Sorority Sisters

by Tajuana Butler

  He said good-bye to the ladies and walked over to Chancey, put his arms around her, and gave her a wet kiss.

  “You ready?” he asked.

  “So, where are we going?

  “That’s for me to know and you to find out. But first I need to blindfold you.”

  “You’re joking, right?” she questioned.

  “No, really.” He pulled a gold bandanna out of his pocket and dangled it in front of her.

  “I’ve already paid my dues as a pledge. I know you’re not trying to haze me too,” Chancey joked. “But seriously, I’m not putting that thing on.”

  “But baby, don’t you trust me?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “It’s important that you don’t know where we’re going. I promise you’ll be safe with me. Aren’t you always safe with me?”

  “I know I will be.” She hesitated. “Okay, I’ll put it on.”

  “Let’s get in the car first.” He opened the door for her and then ran over to the driver’s side and got in. “Now turn around.” Donald seemed so eager and Chancey didn’t want to spoil his excitement, so she didn’t say anything. She just smiled and turned her back to him. He put the blindfold over her eyes. “Can you see?” he asked.

  “No, but we’d better hurry up and get there. I’m not gonna to be able to stay like this for long.”

  Don started the car and then said, “Okay, we’re not going too far. Here, take my hand.” He took her hand in his and rested it on his knee.

  They were both silent the whole way, until finally the car stopped.

  “Where are we?” Chancey asked.

  “You’ll find out soon enough. Now, sit tight for a second.”

  Donald got out and ran around to the other side of the car and opened the door.

  “Okay, Diamond, now give me your hand. It’s gonna be kind of a long walk. As a matter of fact, I’ll carry you,” he said. He picked her up piggyback-style and started walking.

  He was right, they walked for quite a while. He finally put her down, and she felt grass under her feet.

  “Okay, you can take it off now.”

  She took it off and looked around. She stood on the fifty-yard line in the middle of the school’s football stadium. Chancey didn’t understand where Don was going with his surprise, but Don had a look in his eyes that said he knew exactly what he was doing. He grabbed her by the hands and began talking.

  “Chancey, I brought you out here because I want you to clearly understand something. Football is a huge part of my life, and pretty soon it’s going to be my livelihood. You know I’ll be spending a great part of my life being out here on fields all over the country, just like this one.”

  “I know.”

  “I know you do, Diamond, but do you know what comes with this lifestyle? Fans, fame, lots of travel. And you know that there’ll be nights, and sometimes whole weeks at a time, that we won’t see each other, especially during preseason camps.”

  “Don, I know. And I also know that you’re probably going to go as a first round draft pick, and that you have no control over what team you’ll be with or where you’re going to live. And if a team suddenly decides to trade you, you’re gonna have to pack up and move, no matter how much you like the city you’re playing in. I know all of this. We’ve discussed it thousands of times.” Chancey was a little irritated. She hated the thought of him leaving and wondered why he decided to choose now to remind her of all of this.

  “You’re right, we have, but we’ve only discussed how it would impact me and how I would react to that kind of lifestyle, but we never discussed how you felt about it, or how you would deal with it.”

  “Well, I haven’t really thought about it much. I worry mostly about you leaving me at the end of the summer and starting all over without me.”

  “What do you mean without you?”

  “I mean I know we’ll still be together, but I’ve accepted that the changes would affect your life more than mine, at least for the next three or four years.”

  “But what if I don’t want that?”

  “What? Us to be together?”

  “No, us apart,” he responded. Then he got down on one knee. “Diamond, what I’m wondering is”—he reached in his pocket and pulled out a box—“will you marry me?” He opened the box, and inside was the most splendid engagement ring she had ever seen. She didn’t move or respond, so Donald took the ring out of the box and placed it on her finger.

  “Oh . . . baby . . . I don’t know what to say,” she finally voiced. “I wasn’t expecting this. Not here! Not now!”

  “Say yes!”

  This was exactly what Chancey hoped for, but she hesitated. “Well . . .”

  “Listen, I’m not talking about getting married tomorrow or next month. I’m talking about a year from now. It’ll give me a chance to feel out my first year in the NFL, and it’ll give you a chance to be with your new sorors and finish up another year of school. Plus you’ll be taking summer classes, right? After you transfer to where I’ll be, maybe it won’t take you four full years to graduate. Chancey, you know how smart you are. But after our year apart, Diamond, I want you to be my wife.” Donald was more sincere than Chancey had ever seen him.

  “Donald, there’s something that I want to discuss with you—I’ve wanted to for some time, but I never knew how.”

  “What is it, baby?”

  “Well . . .” She wasn’t sure how to put it, but decided to be honest. “I don’t like it when you act as if you’re my father. After all, I am a grown woman.”

  He laughed. “So, you noticed. I was hoping you wouldn’t.”

  “What do you mean you were hoping I wouldn’t? I can’t help but notice. I can’t marry you if you have to feel like you own me.”

  “I don’t want to own you, Diamond,” Donald said, shaking his head. “I saw this growing up and promised myself I wouldn’t repeat my father’s behavior with my mother. Your independence is one of the reasons that I love you. I know that you will be able to help me make wise decisions, and I know that you will have my back when it comes to finances and any other important decisions concerning us.”

  “But—”

  “Listen, I know I can be forceful, but I love you and I’m willing to work on it, baby. Even if it means you pointing it out to me every time I step out of the boundaries that we can set together.”

  “But what about the way I dress? Don, I am not one of those glamorous model types. I won’t ever be. Will you ever accept that?”

  “You’re beautiful to me. I love you just the way you are. That’s why I want to marry you. So?”

  Chancey’s head was spinning. She had always felt in her heart that she and Don would eventually marry, and the sincerity and love she saw in his eyes helped to quell any doubts she had.

  “Oh, my God!” she gasped, as the full weight of the decision she was about to make hit her.

  “Will you answer me?” he begged.

  “I can’t believe you! I was not expecting this, not today. I’m not even dressed appropriately. I’m wearing a T-shirt!”

  “You look like a diamond to me. So, will you?”

  “What, are you crazy? Of course I will. Yes! Yes, I will marry you, Donald Robinson,” she said, and pulled him close to her and kissed him passionately.

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  “Hello!” Tiara said, answering her telephone.

  “Hey, Soror.” It was Rhonda.

  “Rhonda, hi! I’ve been trying to get in touch with you since I crossed.”

  “I know. I got all your messages. Congratulations! Be expecting something in the mail in the next couple of days.”

  “Oh, thank you! What is it?”

  “Patience, my child. You’ll see when it gets there,” she joked.

  “So, where have you been?” Tiara asked.

  “I’ve been working on this huge project. I’ve been working late every night and most of the weekend. But you know I can’t miss church for work, and I made that
clear to my boss before we started, so he didn’t give me a hassle. We finally finished two days ago, and the big presentation was yesterday. We made that company a whole lot of money. I took off today, and I’m gonna take Monday off too.”

  “Well, good for you.”

  “And poor Freeman, he’s been so mad at me. It got to a point that when I walked through the door those late nights, he didn’t run up to me and lick me as he usually does. He’d walk into the next room. But you know he loves his mommy. I called him, and when he came running, I gave him a doggy treat. Then he forgot he was mad and jumped all over me.”

  “Girl, you love that dog, don’t you?”

  “Yeah, he’s the son I’ll probably never have.”

  “Oh, please. You still have time.”

  “I hope I do. So, how are you feeling? You know, with crossing and all?”

  “I feel good. No, I feel great. You didn’t tell me I was gonna be this excited.”

  “I thought you knew,” Rhonda joked. “I’m so proud of you. I knew you could do it. You are really growing up to be something special.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I mean it. And when you come and visit, we’ll have a slumber party and stay up all night exchanging line stories. But I don’t know if you can handle my stories, because I had some crazy big sisters.”

  “I can’t wait to hear them. But guess what.”

  “What?”

  “I have a date tonight.”

  “Oh my goodness. I can’t believe it. With whom?”

  “This guy named Ben. And girlfriend, he is too fine.”

  “Tell me more.”

  “Believe it or not, I met him when I was on line. He was in the auction that we had as a fund-raiser. He fell for me instantly.”

  “My, aren’t we conceited.”

  “Oh, I’m not conceited, just convinced.”

  “I hear ya!” Rhonda said, laughing.

  “We’re supposed to go to a movie that’s playing at the Student Center. It’s a sneak preview.”

  “Do you like him?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “Well, I know how tough you are on men, so I had to ask.”

  “Actually, I like him a whole lot.”

  “Well, good. I’m glad to hear it. Now I’ll have some exciting stories to look forward to, but just make sure you take it slow with him.”

  “You know I will. I haven’t changed that much! Well, I’m gonna finish getting ready, and I’ll talk to you in a few days.”

  “Okay. Have fun tonight.”

  “I will.”

  Tiara met Ben in the lobby of her dormitory.

  “Hey, you,” he said.

  “Hey.”

  “Oooh, you look nice,” he commented. And she did—she wore a bodysuit, loose-fitting jeans, and black shoe boots with an extremely high heel.

  “Thank you.”

  “So, do you want to skip the movie altogether and go back to my room and get close?” he asked.

  “No.” She brushed off his advance. “I really want to see the movie.”

  “We can see that movie anytime.”

  Tiara knew she needed to set the pace for their relationship and wanted to set boundaries early on. “And we can go back to your room anytime, right?” she looked him directly in his eyes.

  “You’re right. There’s no need to rush.”

  “Yeah, ’cause if you’re in a hurry, you got the wrong lady,” she announced.

  “No hurry. Trust me, no hurry at all,” he responded.

  “Cool. Now let’s go see this movie.”

  “After you,” he said, and opened the door and followed her out.

  TWENTY-NINE

  “Hey, Soror.”

  “Hi, Mommy,” Stephanie said in her mushy little-girl voice, pleased that her mother had called her. She spoke to her parents that way when either she hadn’t heard from them in a while, or she wanted something.

  “How’s my beautiful little girl?”

  “I’m good,” she gushed.

  “Well, you’re really not a little girl anymore. You’re a lady and you’ve grown up, and you’re following in the footsteps of some amazing women,” her mother said. “You must come home soon. Remember that your aunts, some of your cousins, and I will be throwing you a celebration party.”

  “Ooooh, good. I’ll be home in a few weeks, and I’m gonna bring some of my sands with me. I can’t come home next weekend because I’ll be attending my first chapter meeting. I’ll call you back with a definite date.”

  “It’s exciting, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, it really is, Momma.”

  “You know what? You’re really going to be able to affect a lot of lives through your service in our sorority. A lot of people don’t give sororities and fraternities enough credit for the work they do in the community, but we really do make a difference.”

  “Well, we’ve already raised money for a homeless shelter for pregnant teens, and I never knew that place ever existed before now. It’s really close to the school.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, and we’re gonna have a clothes drive on campus at the end of the semester.”

  “I am so proud of you.”

  “You’re proud of me?”

  “Of course I am. I just don’t know why you waited so long.”

  “I don’t either, but I love my sands. They’re a good group of girls.”

  “So how’s your love life?” her mother asked.

  “Better.”

  “And who are you seeing now?”

  “Nobody.”

  “But I thought it was better.”

  “Well, it is . . . because I’m not wasting my time anymore with jerks who happen to have money. I’ve decided to be more selective about the men with whom I spend my precious time. I don’t want to get pregnant before I’m ready, or catch a disease. So, right now I’m spending time appreciating and getting to know me, and when the right man comes along, it won’t be rushed. I won’t have to be fake, and I won’t be frustrated or confused. And, as you always tell me, I’ll know when he’s the right one.”

  “Sounds like my daughter is really growing up.”

  “Well, it was bound to happen eventually,” she joked. “So where’s Daddy?”

  “He’s taking a shower. He just got in from playing golf. We’re getting ready to go out for a late lunch. We’re dating again.”

  “What?”

  “We’re going to a jazz set tomorrow evening, and not just because anybody who’s anybody is going to be there, but because we enjoy each other’s company again, and we want to enjoy jazz together.”

  “Didn’t you always?”

  “Yeah, we did, but sometimes you forget how precious each other’s company truly is until something special reminds you again.”

  “So what reminded you?”

  “One of your daddy’s old friends and his wife renewed their wedding vows and invited us to attend. It was so special and it reminded us of what we have.”

  “Oh, Mommy, that’s so sweet.”

  “You’ll have the same thing one day too.”

  “I’m sure I will,” Stephanie replied. “Kiss Daddy for me, and have a wonderful evening tomorrow night.”

  “I love you, Steph.”

  “I love you too, Mommy,” she said.

  Stephanie was happy and relieved. Her parents were still her model for a good relationship. They weathered the tough times and appreciated the good. Although she worried that they were growing apart, she realized they were simply evolving. This made her feel better about taking her time in the relationship game so she could have what they did.

  THIRTY

  “Let’s move in together!” Ray announced. He and Malena were lying in his bed. They had spent the night at his apartment, and stayed up all night watching movies they’d rented. She was still half asleep, but Ray had been up for a while, thinking of the best way to ask her to move in with him.

  “What are you talking
about? It’s Saturday morning, our day to sleep in, and you’re playing games with me,” Malena said with her eyes still closed. She was not ready to wake up, especially to Ray joking.

  “What, you think I’m not serious?”

  “Are you?” She sat up.

  “I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t serious.”

  “Ray, I’m flattered, but why do you want to move in together now?”

  “Economics. See, I’ve been thinking about it, and from what Tammy and Philip said when we went out with them last weekend, they’re gonna get married. Tammy will move out by the beginning of the semester and you’ll be in need of a roommate. Getting a one-bedroom will be costly for you. It would save us both money if we got a place together, off campus. I’ll begin my new job at the end of the semester, and I’ve started apartment hunting. I already found a nice place near campus, and I would love to have you live there with me, you know, and kind of give the place a lady’s touch.”

  Malena was shocked. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. He was being so insensitive about such a serious step. “Ray, it’s cool that you want to save money and all, but that is not a good enough reason for me to want to move in with you.” She cared about Ray, but didn’t want to be thought of as mere convenience.

  “Baby, that’s not the only reason. I care about you, you know that. I love you and, well, I’m starting a new life and I want you there with me.”

  “I will be there.”

  “So, you don’t want to move in with me?

  “I didn’t say that. I just think we should move in together for the right reasons, and I’m not sure economics will cut it. Plus, I always thought I’d be married before I moved in with a man.”

  “Well, I’m sure we’ll get married . . . one day. But I don’t think we’re really ready for that yet. Do you?”

  “No . . . I, for one, am not ready. The thought of marriage, especially while I’m still in school, scares me.”