“You do know that sleeping with a married man is a stupid thing to do, don’t you?”
Natasha looked toward the floor.
“I told you to look at me. Why do you focus on the floor? We’re having a conversation. If you’re woman enough to screw another woman’s husband, then be woman enough to face the consequences for doing so. I heard you tell your friend that you had no problem sitting next to the man’s wife and still screw him. That’s what tricks do. See, tricks don’t have any self-respect. They’re easily persuaded to cheapen themselves while thinking they’re on top of the world. Tricks hide. They sneak around. They settle for sex in the backseats of cars. A trick can never be number one; she’ll always be the secret that no one can know about.
“A trick can’t be seen on the arm of her man because she’s not worthy. She’s not even second best. She’s told when to speak, when to sit, and when to breathe.” Arykah swallowed more Pepsi, then asked, “How long have you been trickin’?”
Natasha wanted to crawl beneath a rock. Arykah had basically told her that she had no worth. She was wasting her life. She was nothing. She was useless. She was a cheap whore.
Arykah saw tears spilling from Natasha’s eyes. “What do your tears mean?”
Natasha looked at Arykah as though she didn’t understand.
Arykah rephrased the question. “Why are you crying?”
Natasha wiped her face with the back of her hand. “’Cause . . . I . . . I’m just . . . I don’t know.”
“You don’t know what—that you’re a trick? Because that’s exactly what you are. You’re a pretty girl, Natasha. You’re on the honor roll and you’re graduating in a few months. You have too much going for you to be treated as though you’re nothing.”
“My prom is next Saturday night,” Natasha said.
“Oh, wow,” Arykah said. “I know you must be so excited. You have your dress and everything?”
“Yep.”
Arykah called for Natasha to come closer to her. She looked into Natasha’s eyes sternly. “You ain’t still messing with whom we talked about, are you?”
Natasha quickly shook her head from side to side. “Nah, Lady Arykah. I’ve been done with that situation.”
She looked at her sideways. “He ain’t your prom date?”
Natasha’s eyes grew wide. “Nooooo.”
“You been keeping yourself?”
Natasha nodded her head.
Arykah looked at Miranda. “You better have been keeping yourself. I can only afford one godbaby.”
“Don’t worry,” Miranda said to Arykah. “I’ve learned my lesson.”
“Okay, I’m just checking. I gotta stay on top of you young gals. Some of y’all can be as slick as hen piss.”
The ladies screamed out in laughter. Myrtle shook her head from side to side. Arykah had no filter.
Natasha reached inside her purse, pulled out a small white envelope, and gave it to Arykah. “I wanted to give you this.”
Arykah took the envelope and looked at Natasha. “This ain’t no wedding invitation, is it?”
Natasha chuckled. “No.”
Arykah flipped the envelope over and glanced at the back flap. “What’s in this envelope, Natasha?”
“It’s my Ask Arykah Anything question.”
Arykah tore the envelope open and pulled out what looked like a movie theater ticket. She saw that it was an invitation to Natasha’s high school graduation. She read it silently and placed her hand over her gaping mouth. She looked up at Natasha. “Is this mine?”
Natasha nodded. “I’m sorry that I only had four tickets. The other three are for my parents and my younger brother. My mom said that I could invite the bishop, but I chose to invite you instead. You think he’ll be angry with me?” Lance had always favored Natasha and often referred to her as his favorite choir member. Natasha had made the decision to give the extra ticket to Arykah because she felt that Arykah had detoured her from going down a dark path.
“I’m sure he’ll understand.”
“Can you make it?” Natasha asked Arykah.
“Are you kidding me? Of course, I can make it. I’ll be there with bells on.”
“Natasha, we gotta go,” Miranda said. “Choir rehearsal is about to start. And you know how Brother Adonis hates when someone is late coming into the choir stand.”
Arykah looked at her wristwatch. “Oh, wow, it’s already seven. I gotta change and get downstairs.”
The fellowship hall was filled to capacity when Arykah entered the room. All fifteen tables with ten chairs each were spoken for. It was standing room only. Knowing that members of the church had come out on a Friday night to get to know their new first lady made Arykah feel good.
“Hi, Lady Arykah,” a woman greeted when Arykah got near her.
Arykah looked at her. She didn’t have a familiar face. “Hi. What’s your name?”
“Evelyn Marshall.” She pointed to the man standing next to her. “This is my husband, Nathaniel.”
Arykah shook both their hands. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both and thanks for coming out tonight.”
“Lady Arykah?”
Arykah turned around to see a woman that she did recognize. It was the woman who read the church announcements every Sunday. “Hello. Stephanie, right?”
Stephanie smiled. “Yes. Stephanie Nichols.”
“I appreciate you coming tonight.”
Arykah worked her way through the fellowship hall and greeted as many people as she could. Some she recognized, and some she didn’t. But Arykah was thankful and grateful that everyone greeted her with respect and a smile.
When Arykah had reached the sweet table she was happy to see that Monique had chosen to not prepare gift bags. She looked at all of the pink candy displayed beautifully. Monique had decorated the table with pink glitter. “Monique, girl, you did that?”
“I knew you’d like it.”
“I love it. Everything is pink.” Arykah looked at all the candy. “Where did you find pink Jolly Ranchers?”
“I had those flown in from Vegas,” Monique said.
“From Vegas?” Arykah knew the shipment couldn’t have been cheap. “Monique, how much did all of this cost you? You shouldn’t have spent a lot of money.”
“Don’t worry about it. I wanted to do this for you. It’s your night.”
Arykah gave Monique the biggest hug. Note to self . . . reimburse Monique for all the trouble she went through. “Thanks, Sis.”
Lance approached them. “Hey, Cheeks. You look beautiful, Babe.”
Arykah was dressed in a white silk tank top with Lady Arykah spelled out across her chest in Swarovski crystals. She wore an ankle-length hot-pink silk skirt that featured a single line of white silk ruffles down the middle rear from her waist to her ankle. On Arykah’s feet were six-inch white snakeskin granny boots that laced up the front. They were peep toe and stopped just above the ankle. Arykah’s blond hair was pulled into a side bun. She wore a diamond chain headpiece that Indian women were married in. The chain held a pink teardrop diamond that dangled in the middle of Arykah’s forehead. Her makeup was perfect. Arykah was stunning.
“Hey, Babe,” Arykah said. She gave Lance a soft peck on the lips. She was careful not to ruin her Lips By Carla lip gloss.
“Where’s Diva Chanel?” Lance asked her.
“I decided to leave her upstairs since there’s food here.”
Lance took her by the hand. “Come. I want to introduce you to some people.” He brought Arykah to a couple. “Babe, this is Quincy and DaShawn. They’re newly engaged.”
Arykah smiled. “It’s nice to meet both of you and congratulations.”
DaShawn shoved her left hand in Arykah’s face. “He proposed this morning.”
Arykah looked at the ring. It was a single diamond surrounded by an eighteen carat gold band. Arykah squinted. She thought the diamond to be a fourth of a carat at best. It wasn’t her taste, but seeing how DaShawn was so excited to show the
ring off, Arykah obliged her. “Oh my, that’s a beautiful ring.” Arykah wished she had her reading glasses on. Maybe with them on she could actually see the little pebble.
“DaShawn and I would like to schedule marital counseling with you,” Quincy said to Arykah and Lance.
“Absolutely,” Lance said.
“I have some questions for you tonight, Lady Arykah.”
Arykah smiled at DaShawn. “I can’t wait to hear them.”
“Please excuse us,” Lance said as he took Arykah to the mashed potato bar.
“OMG , Honey, this is amazing,” Arykah squealed. “It’s exactly what I wanted.”
Lance was proud that he was able to make Arykah’s wish come true on her special night. “I thought about putting food coloring in the mashed potatoes and making them pink to go along with your theme. Then I thought that maybe it would have been too much.”
“Yeah, a little bit,” Arykah said. She looked around the room and saw everyone eating from martini glasses. “I love this.”
“Lady Arykah, give me those shoes,” Sharonda walked up and said.
You can’t afford them. “Hey, Sharonda. How are you?” Arykah asked the question to be kind. She really didn’t care for Sharonda and told Lance that he needed to hire a new secretary. Arykah wasn’t satisfied with Mother Gussie’s granddaughter handling her husband’s affairs.
“I’m good,” Sharonda answered. “And I think this is wonderful what you’re doing tonight. Look at all of these people here just for you.”
Arykah didn’t respond to Sharonda. She didn’t care to be in her presence, and Lance picked up on Arykah’s silence.
“I think we should get started, Cheeks. You ready?”
Arykah inhaled and exhaled. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Lance took Arykah to the front of the room. He stood behind a podium and spoke into the microphone that was mounted on top. “Good evening. I’m gonna ask that everyone settle down.” He waited for the commotion in the fellowship hall to calm. “Is everyone enjoying the mashtinis?”
“Amen, Bishop,” some folks answered.
“They’re very good, Bishop.”
“Make sure you drink up—I mean eat them all up,” Lance joked.
The folks laughed.
“I appreciate you all for coming out to Lady Arykah’s ‘Ask Arykah Anything’ session. I think this is a great idea she had to meet and greet the members of Freedom Temple.” Lance glanced at his wife standing off to the right side of him. “Arykah has a good heart.”
“Amen,” Chelsea, Darlita, Monique, Myrtle, and Gladys shouted out. They were all seated at a table at the front of the room. They wanted to be close to Arykah in case she needed their assistance.
“All of you know that when we lost Gwen, I had given up on love. I had decided that I would live out the rest of my days as a single man. But God didn’t see fit to let that be.” Lance looked at Arykah again. “When I had least expected it, God blessed me with a fine woman. Ain’t she fine, y’all?”
The people laughed, and Arykah blushed.
“Ladies and gentlemen . . . Lady Arykah.”
The fellowship hall was filled with a hearty applause. Team Arykah stood and cheered her on with encouragement. Lance stepped from behind the podium, kissed Arykah’s cheek, and guided her to take his place behind the podium.
Arykah looked out at all of the people and became nervous. Suddenly she thought about what Chelsea had said earlier in her office.
This Ask Arykah Anything could go way wrong.
Backing out wasn’t an option at this point. Arykah shook off the fear and spoke to her members. “Good evening, Freedom Temple.”
“Evening, Lady Arykah,” the people responded.
“You’re beautiful,” Arykah heard someone shout out. She looked to the middle of the room and saw that the words had come from a lady. She was seated at a table with nine other people that Arykah hadn’t recognized. But Arykah did recognize the face of the lady that had shouted out to her. Last Sunday after Arykah had given her speech on what happened to her, the lady approached Arykah and wrapped her shawl around her shoulders.
Arykah looked at her and smiled. “Thank you. What’s your name?”
“ParaLee Weatherall,” the woman answered.
“I’m glad you’re here, ParaLee. I appreciate you and the shawl. It was a kind gesture. Thanks so much.”
The members seemed to be warm and engaging. Arykah thought that she could loosen up and ignore her nervousness.
“The purpose of this evening is to allow all of you to get to know me and for me to get to know all of you. Some of you I have already met, yet, I see faces that I don’t recognize. This small, informal reception was planned so that I can answer any question that any of you may have for me. So, feel free to stand, introduce yourselves, and ask away.”
Immediately, almost every hand in the fellowship hall went into the air.
Arykah pointed to a female to her left. “Yes. What’s your question?”
The young woman stood. “Hi, Lady Arykah. My name is Karen Dobson. And I just have to say that I looooove the way you dress. The outfit you’re wearing now is gorgeous. Where do you shop?”
That was a question that Arykah had been expecting. She knew that her wardrobe was the topic of many conversations. “Thanks for the compliment, Karen. Because I am a curvy woman, the majority of my dresses, blouses, and pants are tailor-made to fit my body. Even my winter boots have to be tailor-made to fit my thick calves. Believe it or not, the tank I’m wearing tonight is basic. I found it at Walmart. I took it to a place that bedazzles and blings out shirts. The tank is cheap, but the crystals are not. My skirt was custom-made for me. However, I do often run across websites that feature clothes for plus-size women. If I see something that I like in my size, I buy it.”
Karen had a second question. “Is it true that your closet is the size of a two-bedroom apartment?”
Arykah blushed. She was embarrassed by Karen’s second question. Arykah knew that it must’ve been Gladys who boasted how large her closet was. The night Arykah hosted a stiletto party at her home, Darlita, Chelsea, and Gladys asked for a tour. When Gladys walked into Arykah’s closet, she said that it was bigger than her two-bedroom apartment.
Yes, Arykah was blessed, and Lance had often encouraged her to be honest when folks asked about her lavish living. Arykah feared that she would be frowned on or avoided by people who were less fortunate than she was. She never wanted to brag. She should’ve made the ladies sign confidentiality agreements before they stepped foot in her home.
“Well, Karen, a two-bedroom apartment is fairly large. I certainly wouldn’t say that my closet is that huge but . . .”
“I would!” Gladys shouted out.
The people chuckled.
Arykah glared at Gladys and slightly balled her lips. Would you shut your mouth?
She brought her attention back to Karen. “Comparing my closet to a two-bedroom apartment is an exaggeration. It’s not that big.” Arykah looked out at the people. “Who’s next?” She wanted to end that topic quickly.
Arykah pointed to a lady that was standing against the wall on the right side of the room. “Yes. What’s your question?”
“Hi, Lady Arykah. You’re gorgeous tonight.”
Arykah smiled at her. “Thank you.”
“My husband and I both agree that we need a housekeeper. The problem is that he wants to hire a young chick, and, of course, I know better than that. What should I do?”
“You already know what to do. Hire the oldest, wrin-klest, non-English-speaking woman you can find.”
The fellowship hall roared.
“What’s your name, Honey?”
“Donna Avers.”
“Listen to me, Donna,” Arykah started. “Don’t bring a young chick in your house. Temptation is too great so don’t entertain it. I wouldn’t. See, my husband likes to sit at the kitchen table and read his newspaper with a hot cup of coffee. A young chic
k will have just one time to conveniently drop the dish towel on the floor, then bend over and reach for it, but stop short with her butt in the air. ‘Oh, I didn’t mean to drop this towel. Tee hee hee. ’”
The people laughed.
“See, then y’all will read about me in the Sun-Times ’cause I done caught a case. And I ain’t trying to bring shame on the church, okay?” Arykah shook her head from side to side. “Don’t do it, Donna. Don’t do it.” She looked around the room. “Who’s next?”
A man stood. “Lady Arykah, my name is Darryl Glenn.” He pointed to the lady seated next to him. “This is my wife, Carol. My question is for the bishop, if I may.”
“Absolutely,” Arykah said. She invited Lance to come and stand next to her.
“Bishop,” Darryl started, “I need your advice. Carol often asks for my opinion on different matters. And when I give it to her she tells me that I’m being unreasonable. So, tell me, do you experience that in your marriage? If so, how do you handle it?”
The room went silent. There was no walking, no eating, and no drinking. No movement whatsoever. Everyone wanted to hear how Lance would answer Darryl’s question.
“You know, Darryl, that’s a good question. Yes, I have experienced that. But I figured out a way to keep peace in my home. I just wait for Lady Arykah to give me my opinion, and I agree with her. Happy wife, happy life.”
The people laughed until they were in tears. Lance stepped off the podium and gave Arykah the floor.
She was still chuckling at Lance’s answer when she took another question. She pointed to a man across the room. “Yes, what’s your question?”
“My name is Quincy Hudson. Do you feel that tattoos are an abomination against the Lord?”
Arykah thought about his question. “Well, Quincy, I can’t say that I do. I don’t have any tattoos because I don’t find them attractive. Both of my ears are pierced though. I was brought up in a Baptist church where tattoos and body piercing was frowned upon. But, no, I don’t believe tattooing and piercing offends the Lord. But I will say this; I don’t agree with folks getting girlfriends’ and boyfriends’ names etched on their bodies. Relationships don’t always last. While some folks may find it a loving gesture or a dedication to their significant other, things do happen. Then you’re left with a person’s name, a person that you may have grown to dislike, on you forever. So, Quincy, make sure you think before you ink.”
Lady Arykah Reigns Page 8
