“Josh is torn between Tennessee and Hampton,” I said holding the vestibule door.
“I want Syd to go to Spellman,” Sheila sighed. “I’ve been buying her Spellman paraphernalia since she was born.”
“She also said you’ve been buying her red and white since she’s been born!”
“Subliminal messages are the best.”
“Yeah, but she wants to be an AKA.”
“Someone brainwashed my child,” Sheila stated with a distressed southern drawl.
We found two seats in the second row just as the meeting opened with prayer. The guest speaker was a young woman who had been doing youth ministry since she was fourteen. She talked about God preparing us for specific ministries and the blessings that follow when we are obedient. She spoke on how Ruth had been united with Naomi and then stayed with her even after the death of her husband. God was preparing Ruth for a place of prominence even though she couldn’t see it while she gleaned in the fields. Ruth was blessed because she was obedient.
The Women’s Ministry speakers were always inspiring. One day I hoped to have a testimony to share. My life was not as traumatic as some of the women I had come to know, but like them I was learning the meaning and significance of salvation. My hunger to grow spiritually was fresh and new. I wanted to be like Ruth and trust God to get me through even when I wasn’t sure where the road would end. Heading home after the meeting I decided to read the book of Ruth. I finished chapter two before Josh came downstairs.
“Were you partying all night?” I asked, hoping the answer was no.
“They did have a nice party for us at Tennessee,” he said pouring orange juice.
“Is that why you want to go there?”
“Mom!” He tried to sound indignant. “Of course not.”
“Tell me about the other schools.” I pressed even though I could tell he didn’t feel like talking.
“Most of them were nice. I liked Tennessee and Hampton the best.”
“Could you see yourself there for four years?”
“Yeah.”
“Didn’t you like Morehouse?”
“Yeah, but since you’re making me go to school with all boys now, I want to make sure there are plenty of girls when I go to college.” He winked at me.
“Did you ever think about Ohio State?”
“Nope,” he stated emphatically. “Too cold!”
“I thought you loved Columbus?”
“I do, I just want to go to school where it’s warm.”
“Have you given any more thought to what you’d like to major in?”
“Nope!”
“Do you want to look at any other schools?”
“Maybe one or two.”
“Which ones?”
“Georgetown and Michigan.”
“Isn’t Sydney considering Georgetown and Michigan?”
“A lot of people are considering them,” he blushed. “Syd is in that group.”
He poured a mixing bowl full of cereal and I shook my head. Future leader of America – tee shirt, boxers and a mixing bowl full of cereal!
After church on Sunday, I detoured because I wanted Josh to see the house. We couldn’t get in so I described what I remembered. Despite the lack of Josh’s enthusiasm, I decided to place a bid and when we got home I left a message for the real estate agent to call me.
“Look Ma, Syd made the paper,” Josh yelled from his room.
“Oh really, let me see.” I met him on the steps.
“She’s nominated for Best Supporting Actress. She’s gonna win.”
He was smiling ear to ear, but I couldn’t bring myself to tease him. His eyebrows raised and his eyes got wide, just like Jason’s did when he was excited.
Sydney’s play received wonderful reviews and she was nominated for an Adam Wade Award. Adam Wade was a native of Pittsburgh who became the first African American to host a game show. The Cultural Foundation established the award in his honor to recognize the exceptional talent of high school youth. The program was similar to the Academy Awards.
“I always dreamed of being nominated and now it’s real,” Sydney confessed when she called to let us know she had several copies of the paper. “I hope my dad comes.”
Monday morning greeted me with a full day. We were preparing for state assessments and the entire staff was on edge. We knew the public would judge us by the scores even though it wasn’t fair. Test scores for the previous year indicated that ninety-five percent of the students performed at a two-year deficit. Statistics showed their attendance was a dismal fifty-six percent. The expectation of the students testing at grade level after one year was ridiculous. Our program had done well, academically and socially. Based on our own assessment, student outcomes increased by at least one grade level in reading and math. Student behavior significantly improved and our attendance increased to eighty-nine percent.
By the end of the day I was glad to be heading home.
“Hey Mom.” Josh met me as I came in the door. “Mrs. Crosby called about the house. She said she’d be in her office until five-thirty.”
My excitement was short lived. Mrs. Adams had accepted someone else’s bid on the house. I retreated to my room and called Sheila.
“It must not have been for you.” Sheila tried to console me on the phone.
“I wanted that house,” I pouted.
“You’ll find a house, God has one for you.”
Faith was the topic in Bible Study and I assumed this had to be a test.
Memorial Day weekend turned out to be busier than I anticipated. The Adam Wade Awards were being held on Friday night and we were leaving Saturday morning for Joey’s wedding.
We sat through the entire award show with intense anticipation. Finally, the next to the last awards were for supporting actor and actress.
“Sydney Daneen Henderson,” the announcer stated as the audience rose to their feet. The moment was one to be cherished. If the opportunity ever presented itself, I planned to let Sylvester know what he had missed just in the time I had known his girls.
Sydney was inundated by the attention, though the pain of disappointment scarred the moment. Her dad didn’t come. True to form, he sent a note of congratulations and a dozen red roses.
We left at seven o’clock in the morning to get a good start on our trip to New Jersey. We rented a minivan and Harvey volunteered to drive. This would be the first time Harvey and Corey were meeting the rest of the family.
“He should know his cousins,” Andrea said referring to Corey. “I wouldn't want him to grow up and start dating a family member he never met.”
We arrived at one and went to pick up Josh’s tux after checking into our hotel room.
Our family was staying in the same hotel. After hearing my nephew’s music from the elevator I was glad we weren’t on the same floor. I mentioned to Tashika how loud the music was and she nonchalantly stated, “they like loud music.”
Taisha was now a Christian, a wife and a mother of twin boys. Her husband, Donald, and the twins, Donte and Donovan, were with her. Taisha completed her dissertation and would be receiving her doctorate in two weeks. Maisha was teaching in Stone Mountain, Georgia and writing her first novel. Her daughter, Aisha, was already in the second grade. Noah was still employed at the phone company and Tashika was a Nursing Assistant. They were looking forward to having the house to themselves once Raheem graduated from college. I had never thought of living alone. That's what I would be when Josh left - alone.
As we were leaving for the church I thought about my eclectic family and smiled. We spanned the extremes from my stoic dad in his tailor made suit to my nephew in braids and my niece in a skirt too short and too tight, we were the Allen family.
Joey's wedding was beautiful and it felt good to reminisce. Stephanie's father escorted her down the aisle as she serenaded Joey with Till I Found You. After repeating their vows, they serenaded each other with If You Say My Eyes Are Beautiful. Joey deserved to be happy and my hea
rt danced for him.
Stormy was quite a young lady and looked more like a model than a bridesmaid. Noah's new tapered haircut transformed him into a handsome Best Man. And, of course, my Josh was Prince Charming. My dad was proud, I could see it in his eyes. I was happy for Mom. I could also feel Nana and Jason watching from Heaven's balcony.
When we returned to the hotel I called Sheila to tell her about the wedding. She had big news, too - she met Doug at the Singles Ministry bowling party.
“I started not to go since you weren't here,” she said trying not to sound so excited. “Then I figured it was better than sitting in the house.”
“Did the girls convince you to go?” I asked knowing they had.
She laughed. “Well sort of.”
Doug was a friend of Isaac's and was new in town. He had accepted a job at Duquesne University and would be teaching in the music department. He and Sheila did more talking than bowling and ended up exchanging numbers when the night was over.
Sheila was indecisive about telling the girls she met someone. I had no advice to give. I made a mental note to ask Josh how he would feel about me dating – if and when the time came.
Our family met at Corinthian Baptist Church for Sunday service. Then we went to Bob Evans for brunch before getting on the road. We talked about planning a family reunion and Andrea said she would work on her father attending. Even though our last family gathering at Thanksgiving hadn't turned out as planned, I hoped my grandparents would be able to attend.
The trip back to Pittsburgh was spent filling in the blanks for Andrea from all the stories shared at the reception. We tried to engage the boys in conversation about the weekend but Corey was more interested in his Game Boy and Josh preferred listening to his Walkman.
“I'm going down to see Alicia this summer. Why don't you guys come with us?” Andrea asked.
“Sounds like a good idea.” I nudged Josh and smiled. “Doesn't it?”
“We'll drive down and stay for about a week.”
“Sounds like a plan. Just tell me when.”
“Don’t forget about basketball camp,” Josh interrupted. “It’s the third week in June.”
“I wanna go!” Corey stated with excitement.
“Sorry cuz,” Josh patted him on the head. “It’s a high school thing!”
“We might drive down for the fourth,” Andrea said looking at Harvey for some confirmation.
“Yeah, I requested the week off,” Harvey said drumming his fingers to the beat of the Winans. “I’ll know for sure when we get back.”
I could hardly wait to tell Andrea that Sheila met someone. I didn’t want to say it in front of the boys so I waited until we stopped on the turnpike.
“Girl, guess what?” I said as she came out of the bathroom stall.
“What?”
“Sheila met someone at the Single’s Fellowship on Saturday.” I smiled as we washed our hands.
Andrea handed me a paper towel. “Who?”
“His name is Doug.”
“Doug who?”
“I don’t know,” I shrugged. “We didn’t get that far.”
“Is he new?” She asked as we headed for the vending machines. “I don’t recall anyone named Doug.”
“Yeah, Sheila said he’s a friend of Isaac’s.”
“Who’s a friend of Isaac’s?” Harvey interrupted us.
I didn’t know what to say so I looked at Andrea.
“A guy Sheila met at the Singles Fellowship,” she told him. “She hasn’t told the girls.”
Harvey smiled. “So in other words don’t talk about it in the car.”
“You’re such a good man!” Andrea smiled back. “Well trained.”
The boys were in line buying pizza and we signaled them to meet us at the car.
“Want me to check him out?” Harvey asked as we waited for the boys.
“Of course.” I stated emphatically. “Make sure the FBI doesn’t know who he is!”
“I know that’s right!” Andrea gave me a high five.
The boys came back to the car while we were laughing. I tried speaking in code but my Pig Latin was poor.
“Mom,” Josh interrupted as I was trying to tell Andrea that I couldn’t wait to meet Doug. “I speak Pig Latin.”
There was a message to call Mrs. Crosby immediately. I was hesitant because it was Sunday night – I called anyway. To my surprise the potential buyer was unable to get financing. I reiterated my offer on the house.
“Josh,” I called up the steps. “Come here.”
He came down the steps by two’s. “What’s the matter, Mom?”
“I bid on the house on Sonny Street.”
“How? I thought someone else was buying it?”
“They couldn’t get a mortgage so I made an offer when I called Mrs. Crosby.”
“When will we know?”
“Hopefully soon,” I replied, unsure myself. “Maybe by Friday.”
Sheila was my next call so I could tell her my news and find out the details of Doug.
“Guess what?” I could hardly contain my excitement.
“What?” Sheila was surprised that I had some news for her, too.
“I bid on the house!”
“Which house?”
“The house on Sonny Street. The house I wanted!”
“What happened to the couple who bid on it?”
“They couldn’t get a mortgage. I called Mrs. Crosby and made an offer right before I called you.”
“I’m so happy for you. I know that’s the house you wanted.”
“Hopefully, I’ll know something by Friday.”
“Congratulations girl, the house must be for you!”
“Well girl, tell me about your friend Doug. Have you heard from him?”
“He called this morning,” Her tone was joyful. “We met at church.”
“What!” I was shocked. “So you told the girls?”
“Yeah, I told them I had a friend I wanted them to meet.”
“How’d they take it?”
“Syd, of course, was very excited. She’s been trying to get me to date forever. Shae hasn’t said much.”
“How was she when they met?”
“She gave him a dry hi, but Syd was very cordial.”
“So when do I get to meet the mystery man?”
“Well actually,” she hesitated. “Isaac suggested we go to the movies and to dinner next weekend.”
“That would be nice.” I totally missed the implication.
“No silly,” she laughed. “You and Isaac are going to come with us!”
“Me and Isaac?”
“Girl I told you he liked you a long time ago. You’ve just been acting like de-queen-of-de-nial!”
Isaac was my friend. It had only been a little over a year since Jason died. “Okay,” I nervously agreed. “I’ll go as friends.”
“You’ll enjoy it. Girl, trust me, it will feel good going out with someone.”
I listened. Guilt interrupted my concentration. How could I think of going out with anyone?
“Dani,” Sheila’s voice was raised. “Are you listening to me?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s okay Dani.” Her tone softened. “We’re going out to have a good time. I’m not asking you to marry him. Really, it’s okay.”
“What time next Saturday?”
“Six o’clock. Put that on your calendar!”
I went upstairs and told Josh about my plans to go out with Isaac. He listened as I reassured him, repeatedly, that we were just friends going out to have a nice time.
“I like Mr. Isaac,” he finally said. “He’s cool.”
“What do you mean?”
“He came with Salvation Soldiers when we went rock climbing and he plays ball with us.”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah, he can be funny, too. I like him.”
“We’re just friends,” I repeated again. “Friends going out to have a nice time.”
“I want you to have a nice time, Mom.” He turned over on his bed and resumed his video game.
I felt a little better although I knew my anxiety would build as Saturday approached.
Isaac picked me up promptly at six-thirty. We met Sheila and Doug at the movie theatre in Monroeville and ate at TGI Friday’s afterward. I had a nice time and couldn’t remember the last time I had laughed that much. Isaac could have been a comedian and his personality was engaging. Sheila and Doug seemed to have a good time, too. I caught Sheila’s eye as we were leaving to let her know I saw them staring at each other.
“I had a really nice time,” I told Isaac as he walked me to my door.
“So did I,” he smiled. “Can we do this again?”
It had been so long since anyone flirted with me and I wasn’t sure how to respond. “I don’t know, Isaac.” I stopped to face him. “I enjoyed myself. I just don’t think I’m ready for any kind of relationship.”
“I’m not talking relationship.” He was still smiling. “We had a nice time and I’d like to do this again.” He hesitated. “You did have a nice time, didn’t you?”
“Yeah.” I could feel myself blushing. “I, um. . .”
“Don’t want to lead me on.” He finished the sentence for me.
“No, I don’t. And I want us to stay friends.”
“We will, but does that mean we can’t go out and have a nice time?”
“No, I guess not.”
He grabbed my hand and squeezed it gently. “No strings, just a nice time.”
“Thank you for such a nice time.”
“Any time.” He smiled and turned to walk away.
I watched his Explorer drive down Jackson Street before going inside.
“It’s after midnight young lady!” Josh startled me from behind the couch.
“Josh, what are you still doing up?”
“Waiting on my mom.”
“I had a really nice time,” I said locking the door. “We all did.” Before he could ask another question I disappeared upstairs.
The summer was a welcomed break. I enjoyed the privatized school concept even though it was a lot of work. Not only had I functioned as the Guidance Counselor, but I also became the queen of assessments. I completed more hours than I cared to remember on the new state assessments and felt confident to give the training myself.
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