by Meisha Camm
Someone was calling my name. The voice sounded familiar. “Alex?”
I turned around. “Pop?” His car—no, my uncle’s car was right next to me. “Were you following us the whole time?”
“Yes, baby, I wanted you to be safe. You’re doing a great job. Please drive a little slower.”
“She’s driving the speed limit. Don’t worry, she’s in good hands.” Mr. Barres made some more checks on the sheet.
“I wanted to do this on my own. You didn’t have to spy on me.”
The light turned green.
“I’ll see you in a few minutes. You already know we’re ending up at the other DMV office. Maria is waiting for me.”
“Keep in mind what I said. Make sure you look both ways. Is your seatbelt on? Is the car door locked?”
“Pop, stop with the twenty questions. You’re making me nervous.” When I turned, he did as well in the lane right next to me.
“Your eyes should be on the road.”
“I’m trying to keep my eyes—” I didn’t get a chance to finish my sentence. I was speechless from slamming into a cop car.
I sat there, scared. I didn’t think I was going to jail, but I knew for sure that I wasn’t getting what I came for—my license. All of my efforts of trying to pass went down the drain. I put my head down as tears began to stream down my face.
Pop opened the car door. “Are you all right?”
“Does it look like I’m all right? You ruined my chances of getting a license. Do you not want me to have one?” I screamed at him.
“Girl, don’t raise your voice at me. I apologize for going overboard. I worry about you being out here with all these crazy drivers. If it were up to me, you would wear a helmet, as well as two seatbelts. You’re my baby girl, and I don’t want anything to happen to you. Look, I’m going to try to fix this.” He walked toward the police officer and Mr. Barres.
I waited patiently in the car to hear the heart-wrenching verdict.
“Congratulations, Ms. Gibbs. You passed the State of Virginia’s driving exam. Your father and I were telling the police officer the car’s brakes are a little squeaky, which caused you to bump him.”
“Virginia is cheap. As state employees we need pay raises, and equipment needs to be fixed and replaced. This car is probably twenty years old. It’s a shame my neck is stiff. I’ll be on medical leave for a couple of months recouping from the accident. The ambulance is on its way to take me to the hospital.” The police officer rubbed his neck.
“Go on in to the office, Mr. Barres, and I will handle things from here,” Daddy instructed, giving me a kiss on the cheek.
I walked in the DMV office to see Maria waiting for me. “Girl, I passed,” I screamed, running to her. Everyone else in the building was looking around to see what the commotion was about.
“That’s great. Now, you can get your set of car wheels just in time for the party on Saturday night.”
“You mean truck wheels. I got to tell you what happened.”
“We’ll discuss over a plate of food. I’m starving.”
“You’re not the only one. First, I need to cheese for the camera and get my driver’s license.”
“The lady is calling your name now. Congratulations!”
“Thanks.” I gave her a hug.
I posed with a big smile on my face. Now, the driving situation was over. I began to wonder, What I am going to wear for this party on Saturday? I could get money for an outfit out of Pop for the stunt he pulled today.
Chapter 10
I purchased two outfits, while Pop got to hear Ma’s mouth about the fiasco on Saturday. My car—no, excuse me—truck will not be arriving until Monday morning. Fortunately, Ma was gracious enough to let me take her car to the party.
As I got older, my mother wised up on me, except for one minor adjustment. When I got my period, she sat me down and gave me a speech I will never forget.
“One thing I hate is a woman that smells of fish but doesn’t cook in her own kitchen. Look and smell your best every day. I will not have my child smelling foul. Now, leave the cooking part up to me. I’m going to instill the power of cooking in you, so the legacy will continue in our family. I hope one day you will show my grandchildren the same,” she explained, dropping three pieces of chicken in a bucket of grease to fry.
“The period day,” as I call it, she took me out of school. Ma didn’t want me spending this day alone. Instead of my nose being stuck up a book, she took me out to lunch, shopping, and bought what seemed to be a lifetime supply of tampons, Super Maxi pads with and without Wings, Midol and ibuprofen.
I could come and go as I please, just as long as I told her where I was going, who I was going with, and what roundabout time I was bringing my behind in the house. I only tested her one time, and that one time I regret to this day.
When I was fourteen, two of my girlfriends, Maria, Charlotte, and I went to the school basketball game. We didn’t go to see the game. There were too many boys in the gymnasium to be eyed down. Afterward, all the kids go to Flipper McCoy’s to play video games, meet girls, meet boys, and eat, just to name a few. We were having so much fun, I lost track of time.
I was assigned to be the designated clock-watcher. The only thing I was watching was Larry’s ass, arms, and chest. Due to the extenuating circumstances, it slipped my mind I had to be home by eleven. Maria’s older sister, Tammy, made the situation even worse. Even though, I didn’t call her till midnight to come pick us up, she was shacked up and locking lips with her boyfriend Ryan.
The time we were waiting seemed endless. My hands were shaking just at the mere thought of dealing with Ma. I knew I was going to get it. It’s a wonder she didn’t come looking for me herself, or call the cops.
Tammy arrived forty-five minutes later with her hair a mess and clothes half on. She had a funny look on her face. Maria said she always has that facial expression after her love has come down.
When I finally arrived home, I tried to tiptoe upstairs.
Pop and Ma were patiently waiting downstairs with their robes on in the dark.
“Sorry, I can’t get you out of this one, champ,” Pop whispered in my ear and walked upstairs.
Needless to say, I didn’t see the nightlife for three weeks. It was a grueling three weeks of torment. While my friends were going out and enjoying themselves, Maria, Charlotte, and I were stuck in the house doing chores.
We’d all been buddies since the little-tot age. Ms. Hodges was our babysitter. During the years, Maria spent more time at my house than her own. Now, she’s very tall, caramel-skinned, with kinky curly hair. Her father walked out when she was only one week old, and her mother, Ms. Brown, is an alcoholic. You can’t tell her that though. If you ask her, she is a social drinker. I didn’t know drinking alcohol before brushing your teeth in the morning, while eating breakfast, lunch and dinner, and in between watching talk shows were social events. We’d all tried to get her help. Men were always in and out of the house.
Three years ago, Ms. Brown cleaned up her act a little because her neighbor threatened to call Social Services on her. She didn’t want to risk losing her daughters. After fifteen years, Maria hadn’t given up hope her mother would stop drinking alcohol. I tried my best to be there for her. She talked and I listened.
Charlotte’s parents were divorced. She was shuttled back and forth between weekends, holidays, and summers between her mother and father’s house. Her parents simply didn’t get along. They couldn’t carry on a conversation without almost coming to blows. If Charlotte’s father, Mr. Kitch, was a minute late with the child support checks, his behind was going straight to jail. She favored her mother with a height of five-six, smooth dark skin, and straight hair almost down to her behind. Charlotte had called me many times, crying about her father being locked up. My parents weren’t at all perfect, but I was grateful they were still together.
“Are you ready?” Maria knocked on my door.
“Girl, come in. I’ve been
ready. You look great in your catwoman outfit dressed in black with your hair slicked back into a bun. Where’s Charlotte at?” I looked at myself in the mirror.
“Thanks. She’s meeting us there. You look cute too.” She plopped down on my bed.
“I try to look presentable.”
“Yeah, you can’t fool me. You’re trying to look more than presentable for Thomas. I can see it all in your eyes.”
I twirled around. “Do you think he’ll like the dress?”
“Of course, he will. You know he likes you. This brown dress with a slit up your right leg makes you look even more enticing.”
“How do you know Thomas likes me?”
“Word gets around, honey. Everyone in school wants to know who the quarterback of the star football team wants to date, because he certainly hasn’t shown interest in another female.”
“In other words, Peter told you, didn’t he?”
“Well, yeah, you know Peter and Thomas are best friends, so I may know more than the average gossip. All the girls want Thomas, and all the guys want you. The two of you can’t seem to get it together.”
“I’m not like you, Maria. Go-getter isn’t in my vocabulary, when it comes to guys.”
“You’re right about one thing. If I see something I like, I will get it. That’s exactly how I scooped up my chocolate thunder, Peter. If you keep hanging around me, you will go after the man you want. Put it this way. Picture Thomas as a big and juicy A. The ones that are always scrawled on your report card.”
“Now, you’re talking.” I nodded my head and put the finishing touches on my hair.
“Don’t ever let me hear you say you’re not a go-getter. Lord willing, you’re going to be a doctor. A good one at that, too.”
“I appreciate the encouragement. Someday, I’ll be able to look at myself in the mirror and say, ‘Good morning, Dr. Alexis Gibbs.’ Hmm, I get goose bumps each time I utter those three words. Back to the matter at hand, maybe I just lack sex appeal.”
“No, you don’t. Alex, you don’t how to use your sex appeal. It will come as you mature as a woman. You should talk to your mother about these things.”
“Yeah, right. Ma would have a fit. Maria, Ma and I aren’t like you and your mother. I have to admit Ma wants us to have an open relationship about sex, but I don’t want to.”
“Why?”
“I’m embarrassed to talk about it. Look at us, we’ve been best friends going to eleven years and I’m sitting here blushing about having sex appeal.”
“Well, let me give you some advice. Talk to your mother about this and everything else. She won’t steer you in the wrong direction. Yeah, she may not want you doing it till you get married. But if you decide to, there are precautions you have to consider. If I had a daughter, I wouldn’t like her getting it on either.”
Chapter 11
The party was at the Rayom Lodge, five dollars for girls and ten dollars for guys to get up in the place.
We didn’t have to pay a dime because Maria charmed the security guard. (The last party we went to she tried to pay with flirting, but the security guard didn’t think it was enough.) We both could tell he was attracted to her, the way his eyes were glued to her body. The security guard had a taste for her pussy and breast, with a side order of nipple, for ten minutes in the back seat of his car. “I bet you taste good.” He rubbed his hands together and licked his lips.
The cash was whipped out of our purses so fast to pay the admission fee. I was traumatized, because I had never experienced a man coming on to a woman like that. Guys my age beat around the bush. “Pussy man” said what he wanted and wasted no time stating his offer.
I looked around and saw my classmates, and other people who attended other high schools in the area. The place was wall-to-wall with folks. People bring heat, which meant my hair was going to end up paying for it. Oh, well, I’m here to enjoy myself. Who am I fooling? I’m really here to see Thomas. Damn, he looks so good. I spotted him across the room talking to a couple of guys on his football team. He was brown-skinned, had a baby face to match his smile, and firm muscles everywhere.
“Hey, guys,” a voice called.
“Hi, Charlotte. When did you get here?” I gave her a hug.
“I got here about thirty minutes ago,” she replied, jamming to the music.
I could see out of the corner of my eye Tonya and Carissa walking over to us. Now, I don’t mean to talk about anyone, but I have to, because it’s my duty. I called them the “get-on” girls. They tried to get on Pop for free food at the Chicken Shack, when we were not even friends. Not to mention, Tonya did get on my ex-boyfriend Bobby and kissed him with her nasty tongue. It should be guest signed, for as many boys and men that tangled with it.
Each one was fully aware of my feelings toward them. These two rats used people to get what they wanted. Pop schooled me on how individuals can use your kindness for weakness.
Last year, Tonya, Carrisa, Charlotte, and I were on the hospitality committee. We dedicated the whole month of March for doing community service in Virginia Beach. We were scheduled to volunteer at a professional basketball convention at the Pavilion. All the proceeds were going to help underprivileged children. It was Charlotte and I who were serving the guests because Tonya and Carissa were too busy in the players’ faces to help.
Neither ever had intentions of helping us. I should have known when Tonya asked me about joining the committee. “Is there any perks?”
She was in it for her own selfish cause. I told her, “Sometimes we have the opportunity to meet a lot of people, especially guys.” At the time, I didn’t realize she took the information to heart. Charlotte’s cousin, Freddie, was one of the basketball players there. He and his friend had quite the fun with those two young bucks.
While Charlotte and I were awarded with plaques for our volunteer services, Tonya and Carissa received a lecture about their behavior from our teacher, Ms. Prast. Those two thought they were the shit since they were on the step team and the cheerleading squad. It is good to be in extracurricular activities, but it won’t get you a job in the real world. Free cheers weren’t the only things they were giving out—Excuse me, their pussy was for sale to the highest bidder. Carissa did have some potential to become a decent woman, but I knew for sure Tonya was going to be a groupie or a ho.
“Hello.” Carissa waved her hand at all of us.
“Hi,” Charlotte and Maria said in chorus.
I didn’t toot my lips up to say a word. I figure, why be fake.
“Well, I can see there are no good catches in here tonight, except Thomas.”
Tonya rolled her eyes in disappointment. She said it to piss me off knowing full damn well Thomas liked me. I didn’t even let it bother me. Pop always told me to never wear your emotions on your shoulder, but I had to hand it to Maria and Charlotte. Despite Tonya and Carissa’s shortcomings, they were still cordial to them. Not me. I held grudges. I didn’t forgive or forget. If you did something to fuck me over, you’d be on my shit list for life.
“All right, people, we’re going to slow it down some for all of the couples in the place tonight. Guys, grab your ladies and hold her tight on the dance floor,” the DJ blared out.
“Would you care for a drink?” a man asked, a cup of Sprite mixed with orange juice in his hand.
“You shouldn’t have,” Tonya cooed, almost snatching the cup from his hand.
“This isn’t for you,” he replied, irritated. A few drops had spilled on his shirt.
“You were coming in my direction,” she said, her hands on her hips.
“I was coming in Alex’s direction. You were blocking my path.”
“Ooh, ooh.” Carissa put her hand over her mouth.
“Yes, I would like a drink, thank you.” I grinned and slowly removed the cup of out his hand.
Maria whispered in my left ear. “Don’t blow this one. He really likes you. Remember, just go with the flow.”
What? Do I look like a free spir
it, or is it written on my face? I can’t stand when people say, “Just go with the flow.”
“How did you know I prefer Sprite with orange juice?”
“I made a mental note when I saw you drinking it several times in the cafeteria,” Thomas replied.
“You’ve been watching me?”
“I can’t help it. You’re a beautiful sight to see.”
“Thank you.” I bit my lip to keep from smiling again.
“May I have this dance?” Thomas gave me a gentle kiss on my hand.
“Yes, you may,” I said, sliding my fingers through his strong hand. I hope the DJ puts on a good song. My prayers were answered. “If Only For One Night” by Luther Vandross came on.
I could see other couples grinding to the music. Thomas kept his hands in the right places. It was good for his own health to be a complete gentleman because I knew karate. Thomas embraced my hand as we slowdanced to the music. I did notice the evil eye coming from my fellow female classmates, but I didn’t give a crap. Thomas had his arms wrapped around me.
I could have given them the evil eye back, but I wasn’t going to stoop down to their level. I hated girls like them. When Monday morning comes, they’ll be all up in my face talking about how good Thomas and I looked together.
Thomas stared at me.
I hope I don’t have something on my face. “Why are you looking at me? Do you see something you like?” I asked.
“I see a lot of things.” He placed a firmer grip on my hands.
My hands were sweating. Butterflies were swarming in my stomach, mouth, and throat. “Could you be more specific?”
“I see—”
“Your dreams,” I said, cutting him off.
“Yeah, my dreams all wrapped into one gorgeous young lady.”
“Thank you.”
“To be more precise, I see your hands, neck, face, and lips.” He softly kissed me on the cheek.
I could feel his penis bulging out and my vagina getting wet.