by L. Divine
My mom’s standing in the bathroom door, looking at me out the corner of her eyes like, “Hurry up and finish in the bathroom so I can get ready for my man.” I better wrap this up without too much protesting. Family is family, as Mama says.
“Jayd, don’t be difficult. Just come. You may have some fun. You could even invite your little girlfriends—what are their names?” he says, acting as if he really ever knew.
“You mean Nellie and Mickey?”
“Yeah, them girls. How’s school going anyway? Didn’t you start back this week?”
“Yes, Daddy, but I really gotta go finish my hair now. I’ll talk to you later.”
“So, will I see you in a few weeks?” he asks, not letting me off the hook.
“Yes, I guess so. Now, I need to finish my hair.”
“Oh, yeah, and wear it pretty. Not in them thug braids you always have in your hair. You’re such a pretty girl, Jayd, with good hair too. You need to take advantage of that and stop trying to be so hard all the time.” Sometimes my dad says things, not even realizing how badly he makes me feel. My two parents alone are enough to warrant me a couple of episodes on Dr. Phil.
“Bye, Daddy.”
“Bye, baby.”
Now maybe I can finish my hair. I’m too tired to put any braids in it now, that’s for sure. I guess I’ll just go with a simple press and curl, and worry about the finishing touches tomorrow.
2
The Date
“You don’t know my name.”
—ALICIA KEYS
“Welcome to Simply Wholesome. What can
I get for you?” I’ve been sweating the clock all day. It’s almost time for me to get off and all I can think about is my date tonight with Jeremy.
“May I have the spinach enchiladas, a small green salad, hold the sprouts, with a wheat germ and ginger root smoothie?” She’s going to be on the toilet all night long.
“That will be $13.85.” I can’t believe how high the prices are here. Man, if I didn’t work here I don’t know how I’d be able to eat this food.
“I know it’s some soldiers in here. Where they at?” There’s Destiny’s Child again announcing yet another text message from KJ.
“Jayd, please call me so we can talk about this whole Trecee thing. I want to put it behind us and get back to us. Love, Your Man.”
If he only knew that I got a new man to kick it with now. I can’t wait to get off of work and call Jeremy. I’ve been looking forward to it since last night. I couldn’t even sleep, I was so excited. And, I can always get my sleep on.
Should I text message this fool back? Nah. Let him sweat, like he’s been doing since yesterday.
For real though. Last weekend I didn’t have a man at all. KJ broke up with me and I was dreading going back to school. Now, I got two dudes on my jock and the first week of school is over. Life just keeps on going.
Speaking of which, it’s time for me to roll. I can call Jeremy while I’m waiting at the bus stop. I would ask my mom to pick me up, but I know she’s still asleep from her late night. She walked in the door as I was leaving for work this morning.
“Later y’all. See you in the morning,” I say to no one in particular. Everybody around here is real laid back.
“All right, Jayd. You take it easy.” Shahid always speaks to me, even if he’s in the middle of taking a customer’s order.
I walk out the side door and down the stairs, which take me right across the street from the bus stop. It’s another hot, sunny day in L.A. and the people are out. The cars are shining, the sun is gleaming. The smoke from the buses and beat-up cars passing by mixed with the L.A. smog is enough to make me drop dead of lung cancer right here on the street.
Most of the bus stops around here, just like in Compton, don’t have pretty little benches and covered spots like in the South Bay. So, I just need to find a place to lean so I can call this cat and see what’s crackin’ for tonight.
I saved his number in my phone last night and gave him a special ring.
“Hello,” says a woman’s voice. It must be his mom. This boy gave me his home phone number? That’s rare nowadays.
“Hi. Is Jeremy home?” I ask, trying to sound all sweet and innocent, like I ain’t jockin’ her son.
“Yes. May I tell him who’s calling, please?” Wow. So proper and all. If somebody calls for me at my mom’s or Mama’s they usually get a rude grunt followed by a loud-ass “Jaaaaaaayd! Pick up the phone.” Thus, the evolution of my cell.
“Yes. This is Jayd.”
“Hold on while I get him for you, Jayd,” she says, with a deep, Southern drawl. It almost sounds like Mama’s.
“Sammy, tell your brother to pick up the line. He has a call from Jayd,” I hear her say to one of Jeremy’s brothers.
“Hey, Jayd. How was work?” He sounds even yummier than he did last night.
“Work was cool, thanks for asking.”
“So, your hair and everything’s all done? No more excuses for not hangin’ out with me?”
“Oh, you’ve got more jokes, I see? So, what did you have in mind?”
“Well, I was thinking we could go to the movies and just hang out at the pier afterward. Do you have a curfew?”
At Mama’s I can’t even really go out. But if I do, I know to be home before 11 P.M.; no question. It’s always been like that for the girls. The boys, on the other hand, have no curfew. Look at Bryan. He may come home, he may not. Let me try something like that. They’ll be talking about my ass-whipping for years to come.
“Well, I’m over my mom’s house, so as long as I get home before she does, it’s all good. And, she usually hangs out pretty late.”
“Cool. So, what time do you want me to pick you up? The evening flicks start at around 8 P.M.”
“It’s 6 P.M. now. By the time I get home, shower, dress, and do something to my hair, which is already flat, it will be at least 8 P.M.”
“Let’s say 8 P.M., then.”
“All right. You want to give me directions now or call me later?” He’s so polite. Good home training.
“I’m just chillin,’ waiting for the bus to come. So, I can give them to you now if you’re ready. Where are you coming from?”
“I’m in P.V. You said you’re in Inglewood, right?”
Damn. He lives in Palos Verdes. His parents must be ballers, for real. That’s where all the hellafied rich folk live. I heard Johnnie Cochran got a house out there.
“Yeah, Inglewood. You know where the Forum is?”
“Yeah, where the Lakers used to play, right?”
“Exactly. That street is Prairie. Take Prairie till you get to Arbor Vitae, make a left. Go down to LaBrea Drive and I’m in the first apartment building on the left, #7.”
“Do I have to dial a code at the gate or anything?” He’s so cute. None of these apartments around here have security gates.
“No, baby. Just come on up and knock on the door. See you at 8 P.M. By the way, how should I dress?”
“I don’t know. However you want to, I guess. I’ve never had a girl ask me that before. Just be yourself.”
Myself. Well, which self should I be? The little roughneck Jayd, the Dashiki-wearing Jayd, or the laid-back jeans and a cute top from Baby Phat Jayd? Yeah, that Jayd is the one going out with Jeremy tonight.
“All right, then. I’ll see you soon, Jeremy.”
“Bye, Jayd.”
So, he wants to go to the movies and walk on the pier. Which pier, I wonder? He must be talking about Redondo. I know it’s gonna get cold no matter where we end up, so I better take my jacket too. What am I going to wear? And, what about my hair? It’s so flat now. But, after ten minutes by the beach, I’ll look like a troll doll.
I decide to touch up my press and just let it lay back in a tight ponytail on the right side of my neck. I’m wearing my cute capri jeans from Lerner’s and my pink and white Baby Phat tank with my Baby Phat flip-flops. I gotta downscale the diva in me a little. I don’t want to overdr
ess for the beach crowd.
Usually when I would go out with KJ, he would give me explicit details of what to wear and how to wear my hair. I was there to accentuate his outfit, basically an accessory. It’s kinda cool just wearing what I feel like and not worrying about anyone saying anything about my toes hangin’ out at night.
As I go to the living room closet to get my jacket, I hear a knock at the door.
“Who is it?”
“It’s Jeremy. I’m here to pick up Jayd.”
Oh no, this dude is early. This I’m not used to. I still have to put on my perfume, check my nose for buggas one more time and say a little prayer that I don’t embarrass myself in front of his fine ass.
“Just a minute, Jeremy. I’ll be right there.” I quickly spray on some Escada Rockin’ Rio and dab a little Egyptian musk oil behind my ears. My mom swears it drives Ras Joe out of his mind. I check everything else and say a quick prayer before running out the door.
My mom’s still in her room, recouping for tonight’s adventures I’m sure. I leave her a note on the fridge telling her where I’ll be and with whom.
I open the door and there he is, looking as good as he smells. “Hey, Jeremy. Sorry to keep you waiting.” He’s wearing some typical White boy South High gear. Levi’s that are hella worn-out, loose fitting, but not too baggy, a T-shirt, a baseball hat with the rim folded real tight, and some brown, suede Birkenstocks on his feet. This cat is straight outta P.V.
“Hey, Jayd.” He looks at my straight hair, my big gold hoops hangin’ off my ears, my jeans, and finally, my feet. I’ve always been self-conscious about two things: my breasts and my feet. I took care of my overly large breasts last year, but I think I’m stuck with my feet for life.
“You look cute in sandals. Ready to go?” I don’t know if he’s joking or not, but I ain’t gonna compromise the one and only compliment I’ve ever received on my feet.
“Thank you. Yeah, I’m ready. Will I fit in with your crowd, or is the jacket too much?”
“Jayd, you never struck me as the type who cares about what people think,” he says to me as I turn around to lock the door behind us.
“Damn, how many locks you got?” My mom has four bolts on her door. She’s been robbed a couple of times, so she’s not playin’ anymore. Now she just gotta worry about getting in the door in time if she’s running from somebody.
“I know. My mom’s a bit paranoid.”
“Is she here? Does she want to meet the White guy taking her daughter out?” he asks, only half-joking. He has the most beautiful smile. It’s like his extra-curly eyelashes just light up when he smiles. And his teeth are perfect.
“Did you have braces?”
“Where the hell did that come from?” he says, still smiling. “Yes, I did, now answer my question. Does your mom want to meet me?” How do I tell him my mom’s tired out from her date last night, and conserving her energy for her date tonight without making her look bad?
“She does, but she’s got cramps. She said to tell you to be careful with her baby. So, be careful with me.”
Jeremy takes my hand and leads me down the narrow stairway to the front where his car’s parked. What a sweet ride. His car is notorious around South Bay High. It’s a powder blue ’65 Mustang convertible with a cream-colored leather interior. The original wood paneling is perfect. It’s the nicest car I’ve ever been in.
“What did you do to get this car?” I say, knowing that his dad’s an engineer with eighteen U.S. patents, so far. That’s also notorious knowledge around school.
“Actually, it’s kinda the family first car. Both my older brothers drove this car until they went off to college. Now, I get to drive it until I go to college.”
He opens the door for me and I slide into the leather seat. It smells like leather polish. Everything’s shining like he just got it washed.
“You mind if the top is down? Or is it too much wind on you?”
“Nah, I’m cool.” Good thing I wore my hair back.
“I thought maybe we could skip the movie and just kinda hang out. It’s a nice night and I want to be outside. And, I want to talk to you, and we can’t do that in the movies.”
We end up in Manhattan Beach by the pier. It’s a cool little spot. There are bookstores, trendy little clothing stores with stuff I could never afford, and coffeehouses. My favorite coffee spot is right on the corner, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
“You mind if we stop here? I want to get a café vanilla.”
“Yeah, I like Coffee Bean too. I usually get the chocolate ice blended.”
“Well, aren’t we just the exact opposite of each other?” I say, while at the same time eyeing the joint to see if there are any other Black people in the spot. Nope, not a one.
“You wanna sit down in here? I’ll get our drinks, you can find a table.” He’s such a gentleman. If I was with KJ, I’d be paying for my own coffee, since he’s not into the whole coffee shop thing. And we definitely wouldn’t be sitting down and talking up in this place.
After Jeremy comes back with our drinks, we talk until the place closes. I find out he’s a true surfer dude. He wakes up at 4 A.M. to get out and surf every morning. His mother’s from South Carolina, his dad’s from Brooklyn. His mom’s a Baptist, his dad is Jewish, he and his brothers don’t know what to believe and don’t really care. He’s the baby of the three of them. They have a dog, Ganymede, that doesn’t bark.
“I’ve never heard of a dog that doesn’t bark. Are you sure she’s not broken or something?” I say, sipping the last of my drink.
“No, she’s not broken. She’s a basenji.”
“A what?” I ask.
“A basenji, or better known as the African barkless dog,” he says, sounding very proud.
“Now I know you’re lying. Ain’t nothing in Africa quiet, especially not a dog. What’s the point of having a dog that doesn’t bark?” I say. If it weren’t for the dogs and the helicopters, we would probably be able to hear crickets at night, like in other neighborhoods.
“Well, I’m not getting into the history of Ganymede’s ancestors, but my mom specifically chose her because she doesn’t bark.” Now, that’s strange. Usually people get dogs to warn them of danger, which they do by barking. So, why wouldn’t she want a dog that barks?
“Okay, Jeremy, whatever. What about the name Ganymede? Where did that come from?”
“Actually, I named her after one of the moons of Jupiter. It’s my favorite planet.” He pulls up his right sleeve to reveal a tattoo of Jupiter on his arm. Jeremy’s hella smart, but doesn’t flaunt it. I really like that about him and everything else so far. When the staff tells us they’re closing, I think the date might be over.
“Well, I’m glad I got to know more about you. And, thank you for the coffee. I had a really good time.”
“Are you trying to get rid of me or something? It’s only midnight and the car doesn’t turn back into a pumpkin until 2 A.M. Care to see it happen?” Damn, he’s sexy when he’s being a smart-ass.
“You know what, you don’t have to be funny. I just assumed that since the place closed down we were going home.”
“Why would you assume that? The night is young. I want you to meet some of my friends outside of school, if you’re up for it.”
Oh, hell, where’s he taking me? You know how all them movies end with the little Black girl being sacrificed or some craziness like that. But, I’m gone risk it ’cause I really don’t want the night to end just yet.
We get back in his car and cruise down P.C.H. toward P.V. It’s a perfect night to be by the beach. The moon is full, the sky is clear, and the air is chilly, but not too cold. As if he read my mind, Jeremy reaches back into the backseat and grabs his poncho pullover, a surfer must-have, and hands it to me.
“Here. I know it can get a bit cool, especially for people who aren’t used to cold beach nights.”
He’s damn right about that. This cute little jacket I brought ain’t doing a damn thing to keep m
e warm. This poncho looks like it’s just what I need. And, so does he.
“Thank you, ’cause a sistah is getting hella cold,” I say, pulling the poncho over my head, careful not to mess up my already poofy hair.
“Why’d you do that?”
“Do what?” I say, hella self-conscious.
“Try not to touch your hair. The poncho won’t hurt it, you know.”
“Oh no, but it will. You see what the ocean air has already done to it? I don’t want your friends to see me looking like a madwoman.”
“Your hair is really important to you, isn’t it?”
“You just don’t get it, do you? My hair is very sensitive to the elements. The slightest change in air temperature, moisture, or something as simple as putting on a poncho can permanently affect the style of hair for the night.”
“Well, I think your hair looks sexy like it is. Besides, you look way better than any of the people you’re going to meet tonight.” This dude is really diggin’ me, ain’t he?
“Here we are.” We pull up to what to me looks like nowhere. Or rather, a deserted beach where they sacrifice people. He parks the car on the sand, grabs my hand, and leads me down a steep sand hill. At the bottom of the hill, right off the beach, you can see a bonfire and smell marijuana burning in the wind.
As we get closer, I can hear drumming and someone strumming a guitar. People are just lying around, kickin’ it. Most of them look high off something, the rest look like they’re mesmerized by the motion of the waves.
“Jayd, meet my surfing crew. Crew, this is Jayd.”
They look at me, nod a cool “What’s up?” and go back to their individual trances.
“So, what do you think?” Jeremy asks as he leads me to sit down on the sand next to him.
“Honestly, this is the most peaceful I’ve been in a long time. All night I haven’t thought about the drama of this past week at all. Thank you for taking me out. I’m having a good time.”
“Well, I hope it won’t be the last.” Jeremy pulls me in close to him and wraps me in his arms. He smells like vanilla incense and Polo cologne. It’s at this moment I realize I could easily fall in love with him. I’ve got to call Nellie in the morning and tell her all about our night.