“You made it, Cooper.” Nia smiled and hugged him.
“I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. I’m so proud of you, and Rachel would be, too.”
The two of them could talk about Rachel now without getting over-emotional but they both still missed her. Grinning, she said, “She’s probably too busy in heaven to even notice.”
“I doubt that very much.”
“This is Keisha Banks. My very best friend in the whole world.” Nia touched Keisha’s arm. “I’ve told you about her.”
Cooper held out a hand. “You certainly have. It’s so nice to finally meet you, Keisha. Congratulations.”
“Nice to meet you too, Mr. Summers.” She looked at Nia’s aunt “So what about this curfew thing?”
“Why? What’s the plan for tonight?”
“A class party, Auntie.”
“Nia, I trust your judgment. You come in whenever you want for tonight. After that, it can be midnight instead of eleven until you leave for Puzzle House. Then it’s up to Cooper to decide when you’re with him this summer. How’s that?”
“Works for me, Auntie.” She grinned at Cooper. “And don’t worry, curfew won’t be a problem at Puzzle House. It’s not as if there’s a lot of nightlife around there.”
He wiped his brow in an exaggerated manner. “Phew…for a minute I was more than worried. I was terrified.”
Nia giggled. Keisha tugged on her arm. “We should get going.”
“OK. OK.”
Her aunt hugged her once again and whispered in her ear, “I’m so proud of you, sweetie. And I do trust you. Don’t make me regret that.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
Nia looked at Cooper. “I’m sorry you drove all this way just for a few minutes. Maybe we could go out for supper first. I can always go to the party later.”
“No way. You go have fun at your party. I’ll see you in a week or so at Puzzle House, right?”
“Right.” Nia hugged Cooper and her Auntie once more before leaving.
They walked toward Keisha’s car arm in arm.
Keisha looked at Nia. “I think I’m gonna do it tonight.”
“Do what?”
“You know. It. Sex.”
“With who? You don’t even have a boyfriend.”
“With Marcus, of course. Who else would it be?”
“But you’re not really his girlfriend. He hasn’t even taken you out on a real date.”
“But I will be after tonight.” Keisha grinned.
“Marcus is a player, Keish. Besides, it’s wrong and you know it.”
Keisha got in the car.
“I’m tired of being a goody-two-shoes all the time. I’m an adult now. And I want Marcus to be my boyfriend.” Keisha looked away from Nia. “And that means a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do.”
“That’s not true, Keish.”
“Why would he want to be my boyfriend if I don’t do it with him? Plenty of other girls out there will.” She held up a hand. “Don’t try to talk me out of it. Let’s go back to my house and change clothes and then get to the party.” She slid the key into the ignition and started the car.
Nia stood by the car but didn’t get in. “No.”
Keisha looked at her. “What do you mean, no?”
“Just what I said. If you’re planning something that stupid, you’re doing it without me. I’m not going to the party. I’ll just catch up with Cooper and Auntie.”
“Don’t get holier-than-thou on me, Nia. I just want to have some fun. There’s nothing wrong with that. Get in the car so we can go. Please.”
“Can’t help it. I am holy and so are you. We are set apart for God. I thought this was something we both agreed on. We’re going to go to the same Bible college and then we’ll work together at Puzzle House after we graduate.”
“I’ll still do all that. I just want a boyfriend for the summer. I want to have some fun. Nothing wrong with that.”
“It is if it’s Marcus, and it means you have to have sex with him.”
“What’s wrong with Marcus? He’s fun. And he’s really cute.”
“And a player. You can’t trust him. Please, Keisha. Don’t do this. Not tonight. Let’s go have fun at the party together, and then we can talk about it some more tomorrow.”
Keisha tapped her fingers on the steering wheel as she stared straight ahead for a few moments. “OK.”
“OK, what?”
“OK, we can talk about it later. Now will you go to the party with me? You win.”
Nia got in then smiled at Keisha. “Good. Now let’s go have fun.”
There were people everywhere at the party. The class president had talked his grandparents into letting them have a party at their big house in the ‘burbs with a swimming pool.
Some of the boys were in the pool while the girls sat on the edge dangling their feet.
The music blared.
They’d be lucky if the police didn’t show up.
Maybe she should find the music and turn it down a bit. Nia looked at Keisha. “I’ll be back in a minute.” Nia found the DJ. She moved close enough so that he could hear her. “Don’t you think the music’s a little too loud?”
“That’s what I get paid for, cute thing.” He took hold of her hand. “How about a dance?”
“Maybe later.” Nia wandered back, but Keisha was gone.
Nia looked around for her and found her. Keisha was across the room with a beer bottle in her hand. Why was she drinking? Shaking her head, Nia walked up to her.
Keisha smiled. “Hey, girl. Great party, huh?”
“Keish, what are you doing?”
“Nothing. Just having some fun.”
Marcus swaggered up to them. “Hey, Keisha. How you doing?”
Nia stopped herself from rolling her eyes—but just barely.
Keisha leaned against him. “Hey, Marcus. We’re good.”
He put an arm around her. “Ready to party?”
Keisha glanced at Nia then smiled at Marcus as she moved closer to him. “You know it, baby.”
He handed her another beer. “This OK or you want something stronger?”
“This is fine. Almost as fine as you.”
He laughed and pulled her even closer.
Alarm bells went off in Nia’s head so she put her hand on Keisha’s arm. “Keish, it’s illegal for us to drink. We’re not twenty-one.”
Marcus laughed. “What are you? A cop? It’s graduation night. It’s time to part-ay.”
“Yeah, Nia. Lighten up. It’s our graduation night. Let’s have some fun for once. Nothing bad will happen.” She held out the beer to Nia. “Have one.”
Nia shook her head.
“Your loss.” Marcus said as he put his arm around Keisha’s waist. He leaned in and whispered something.
She nodded then looked at Nia. “I’m gonna check out the house with Marcus. See you later.”
“Keisha, you promised.”
She shrugged. “Changed my mind. See you later.”
“I’m leaving.”
“Don’t do—”
“Let her go. We don’t need nobody like her around here. She’s such a downer.” Marcus grinned. “Unless you wanna come look at the house with us.”
“You’re a disgusting pig. Can’t you see that, Keisha?”
“He’s just joking. He didn’t mean it.”
“Yeah, Nia. I didn’t mean it. Can’t you take a joke?”
This time Nia did roll her eyes. “Keisha, I mean it. I’m leaving. Please come with me. Think about what you’re doing.”
“I did think about it. I’ve been a good girl all through school. Time for me to have some fun. These aren’t my David years. They’re yours.”
“David years? What’s that mean?” Marcus asked.
Keisha took another long drink of the beer. “Nia believes she’s chosen by God to be a healer. And she has to be good while in training. She thinks she’s like King David. The one that killed Goliath.”<
br />
Marcus hooted and hollered. “That’s a good one, Keisha. Everybody hear that?”
“What?”
“Nia thinks she be like King David in the Bible, who killed that giant. Nia here thinks she’s been touched by God.”
“Don’t know about that, but I’ll touch her if she wants.” Jermaine yelled with a hoot.
Nia felt the blood rushing to her face. This was why she didn’t talk about her anointing to be a healer. They wouldn’t understand. They would make a joke out of it. But she’d trusted Keisha. “Thanks a lot.” Nia couldn’t keep the bitterness out of her voice.
Keisha shrugged and put the beer bottle to her lips.
Nia walked out. People were laughing and calling her David. She straightened her spine and kept her head high, even though she wanted to crawl into a corner and hide. She wouldn’t give them the satisfaction. Once she was a few houses away the music became tolerable. She looked back at the house.
Keisha had said those things in front of everyone and had made fun of her.
Keisha was the only one at this school she’d told. Her friend’s betrayal burned into her heart.
When she’d first been anointed, she’d made the mistake of telling people at school. They’d reacted just as Marcus and his friends had. Auntie had her transferred to another school due to the daily harassment.
After that Nia had been cautious about making friends, hoping to find some who would accept her calling. Keisha had been persistent with her offer of friendship, and Nia finally opened up. Keisha was the only one Nia ever told about her cancer, about Rachel and Cooper, about Puzzle House. She wiped away a tear.
If she called the cops, she might be able to stop Keisha from making a big mistake with Marcus. She began walking toward the corner. Hopefully, she could catch a bus home. God what do You think I should do?
She pulled her phone out. If she called, they’d be able to trace it back to her.
What would they do to her or Auntie for revenge? Marcus and his friends were bullies. A few, including Marcus, had been to jail, despite their young years. She’d heard of some of their misdeeds. But with promises to do better and probation, they were back in school to make trouble again.
Nia put the phone back in her purse.
Relief flooded as she rounded the corner. A bus stop. Good. She wouldn’t need to call Auntie to get her. Keisha’s mom was one of Auntie’s best friends. If she told Auntie, then Keisha’s mom would find out. Nia wouldn’t betray her. Keisha was responsible enough to take care of herself.
Nia sat down on the bench to wait. In the corner of the bus station was a small phone. She could use it to call the police and nobody would know it was her. Is that Your answer, God? It was the right thing to do—even if she was too chicken to do it on her own phone.
If the phone worked, she’d do it. If not, then she wouldn’t.
***
Nia knocked on the apartment door as she turned her key.
Auntie sat on the sofa with a book and the TV on. “Nia, I didn’t expect you for hours.”
“I wasn’t having fun so I came home. I thought you might be out to dinner with Cooper.”
“He had to get home. He’s got some repairman coming in the morning, but we did catch a quick burger before he left.”
“I should have just gone out to dinner with y’all. Would’ve been more fun.”
“Did you have a fight with Keisha?”
“I don’t know if you’d call it a fight.” She plopped down on the sofa. “How about some popcorn and a movie?”
4
The next morning, Nia woke feeling as if she hadn’t really slept. Her first thought was about Keisha. Did the police break up the party? Did she have sex with Marcus?
Her gaze went to the phone. If she called, Keisha might figure out it had been Nia who called the police. She grabbed her phone and walked to the kitchen.
On the counter with a spoon was a note inside a bowl.
Healthy food = healthy body = healthy spirit = healthy life. Auntie’s neat script was unmistakable.
Nia wrinkled her nose, opened the bread box, grabbed the bag of little white doughnuts, and set them on the kitchen island. After getting a glass of milk, she dipped a doughnut. Just as she popped it in her mouth, someone knocked on the door. She peeked through the peephole.
Keisha. “I know you’re home so open up.” Keisha pounded on the door again. “Nia. Nia. Are you up?”
Nia rolled her eyes and unlocked the door. “You look horrible.”
“That’s ’cause I’m tired. Haven’t been to bed yet.”
Nia closed the door. “Oh. Why not?”
“I’ve come to tell you I’m not mad.”
“Why would you be mad? I’m the one who should be mad.”
“For calling the cops, Nia. And ruining the party.”
They glared at each other.
Keisha put her hands on her hips. “Don’t even act like it’s not true. I know you well enough to know it was you. And I’m not mad. Really. And I didn’t tell anyone, even though they wanted to cause problems for whoever did it.”
“I’m eating breakfast. Want some?”
Keisha picked up the cereal box and poured some in a bowl.
“So what happened last night?”
“Not much.” Keisha walked to the refrigerator and grabbed the jug of milk. “After the cops came, we just went to an all-night place and ate some food.”
“What about you and Marcus?”
“Yea, Marcus went to the restaurant.” She turned her back on Nia.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Oh. That. Nah, nothing happened. I decided you were right. No reason to do something stupid.”
Keisha was lying. Her friend had never lied to her before. It hurt. Almost as much as Keisha telling everyone about Nia’s anointing.
“That’s good. Glad you made the right decision.”
Keisha pointed at the doughnuts. “Pass me a couple of those, please.”
Nia took a few more and then slid the bag across the island. “You seeing Marcus again?”
“Sure. Why not? He’s fun to be around.”
“Oh, yeah. He was a lot of fun last night when he was making fun of me.”
“Nia, I’m sorry. That was my fault. I don’t know what came over me to say those things.”
“Alcohol makes people say and do stupid things.”
“That’s not what it was. I only had a little bit to drink.”
“I saw you drink two bottles. That’s not a little bit.”
“I was just mad at you ’cause you were acting like my mother. I just wanted to have fun.”
“I was trying to be your friend and keep you from doing something stupid that you’d regret this morning.”
Keisha swallowed the doughnut and reached for another. She stared at the glass of milk instead of at Nia. “It worked.”
If she’d eaten at an all-night restaurant why was she so hungry now? Besides alcohol and sex, had Keisha tried other things? Some types of drugs made you that hungry. Did Keisha have the munchies? “I think you should come to Puzzle House with me for the summer.”
“I wish.” Keisha shook her head. “But you know I can’t. I gotta work so I have spending money for school next year.”
“I’m sure Cooper will hire you. And you’ll probably make more at Puzzle House than you would at the restaurant. Plus, we can have fun. I’ll teach you to ride a horse.”
“A horse? I don’t think so, girlfriend.” Keisha held the cereal bowl to her mouth and slurped up the milk. “I already promised to take the job at the restaurant so it wouldn’t be right not to. And Mom wanted me to spend the summer here. With her. Before we leave to go to college.”
Nia’s heart sank. They all sounded like excuses. “At least think about coming with me, Keish.”
“OK. I’ll think about it, but I’m pretty sure Mom won’t want me to go.”
Nia couldn’t find the right words to make Keisha
change her mind.
5
Nia drove down the country road in her graduation gift from Auntie. It wasn’t new but it belonged to her. And as far as she was concerned, the car was awesome.
The sign was freshly painted. Cooper had been busy.
PUZZLE HOUSE—A PLACE OF HEALING AND HOPE.
It had been exactly that before Rachel died. Now it was more of a spiritual retreat. Rachel had taught her there was more than one kind of healing. And under Cooper’s guidance, the spiritual healing continued, though he’d be reluctant to agree.
On the green hillside, Cooper stood by the pond with a horse—her horse.
Putting the car in park, she charged up the hill. “Hey, Cooper.”
“Right on time. I had strict instructions from your aunt to call the moment you got here. It seems as if she doesn’t trust your driving.”
“That’s for sure.”
He handed her the reins. “You can get reacquainted while I call Margaretta.”
Nia patted Sweet Cherry. “Hey, Sweetie. Have you missed me?”
The horse nuzzled her hand as if to answer her question with a yes. Nia smiled. “Yeah, I have the whole summer to spend with you. What do you think of that?”
Another nuzzle.
Cooper handed her the phone. “Your aunt wants to talk with you.”
After a quick conversation, Nia disconnected and handed the phone back to Cooper. “I know I’m a city girl and all, but more and more, I can’t wait to get out here.”
“I can’t say that I blame you. It’s a beautiful place,” Cooper said. His ever-present camera hung around his neck just in case a good picture presented itself. “Besides, you should feel that way. This is your home.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“I do. I’m just working here until you’re ready to take over.”
Ready to take over? In the past three years, she hadn’t even had a tiny sense of being able to heal anyone. Auntie was always telling her ”in God’s timing, not yours.” Cooper would most likely say the same thing.
She turned her attention back to the house. “Yeah, instead of being surrounded by buildings, it’s trees. And no truck or car horns but birds chirping. And I couldn’t wait to come see my Sweet Cherry.” She patted the horse standing patiently at her side. He nuzzled her arm. “Country Boy would be proud of me.”
David Years Page 2