The Countdown to Thirty

by Nefertiti Faraj

  Stifling my indifference I replied, “Yep, pulled up right next to her. She’s pretty. You’ll have to show me the inside after dinner. So I guess things at the club are going good then huh?”

  “The club is the club, but I didn’t buy my baby if that’s what you’re talking about.” She said now pulling celery and carrots from the fridge and placing them on the chopping block.

  “Oh, new boyfriend?”

  “Something like that.” She answered and left it at that.

  “Oh,” She chuckled as if something humorous had just popped in her mind, “When did you get the stun gun by the way? You know that might be considered animal cruelty right? What you did to that dog.”

  I shook my head from embarrassment and laughed, “Christian gave it to me for protection. Hey I was just defending myself,” I explained not exactly telling the whole truth. When I stunned the evil devil I was considerably safe, but he deserved it.

  “For protection? Well then where’s mine and everybody else’s,” She said looking at me with selfish expectations, “I’m the one working at the club. What do you need protection against?”

  I told her all about the sudden increase of break-ins in the area and how my new comrade Sonya and I just installed ADT.

  “Sounds like you live in the ghetto Kai Kai. I thought you’d sworn once you left Mama’s house you’d never live in the hood again.” She implied with attitude as she glared at me with bitterness.

  Every time we seemed to get together she always managed to bring up ‘The Fight’ we had the night before I left for UNLV. You’d think after ten years she’d be over it but clearly she wasn’t. Basically what it boiled down to is that she was jealous that Christian volunteered to be my designated driver to Las Vegas. She had this major crush on him in those days but Christian didn’t see her that way, well at least not anymore. He used to be on Ce Ce so tough, buying her perfumes, asking her out on dates, giving her compliments but she could care less…that is until he joined the military but it was too late by then, he’d moved on. At this point she’d gotten suspicious that we had something going on and possibly have been ever since.

  “I don’t, don’t worry.” I upheld repressing my annoyance and heading for the sliding patio door off her master bedroom. It was only ten minutes in and I needed a break from her already.

  I stepped out onto her porch and caught a neutral Cali breeze that blew in from the Pacific. It was divine and so was her view of the shimmering sapphire ocean that seemed to be within the grasp of my fingertips. Down below, traffic flowed at a moderate pace while golden haired pedestrians in their cargo shorts and flip flops walked their way into charming little coffee shops and restaurants without a care in the world.

  “True California living at its best,” I admitted hoping I’d be able to live here again one day. Don’t get me wrong, Vegas is nice and incredibly cheaper but nothing compares to So Cal.

  I laid myself down in the wicker chaise lounger with the dark blue cushion that occupied most of the space on her patio and simply…relaxed.

  Approximately fifteen minutes later I opened my eyes underneath my dark shades as I remained laid out on Ce Ce’s chaise lounger basking in the warmth of the sun. My tranquility had been temporarily interrupted by the light knocking of Riley on the other side of the patio door. I was still upset about the deviation of our plans and the dog incident but with no difficulty offered her an approachable smile anyway.

  She joined me and timidly offered me another apology on behalf of herself and Derrick. After explaining how she’d overslept and her phone died in the middle of the night which is why she didn’t hear her alarm and how sorry she was about the dog whose name she told me was Red, I accepted her long-winded apology and blew the incident off like it was no big deal. I accepted Derrick’s apology to but solely to keep the peace.

  Mama finally made it over to Celeste’s after her shift accompanied by a few miniature bottles of Paul Mason. I had to shake my head at that, she was so predictable.

  “Hey baby,” she said as she put her belongings down and gave me a big hug.

  I squeezed her back tightly, “Hey Mama, how was work.”

  “Girl I’ve been mad all day,” she complained, “That dog is out my house now right Riley?” Mama snapped.

  I shot Riley an uneasy glance.

  “Yes Mama, he took him to his uncle’s house.”

  “Why’d he get that ugly thing in the first place?” Celeste ridiculed.

  “Because he was planning on getting a female one to so he could breed em’.” Riley answered with her hand pressed to her temple showing visible signs of stress.

  “Uh huh! Not in my damn backyard!” Mama forbade.

  “Oh my God Mama I told you he’s gone!”

  “Okay, okay, okay come on Ry help me set the table. Mama you ready to eat?” I said stepping in to take some of the pressure off Riley.

  “Girl, you know I’m ready to eat.”

  Midway through dinner while I was working on the fabulous spaghetti Ce Ce put together my phone began to ring. Looking at the caller ID I saw that it was Malcolm. A smile crept across my face because ever since we made up, he’d been doing a better job of staying in contact with me. I badly wanted to answer the phone and talk to him but I knew this wasn’t the right time. Instead I sent him a little text letting him know I was having dinner with my family and would call him right after.

  “Don’t mind us, you can take the call.” Celeste said with her nosey self.

  “Thanks, but I don’t want to take the call right now. I’m with my family.” I said smiling all the while feeling one hundred percent bogus in that answer, I’d really rather answer the phone.

  Swallowing a bite of her dinner roll mama asked, “Who was it?”

  “Oh, a friend that’s all.” I didn’t want to give too much information on my dating life at this point so I decided to leave it at that.

  “I didn’t know you were seeing someone, what’s his name?” Celeste asked.

  Why did my family have to be so damn nosey all the time? Why couldn’t they just leave well enough alone? Didn’t I just say he was a friend and that was all?

  “His name is Malcolm and we’re working on our relationship right now, that’s all.”

  My phone beeped and my text message icon popped up. It was Malcolm responding telling me to take my time and to call him no matter how late. Wow, I think this time apart has really helped us. I’m breaking him down!

  “What happened? What did you guys have to work on?” Riley asked innocently while they all stared at me for information.

  In an attempt to abandon this invasive game of twenty questions I suddenly changed the topic of discussion to the house warming gift Ms. Eleanor sent me.

  “She sent it to Christian’s house and I went over there to pick it up. She told me I can’t use it until I move-into the house. Ma did you know she was sending it?”

  “No I didn’t even know until she called me and told me you called her and thanked her. I didn’t even know you was planning on buying a house. You told Eleanor but you can’t even tell your Mama?” She said looking as if I committed the ultimate offense.

  “No I didn’t tell her, Christian did. He’s supposed to go house hunting with me one of these days…but I’m not so sure about that now.”

  Celeste loudly placed her fork down, “House hunting…you and Christian? What’s really going on there?” She inquired still bothered that we might have something going on. When was she going to get over that crap and realize it wasn’t like that between us? We had nothing going on and the kiss we shared was just a technicality that she didn’t even know about so I really wish she would drop the sudden attitude.

  I ignored her.

  “I think you should date Christian, you guys would be cute together.” Riley commented. “Plus military guys have money.”

  “No they don’t Riley, don’t fall for that. There’s plenty of guys out there with more money than that. Never date a nine t
o five man.” Celeste said trying to downplay Christian in her unnecessary bitterness.

  “That may be true but it’s better than the big mouthed, have to be seen, have to be heard fools you like to date. They have no real confidence in themselves so they brag about what they have when they really don’t have a thing.” I mentioned out of a state of frustration.

  “What you mean don’t have a thing? Every guy I date has something, I only date ballers.”

  “Oh, you mean like Hakeem the football player who had tons of money but tried to kill himself after he got cut from the team and had to file bankruptcy? Or maybe Shawn the rapper who wore a twenty thousand dollar chain but couldn’t pay his child support? Yea, you date true intellects Celeste.” I chastised.

  Riley started laughing at the furious look on Celeste face then Mama stepped in to save the day, “Yea that might be true but did you see Ce Ce’s new Benz yet? That was a gift she didn’t have to pay for that. The both of you need to take some lessons from Celeste.”

  I gave my mother a doubtful look like that will never happen. Perhaps she didn’t pay with cash or credit but she definitely paid with something else.

  “That doesn’t matter mama. These guys, they have no depth.”

  “There she go again, thinking what she got is better than what everybody else got,” Mama said to Celeste.

  Somehow my success with college and my career versus Mama’s lack of success in her life always translated in her mind as I think I’m better. In an effort to ignore her comment, I switched the subject.

  “So Ry, I went online and printed out the requirements for the AA program in Criminal Justice for you.” I mentioned while reaching into my purse for the printout. “Take a look.” I said handing her the paperwork.

  “Thank you.” She looked over the courses and her eyes grew big. “How long is this gonna take, it’s a lot of classes.” She was clearly overwhelmed so I tried to help her break it down.

  “Well typically it takes about two years if you go full-time, but when you’re done you can transfer to a university or start working if you want.” I said in an attempt to leave her with options.

  “Riley you need to do that instead worrying about Derrick all day, and while you do that you can do what you and Celeste talked about so you can start paying your way.”

  My glance shifted to Riley then to Celeste. I didn’t have a good feeling about this, “What did you guys talk about?”

  “Dancing,” Celeste said proudly, “So she can make her own money and support herself.”

  Riley was ashamed to look me in the eye, she knew that was the last thing I wanted her to do.

  “Wait, what? How did we go from school to stripping? No,” I said turning to face Riley, “What you can do is find a normal job, something you can put on your resume. I can help you out with a little car, Celeste can you pitch in?” I asked putting her on the spot since she called herself creating solutions.

  She exhaled sounding frustrated, “Yes but a little bucket is not going to work and neither will a job at McDonald’s or waiting two years until she finishes school before she can make some money. She needs a job now; her and Mama are struggling right now.” She snapped.

  “Mama, are you really letting her consider this?”

  Mama wouldn’t look me in the eye, instead she looked down at the table but still spoke her mind, “She’ll be okay, she don’t have to do it forever.” Now looking up at Riley she said, “But that Derrick gone have to go, I’ll be damned if you up there doing that and he just letting you while you pay the rent.”

  “Y’all I don’t know, I think what Kaia said sounds good for me. I don’t have to work at McDonald’s. I can find a better job.” Riley said, “Mama I can still help you out.”

  “Well look, she ain’t living our life! She got a degree and some money, we struggling right here right now!” Mama said pressuring Riley.

  Celeste agreed, “That’s right.”

  That was it, why was I still doing this to myself? I loved my family, all of them, but I’m tired of feeling like the black sheep. Here they were the closet family that I have and they make me feel like an outsider every time, no wonder I’ve clung to Malcolm for so long, I just needed to feel love. Mama and Celeste were jealous of my accomplishments instead of being happy for me and I couldn’t ignore it anymore.

  I stood up, grabbed my purse and headed for the door.

  “Oh here she go, being all dramatic for nothing.” I heard Mama say.

  Riley ran to me, “Kaia don’t leave yet, please stay.”

  I gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek, “I love you Ry. Call me tomorrow so we can talk okay?” I said looking her in the eye. She was still sweet and I didn’t want her opinion of me transforming into that of Mama’s and Celeste’s. Most of all I didn’t want her selling herself out for quick money. “I might have an idea.”

  “Okay, I love you to, don’t be mad.”

  I turned around and called out to Mama and Celeste as I prepared to walk out of the condo, “I love you guys and I’ll talk to you another time.”

  Perhaps I made that last statement to them to keep the peace or perhaps I made it because I wasn’t sure when I was going to talk to them again. Whatever the reason, I knew I still loved them but that I couldn’t let them manipulate Riley or let Mama manipulate me anymore.

  “Call me,” I mouthed to Riley with my hand to my face indicating a phone.

  She smiled and eagerly nodded, “Okay.”

  I checked out of my hotel and headed for the 10 freeway determined to make it back home to Vegas where I would stay put for a while. Once I passed Victorville I increased my speed to ninety-five while my mind replayed everything. I was angry at Mama and Celeste, scared for Riley, optimistic about getting my relationship back with Malcolm and uneasy about my upcoming meet up with Christian.

  As I drove the dark stretch of highway into the middle of nowhere I asked the Lord to bring me happiness in the form of a loving husband and beautiful children. I knew they would love me and wouldn’t misjudge me for wanting and accomplishing more in life than my family had.

  Fifteen

  Sonya

  I drove to the nearest CVS just a few blocks away and thought I was being smart by wearing a baseball cap and bringing my umbrella. As soon as I climbed out of my Mitsubishi and shut the door, an unruly gust of wind and rain attacked me blowing my cap off my head and flipping my umbrella inside out.

  “Aagh! Oh my God! Oh my God!” I screamed as I went running through the parking lot chasing my cap and fighting with my umbrella to get it to cooperate. I could feel the cold rain seeping through my beige velour sweat suit and my hair turn from a cute short cut to a wet flat mess.

  I abandoned my cap when I watched it blow into a puddle then retreated to safety inside CVS.

  “Shit! Shit!” I said standing at the entrance stomping my boots on the mat and trying to ring the rain water from my pants, “All this for a rubber dildo?”

  “Excuse me, are you alright?”

  The deep voice with a strong east coast accent coming from behind startled me sending my shoulders in the air and a wave of embarrassment over my body. I spun around quickly hoping that whoever this person was didn’t just hear what I said. Immediately my eyes focused in on an extremely attractive man with sleek dark skin who was wearing a subtle laugh outlined by his black goatee. He was currently dripping beads of water from the top of his neatly dreaded head to the bottom of his blue jeans.

  Damn he looks good. What’s he laughing about? Oh God I hope he didn’t hear what I said.

  I ran my hands through my muddled hair and honorably responded, “Yes I’m fine, thank you. I just got a little wet that’s all.”

  Anyone looking at me could tell I was more than just a little wet and if anybody could read minds they’d know I was completely embarrassed.

  With a half laugh, half smile on his face he extended his hand offering me something, “I saw you in the parking lot, chasing your hat, I got it
for you.”

  “Oh, thank you,” I said grabbing it quickly and putting it on my head, “You didn’t have to do that.

  “No it’s my pleasure.” He said as he began removing the excess water and dirt from his boots onto the CVS welcome mat, “Looks like you were having a hard time back there.” He chuckled.

  And there he went again with that damn laugh. I bet he got an even better one when he watched me running through the parking lot like a fool. My face was wet from rain and hot from embarrassment and I couldn’t wait to grab the batteries then run like hell out of CVS.

  “Yep,” I said as my eyebrows shot up and my lips curled into a closed mouthed grin. “Thanks again.” I said shortly as I turned to walk away and get as far away from this man as possible.

  “You’re welcome.” He called out but I couldn’t be bothered enough to turn around.

  I walked briskly through CVS as my boots squeaked and my soaked pants clung uncomfortably to my ass. The store was decorated for Halloween and Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ played on the overhead speaker reminding me that the holiday season was officially on its way. It wasn’t even October 1st yet.

  I found my AA batteries but winced when I saw the price, “Five ninety-nine for a four pack of batteries? Girl you know you need a job.” I said to myself as I scooped them from out of the rack.

  Or a man.

  My snooty subconscious ever so kindly reminded me that I was a serial self-pleasurer and tended to make me feel a little…guilty about it. Regardless I shook the thought right out of my head then headed for the cash register.

  When I got there the line was long and there was only one cashier working the counter. I took my place behind a heavy set white woman and her preteen son who turned around and gave me the ‘what the hell happened to you look.’

  With my hand pointing towards the door I replied with a little more sarcasm than necessary, “It got a little wet outside.”

  His mother turned around giving me a customary smile then directed her son’s concentration back to the line.

  While Thriller still played in the background, a deafening roar of thunder struck commanding the attention of everyone causing us to give each other uneasy gazes. The sky turned to a spooky darkness as thunder and lightning continued to strike and the rain fell hard at a slanted angle against the outside pavement.