Love To Luv (5 page)

MONIQUE

It is Auntie. We are going to tour Fisk.

ARETHA

Does your daddy know about this trip?

MONIQUE

Of course, I told him earlier this week.

ARETHA

Baby, I don’t think that it is a good idea for you to go all the way up there and you dad is in New York.

MONIQUE

We have already made reservations. Plus you are here at the house if anything was to happen.

ARETHA

I just think you need to change it. Fisk will be there.

Monique did not want to hear any of these suggestions. She was determined to make it to Nashville this weekend. In a huff she went to her room to finish packing her bags.

             
Her phone began to ring. It was Ian calling to make sure of the time that Monique would be picking them up. She told him about 7. They chatted a little more about the upcoming weekend.

             
Monique told Ian that she would call him back. She put her phone on the bed and stuck her head out of the door to see if she could tell where Aunt Aretha was.

             
She heard Aunt Aretha singing in the guest room. She quickly grabbed her bags and rushed them to the trunk of her car. Monique ran back into the house and to her room. This time she grabbed her book-bag and cell phone. She told Aunt Aretha that she was off to school. She hated that she would not get to see me before I got back from my run.

             
They exchanged quick hugs and Monique exited the house. She attached her mp4 player to the auxiliary cord. She backed out of the yard and sped down the road. Just was she was about to round the corner she spotted me. She hit on the brakes and got out of the car.

             
I ran over to the car and gave her a kiss on the cheek. I didn’t want to hug her because I was sweaty. I told her to be careful and have fun at school. She claimed that she would.

             
Monique returned back to her car and drove to Ian’s house to pick him and Jeremy up. Once they were together they drove to get Teddy.

             
Teddy was dressed in a pair of
Them Atelier
jeans and a
CEGO
pink shirt with cool canvas-and-leather
Sportsman
high tops. Monique resisted the temptation to tell Ian to get in the back so that Teddy could sit up front with her. She got out of the car to help Teddy put his bags in the trunk.

             
She caught a swift of his cologne and asked what he was wearing. He told her that it was his favorite
Bleu De Chanel.

             
They both entered the car. Ian and Jeremy exchanged greeting with Teddy.

JEREMY

Damn, what are you wearing?

Teddy thought that Jeremy was starting to pick with him.

TEDDY

What do you mean man?

JEREMY

Your cologne, what is the name of that? That shit smells good.

TEDDY

Oh, just
Bleu De Chanel.

JEREMY

I have got to get me some of that.

Teddy just smiled and nodded.

             
As Aunt Aretha was driving me to the airport I received a text message from Dennis telling me that he had made it to the airport and was sitting at the gate.

             
Three enjoyable days in New York with a good friend and business partner.
I knew that once we arrive in New York I was going to contact my cousin Richard. I want to catch up with him plus ask him if he could get some information on
Kywong
for me.

             
Once we arrived at the airport I grabbed my luggage and coat from the back of the car. Aunt Aretha gave me a big hug and kiss, and told me to be careful in the Big Apple. I assured her that I would.

             
As I got close to my gate I saw Dennis sitting reading a copy of Lee Hayes book,
Passion Marks.
I dropped my bags beside the seats and bumped Dennis on his leg. As he looked up and realized that it was me, he put the book down and gave me the black man handshake.

DENNIS

I have been here waiting almost 90 minutes.

JACOB (jokingly)

Don’t let that be the
lie that send
you to hell. Why are you reading
Passion Marks
again? I know that it is a great book but this is about your thirteenth time reading it.

DENNIS

I love the story line. You should be reading it again or does it remind you of when Gerald used to beat you ass.

JACOB

Gerald got his ass beat a couple of times too. Don’t forget about that.

DENNIS

OK if you say so. Look I bought this book called
Enough
by
LaTissha
L. Graves Haynes
here at the bookstore before you came. It is about a woman who falls
in love and married a younger man. Love, happiness and joy surrounded them until he had an affair. They fault for their marriage not realizing that it wasn't in her husband's intention or heart to stay faithful. Instead of leaving after a second affair she stayed, which brought about abuse. Mental, emotional and physical abuse trapped her within herself. It wasn't until she lost herself and her son that she realized it wasn't going to work. You will know when it is time to let go; when there is no time left to go. She had had ENOUGH.

JACOB

Well alright for reading the cover page.

A voice came over the PA system announcing that our flight was now boarding. I begin to get excited because it has been a while since I was in New York.

             
Dennis and I grabbed out carry-on bags and headed towards the terminal. We gave the young lady our boarding pass. She encouraged us to have great flight.

             
I often wondered why people say have a safe flight. It’s not like we can control the plane. I think they should come up with something else.

             
Dennis and I converse as we found out seats. I put the bags in the overhead compartment.

DENNIS

You know that I was playing when I mentioned the fights that you and Gerald use to have.

JACOB

Man I am not thinking about that. That was years ago.

________
___________

Monique and her friends were half way to Nashville from Meridian, MS. They passed several state troopers along the way. Monique paid close attention to her speedometer because she did not want a ticket. She would never hear the end of it from Jacob.

Ian was on his web tablet playing a card game; Jeremy was gazing out of the window while Teddy took a quick nap. Monique decided that she would get off on exit 124B that merged onto I-65 to stretch. This would take them to Huntsville and on into Tennessee. This would be the perfect time to stop she thought.

As she pulled over to the first gas station everyone got out. Teddy asked did she need to get any gas. Monique stated that she had over half a tank. She thought that was nice of him to even ask.

Jeremy got out the back and stretched as hard as he could. Being 6’4” was not an easy task being in the back of a
Camaro
for two and a half hours.

Teddy went into the store to get a few things. Jeremy followed quickly behind him. They picked up some chips, sour punch straw candy, Snickers, and some gum. Teddy pulled out his debit card to pay for it all. Jeremy insisted that he would pay for his own. Teddy assured him that it was no problem.

Teddy stopped with a look on his face. He told the cashier to wait one moment while he went to the back of the store and got a 12-pack of beer. He bought it upfront and placed it on the counter. The cashier asked to see his ID. Teddy boldly showed it to her. She continued on with the transaction.

Jeremy was stunned at what he just witnessed. After paying for it all they got in to the car where Monique and Ian were waiting.

JEREMY

Guess what this nut bought?

IAN

What?

JEREMY

Beer!

MONIQUE & IAN

What? How?

TEDDY

With my money.

IAN

But you are under age.

TEDDY

Well to be honest with you all, I am 19. I failed my 7
th
& 8
th
grade year. I had a lot of personal issues that was going on. My grades dropped. I stopped talking to everyone. So you know how the system is, they felt that it was an intellectual thing. They tested me and I intentionally fail. But I do have a problem with comprehending a lot of things that I read. So I was stamped with a Specific Learning Disability in Reading Comprehension. It’s not a big thing to me. That is why I was about to whip you ass when you said (turning towards Jeremy) that you all had never taking Ms.
Welton
. I knew she was a
SpEd
teacher. I used to be embarrassed about it.

JEREMY

Dude I want to apologize if you thought that I was trying to start something but I was just saying that we didn’t take her for anything.

TEDDY

It’s all good. So, does anyone want a beer?

MONIQUE

Still you are under age, how did you get it?

TEDDY

Not in Alabama.

JEREMY

You my boy (giving him a hand shake).

Teddy began to pass everyone a beer. Monique refused because she was driving. Monique warned everyone that if they see a police car to make sure to put it down. The guys were happy because that meant an extra one for them.

After two more hours passed, Ian pointed out a sign that read, “Nashville 5 miles”. Everyone was happy. Teddy reached in the box to grab his last beer. He told everyone else that there were only two left. Jeremy quickly crushed his can and asked for another one. Monique made it clear that when they arrived on Fisk’s campus everyone is to be leveled headed.

JEREMY (slurring his words)

We
ain’t
going by the hotel first?

MONIQUE

No time. I have an appointment with the Dean of Students at one. I don’t want to get to the hotel and you guys start playing.

JEREMY (still slurring)

Ain’t
nobody
gonna
play.

TEDDY

I promise you that we will be on our best behavior Mommy.

MONIQUE

You think you funny. But if you all get here and clown I promise you I am going up side someone’s head.

Jeremy, Ian, and Teddy all responded by saying, “Yes ma’am” at the same time. They all burst out laughing.

             
Monique told Ian to put the address of the university into the GPS. He grabbed a letter from the console to get the address. After pressing enter the GPS started to give the final directions.

             
Within fifteen minutes they were driving onto the campus. Ian noted that it was a beautiful campus. Monique stopped at the gate to get directions to the Dean of Students office.

             
A big smile came across Monique’s face when she pulled up to the building. She felt that she was at home. They all exited the car and looked around in circles. Jeremy said that he was going to walk the campus while Monique went to talk to the dean. Teddy and Ian joined him.

             
While they were walking they spotted students that were lounging on the campus, some riding bikes, and some rushing off to class.

             
Some boys saw Teddy, Ian, and Jeremy walking around looking lost. One of the boys from the group raced over to them. He had a boyish face; he stood about 5’8” with a caramel skin complexion. He sported a shirt with a tiger face on it with Alpha Delta Xi (ΑΔΞ) across the top.

TYSON

Hey sup fellow?

JEREMY

Nothing much man.
Sup with u?

TYSON

Chillin
…Do you guy go here?

JEREMY