the truck. Jessie showed Karen to her room and left her alone to freshen up. The phone rang...area code 407.

"Hello?"

Silence.

"Hello?"

She hung up the phone.

"Who was it?" Ron asked with one eyebrow raised.

"They didn't say anything."

"Area code 407?"

"Yes, how did you know?"

"That's the 5th time today they've called."

"Hmmmm."

"It's an Orlando area code." he reached past her and got a handful of almonds. "Who do we know in Orlando?"

"Nobody since Dawn moved from there. She's in Atlanta now."

Karen walked downstairs looking refreshed and comfortable in velour lounge wear. Jessie handed her a glass of wine.

"Girl...that flight was HORRENDOUS! I need this drink hell. What's for dinner? I know you got something fabulous over there. I already smell it."

The phone rang again. Ron looked at Jessie and picked it up.

Area code 407.

"Hello?"

Silence.

"Hello?"

Silence.

"I'm going to need you to stop calling this number if you're not going to say anything. Thank you." He hung up the phone.

"Da hell?" Karen looked puzzled.

"Girl...we've been getting calls where no one is saying anything. It's very annoying."

"Who the hell does that? Don't they know caller ID exists?"

Jessie looked at Ron. "Have you tried calling the number back?"

"No. Lemme see." he pressed talk on the phone engaging the call and listened. Karen took a sip of her wine. Jessie watched him intently.

He hung up. "It just rang." He looked at his wife steadily. She looked at him unwaveringly. He touched her cheek and let his hand slide to the back of her neck and trail away.

They shared an animated dinner and finished off a bottle of wine. Jessie went upstairs to change into lounge wear and went into the guest bedroom to turn down the covers on the bed. The buzzing sound startled her and her eyes searched for the origin of the sound...Karen's phone was on vibrate...the number calling?

Area code 407.

"The Heart of the Matter"

She watched as his car turned the corner from where she was sitting upstairs.    He pulled into the driveway and sat there for a few minutes and then got out, walked to the door.  The doorbell rang and she went to answer it trying to appear casual...as if her heart wasn't beating, no...thudding in her chest, in her throat, in her stomach.

Her palms were sweaty and she wiped them on the back of her pants and went to the door and opened it. 

"Hey."

"Hey." 

She stepped aside to let him in.

"May I take your coat?"

"No.  I'm not going to be long."  He stood there questioningly.  "Well?  You said it was urgent, what's wrong?"

"I got the papers and, well...I just wanted to talk to you about it."

"We really shouldn't talk you know.  You should probably just talk to your attorney."

"I don't have an attorney."

"Why Michelle?  You knew this was coming.  You knew."  His gaze softened.  "You always put off things you don't want to face."

She walked around him to the sofa.  Sat down and pulled a pillow to her chest.  Thought it made her look juvenile and retuned the pillow to where it was.  He walked over and sat on the other sofa facing her...his shirt open at the neck, and leaned forward.

"Michelle?"

"I don't know.  I just think this has gone too far.  I mean...how did we get here?  How did we get to where we're considering divorce?"

"I'm not considering it.  This is done.  We've been separated for months now."  He leaned back and crossed his leg.  One arm tossed casually over the back of the sofa.

"Yes, exactly.  Separated.  When you moved out it was so we could figure out what we were doing wrong as a couple.  That's not divorce.  We were supposed to start counseling"

"I don't know what to tell you.  It just got to be too...hard."

"I don't want a divorce.  I want it to be like it was.  When you were my best friend and I was yours."  She fought back tears.  Blinking rapidly.

He looked away.

"Please make me understand how we got here."  she whispered.

"I don't know.  I just woke up one day and realized that...I didn't love you anymore."

She leaned back into the sofa and let the tears fall.  She closed her eyes against them and when she opened her eyes they dropped even faster, choking back anything she could have said.

The doorbell rang and he stood up.  She did too.  He walked to the door and opened it, "I'll be right out."  he said.  He closed the door softly with his hand on the doorknob and looked at her standing away from him.  He saw the girl she was when he first met her and he felt sorry for her.  She hugged herself and the tears continued, her mouth opened slightly allowing her enough air to breathe...to breathe past the consuming pain.

She tried to speak and couldn't.  She put her hand up to cover her mouth and closed her eyes against the pain.  Nodded.

"I'm sorry."

She nodded.  Her eyes closed.

He opened the door and walked out.  She waited...standing there...holding herself and then walked to the door and locked it. 

He doesn't love her anymore.

"Dangerously"

Her phone buzzed and she grabbed it quickly before it buzzed again and woke him.  She disabled the alarm and looked over at him lying on his stomach with his arms sprawled out, his nose deep in the pillow.  She wanted to kiss his cheek but didn’t want to wake him as he lay there sleeping as she imagined he did when he was a child with not a care in the world.  His lashes, so long, they curved against his cheek.

She slipped out of bed, her sock clad feet making a soft thud on the floor and grabbed the clothes she’d laid out on the bench, getting dressed softly.

Rasta, her dog, lifted his head and looked at her, put his head back down and repositioned for sleep.

In the bathroom she brushed her teeth and washed her face, pulling her hair back into a loose ponytail and then headed to the kitchen to make breakfast.  Grits, scrambled eggs, and Canadian bacon.  She put a plate in the microwave covered just as Rasta decided to come see what she was up to and she handed him a piece of bacon. 

He sniffed it and turned around, walking out of the kitchen.

She laughed at how finicky her pooch was.

After she scribbled him a note, she placed it on his nightstand and, she couldn’t resist.  She bent down and kissed him softly on his cheek.  He moaned gently and put his nose deeper into the pillow.  She was almost out the door when he realized she wasn’t in bed next to him.

CreoleInDC PSA

My short stories are REALLY not short stories but pieces of scripts that I've wrote and have in my arsenal. Now...yall know I love yall and all...but of the 4,000 plus hits I get on average daily...only a MINUTE fraction of yall comment...so needless to say...I don't "KNOW" a lot of yall.

THAT SAID...

I can't be sharing all my ish online cuz I don't want nobody stealing my ish. I fully intend on bringing most of the stuff I write to life.

Now...THAT SAID...if you guys would prefer I NOT share some of them with you in "short" version...just let me know and I will stop.

Simple.

"Wifey"

Even in a crowd of people you always notice the one who is staring at  you.  It's a feeling...a prickle in your peripheral that alerts you to someone paying a bit too much attention to you.  At least it does after you've been through what she's been through.

The culprit this time was a woman.  She seemed average enough to the common eye.  But to her...she could see the deliberate casualness of her.  She knew that she thought long and hard about what she was going to wear today and coupled it with a bag only one in the know would recognize.

Checkmate.

The woman couldn't have been more than 5'3" and yet she commanded attention.  The sheen in her hair was natural, the flow of her curls well pedicured.  This woman moved with ease and got what she wanted.  She walked over to her looking her in the eye.  She never sped up or slowed down.  Folks just sensed to get out of her way.

"Your pictures in the papers didn't do you justice.  You're a very pretty young lady."

Shit...here we go again with them damn tabloid pictures.

"Thank you."  She made to move away.

"I'd like to buy you lunch.  I'm a friend of Tariq's and before  you ask...no...he doesn't know I'm here."

She paused, glanced at the woman who was about to ruin her time out of the office.  "Why?  Are you one of his baby mama's or something?"  She curled her lip.

She laughed.  "Princess, please believe, that although I'm a mother all day, everyday.  I'm NOBODY's baby mama.  Shall we?"

And Madison followed her, not really knowing why but feeling secure that this woman couldn't hurt her in downtown DC and, she had to admit, she was curious as to where this chapter of her saga with Tariq was taking her.

"I called Tony at The Palm.  Is that okay?"

"Sure.  Um...shouldn't you tell me your name..you already know mine?"

"I'm so sorry, where are my manners.  My name is Bianca, but everyone calls me Ms. B."

She sighed. "So, are you a rapper too?"

Ms. B. laughed.  "Nope, but my husband is.  He's one of Tariq's best friends."

"Oh.  Shelton?  Shelton is a rapper?"

"Did he let you call him Shelton?"

"Yes."

"Those boys are a mess."  She laughed loudly and they walked in silence and before long rounded the corner and walked under the awning of The Palm.  A gentleman  walking out held the door for them and Tony greeted them personally and led them to one of the booths on the back right where the most powerful sat.  Everyone looked up briefly trying to place them and then looked down again. 

"I love the pickle's here."

"So do I.  Why are you here?"

"Well, I just kinda wanted to meet you.  My husband thinks very highly of you and Tariq is pretty broken up over how things have been."

"Yeah, I know.  I got an email from a gossip site  with pics of him in Vegas showing just how broken up he is."

"Those pics were taken over a year ago.  Tariq has been in our Soho apartment alone since you found out and left him."

"And why should I believe that?"

"Why shouldn't you?  You should never believe anything the gossips say dear.  They don't get paid if they don't get traffic.  And if they don't have anything juicy or nasty...they don't get traffic.  You're a lawyer...do the math."  Ms. B. picked up her water and took a dainty sip.  The black diamond on her right hand blinked at her.

"Well, I know what I know for sure.  Tariq lied to me from the very beginning.  I can't have that."

"I know.  And that's gotta be kinda tough for someone like you.  From what I hear, you're one of those sweet people who believes in good and all that.  You need to understand that Tariq lives in a world where he meets very few women like you.  Therefore, he's got to protect himself at all costs if he's going to put himself out there like that.  But I understand."

"Thanks."

"But, tell me this.  When are you going to tell him that you're pregnant with his child?"

Madison stopped.  Put her glass down and stood up...

"Periscope" - Chapter 2

More of "Periscope":

The thing I remember most about him is his smell.

It was better than the scent which came out of the bottle. I know because I bought the same scent he wears. It must be something about the oil in his skin or the lotion he wears too because all of it together creates an elixer that was always intoxicating to me.

I used to put my nose right in the crook of his neck and inhale deeply and slowly. Smiling softly on the exhale as my body relaxed against his. He used to let me do this as often as I wanted to...and then...slowly...he became irritated by it and would snatch himself away snapping "Okay!" in that way he had when he was annoyed and I took it...because I never knew when he'd let me inhale and then exhale without him pushing me away...so I'd try as often as possible.

Then I noticed it in bed.

Before, he would cuddle with me, his body curled around mine like a lion. He'd kiss me on the neck and talk to me long after we'd turned off the lights.

It got to the point where he'd jump when I touched him. Like my touch was heat...the searing kind...not the smouldering kind. His back seemed to always be to me. In bed, walking to the car, walking in the mall...he seemed to always want to be one step ahead of me. Always just right out of my reach so that folks had to wonder if we were together.

So yes...I knew long before he told me that it was over. That he didn't love me anymore. It was in the way he flinched at the sound of my voice. It was in the way he made less of a big deal about my birthday. It was in the fact that the last gift he gave me was something that I bought myself and he gave me the money to reimburse me.

Yes. I knew. I'm not stupid.

I watched him fall out of love with me as Winter turned into Spring and I grew to hate the sounds of life re-awakening. When he moved me out of our house...I left quietly. I gave him my key. Took it off the keychain right there in front of him and placed it gently on the counter. I didn't need it anymore.

Because I'd made duplicates of all his keys three months prior including his car key and the key to his mother's house. I had the key to his office and the key to the house he still lived in with HER. I had the key to his brother's house and the key to his file cabinet in his office.

I've hurt enough...tomorrow...I'm getting fucking even. Revenge might not be best for most...but it's all I've dreamed of. Once he has paid...then I'll move on. But.Not.Before.

"Home Style"

She was awakened from her sleep by the dogs barking furiously because the doorbell was ringing. She looked at the time and registered that it was after two in the morning and grabbed her robe at the end of the bed along with the phone.

The doorbell kept ringing and she went to the bedroom facing the street and raised the window yelling down below:

"Who the fuck is ringing my doorbell? I'm calling the police!" she yelled with false bravado, scared shitless as she was.

"Please help me!"

"Step away from the door so I can see you!"

"I'm here, please help me, please!"

She looked down and saw one of her neighbors. The young Asian woman who was always jazzy and just had a baby recently. She was in a thin nightgown and it was below freezing outside.

"Okay...I'm coming."

And Jackie rushed downstairs, her dogs, Brutus and Remus following close on her heels.

When she opened the door, she pulled the woman in, her cold, frail arm like a stainless steel candlestick. She didn't have on any shoes and she'd obviously been beaten. Her eye had a cut over and under it, dried blood on the the cut under it, fresh blood on the cut over it and her jaw was obviously broken, swollen and bruised, pulsing from the pain.

Jackie turned off the lights and looked out the window to see if the woman's husband had followed her. Satisfied she didn't see anyone...left the window and re-engaged the alarm...and then led the woman into the family room where she gave her a blanket and put on some water for tea.

Brutus and Remus paced the floor agitated, whining.

"I have to call the police you know."

"Please don't call the police. Please."

'You can't ask that of me. Not in the middle of the night. This kind of violence could have followed you here to my home, and attacked me. I have to call the police."

"He has my baby."

"Are you married to him? That's yall house?"

"Yes."

"Then you and your baby will be fine. The police will arrest him and you and your baby can stay home until you have to leave. Do you have family here?"

"Yes."

"Okay." And she dialed 911 and told them where to come and why. "What's your name?"

"Thuy."

"I'm Jackie."

"I know, I heard you tell the police." She started to cry.

"Call your family Thuy. The police will be here any minute and you're going to need your family."

Jackie told Brutus and Remus to stay and she walked upstairs to get dressed. When she got to her bedroom, she picked up her cell and called her husband's cell. It rang three times before he picked up.

"Hello?" he said groggily. "Jackie? What's wrong?"

"Hey honey..." and she broke down into tears.

"JACKIE WHAT'S WRONG! JACKIE!"

"Nothing is wrong. You know the Asian couple that drive the matching BMW's?"

"Yes. What's wrong?"

"Well, he beat her up pretty bad and she ran here. She's downstairs and the police are on their way."

"What? She's in the house? You let her in the house? Where is her husband? This the lady that just had the baby right?"

"Yes, I let her in, don't worry...he didn't follow and...I couldn't let her stay out there...all I could think of was my mother running for her life." She broke down into tears. The doorbell rang. "That's the police honey."

"Stay on the phone. Don't get off the phone. Shit...I hate I'm traveling. I don't like you opening the door to strangers. Are you okay?"

"Okay Yeah...I'm okay." she put on her bluetooth earpiece and engaged it and then went downstairs. She could see the police lights through the window and disengaged the alarm. She opened the door to let in the police motioning to Thuy to come to the door.

The first shot hit her in the shoulder so quickly she didn't have a chance to scream and just let out an "oomph" sound. Brutus jumped past her barking a bark she'd never heard before, Remus' body flew over her immediately after.

"Jackie, Jackie!" her husband screamed into the phone.

Thuy screamed.

The second shot went into her side. Hot...solid, SEARING... she felt her blood pouring out of her. She heard the screams of Thuy's husband as the dogs attacked him.

"AAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!"

"JACKIE, JACKIE!" Her husband was in her ear. "JACKIE BABY ARE YOU THERE? JACKIE! JACKIE! OHMYGOD JACKIE! JACKIE! GOD PLEASE HELP ME! JAAAAAAACKKKKKIIIIIEEEEEEEE!"

"I love you baby...please don't be mad at me...I had to help her..." She whimpered and then succumbed to the darkness beckoning her.

"Ma Cherie"

"I AM SORRY YOU'RE SO DAMN MISERABLE! I AM SORRY YOUR LIFE IS SO DAMN HARD! I AM OH SO SORRY THAT YOU HAVEN'T HAD WHAT YOU AND THOSE IDIOTS YOU SURROUND YOURSELF WITH THINK IS THE TRUE BLACK EXPERIENCE JUST BECAUSE YOUR FAMILY ISN'T POOR!

How dare you let them call you DJ when your name has been passed down for generations to the first grandchild born. HOW DARE YOU! How dare you walk in here and turn your nose up to all things that comprise our family's values. You think you're not REAL because your family isn't suffering? You don't know suffering.

You listen to me you little ungrateful wench. You are a Toussaint and we Toussaints have been proud of our heritage and our accomplishments since time began. You turn your back on your responsibilities and you turn your back on all that you are and I'll be DAMNED if you bring shame upon this family just so you can continue to claim some hood status that you could NEVER claim!"

"Mom...why do you have to make a big deal out of everything? This is not a responsibility! I just don't want to do this stupid Charity Ball thing!"

"You are doing it and that's final. If you want to give away your inheritance to help the poor and needy to absolve yourself of your privaledged guilt then that's exactly what should do when you've turned 25 and have access to it. For now...you will do as your father and I say. If you do NOT show up for your lessons accordingly then we will assume that means you are ashamed of your family and will take it upon ourselves to let your grandparents know immediately. Your trip will be cancelled and you will have to pay for every single thing you want or need including college." She pierced her daughter with her eyes and picked up her coffee mug, taking a sip. "Don't play with me young lady and don't think for a second that you're the only female in this family that has tried to revolt. When I tried it, your grandmother sent me to Lake Charles for the summer and when your Aunt Trudi tried it she was sent to work in a drycleaners everyday after school for a month."

And she walked out of the kitchen leaving her daughter speechless behind her.

"College Girl"

She'd been saving her money now for six years. It was in a bank account and she kept the book hidden. The monthly statements came to her post office box at Mailboxes, etc. and she never told anyone about what she was doing because she knew if she did...they'd find a way to get her money.

THEY were her Aunt and cousin of whom she'd lived with for the past eight years...since the 4th grade. She felt like Cinderella except at least they cared about where Cinderella was. Her Aunt and cousin didn't. They thought she was off doing what her cousin was doing...messing around with boys and goofing off.

She wasn't.

She'd been working since she met Mrs. Breedlove down at the old folks home. At first it was for a little cash every now and then...and when she was old enough...Mrs. Breedlove put her on the payroll and she got a check just like everybody else. Seemed wrong getting paid for doing what she loved doing. Seemed wrong getting paid for caring for those she loved.

They were her family. She had 21 grandparents. 15 grandmothers and 6 grandfathers.

She knew she was blessed. Cuz she could be like her cousin.

She'd saved $38,684.62. And she was going to college. She had a partial scholarship Mrs. Breedlove helped her get and she was leaving in two weeks. Two weeks to freedom. To a brand new her.

She'd had it all planned all of her life. She was going to go to one of those salons you saw on tv and get her hair done up real good. She'd been letting it grow...keeping it up in a bun for years because she wanted it to be long enough for the perfect college girl ponytail. Then...she was going shopping. She had a folder full of clothes that looked like college girls should look like and she was going to get everything she needed. She'd picked out her comforter set and towels and had them on layaway at TJ Maxx. Sure...she could have bought it already...but she didn't have anywhere to keep it.

She'd pick it up on her way out...in her new car, a second hand Volkswagon Beetle that looked just like a college girl's car should look.

She was ready.

She got to work that day early as she always did and she checked the schedule to see who would be on today. Noting that she was doing recreation that day, she went to the supply closet and got out a few games... Bingo, Connect Four, Checkers, Chess and went to the reck room.

When she opened the door they all yelled "SURPRISE!" and she cried and cried and cried.

She left that day of her going away party with a fist full of cards stuffed with money. About $300 extra dollars she hadn't counted on to add to her stash.

She was ready.

She was going to college.

"Roaring"

"Is there any more Gatoraid?"

"No, that was the last one. Come on, we'd better pack up."

The picnic was over. Their friends headed to campus and they headed to their rental house. Good times man. Good times.

When they got home the phone was ringing. Carla ran to get it. "Monnie it's for you!"

Monnie picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Monnie?"

"Hey Greg...what's up?"

"Monnie...you gotta go home."

"What?" pointing to Carla where to drop the cooler.

"My mother said something bad has happened at your parent's home. Police are surrounding it."

"What?"

"Yeah...they say your father is holding the police off with guns. You gotta go home."

OH MY GOD.

She hung up the phone and called home. The phone rang and rang. She hung up.

She called her Grandmother.

"Grandmother...what's wrong?"

"They say he done shot my baby. They say he done shot my baby."

She grabbed the keys to the car and ran to it. Carla ran out behind her. She couldn't speak. Wouldn't speak. She punched the accelerator and backed out. The Toyota squealing against the street.

She got on the interstate and drove the twenty minutes to her parents home. She didn't stop for any lights once she'd determined it was safe to continue through. Once she crossed the bridge she was in her town. No one would stop her and if they tried to she'd explain once she got home.

No one tried to stop her.

She turned to go to her parents neighborhood and noted there were no cars on the streets. She turned onto her street and saw the crowd. She continued on until she was almost there and jumped out the car and ran the rest of the way.

Neighbors were gathered. People she'd known all her life. All distraught, all crying. The street was blocked off by police. They recognized her. Everyone did. She was home and everyone knew her.

She noted her brother handcuffed to the fence. She was stopped by police. By an officer she'd known all her life.

"Monnie...I can't let you go in there."

Her brother was limp. Hanging by his wrist. He looked tired. Spent. Defeated.

"WHY IS HE HANDCUFFED! LET MY BROTHER GO! LET MY BROTHER GO!"

She tackled the police trying to restrain her.

"Monnie...they are gone. He...he...your father...he killed your mother...and then he killed himself. They are gone."

And the roaring in her ears started. She closed her eyes agains the darkness that followed. She bit her teeth together tight against the pain. Hands reached out to her. She never like being touched by anyone other than her parents. She shook them off but they tried to hold her. She did the only thing she knew how to do. The thing that ensured her place as an Iron Person on her company's team. She ran.

She ran and ran and ran. When she stopped she couldn't breathe. She couldn't get the words out of her head.

They are gone. They are gone. Killed mother...killed himself.

They are gone. They are gone. Killed mother...killed himself.

She screamed and fell to the ground.

That night after the bodies were removed she went inside her parent's home. The police had cut out the spot in the carpet where the blood from her father has spilled. The blood had seeped through the wood beneath. It was a dark spot like it would be forever wet. Blood doesn't separate well. The blood in the kitchen had been cleaned. You know...the blood from her mother. It took her five minutes to die. Five minutes of knowing she was dying. With half her beautiful face blown off. Splatters of her blood on the cabinets, on the pantry door, on the legs of the table.

She never went inside that house again and whenever she remembers it...that's the scene she remembers first. All of her memories are tainted. All the good follows the thought of the worst.

My name is Monnie to my family. You know me as Monica Mingo...as CreoleInDC. You send me emails asking me what's wrong when I'm down. You send me your holy roller testimonies and tell me to keep my chin up and that I'll shake it off. You ask me what's wrong.

I bet you won't ask no mo.

You wanna know what I think about when I'm all fucked up inside? I think about my father, smart, funny, wonderful...aiming his 357 at my mother and pulling the trigger and then turning it on himself. Then...I think of the five minutes it took her to die.

Sometimes...the roaring in my ears returns and I gotta sit quiet.

I bet you won't ask no mo.

Call your parents and tell them you love them. And be gotdamn glad you can.

Remember...even though I'm FABULOUS...even though I'm the SHIT...it ain't always pretty bruh. Believe that. (LOL...and folks wonder why I get so fuggin mad sometimes.)

Peace out.

Homie.

"Heavy"

It was hot.

So hot that when you looked down the street you saw the heat rising off of it and the tar looked shiny under the heat waves rising from it. It was so hot the wallpaper on the walls were sweating and she sat there and rocked while fanning herself with a fan she got from the Cleotis White's funeral last summer.

The ice in her glass shifted and clinked. She kept rocking and fanning. The television was on but she wasn't watching it. it was just on. She was just rocking and fanning. Cuz it was so hot. The backs of her legs were moist from sweating and stuck her to the chair. It was hot.

She looked at the corner of the wallpaper and noted it was coming apart. The corner was just dangling as if calling for someone to shake it's hand. She got up slowly with her eyes on the corner, walked over to it and reached up. She couldn't reach it so she pulled the milk crate she kept her "TV Guides" in over and stood on it. She pulled and the wallpaper came right off. She stood there with it in her hand, the weight of it bothering her for some reason. Agitating her that this heavy thickness was on her walls cloaking her further in heat.

She dropped it to the floor.

Grabbing hold of the next corner she pried it with her nail first and then pulled. This time it didn't come off in a whole strip and ended up being jagged instead. She kept prying and pulling. She stepped down from the milk crate and went to the kitchen to get a knife. Back up on her milk crate...she used the knife to create a section large enough for her to take hold of well and she continued on.

It was still hot and the exertion from her activity caused her to start sweating large tear sized sweat. She kept going, moving things away from the wall as she went. The brown plaid sofa, the rickety shelf with the ceramic pill boxes her Aunt had liked. Bless her soul.

She'd lived in this house since she was fourteen years old. She'd come to live with her Aunt after her mother died and when her Aunt died, she was all alone. She was 39 now. She'd be 40 in a month. This house was hers but not hers. It was a like a tomb, hot and swealtering, cloaking her in the past.

After surveying her work she walked to kitchen to get out a garbage bag and started putting the fallen wallpaper in it. She took the bag out in the afternoon heat and sat it by the road. The house looked a mess. She grabbed another garbage bag and scooped all of the stuff on shelves into it with her hands dragging long streaks into the dust. She drug out the rickety shelf, she drug out the upholstered chairs, she drug out the sofa, the claw foot oval coffee table, she stripped the windows of their heavy dark curtains, pulled the clear vinyl runner up off the carpet which left teeth marks in the carpet. One by one she took these things out by the road. She was sweating so badly her clothes were wringing wet. One by one she uprooted the contents of the room until it was empty.

It felt cooler standing there in the room free from clutter.

Light green. That's a cool color. That's the color these walls were screaming for. Some attention. Some feeling. This whole house was screaming to be cool again. To take off the heat cloaking mantle that it wore.

She grabbed her hammer using the back of it to carefully pry away the trim along the bottom of the walls. She knicked her hands, broke her nails and kept going. Ripping through all the coats of paint that stuck the trim to the wall in a bond thought to be forever. She took the trim to the road.

The carpet had to go too. The floors beneath screamed to be released, to be cool so she started pulling it up too. It proved to be too cumbersome to deal with as a whole so she grabbed the garden scissors as her Aunt used to call them and cut it up. When she got to the door leading to the hallway she thought about stopping but didn't. She kept going down the hall, removing old brass frames off the walls as she passed by them. Stacked the pictures on the floor in one of the rooms off the hall and kept going.

She drug the carpet out to the road.

It was eleven o'clock at night and still so hot it was thick. The mosquito's were busily buzzing at the light outside the door. She was ripe with smell as the sweat on her body had dried over and over again. When she scratched her mosquito bites under her fingernails were black. Her whole body was sore but even though the temperature hadn't dipped by much, she felt cooler. The house felt cooler. It was lighter. The pile out by the road included mostly all of the furniture from the house. She was tired. But she was cooler. She was lighter.

After she'd taken her shower she lay on the mattresses she'd kept and willed herself to sleep. Tomorrow she'd pull out the car and go to the bank and get some money. No worries there...she had lots of it. It was heavy too. Cloaked in death. When her mother died, she got money. When her Grandmother died, she got money. When her Aunt died, she got money. It was heavy. She was going to make it lighter.

It was time. She'd be 40 in a month.

"Always in Her Heart"

She stepped out of her private elevator and nodded to Carl saying nothing. He was used to her moods by now and didn’t take it personally as she was often quiet and sullen. A beautiful child she’d been and a gorgeous woman she was now even with her hair in a ponytail. Even wearing a large sweatshirt and a pair of sweatpants that were so long they dragged along the ground tearing the hem apart.

She must be in one of her moods.

The air was crisp that morning and Manhattan was already too busy to be. She pulled the bottle of water from the side pocket of her backpack and took a long drink, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk forcing people to walk around her. She had 16 blocks to walk and headed out slowly at first…and then picked up her pace racing with herself. Left foot faster than the right foot. Right foot faster than the left foot.

She got warm and took off her backpack and then her sweatshirt stuffing it in the backpack. All without missing a beat. Ludicris and Sum 41’s song Get Back her current soundtrack on her ipod.

When she got there she nodded at Maurice in the lobby and went to the escalator using her key to reach the penthouse apartment.

She stepped out into the cool, private hallway that may have seen 6 different people this year and used her key to open the door. She walked through the peaches, yellows, creams and olive greens of the décor of the space leading to the terrace where they were sitting having breakfast.

“Whoa-ho! Look who’s here Miriam!” he said as he did every single day. “Right in time for breakfast!”

She kissed him on the cheek as he pulled out her chair. “Morning Grandpa…Grandma.”

Lemmy walked out with fresh juice and poured her a glass. “Good morning Miss Kelly.”

“Morning Miss Lemmy.”

Lemmy laughed as she did every morning. It never got old.

“You heard bout that Paris girl? You knew her when you went to that school didn’t you?”

“No Grandpa, I never knew her. She went to the school…but I never knew her.”

“Good cuz I hear all kindsa stuff going on with her.”

“What’s she done now?” Lemmy brought her a two egg white omelet and three slices of turkey bacon lightly sprinkled with salt and pepper along with a plate of fresh fruit.
“They say she going to jail.”

“Who are they Grandpa?”

“Robin Roberts.”

“Robin Roberts was talking about Paris Hilton?”

“Same thing I said…must be the end of days.”

They both laughed, her Grandmother leaned her head to the side and peered across the table at her. Her bird claw like hands wrapped tightly around her shawl.

Kelly watched her out the corner of her eye waiting for it…waiting for it.

“Did you have a chance to go see Samuel?”

“Yes sir, I went yesterday. He explained the offer to me and I turned him down. I don’t think we should sell.”

“Okay. You sure?”

“Yes sir. Matter-of-fact, I think I’ve decided to never sell anything. For what? We’ve got plenty of money and don’t need any more.”

“You’re right, but that offer was mighty attractive.”

“If you want me to reconsider, say so Grandpa and I will reconsider it.”

He reached over and patted her hand with his wrinkled one filled with age spots. “No honey. If you’re sure…you’re sure. So what’s on your agenda for the day? Doing anything young folks do?”

“Not really. I figure I’ll check on a couple of buildings and I’m closing on the purchase of that land in Connecticut at 3:30 today.”

“Which buildings you checking on?”

“The one on 7th and the two on Park.”

“Okay. Tell Jess I said hello at the one on 7th. He was always so nice to Miriam and me when we lived there.”

She decided not to remind him Jess had died two years ago. “Of course I will Grandpa.”

She looked at her Grandmother but didn’t say anything. She knew what would happen if she spoke to her so she said nothing. Her Grandmother kept looking at her oddly. Opening and closing her mouth fish-like, rolling something invisible between her thumb and index finger. Her white hair down, her face softly aging proving the constant care she always took of her skin, her hair weren’t for naught. The ring she’d once promised her Granddaughter she’d give her on her wedding day twisted on her thin finger.

“Miriam, honey, have some juice.”

Miriam looked up sharply. Looked down to where her husband was pointing.

“No.” she shook her head. “No more juice.” She looked at Kelly.

Kelly felt it coming. Removed her napkin and put it on the table. She looked over at her Grandfather and he called for Lemmie to bring Miriam’s medicine.

“I DON’T NEED ANY MEDICINE! I DON’T NEED ANY MEDICINE! I NEED YOU TO TELL ME WHY THIS BLACK WOMAN IS IN MY HOUSE! WHO IS SHE? WHY IS SHE HEEEEEEEEERRRRRREEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! Is she going to start doing Lemmie’s work? Lemmie? Lemmie? You’re not replacing Lemmie are you?”

“Calm down Miriam.”

“Do you know who I am? DO YOU?”

Kelly stood up and grabbed her backpack, watched as Lemmie tried to restrain her Grandmother. Looking at the strained looked on her Grandfather’s face she, as always, felt sorry for him. She kissed him reassuringly. “I gotta go Grandpa. I’ll call you later.”

“Okay Princess. You know she doesn’t mean all that stuff. It’s not her.”

“I know Grandpa. I know.” She kissed him again. “See ya later alligator.”

“After while crocodile.”

She giggled. “I love you Grandpa.”

“I bet not more than I love you.”

“You’d lose that bet old man.”

“Kelly…um..erra…”

“Spit it out Gramps.”

“When it’s my turn…you know…if it happens to me…and I get like her…please understand it’s not me. It would never be me.” He had tears in his eyes.

“I know Grandpa.”

And she did just as she knew it would never be him because his heart was always pure with her. She always felt her Grandmother looking at her differently when he wasn’t around when she was a child. She always knew her hands could have been softer, her smile warmer…but it never reached her eyes. She noted how she was always a step in front of her when they were out in public. She never said anything. Never neglected her, never abused her in away way. She just kept herself right out of arms reach.

Out of pride she wanted her only grandchild to have the best of everything and provided nothing less…but…her heart wasn’t up for bartering.

In her old age her Grandmother had removed the barrier of polite society and said exactly what she always thought. In her old age…her true racism showed.

“See you tomorrow Princess.”

“Same bat time…same bat channel.”

And she would be. They were all she had.

"Fretting"

She made a right on Prospect Street and pulled up to her hotel on the right. Since it was so late she drove straight to the parking garage and found a parking spot close to the elevator being very conscious of her surroundings as she got out of the car retrieving both her briefcase and suitcase along with her purse.

She was tired as hell having spent two additional hours on the plane sitting on the runway waiting for a gate. Two hours she’d never get back when she really could have used the time to prep for her meeting.

“Welcome to La Valencia.”

“I’d like to check in please. The name is Madison Connelly.”

“Of course Ms. Connelly.” He typed into the computer. I see you’re staying with us for one night. If you just give me a credit card I will get you set up.”

She reached in her purse and pulled out her wallet, handing him a credit card. “Would you check to see if there is any availability for a massage around 8:00 am with Joan?”

“My apologies but Joan is on vacation and since it’s so late, there isn’t anyone in the spa to help me. I can set something up for you and let you know first thing in the morning regarding specifics if you’d like?”

“Excellent.” She picked up her keys and glanced at the room number. “Is this an ocean view with a balcolny?

“Yes ma’am, have a good night Ms. Connelly.”

“Thank you Brendan. You too.” And she wearily walked to the elevators pulling her bag behind her.

She was so tired she leaned against the wall of the elevator and closed her eyes until it stopped and slowly made her way to her room.

The first thing she did when she walked in was to open the door to the balcony. She loved the ocean so much that even though she couldn’t see it, the smell and the sound of it soothed her and she took a deep, cleansing breath and just stood there listening. Her mind whirling with the details in the proposal she’d wrote that was in her briefcase. The proposal she’d damn near memorized along with the answers to ever possible question that could be brought up regarding in the meeting. If she landed this contract, she’d be partner before the end of the year. Her employment contract was very specific regarding business development goals and this contract would put her exactly where she wanted to be financially.

She left the door open as she unpacked her bag. Took her suit out and hung it in the closet and put her toiletry bag in the bathroom. Turned on her laptop and got it set up wirelessly on the hotel’s system. Then…she sat on the bed and pulled out the proposal. She didn’t need to. She knew it backwards and forwards. This was it. This was what it all boiled down to. Put up or shut up.

She leaned back against the pillows and closed her eyes. She crossed her legs and the proposal slipped off onto the floor. She raised up and reached over the bed to pick it up from the floor.

The time was 11:38 pm and she decided to wash the plane dirt off of her and go to sleep. She contemplated closing the balcony doors but didn’t since she was so far up and in a corner room. She showered, brushed her teeth and washed her face, deciding to sleep with her hair down since she was going to wear it straight for her meeting so she’d have to wash it after her massage.

The last thought as she drifted off to sleep was what time she should wake up. Her meeting wasn’t until 11:30 and it was ten minutes away from the hotel. She had enough time to have her massage, blow dry her hair straight, get dressed and be ready. She was ready.

It was 6:15 am when she awoke and stretched. Whomever says Frette sheets weren’t worth the cost had never slept on them she thought and she got dressed to go run thirty minutes along the beach picking up her express checkout receipt from the floor in front of the door on her way out.

At 9:00 am she’d had a 60 minute massage that was just okay. She felt good, but not as good as when Joan did it.

By 10:30 am she was dressed and smiling. Confident that the reflection in the mirror was that of a partner in her firm. Confident at what she knew to be sure. Confident enough to do what needed to be done. She put the proposal back in her briefcase and sat on the edge of the bed to put her diamond studs in her ear at 10:34 am. She dropped one of them and her eye immediately went to the carpet to see where it landed. It bounced right to the end of the bed and rolled under. She dropped to the carpet and felt around, lifted the bedskirt and jumped back scurrying backwards away from the bed. She jumped up…grabbed her cell phone and ran out of the room leaving behind her briefcase, her earring, her purse, her keys. She got out to the hallway, knees trembling and she fell to the floor and started screaming.

Shaking she dialed 911. Doors to rooms started opening. She kept saying over and over and over…OHMYGOD, OHMYGOD, OHMYGOD!

The 911 operator asked what was her emergency.

“THERE IS A WOMAN…A DEAD WOMAN UNDER THE BED IN MY HOTEL ROOM!” she screamed into the phone.

Then…the thought of sleeping in the room with a dead woman became too much for her and she slipped out of consciousness.

"It's Complicated"

"What do you mean it's complicated?"

"It just is."

"That's not good enough."

"I know."

"Well? How is it that she's not your fiance but she's wearing your ring and living in your house?"

"Do we really have to do this?"

"No. We don't."

"Good."

She picked up her purse and removed her napkin from her lap and stood up. "Goodbye Gary."

"Wait!" He jumped up, looked around as the patrons seemed startled that he'd moved so fast, and lowered his voice. "Macy, don't do this. You have to trust me."

"There is not that much trust in the world Gary. I shouldn't even be here now, but I came because you said you wanted to talk and I foolishly thought you meant it."

"Okay, you want to know...I'll tell you. But it's complicated and it could take a while."

"I've got time." She returned to her seat.

"I met Trish when we were in middle school and we started going together. We lived in the same neighborhood and everything. We always talked about our dreams and everything and we were always together. Well...when we were in the 11th grade, her mother died and she didn't have anywhere to go so she lived with us. She was like the daughter my mother always wanted.

Well, by this time I was already producing and writing music and I was young you know...and I always wanted to take care of my people and by that time, she was my people too. I mean, I was messing with other girls and everything, but she stuck it out and just felt like I needed to get it out of my system before we got married which was kinda what everybody thought would happen. When I bought my mother a house, she still lived with her, but then I bought a house for me too and since I was traveling so much, she moved in it. Made sense you know? It was next door to my mother and she took care of everything for me.

When my mother had the stroke, she brought her to my house because there was a mastersuite on the main level so my mom didn't have to climb the stairs or anything. And plus...she kinda didn't trust anyone else to take care of my mother and wanted to keep an eye on the nurse I got for her.

About six years ago, I did something really stupid and it hurt her really badly. I don't know, I felt bad about hurting her so I went out and bought her a big diamond. Somehow that translated into an engagement to her and my mom and at the time it wasn't hurting anyone so I was okay with it. I always felt like we'd end up married anyway, so no big deal. I mean...I just never thought I'd meet anyone that fit better."

He sighed. "So there you have it. The truth. See...it's complicated."

She sat there and looked into his eyes silently. She sighed and reached out and touched his hand across the table.

"You were right Gary. It's complicated. Too complicated." And then she stood up and left.

"Loverly"

“So…any regrets?” she asked?

“Nope. Not a one.” He smiled, reaching over to hold her hand.

“Ten years, and you wouldn’t change a thing huh?”

“Not one thing. After ten years I’m still the happiest married man I know.”

“Unh huh. Even when I get after you for eating late night snacks?”

“Well, erra….”

“Frank!” she jerked her hand away laughing.

“Just kidding honey. No. Nothing. I love you.” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a ring box, “In fact, I was hoping this would show you just how much I adore you and want to see you smile.”

She squealed clapping her hands together, lifted the lid on the box and sat back as the diamonds winked at her from the black velvet nest of a Boone and Sons ring box. She looked up at him speechless and he took the box from her, lifted the ring out of the cushion and slid it on her right hand ring finger.

“Oh my God Frank. I can’t believe…it’s so…ohmyGOD!”

He sat back and laughed. “I love that you love it.”

“How could I not? How much…I mean…how many carats is this?”

“Well, it’s about 3 total weight. Add that to the 3 in your ears and the 4 in your wedding set and you have on 10 carats. One carat for each year.” He grinned…proud of himself for doing something he thought was so cool.

She stood up and fell in his lap, kissing him and laughing. “You sweet, sweet man.”

He kissed her back and a few of the other patrons clapped as they both laughed and kissed.

“Um…honey…” he said against her lips, “Folks are staring.”

She stopped, stood and stooped down to pick up her napkin before she demurely returned to her seat with a huge, bashful grin on her face.

“I got you something too. But…well…I don’t know now.”

“Woman…you’d better give me my gift.” He growled.

She pulled a long box out of her purse. “It’s used. I’ve always wanted you to have one…but the prices are ridiculous so I had Mr. Diener look out for one for me.”

She handed the box to him and he lifted out the watch inside. “You bought me a Rolex???”

“It’s used honey.”

“AND??? That means you saved like ten thousand dollars! MY GIRL! WHOOHOOOO! That’s great! I love it! Wow!” He put it on, replacing his old watch with it, flicking his wrist so she could see it. He grabbed her hand and kissed it and she pulled her hand away with tears in her eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry…I mean…I wish we’d had kids by now. I so wish you were a father.”

“Michelle…everything is as it should be. There is a reason for everything and please know…if I couldn’t have a child with you…I would have never wanted to be a father without you as the mother. You’re my wife...my life.”

She closed her eyes and steadied her center. Opened them and smiled a watery smile at her husband. His bald head gleaming, his smile soft, his gaze…steady. Her rock. She took a deep breath and said, “Come on…pay the check so we can get out of these stuffy clothes and into our pj’s.”

He laughed and signaled the waiter.

They paid the bill and stood to leave. He placed her wrap around her shoulders and they walked to the door. He nodded politely as another couple stepped into the restaurant before he could walk out behind his wife keeping his eye on her at all times. He noted as she pulled her wrap around her closer against the early chill of the night as she looked over her shoulder at him. As always, waiting patiently for him. That look in her eyes that told the world she followed his lead always. He stepped out and went to her, pulling her into his arms and kissing her, rubbing her arms.

“You cold baby?”

She looked up at him smiling. “No…it’s just a slight chill.”

He stepped to the left of her so that he was walking along the street like a man who has the protection of his woman at the forefront of his mind. They walked slowly, making small talk. She was laughing softly and reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear. The diamonds on her right hand he’d just given her for their anniversary sparkling in the glow from the street lights. It made him smile. She was so beautiful, he always marveled at the God that made it possible for him to be married to her for 10 years strong now.

They walked across the street at the crosswalk and continued on to get to the parking garage two blocks down.

“So, you really like your watch?”

“What? Of course I do. As my baby sister would say would say…it’s the HotNESS!” they both laughed at the way he rolled his neck emphasizing hot and then ness.

They were still making fun of his sister when he opened her door to their car.

“Say bruh, lemme hold your wallet for you.” A kid of about 16 was standing behind him holding a gun with a hood over his head. Michelle screamed and Frank stepped in front of her hiding her frame with his. She grabbed his arm.

“What the hell?” he yelped, startled like a pit bull who's foot was just stepped on.

“Nobody will get hurt if you just give up the wallet man.” The kid was shaking and looking around nervously.

“Young man, you don’t want to do this. Think about your future.”

“MAN I AIN’T YOUR SON. DON’T BE TRYING THAT COSBY SHIT WITH ME. GIVE ME THE DAMN WALLET!”

He reached behind him to his pant pocket, holding one hand up. “Let my wife get in the car please.”

“Just give me the damn wallet man!”

“LET MY WIFE GET IN THE CAR!” he yelled.

“Frank!” his wife said….

The young man looked at him, looked at the hand on his arm.

“Hurry up! Get in the car!”

“Honey…get in the car. NOW!” And she got in the car.

“Thank you. Here is the wallet.” And he threw it at the young man’s feet.

The young man leaned over to pick it up, keeping his eyes on Frank. Frank watched the gun. The hood of the sweatshirt fell into the young man’s eyes and his arm moved up with the gun and Frank rushed him. Grabbed his arm. Felt the feebleness of it under the big sweatshirt. Positioned his thumb on the inside of his wrist and twisted it, using his bulk to kick the young man’s feet from under him.

The move caused the young man to drop the gun and scream as Frank slammed him against the concrete.

His wife jumped out of the car, “FRANK…don’t hurt him! Please!”

She picked up the gun holding it to her side. The weight of it comfortable and familiar in her hand. Her stance positioned to be ready for the kick of it should she need to fire.

Frank drug the kid up and slammed him into the wall. The fight was out of the kid. He knew he was outmatched and he just gave up.

“WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU KID! YOU PULL A GUN ON ME, ON MY WIFE! I SHOULD KILL YOU!”

The kid didn’t say a word. Frank loosened his grip on him, caught his breath.

“How many charges you got kid?”

The kid said nothing. Frank slammed his head against the concrete wall. The contact sounded like a puff.

“How many charges you got kid?”

Noises came from the stairwell as people approached. Michelle calmly tucked her hand with the gun under her wrap never taking her eyes off her husband.

Frank looked the kid in the eyes and stood up straighter positioning his body so you couldn’t see his hands on the kid. The group of people were going the other way and passed quickly.

“I asked you a question.”

“None. I ain’t never do nothing like this before.” He started crying.

“I’m going to let you go, but if you run, I’m calling the police and with my description you’ll be picked up before the night is up.”

“Frank…” Michelle’s voice trailed off. She stepped closer, to the right of her husband and far enough behind him to get off a shot without hitting him if need be. She watched the kid's hands and his eyes.

“I’m okay honey. He’s just a kid.” He was till looking at the kid. “What’s your story? Drugs?”

“No sir. I was just hungry.”

“You a street kid?”

“Yeah. For a couple of years now.”

“Where your people?”

“I ain’t got no people. Been in a group home cuz they couldn’t find a foster home to keep me. I ain’t never been in no trouble. Don’t really want none. I’m just tired of being hungry.” He looked Frank steady in the eye, the words coming out in bursts.

Frank contemplated this kid silently. His heart was heavy because he believed him. He knew this kid was on the brink. He knew this kid could be saved.

Michelle had walked up behind him to stand at his side. “What’s your name sweetie?” She spoke softly.

“Marcus….ma’am.” he dropped his eyes.

“Well Marcus," she took a deep breath, "we have leftover lasagna at home. You’re welcome to come over for dinner. Please know that if you do anything crazy I will shoot you first and call the police second. You understand?”

Marcus looked up at her then over to Frank who said nothing. His stomach fluttered and he was five years old again waiting for that elusive parental group to come in and say they would love him. “I…” he couldn’t say it past the lump in his throat. He clenched and unclenched his hands and nodded, slumping back against the wall opening and closing his mouth like a fish in the bottom of a boat after being caught.

“Get in the passenger side kid. Michelle…sit in the back.” And he stepped aside to let Marcus pass him. He put his wife in the car, squeezing her hand and got in the driver’s side. “Buckle your seat belt.”

Marcus fumbled with the seat belt while Frank started the car and drove off.

“So…we have dogs, two dogs. You like dogs Marcus?” Frank looked into the rearview mirror at Michelle. She smiled.

“I hope you do because they love kids. They're Boxers and are great with children.” Michelle said, her eyes tearing up. “In fact…you’ll probably be best friends with them before bedtime.”

They continued the light but constant mindless chatter the entire ride, allowing Marcus time with his thoughts. Allowing them time with theirs.

To any onlooker looking into their car, they appeared to be a family. The strong, handsome husband, the beautiful wife with the kind eyes, the son going through his rebellious stage with his head against the window staring out. Except if they looked closely enough…they would have noticed that everyone inside was crying.

"Bender"

“May I ask you a question?” she fidgeted with the charm bracelet on her wrist.

“Sure.” He picked up another stack of shirts.

“Have you always known you were gay?”

He looked at her side eyes. “I always knew I preferred males to females if that’s what you’re asking.”

“But how did you find out if you really were? I mean…how old were you?”

They worked quietly folding the t-shirts on the back rounder. It was her college summer job…it was his full-time job. He visibly sighed.

“Have you ever known someone gay?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Let me guess. You’re from one of those families huh?”

“One of what kind of families?”

“The perfect little kind that thinks all gays choose to be gay and are going to hell because of their choice.”

“Well…that’s how my father thinks, but not me.”

Laughing. “So you’re all liberal minded huh?”

“Don’t laugh at me. I mean…it’s not my fault my father thinks the way he does.”

“Yeah…I know. My father thinks the same way.”

“Really? Do you still live at home?”

“No. My father put me out when I was 15 years old.”

“What?” She dropped the shirt she had just picked up.

“He came home drunk one night and I was helping my mother make my sister’s prom dress. I was always better at it than she was.” He laughed.

“My father sat in his chair and stared at me and my mother got up and told me to go to my room because she knew he was about to start something.

Well, when I got up, I had to pass him by and he grabbed me by the neck and shoved me against the wall so hard a picture fell. I couldn’t breathe and I knew he wished he could kill me. He said someone told him they’d seen me over on 16th street near the gay clubs. I never knew there were gay clubs on 16th. My mother jumped on his back trying to get him to stop but he threw her off and kicked her until she couldn’t move. He broke three of her ribs in the process. Then…he turned back to me.” He picked up another shirt, the 10th one in his pile. All folded neat. Perfect. She kept her head down while she folded her shirts. Her stack big and messy. Like someone had already tried to pull out their size.

“He beat me until he was out of breath and then he threw me out of our front door. He told me to get my faggot ass out of his house and never come back. He wouldn’t let me take anything and he dared my mother and sister to move. He told me he hated the sight of me and that it was an embarrassment to know his only son was a fucking faggot.

I didn’t know where to go. I didn’t have anyone except my family, so I headed to 16th street where I was supposed to have been hoping I’d find someone to help me.

So I went and I couldn’t get in the clubs because I was only 15 and I looked even younger. A guy pulled up that was about the age of my father. He was nice. Kinda looked like he could be Santa Claus without the beard. I started crying when I told him what had happened to me and he said he understood because almost the same thing had happened to him by his father.

He told me that he wished he’d found someone to help him out when he went through it and told me that I could crash at his place until my father calmed down.”

He picked up her stack, because she was still on the shirt she’d been folding since he started talking. She kept folding one side and smoothing it and then unfolding it and repeating the same with the other side.

“When we got to his place, I started feeling better. He’d stopped at Burger King and got me something to eat since I’d missed dinner and I started feeling like everything was going to be okay. My father would sleep it off and I could go home the next day. He showed me where the guest bedroom was and gave me some towels and a pair of pajamas. I took a shower and on my way out of the bathroom…he slammed his fist in my face and raped me. Turns out he liked it rough…but he liked it clean too.” He laughed.

“Ironic huh? My father accused me of screwing strangers but it doesn’t happen until the night he throws me out of the house. My first time.

She found her voice. “Did you get to go back home?”

“No. When I called my mother she said it was for the best. She met me with some of my things but she never asked where I was staying. She’d always give me fifty dollars. Every time I see her…she gives me fifty dollars. I wonder if she goes to the bank after she gives me fifty dollars and gets another fifty to keep in her purse in case she runs into me. Fifty dollars.

I ended up staying with him for two years because I had nowhere else to go. Whenever he wanted to have sex…he had to beat me first because it was my fault he desired me. Sick bastard.”

“I’m sorry.”

He stopped folding shirts and looked at her. “I didn’t tell you my story for your pity Miss Thing. I told you my story so you’d understand that I didn’t CHOOSE to be gay. I am gay. I’ve always been gay. I used to wish and pray that I wasn’t gay. I mean…who would choose to be something they knew their own father despised when all I ever wanted was for him to be proud of me?

The next time you hear someone say some shit like that…you tell em what I told you. You tell em I said it’s not a choice. No way in fucking hell would I have chose it. Now…put these shirts over there and let’s get started on the second rounder. I’m not trying to be up in here all night tonight.”

Fiber

"So...wait...you're dating other people?" she stopped laughing.

He stopped laughing. "Yeah...don't you?"

"No, I wasn't."

"Oh."

"Oh? That's all you have to say? Oh? When would I have time to date other people? When I'm not at work or school, I'm with you."

"I don't know, I never gave it much thought."

"Oh." she looked puzzled.

The room grew icy as they both sat there with chewing on their thoughts.

"Um..." she stood up. "I need to get up early tomorrow so maybe you should leave." She started clearing away the dishes.

"Kelly, wait. I mean...let's talk."

She continued on to the kitchen where he followed. Her apartment, small and quaint, really mean small and didn't fit two people in the kitchen.

"Bobby...I really don't have anything to say."

"I thought we were clear that we weren't exclusive."

"No. I thought we were clear that we were dating until we decided if we WANTED to be exclusive."

"Yeah, dating."

"I mean each other Bobby. I didn't know there were other factors in the equation." she went back to the dining table to get more dishes.

"I'm sorry if I misled you, but I thought you knew when I said dating I meant dating others than just you."

"Well I certainly know now." she slammed dishes in the sink. "Bobby, you need to leave. I need time to think on this one."

He just looked at her not knowing what to say. He knew with certainty that when he left, that would be it. He could see it in her eyes. Only yesterday he'd been debating to get rid of Elizabeth so he could just be with Kelly.

She stared at him with hurt eyes.

He didn't know what to do or say so he walked out, grabbed his jacket and walked out the door closing it gently. He stood on the other side of the door and pondered what it meant. He was still standing there when she opened the door with a garbage bag. She'd been crying and had pulled her hair back in a ponytail.

"Kelly," he started and reached out to take the bag from her. She side stepped him to the stair landing jerking her elbow as she did so. Her foot slipped and first...the bag went flying and then...in slow motion, so.did.she.

Bobby rushed to her side, "Kelly!" And when he got no response...he started yelling for help and pulled out his cell phone. 9-1-1.

"Periscope"

I watched him all day yesterday. He looks good. He spends a lot of time alone during the day. I wondered about that. When he heads out of the city at night, he drives a long, lean car and he talks on the phone almost from the second he closes the door.

Last week I watched him three times. All day. I watched his building when he went into the office, I watched for him to leave for lunch. I walked a quarter of a block behind him. I could have said his name and he would have heard me. I watched him leave his office at the end of the day, never at the same time. And I watch him go to the gym. Then…I watch him in his sweats…head out to where he lives.

I watch her too.

She travels a lot. She left yesterday again for a trip. She’s a consultant I know…I know this much to be true about her. I also know she’s young, pretty, looks just like I did when I was her age. Ten years younger. She’s ten years younger than he and I. He asked her to marry him six months after he humiliated me. After I’d sent out invitations, after he decided he didn’t want me anymore.

When she left it was in a town car. Expense account. She left early enough that he wasn’t up with her. He usually is. He usually walks her to the door and kisses her, lingeringly…already missing her with his hand at the nape of her neck. Once, he put both hands on each side of her cheek and kissed her on the forehead. I drove off that day fumbling with the wipers in the rain. He’d kissed me so many times just that way and the pain that shot through me watching him do the same to her almost killed me. Almost killed me…right there in front of his home in the county I’d told him I wanted to buy our first home. Right there across from his well manicured lawn.

I wonder what he would have said had he found my body in front of his house that day in the rain. I was wearing all black, Nike yoga wear. Big sunglasses, even in the rain. I didn’t have anything to identify me and I was driving the cash car I’d purchased months before and never registered. Would he have cried? Would he have remembered how much I loved him, how much I’d done to help him be the man he’d become? Would he remember the sacrifices I’d made to make sure he could finish school without any stress? Would he be sorry? Would he kiss me lingeringly one.last.time? On my cold, dead lips, my left hand still wearing the diamond engagement ring he’d given me and insisted I keep once he humiliated me. After I’d already sent out the invitations.

Would he remember that I gave him five years of loving him? Would he be sorry?

He should be sorry.

Sometimes I still smell him and I inhale way deep inside myself. I drink in his smell just as I drink in the sight of him. Even today.

I haven't been touched by another human since last he touched me and when I touch myself...I imagine it's him. My memories sustain me.

For now.

That should be our home. That should be me pregnant with our child instead of her. But our baby died. Three months pregnant. Three months of him telling me how much he wasn’t ready to be a father. Of nothing but stress until it killed my baby. And then…he felt free and I felt trapped inside my mind screaming, kicking, willing my body to die. When he told me he was moving out…I was already gone. My mind…it was already gone.

I haven’t spoken with him since. I disappeared from his life and he’s never asked anyone about me. Because he doesn’t care. Because he hates me and wishes I never existed. Wishes he could scrub his brain free of the memories of me.

So I watch him. And I watch her. But mostly…I watch him.

I watch him.

And I wait.

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 27

Mia turned on JJ with fury in her eyes. “You let this shit touch me. YOU brought this shit to me. How dare you!” she turned and stalked off headed to her car.

JJ dropped to the ground where Gina lay screaming hysterically. Satisfied that she was not in any life threatening danger he scrambled up and ran after Mia.

“Mia, please…wait.”

Mia put the car in reverse, looked at JJ with pure hatred in her eyes and backed out the driveway.

JJ jumped on the hood of the car all the while Gina is still screaming. He grabbed one of the windshield wipers yelling at Mia to stop. To just…wait. Mia slammed on the breaks and he slid to the left across the hood and grabbed on to hold on. Mia rolled down the window and yelled, “JJ, get off my fucking hood. NOW!” She put the car in drive and accelerated trying to shake him off the car and when he fell to the ground, she put the car in reverse again in preparation to leave.

Her process was hindered however, by the police car that pulled up immediately behind her, blocking her and she watched as another car pulled up three seconds later.

It seemed so surreal that only 20 minutes earlier she was in Starbucks getting coffee for her and JJ so they could sit down and talk and get things right between them. Just twenty minutes.

She looked at Gina’s blood streaked face, at JJ picking himself up off the asphalt, at the police with guns drawn demanding she get out of the car and she took a deep, cleansing breath and sat there. Her cell phone rang from the cup holder where she’d placed it on the drive over and she saw her mother’s number.

Only 20 minutes earlier…none of this had happened.

************************************************************************

Derek stood in the kitchen and watched his mother-in-law as she left a message for her daughter. He knew she knew he was behind her.

She returned the phone to the cradle and walked past him as if he didn’t exist.

“Adele…” he started.

She stopped and he noted the imperceptive straightening of her spine as she slowly turned to face him…trailing her fingers lightly along the granite countertop. She didn’t face him, she stopped turning when she caught site of him in her peripheral. She looked out past the French doors leading to the patio.

“Once when I was in college, my roommate broke a frame that included a picture of my great-grandparents on their wedding day.

The glass sliced through the ink in the picture and it seemed as if it had sliced through the heart of my Grandfather and decapitated my Grandmother. In that instance, I began to hate her and even though I was taught better…I never spoke to her again for breaking my frame. For years I hated her and I blocked her from getting more than a few things I knew she desperately needed and wanted in life.”

She turned to face him, tilting her head slightly with a cold, small smile on her lips only.

“You broke my daughter. What exactly do you think that will get you?”

Derek dropped his gaze and Adele continued looking at him coldly.

Then…she walked away…humming “Amazing Grace.”

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 26

“Mother…explain to me how you left your makeup bag? You’re the most organized woman I know.”

“Angela, I have told you I don’t know. I had a headache and your father was in a rush. I’ll just pop into Neiman’s and it will take me 10 minutes tops.”

Angie sighed. A big deep sigh.

“I have to pick up Zachary at 2:30. We’ll go by Bloomingdales after we pick him up. I’m sure they sell Laura Mercier.”

“But my lipstick...”

“Mother,” Angie said warningly “I’m not picking Zachary up late so you may touch up your lipstick. When did you start wearing makeup on a plane anyway? You used to preach to Mia and I constantly about the ills of wearing makeup in a pressurized cabin.” she laughed.

Adele said nothing.

“Well?”

“When you’re as old as I am, you don’t have to worry so much about your skin as you used to.”

“Mother you’re only 55 years old. You’re far from old.” She glanced over at her mother, who had always been beautiful to her and she softened knowing how difficult it was for a woman like her mother, who took so much stock in being beautiful…to age.

Her mother’s schedule of facials and peels and scrubs had kept her line free for a long time, but it wouldn’t last forever she knew and when it did it would be traumatic at the least.

“Would you like to try the color I have on?”

Her mother said nothing.

“Mommy…let’s not fight. You just got here.”

Adele patted her leg and smiled. “Drive faster. I miss my grandson.”

Angie’s cell phone started ringing. It was David. She didn’t answer it.

“What’s daddy doing this weekend?”

“What else but play golf?”

“Do you still play with him?”

“Sometimes. Usually when Warren and Elyn play. Not usually so much when it’s just him.”

“So what have you been up to?”

Adele thought about it. What HAD she been up to?

She was saved from answering as they pulled up to Zachary’s school. Angie showed the guard her identification and drove though the gates of Georgetown Day School. By the time she reached the top of the key, Zachary was shifting from foot to foot with the guard on duty.

“Grandmother!” he yelled! and Adele got out of the car and hugged him to her hard.

“How is my baaaaaaaaby!”

“Mmuffhhhhumpphhhfffff.” She was suffocating him it seemed.

She stepped back and held him at arms length. “I believe you have grown an entire two inches since the last time I saw you.”

“I did." he said seriously. "What did you bring me?”

“It’s inside.” They both got in the car and Adele and Angie were silent as they listened to Zachary tell them about his day.

“Moooooom! Why are we at the mall! I don’t want to go shopping!” when they pulled up next to Bloomingdale's.

“Grandmother left her makeup case and needs to buy more. We’ll only be 10 minutes so it’s not really shopping.”

Zachary pouted and crossed his arms over his chest.

Adele turned around and looked at him. “So you’re saying you don’t want to do this one thing for Grandmother?” and she made a sad, pleading face.

Zachary giggled. “Okay…but just 10 minutes…you promise?”

“I’ll try my best sweet pea. I’m only going to one counter in this store and then we’re leaving.”

And they all got out of the truck and went inside.

At the Laura Mercier counter, Adele asked for what she needed and Angie and Zachary roamed to the other side of the floor.

“Mommy…is that word Juicy?”

“Yes precious. What do you think of the bag?”

“That’s ugly.”

She laughed. “I agree.” And she looked down at her son. He had his face all scrunched up something ugly and she laughed again and pulled his earlobe gently.

“Moooooom!” he playfully slapped at her hand. “I’m not a baby!”

“I know precious.”

She was still looking at her son’s beautiful profile when they rounded the corner. Her mother had finished her transaction and was walking towards them and she smiled at her. A woman with a stroller was behind Adele and Angie froze when she saw her face. Her smile wavered and turned into a thin line, her eyes like steel.

Adele stopped, confused, recognizing the look in Angie’s eyes as the same look her husband sometimes gave her. It was a look of hate and disgust and she dropped her brown bag against the venom in her daughter’s eyes thinking it was directed at her. Her right hand automatically up to her heart as if to protect herself from a known evil.

“Mom, mom….” Zachary tugged at Angie’s hand because she had stopped but she didn’t hear him. She was looking at the woman coming up behind her mother. The woman was chatting away on a cell phone and politely stepped to the right of Adele as Adele bent down to pick up her bag.

The woman tossed her blond hair as she laughed and then she saw Angie. She stopped talking and turned around quickly the stroller on two wheels. But not before Angie saw the baby whom she’d heard looked exactly like her husband except he was a blond and blue eyed version with skin the color of the insides of her palm. Her husband...whom she used to laugh with and share every detail of every little thing with. Her husband to whom she was bound because of the child tugging at her hand. Because of the expectations of her parents, her family, because she hadn’t finished the path of education she started…because she gave up her dreams to further his, because she was a housewife in the middle of a city where image was everything.

Adele stopped and followed her glare at the hastily retreating woman. She looked back at her daughter and saw the raw pain that resided on her face. Angie started shaking and Adele squared her shoulders and rushed to her daughter’s side.

A mother knows. A mother knows.

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 25

“I’m so sorry!” Gina started stepping backwards.

“What the hell?” Mia yelled.

“Oh shit.” Thought JJ.  Everything was happening in slow motion in front of him and when Mia’s eyes met his he felt a chill to his bone.  Gina stood up straight and smiled. 

“Hello Mia.”

Mia said nothing and continued to watch JJ.

“Mia, it’s not what you think.” JJ said while standing there in his pajama bottoms and nothing else.

Mia said nothing.

She raised her hand up and brushed away the coffee on her top.  The near colorless diamond rapidly shooting prisms in the morning sun.

Gina’s eyes caught the diamond.  She looked at JJ then back to Mia.  “What’s that?”  she pointed.

“Finally…a question I’ll answer for you Gina.  It’s my engagement ring.  Gorgeous isn’t it?”  Mia said.

“You two know each other?”  JJ dumbly stated.

“That’s right…you didn’t know Gina’s been calling my house did  you?  I wondered why she stopped last night.  Guess I don’t have to anymore since it seems she was otherwise occupied.”  She never took her eyes off Gina who was breathing rapidly, tears forming in her eyes.

“What?  Gina why in the hell have you been calling my fiancé?  What did you think it would accomplish?  I told you…we’re JUST FRIENDS!”

And at the mention of those words that she herself introduced just last night before they slept together…she dropped her purse and sprung at Mia who dropped the remaining coffee cup, stepped back fluidly with her right leg and punched her in her fuggin face.

She startled Gina but not enough to get her to stop.  She should have stopped.  Mia almost competed once in kickboxing. 

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 24

At 5:30am JJ jumped awake from where he'd fallen asleep on the sofa.  Bacon was being cooked and he could never sleep through bacon being cooked.  He lay there thinking of the previous night and heard his alarm go off upstairs as he always had it set for 5:30 during the week.  After listening to it blare for a few minutes, he went upstairs and turned it off.  Gina had made the bed, put away his clothes and tidied up.  Shit.  This was going to be hard.

He returned downstairs at the same time she was walking into his living room with his breakfast.

"Good morning."  She smiled.  She'd brushed her hair back into a ponytail and gotten dressed.  She was either really quiet or he'd been just that tired as he hadn't heard a thing.

"Good morning."  he mumbled not looking her in the eye.

She put his food on the same tray he'd used last night and picked up her purse.  She reached out to touch him but he flinched and moved away.  She smiled sadly and walked to the door.

"Don't worry JJ.  I'm not expecting anything more than you can give me."  She paused and when he said nothing, she opened and walked out the door.

JJ sat down in front of the tray and turned on the television to MSNBC.

Gina had her head down as she walked out of JJ's  house which is why she accidentally bumped into Mia knocking one of the two cups of coffee that Mia was holding out of her hands.

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 23

Robert dropped Adele off at the airport around 2:00pm. She’d be gone for a week and he was looking forward to some quiet time without her always talking or calling him. He was ashamed to admit how much he was looking forward to her being gone, but after 37 years of marriage, it’s the reality of his world.

The Houston day was perfect for golf and he wondered if he should go play a round. He was about thirty minutes from the River Oaks Country Club where he was a member and all it would take was a quick call to get a tee time.

But then again, maybe not.

As was so often in the past ten years, he found himself heading West. He switched to NPR and listened to Marketplace and before the program went to commercial he was pulling into the driveway of a quaint home with gorgeous flower beds and roses all along the fence. He pushed the button on his remote that was in the compartment under his steering wheel and pulled into the garage.

The Mercedes that was usually there wasn’t and he wondered how long it would be that he had the house to himself. He walked in, changed his clothes, grabbed a pair of gardening gloves and went out to the garden in the back yard.

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 22

“My mother is coming tomorrow.” Angie said as she flipped through a magazine.

“Would you like me to send a car for her?”

“No, Derek, I’ll pick her up from the airport.”

“Would you like me to go with you?”

“No.”

“Okay.”

“We’ll have dinner out tomorrow night. She’ll be here for a week.”

“Okay. Do you need me to make reservations?”

“I don’t need you to do anything. This was strictly informational only.”

The silence got thicker. Derek closed the file he’d been reading from and looked over at his wife who these days seemed more like a roommate. They didn’t share anything anymore. They lived separate lives and he knew it was because of the mistake he’d made. He remembered the love they used to share and how good it used to be and he knew it was all his fault they no longer had that connection and he knew there was nothing he could do to get it back because he’d tried everything.

“Stop looking at me.”

“Can we talk?”

“No.”

He lay back against the pillows and looked at the wedding photo of the two of them on the fireplace mantle. His dark chocolate skin the perfect contrast to the white sheets on the bed. His body, perfectly chiseled and yet unused, untouched by his wife. For over a year now.

He knew he couldn’t say anything more even though he knew something had to give. They couldn’t continue on in this vein.

Her family was old money and didn’t believe in divorce no matter what. His family, the polar opposite, didn’t believe in marriage it seemed as not many were married. Angie fought her father, the judge, tooth and nail when it came to their relationship. She told her family she didn’t care what they thought of the boy from the wrong side of the tracks. She held her head high and supported him through the trials of medical school. She helped him build his practice into the success it was today. She believed in him and knew the kind of man he really was regardless of what her family and friends had thought.

His mistake would prove them all right and make her look the fool. He wished with all his heart he could take it back. But he couldn’t.

He couldn’t change the past nor did he feel he could change the future from being more of the misery the past year had been. His beautiful, sparkling wife would always see him as slime beneath her dainty Jimmy Choo clad feet and it was all. his. fault.

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 21

“David, wake up.” Mia shook David awake from where he’d fallen asleep in the living room chair as she passed him to get back to the sofa.

“Huh?” he sat up and ran his hand over his hair.

“You feel asleep. I thought you were all into these games?” she looked at him questioningly from the sofa where she’d been reading.

“Usually I am. But I don’t usually get a meal like that before watching.” He laughed.

“I can’t believe you don’t eat good meals all the time. I know I do.”

“Well, if I could cook like you I would too.” He looked at her. “So, who won the game?”

“I wouldn’t know, I’ve been reading some stuff for work.”

“You work a lot.”

“Says the kettle to the pot.” She laughed.

“Touché. But I’m not working now. I know when to relax and I have a feeling you don’t. You’re always ON.”

“Well, being a black woman trying to make partner requires hard work.”

“It would require hard work regardless of what color you are.”

“True…but moreso for a black woman. First, I’m black, second I’m a woman. In corporate America that’s a difficult combination to be.”

“I find that hard to believe.” He said.

“I’m sure you do.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that you’re one of those white guys that thinks just because he doesn’t have a problem with black people you assume no one else does.”

“No, I disagree. I just don’t think it’s as big of an issue is all.”

“Well, I’m not about to sit here and have the great race debate with you. It’s too late for all that.”

“So are you saying it’s something we can’t discuss?”

“No I’m not saying that. I’m just saying that it’s too late for all that.”

“Can I stay the night?”

“What? Where did that come from?”

“I’m too tired to drive…so can I stay the night.”

“David, you know that’s not something you can do. Remember what happened the last time you stayed the night.”

“Hey, you can’t get blame a man for trying. I promise not to this time. I’ll go in my room and close the door and won’t see you again till morning. I’m just really tired.”

She looked at him and noted he WAS tired. Hell, for that matter, so was she.

“Fine David, you know where everything is.” She got up, kissed him on the cheek and looked at him. “Goodnight.”

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her down in his lap and REALY kissed her. When he finished he looked into her eyes. “Goodnight.”

Shakily she stood up and walked to her room and locked the bedroom door. She sat on the chaise in the corner and was still there ten minutes later when JJ called. She let the call go to voicemail and then picked it up and listened to the message.

What are you doing Mia? She asked herself. What in the hell are you doing?

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 20

JJ couldn’t sleep. His gut was tearing him up. Gina was sleeping in his bed and he didn’t want to be near her. He didn’t want to touch her. He was disgusted with himself and with her. How could he have done that? He knew he should have followed his first mind and closed the door when he saw Gina. Shit.

He turned the television on and walked around and picked up Gina’s clothes. He put them, along with her purse in one of the chairs, sat down and put his head in his hands. He looked at the time. 11:45pm. He decided to call Mia. He figured he could tell her he’d worked out and then watched the games which is why he didn’t call her earlier. That wouldn’t be too far from the truth to where it could be believable.

He went to the kitchen and dialed Mia’s number and got her voicemail. “Hey baby, it’s me. I know you’re asleep, I went to the gym and when I got home I watched the basketball game. I just wanted to call and tell you I love you. I’m sorry how things have been lately and maybe tomorrow we can sit down and we’ll talk about everything you want to talk about. I’m sorry Mia. I miss you. I can’t imagine my life without you.” And then he hung up the phone and poured himself a glass of water.

Gina, who was standing at the top of the stairs listening to him, set her jaw, turned on her heel and went back to bed curled up in a fetal position.

Kicks and Giggles

Aiight yall.  I only get feedback on K&G when I ask someone specifically and that's only my friends and they could be lying to me.  LOL!

THAT said...yall like it?  Is it confusing?  Should I keep it going?  Or is enough enough?  I'm thinking of maybe taking it off the site and moving it to an area where folks who like it have access to it only.  Whatchall think?

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 19

“You didn’t answer my question Gina.  What are you doing here?  I thought we discussed this and decided it’s for the best.”

“I know what you said, and you’re right.  And I’m sorry for not seeing it that way initially.  Now I do.  But I still want to be friends which is why I figured we could watch the games together cause I KNOW you’re watching em.”  She laughed.

A car came down the street and JJ looked and watched it pass.  He sighed.

“Come in Gina hell…but don’t think this changes anything.  We are JUST friends.”

He stepped to the side and let her in, looked down the street again and closed the door.

Gina went to the kitchen and put the beer in the fridge leaving two out.  She took off her scarf and jacket and put them in the foyer closet revealing a trim figure in a pair of fitted jeans and a v-neck sweater that hugged her curves just right with some boots. 

She then got out a plate and arranged the sandwich and chips on it.  She knew where everything in his kitchen was.  Mia never let him have sandwiches like that nor chips.  JJ stood back and watched her like one would a bear in the wilderness.

“Why are you watching me and not the game silly?  Sit down and I’ll bring your dinner.

He walked over and sat down on the sofa and Gina opened a tv tray in front of him.  Then…she put his dinner and beer on the tray and sat down on the other end of the sofa.  As far away from him as she could get.  Just friends.

_______________________________________________

JJ was startled to see the time and he looked over to Gina and noted she was fading.  She looked up at him and smiled.

“Guess I better get home JJ.  That was two GREAT games!”

“Yeah…they were.  Um…thanks Gina.  This was fun.  I’m glad you’ve decided we can be just friends. I’m really glad cuz you’re really cool and to be honest…I was missing the old Gina.”

“You mean the Gina prior to my blowing up your cell?”

He laughed…”Well, you have to admit…”

“I know, it was a bit crazy.  I don’t know what got over me. So what’s been going on?  How’s work?”

“Work is good.  I’m managing this new project.  It’s in the exploratory stage so no issues just yet.”

“That’s really good.  I’m sure you’re a great manager and will be able to deal with the issues if they do show up.  But let’s think positive.”  She stood up. 

JJ stood up too and followed her to the foyer where she opened the closet and got out her coat and scarf.  He helped her on with her coat and stepped back as she flipped her hair from under the coat with her purse in one hand. 

She smiled softly.  “I missed you too JJ.  Thanks again for hanging out with me.”

“JJ. Please.  Don’t.  Stop. Please!” Gina moaned clinging to JJ.

They both heard the ghost of the way they were.  When the newness of the physical attraction was intense and the both became very aware of the other.

“So JJ, something I’ve never had is a Buddy.”

“A Buddy?”

She walked to him and said, “Yes, a Buddy.  A friend I can count on when I need to be satisfied.”  She stood right in front of him but didn’t touch him.

“A Buddy huh?”

“Yes.  A Buddy.”  She still didn’t touch him with anything but her eyes but that was all it took.  The frustration of the past week was too much for JJ and he backed Gina up against the wall kicking her feet apart with one foot and lifting her slightly to kiss her.  Then he picked her lil azz up and carried her to the sofa where he took out all of his frustration out on her and Mia.  Used her.  Used her up.

Afterwards the pain in her eyes was too much for him to bear seeing even though she didn't say anything.  She knew what it was and he knew it hurt her. 

A Buddy huh?  he thought. *sigh*

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 18

JJ had had a long day at the office and decided he was going to do nothing except watch March Madness when got home. He walked in to his home and felt the calm wash over him that always did when took in his surroundings. He tossed the box holding his new cellphone onto the island in the kitchen and sorted through his mail shredding the junk mail immediately.

He then walked upstairs to his bedroom and changed out of his suit and into a pair of pajama bottoms and a Stanford University t-shirt with a tear on the left shoulder and into his slippers. GAME TIME BABY!

Dammit…he’d forgotten to stop and buy a six pack of Heineken. Shit. Thinking about all this stuff with Mia makes him forget even the simplest of things these days. How is a man going to enjoy a game in the comfort of his own home without a beer? Hell. And he definitely wasn’t going to go out again. Oh well.

Back downstairs he went and turned the oven on to broil a salmon fillet and then turned on the television in his family room. He busied himself making his dinner and thought about calling Mia, but then decided against it as he just wanted to have an evening with basketball. Besides…she was probably at the gym anyway. He’d just call her after the game. Well, the games.

The missing beer still annoyed him however. Especially since Mia never let him drink beer. A man just can’t sit around watching the game and drinking a glass of wine. Even though he did have a 2004 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir. But nah…that’s just not right.

And this is what he was thinking when his doorbell rang.

But when he opened his door and saw Gina…he was thinking something totally different. He was thinking he just might have to choke that heffa.

“Gina, what are you doing here?”

“Well that’s a silly question.” She said. “I came to see you.”

And then Gina…whom he wanted nothing more than to see pummeled into a fine powder…held up a 6 pack of Heineken and what he knew was a philly cheese steak sandwich from his favorite deli.

That bitch.

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 17

“Robert! Oh Rob-ert!” Adele walked into the room.

“What!” he yelled over the top of his paper.

“I was just wondering if I should pop over and visit Angie for a week. What do you think?”

“If that’s what you want to do.”

“Your grandson was in an altercation at school today you know.”

“I’m sure he’s fine.”

“Well, I just think she sounds tired and I could help her out around the house.”

“Fine Adele.”

“Are you okay with my leaving for a week?”

“If that’s what you want to do.”

“Well, I think I just might.” She stood there expectantly.

He looked over the top of his paper at his wife, folded it and put it on the table.

“Why are you all of a sudden worried about Angie? I thought you were all in a pickle over visiting Mia on Friday. What’s wrong?”

“Robert…nothing’s wrong. I just think Angie might need some help is all. Mia doesn’t need me. She’s just fine.”

“Unh huh. What happened?”

“I just get tired of her taking me for granted. And you should have HEARD her going on and on about my not respecting her.”

“What did you do Adele?

“Nothing. Goodness Robert, it’s like you don’t trust me to have a simple conversation with my daughter.”

Robert said nothing as he knew she’d eventually tell on herself.

“It’s just that Mia is so tightly wound these days and I can’t say anything to her without her taking it the wrong way and I’m sick of it. All I did was suggest she lose a bit of weight and not worry so much about work and maybe JJ would finally ask her to marry him.”

BAM! He slammed his hand against the table, shoved his chair back and walked out the room.

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 16

Mia pulled into her garage and stayed in the car until the door was closed. She turned the ignition off and sat there with both hands on the steering wheel looking ahead. It had been a rough day at the office and she was tired. Bone tired. And she didn’t feel like thinking about her personal life at all.

Her cell phone rang and she looked at it. It was Punkin. She engaged the call using her Bluetooth.

“Hey.” She said.

“Hey. You alright?”

“Yeah. You?”

“Girl, I guess. Sorry I didn’t get to call you back yesterday. Derek was home all day.”

“No problem.” She sighed loudly as she got out of the car with her purse and briefcase. “I wasn’t in a talking mood anyway.”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“JJ asked me to marry him.”

“WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! HE DID? OHMYGOSH! TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT! Oh…wait…JJ asks you to marry him but you weren’t in the mood to talk? AND HEFFA YOU COULD HAVE LEFT A MESSAGE TO THAT EFFECT AND I WOULD HAVE MADE A WAY TO CALL YOU BACK WITHOUT DEREK ALL UP IN MY DAMN FACE.”

“You and Derek need to stop. You could have called me. You just choose not to so you can drive him nuts wondering what we talk about.”

“Whatever. Engagement details please. OHMYGOD! YOU HAVEN’T TOLD MOTHER? GIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRL….SHE IS GOING TO KILL YOU!”

“I haven’t told anyone Punkin. It didn’t go well. He wouldn’t tell me anything about that Gina ho and sprung this ring thing on me out of no where.”

“OOOOOOOOOOOH…DIAMONDS! Tell me about it? Cut? Clarity? Color? Did JJ do well?”

“He did VERY well. Princess cut and damn near colorless. It looks like it’s about three carats.”

“Well damn JJ? His mother helped him huh?”

“Yes. She did.”

“Well?”

“Well what?”

“Don’t make me slap you through this phone. What happened?”

“I told you. He wouldn’t answer about Gina. According to her timeline, he cheated on me Punkin and I want some answers. The ring didn’t change that.”

“But you kept the ring.”

“He left without it.”

“He left? What’s with JJ and this leaving mess lately?”

“I don’t know. We’re supposed to start counseling on Thursday though.”

“Well, have you talked to him since the ring?”

“He said he’d call me after church yesterday but he when he did I wasn’t ready to talk to him. I called him later and he wasn’t home. He was supposed to get a new cell today but I haven’t heard from him yet.”

“Hold on Mia.” “Yes son? Okay, I’ll be up in a minute. I’m talking to T-Mia right now.” “Mia, your nephew got into a fight at school today.”

“What? Is he okay?”

“Yes. He’s been being harassed by this same kid whose Nigerian parents have proven to be a bit special and my husband punished him without discussing it with me first.”

“Ouch. Okay.” Mia said nothing further as she’s learned to not discuss Derek and Punkin’s relationship too much for fear of Punkin getting mad at her. “My friend Gina has called me no less than twenty times since Saturday by the way.”

“Did you tell JJ?”

“Not yet. I didn’t want him to know I talked to her yet.”

“Shiiiiiiiiit…I would have lead off with that.”

“I know you would have. You like confrontation. Me, not so much. But Punkin…I need your opinion on something.”

“Yes you should marry JJ.”

Mia sighed loudly. “Um…remember David?”

“David? David who?”

“The client I went to dinner with a few times while JJ and I were broken up.”

“Oh…the dude with the company in Connecticut. Yeah. What about him?”

“Well, I kinda saw him more than a few times.”

“Huh? Well you had to. You were working on his merger.”

“Well…I kinda started seeing him.”

“Mia, what is kinda started seeing him?”

“Well, we kinda had a connection so we kinda followed through with it.”

“WHAT? Wait a minute. You’ve been DATING THIS GUY?”

“Um…yeah. Kinda. But I broke it off and told him I was still in love with my ex and I thought he was cool with that but it turns out he’s not.”

“You lil slutpuppy. And you’ve kept this from ME?”

“Well there’s more.”

“More?”

“He’s white.”

“WHAT THE HELL? MIA? YOU’RE KINDA DATING A WHITE BOY?????????????”

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 15

******** NOTE! Angie is Punkin. Only Mia calls her by her childhood nickname. Derek is Angie's husband.

“Let me guess, that was your mother. She mad's at Mia so now she’s calling you every 20 minutes.”

“Hello Derek.” Punkin walked off and put the phone on the cradle being careful to not let Derek see her expression because if he did he’d know to shut the hell up.

“Hello most Fabulous son in the world!” she scooped Zachary up and smothered him with kisses while he giggled and protested.

“Nooooooo mommy!”

“I’m sorry…mommy just loves you so much!” She felt Derek standing in the doorway. “How was school baby?”

“Fine.” Zachary picked up an apple slice from his snack plate.

“Did you wash your hands?”

He laughed, dropped the apple said, “Oops” and ran to the bathroom.

“He got in a fight at school today.”

“What happened?” She headed to the bathroom Zachary went in heels clicking. “Zachary? You were in a fight today?”

“Um…” Zachary was on his step stool in front of the sink getting his sleeves wet. She reached past him and turned the water off automatically grabbing the towel to the right of him and drying his hands which he hadn’t rinsed all the soap off.

“Don’t um me young man. Use your words. Did you get into a fight today?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“With whom?”

“Ibraheim.”

“Why?”

“He said Black American’s don’t have a country to call their own.”

“Excuse me? He said what?” she stopped drying his hands and stood up.

“He said we don’t have a country to call our own and he was teasing me saying I didn’t know where I came from and I told him yes I did, I came from here.”

“So who hit who first?”

“He hit me and then I pushed him down and then Ms. West came and stopped us.”

She looked up at Derek and back down at Zachary.

“What did your father say to you?”

“He said not to hit anyone.”

Her eyes got cold and she looked at Derek again. Derek set his jaw and returned the gaze.

“Well, listen to your father. He’s right. It doesn’t sound like you talked it out enough before you resorted to hitting. Go eat your snack while your father and I discuss this.”

“Yes ma’am.” He ran to the kitchen relieved.

“So what did the school say?”

“We have to go in tomorrow for a meeting with Ibraheim’s parents.”

“Okay.”

“You don’t have to go if you don’t feel up to it.”

“I’ll feel up to it. May I ask why you chose to ignore the fact he was defending himself? Did you punish him too?”

“Yes. No video games for a week.”

“And you made that decision without consulting me first.”

“I didn’t think I needed to consult you for punishing him for fighting.”

“Well, I would have hoped you’d have listened and been fair in your actions first.”

“He shouldn’t be fighting Angie. No matter what the situation.”

“He was defending himself. He didn’t start it.”

“Angie, he’s gifted and talented. Smart enough to know how to not become involved in an altercation. He can’t have this kind of thing following him around in his record. I will not have him behaving as a common thug.”

Punkin walked past him and up the stairs with Derek close on her heel.

“Derek, look…I understand what you’re saying. But I don’t want him to be a punk either. And teaching him to defend himself is not going to make him a common thug. It’s going to teach him to stand up for himself.”

“Black boys are treated differently in the system…” he took off his cuff links and watch and put them in his valet.

“SHUT UP ABOUT BLACK BOYS ALREADY!” she closed the door to their bedroom. “You’re just as bad as Ibrahiem’s parents. How dare those bastards tell their child that shit for him to bring to school? And you punish my child for standing up and defending himself?”

“Look Angie, just because you’ve had the perfect little life…”

“Derek. You killing me. Just because you were raised in the hood and I wasn’t does not make your experience any more BLACK than mine. Cool? I get tired of you saying shit like that.”

“Angie, I have said all I’m going to say on this. No fighting.” He started unbuttoning his shirt and turned his back to her.

She started laughing and shaking her head at the same time. “You a trip. You try to be so damn bourgeois. So damn perfect. Forget where you came from huh? How dare you allow your insecurities to keep infringing on Zachary’s life. He is not you and I am not your mother. My son will be just fine. You on the other hand? All the soap in the world won’t wash the ghetto off you and all the money in the world won’t buy that pedigree you so desperately wish you had. Which is the only reason you married me you bastard. The only reason you worry about my mother calling here is she's the only person you weren't ever able to fool and she sees right through your ass.”

“Angie…” Derek said warningly.

“Angie what? She walked up on him. “You mad Tuan? You mad? Whatcha gonna do? Hit me? I wish you would. My father would make the rest of your life the hell it started out being.” She looked at him. He looked at her, nostrils flaring. "Thought not." She said disgustedly and walked out the room.

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 14

“Hey baby.” David said, kissing her on the cheek and stepping past her into the foyer.

“Um…hey?” She closed the door.

He handed her some flowers and a bag. The bag was one that didn’t have a name on it but that she recognized from The Tiny Jewel Box.

Shit.

“Haven’t heard from you in a while and decided to swing by.” he walked into the living room like he owned the place. Like he BELONGED there.

“Well, erra….”

“I know we were having issues…but I’m thinking we just need to deal with them. Put them all on the table and work them out.”

“Um…David….thank you? For the flowers I mean.” she said as she walked into the living room following his voice.

He took off his coat and sat down in the chair. In JJ’s chair. Which was also, in his mind…HIS chair.

Shit.

“So, open your present. I can’t wait for you to see what’s inside.” He leaned up expectantly smiling eagerly as she sat on the sofa.

She took the oblong velvet box out of the bag and flipped it open to a magnificent charm bracelet with charms depicting all things Louisiana. A crawfish, fleur dis lis, alligator, shrimp, a musical note, a saxophone, a pelican and a tiny magnolia. Between every delicate charm there was a perfect heart with pave diamonds. She couldn’t tell if it was platinum or white gold…but knowing David…it was platinum.

“David…I can’t accept this. It’s beautiful, stunning in fact…but there is no way I can accept this.”

“Why Mia? You make me happy. It makes me happy to give you things that make you smile. I thought you’d like it.”

“How could I not? It’s such a thoughtful perfect gift. But David…we’re no longer seeing each other. I thought I made that clear.”

“Mia. I reject that. What we have is good. It’s right. You make me happy. I thought I made you happy. Why would we give up on that? Because your parents don’t approve?”

“How do you know my parents don’t approve? You’ve never met them.”

“I can only go by what you’ve told me. And you’ve pretty much shared that your parents wouldn’t approve of your dating a white guy. So Mia… I REJECT that.” He looked her dead in the eye crossed his legs and sat back.

Mia placed the bracelet back in it’s velvet bed and snapped the box shut, put it back in the bag and stood up placing the bag on the floor.

“David…it has nothing to do with my parents. I told you. I’m not in love with you. I love my ex…my current…I mean…David…I don’t love you.” She twisted the suddenly VERY heavy ring on her finger.

David stood up and stepped close to her in that way he always did that took her breath away. He said nothing as he looked at her while his left arm gently wove around her waist and brought her closer to him. Still looking into her eyes…he slowly lowered his head and kissed her with the same intensity he did the first time he’d done so. His right hand at the back of her neck, under her hair, guiding her. Softly, gently…like a man loves a woman.

Reluctantly but without regret…she kissed him back.

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 13

“Well? Who is she?”

“She’s this girl I dated briefly while we were broken up.”

“When did you meet her?”

“I told you it wasn’t until we broke up.”

Mia stared at him and decided to come back to that one later.

“When is the last time you talked to her?”

“What? Wait…how the hell you know about Gina anyway? That girl is crazy!” he racked his brain trying to figure out how Mia could have found out about Gina. Maybe the phone wasn’t broken. He got up and walked into the bedroom.

“Don’t worry about how I know about Gina. I want to know the last time you saw her.” She followed him into the room.

He picked up the broken pieces of the phone puzzled because there was no way she could have used it as it was completely broken.

“Mia. She’s nobody okay?” he was getting mad because he couldn’t figure out how she knew. “You been snooping on me Mia? Going though my stuff?”

“Don’t try and turn this on me. I want to know when was the last time you saw her!”

“And I want to know how you know about her. Why are you stressing me? She’s nothing Mia. Nobody. Just some chick I hung out with a few times while we were broken up that’s all I promise you. Now tell me how you found out about her!”

“I’m not telling you anything until you break this time line down for me JJ. You’ve been lying and you’re caught up in your shit now. And then…you come in here like I don’t deserve any answers after you’ve asked me to share my life with you? How dare you!”

“Mia….”

“Don’t Mia me JJ. You left out of here VERY disrespectfully and then I find out there is a reason you’ve been acting all squirrely…because of some 25 year old ho named Gina.”

“How do you know how old he is?” he yelled. “Mia…I’m serious…I want to know.”

“So do I!” she screamed.

He stopped. Looked down at the ring on her finger. Looked at her.

“I can’t deal with this right now. I’m going to my house.”

“So, instead of answering me…you’re going to leave…again…leave us like this.”

“Mia I don’t know what to do. This is why we always have problems because neither one of us knows how to give up when we have issues. I asked you a question and you haven’t told me anything. I’ve answered your questions. There is no give with you. You’re so worried about some man messing over you and not taking no shit off any man…you don’t know how to listen. Yeah…I kicked it with Gina for a minute. I met her when we broke up. The last time I saw her was a week before we got back together when I realized you’re the only woman for me and I love you with all of me. I give you all that, and you still can’t give me any answers. You have to be in control, as always and tonight…I can’t deal with it. I’ll see you tomorrow after church.”

And just like that…he left.

Mia looked down at the ring and realized she hadn’t given him an answer nor had he asked for the ring back. The doorbell rang and she went to the door to answer it thinking JJ must have forgotten his key.

She opened the door without looking out…and stepped back to find that it was David, and not JJ, standing at her door.

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - Part 12

What in the world am I going to say  to her?  Hell…I know she’s still mad.  Mia wasn’t one to put up with a lot of bull which is why I love her so much.  I remember the time the pizza delivery guy came to the house an hour late with a cold pizza.  She jumped in her car and drove to the pizzeria, gave them the business and got coupons for free pizzas.  And then…she never ordered from them again but gave all the coupons away. 

That’s the kind of woman I want in my corner.  One able to handle her business and smart enough to know not to eat pizza from a joint she’d cussed out before.  My Mia.

This thing with Gina had to get under control or she is going to ruin my life.  She seemed so normal and so cool when we first met and then…once I realized I wasn’t over Mia and wasn’t EVER going to get over here…I was honest and told her I couldn’t see her any more. For the life of me I don’t know what I could have done differently.  She didn’t do anything wrong as she keeps asking…she just wasn’t Mia!

I didn’t want to hurt her, but if she keeps playing around and Mia gets a hold of her, I can’t be held accountable.

__________________________________

JJ drove all the way to Mia’s and when he parked he never noticed the car across the street with someone sitting, watching and waiting.

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 11

So where were we? Oh yeah...Mia and JJ just got back together after being apart for a few months. JJ started acting foolio with his cell phone and Mia got suspicious and asked him about it. JJ threw a fit and hurled the phone into the wall and stormed off. Mia got the number and the code to his voicemail and as she and her sister were checking the messages Mia got a call from this young chick named Gina. Gina had a lot of questions about Mia and JJ but Mia wasn't giving up any info. She was shocked to find that JJ had brought the young lady around their friends. Before she could get to the bottom of a lot of stuff...JJ showed up with some serious bling.

Up to speed? Good...cuz the next few posts regarding are gonna be ROCKY! :)

_______________________________________________________________________

“Wow…that’s…wow.” He slipped it on my finger.

“Will you marry me Mia?”

I adjusted the ring on my finger. It was a little big so it was crooked until I adjusted it. I stretched my fingers out and looked at the princess cut on a simple band. It was perfect. “JJ…this is so beautiful.”

“My mother helped me pick it out. She said you’d love it because she did.”

“She was right.”

“Um Mia…I just asked you a very important question.” he laughed nervously.

I sat back knowing what my answer was going to be but unsure of how it made me feel.”

“Well JJ…that depends." I smiled sweetly.

"Oh yeah...what's it dependent upon?" he smiled and leaned up on his knees nose to nose with me...his soft breath mingling with mine.

I kissed him on the cheek...slid my nose along his cheek until my lips met his ear. Softly I said..."It depends on just who in the hell Gina is."

He fell backwards onto the floor.

Clearly…he didn’t see that one coming.

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 10

“Wait…no need worry about it…I hear a key in the door. JJ is back.”

“What are you gonna do?”

“I don’t know…lemme call you back.”

“Call me RIGHT back. And put your cell phone and your keys in your pocket.”

“What? Why?”

“Just in case something jumps off and you need to run.”

“Punkin…Imma call you back.”

Click.

I walked into the living room and JJ was sitting on the sofa with his jacket on. Keys in his hand. I sat in his chair and looked straight ahead. I had so many questions and on top of that…I was boiling mad. But I wasn’t about to tell him anything I knew right off the bat.

“Mia…I’m sorry.” He said quietly.

I said nothing.

“Mia…please…please talk to me. Tell me you forgive me. My anger had nothing to do with you and I’m so sorry.” He came over and stood in front of me. I refused to look up and turned my head and looked out the window above the sofa. It was cherry blossom season and the tree out the window was full of soft pink blooms. I’ll always remember that view.

JJ dropped down in front of me and before I could register how close he was…he took my chin in his hand and tilted my face towards his. Even though I was so pissed at him I softened at being that close to his eyes and the tender look reserved for me there. And that’s why I never saw it coming. I didn’t see him slip his hand out and when he showed me the three carat solitaire and asked me to marry him…all the emotions I’d been bottling up made me burst into tears.

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 9

“Shit Punkin. You made her hang up.”

“Whatever hell. I got tired of listening to all that simple shit. That ho is crazy.”

“How do you know she’s been checking his voicemail?”

“I didn’t. But I know now don’t I? She’s been calling his phone and then calling back and deleting her stupid messages and only keeping the ones where she doesn’t come across as psycho and that’s how she got your number.”

“I have a feeling she’s seen me and is why she called me fat.”

“Me too. But you’re not fat…however…we’re going to have to tilt the tide in our favor.”

“Already done…sent the investigator I use at the office her phone number…I should have a complete report on her as soon as he gets the email. Wait…here it is…Gina Torres. Two other names are associated with her address so she obviously has roommates. She drives a Toyota Prius and lives in Silver Spring. I already knew she works at the hospital with Sharon…looks like it’s some kind of part time job. She’s in the medical field but isn’t registered as a doctor. ”

“So…JJ has someone who will be able to patch his ass up afterwards.”

“Humph. Ooh wait…it gets better. Guess who she also works for?”

“Who?”

“Congressman Claiborne.”

“Dougie?”

“Girl…stop calling Doug Dougie. He’s a congressman now for goodness sake.”

“He’ll always be Dougie to me. Pee-pee Dougie.”

“Yeah…I guess.”

“You okay? Sorry I said something but I was getting a bit too tired of hearing her mouth and then she took me there.”

“No problem. To be honest…I’m surprised you held out as long as you did. Hold on…she’s calling me back.”

“What?”

“Yes…hold on.” I answered the phone. “Hello?”

Click.

I clicked over. “Well it’s official…she’s dumb as a box of rocks…she just hung up on me.”

“Girl…TELL ME that heffa is NOT playing on your phone.”

Big sigh. “I wish I could. There she goes again.” I click over.

“This is Mia.” Silence. “Gina…please stop calling my home.”

Click.

I clicked back over.

“Mia…you need to call JJ and tell him to harness this one. She could be crazy for all we know.”

“I’m not worried about her…But hold on…I’m bout to call Sharon, MY soror…better yet…my damn line sister. And this time PLEASE be quiet.”

“Unh huh. I can’t make no promises once stupid shit starts jumping off.”

“Punkin….”

“Aiight…I’m not going to say anything.”

“Promise.”

“Un huh.”

“Say you promise or I’m going to call Dougie and tell him you still have a thing for him.”

“Girl I’d kill you. That fool prolly still kisses with the inside of his lips…just…ewwwww…all wet. Blech!

“Here comes Dougie’s lips!”

“Ewwwwwwwwww Mia hell…okay…I promise!”

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 8

“What the hell you mean what do you do? Answer the phone! No…wait…DON’T ANSWER IT! Let it go to voicemail then call it right back on three way so I can hear…and just say you were running to the phone and missed it and are calling back because you’re expecting a delivery.”

“Okay. Oh my goodness…I cannot believe she’s calling me. How in the world did she get my number? Okay…it’s stopped ringing….hold on and let me call the number.”

I clicked over, dialed and clicked back over.

“Punkin?”

“Uh.” She said quickly just in case the phone was answered immediately.

“Hello?”

“Hi, I just missed your call. Are you the courier bringing the documents I’m expecting?”

“Um…no…is this Mia?”

“Yes, this is Mia…and you are?”

“Well, you don’t know me, but I’m dating JJ.”

A roaring started in my ear. “I’m sorry?”

“I’m dating JJ.”

“Okay…and you’re calling me because?”

“Well…I just want to know what’s going on between you and JJ. He’s telling me one thing and it’s obvious that he’s playing games with both of us.”

“What’s your name and how did you get my number?”

“My name is Gina and, please excuse this call but I just really need to know what’s going on with you and JJ.”

“Well Gina, whatever is going on between JJ and I is between JJ and I. I don’t know you and if you know JJ as you say you do…then you should be talking to him and not calling my home. And you never did tell me how you got my number.”

“Mia, I’m sorry and I certainly don’t want any trouble…I just thought you’d like to know that I exist that’s all. JJ might be telling you that you’re the only one just like he’s told me.”

“I’m glad you recognize that I could be a bit put off by a perfect stranger calling my home to tell me they are dating JJ. May I ask how long you’ve been dating JJ?”

“For about three and a half months now.”

THREE AND A HALF MONTHS HUH??????

“Interesting. Where did you meet?”

“I was at a lounge with a couple of girlfriends and he brought his cousin who was in town for business there and well…we just clicked. We’ve been dating ever since.”

That was when Chris came down from Chicago. We were still dating then.

“When you say dating…is it a committed relationship?”

“He told me he wasn’t dating anyone but me.”

“And during this time did he refer to you as his girlfriend?”

“Not really, but we were always together.”

“Interesting.” I said.

“Why is that interesting?”

“I just find it interesting that I’ve never heard of you.”

“Well I’ve heard of you.”

“From JJ?”

“No, from Sharon. I know you’re Mike’s wife Sharon’s girlfriend.”

I STARTED SEEING SPOTS.

“And how do you know Sharon and Mike?”

“Sharon is my soror and JJ and I hang out with them often. Mike is his best friend.”

“Indeed he is.”

“Well Gina…I can’t say it was a pleasure speaking to you but I really have to go.”

“You don’t seem too concerned with JJ playing both of us.”

“I guess that’s because I don’t know you. And I find it difficult to take the word of a stranger over those I’ve known for years.”

“Are you and JJ dating?”

“You’ll have to discuss that with JJ, dear.”

“Don’t you think we should get to the bottom of this?”

“Oh…I WILL get to the bottom of this. Trust.”

“But we can help each other.”

“Unh huh. Gina…sweetie…how old are you?”

“Twenty-five.”

“Then you’re old enough to know that if you want to get to the bottom of something…you start at the top. You need to talk to JJ, dear.”

“Are you dating him or not?”

“I will neither confirm nor deny that. It’s something we learned early on in law school.”

“Okay…so this was a mistake…”

“Yes it probably was.”

“…I should have known a desperate BITCH like you wouldn’t care if he was playing her.”

“Whoa there simpleton…you need to pump your damn breaks. You don’t know me well enough yet to be able to confirm or deny that I’m a bitch which I very well may be and is a fact that should give your simple ass pause. And with that statement…you have confirmed a lot of stuff for me.” I opened my email on my laptop and typed furiously.

“Well I can tell you’re an old, fat, weave head BITCH who is desperate enough to be with someone else’s man.”

“Alright now…I’ve been quiet long enough.” Punkin said. “Lil girl…do you REALLY think we’re stupid or dumb? Did you REALLY think you were dealing with a woman who would play this silly ass game with you? Now you need to back the fuck up and recognize when you’ve been outsmarted. Yes we know who you are and yes we know you’ve been checking JJ’s messages on his cell phone and if you think for one second that your ass won’t be dealt with appropriately…you’re dumber than we think you are.”

CLICK.

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 7

"Hi JJ...it's me...Gina. Just calling to see what you're doing. Been thinking about you. I miss you."

"JJ...I'm sitting here looking at that pic we took at dinner with my brother and his girlfriend...we had such a good time that night. I miss you so much. Please call me."

"Hey...it's me. Why do people breakup? Why are you doing this to me? Why me? How could you JJ?"

"PICK UP THE PHONE! YOU KNOW IT'S ME AND YOU KNOW WHY I'M CALLING!"

"Hey...it's me. I'm worried about you. Haven't heard from you and I'm really worried. I called Mike and he says he hasn't seen you either. Honey are you okay? Please call me so I don't worry."

"Hey...I know I'm blowing up your phone but Jamie Fox is coming to town and I bought two tickets. I know you like him and thought this would be a great thing we could do together to get us back on track."

"DAMMIT JJ! I WILL NOT BE IGNORED ANY LONGER! AND WHERE WERE YOU LAST NIGHT? YOU DIDN'T SLEEP AT YOUR HOUSE SO WHERE ARE YOU? YOU'VE PROBABLY MET SOME LITTLE WHORE AND ARE OUT SOWING YOUR DAMN OATS OR WHATEVER THE HELL IT IS YOU CALL IT! YOU CAN'T TREAT PEOPLE LIKE THIS! HOW DARE YOU USE ME AND THEN ACT LIKE I DON'T EXIST!"

And that was all within the hour JJ's been gone.''

"Damn...so it's like that huh? He hooked up with some crazy chick." I sighed.

"Or she could be just a normal, sweet person who JJ really and truly just used while he was hurting. We can't judge her on these messages."

"Yeah...I guess you're right. What should I do now? I can't let him know I know cuz then he'll know I checked his messages."

"Well, the fact that he hasn't told you about her...wait...did you ASK him point blank if he was seeing someone while yall were broke up?"

"No, I didn't."

"Well then...you'd better ask now cuz some shit might go down with ya girl."

"Hey...call it again and then dial *88 after the message so I can hear the number."

"Okay." She clicked over. "Hey...only one new message is there now and the saved message from you."

"Huh?"

"Girl yes...we better stop. JJ must be checking his messages. Gina's number is the same one you had."

"Okay...hold on...my phone is ringing." I looked down at the phone.

TORRES, G. 555.313.2680.

"PUNKIN! IT'S HER! SHE'S CALLING ME!"

"EXCUSE ME?"

"IT'S HER! TORRES, G...AND THE NUMBER IS THE SAME...SHE'S CALLING MY DAMN HOUSE! WHAT SHOULD I DO???????????????"

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 6

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

“Daddy somebody’s at the door!” Jalen yelled running down the hall making himself slide in his socks.

“Jalen…stop running in the house son.”

“Okay daddy!” Jalen ran the opposite direction. Mike went to the door and looked out.

“Whatchu doing here man?” He said as he opened the door.

“Man…nuttin…just driving by.”

“UNCLE JJ!” Sixty-five pounds of energy was hurled at him…right in the gut.

“Umph. What’s up Jalen my buddy? I heard you placed second in the science fair. Congrats. I’m proud of you.”

“Yeah, well next year I’m going to win first place! The only reason why I didn’t this time was because Jonathon stole my first idea cuz I told him about it last year. Next time I’m never telling anyone my ideas.” He charged up the stairs.

“That’s a good plan Jalen.” JJ yelled after him.

Mike was looking at him questioningly.

“What?”

Mike shrugged. “Nothing.” He walked down the stairs to his man cave. Grabbed a wireless control to Playstation 3 and tossed the other one to JJ. “Wanna get some Madden on?”

“Fo sho.”

JJ sat in one of the media recliners while Mike powered on everything using a remote that looked more like the motherboard on “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”

They chose their teams and started playing. After about fifteen minutes into the game, Mike, while still playing said, “So whatchu doing here man?”

“Playing Madden.”

“No shit Sherlock. I thought tonight was the night?”

“Well, it’s not.” His right shoulder lifted and he clenched his lips together as he was maneuvering one of his defensive players furiously with his thumbs. His left left was outstretched as he leaned into the control.

“Why not? What happened?”

“Man…shit. I don’t feel like talking about this right now. Lemme concentrate on whupping your butt right quick first.”

“Well, I hope you brought a big azz stick with you cuz that ain’t happening on this here game here. But hey…I need to pause right quick. Jalen’s too quiet. My lil nutty professor be done blew up the house and Sharon will kill me when she get’s home.”

“Where is Sharon?”

“She’s at that supper club, book club, men dumb, women smart thingy.”

JJ laughed as Mike went to check on Jalen. He leaned into the chair and thought about the fight with Mia and wondered what she was doing. What she was thinking. He’d never done anything like that before but he was just so SICK of Gina and her silly shit. Why in the hell she gotta keep calling his damn phone? He’d already told her he was done. Finished. WHY SHE GOTTA KEEP CALLING? He wanted to strangle her ass for causing problems with Mia.

A phone rang in the background.

Mike walked back into the room on the phone. “Baby…I don’t know…he hasn’t said yet. No….Yes…I asked. But…no….wait. Okay.” He handed the phone to JJ. “Here man. You in trouble.”

JJ tried to move so Mike couldn’t give him the phone. Mike dropped it in his lap and backed away with his hands in the air. “Man I don’t want no trouble. You brought this on yourself.”

He picked up the phone and put it to his ear saying nothing.

“JJ I know you’re on the phone. I can hear you breathing.”

He sighed. “Sup Sharon.”

“Don’t ‘sup Sharon’ me. What in the hell are you doing at my house playing video games with Mike?”

“I can’t come by when I want to? I thought yall were family?” he laughed hollowly.

“JJ…don’t be obtuse…it’s so unbecoming. What are you doing at MY house when you’re SUPPOSED to be at “The Inn at Little Washington” proposing to Mia?”

"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 5

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

I didn’t call. I almost did but I felt I needed to think about it first. So…I committed the passcode to memory and called my sister.

“Helllllllooooooo?” she said in the sing songy way she always answers when I call and she’s in a good mood.

“Hey.”

“What’s wrong?” I could sense her sitting up.

“JJ just threw his cell phone against the wall and stormed out.”

“JJ?”

“Girl yes. I couldn’t be more shocked if I tried. Punkin…he just snapped.”

“Ooooookay. He didn’t put hands on you did he?”

“Hell no. He ain’t crazy.”

“Well what happened to lead up to him throwing his cell against the wall?”

“Okay…so remember I told you how he’s been keeping his phone in his truck?”

“Yeah.”

“Well he’s still doing it even though it’s been a minute now since we’ve been back together.”

“So did you ask him about it?”

“Yes.”

“Mia…did you REALLY ask him or did you do that lil annoying thing you do where you just talk AROUND it?”

“Well I asked today after the phone kept vibrating.”

“So where was the phone while it was vibrating?”

“In his jacket pocket.”

“So you went in his pocket?”

“Yes…his phone was ringing and I wanted to take it to him.”

“Unh huh. What happened next?”

“We got into it and I told him he must think I’m stupid. Then it got worse and we were both yelling and I told him to stop yelling in my damn house and….well…you know the rest already.”

“So…who was calling?”

“I don’t know, it didn’t say a name just a number.”

“Oh.”

“But I memorized the number.”

“You called it yet?”

“No.”

“What’s the number?”

“555.313.2860.”

“Hold on, lemme call it right quick.”

“Use *67.”

“Duh.” She clicked over and when she clicked back, the phone was ringing.

It rang three times before it was answered. “Hello?”

“May I speak with Cathy?” my sister asked.

“I’m sorry you have the wrong number.”

“Oh I’m so sorry, please forgive me.”

“No problem.”

Click.

“Well, at least we know it’s a she and that she doesn’t sound hoodratish.”

“Yeah…but it’s a she. Sigh”

“Girl what did you think? You and JJ were apart for dang near three months. Did you REALLY think there were no she’s? And hell…you better be glad it wasn’t a he these days.”

“What?”

“I’m just saying…these are the signs of the times.”

“Silly butt. Um…Punkin?”

“Unh huh?”

“I have the code to his voicemail.”

“WHAT? GIRL…THEN WHY WE PLAYING PHONE TAG WITH SIMPLE HOES IF YOU HAVE THE DAMN CODE???????”

“I didn’t want to use it. That just seemed like…well…just wrong.”

“I understand…you’re a good person…warm and fuzzy. Give me the damn number. I”LL call it then. That way…your conscience can remain clear dummy.”

“When is the last time I told you that I love you?”

“Whatever hooka…what’s the number?”

And that’s how we got where we are now. Sitting on the phone listening to JJ’s voicemail messages.