by D. Camille
Niyah clapped her hands. “Yes!”
“Don’t do what?” Leslie asked, not following them.
“Kenya likes to send men packing, if she feels she’s getting too close.” Niyah explained. “Although, more than a few did deserve the trip.”
“They all did.” Kenya said flatly.
“So, she tried it with Mr. Webber and he put that in check.” Niyah finished with a grin. “I knew he was the one who could.”
Kenya frowned. “Nobody’s in check, so let’s get that straight.”
“Did he leave?” Niyah asked.
“No.”
“He stayed the night and you were with him yesterday, so I’d say…checkmate.” Niyah said, folding her arms and looking at Kenya.
“I swear you’re a brat.” Kenya rolled her eyes. “Your brother, too.”
“Hey!!!” Both Niyah and Leslie said in unison.
Kenya laughed, then said seriously, “I’m going to ride this thing out with Josiah, just because he’s interesting and his stroke game is impressive.”
Leslie smiled. “Stroke game…learned something new.”
“Yeah, it’s why you’re carrying Caelum’s baby right now.” Kenya told her.
“In that case, I’m impressed by Caelum’s stroke game.” Leslie grinned, and rubbed her belly.
Niyah shook her head. “You two, go a little too far sometimes.”
“You don’t want to talk about Rashad?” Kenya teased.
“No, I don’t.”
Kenya gave her a look. “You told me about the camera, remember?”
Niyah frowned. “See, I’m going to stop telling you stuff.”
******
That evening, Kenya arrived at Josiah’s house. Opening the door, he smiled down at her.
“Kenya…”
“Josiah…”
He reached for her hand. “Come on in.”
She allowed him to guide her inside, then took a look at the surroundings. A candlelit living room, with big pillows on the floor, and incense filling the air.
“Well, damn…” Kenya said, turning to him. “This is what you do?”
He took her bag. “This is what I did…”
Placing her purse aside, he walked her over to the seating and Kenya sat on one of the pillows. Joining her, Josiah reached for her feet, and removed her heels. After placing the shoes away, he took her foot and began to massage it.
“You’re trying to turn me out, tonight…” Kenya whispered.
He nodded. “Yeah…”
Smiling, she laid back, while he continued on her foot. Expecting him to move to the other foot, she caught her breath, when he began to move up her leg instead.
“How was your day?” Josiah asked, kneading her calf.
“It was good…no problems.” She stared at him as he concentrated on her leg. “What about you?”
“I waited all day for Ms. Adams to call me to her office and relieve me of my duties.”
Kenya sat up. “What did you do, Josiah?”
Keeping a firm hold on her leg, he answered without looking at her.
“I had to have a ‘discussion’ with Mr. West.”
“Oh god…did you hit him?” Kenya asked hopefully.
Josiah lifted his gaze. “Nah, just hemmed him up and gave him a message.”
“What message?”
“Keep your name out of his mouth, because I don’t mind losing my job.”
Kenya gasped. “Josiah…”
He shook his head. “Enough is enough. He had his chance with you…clearly you didn’t want him. So man the fuck up and stop whining about it.”
She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’ve never had a hero.”
“You want one?”
Kenya smiled, looking into his face. “I’ve never thought so…but you seem to understand me a little better than I do myself.” She placed her mouth over his and greeted him with a smoldering kiss.
“This is all very romantic and seductive. Thank you…” Kenya whispered.
“I have to massage your other foot.” He kissed her lips. “And your legs…” Another kiss. “Then, whatever else you want me to massage…”
Kenya felt her body heating, as Josiah moved back to her foot. Thirty minutes later, Kenya had been massaged out of her dress and laid among the pillows in her underwear. Her feet, legs, and many other parts of her body had been given a long overdue treat.
Josiah laid next to her with a hand resting on her stomach. His head was propped up on an elbow as he looked down into her face.
“I appreciate you having my back with Ms. Adams.” Josiah told her. “I haven’t had a lot of people be that loyal.”
Kenya looked up at him. “What I said was the truth…I did agree with your reasons.”
“I’d never jeopardize your career, Kenya. I know how hard you’ve worked.”
“We both have Josiah.”
His hand toyed with her navel and Kenya felt tingles.
“I put you in a bad situation, so to make it up to you, I’d like to take you away.” Josiah offered.
Kenya looked interested. “Where do you want to take me?”
“A little place I know, for a weekend.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
He gave her a look. “I know that.”
Josiah waited for her response and encouraged her, by moving his hand lower to cover her feminine warmth.
“Yes, Josiah. I’d like to go away with you for a weekend.”
“I’ll make the arrangements once we set the date.”
“What do I need to do?” Kenya asked softly.
He stared at her. “When we get there, you can massage me.”
“You expect some reciprocity for tonight?” Kenya laughed.
“You asked,”
She nodded. “Okay, I can do that. I’ll even bring some oil.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it.” He slipped inside her panties. “In the meantime…”
Kenya closed her eyes and enjoyed his touch. Her legs opened of their own volition, encouraging him to give her more.
“Let’s eat.” Josiah told her, then stood to his feet.
Kenya opened her eyes and looked up at him.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“What?”
She pointed to her vagina. “This! Where the hell are you going?”
He gestured toward the kitchen. “Don’t you want dinner?”
Kenya got to her feet and placed her hand over his manhood, before slipping her hand into his jogging pants and beginning her own massage.
“Let me show you what I want…” she whispered, before dropping down in front of him.
Chapter 7
Josiah arrived at the respite facility to check on Javon. He was glad that he didn’t have to physically deal with the boy, and that the event at the Wilkins’ home had ended without altercation.
Inside the home, Josiah was greeted by the house manager.
“Josiah.”
“Jerome. How’s it going?”
The two men shook hands.
“We’re good. You’re here to check on your referral?”
Josiah nodded. “Yes. How’s he been doing?”
“Attitude, but we’re accustomed to that.”
“Has he opened up at all?”
Jerome looked at him. “He has a long way to go. His next move might be a juvenile facility.”
Josiah looked concerned. “Let me talk to him.”
“He’s in the game room.”
“Thanks.”
Josiah headed to the game room and found Javon inside, playing a video game.
“What’s up Javon?”
The boy looked up at him, then rolled his eyes. Josiah moved to the empty seat next to him.
“You can’t talk now?” Josiah asked. “Because I remember you having a lot to say…”
“What you want, man?”
“I came to check on you.”
Javon looked at him. “Why?”
“I actually am concerned about what happens to you, your brother, and your mother.” Josiah answered.
“We were good until you showed up.” Javon went back to the game.
“No, you weren’t.” Josiah picked up the other controller. “Add another player.”
Javon frowned. “Man, I’ll kill you in this.”
“Let’s see. I know how to play 2K.”
“Dameon said you can dunk.”
Josiah nodded. “Yeah, can you?”
“I’m not tall as you.” Javon told him, while changing the game to add Josiah.
“I could dunk at your age, and I wasn’t as tall you are right now.” Josiah shared. “I got taller later on.”
Javon looked him over. “I haven’t tried to dunk.”
Josiah focused on the screen. “With some practice, you’ll get it.”
“If you can ball like that, why didn’t you play in the league.”
Laughing, Josiah answered, “Because as good as I am, there are a thousand guys out there better…and want it more.”
The game started and they began playing against one another.
“You didn’t want it?”
“I wanted a lot of different things at different times.” Josiah answered.
Javon focused on the screen. “When can I go home?”
“I heard you’ve been giving a lot of attitude here.” Josiah told him. “That’s not going to speed up the process and possibly will send you to somewhere you really don’t want to be.”
The boy frowned. “Man, I wish you would had never came to my house.”
Josiah turned to him. “I’m trying to help you, Javon. You can’t stay on the road you’re on, or you’re going to hurt yourself, Dameon, and your mother. And, you know that your little brother looks up to you, so what you do also affects him.”
Javon shook his head. “I’m not his daddy.”
“I’m not yours, either,” Josiah said. “But I still want to set a good example for you…”
“I don’t even know you,”
“You don’t have to,” Josiah replied. “As a black man, it’s my responsibility to pave the way for you.”
Javon concentrated on the game. “I wanna go home.”
“I want you to go home. Your family needs you.” Josiah agreed. “But they need you to be a fourteen-year-old. It will save everybody a lot of problems.”
The room was silent while they played the game.
“I don’t like school.”
“Your brother told me the same thing.”
Javon paused the game for a minute, and turned to Josiah. “But he’s smart…”
“I’m sure you’re smart too, Javon. At some point, someone made you believe differently.” Josiah told him. “And you’re starting to make Dameon believe differently…”
Turning away, Javon started the game again.
“When I was your age, I didn’t go to school either.” Josiah shared. “And I didn’t think that I was smart…in fact, people told me that I wasn’t, and that I’d never do anything with my life.”
Javon looked at his suit. “Looks like you did something.”
“I did.” Josiah nodded. “But it took somebody to come into my life and show me that I was worth something.”
“Like you’re trying to do with me?”
“And Dameon…and every other black boy that I come into contact with.” Josiah vowed.
“What if you wrong?”
This time Josiah stopped the game. “What do you mean?” He looked at Javon.
“What if somebody just not worth nothing…”
“Everybody is Somebody. Do you know where I learned that?”
“Nah…”
Josiah smiled. “I went to a Historically Black College, and that’s where I learned it.” He resumed the game. “And that’s what I want to teach you.”
They played another quarter, before Javon spoke.
“I thought you were going to hit me that day at the house.” He confessed.
“I don’t want to hit you, Javon.” Josiah stated. “But, I wasn’t about to let you hit me, either…”
Javon laughed. “I got that message.”
“What do you want your life to be like?” Josiah asked.
He shrugged. “I don’t even know.”
“Maybe you should take a break from video games and think about it?” Josiah suggested. “Also, think about how you can help Dameon and your mother.”
Still focused on the game, Javon replied, “I try to be the man and run the house.”
“You’re not a man, yet…and that’s not your place. Yeah, you can assist your Momma…by cleaning up, going to school and helping with your little brother. But, you don’t run a household…you’re a teenager.” Josiah made it plain.
Javon rubbed his chin for a moment, before Josiah continued.
“Your Momma is raising a son, not a husband. You’re not her equal. You do what she tells you to do to help her.” Josiah finished.
Javon looked down at his hands. “I don’t want to hurt my Momma…or Day. I love them.”
“I believe you, and I know that they love you, and want you to come home.”
“Then let me go home.”
Josiah turned to him. “Then get yourself together.”
Javon sighed. “What I gotta do, man.”
“First, my name is not man. It’s Mr. Webber.” Josiah told him. “That’s respect.”
Javon frowned, then said, “Okay, Mr. Webber.”
“Second, you have to get back in school, and stay there.”
“I don’t know about that…”
“You only have a few months before the summer break begins. Stay out of trouble for that period of time, then we’ll talk about next year.”
“What else?”
“We need to find something that you’re interested in other than video games.”
Josiah pressed the controller and missed the basket, losing the game.
“I told you…you couldn’t beat me!” Javon boasted.
“Good game.” Josiah sat the controller down. “Now what else are you interested in?”
Javon shrugged. “Nothing.”
“Are you willing to try some different things?”
“Like what?”
“Something that will help with your future.”
Javon smiled. “I like to rap.”
Josiah closed his eyes for a brief moment. “Not that…”
“Why not?”
“Because every little dude thinks he makes fire beats and has bars…” Josiah explained. “And every other little dude has handles and is going into the league. But only a tiny fraction of them ever become successful in those areas. Plus, as a black man, you have so much more to offer. Let’s find your potential.”
“Man, what…” Javon stopped at Josiah’s look. “I mean, Mr. Webber, what you know about bars?”
“More than you think. I’m from the 9th Ward, New Orleans.”
“Lil Wayne and Juvie?” Javon’s eyes lit up.
Josiah nodded. “Yeah…so I know bars. Plus, I was in that game for a minute.”
“Why you do this then? Working with kids?”
“For one reason…I’m good at it. I represent every black boy who doesn’t have it easy, but has the potential to be whatever they want.” Josiah explained.
Javon stared at him. “Dameon talked about you all the time. How you told him he could talk to you…how you played basketball with him and dunked,” Javon paused with a smile. “And how you got his fine teacher on your d…”
“Watch your mouth.” Josiah warned. “And I’m sure that’s not what Dameon said…”
Javon smiled. “Nah, but that’s what he meant.”
“Do you want to go home?” Josiah asked.
“Yeah, I do.”
“Are you ready to do what you need to do?”
Looking away, Javon sighed. “I guess…”
“I’m
just asking you to put in the effort, Javon.”
“Okay…”
Josiah looked at him. “I know one thing I’m about to work on with you, that’s lacking.”
“What’s that?” Javon asked.
“Basic respect.”
******
In her classroom, Kenya made her way over to Dameon’s desk and sat beside him with a smile.
“How’s it going?” she asked.
He smiled. “I’m almost done.”
“Did you understand everything?”
He hesitated and she looked at him.
“Dameon, it’s okay to ask questions, that’s why I’m here. Nobody here knows everything, and it’s my job to teach you.”
He pointed to his paper. “I don’t know how to do this one.”
Kenya smiled. “Then, let’s do it together.”
“Ms. Barrett, I need help, too!” Isaiah, the boy who’d initially gotten into the argument with Dameon shouted.
“Please don’t shout, Isaiah.” Kenya told him. “Do the ones you can, and I’ll be over as soon as I’m done with Dameon.”
“Okay.” The boy went back to his work and Kenya looked at Dameon.
“See, everyone needs help sometimes.”
“So, he dumb, too?” Dameon asked.
Kenya shook her head. “No one in this room is dumb, and we’re not going to use those types of words, okay? You all are here to learn.”
Kenya worked with Dameon on the problems he was having trouble with until he understood the process. Finishing with him, she moved to assist Isaiah, then others in the classroom. After a while, there was a knock at her door, and she walked across the class to answer, as all the kids looked up.
“Hello, Mr. Webber.” Kenya smiled up at him.
“Ms. Barrett,” Josiah looked into her face. “Class is almost over and I’ve come to pick up Dameon for our weekly session.”
She nodded. “I will tell him to get his things ready.”
Kenya turned back to the room. “Dameon, Mr. Webber is here for you. Please pack up your things and take them with you.”
Dameon smiled. “Okay, Ms. Barrett.”
The other boys in the room began to complain. “Man, I want to go with Mr. Webber.”
“Me, too.” The boy who’d called Dameon dumb, folded his arms.
Dameon looked at the other boy. “Y’all can’t go, because Mr. Webber only likes me.”
Both Kenya and Josiah looked at Dameon.
“That’s not true, Dameon. Mr. Webber is here for all the students.” Kenya corrected, as Dameon headed to the door. “You just have an appointment with him today.”
