I have my own reasons for every.single.thing that I do. I stopped doing "It's All Kicks and Giggles" in 2007 because it grew into something so big in my head and I started living with the characters for far too long. They were distracting as they followed me EVERYWHERE and then...folks stopped commenting and giving me their opinions so it was like...I felt crazy living in this imaginary world with these people alone as if only I could "see" them.
I know that sounds crazy but those of you out there who write...understand what I mean and those of you who are filmmakers...you LIVE what I mean.
I continued their story even as I didn't share as I've toyed with the idea of shooting it as a pilot and shopping it. I still might...but only if I know there is an actual audience for it. I thought about a web series and actually pitched it a few times to some fancy people but they weren't interested and it was before my partner and I started working together and well...since we do movies...we really haven't focused any on pilots.
That said...I'm bringing it back because it seems awful that no one except me knows where the characters are currently and...I think some of you would enjoy it even as you don't comment and give your opinion or whatnot.
I hope that changes.
I don't care if folks don't comment on daily posts. Seriously. But let's keep it real here. I'm an artist...and I'm sensitive about my shit.
Get re-acquainted with "It's All Kicks and Giggles" so you may follow along. Let me know via comment when you're "caught up" and within the next coming months...the journey will continue and your participation would be appreciated.
Once again ladies and gentlemen..."It's All Kicks and Giggles" until somebody gets shot...
Monica Mingo
"It's all kicks and giggles..." THE BEGINNING
Tonight I'm going to do it. It's been three months. We should probably be able to talk now. There has been enough time since the breakup to make it so we should be able to talk like we used to. Like it was in the beginning when we had that magical connection.
Wait till he sees me again. Fifteen pounds lighter and finally into that size 14 I've coveted for so long. I did everything the right way. Worked out, ate the right foods...everything...I can't wait to get my man back.
"YOUR PROBLEM IS YOUR DAMN DEADBEAT ASS DADDY! YOU'RE A GROWN ASS MAN JJ. IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO STOP WAITING ON HIM TO BRING YOU SOME DAMN BALLOONS FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY!"
God that fight was so silly I still can't even believe it got that bad. I mean I know I can say some pretty hurtful things, but he knows I love him and we've been together for so long. Since high school off and on. Truth be told more off than on...but we've always been there for each other.
"Your mother calls here fifteen times a day. FIFTEEN TIMES! Why? Why Mia? Why in the hell does ANYONE need to talk to their mother that much? She STAYS in our business!"
When I had lunch with his mother after church on Sunday she told me he's doing well. He got that promotion he's been trying for and is looking for a new house. A bigger one I guess, probably closer to his job which would mean closer to me. Closer to me.
"LEAVE MY MOTHER OUT OF THIS! AT LEAST SHE'S NOT ALL UP IN THE CHURCH TWENTY FOUR HOURS A DAY GOSSIPING LIKE YOUR MOTHER. DAMN HYPOCRITE! NO WONDER YOU'RE SO SCREWED UP!"
It's really been more like two and a half months since he's seen me last. There was that night he was upset and came straight to me.
"We could make plans to get married if you'd stop spending so much money on shoes and clothes hell! Shoes and clothes I never get to see might I add! And my boys aint got nothing to do with how I feel! I'm a grown ass man...I can make my own decisions!"
I love that man so much. Can't wait till he sees me again.
"Hello?"
The butterflies in my stomach started flickering and my palms started sweating.
"Hi JJ. It's me. Mia."
"Mia! Hey! What's going on?"
Easy laugh, "Nothing much, you were just on my mind and I had lunch with your mother on Sunday and thought I'd give you a call and see what's going on."
"Well...I guess a lot. But hey...I moved the sofa around the other day and I found your blue-tooth you'd lost a while back. I've been having it in my car and I'm not too far from you so I can bring it by in about thirty minutes okay?"
"Okay."
HE'LL BE HERE IN THIRTY MINUTES!!!!!!!!! THIRTY MINUTES!
And immediately I start running around trying to de-clutter and decide on what I was going to wear and quicker than I could have ever thought thirty minutes would be...he was there.
Standing there looking good, smelling good. My man. My gorgeous man. His key in his hand. I've never taken it away.
"Hey! Wow...you look good! I like your hair that way...those are bangs right?"
"Thanks...yes...got bangs and highlights. Didn't want my 32nd birthday to come without my looking good."
"You know you always look good. Here's your blue-tooth." He sat down.
In his chair.
"Would you like something to drink?"
"Sure, why not?" Looking around. "I'm scared of you and this new plasma. Sounds like you got a good bonus this year." He laughed knowing I always buy myself a nice gift with part of my bonus.
"Yes I did. I've been busting my butt I deserve to see "Grey's Anatomy" in hi-def." I opened a bottle of wine, handed him a glass and sat on the sofa so I could look at him. In my space, in my heart. DAMN HE LOOKED GOOD! I know he noticed how cute these jeans are on me.
"You usually in your pj's around this time."
"Yeah...I know."
"You used to dress nice all the time! Now you only do when you're going to work! By the time I see you you're in your headscarf and sweats! Shit! I don't want to see that all the damn time!"
He winced a little. Sheepishly. But he'd been right. I'll be better this time Lord, I promise.
"Look Mia...um."
"It's okay JJ. We both said some horrible things. It's okay."
Silence as we both sipped our wine.
"So..."
"So..."
We laughed. "You first." I said.
"I was just going to say that I really miss talking to you. You've always been my best friend and ...well...you know...I've missed you."
"Damn...that's what I was gonna say." I smiled deeply, "Your mother says you're looking at new houses."
"Yeah, actually not too far away from here."
"Sounds like it will be easier for us to see each other if need be."
"If need be hunh? Now why would we need to see each other?" He leaned forward.
"You never know." I leaned back...deeper into the sofa.
And that's how it happened. Just as easy as breathing. He and I were...ARE...meant to be together and nothing could ever come between us. His toothbrush is still where he left it, he still has clothes in the closet.
Everything is going to be perfect this time.
When he awoke, he threw his arm over his eyes just as he always did.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"You want some breakfast?"
"Only if it's grits."
"Grits it is then." And I moved to get out of bed.
He stopped me and leaned up on one elbow.
"Mia...you know I love you right?"
"Yeah, I know you do." This isn't good. This isn't right. This is how it always ends in the movies. I can't believe he came here...he did this...WE DID THIS...and he's about to tell me some shit like he isn't ready again.
"Well...erra..."
"What JJ?" JUST GET IT OVER WITH ALREADY! My mind started throwing up walls and I braced myself for it.
"Can we take it slower this time? I mean...can we do it the right way? Last night...I mean...well...it's just that I'd missed you so much...but...well...can we just slow it down and make sure? I know in my heart you're the one, but I also know we have stuff to work on. Your family, my father..."
"JJ..."
"Wait...let me finish Mia. I want us to take some of those therapy sessions together okay? I want us to be right. I NEED us to be right."
I had nothing to say. I leaned over and kissed him tearing up and said okay. Then...I got up and fixed my man some grits.
"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 2
It was Sunday before I noticed something out of the ordinary. We spent the entire day Saturday just enjoying each other again talking, laughing and cuddling. We couldn't get enough of having the other back. We never had the conversation of what we were doing because we already know. We were going to work our issues out so we could be successful and happy.
I made sure I kept my cute on the entire time and he even went to the gym with me and helped me with my weight lifting routine. He was impressed that I didn't want to skip even one day. It also motivated him to start working a bit on his belly too. I mean, no, he's in no way fat...he just has that small poonch if you know what I mean. I assured him that we were going to make sure we ate healthy from now on and he agreed to let me lead the way since it was obvious it was working for me.
I laughed when he told me to make sure I didn't get too skinny. Reminded me of "Waiting to Exhale" and the comment about liking a woman with some meat on her bones. Damn I love that man.
So back to the problem I noted and how I noted it. The game was on and I was on the sofa reading a book and listening to my iPod while he was watching the game. He picked up the phone and put it down after punching in a few numbers. Twice.
"Who you calling?"
"I can't remember Mike's number for the life of me. That's the problem with all this technology...we don't remember numbers anymore."
"Well, where is your cell?"
"Um...it must have dropped out of my pocket and is in the truck."
"So just go outside and get it."
"It's not a big deal and besides...I'm enjoying just being with you." he smiled.
And I smiled cuz that was simple.
BUT. I'm not stoopit either.
"You want me to go get it for you?"
"No baby...but I do want you to come let me show you something right quick." standing up.
"Right quick huh?" I giggled because he was already close enough to tickle me with his breath on my ear.
"Well...maybe not too quick." he whispered.
"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 3
I think I'm going to say something at dinner tonight. I have to. It's just getting to be insulting in my opinion. I'm sick and tired of ignoring the fact that I never see his cell phone anymore. And...to be honest...we have only been at his home briefly even though I've been to every one of the houses his realtor has shown him.
My girlfriend says maybe I shouldn't push it since everything else is going well. We've signed up for couple's therapy and our first session is in two weeks. We're together all the time. Dinner, lunches, movies, walks, love, loving and lots of laughter.
But that damn phone.
I've got to say something about it because I find it's all I can think about no matter what we're doing.
"Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...bzzzzzzzzzzz."
What the hell?
"Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...bzzzzzzzzzzzzz."
And there we have it. Funny how things end up working out. Said phone is vibrating in his jacket pocket on the back of the chair next to me.
I reach in...and take it out...
"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 4
As soon as it took it out of his pocket it stopped vibrating. It started again immediately. 555.313.2860. I walked into the bathroom where he was shaving and stuck my hand out with the vibrating phone. 555.313.2860.
"Your phone is ringing."
He looks at me then at it and rinsed off his razor under the running water. He then dried his hands on the towel around this neck and took the phone from me. Looked at the number and put it on the counter top.
"Why are you messing with my phone?
"I wasn't messing with your phone. Your pocket started buzzing so I brought it to you."
"You have been bugging about this damn phone for weeks now so of course you were looking for it!"
"Excuse you...I wasn't looking for a damn thing. Hell I don't have to look for it. It's always in your truck and I want to know why? And...I want to know who was calling."
The phone starts vibrating again. I can't see the phone but I've already memorized the number 555.313.2680.
"It's nobody. Nothing important."
"If it's nobody or nothing important...then it shouldn't be a big deal telling me who it is."
"Mia...just drop it please! Everything is going good and you looking for shit. Well there is nothing to look for okay? Just let it go."
"I'm not stupid JJ. I know that some woman is calling your phone and I want to know who she is and why she's calling."
"DAMMIT MIA. I'M TELLING YOU IT'S NOTHING AND I AM NOT HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WITH YOU! AND DON'T FUG WITH MY PHONE OKAY? THAT'S MY BUSINESS!
"Fool you have lost your damn mind yelling at me in my damn house! You the one smelling all foul and trying to put some shit on me to remove the blame. Well dammit...it's not going down like that!"
"You know what Mia. You always push and push. You just take shit too far. I have told you it's nothing...but you just can't let it go. You can't trust me huh? Man...I tell you...."
"Tell me what JJ? TELL ME WHAT? That you are obviously out there fuggin around playing me for the fool?"
"WHEN IN THE HELL HAVE I HAD TIME SINCE WE'VE BEEN BACK TOGETHER TO FUG AROUND MIA? I GO TO WORK! I COME HOME...TO YOU! I'M ALWAYS WITH YOU! WHEN HAVE I HAD TIME!"
"THERE YOU GO YELLING IN MY DAMN HOUSE AGAIN AND I HAVE TOLD YOU IT'S NOT GOING DOWN LIKE THAT!"
"YOU'RE RIGHT! YOU'RE AB-SO-FUGGIN-LUTELY RIGHT! I'm getting the hell up out of here because it's obvious you won't let this shit go and are looking for a fight!"
He grabs the phone and goes into the bedroom. I follow closely on his heels.
"JJ...I want to know what's going on. What are you hiding from me?"
No answer.
"JJ...I KNOW YOU HEAR ME."
The phone starts vibrating again from the bed where he'd put it while yanking on his clothes. We both looked at it and I reach for it. He grabbed it before I could and hurled it across the room where it broke apart upon impact with the wall.
My mouth dropped wide open as I'd never seen this kind of anger from him and frankly, I didn't know what to do or say. My mama ain't raised not fool so I stood stock still keeping one eye on the distance between me and the lamp. JJ had never, in all the years we've been together, put his hands on me...but he'd never thrown phones across the room either.
He grabbed his keys and left. And I stood there and watched him go and then the hot, angry tears started and I couldn't stop. HOW DARE HE!
I wanted my mother. No...couldn't tell her. I wanted my sister... so I picked up the cordless phone to call her and pressed the redial button without engaging the phone. 5556321828*626899799.
JJ's cell phone number, and, apparently the code to his voicemail followed by the saving of 4 messages and the deleting of one. I had the code to his phone. To the phone that he'd been keeping hidden from me.
"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 5
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.
"It's all kicks and giggles..." - 6
“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..." - 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..." - 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..." - 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..." - 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..." - 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..." - 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..." - 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..." - 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..." - 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..." - 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..." - 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..." - 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..." - 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..." - 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.
"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 fell 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 REALLY 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..." - 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..." - 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..." - 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..." - 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..." - 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 Derek. 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..." - 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.”
