Jeff was locking the door when I pulled up. I hurriedly hopped out before he pulled that key out the hole. “Wait!” I yelled.
“Is there something wrong, Journei?” he questioned with a worried look.
“No. But I need a favor, Jeff. I have to put these gifts in the car before it’s delivered. I know it’s a lot, but just do this for me please.” I did the praying motion with my hands.
He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Journei, you are last minute with everything you do, man; I swear. Come on. The car already on the truck.”
I squealed and ran to grab the bags out the trunk. I placed each gift throughout the car. Whenever a door was opened, a gift would be seen. “I ’preciate that, Jeff. Be safe out here, youngblood,” I said and laughed as I walked out the door.
If I wasn’t rushing before, then I was definitely channeling my inner Speedy Gonzales. It was 6:45, and I had under an hour to shower, get pretty, and make the reservation on time.Thankfully, traffic wasn’t bad, so I made it home in ten minutes. I broke a few laws on the way, but they’d be a’ight.
“Hey, baby.”
“Hey. Give me ten minutes, and I’ll be ready to go,” I spoke briefly as I entered the house. Running up the stairs, I had a one-track mind. I hopped in the shower once again, doing a wash and rinse—a bourgeoisie hoe bath.
My outfit was already mapped out for the night. I quickly applied a coat of lotion and let my Fenty bra and panty set cover my lady parts. I stepped into my black Burberry catsuit with the Burberry signature colors flowing along the sides. Those red Louboutin heels I slipped on brought the outfit together.
I didn’t overdo my jewelry ever. A simple tennis bracelet with the earrings to match was all I wore at a time. Red matte lipstick was the color of choice tonight. My face didn’t need to be tended to, and I was glad about that.
I inherited these natural looks and long curly hair from my mother. I did a once-over, then grabbed the red Burberry handbag I had sitting on the dresser. I really had to stop doin’ shit the day of.
I made it downstairs to see the time read 7:15. “Make it to the restaurant, then relax,” I spoke out loud. “Baaaeee! Let’s go!”
“Stop yelling. I’m right here.”
When I looked back at my wife, a smile appeared voluntarily. Alexis was matching my fly. I moved out the way, motioning for her to walk ahead. I let her know that I was driving her that evening as she passed by. I was still in Speedy mode because we had fifteen minutes to cross town and make the reservation.
“Baby, can you lock the doors for me? I got way too much goin’ on right now.” I was doin’ twenty over the limit just to make it.
“Well, if you slow down and breathe for a minute. Why were you movin’ as if somebody is after you? And can you stop drivin’ so fast?” She pulled her phone out and did as I asked.
“Alexis, you are in my business. Don’t do that, baby.”
She laughed and turned on the radio. We rode to the restaurant, singing the latest from Jazmine Sullivan. That bitch could sing chile. I loved that new EP she dropped. I’d always been a fan, but baby, the songs onHeaux Taleswere everything.
We made the reservation by a fuckin’ hair. Literally walked through the door hand in hand at 7:30. I could finally relax and calm my nerves, as well as my thoughts. I knew one thing: when I got back home, my hookah was gettin’ the puff down of the century.
Christian “Gills”
Being back in the state of Tennessee wasn’t a plan of mine, but I owed my granny the respect of seeing it in person. I was a soul who needed saving, let her tell it, so that was what I went out there and did. I got my act together and graduated from high school, then college, at the top of my class. That bachelor’s degree in pastoral studies was what was gon’ throw her though.
I literally went from not attending school and street hustling to giving school my extra time. All it took was for me to witness the hurt I was bringing my granny. She was my world, and I vowed to never let her hurt because of me again.
What was funny about it was I knew how the conversation would flow. I wasn’t the typical pastor. The Bible said the body was a temple, so glorify God in your body. I didn’t catch that Corinthians verse until I was already tatted like a biker boy, pierced up like a rock star, and held a few virgins under my belt. But like granny said, I was a soul that needed saving.
Earlier, I’d made a quick pitstop at the Cool Therapy mall to get my favorite lady a gift. I wasn’t expecting to run into a woman so beautiful. She was unaware of my presence until weran into each other. Well, she ran into me because I spotted her as soon as she walked out those double doors.
For a minute, I was tryna make out her makeup design, but once she was in front of me, I saw the real. She was beautiful indeed, but her vitiligo enhanced all of that. I knew a few women from college who hid that same skin condition with makeup. She, on the other hand, was letting hers show and with confidence. Her voice was exactly what I expected it to be… soft.
I was a fool for walking away without gettin’ her number. No worries though. I’d see her again. Chattanooga was a small city. Everybody knew everybody, or everybody was related. And to make matters worse, nobody ever left. Once they crossed city lines, that was it.
Pulling up to my granny’s house, I saw cars I’d never seen before in her driveway. Old me would’ve pulled the gun from under the seat and walked up in there wreaking havoc. Saved me, however, was gon’ go in there respectfully. I grabbed her gift and my folder of certificates, then got out the car, taking long strides to her door.
Having a key to her crib came in handy for situations like that. I quietly entered the house. No lights were on, and no movement could be heard. I knew her house like the back of my hand, so I bust that left entering the family room. I popped the light on to be greeted with family and friends. She was too old to be planning parties and stuff.Sit down, Granny.
“Surprise!”
I gave smiles, hugs, and daps to those who approached me. I felt the love they were showing. It was goin’ on five years since I’d been home and around my people. Granny was the last to approach me. I hugged on her little self, accepting the love that was radiating off her.
