by D. Camille
“Don’t worry about the budget, Miss Math Teacher.” He smiled. “It’s going to be donated. I just need to get the head count.”
Kenya stared at him. “You got them to donate it?”
“Yes.”
“They must really like you over there…” Kenya said slowly. “What’s up with that?”
“I’ve known the owner for a while.”
“Is Miss Ella the owner?”
He nodded as he drove.
“How do you know her?”
“Her husband was my counselor and my mentor.”
Kenya heard the sadness in his voice and touched his arm. “He passed away?”
“A few years ago…”
“I’m sorry. I can hear how painful it was for you.”
“It was. He was a great man.”
Kenya watched Josiah. “Tell me about him.”
“He was a man who wasn’t afraid to show that he cared. He was patient, almost to a fault…but he’d also handle his business when his patience ran out. I was mostly on the receiving end of handling business.” Josiah shared with a smile.
“I don’t find that hard to believe.” Kenya teased him.
“Mr. James was larger than life. He showed me how to get a basketball scholarship for the sole purpose of getting an education. I had no aspirations to go pro, or even play in college, but Mr. James hooked me up and the rest is history.” He explained.
“What were your aspirations?”
“I had none at that time.” He answered honestly. “I was just jumping from one thing to another…”
Kenya touched his dark hair. “Is he the reason you became a counselor?”
“He sure is.”
“He made quite an impression.” Kenya commented.
Josiah looked over at her. “He was the first man that I could trust, and the first one who challenged me to be better. He made me see myself differently and taught me how to be a black man.”
“Wow, he sounds amazing.”
“He was, and I wanted to be just like him.”
Kenya smiled softly. “I think you’re doing a good job.”
Josiah focused on driving. “What about you? Did you always want to be a Math teacher?”
She grinned. “Uh, let’s see…I wanted to be a model, a nurse, and a police officer.”
“So you went to college and became a Math teacher?”
“Exactly.”
He laughed. “I can see you doing all of those other things, too.”
“I love teaching the kids, and math was always my favorite subject through school, and I wanted to make it a favorite of other kids.” She told him.
“Dameon says that he likes your class sometimes.”
“That’s only because Gym is his favorite. I have to compete with that for a lot of the boys.” She said, shaking her head. “They feel that math is boring, complicated and serves no purpose.”
“Yeah, that’s about what I thought too, at their ages.”
“Why?” Kenya asked.
Josiah sat back as he drove. “Black boys at that age transition slower into more structured settings. They’re still in the phase of needing freedom and activity to grow their brains. Hence, the reason that most of them love gym so much. It’s not because they can’t understand math and other subjects, it’s the freedom that the movement gives them.”
“The school systems push them into these environments where they feel trapped and confined, which can lead to frustration, which leads to confrontations and acting out. Then from there, we know the rest.” Josiah finished.
“But they can’t run around all day,” Kenya told him.
“No, they can’t and that’s why the Bantu Academy is light years ahead of the educational system, in understanding what our children need. Things like meditative classes, and Art Therapy help them in the transitions.”
Kenya looked at him. “You love working with the boys, I can tell.”
“I do. A lot of them remind me so much of myself…and I want to guide them in the right direction.”
“Like Mr. James did for you…and what you’re doing with Dameon and Javon.” Kenya smiled.
He made a face. “Dameon’s doing well. Javon, on the other hand.”
“I’ve seen him around the Academy. What’s going on with him?”
“Behavioral patterns don’t change overnight, and Javon was accustomed to having his way. Ms. Wilkins started those parenting classes at the non-profit, and now she’s trying to undo what’s basically already been done.” He shared. “It’s just going to take some time, and I hope that Javon will be patient enough to let the process work.”
“I hope all the best for them.”
“Dameon asked if you were my girlfriend,” Josiah sent her a look.
“What did you say?”
Frowning, Josiah answered, “I told him to stay focused on the reason he was there.”
“Mr. Webber don’t play.”
“Nah, I don’t.”
Kenya looked out the window. “Am I your girlfriend?”
“No.”
She turned back to him with an eyebrow lifted. “No?”
“Nope.” He said more adamantly.
“Well, thank you for letting me know that, Josiah.”
Kenya folded her arms with an incredulous look on her face.
“Do you want to know what you are to me?” Josiah asked, after a minute.
“I really don’t think it matters, now.”
He smiled. “Oh it matters, that’s why you’re mad as hell right now.”
“I don’t have time to play with you.”
“You really mad because you want to be my girlfriend?” He asked confused.
“Shut up talking to me, before I make you turn around.”
Josiah laughed. “Stop trying to be so damn hard.” He reached for her hand, and she pulled it away.
“Stop before we have an accident,” she warned.
“Then give me your hand.” He reached for it again, before she stuck it out angrily.
“Here! Before you kill us both.” Kenya snapped.
“Thank you…” Josiah said, holding her hand and driving.
He caressed her rigid palm for a few minutes, then asked softly, “Now, do you want to know what you are to me?”
“Fine Josiah, go ahead.”
He looked over at her, and said, “You’re not my girlfriend, because you’re not a damn girl. Girls don’t walk down a hall, like a queen. Girls don’t make a man want to fulfill her wishes. And, girls don’t handle their business in everything they do...”
“You’re a beautiful, grown ass, bad ass, sexy ass…WOMAN, Kenya.” He told her. “You’re my woman, in every way.”
Kenya stared at him. “I swear, you like to take me through so many changes.”
“How?”
“Really, Josiah.”
He laughed. “I couldn’t believe that you were really mad.”
“I was.” She said softly. “And I was hurt…”
Sobering, he looked at her. “Why?”
“Because, you mean a lot to me, Josiah...I’m in love with you.” Kenya said flat out.
Josiah’s eyebrow lifted. “You’re in love with me?”
She nodded slowly. “Yes, so I’m just going to do something that I’ve never done. I’m going to just put it out there and whatever happens…happens.”
He became silent for a long minute, then looking straight ahead, he spoke, “I’ve never said those words, to any living soul.”
“And you don’t have to say it now,” Kenya told him. “Because I only want you to say it, if you mean it.”
“I don’t even know what it feels like, Kenya.” He said honestly.
She moved closer. “Then let me tell you how it feels to me…”
He continued to drive while listening.
“It feels like, I want to see you and hear your voice every day. I think about you all the time. I admire the man that you are. I can’t wait to be in
your arms and feel your body next to mine. I want you to have the best this world has to offer you, and I want to be with you every step of the way.”
After a pause, Josiah asked, “That’s what love feels like?”
“It does to me.” Kenya whispered.
They finished the rest of the drive listening to music, deep in their own private thoughts, until Josiah pulled up in front of a beautiful log cabin.
Kenya turned to him with a smile. “This is incredible. I can’t believe it.” She leaned over and kissed him, then hopped out the car and ran to the door.
Shaking his head, Josiah climbed out and called to her, “Uh… a little help with food or bags…or something?”
Kenya returned, and looked up at him. “Hurry up. I want to see the inside.”
She took the food out, while Josiah got their bags, and they both headed to the door. Fishing in his pocket for the key, Josiah opened the door and allowed Kenya inside.
He heard her gasp, as he bent to pick up the bags.
“Josiah!!”
“You like it?” he asked, sitting their luggage inside and closing the door.
“It’s amazing! Look at those windows!” Food still in her hands, Kenya rushed over to the floor to ceiling windows to look out at the nature. “It’s so beautiful…and peaceful.”
Josiah walked over to her and took the bags from her hands. “The perfect place to seduce you.” He kissed her, then went to the kitchen. After another look out the window, Kenya joined him in unpacking their goodies.
“This smells so good.” She told him.
“This is for tonight, since neither of us will be cooking…” He gave her a look.
“What are we going to be doing?”
He pulled her into his arms. “Not cooking.”
Kenya smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“This is far more than I ever expected, but you always do that.” She lifted her face to his.
“I always want to exceed your expectations, baby.” Josiah whispered, lowering his mouth to hers.
The kiss started out slow, then began to build quickly. Soon they were in the throes of passion and clothes were quickly removed. On the kitchen counter, they christened the cabin, and all that could be heard inside the wooden logs were moans and groans of ecstasy, for what seemed like eternity to the two people loving one another.
Kenya held on to Josiah, breathing harshly in his ear, as they both recovered from their afternoon interlude. After a few minutes, she pulled back to look into his face. Their eyes connected and held, while she watched Josiah gather his thoughts.
Still joined together, on the kitchen cabinetry, Josiah gently kissed her face, then whispered in her ear, “I want to see you and hear your voice every day. I think about you all the time. I admire the woman that you are. I can’t wait to be in your arms and feel your body next to mine. I want you to have the best this world has to offer you, and I want to be with you every step of the way.”
Kenya’s eyes watered as he now stared into her face.
“And I love you, too, Josiah.”
Chapter 9
After weeks of planning, the school dance, was about to take place. Josiah and Kenya had spent much time together, both preparing for the event and building their relationship. The theme for the dance, Black History, Black Present, and Black Future had been a hit with Ms. Adams, and she’d encouraged the pair throughout the process.
Kenya and Josiah were taking care of the last minute items in the gym, before the students began to arrive, when he looked across the room at her and smiled, prompting her to smile back. For Kenya, the past few weeks with Josiah had been an experience unlike any other.
Since their trip to the mountains, her love for him had grown and continued to do so every day. For the first time, she’d found someone with whom she could be herself, without judgement and expectations. Josiah was the man he presented to be, at all times, and she appreciated that in him. He didn’t tell her words that she simply wanted to hear. Josiah consistently showed her, through his actions, what she meant in his life.
Kenya smiled again, when she saw him approaching.
“Ready, partner?” He asked, looking down at her.
“We did a great job.”
He looked around the professionally decorated space.
“I think the decorator did.”
Kenya hit him on the chest.
“I hired her.” She replied. “So we did a great job.”
Josiah put a hand on her waist. “You’re right. We did a great job, and the kids are going to love it. Good music, good food, and this perfectly decorated spot.”
“Thank you.”
He stared into her face. “We can celebrate tonight…” he said quietly.
“You have something special?”
“Don’t I always?”
Kenya grinned. “You do have a way of exceeding my expectations.”
“And I’m not about to stop…”
She linked her arms around his neck, and lifted her face to his for a tender kiss.
The door opened and they moved apart, as Niyah, Leslie and Caelum entered the gym.
“Look at what you guys did!” Leslie exclaimed. “This looks amazing.”
“Thanks,” Kenya told her. “The decorator is here, and I’ll introduce you to her. She really deserves the credit.”
The women hugged, while Josiah and Caelum shook hands.
“Great job,” Caelum told Josiah. “The kids are going to love this.”
“Thanks. The Black History program was amazing.” Josiah replied. “I’m sure they learned a lot. I even learned some things.”
The two men turned their attention to the women, where Kenya was explaining the agenda to the teacher chaperones.
“So we have divided the gym into three areas. The elementary levels are together over there, then the middle grades are in that section, and high school has the entire side over there.” She pointed out the locations as she spoke and everyone nodded.
“That was a good idea.” Niyah told her.
“Josiah suggested that we make the sections age appropriate like the school, but still have them all in one spot.”
Something caught Niyah’s eye and she inquired about it. “Kenya why does that stage in the corner look familiar?”
Kenya turned and also looked. “It’s from your movie. It’s the stage where Curtis and Pearl got married.”
Niyah’s eyes widened, as Kenya continued.
“Chris brought it over for us to use as part of the Black History portion of our theme. We’re going to give out some awards, and recognize some of the staff.” Kenya explained.
“I’m so glad that you guys incorporated it.” Niyah told her. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you for making such an incredible story.” Josiah told her. “Kenya gifted me the book, and we watched the movie together.”
Niyah smiled at her friend.
“I gotta rep my girl.” Kenya said, and Niyah hugged her.
Kita entered the gym, and walked over to the group.
“How do you like everything?” she asked Kenya.
“It’s incredible, you outdid yourself with…everything.” Kenya told her, then introduced her to the others, who also gave her praises.
Blushing, Kita replied, “You are all so nice. I’m glad that it turned out to your liking.” She looked around. “I love it, too. I hope the kids like it, as well.”
Again, the door opened and Ms. Adams walked in, then stopped. She looked around the space, then put a hand to her mouth.
“What in the…”
Spotting the group, she made her way over. “This is spectacular!” Spreading her arms wide, she turned in a full circle.
“This is what the Bantu Academy stands for…” she told them.
Kenya smiled. “I’m glad you like it, Ms. Adams.”
“Like it! This is almost something out of a movie.” She told her. “I cannot thank you both enough.”
> Josiah grinned. “You’re welcome. It was a pleasure.”
Just then, Rashad entered with Chris, R.J. and Pearl. Spotting his wife, he went to join her.
“Hello, my goddess.” Rashad kissed Niyah’s lips.
“Hello, my Oba. I see you’ve brought our little tribe.”
Niyah bent and kissed her son, before taking her daughter into her arms.
“Hi, Aunt Kenya.” R.J. said going to hug his godmother.
“Well, hello handsome. Are you ready for the dance?”
He nodded. “Are you going to dance with me?”
“I sure am.”
After greeting Rashad and Chris, Josiah turned to R.J.
“Hello, R.J.”
“Hi, Mr. Webber.” The boy smiled.
“I hope you have a good time tonight.”
R.J. nodded. “I will. C.K. will be here, and we’re going to have fun.”
Caelum looked at Leslie and she laughed before Chris cleared his throat, and they all looked at him.
“So, I know just about everybody standing here, but I’ve haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you.” The group watched as he stepped over to Ms. Adams. She blinked for a moment, then held out a hand.
“I’m Ms. Adams. I am the principal here at the Bantu Academy.” She told him.
Chris smiled and took her hand. “I’m Chris. I’m the Set Director at Whitlock Studios. I brought that stage over for your event.”
Ms. Adams turned to the stage, then back to Chris, who was still holding her hand. “That is lovely. Did you build that?”
He nodded. “Yes, it was part of Niyah’s movie about Black Wall Street. It’s a replica of the one at The Dreamland Theater.”
Ms. Adams looked at their hands. “I’d love to hear more about it.”
“I’d love to tell you more.” Chris gently wrapped her hand around his arm, before leading her over to the structure.
“What the hell….” Kenya said, after they were a distance away.
“I guess Chris still got the juice,” Rashad said, with a smile.
Niyah looked stunned. “I’ve never seen Ms. Adams like that.”
Kenya agreed. “I know. She’s usually carrying the whip, but she might be using it for something else now.”
