by Pat Simmons
She gave Kami a once-over. “Wait until he gets a look at you now. You’re glowing, and I don’t think it’s all from the changes with your hair and other beauty tips. You’re happy inside and that’s what matters.” Queen smirked. “The joke will be on him because truly you will be the one who got away.”
The next morning, Queen had a surprise for Kami. “I flew here with you, so I’m flying back with you.”
Kami frowned. “What? You know I’m old enough to fly home on my own.”
“I’m not ready to be alone just yet. Besides, isn’t it time for another game night?” Her lips curled up in a smile, but sadness lingered in her eyes.
A couple hours later, the two arrived at Lambert Airport. Home, Kami’s heart whispered. What a difference a summer made. When she left, all she thought about was she was free, but coming home was like coming back to the Lord where freedom had always been in abundance. She exhaled and smiled.
Kami caught herself from stumbling when they exited the terminal on the way to the baggage claim area. Cheers erupted from a group, which held balloons, signs, and stuffed animals—the Jamiesons. It seemed like all of them had shown up, and she spied Uncle Philip in the mix, too, as he’d promised. The little ones squealed as they raced toward her. Tears trailed down Kami’s cheeks as she squatted to receive their hugs and kisses.
Once her blurred vision cleared, she searched the crowd for her father. Standing, she flew into his arms with a force that should have knocked him over. Instead, he seemed to have braced himself for her.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. “I’m sorry, Daddy.” She looked up at him. “I mean it from my heart, and I will never disobey you again. I promise!” He kissed the top of her head, which was a mass of highlighted curls, thanks to Miss Pearl, instead of the bangs and straight hair she had worn for so long. “Do you still love me, I mean really love me as your daughter again?” Kami had to make sure everything was okay.
“How can I ever stop loving my favorite daughter?” Parke winked.
“Dad, I’m your only daughter.” It felt cool to play their game.
“And don’t you ever forget it,” he said as her brothers dragged her away into a group hug, but she broke free to hug her mother.
“Mom, I’m sorry for my attitude when I left. You’ve always been my best friend and the best mom. I wouldn’t trade you for anybody.”
They cried in each other’s arms undisturbed for a few minutes as she heard her mother whisper, “Thank You, Jesus, for returning to us what the devil tried to destroy...”
“Well, hello. Anybody remember me?” Queen said, waiting to be lavished with affection. There were no shortage of hugs and kisses for her, including Uncle Philip. Queen actually blushed from his attention.
Finally, Grandma BB took center stage. “There’s my girl.” Her aging eyes twinkled.
Instead of racing to into her arms, Kami walked up to the matriarch and smothered her with kisses. Yes, this was home.
Latching onto her father’s arm, she led the group downstairs to retrieve luggage.
More surprises awaited her back at the house. There were “welcome home” banners and barbecue ready for them to indulge. This should have been her brother’s going-away party. Instead, the fuss was all about her. Not only did Kami feel like a prodigal daughter returning from a faraway place, she couldn’t bring herself to leave her father’s side.
Later that night after unpacking, Kami went in search of Pace. “Hey, shouldn’t you be packing for Alabama? I came home early to see you off.”
“I’m not going,” he said casually as if it wasn’t a big deal and kept watching the sports channel.
“Huh?” Had she heard right? Kami blocked Pace’s view before sitting next to him in the family room. “What? Why? What happened? You have a full ride...” She fired off one question after another. What did she miss while in Tulsa? Why hadn’t anyone told her? She had worked herself up into a frenzy. Tuskegee University was a big deal for her brother. Her heart ached for his loss and tears fell.
“Hey.” Pace stood and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “It was my choice.”
Kami inhaled deeply to compose herself. She hated crying in front of her brothers. “Why?”
“Have a seat.” He walked back to the sofa, and she trailed him, but took the chair so she could face him and wait for his explanation.
“You’ve been planning to go to Tuskegee since your junior year. Now, you act like it’s no big deal. I want the truth.”
He bobbed his head. “Fair enough. You.”
“Me?” Shocked, she patted her chest. “What do I have to do with this?”
“As your big brother, you should have come to me about problems you were having at school,” Pace scolded. “I would have put the fear of God and me in all of them, your so-called girlfriends included.” He twisted his mouth as if he had tasted something sour. “Why, Kami? Why did you keep stuff like that from everybody?”
She didn’t have to think about her answer. “I didn’t want to take away from your moment. This year was about you graduating from the gifted program at CBC High School and all the hoopla about seeing you walk. I wasn’t jealous, but proud, and I didn’t want to take the spotlight off you. I thought I was handling my business.”
Her brother barked. “Your business is our business. As the oldest—” he grinned and waited for her to roll her eyes—“I feel my sister needs me to be here for her. I’m not saying I won’t attend Tuskegee next semester or next fall, but right now, I decided to enroll at Wash U. It’s St. Louis’ Harvard of the Midwest, so its reputation is good. Since Uncle Cameron is a professor there, he pulled strings for them to accept my late registration and match my scholarships.”
Kami couldn’t believe she was about to cry again. How selfless of her brother. “I don’t need a babysitter.” She choked out her words.
“The Bible wants us to be our brother’s keeper, so I’m my sister’s keeper for a while longer.”
Shaking her head in disbelief, Kami was blown away he would put his dream on hold for her. “Wow.”
“We’re in this together. Until death do us part.” He grinned. “Well sorta. When I find a wife, I’m cutting you loose.”
They laughed. Lord, how could I ask for a better family? Standing, she wrapped her arms around Pace’s neck and smacked a juicy kiss on his cheek just to irritate him. “You truly are your father’s son. You love unconditionally.” She was almost out of the room when she glanced over her shoulder. “And I love you hard back, because I know how much you were looking forward to attending an HBCU. I’ll make you proud, bro. I will.”
“Can I get that in writing?” he teased, and she grabbed a pillow off the sofa and threw it at him. She missed and knocked over his bowl of chips.
“Oops.” She laughed and took off running. “Not sorry.”
Chapter Fifteen
Game night kickoff took place a few days later. The energy in the hotel banquet room was charged. Kami was ecstatic to be surrounded by family again. One thing was for sure, there would not be a repeat performance of what happened the Memorial Day weekend.
Queen was in attendance and she glowed as her brothers, Kidd and Ace, doted on her. Kami studied the woman she had gotten to know better during the summer. On the outside, she held the envy of every woman. If they only knew, behind closed doors, Queen Jamieson was lonely. It was obvious she craved to be around family too—all the time. Lord, please nudge her to move here.
Kami and her family were at their table decked out in their black T-shirts with red lettering reading #TeamParke. “Okay, we’ve got to bring it tonight,” her father said in a hushed voice. “We can’t let #TeamKidd win again.”
“We got this, Dad,” Pace said confidently before stuffing his second helping of mashed potatoes from the buffet into his mouth.
“Don’t talk with food in your mouth.” Cheney’s scolding was soft. How had Kami even been mad with her best, best fr
iend? Her mother was unselfish with her love to all of them.
Soon Papa P called the meeting to order after everyone had indulged from the buffet until they had enough. Her grandfather had made a change to the structure of the night while she was in Tulsa. All who could fast the night before, should do so. Judging from food piled high on plates, a lot of families did just that.
“Young people,” Papa P said, “you are our future, the next generation of Jamiesons. We don’t want the Lord to find you guilty of caving into the pressures from this world, but faultless. We are here to listen—” he paused and scanned the room— “not judge you, so the floor is open.”
Was this moment meant for Kami to get up and confess her sins, or testify how God delivered her from her sins? As she debated, her younger brother, Paden, stood.
“Papa P, a lot of boys at my school don’t have fathers at home. They hate their dads and curse.” Her brother balled his fists. “I love my dad, but they make me feel guilty when I talk about how good he is.” He dropped his head and slipped his hands in his pockets.
Kami’s heart ached that her younger brother had to be around that, but she was exposed to the same negativity. She eyed her father. He seemed just as crushed.
“Grandson, listen to me and listen well. Be a light. You can share things about your father without boasting. Your dad has enough love to give to anyone who is fatherless. While you are singing the praises of my son, don’t forget to sing the praises of Jesus who is a Father to the fatherless...”
The room was quiet as everyone was riveted—children and adults—to the advice Papa P was giving. “Be yourself, Paden.” He smiled and motioned for her brother to approach the head table where the elder Jamiesons, plus Grandma BB sat. “Popularity is unpopular. Make each friend count, and never be ashamed of being a Jamieson and following Jesus.” He embraced Paden, patted him on the back, then kissed the crown of his head.
Kami took the same advice to heart. When none of her other cousins stood, Papa P proceeded with reciting the history of the family tree. Next, every Jamieson child had an opportunity to showcase something from reading from a Dr. Seuss book to acting out a scene from a movie to singing their favorite song. The floor was open for one hour, then it was time to let the game begin.
Tonight, the family had voted on five rounds of the World Black History game.
“Garrett Morgan is known for inventing the traffic light. Name two of his other inventions,” Papa P asked.
Every table had a bell, so Kami rang theirs before jumping to her feet. “He created the protocol for the breathing device that saved soldiers’ lives in World War I, plus he invented a hair refining cream.”
Seconds after grandfather awarded the point, another Jamieson from out of town grumbled his doubts about the breathing device, and that’s when Eva came to her defense, since #TeamKidd had researched and submitted the question.
“Your answer is correct, my dear niece, however, Garrett’s credit was taken away from him following the Lake Erie explosion, his reputation was blemished, and his business suffered when people learned a Black person had the intellect to come up with such a critical device. It’s another piece of history Whites might debate.” She shrugged.
Kami nodded and thanked her aunt. Whenever they answered a question, the contestant had to give the overall history of the topic. She should had given more background information. “In that case, I want to add he also patented his design to improve sewing machines.”
“That’s my baby girl,” Parke said with pride and lifted his hand.
Rolling her eyes, Kami gave him a high five and took her seat.
Uncle Philip stood and strolled to their table and pulled back a chair. He whispered, “I want to be among the winners. I can see Kami is playing to win.” That inspired another round of high fives.
While his sister, Gabrielle, and brother-in-law, Cameron, called him a traitor, Queen smirked. Kami could smell a showdown coming as she watched Queen and Philip exchange taunting glances.
“Here’s a question I thought interesting submitted by #TeamMalcolm.” Papa P grinned. “Who is considered the king of Black comedy?” He scanned the room, then added, “Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, and Eddie Murphy aren’t contenders. This was before Richard Pryor and Fred Sanford. We’re going way back.”
Parke hovered over the bell, but Uncle Philip, sitting at #TeamCameron’s table, beat him to it. “George Walker,” he said in a slow drawl that was a contrast to his booming voice when he preached.
“Hmm. That is also debatable,” Papa P told him.
Queen, playfully alternating between her brothers’ table, double tapped the bell at Ace’s as if she was checking into a hotel or alerting a clerk she needed service. Tossing her long mane behind her shoulders, she made a production of standing. Kami always admired the way her aunt was deliberate in her movements.
“I do believe our preacher is forgetting about Bert Williams, born 1874, and died in 1922.” Queen shrugged. “Just a little old fact I know because I’m an old soul who enjoys nostalgia, old comedies, dramas, and romances.”
Uncle Philip grunted. “We have something in common, Queen.”
“Very little, evangelist pastor.” She smiled.
Was it Kami’s imagination, or were her uncle and aunt flirting with each other? She had seen Queen tease men with just her body language or tone, but it was odd that Uncle Philip seemed interested. After all, he was a preacher.
But in the end, her father would not be denied victory, and he refused to step aside to watch the antics between those two.
Pure entertainment, Kami thought.
“This next question was submitted by #TeamParke,” Papa P broke into Kami’s musing. “Name the first all-Black town in the country.”
Kami grinned. That had actually been a question her younger brothers, Paden and Chance, had researched. She was surprised by how the town was formed and that it still existed today.
Her aunt Talise tapped the bell for #TeamAce and stood. “Unionville in Maryland. After the American Civil War, eighteen Black soldiers, who served in the Union Army, returned to the plantation where they and their families had been enslaved. There, they created an all-Black village where everyone was free.”
Since they were correct, #TeamAce won the point.
The night ended hours later with Papa P requesting all the children, from toddlers to teenagers, gather in the center. Kami led the way. With school starting soon, her summer fun and family games would fade as she focused on surviving drama as a student.
The only thing she wanted to do was fade into the background. She didn’t want to get picked on because she prayed before eating her lunch, or for wearing modest clothes, or acing class assignments. She loved learning and excelling in her classes and being part of the cheerleading squad. “Lord, I’m renewed in You, so please let the year go fast,” she whispered as the uncles and aunts stretched out their hands.
Uncle Philip began the prayer and ended with the impartation of blessings and protection at home, school, church, and all public places. “... Now Lord, with thanks for all things, we have fasted and prayed as You have commanded us in Second Corinthians 10:5 to cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against You, and bring into captivity every thought to Your obedience. O God, please dispatch Your angels to do Your bidding to protect us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Kami whispered, “Amen,” despite the nervousness that lingered. Before climbing into bed that night, she prayed again for spiritual strength to suffocate the hurt caused by his rejection.
Next Monday, she would see Tango. What a downer. On the upside, she would arrive in her “new to me” car that her dad had helped her purchase, adding money to her summer earnings. She wanted something red, but her father said it was too flashy and could increase her chances of being stopped by the police, so her choices were silver, black, or no car.
She chose black and had Facetimed Susanna and her friend loved it. “It’s so yo
u, Kami, sleek, shiny, and sexy.”
They giggled. Kami did wonder about the analogy Queen said about cars and boyfriends. Hopefully, her driving relationship with her car would be a better experience than the short-term relationship with Tango.
The days of prayer and fasting made a difference, so on the first day back at her high school, Kami felt spiritually empowered as she strutted down the hall like she owned it. Susana wanted her to text an update about Tango as soon as Kami could.
In between classes, familiar faces glanced her way as if she was a new kid on the block. In a sense, she was. Her spirit was renewed.
Finally, the moment that was inevitable arrived. The object of her summer pining was creating a path through the crowd, heading her way. She and Tango were within feet of passing, and he wasn’t alone. One of her best friends was cozying up beside him. That was a double slap because Kami had been flattered when Annisa had said Tango liked her, then encouraged Kami to at least talk to him. Had it all been a setup to make her look like a fool?
Tango had hinted of his lack of feelings while she was away, and the evidence why stood before her. If God hadn’t stepped in to rescue her during the tent meeting, she might have lost control. Who knows if she would have caused some kind of scene—an argument, fight, or something else that would have been out of her character, chasing after feelings that clearly weren’t there?
Although his response had pierced her heart, it served as a confirmation that her moving on had been the right thing to do. Now, in his direct path, she wondered what the protocol was for facing someone who broke your heart. Kami summoned her inner strength to keep her emotions in check.
She inhaled and began to count: three...two...one. God, why is my heart pounding? I’m supposed to be over him. He’s my first car that’s a lemon. She plastered on a fake smile and prepared herself for the brief eye contact. Breathe. She could hear Queen in her head, coaxing her to work the room—or hallway—with a strut her classmates would envy. The moment came and went. Kami exhaled.
