Hitta's Tea Maker 2

by Edwina Fort

“Good will my a**. You’re a modern-day Cinderella. You clean their house, do all the laundry, cook all the food…Put up with those twin demon seeds she calls children and the best she can do is hand you twenty-five dollars?” She shook her head. “Nothing good happens to people like her.”

  I know she was probably thinking about her mom, who’s selfish careless ways had ruined many things for Rach…I don’t want to tell you guys too much of her tale because I've heard it on good authority, she will be telling y’all her tale herself real soon…

  So… No spoilers…

  LOL… Anyway, we found the perfect dress for me. At first, I was a little worried because it was yellow, and I don’t think people wore yellow dresses to prom, but then I thought, who cares? The dress is beautiful and I wanted it.

  It called to me. The yellow wrap dress looked so good against my brown skin. Once I moisturized really good, it was really going to make my melanin pop. I was a little uncomfortable with the split on the side that went up almost to my thigh. But Rachel said because it’s a Maxi dress, it will be perfect.

  The dress was so long it will drag the ground even if I wore heels, so I didn’t bother. We found some beautiful golden sandals with long laces that weaved up my leg Roman style for only two dollars and fifty cents.

  I went to Rachel's house to get dressed on Prom night. I was the only one who'd ever been to her house because it really wasn't much of a house. They barely had any furniture and the few pieces they had were very dirty. Her mom did a lot of entertaining, and it always smelled like a bar in here.

  Rachel had two locks on her room door, but even that didn’t keep some of her mom’s friends out. Sometimes I snuck her in my room so that she could sleep safe, which wasn’t hard to do because my room was in the basement and nobody really came down there.

  Rachel was not ashamed to bring me to her house because she and I were in the same boat. Both of us were living our own personal hells, counting down the days till we could be free. Poor Rach still had a whole year left.

  Anyway, I went to her place to get dressed so that she could do my hair and make-up. She braided my hair in two long braids and then wrapped them around my head like a crown, before weaving pretty yellow flowers in it.

  She went light on the make-up because she said I didn’t need it.

  “You are so pretty, Free, you don’t need any make-up…You already look like a chocolate baby doll.” I smiled hugging her close. I loved Rachel. At that time in my life, she was the only person who cared for me.

  When she was done, I stood in her mirror staring at my reflection in disbelief. Somehow, she’d made me look like a princess.

  “Thank you so much, Rach, you worked a miracle.” She playfully hit my arm.

  “Yeah right, I think you’re the only one unaware of how beautiful you are. It’s the reason your stepsisters are so jealous of you.”

  I shook my head at that. Rach has been saying that since I’ve known her, but I didn’t think it was true. Layla and Laureen had beautiful clothes and spent hours at the hair salon and nail parlor. They weren’t jealous of me. I was the nobody that stayed in their basement, living off their charity.

  Anyway, a group of my friends and I decided to go together since no one had asked us. We agreed to meet at Dillion’s house and have a cocktail before we went. And although neither of us said it, we really were drinking some liquid courage.

  By the time we entered the prom we were all a little tipsy. And I’m not going to lie, I ended up having a really good time, even when the Beautiful Ones entered and even when their king entered looking extremely handsome in his suit with Tamesha Walker on his arm.

  In fact, I threw my head back and laughed because I knew that both Layla and Laureen had hoped that would have been them, but he hadn’t chosen either of them. It made sense that he chose Tamesha…She was the most popular girl in the school.

  Love Child by Diana Ross came on, it was one of my favorite songs in the whole world. Thanks to the four glasses of champagne I had, I didn’t hesitate to turn around and face my friends, who cheered me on and I pretended to be Diana.

  They laughed as I did a really horrible impersonation.

  You think that I don't feel love,

  What I feel for you is real love.In other's eyes, I see reflected a hurt, scorned, rejected.

  Love Child, never meant to be,

  Love Child, born in poverty,

  Love Child, never meant to be,

  Love Child, take a look at me.

  Although my friends laughed, they had no idea how much I related to this song… They had no idea that I was that Love Child…

  I started my life in an old, cold, rundown tenement slum.

  My father left, he never even married Mom.

  I shared the guilt my mama knew,

  So afraid that others knew I had no name.

  This love we're contemplating, is worth the pain of waiting.

  We'll only end up hating the child we may be creating.

  Love Child, never meant to be,

  Love Child, by society,

  Love Child, never meant to be,

  Love Child, diff'rent from the rest.

  At some point, I got lost in the song and hugged myself as I continued to dance…

  I started school in a worn, torn, dress that somebody threw out.

  I knew the way it was to always live in doubt,

  To be without the simple things,

  So afraid my friends could see the guilt in me.

  Don't think I don't need you,

  Don't think I don't want to please you.

  No child of mine'll be bearing the name of shame I've been wearin'.

  Love Child, never quite as good,

  What was to become of me? Now that high school was practically over, my life would officially begin… I continued to dance to the song completed lost in my head, however when my back came up against something solid, I froze and whipped around.

  My hand flew to my mouth when I saw that I’d bumped into Tucker. He stood looking at me as if this was his first time ever seeing me.

  “Sorry, Mean Tuck!” I told him before a giggle slipped through my lips.

  But then I thought, why am I apologizing? He must have walked up to me, because I was still standing close to my friends, who all now watched him warily, like sheep who’d just spotted a lion.

  His gaze flew up to mine. He must have just realized I was a little tipsy. “Do you know you’re the only one at this school brave enough to give me a nickname?”

  I thought about his words… It was true. I will never forget the day I first let the name slip through my lips. I was running late for algebra, freshmen year and he rounded the corner at the same time I did. I went around him, but he still took offense and knocked my books out of my arms.

  I was so mad that I turned around and called him Mean Tuck… I wanted to tell him he was a Mean F*** but got scared and changed my mind at the last minute and Mean Tuck came out my mouth instead. I guess I’ve been calling him that ever since. But you know what was amazing that I’d just realized? He’d never stopped me. I mean at any point and time, he could have been like, don’t call me that.

  And I would have been like, you got it.

  “Yeah, but I’m not brave. You terrify me.”

  Wow! The champagne had the truth slipping through my lips very easily. I know tomorrow I was going to regret it.

  He chuckled as his gaze continued to take me in. “You look really pretty, Free.”

  My mouth opened in shock, but then I closed it back… “Yeah right, what’s the catch? You going to pour glue in my hair or trip me,” I chuckled. “You going to try and rip my dress?”

  As soon as the words escaped my lips, I regretted it. His gaze lowered to the tie in my dress. I froze when his hand grabbed it. One pull and my dress will open.

  “Looks like the only thing I have to do is pull this string.”

  “Come on, Tucker…give her break tonight.” Dillion, the brave
st of our crew said, taking a cautious step forward.

  Tucker’s gaze rose from my waist to look at Dillion. The frown that came upon his face was breathtaking.

  “What?!” he growled, causing both Dillion and I to jump.

  “Nothing, bro…” my very wise friend said taking a few steps back.

  “That’s what the f*** I thought.” Then his gaze came back to me and his eyes softened again.

  “What you going to do to keep me from pulling this string?”

  “I—” at a complete loss for words I looked around for a teacher, but then he started pulling the string.

  “What do you want me to do?” I cried, grabbing his big hand.

  “Go for a ride with me.”

  “Ummm…”

  He started pulling the string again. “Okay!” I squeaked.

  With a satisfied smile on his face, he held his hand out to me. The hand I put in his shook. He led me out the gym past his date, who was steaming mad and the other Beautiful Ones…

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Layla asked me walking toward us, she was steaming too.

  “Sit,” was all Tucker said and I promise, she did just that.

  I couldn't help the laughter that escaped my throat as he continued to pull me out of the gym. I looked back and she was still sitting, I laughed harder. I knew she was going to make me pay tomorrow for that, but I couldn’t help it. He’d just ordered her to sit like a dog and she’d done it…

  However, by the time we made it to Tucker’s truck, all my laughter had died down as my nervousness came back. And let me tell y’all something about this nervousness, if it hadn’t been for the champagne, it would be outright terror.

  When he opened the passenger door, I pulled back a little, but he only turned and wrapped his big hands around my waist before lifting me into the seat. Then as if he feared I was going to try and run away, he reached over and secured the seat belt around me.

  I thought about jumping out and running for my life as he rounded the truck to get in, but I must confess to being a little curious about this sudden turn of events. This was one of my last nights in this town. Graduation was tomorrow and I’d set up early enrollment at Grambling because I had a summer job with the campus library.

  If everything went well, I pray I’d be able to keep that job throughout my time there. The pay wasn’t bad and I would be surrounded by what I loved…books.

  “You hungry?” He asked after he started the powerful engine.

  I shrugged, “I can eat.”

  We drove a short way to Webster’s Bistro… “Let’s grab something to go,” He said as he helped me out of his truck.

  "I've never eaten here," I told him as I walked through the door he held open for me.

  “What? I see your stepsisters and mom here all the time.”

  I chuckled without any humor. “Yeah…” was all I said, too ashamed to admit that Angie didn’t bring me to eat here because it was too expensive.

  She said stowaways don’t get to eat fine dining.

  “Yeah, what?” He asked as he handed me a menu.

  Leave it to him not to let it drop. “Yeah, well…she never brought me.”

  He must have seen that he hit a nerve because he let it drop. “Okay, just order anything you want.”

  “Anything?”

  He nodded with a grin on his face. “Anything.”

  And so I did…he carried two big bags in his hand when we left. He drove a short distance to the beach and then parked his truck. With a blanket tucked under one arm the two bags of food in that hand, he held my hand with his other and guided me a little way down the beach. He led me to an area that was private.

  "I didn't even know this place existed," I told him looking out at Lake Michigan. There was a huge moon in the sky casting a beautiful glow down on the calm water.

  “Most people don’t.” He said as he laid out the blanket. Putting the food on top.

  There was a gentle breeze that blew my dress up around my legs as I walked toward the water. Wanting to put my feet in it I untied my sandals and gathered my dress as I stepped into the cool water. A wave that was bigger than I thought washed up against me splashing my front, laughing I ran out the water and back toward Tucker.

  He lay reclined on the blanket watching me as he ate his fries. Giggling I sat down next to him.

  “What did you drink tonight?” He asked as I began to dig through the bag for my food. Really, it was all mine. The only thing he’d ordered was a burger and fries.

  “Champagne.”

  “Who gave you champagne? That p***y Dillion?”

  “He is not a p***y, he’s a really nice guy.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Yet, here you are at the beach with me.”

  I paused in taking out my food. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “That nice guy sh*t is overrated.”

  I shook my head at him. “Why are you so violent?”

  He shrugged looking out at the water. “I don’t know, I think I was born this way.”

  I took a bite out of one of the grapevine rolls I'd ordered. It was so good before I could toss the rest of it in my mouth his big hand came over mine and took it away from me popping it in his instead.

  "Nobody is born violent," I told him frowning at him.

  “I was…”

  “Hmmm…” I didn’t argue, maybe he was.

  I forked up one of the big meatballs I’d ordered and took a bite…Closing my eyes moaning at how good it tasted.

  That damn Angie’s been holding out…

  I lifted my fork to finish the meatball, but before I could put it in my mouth, Mr. Man reached over taking my fork putting the rest of the meatball into his.

  “Mean Tuck, really? Why don’t you just get your own?”

  He chuckled. “Yours taste better.”

  I looked down at the plate of meatballs. “They’re literally coming from the same plate.”

  “Yeah, but yours taste better.”

  And so, we continued to eat in silence. Me taking a bite of food and then feeding him the rest. Once I got full, he pushed the food to the side and then he just sat there or more like reclined there looking up at me.

  My nervousness was back. I knew what he wanted and I think I may have wanted it too. What a way to spend one of my last nights in this town. Angie said that a girl should be able to take the memories of her prom night with her forever.

  I don’t think I would ever forget this… Naphtali Tucker Pelletier, the most popular boy in the whole town was lying with me on a private beach, looking at me as if I was the most beautiful girl in the world.

  He reached up and took my glasses off my face…

  “So, what are you going to do after graduation?” I asked out of pure nervousness.

  “My dad’s good friend is the deputy administrator for the Drug Enforcement Administration. He recruited me when I was like twelve. I’ll be leaving for the academy the day after graduation.”

  "Wow, the DEA," I said as he gently pushed my shoulder back until I was lying flat on the blanket in front of him. “I thought that you would do something like become a famous football player.”

  He shook his head as his big hand came to rest flat on my stomach. “Not enough action for me.”

  I drew up my left leg and the split in my dressed opened so that my leg was completely exposed. His gaze followed it.

  “Your skin is so pretty. It’s like fine spun chocolate.”

  I smiled, that was the nicest thing I had ever heard him say. “Thank you.”

  His finger played with the string to my dress, and my heart began to accelerate. This thing was getting ready to happen. He and I both were leaving town after graduation, we may never see each other again after that.

  But this is the guy that has bullied you for four years straight.

  That was true…But this is also the guy that has starred in a number of my dreams that left me hot and wet and panting for something that I knew dee
p down in my heart that only he could give me.

  “I ummm…”

  For the first time since I’ve known him, he sounded nervous. I was confused about that. I know for a fact he was no virgin like me. I’d heard many stories of him screwing some girl in back of his truck, or at someone’s house…

  So why was he nervous now?

  “Do you have a condom?” He looked up at me surprised. But then a grin settled on his face as he reached in his pocket and pulled out a condom.

  “Okay…” I inhaled. “Untie my dress…”

  The look of joy that settled on his face was like a kid in the candy store. He took his time pulling the strings, and then gently opened my dress.

  I bit my lip as he stared down at my body. Today I wore the one cute panty and bra set that I owned. It was the color of bubble gum.

  “I knew you were going to be beautiful.” He whispered before his head lowered and he kissed my stomach.

  I gasped as a wave of pleasure washed over me. He moaned as he continued to open mouth kiss my belly. When he hooked his hands inside my panties and pulled them down my legs, before stuffing my panties in his pocket, I had to ball up my hands to keep from stopping him.

  Nobody has ever seen what he is looking at…Well, outside of my mom when I was younger. But nobody of late.

  “So beautiful,” he whispered again before his head lowered. But this time it was not my belly button he was tonguing.

  I stared up at the beautiful night sky, clutching the blanket in my palms as he brought me to peek for the very first time in my life. When I came apart, I cried out his name…

  Minutes later I heard the crackle of the condom wrapper, and then he was there over me…

  “I’m so sorry, baby, but this is going to hurt a little.”

  When he filled me for the first time, my mouth opened to cry out, but his mouth covered mine as he consumed my cry.

  He didn’t move again for a while. He just lay there letting me get accustomed to his size as he continued to kiss me.

  His kisses were so drugging that it wasn’t long before my hips were moving underneath him. This time when he filled me my cries that filled the night was those of passion. When my world shattered for the second time tears came from my eyes.