by Bailey West
So, let’s get to the Word, is that okay?”
She said a prayer then began her message.
“One day, I think I was around eleven years old, my Uncle was in the kitchen eating a bowl of something that looked delicious to me. You remember how delicious your parent’s food looked, even if you were eating the exact same thing?” The audience laughed. “It’s just something about parent food that makes you want it. So, I asked if I could have some. He said, ‘you don’t even know what this is. You just want it because I have it.’ He was right. I did just want it because he had it, but I said, ‘no I want it because it’s good.’ He said okay, ‘I’m going to fix you your own bowl.’ I had hit the jackpot, right? I wanted some of his, but he is fixing me my own. That was even better than what I had requested. I should have known something was up, but I didn’t. I just wanted what he had.
He went into the cabinet and took out a can of fruit cocktail. You know the can fruit with the grapes and cherries and all the good fruit in it? I was like yeah, in my head. Then he went into the refrigerator and took out a round container with a lid. He opened the lid, pulled out a spoon and scooped a white substance from the container into the bowl. It had the consistency of spoiled milk, which should have been my second clue that this was not what I wanted. Then he poured the fruit cocktail on top of the spoiled milk looking stuff. He passed the bowl to me and said, ‘this is cottage cheese and fruit cocktail. You asked for it, so you better eat it all.’ I was like, ‘no problem.’ He was eating like it was the best thing he’d ever eaten in his life, so I just knew it was delicious. I settled into my seat, pick up my spoon, dug into my bowl and pulled out a huge spoonful and put it in my mouth. The taste of the cottage cheese combined with the consistency which was like milk hunks, mixed with the syrup from the fruit cocktail was the worst thing I had ever eaten in my entire life.” The audience laughed. “My uncle watched my reaction to the cottage cheese concoction. He knew I wasn’t going to like it, but since I asked for it, he gave it to me. He said something to me that day that I never forgot. He said, ‘just because someone makes something look good doesn’t mean that it is. Just because someone makes something look easy doesn’t mean that it is easy. Don’t try to do something because someone else did it or is doing it. You never know what that person had to do to get it. Don’t live your life trying to get what everyone else has, create your own.’ That philosophy has stayed with me through life. Sometimes, though, if I’m honest, I can look at another person’s success and then look at my success and say, humph…Right? I start to measure. Am I alone in this? We can’t measure our success based on someone else’s success. We don’t know how long they have been doing it. We don’t know what they sacrificed to get to that point. We don’t know who they lost in their pursuit of success. We just want what they have. It was the same thing with me and the cottage cheese. I had no idea why my uncle was eating that horrible stuff. I didn’t know how hard it was for him to get that crap down his throat. I just saw it and wanted it.
That’s nothing new. The Israelites did the same thing in First Samuel chapter eight verses four through twenty. They were a nation governed by God. They looked across the way and saw that other countries had kings so guess what? They wanted a King. They wanted to be like everyone else, but they were special because God ruled them. They had the King of Kings, but they still wanted what everyone else had. They asked Samuel to appoint a King. Sorta like I asked my uncle for that cottage cheese. Samuel gave them all the reasons why it was a bad idea, he warned them. Much like my Uncle warned me before he made the bowl for me. The Israelites said we don’t care! We want a King. God told Samuel, ‘go ahead let them have one. They will see.’ Same as when my Uncle made me my own bowl of cottage cheese. The Israelites had to suffer through a King that God did not give them. Then God had to appoint a King to deliver them from the mess that they had gotten themselves into.
Realize who you are! Stop and take note of what you really have! Sometimes we are so hot and ready to move on to the next thing we miss where we are right now! We want what everyone else has, but we have so much already! The same way you are measuring your success based on someone else’s is the same way someone is measuring their success based on yours. Did you know that? You are great! You are a game changer! Stop and breathe that in. You are someone’s hashtag goals!
Once you can convince yourself of that, then you will be more willing to chase your own dreams and not someone else’s. Just because you and Sally started your businesses on the same day doesn’t mean that you and Sally should be in the same place. God’s timing is impeccable. If it’s not for you right now, then don’t force it. Things achieved based on trying to keep up with someone else, never last. They never bring you joy, only heartache, and disappointment.”
This was my first time hearing Zanetta speak at church. I thought she did a phenomenal job. She presented the problem and then showed how to avoid it. I loved every minute of it.
Trying to surprise Paxton wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be. I just had to conduct all of my business while I was at work and only use my work email to correspond. The family was all on board with helping me surprise him. I didn’t talk to them about it unless I was at work. We didn’t text or email, just telephone calls. I didn’t want Paxton to happen upon anything that would give away the surprise.
I was packing Paxton and my luggage for the trip to New York. I was looking forward to this trip. We scored tickets to one of the sold-out Broadway plays, and we will do all the touristy stuff in the City since it’s my first time.
I felt Paxton come up behind me and put his arms around my waist.
“You know you don’t have to do this for me, right? I can pack my own bag.”
“I enjoy doing this for you. Besides, I want to make sure you pack your sexy underwear.”
He laughed and nuzzled his face into my neck.
“What would I do without you, Ollie?”
“It’s too freighting to even think about.”
“Oh, I know.” He shivered. “So, what’s the plan for New York?”
“We are going to go with your parents to your old high school the morning of your birthday. They are being recognized for starting the Bluette scholarship fund there. Then your mom is having a dinner at the house that evening for your birthday. She said she invited a few people.”
“Knowing my mother, the whole church will be there.”
“You don’t mind, do you?”
“No, birthdays are a big deal in our family. I’m used to it.”
“Did you pick up your mother’s gift?”
It is a Bluette tradition that they give their mother a small gift on their birthday to thank her for giving birth to them.
“Yes, I picked up something for both my mothers.”
I was surprised to hear him say that he’d gotten gifts for both Grace and Giselle, but I was happy to hear it.
“What did you get them?”
“I got my mom another charm for her Pandora bracelet. With all the new stuff happening in the family, she is going to need another bracelet soon. My mom said that Giselle is always admiring her bracelet so, I am starting her one with three charms.”
“They are going to love that. So, after your birthday dinner at your parent’s house, we will go into the city the next day and spend a couple days exploring and going to shows. I hope that’s a good birthday for you. I didn’t know what to give you since you have everything.”
“The fact that you coordinated all of this is present enough. You didn’t have to do anything. You could have made me a pot of your mother’s dumplings, and I would have been fine,” he smiled.
“Well, thank you, Baby. I’m a novice at birthday planning.”
He left out of the room. What he didn’t know is that his surprise was going to happen before his birthday dinner. The scholarship recognition ceremony at his high school is actually going to be a ceremony retiring his football jersey number. He still holds multiple r
ecords at the school that has never been broken. Some of his old teammates will be a part of the ceremony. The ceremony will happen in front of the entire student body.
“This is Olivia Callahan,” I said into my phone that I’d grabbed from my nightstand when I heard it vibrating.
“Congratulations, Doctor Callahan.”
Recognizing Mason’s voice, I pulled my phone from my ear to see the number he’d called from. It was a different number than the one I had blocked. After I blocked the first number, he’d called several times and left messages on my voicemail. I deleted every message without listening to them. I didn’t care what he had to say.
“I saw the article in the paper down here about you being appointed as the Director of some new fancy school there in Houston. You looked beautiful in your gown. When I come to visit, you can show me around the new school.”
A local Houston reporter sent her newspaper article to a friend at the paper in Willow Hills. They love the local girl makes it big, type stories, so they published it in the paper. I never thought about Mason seeing it. He had been the furthest thing from my mind.
“Are you finished talking? I’m going to hang up now.”
“Livi, don’t be like that. Let’s talk. How are you?”
“I’m so well that I am hanging up now.”
I disconnected the call and blocked the number.
I have to learn not to answer calls from numbers I don’t know, but I had been dealing with several people working on Paxton’s birthday plans, and I didn’t want to send them to voicemail.
I put my phone down and finished packing.
Paxton chartered a plane so all the family could ride together to New York. Roman, Zanetta, Ezekiel, Zora, BJ, and Zahria all were on the plane. This was Zahria’s first time traveling, but she did a great job. Zanetta’s morning sickness had finally passed so she was doing well. Paxton and I haven’t discussed starting a family again, but I hope we can revisit it after the wedding.
Lady Grace and Bishop Bluette met us at the door of their beautiful home when we arrived.
“All of my babies!” Lady Grace said as we walked in. She hugged everyone then took Zahria from Zeke and grabbed BJ’s hand. “I have all of the rooms prepared for you to stay so go get settled in and then we will have dinner together.”
I followed Paxton through the house until we arrived at a bedroom door at the end of the hallway.
“This is the bedroom I grew up in,” Paxton said as he opened the door. “Mom has converted it to a guest bedroom and put a larger bed in here, but yeah, this is where I grew up.”
I walked around the room touching the dresser that still held some of Paxton’s awards and trophies on display. I looked out of the window that faced the backyard and touched the desk in the corner where he probably sat when he was young and did his homework. I felt so connected to him.
“You used to sneak girls up here?” I turned around and asked him.
He put his arms around my waist and kissed my forehead.
“No, we weren’t allowed to have girls in our rooms. I was hoping you would be the first girl I had sex with in here.”
“Oh, no. I am not having sex with you in the Bishop’s house, Paxton.”
“You sure about that?” He kissed my neck while he rubbed my back. “I know how to get you to change your mind.” He kissed my neck again.
He knew exactly how to get me to change my mind. The way he was kissing my neck was a surefire way to get me to cave in a matter of minutes.
“Paxton, Baby, don’t do that. You know you are too loud for us to do anything in here.”
He stopped kissing my neck to look at me.
“I’m loud?” He hiked his eyebrow.
“Yes,” I giggled.
“Olivia?” I heard Lady Grace calling my name.
I reluctantly left Paxton’s embrace and opened the door. Lady Grace was standing in the hallway with BJ and Zahria.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“I need some help in the kitchen. Would you mind helping me?”
“Sure.”
I looked back at Paxton still standing in the middle of the room. He winked as I closed the door and followed her down the hall. She stopped, collected Zanetta and Zora and dropped BJ off with Zeke.
We all walked into the kitchen. There was aluminum foil covered pans lining the island in the middle of the kitchen. Lady Grace put Zahria in a swinging chair on the counter.
“Olivia, can you make some of your tea?” She pointed to all of the ingredients I needed to make my tea on the counter.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Zora, can you cut up these vegetables for the salad?”
“Yes, I can do that,” Zora responded.
“Zanetta, finish up this cornbread for me.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Zanetta said.
We all started on our assigned duties.
“So, what’s been going on ladies?” Lady Grace asked.
“A lot,” Zanetta responded. “It seems like our family is changing so quickly, but it’s all so amazing.”
“That’s true. I went from complaining about not having grand babies to showing off their pictures every opportunity I get,” Lady Grace added. “How are you feeling Zanetta?”
“I feel a lot better now. It’s not all-day sickness anymore. Roman still wakes up faithfully every morning and brews me some ginger tea. It really does help calm my stomach.”
“That’s good. I wasn’t sick with Roman at all. My breasts were tender and sore for the first few months. With Ezekiel, I was sick all day long.”
“That should have been a hint,” Zora laughed.
“Right,” Lady Grace laughed.
“Well, I am just glad that little one is out. She was not very gracious in sharing my body. She was awake and moving around while I was trying to sleep. I would try on clothes, and she would stretch sideways, so nothing fit right. She was a mess!” Zora laughed.
“How is she sleeping now?”
“She sleeps well throughout the day. At night she loves to blow bubbles and make noises,” Zora laughed. “Zeke is a night owl, though so he doesn’t mind.”
“How is he with Zahria?” Lady Grace asked.
“Amazing! I couldn’t ask for a better partner, friend, and co-parent. He’s so patient with the kids, and he doesn’t mind giving me a break. He and BJ try to put little bows in her hair and everything. They treat her like a little princess,” Zora finished.
“That’s because she is a princess,” Lady Grace leaned down into the chair and kissed a sleeping Zahria.
“Olivia, have you thought about any dates yet?”
“We have been so busy with the ABA, and then I was working on this whole birthday thing, so we haven’t talked much about it.”
“Do you know how you want your ceremony to go?” Lady Grace asked.
“I want lots of sparkles. Nothing drab. I want the room to glow from the sparkle of crystals and glitter and shiny things. That’s the way I feel about life now. Before, my life was drab and dark; blacks, browns, gray, you know muted colors. Then I met Paxton and now every day my life is full of color. It’s so bright and every day is a new adventure. I miss him when I drive away from the house for work, and I look forward to seeing him when I arrive home. I love the way he thinks my thoughts and ideas are brilliant and I adore the way he brags about me. Me! Can you believe that? I mean, I know my mother loves me, but she doesn’t brag the way Paxton does. He makes me want to accomplish more and be better, shoot higher and further. I want people to walk into the wedding venue and say wow because that’s the way that I feel every morning when I wake up and see his beautiful face. I want people to have a sense of amazement because that is how he makes me feel every day. So yeah, lots of sparkle and bling to represent our relationship.”
I looked up, and all three women were looking at me. Lady Grace was wiping her eyes.
“Wow, Ollie, that was such a vivid description,” Zora said.
“I kno
w, right? I fell in love all over again,” Zanetta smiled.
“I’ve prayed so long for my sons to find women that would love them for who they are. I knew the women that they found would have to love everything about them. I figured they would find someone that would grow to love them and their eccentricities, but they’ve found women that love them from the beginning. I love you girls as my daughters. Thank you for loving my sons.”
Paxton
While the ladies were with my mother, my brothers, BJ and I met my dad in his office. My dad turned on some music making it feel like it did when we had our Bluette Men time when we were younger.
Dad pulled BJ onto his lap.
“That’s one of my most favorite Coltrane cuts. It’s him and Ellington, right?”
“Yeah, it’s called In a Sentimental Mood,” Dad said.
“I’m surprised you don’t hate it. I listened to this over and over trying to mimic the way Ellington played the piano on this song,” Roman laughed. “It took a whole summer but I mastered it.”
We laughed.
“So, what’s been going on?” Dad asked while looking around the room.
“BJ’s adoption will be finished soon. We will have to go to court, and then it will be official. The school has already allowed us to change it on his paperwork so he can get used to hearing it and spelling it.”
“Papa, I’m a Bluette man,” BJ smiled.
“You sure are,” my dad replied.
“How does it feel to be a Father?” Dad asked Zeke.
“It feels natural. It feels like this is what I am supposed to be doing right now, so it’s just natural. BJ and Peanut make it easy so I’m good. Zora is a remarkable mother, so I follow her lead. They definitely have changed my perspective on things, though. I think about some of the shenanigans I pulled with,” Zeke looked at BJ then said, “Let just say I am going to keep an arsenal on hand.”
We all laughed. So, did BJ even though he had no idea what Zeke was really talking about.
“Roman, have you thought about fatherhood and being a Pastor at the same time?”