"You're right," she said, "but I have a good feeling about this one."
Sabra said, "Whatever. It won't be the first time, but time will tell, so slow down before you start sending out wedding announcements. For now, let's go get me some of those ribs, since you ate without me."
“Whatever,” Julie replied. “You shouldn’t have been so late.”
They went to find Sabra some food and enjoyed the festival for a couple of hours before heading home. She secretly hoped she would run into him again before she left, but she didn't.
Jerry did not do as he promised. In fact, he didn't call her for a couple of weeks. During that first week, she occasionally wondered why he hadn't called…if he was just another guy collecting phone numbers or playing games, and she began to feel disappointed. Just when she had pretty much given up and forgotten about him, he called on a Wednesday afternoon. She answered the phone hesitantly because she didn't recognize the number.
"Hello, may I speak to Julie?"
It was a man's voice that she didn't recognize. "This is she."
"Hey, gorgeous. This is Jerry."
"Jerry? Jerry who?" She actually knew a lot of Jerry’s.
"We met at Hart Plaza ... the Ribs and Soul Fest? I bought you rib tips ...?”
"Oh yes," said Julie as she remembered him, "I thought you had forgotten about me."
Her first thought was to hang up on him, but tell him to go fuck himself first, but she started remembering his smile, and his voice ... so intoxicating! It was one of those Barry White/Isaac Hayes bass voices that you could just listen to all day, not caring what was being said.
"I could never forget a woman as fine as you. I'm sorry for taking so long to call you, but my job requires me to travel a lot, and I've been out of town and super busy."
"And just what is it that you do?" she asked.
"I'm a pharmaceutical rep, and when I got back into town, you were the first person I thought of."
Her response was, “Oh, how sweet." What else could she say? She was thinking all kinds of thoughts, and that person in her head was telling her to say, thought you were going to call me that night, or wasn't there any reception where you were? Did you work 24/7? But she let it go and continued listening.
"So, I really would like to see you. What are you doing tonight?" he asked.
"I don't have any plans for tonight, but I have to work in the morning," answered Julie, "this is a school night." She immediately felt like she was making herself too available for him; that she should make him wait since he took so long to call, but she let it go.
"I won't keep you out late. I promise."
There goes that promise again, she thought.
"Where do you live?" he asked.
"I live in Pontiac. What about you?"
Jerry said, "I live in Canton." Canton is about fifty minutes away, south of where she lived. "Would you mind meeting me in Royal Oak? There is a nice restaurant there that I would love to take you to, and I just want to see you again, and I promise not to keep you out all night."
Ok. Enough with the promises, she thought.
Julie considered his offer. Royal Oak is a nice suburb of Detroit. It's not very large, but has lots of wonderful shops and restaurants. She shops at the very popular Burn Rubber shoe store there when she needs a new pair of running shoes. She knew she could make it to Royal Oak in about fifteen minutes, so she said," Okay. Text me the address and I will meet you. Seven o’clock would be good for me ... how about you?"
"Perfect. I will see you then, pretty lady."
He had her meet him at a quaint Mexican restaurant called the Monterrey Cantina that she noted she had been to before. He was seated at a table and talking to a waitress when he saw her walk in. When she saw him, her first thought was that he was even finer than the first time she saw him.
"Hey gorgeous. Good to finally see you again," he said as he rose from his seat and took her hand and kissed it.
She blushed again because his touch was magnetic, and she was beginning to like having her hand kissed by this man. "Nice seeing you too," she replied.
He pulled out her seat for her, which she noted he would get a "point" for doing, and they ordered appetizers and drinks. They had very stimulating conversations about their day and their jobs, and she was genuinely intrigued with him. The strange thing was that the more they talked, the more she felt there was something about him that just didn't feel right ... a gut feeling that was completely opposite of her initial feeling about him. She had no idea what it was, but he was just too good to be true. She actually felt he was too handsome to like her, and that old childhood teasing was coming back to haunt her in her head. But she put that feeling in the back of her mind, and did like her friends always advised: relax and have a good time.
Julie was married for four years. She dated her ex-husband, Taj, for five years and they got married when she became pregnant. She didn't want to have a baby without being married, and he wanted his first child to have his last name, so they got married for those reasons.
She did love him and thought he loved her too. Taj was an alcoholic and a weed head, but she hoped that her love for him and love for their child would supersede his addiction, but it didn’t. Her insecurities were also a major factor in staying with him, feeling she could not find another man who would love her or marry her.
He was mentally, verbally, and physically abusive to her throughout their relationship and marriage, and he often told her that she was not attractive and would never find a man if they broke up. They had the one child, and eventually she got tired of him mistreating her and their child, and filed for a divorce. He didn’t spend any quality time with their child, and was quick to discipline him when he was naughty, while never praising or supporting the many positive things that he did.
She never truly recovered from the things he did and said to her, which was why she had experienced such low self-esteem at some points in her life. What eventually helped her emerge from her shell, was the great support system she had from her friends and family, who often told her how beautiful and wonderful she was. Later in life, after choosing not to date for many years, she decided that she would give the right man a chance if he should ever happen along.
Rib Fest Jerry was consistent in the beginning of their dating, then after a few weeks, he started cancelling plans at the last minute, or not showing up at all. He would sometimes call and make an excuse, most of them revolving around his traveling work schedule. When he was around, they had a great time and Julie started wanting more time with him. They had a lot in common and he made her laugh … something she hadn't done with a man in a long time. He also was not bad to look at. She believed that because she had not had sex with him, that he was becoming disinterested, but she had told him point blank from the beginning that she was not having sex outside of an exclusive relationship.
One of their dates was at a very nice hotel in Detroit, Michigan, called the Westin Book Cadillac. During their dinner conversation, he suggested he should get them a room there. Now she was really feeling this man, and every time he talked to her or touched her, she felt that old, familiar twitch between her legs. But she stood adamant about her decision not to have sex with him, and didn't want to give him the wrong idea by going to a room with him.
Julie explained to him, "I don't think that's a good idea. I am very attracted to you, but I'm not a kid and neither are you. We both know what will happen if we get a room, and I told you I'm not going there until I am in a relationship."
Jerry replied, "So what do you call what we've been doing? Why do you need a label? Don't fix it if it's not broken!" At first he thought she was kidding about waiting to have sex, but came to realize that she was serious. She told him, "Tell you what; if I give you some, then we go together." He laughed at first because he thought she was joking, but she assured him she was very serious. He let her know that he was not looking for a commitment at that time, that he knew his work schedule would b
e a problem for a relationship, but assured her that he was not seeing or sexing anyone, so she accepted their "relationship" as long as he knew there would be no sex without commitment.
She stayed firm in her decision not to get a room with him that night, despite that voice in her head (and her panties), which was saying, go for it!
Vanessa
Wow! The price of gas is simply ridiculous, thought Vanessa as she paid for her gas. The gas gauge was on E, so she had to get gas at this particular station, even though it was ten cents cheaper by her house. As she went back to her car after paying, and was about to pump the gas, she noticed one of the cutest guys she had seen in a long time, pumping gas into his vehicle. She knew he was too young for her, but thought he was so dang cute! He was about six feet tall, wore his hair in the most beautiful dreads, had on some shorts with a “God First” t-shirt, and had the most gorgeous lips. When she was done admiring him, she took the gas dispenser down, and just as she was about to start pumping, the cutie walked over to her. Even though he was attractive, she was a little nervous because this was not the safest side of town to be at alone.
"Excuse me. I just had to come over here and tell you that you are absolutely stunning, and I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself if I'd just let you leave without saying something."
Vanessa felt she was average looking, so she didn’t acknowledge the compliment because this was not one of her “good” days. She had worked half a day on this particular day, and had just come from yoga class at the Yoga for Life Center in Birmingham, Michigan. She had on a pair of stretch pants and a Michael Jackson t-shirt. One thing she had going for her was her banging figure, with the brick house measurements 36-24-38. She had her hair pulled up into a ponytail, no makeup, and she looked younger than her years and was used to being hit on by young guys—the young guys loved her!
Vanessa smiled. "Why thank you, young man ... you just made my day. Sure wish I had some money to pay you for that compliment." They both laughed.
"I'm sure you hear that all the time, but that's only because it's true." He reached for the pump. "Here, let me do that for you."
Vanessa reluctantly gave up the pump because she hadn't had a man do this for her in a long time. She stepped back and admired him as he pumped the gas. His momma sho’ taught him right! she thought. Those sexy, Lamman Rucker lips, with the prettiest, whitest teeth she had ever seen ... she could've sworn they sparkled every time he smiled. And back to those lips ... mmmmm she thought. "There you go," he said. She was deep in thought, so she had to snap back to earth.
"Why, thank you, young man." He extended his hand and said, "My name is Greg."
"Nice to meet you, Greg. I’m Vanessa." She offered her hand, and he just held it.
"Well, the pleasure is all mine," he answered.
Oh Lord. He is so cute! Let go of my hand before I snatch you into this car and take you home with me, she thought.
"Your husband," he said as he looked at her hand and sees no ring, "or boyfriend is a very lucky man."
"Thank you, Greg, but I am not married, nor do I have a boyfriend."
"That's hard to believe, but this really is my lucky day!" he said with a smile as he finally released her hand.
"And what makes you think that you are going to get lucky?" Vanessa asked.
"I didn't it mean it like that, it was just wishful thinking. Would you mind if I call you sometime?"
Vanessa thought about it, and then asked," How old are you Greg?"
"Older than you think. “
“And just what is older than I think?” asked Vanessa.
“I'm thirty-seven," he replied.
He was a little older than she thought, but still thought, bummer. "Well, I have children your age," she said.
"No way," he said.
"Yes way, I do," she said as she laughed. She got this response all the time because she looked and carried herself with an air of youthfulness.
"Well, you look wonderful. Exactly how old are you?"
She had never been one to lie about her age. "Exactly fifty-two," she said.
Without missing a beat, he said, “Well, you look great for your age, or any age ... you killin’ these younger girls!" and then asked, "Does my age bother you?"
"I never thought about it until now,” she answered truthfully. Age shouldn't be a factor, but you are rather young ... "
He handed her his phone. “Please put your number in so I can call you tonight. I have to get to work and it will break my heart if you don't give it to me. Come on. What do you have to lose…it’s just a phone call?” he said, still flashing that beautiful smile.
In her mind she thought, my heart, but didn’t say it aloud.
She looked at him with all his confidence and aggressiveness, and she hesitantly put in her number.
"I don't really know about this," she said. He retrieved his phone before she could change her mind, and gave her a hug. She was a little taken aback but allowed the hug and patted him on the back—what some would call “the church hug,” and inhaled. Oh my God! He smelled so good!
"Well, it was nice meeting you," he said," and I will call you tonight."
He walked to his vehicle and she watched him as he climbed into a diamond white Cadillac Escalade. Oh Lord. He probably sells drugs, she thought, and got into her car. She smiled as she sniffed, still smelling a hint of his aroma in the air.
That evening she relaxed in her bed, and was catching up on her recordings of "R & B Divas LA."
Boy, that Chantae Moore can really sing and that Kelly Price is a real bitch on this episode, but she sho can sing too. Her phone rang. She didn't recognize the number, paused the program, and then answered it anyway.
"May I speak to Vanessa,” came the manly, sexy voice.
"This is she, who is this?"
"This is Greg, remember me?" She sat straight up and started patting her hair, as if he could see her.
"Of course, I remember you. Hey Greg."
"Hey Vanessa. Am I disturbing you?"
"No, I was just watching TV. I have to say that I'm kind of surprised and impressed. You actually called. You are a man of your word and I like that."
"I try to do what I say I'm going to do, pretty lady. I'm not one for games. Truthfully, I wanted to call you as soon as I got to work, but I didn't want you to think I was being too crazy or desperate."
She laughed. “And I really appreciate that, because there are a lot of crazies out here. So, tell me something about Greg," she said.
"Well, I just moved here from Alabama about six months ago because my job relocated me here. I work for Chrysler, and let me tell you, I wasn't looking forward to coming up here where I know it gets cold! I'm not a fan of snow at all, but hey, we have to do what we have to do," he said.
"True. So, did you leave a girlfriend or wife there, or did you bring her with you," she asked, cutting straight to the chase.
I do have a daughter who is the love of my life. She is fifteen and she is my heart. My daughter was the hardest part of me leaving. Her mother and I broke up years ago. We got together pretty young and just grew apart. We are still friends though and we raise our daughter together, and the answer to your question is no, I don't have a girlfriend or wife. That’s pretty much it. Ok, enough about me ... tell me about Vanessa."
"Well, you know my age. I have two grown sons ... one is thirty-three and the other is twenty-five. My twenty-five-year-old is in the military and my oldest is married with two kids, and they live in Atlanta, and yes, I'm a grandma."
"Well, they show don't make grandmas like they used to."
Humph, she thought. This boy knows just what to say. She continued, "I work at General Motors, so you are kind of like my competition."
"What do you do there, if you don't mind me asking?"
"I'm an electrician by trade, and I am a skilled trades superintendent," she answered.
"Interesting! Tell me about it! I've never met a female electrician before."
Being an electrician was not anything she had planned to do in life. She had received her degree from Western Michigan University, located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in social work, but could not find a job in that field after she graduated. She heard about a skilled trade apprenticeship program at General Motors that her good friend Maria told her about. The trades they were looking to fill were: electricians, pipefitters, millwrights, model makers, and tool makers. She chose the electrical trade because she was told it paid the most and the easiest job for a female…she had no knowledge of how to perform any of the trades. She took the skilled trades test for GM, passed it with flying colors, but was put on a waiting list because for every twenty GM employees that tested for skilled trade positions, they would bring in one non-employee from the street.
Once she got in, she realized that she was the only female in her classification because it was not a field that many females wanted or could handle. She was faced with many prejudices throughout her training, not just because she was black, but black and a female in the profession. The good part about her situation was that there were a lot of diversification issues going on in the workforce during this time, so she filled two minority classifications. The bad part was that there were too many people who still had 1800's race mentalities that made some days extremely hard. The money was very good and she stood firm against the obstacles she faced, aced the classes and training she was required to take, and eventually earned the respect and admiration from her fellow workers and bosses.
Why CAN T I Be A Cougar?? Page 2
