Charge It To The Game

by Tonya Blount

  ―Storm, I‘m gonna run out. I gotta take care of a few things.‖

  ―Okay, I‘ll be

  fine.‖ ―You sure?‖

  ―Yes,‖ I said in a whisper.

  ―You know what? I‘m not gonna leave today. I don‘t like the way you said that.‖

  ―What are you talking about, Taj?‖

  ―You sound like you don‘t want me to leave.‖

  ―Taj, if I didn‘t want you to leave I would just say that. You know that.‖

  ―You sure you don‘t mind?‖

  ―I‘m positive.‖

  ―Okay.‖

  ―You didn‘t kiss me goodbye.‖

  ―I‘m not leaving yet. I‘m waiting for Lisa to get here.‖ ―Oh, she‘s coming today?‖

  ―Uh, uh. She should be here in a few minutes. And

  you know we never say goodbye. What‘s up with that?‖ ― Oh, I said

  goodbye?‖ ―Yeah.‖

  ―I didn‘t even realize I said that.‖

  ―You want me to turn on the television?‖

  ―Yeah. Is cartoons still on?‖

  ―Yeah, it‘s just nine o‘clock. Actually its five minutes

  after nine.‖ ―Oh, Jimmy Neutronis on.‖

  ―Yeah.‖ Taj laughed. ―He‘s

  on.‖ ―Taj?‖

  ―Yeah, Storm.‖

  ―I‘m ready to go home.‖

  ―Okay, Storm. I know if you not out by next week, I‘m gonna take you home.‖

  ―I‘m ready to go home now.‖

  ―Storm, you too weak to go home now.‖

  ―I‘ll get stronger if you take me home.‖

  ―Storm, I have to make arrangements. I just can‘t

  walk out here with you like this. The hospital is not gonna let me discharge you out in the condition you are in today.‖ I started to cry.

  ―Why you crying, Storm?‖

  ―I wanna go home.‖

  ―I know Storm. I promise you, just as soon as you get stronger, I‘m gonna take you home.‖

  ―This isn‘t fair. This isn‘t fair. Why is this happening to me? Why do I have to go through this?‖

  Taj walked over to my bedside and lifted my head and embraced me. ―I know, baby. I ask the same question everyday and I don‘t have an answer. I don‘t have an answer. All I know is it gotta get betta. It just gotta. I wish it were me laying here like this. I wish that it were me.‖

  I touched Taj‘s hands. ―You need a

  manicure.‖ Taj laughed. ―You do, too.‖

  ―I need a makeover.‖

  ―No, you don‘t. You fine just as you

  are.‖ ―I wanna dance, Taj.‖

  ―Okay. We gonna dance for Valentine‘s Day. I‘m gonna buy you a fly ass red dress and I‘m gonna buy me a Armani tux and we gonna dance. You know what, why don‘t we get married on Valentine‘s day?‖

  ―Married?‖

  ―Taj, I don‘t want to get married looking like this. In this condition.‖

  ―Why not? Why wait?‖

  ―Are you sure?‖ ―Yeah,

  I‘m sure.‖

  ―You don‘t wanna wait. I‘m gonna get betta, Taj.‖

  ―No, I know that you are gonna get betta, but I don‘t wanna wait.‖

  ―Okay. Where?‖

  ―I don‘t know. I‘ll figure that out.‖

  ―Taj, what about the yacht?‖

  ―That‘s what‘s up. I didn‘t think of that. We will do it

  on the yacht.‖

  ―No matter what.‖

  ―No matter what.‖

  ―Taj, I still wanna

  dance?‖ ―Right now?‖

  ―Uh-huh?‖

  ―You shouldn‘t get out of bed, Storm. You are too weak.‖ ―Please. I wanna do this.‖ ―Okay.‖ Taj walked over to the radio and turned it on. Bonnie & Clyde was playing. Taj immediately began to skip that CD.

  ―No, turn back. I wanna dance off of that.‖ ―Storm, we play that all the time. Besides, that‘s too fast.‖ ―I wanna dance off of that Taj,‖ I insisted. Taj went back that track. Then he walked over and lifted me out of the bed. I was too weak to stand, so instead he cradled me. Taj began to sing along with the song. ―…in this life of sin, is me and my girlfriend.‖

  ―Thank you for coming into my life,

  Taj.‖ ―No, thank you for coming into

  my life.‖ ―I love you, Taj.‖

  ―I love you more, Storm.‖

  * * * After Taj and I danced, Lisa came. ―How are you today, Storm?‖

  ―I‘m okay.‖

  ―I heard you had a rough

  night.‖ ―I did. But I‘m betta.‖

  ―Why are smiling?‖

  ―Because Taj and I danced

  today?‖ ―You did?‖

  ―Yes.‖

  ―That‘s wonderful.‖

  ―Lisa, I love him.‖

  ―I know that you do, Storm. You know who I met

  today?‖

  ―Who?‖

  ―Madison.‖

  ―You did? Isn‘t she beautiful?‖

  ―Yeah. She‘s very friendly.‖

  ―Where did you see here at?‖

  ―Rick has her downstairs. I think he was waiting for Taj to come and get her.‖

  ―Oh, that‘s good. She hasn‘t been up here in a while.‖ ―Oh, before I forget. Here my friend, Tonya gave me this to give to you.‖

  ―It feels like a CD.‖

  ―It is. Would you like for me to open

  it?‖ ―Yes. Who is it?‖

  ―Helen Baylor?‖

  ―Helen Baylor? Who is that?‖

  ―She a gospel artist. I‘m sorry. Tonya doesn‘t know.‖ ―It‘s fine. Put it on.‖

  ―You want me to play the

  CD?‖ ―Yes. It‘s fine, Lisa.‖

  Lisa walked to the radio and placed the CD in it. ―Would you mind listening to my favorite song?‖

  ―Go ahead. You listen to this music, too?‖ ―This

  music is what inspired me to keep going.‖

  Then I heard this woman singing. She had a beautiful voice. ―My God is an Awesome God,‖ she sang.

  When the song was done, I asked Lisa to turn off the radio.

  ―Lisa?‖

  ―Yes, Storm?‖

  ―Could you come here,

  please?‖ ―Sure.‖

  Lisa walked over to my bedside. I reached for her hand. It was her left hand. Then I reached for her right hand. On her right hand there was a scar. A thick scar, shaped like a lobster. One that I was familiar with, one I would never forget. I traced the scar and then I heard Lisa sniffling.

  ―Lisa?‖

  ―Yes, Storm?‖

  ―Do you think God would hear me if I spoke to Him right now?‖

  ―Of course, Storm. God will hear you. Speak to Him, Storm. It‘s alright baby. Speak to Him.‖

  ―God, I‘m sorry. I‘m sorry God. Please forgive me. And God if you hear me, could you please send my Momma.‖

  ―Storm?‖

  ―Yes?‖

  ―I am your Momma.‖

  I turned my head, and a single tear rolled down my cheek. My breathing became shallow once again. Then I heard voices, I heard Miss LT. I smiled and then I closed my eyes.

  Epilogue

  On Valentine‘s Day, Taj, his mother Lisa, Rick, Black, Rosa, Lisa‘s pastor Bishop Long and her friend, Tonya flew to the Hamptons. At three o‘clock in the evening they all boarded Taj‘s yacht– Perfect Storm. They ate Storm‘s favorite food, laughed, reminisced and traded their most memorable memories of Storm.

  As the sun began to set, Rick stood up and solemnly stared into the sea. Then he sung, Amazing Grace. Taj asked everyone to gather around. Bishop Long led them in prayer. Taj cradled the Urn carrying Storm‘s ashes.

  Finally, Taj grabbed Lisa‘s hand and they walked over to the railing and together they removed the lid and poured Storm‘s ashes into the sea in which she loved.

  About the Author

  TONYA BLOUNT is
also the author of Leaving the Wilderness, andJay’s Mansion. Tonya was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She presently divides her time between Long Island, New York and a suburb outside of Richmond, Virginia.

  You may contact her at tonyablount@yahoo.com. You can also visit the author online at www.TonyaBlount.net

  Other Titles by Two of A Kind Publishing

  Swingers

  by Torrian Ferguson Little Ghetto Girl

  by Danielle Santiago Cha-Ching

  by Tonya Blount

  All Or Nothing

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