Into Each Life

by Shelia E. Bell

  “Momma, stop teasing me,” Fantasia laughed. “You know I’m not eating paper. I’m drawing on it. You see just about everything I draw.”

  Fantasia’s drawings seemed to take on a life of their own after her father’s death. Blood red splotches dressed her paintings. The dagger of pain could not hide behind the host of hearts splashed across the canvas. Whether round, square, cracked, abstract or modern, each revealed the brokenness of her very own heart. She also used her passion for school to shield her grief. When she wasn’t drawing, her head was stuck between the pages of a book. Unlike Prodigal, her grades escalated. College would be her ticket to a whole new way of living. She made a vow with herself that when she left Broknfield, she would never look back.

  Prodigal missed his father just as much. No matter how many times well meaning people told him that his daddy was in heaven, the hurt still flooded his heart. At night, alone in his room, he cowered underneath the privacy of his bedspread and there he shed silent tears.

  “Lord, I don’t ever want to get married. Never, ever, ever,” he wept bitterly.

  Still nothing compared to seeing his mother crying day after day, night after night, her eyes often swollen and puffy. The smile his daddy etched on their hearts was stolen from each of them when he died that night. And it hurt, it hurt like hell.

  chapter 4

  Life Goes On

  Prodigal hurried to the auditorium to register for his classes. It was the first day of high school and already he was tired of standing in the slow moving registration line, so he didn’t give much thought to what he was doing when he clumsily bumped into the girl in front of him. When she abruptly turned around, his mouth quickly flew open and his eyes locked with hers. He couldn’t help but stare. She was definitely one of the most beautiful creatures God had created. Her petite frame and perfectly shaped body mesmerized him as he fixed his eyes on her. As if caught in a capsule, he stood paralyzed by her beauty. Her hair, the color of onyx, followed the roundness of her face and her bob style hairdo made her look prettier than a peach.

  “Excuse me, look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to run you over,” he babbled.

  “No problem,” she replied, her voice childlike. “I’m okay.” She continued to move forward in line.

  The palms of his hands dripped sweat. He had no idea what to say next or even if he should say anything more. After all, he felt like he had already made a complete jerk out of himself anyway. Finally, he decided to take a chance and ask her name.

  “Uh, uh, hey, excuse me,” he said touching her gently on the shoulder. “May I ask you your name?”

  Prodigal wasn’t used to throwing a line to a girl. When he was in middle school, occasionally he’d get a telephone number or two from silly girls in his classes, but usually they didn’t give him the time of day and he wasn’t bothered by it either. He was too hooked on Teary anyway. But somehow he hoped this girl would be different. He wanted this girl to be different.

  “Yes, you may,” she answered.

  Silence followed and Prodigal had no idea what to say afterwards. What is she thinking? Probably that I’m some kind of jerk. He was frozen.

  “I’m waiting,” she said with a welcoming smile.

  Prodigal still wore a look of confusion on his face. She spoke up when he didn’t respond.

  “My name is Faith Meadows. That is what you just asked me, right?” she asked. “My name?”

  Prodigal turned beet red. He felt stupid. “Yeah, of course. Sorry about that. I guess I’m a little, well, never mind. Faith is a pretty name. It fits you perfectly,” he flirted, trying to appear a little more confident.

  She didn’t know what to think about him. But she was just as nervous as Prodigal. What she did know was he sure was handsome. She allowed her mind to quickly envision the two of them kissing. What’s wrong with me? Why would I be thinking of something like that? She thought. God, please forgive me for that thought,” she quickly repented. It was her turn to be in her own little world, not even hearing him continue his conversation.

  “Faith. I like that name. My name is Prodigal. You live around here?”

  “Excuse me. Did you say something?” she asked, stumbling out of her trance.

  “Yeah. I just asked if you live around here.”

  “Sort of. Actually, I live about six and a half blocks from here. I’ll have to catch the bus over here almost every day and I sure don’t like that. When I was in middle school I could walk to school. I guess I could do the same this time, but it would just take too long and my parents don’t want me to anyway. So what about you? Do you live ‘round here?”

  “Yeah, less than a block away.” He felt his nervousness quickly disappearing as the line picked up its pace. Before they realized it, the two of them had finished signing up for their classes.

  “Did you get all the classes you wanted?” Faith asked.

  “Yep, all of ‘em, except one. I wanted to get in the Electrician Apprenticeship class but it was already full, so now I have to take Computer Literacy.”

  “Computer Literacy was one of my first choices,” Faith beamed. “And I got it. What period do you have it?”

  “Fourth,” he replied somberly.

  “Hey, how about that. So do I,” she replied as her mouth formed into a pleasant smile.

  He was thrilled at the thought of them having the same class at the same time. High school just might be alright after all.

  ♦

  Prodigal’s teenage years proved to be a crucial turning point in his life. To him, it seemed like only yesterday when he was a young boy, reeling over the death of his father, nursing a huge crush on Teary, and feeling like an all around total dork. For the first time ever he had someone he liked other than Teary, and so far, Faith acted like she liked him too. When she agreed to go to the basketball game with him, he was elated.

  The Tigers were definitely hyped up for the championship game against their rivals, the Carver Cougars. It was game day and everyone was anxious for the pep rally that was being held the last period of the school day.

  Teary and her group of friends made sure they found a good seat at the top of the gym bleachers. They waved their black and gold pompoms back and forth to the thunderous beat of the drummers while the cheerleaders yelled out for everyone to join them in the school cheer.

  “T-i-g-e-r-s- Tigers, T-i-g-e-r-s Tigers. Go Tigers Go.”

  They cheered and swayed to the hyped beat for over an hour. When the pep rally ended, Teary, Prodigal, and Faith along with all the rest of the excited students, left school in a hurry.

  “Come on, y’all. If we want to get some good seats for the game, we need to be back here at the school by at least six-thirty,” Faith instructed. As they neared the bus stop, Prodigal hovered next to her.

  “I’ll catch the bus with you to your house and make sure you get home safely,” he said bashfully. “Is that all right with you?”

  “Sure,” she blushed. “I just don’t want to make you late.”

  “Don’t worry, you won’t.” The bus pulled up and they continued to talk while they inserted their bus passes.

  “As soon as I see you off the bus, I’ll make a beeline for home. I know a short cut I can take that’ll get me home in record time. I could use the exercise anyway. Who knows? Maybe I’ll develop some of those muscles all you girls go crazy over when you see that new guy, Langston, what’s his name.”

  “I think I know who you’re talking about. But for your information, I don’t go crazy over Langston what’s his name, or any boy like him for that matter,” Faith replied rather angrily. “And anyway, he’s not my type.”

  Prodigal looked surprised, but pleased, when he heard this.

  “Well, tell me. What’s your type then?” he asked.

  Faith didn’t know what made the words come out, but she found herself saying, “You.”

  Prodigal sat in the seat next to her. Did she just come on to me? Before he could answer his own question, the bus jolte
d him as it came to a stop.

  “Hey, this is where I get off,” Faith said, standing up. She gave Prodigal a quick kiss on his cheek, raced off the bus and hurried down the street to her house. Prodigal sat in his seat rubbing the side of his cheek where Faith had kissed him. He felt himself becoming flushed. Prodigal quickly leaned out the side window and yelled out loud, “Hey, wait, Faith. Will you be my girl? Faith, will you be my girl?” He yelled even louder.

  She turned around swiftly and called out, “You bet. See you tonight. Now get home before you make me late.” She took off and ran up the sidewalk that led to her house.

  Prodigal hopped off the bus at the next stop and dashed home as fast as he could, took a shower, splashed on some If you like Eternity for Men then you’ll love Everlasting for Men cologne. He jumped into his navy blue sweats and his black and blue sneakers. By the time he finished getting dressed, it was close to five-thirty. He still had time to grab a bite to eat and say a quick hello to his sisters.

  “Hey, sis, what’s for dinner?” Prodigal asked as he walked through the kitchen.

  Sitting at the kitchen table, Fantasia paused from drawing and glanced up at her brother. “I threw some fish sticks in the oven and there’s some corn and green beans on the stove,” Fantasia replied before turning her attention back to her drawing.

  “Thanks, Fantasia. You’re such a good sister.” Prodigal planted a big, sloppy kiss on her forehead. Then he focused his attention on Hope who had just come from outside playing with her friends. “Hey pretty girl. What’s happening with you?”

  “Nothing, but what’s wrong with you? Why are you talking like that?” Hope replied, wearing a look of confusion on her face.

  “What are you talking about? There's nothing wrong with me. I’m just lucky to have such sweet, beautiful sisters, and on top of that, one who can cook her butt off too,” he said smiling.

  “Boy, stop tripping. You musta got into something,” Fantasia remarked, allowing a laugh to escape when she spoke. “’Cause there is definitely something wrong with you.”

  “Naw, I think I’m falling in love, that’s all,” Prodigal flashed a smile.

  “Falling in love?” Hope repeated.

  “Yes, little sister, falling in love,” he answered.

  “Who are you falling in love with? Can’t be anybody but Teary so tell me something I don’t know,” Fantasia said as she stopped drawing and squinted her eyebrows together. She looked up at her brother curiously.

  “No. It isn’t Teary. You know Teary only looks at me as a brother, not the lover that I am,” he grinned.

  Fantasia jerked her head around, looked at him and laughed. “Ooh, aren’t we cocky today? Who is this mystery girl?”

  “I don’t know if you know her or not since you’re one of them uppity upper-class girls. You know how you seniors think you’re all the fire,” Prodigal responded.

  “Whatever. Like I said, who is she?” Fantasia asked again, impatiently.

  “Her name is Faith Meadows. She’s the prettiest girl in the whole wide world, besides Teary, I might add; except, unlike Teary, this girl is crazy about me.”

  “Boy, puhleeze. I think I know who you’re talking about. Doesn’t she wear her hair cut in a short bob and she’s got a baby face, and she's sort of alright looking?” Fantasia described.

  “Yeah, that’s her, but you have one thing wrong, sis. She’s better than just alright looking; the girl is definitely a dime piece.”

  “Ooh, you’re too much for me. Well, I’m happy for you, but just take your time and don’t go getting in trouble or anything.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m going to be extra careful. We haven’t even had a real kiss yet. She just told me today that she likes me as in boy-likes-girl kind of like.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with that. You just take it slow. I know you call yourself half grown now and think you know it all; but remember, you have your whole life ahead of you, Prodigal. And you’re going to meet a lot of girls in your lifetime,” Fantasia lectured. “You see, I don’t let any boy get close to me. I‘m not falling for all that bull. I’m trying too hard to get out of this town home-free with no babies, no holdbacks or anything. As soon as I graduate this year, I’m off to Montserrat College of Arts. I’m going to be a famous artist and one day I’ll have my very own art gallery. Maybe once I get my career established, then and only then will I possibly have time for a relationship. But until all that happens, I’m not stutting any of you horny young boys.”

  “I believe you’re going to do just what you said too, and I’ll be behind you one hundred percent because you deserve it. And I understand where you’re coming from, and I’m going to take it slow. Prodigal finished fixing his plate and sat down next to Fantasia.

  “Hope go in the bathroom and wash your hands so you can eat,” Fantasia ordered.

  Prodigal mumbled thanks to God for the food then looked up at Fantasia again. “Now let’s talk about you. Have you sold any more of your paintings lately to the Art Store?” he asked between bites.

  Fantasia had made a tidy sum selling some of her paintings to the local art store. Some were even displayed in the hallways at school and a couple of her pictures she called Jesus Ain’t Got No Color hung in their church.

  “The art store manager called me just the other day to see if I had any more paintings I wanted to sell,” Fantasia eagerly told him. “But I’ve decided that I’m not going to sell any more. I’m building up my portfolio and I don’t want to have too much available just yet. You see, a portfolio is more than just some paintings stuck in a binder. It’s one of the major factors that determine whether a person is accepted at a College of Arts or not. It’s supposed to be a representation of my best and most recent work. It’s more than just drawings. It demonstrates my skills, basic elements like composition, space, color, knowledge and…”

  “Okay, okay. I get it, Fantasia,” Prodigal said, swallowing a mouth full of food. “Once you start to talk about your art, you won’t let up. But I feel you, I really do.” He was proud of his sister. He had no doubt that her dreams were going to come true one day. He proceeded to change the subject. “Hey, are you going to the game?”

  “Nope. You know good and well that I’m not into all that sports stuff. I rented a couple of videos. Me and Hope are going to watch them, eat some popcorn, gobble soda and just cool out until Momma gets home. Sara and Trina are going though. You know they always have their minds on one of y'all hard legs. And like I said, I just don’t have the time for that stuff right now.”

  “Okay. Suit yourself.” He wolfed down the last bit of his fish sticks and corn and then washed it down with a cold glass of his all time favorite grape Kool-Aid, jumped up from the table and ran upstairs into the bathroom. He picked out his hair, patted it down, brushed his thin mustache that had finally begun to grow, brushed and flossed his teeth and scurried back downstairs and out the door. He ran across the street to Teary’s house. He raced up to the door, ringing the door bell and knocking at the same time.

  “I know that’s you, Prodigal Runsome, beating on the door like that. Wait a minute, boy,” Sara hollered from the inside while proceeding to open the door. “Come on in. Teary’s still upstairs getting ready. You know how slow she is. She’s going to make y’all late.”

  “Teary,” Prodigal yelled. “Come on. We’re going to be late if you keep prancing around up there.”

  “I’m coming,” she screamed back. “Sometimes you work my last nerves. You know it takes time for a star like me to get ready,” she yelled, leaning over the upstairs railing. She went into a quick tail spin, snapped her fingers at him and disappeared.

  “Prodigal, I’m out of here,” Sara announced. “I’m going to stop by Trina’s on the way and me and her are going to walk to the game together. Tell Teary that if Momma and Daddy haven’t come back from the grocery store by the time y’all leave, to make sure she locks up.”

  “Alright, later Sara. After Sara left, Prodigal yelled
back up the steps. “Teary, will you hurry up?”

  Teary finally came prancing down the stairs dressed in a black and gold jogging outfit the same as the school colors. Her long braids were pulled back with a black and gold hair twister. She wore only a hint of lipstick and large gold plated hoop earrings bobbled with her every move. She grabbed her pompoms off the table. “Come on, I’m ready since you’re in such a big hurry. Is Faith still going?”

  “Yeah, she’s going. Guess what? “ Prodigal said, excitedly.

  “What?”

  “She told me that she likes me. She said that I'm her type. Can you believe that?”

  Teary locked the door while talking to Prodigal. “Of course I can. You are quite handsome you know. Not to mention the fact that you’re really nice too. She’s lucky, and she might just be the right girl for you.”

  He was shocked to hear Teary call him handsome. The little boy crush he had on her somehow never really left his heart, and hearing her say such nice things about him stirred up feelings inside his groin that he didn’t want to claim, at least not with her.

  He thought to himself, is this my lucky day or what.

  Faith met up with them at the corner of Hodge and Sullivan, which was about a block from school. Prodigal’s thoughts of Teary quickly disappeared when his eyes zeroed in on Faith. Faith’s black stretch pants revealed her knock-a-guy-off-his-feet hips. The black and gold knit shirt clung to her perfectly formed breasts and her gold locket nestled contently between them. He wanted to grab her, inhale her girly aroma, caress her secret places and feel her lying against his hairless chest. He'd never even kissed a girl except for the peck on the cheek he gave Teary, his momma, or sisters.

  As they headed back to the school, Faith and Teary whispered and giggled all the way to the gym. He lagged behind watching both of their butts wiggling.

  By the time they arrived, the gym was quickly filling up with Fairley Tigers on one side and the Carver Cougars on the other side. Teary looked around to see if she could spot her girl friends, Debra and Chelsia. Besides Prodigal, they were her closest friends. When she didn’t see them she yelled out over the loud crowd to Prodigal and Faith.