“Are you ladies ready to order or do you need a few minutes?”
“A few minutes please,” Kalena answered.
“A few minutes? I blurted out. Kalena looked at me. The server was looking at us, amused. I discovered I could just eat the chips and salsa until Kalena was ready.
“Give us a few minutes,” I said. “I’ll just chill and have some chips and salsa.”
“OK, I can always refill the chip basket, you know.”
“OK, thanks,” I replied. “Sorry girl, I’m just a little hungry,” I told Kalena.
“Girl, I won’t keep you waiting. I’m hungry too but I’m enjoying your company also. What are you thinking about ordering?”
I decided to go with the chicken taco and chicken enchilada with black beans. Kalena went with the chicken flautas with refried beans.
“Now back to what we were talking about,” she continued.
“Yeah, you and Todd were dating.”
“Oh yeah,” Kalena continued, “so you know. It made it easier to deal with one guy, even though I didn’t want to bring him around Brandon in the beginning.”
“Right,” I agreed. “You know that balance we have to have. The rest is history now.”
“What’s up with you and ‘Boo Thang’?”
I looked up from the chips and salsa, hoping there was someone else sitting with us that she was directing her question to. No such luck.
“Girl, you missed a showdown Saturday.”
“What happened?”
“Chelsea got into it with Greg at the brunch in front of his new girl, Sherry. She threw water on him and slapped the taste out of his mouth,” I said, laughing.
“No, get out of here!!! She did not do that. Chelsea Hendricks?”
“Chelsea Hendricks. Najah and I went to her church yesterday just to make sure there would be no retaliation. Everything was cool though. She was in good spirits.”
“That’s amazing how we women can just keep it moving, ya know? That’s the grace of God and Him only ’cause she wouldn’t have been able to do it alone.”
“You got that right,” I agreed. “So that’s why her Facebook status says: ‘I feel free and clear.’” Kalena said.
“Oh it does?” I asked.
“Yep,” she responded.
Our food came and we got busy on our Mexican entrees.
“I didn’t like him anyway,” Kalena continued. “He looked like a dog. Just not square enough for Chelsea, you feel me?”
“You’re felt. Oh, funky black dog,” I added. “How you gone kick her to the curb and floss around in the same church with another sista. So now I got to look y’all mess in my face as I try to worship the Lord?” I said.
“Well, it turned out to be bad for her, so it’s an experience. Hopefully, she’ll move on and change her membership.”
“What? Change churches? I agree she should, but she’s in a ministry.”
“Well, if she was to die today, they would visit her mama’s house, say a prayer with the family, eat some chicken and dinner rolls, then show up to the church for the funeral, do the eulogy, go to the burial, say “Ashes to ashes and dust to dust,” go to the repast, pray over the food, eat, and replace ‘what’s her name’ in the morning! Ya dig!”
By this time I’m rolling all over the booth we are sharing and tearing up in laughter. Kalena joins in. Our server comes to see if we need anything. She smiles and laughs at us ’cause she sees we are having a good time. I requested more napkins and water. She agreed and checked on her other tables. We laughed for another five minutes as people turned around, smiling and looking at us.
When we simmered down, Kalena asked how Drew was doing.
“Well, he feeling himself right now.”
“What he do?” Kalena asked.
As I’m filling her in, I noticed a girl in the corner staring at me. She’s about 5-foot-7, light brown, no curves, wearing a short taper, with a cocky swag and her hands in her pockets. The pants were sagging a little as well. I looked back at Kalena when I was done. I was a little bothered by this bad vibe I was getting from her, so I tried not to look her way. But she never moved. I could feel her still looking at me. We paid the bill and left. On our way out, I looked to see if she was still looking at me. She was.
Chapter 10
ONE MORE CHANCE
Kalena pulled out of the parking spot and passed by Chevy’s again. She headed towards the stop light which would take us towards 580. I couldn’t help but feel bothered by the girl who worked at the restaurant trying to look like a boy. She wouldn’t stop staring at me like we knew each other. Maybe, she thought I was Jordyn. That’s one of the downfalls of being a twin.
As we passed by, that girl was standing there looking dead at me!
The radio was blasting One More Chance. I used my best Biggie voice. Kalena sung the hooks; not quite like Faith Evans but a nice try. We seem to make a good time every time we’re together.
“Kalena?”
“Huh?”
“Since we taking the streets, let’s stop by the bridal dress shop.”
“Where?”
“There’s a small plaza on the left-hand side of the street with a Mexican restaurant next door to a bridal shop. We should start looking at dresses.”
Kalena agreed. “Guess I better slow down, so I can notice it before I pass it up. Man, I miss Biggie. That East Coast/West Coast crap was so stupid. We lost some good rappers to some true foolery. Tupac didn’t own the West and Biggie didn’t own the East, but they both were powerful enough to have both coasts at war. And for what?”
“For nothing,” I answered. It just got bigger than expected and then they ended up getting killed.”
“Makes you wonder who was up to that.”
“Killed?” I asked. “You mean shot and killed?”
“Man, Biggie was the one.” Kalena interrupted.
“Tupac was the one and only!” I said.
“Ok, let’s not get into another argument, ok?
“Sure honey,but how you gone be from the West Coast repping the East Coast? I bet there’s no one on the East Coast repping Tupac only. They stay true and I don’t know why you don’t.” I said.
“Girl, please. I don’t have to be from the East Coast to like Biggie. Tupac just raised a lot of hell and that got all y’all excited for some reason. Niccas walking around fired up for no reason at all,” she said chuckled.
“Tupac got you disliking Faith Evans, Total, 112, and Mase. I gotta give that man credit,” she said.
I paused and looked at Kalena to discover that she was getting heated.
I decided that I won this ongoing battle. I get a kick out of making Biggie’s fans mad. It’s funny to me.
“I mean, he was a talented rapper and actor,” she continued. “Plus, he wasn’t born in Oakland; he’s from the East Coast too. Spare me with that, ok? Both rappers were versatile, but I just vibe with Biggie more. His tracks were fire and he was just a great storyteller over all.”
“Well, he sounds like he’s fat and uncomfortable, like his lips don’t move and he needs a neck,” I said laughing. “With his big, ashy self.”
“There you go capping. Now, I didn’t say Biggie was cute, and that has nothing to do with it. Tupac was too emotional. If you stepped on his shoes on accident, he would go into the studio and write a whole album about it, plus three remixes,” she said.
We laughed as she turned left into the parking lot where Elvia’s Bridal & Tuxedo shop was located.
Kalena parked and we got out of the car. I could tell we were gonna be in there for awhile. I started clapping my hands as excitement flowed through my veins.
“Come on girl, get in here,” I demanded as I held the door for her.
Chapter 11
/> COLORS
We were greeted nicely by the saleslady, a fifty-something short round Mexican lady. She had a wholesome smile and appeared to be very friendly.
“You girls looking for something in particular?” she asked.
“Yes, I am. I just got engaged and need to start planning a wedding and looking for that perfect dress. I don’t know where to begin and I need to lose weight,” Kalena rambled.
I had a look of confusion on my face. Didn’t she say at the house that she wasn’t going to lose weight? She just didn’t want to gain any is what she said.
“Well, my name is Maria and I can help you.”
She was smiling and we couldn’t help but smile in return.
“Well honey, when he proposed to you, did he say that you had to lose weight first?”
“No he didn’t,” Kalena answered.
“He loves you just the way you are,” Maria said.
I started smiling and Kalena was amazed.
“Yeah, I guess you are right, Maria. He loves me and I love him too.”
“Good, my dear.”
She walked from around the counter and we followed her to the back of the store. The store was a little stuffy and had dresses everywhere. Along with the traditional white and ivory dresses, there were blues, yellows, greens, reds, browns, oranges, and purples. It was kind of overwhelming. There had to be at least a thousand dresses in the store. The song Colors by Ice-T entered my head, because that’s what I saw. There were colors of dresses I’d never imagined.
“Who would wear an orange wedding dress?” I asked Maria, as I held it up for Kalena to see it as well. Her eyebrows rose up in amazement and astonishment.
“Some brides go with their favorite color. It’s their day and they want to make it as personal as they can.”
“Black is my favorite color and I wouldn’t think of wearing a black dress on my wedding day. At this point with an almost grown kid, I shouldn’t be looking at white either.” Kalena said.
We all laughed loudly.
“How long you two been friends? Gosh, you guys are funny together,” Maria said.
“She’s my best friend and we’ve been friends since the seventh grade.” Kalena answered.
“That’s been a long time. Friendships are important and such a special gift. Much like family but different, ya know?”
“Yeah, I love my girl, and I’m happy for her. Hey friend, do you wanna try on some of these pretty dresses?”
“Ah, well let’s see the ivory-colored dress section first, because white is not an option.”
“Or black!” I added in a demanding voice.
Maria led us to the ivory dresses.
After two hours of Kalena trying on dresses, we only had an idea of what Kalena didn’t want in a dress. She didn’t want a tube top, nor did she want heavy petticoats. She hated her arms, but I was scared that she may try to wear long sleeves. That wouldn’t be so bad, I guessed. It was hard to have an opinion when you didn’t like a certain thing. I just kept telling myself whatever the bride wants, the bride gets. I just wanted to have a say on my dress.
While she was in the dressing room changing out of the 40th dress, I asked Kalena what color was this wedding gonna be.
“Ooh girl, I haven’t even gotten that far yet. What do you think?”
“Well, black is your favorite color,” I said. “We all wouldn’t have a problem with wearing a black dress. The color compliments all of us, but your mama wouldn’t like it.”
“I know, huh?” Kalena agreed. “Well, what about purple?”
“Purple? What shade of purple? You got purple, lilac, lavender, magenta or eggplant. We could wear a different shade of purple, but the same dress. That would be cute too,” I suggested.
“See, Maria. I have to have Journee on my team. She is the creative thinker. I would have never thought of that. I’ll ask Todd what he thinks too. I have to ask before making decisions now. Right?”
Maria and I agreed.
“Girl, I’ll say you are ready, ya already know how to be a wife.”
“I have Mama to thank. Good ole Mama Len,” Kalena said as she exited out of the dressing room. “Are we ready to go?”
“After you Mrs. Todd Murphy,” I said. We thanked Maria for the warm welcome and great service. She gave us business cards. She was the owner, and had been in business for 25 years. I assumed the store was named after her daughter or something. I felt almost comfortable enough to ask, but after being in there for over two hours, I was ready for some fresh air. I knew Kalena was overwhelmed with all those dresses, but I thought it was a good start to kick off with the wedding planning.
“Whew, if it’s gonna take all this to plan a wedding, girl, I don’t know what I’m gonna do.” Kalena said.
“What do you mean? Just think of it as you’re just planning a big party. That’s what it is, just a big ole party, girl,” I said, smiling.
I looked over at Kalena and hoped that facial expression on her face was not going to discourage her anymore. She totally deserved a man like Todd.
With all that she went through with Brandon’s father, it was her time.
Al was a drug dealer who didn’t want to do nothing else with his life. He was five years older than Kalena. She met him at the sideshow one night back in the late’80s.
The sideshow used to be so live, right in the Eastmont Mall parking lot every weekend. All the locals showed up in their old school cars to show them off and burn a little rubber. It was like a fashion show for cars; so much candy paint, trus and vogues, spokes, peanut butter tops, drop tops, and loud thunder thumping music. Most of the cars were Falcons, Mustangs, Chevys, and Cougars. But some were IROCs, mini-trucks and Nissans.
Al had a fleet of cars, but he only drove two of them.
He had a gold Cougar with flakes, and a clean Ford Probe. It was black with silver inkys, tinted windows and a nice sound system. Nothing like what these youngsters are listening to today. The bass hit hard and it sounded good. It didn’t sound like someone is in the trunk kicking to get out.
Al took good care of Kalena. They moved in together on Greenridge Way after she graduated from Skyline. Brandon was born right afterward. Having Brandon was life—changing. That’s when her priorities changed. Kalena was encouraged by Mama Len to go to school or get a good job.
“Brandon is your baby. No matter what happens down the road, that baby boy will always be yours.” Mama Len meant that the father can leave his family at any time, but not the mama.
Al and Kalena’s relationship was fine for about seven years before it all turned sour.
They tried to work their relationship out but they had changed too much. Kalena hung up her kept woman-lifestyle and became an independent woman after she earned full-time employment with the IRS.
She begged him to quit running the streets and start working. She insisted their son deserved a good home and role model parents.
Al wasn’t trying to hear that.
He made thousands of dollars in a day. Leave that to make two thousand a month? He couldn’t do it.
Where would he start? Who would hire him? He’d been selling drugs since junior high. He tried to get her to understand that they were not the Huxtables. She was trying to get him to understand they could begin to model their lives after the Huxtables.
After a few more arrests and court visits, Kalena was growing tired of the drug game. The staying out all night at the beginning of the month was the worst. That’s when it was cracking—when everybody got their welfare and SSI checks. She got tired of him coming home in the mornings, cell phones ringing all the time, having to always ask for money to pay the bills, go shopping, and Brandon’s tuition and groceries.
Al was a great provider, but he was missing in the relationship. They had a
ll the nice things that money can buy: designer clothes and shoes, cars, gold, and dining was his thing. But it was a lonely relationship most of the time, especially when he decided to start messing with another chick and failed to tell Kalena their relationship was over.
All the clothes and shoes weren’t gonna make Kalena stay. The girl used to crank call her, cussing her out, threatening to fight her and slash her tires. All the things Kalena used to like wasn’t appealing to her anymore.
Enough was enough when Kalena and Al went out of town and he let the broad drive Kalena’s ‘88 silver Ford Mustang 5.0. She was a youngster too, still in high school. She piled the car up with her friends and went all over Oakland that weekend.
Right Before My Eyes Page 7