by AnDerecco
Page 217 of 217
“Love to Luv”
AnDERECCO
Dedication/Acknowledgments
First and foremost I thank my savior, Jesus Christ for His blessings in my life daily.
To W. G. Houston II – thank you for standing by me through it all. The ups and the downs we made it. Even the nights I had to listen to concerts of you know who …lol. I could never tell you how much you mean to me.
I am blessed to have the most wonderful and understanding family in the world, The Turners, The Bells, The Blanks, The Lopers and The Joneses. I thank you for your unconditional love. Much love to my school families: A. Hunter (believing in me & giving me a start at a new career – “you got a dollar?”), J. Baker (wonderful advice), D. Battee (who thought I was stuck up), S. Carter (my buddy), D. Purvis (I miss my rice krispies treat for my birthday), M. Bennett (my photographer), and P. Barnes (my neighbor). To E. Foster, K. Allison, M. Dodd – thank you for the talks.
My test reader…thanks for an open and honest opinion. To Cordelia W. & Marcus U. that helped me out on the student end of things.
Finally I want to thank all of you who buy my books and have taken the time to write and share your thoughts with me. It means so much to me and it’s one of the reasons that I get up every day and think what I can tell.
CONTACT ME:
[email protected]
Look for me on FaceBook, Twitter and Goodreads – AnDerecco.
ONE
Robert Frost once wrote, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Waking up to a lonely bed for the past fourteen years has been really frustrating. Since my partner, Ellis Walker’s death, I, Jacob Gibson, have thrown myself into raising my daughter, Monique, my work with my foundation.
I started a foundation speaking to and mentoring teenagers and college students about life decisions. It was something that I always wanted to do, even before Monique was born.
We moved back to Mississippi to start a new life. It was an easy decision because I could not take being in Alabama and think about Ellis day in and day out.
I have not dated but I did find an interesting way to occupy some of my free time. I found this website that you can become pen pals with inmates. I met some interesting people but there are two that really caught my attention.
It was the beginning of Monique’s senior year in high school. She is very outgoing. Monique is in many organizations and clubs that keep her about as busy as me. She is just like me in so many ways. She has my reddish brown complexion but Ellis’ attitude about a lot of things. Monique never knew her birth mother because she died in child birth. Ellis and I raised her until he shot himself.
This morning I woke up at 5:13 am. I did my normal workout routine and then hopped in the shower. About 6:30 I decided that it was time to wake Monique up for school. As I entered her room I noticed that she was tucked tight under the covers as usual. I pulled the curtains back to let some light in. I walked over to her bed and gently pulled the covers back trying not to scare her. To my surprise she was not in the bed. I thought to myself, “What the hell?” I knocked on her bathroom door and there was no answer. I was really beginning to ponder. I walked down the hall to see if she was in the kitchen. As I entered the kitchen she was sneaking in the back door.
JACOB
Where have you been?
MONIQUE
I went for a walk to clear my mind about my senior year.
JACOB
Really? What are you thinking about?
MONIQUE
Pop, I am scared. I will be leaving you to go to college. I will be on my own.
JACOB
Well why you don’t go to a local university or to my alma mater.
MONIQUE
I am not going to Alcorn. It is in the woods and nothing is around it. You have to drive thirty minutes to Vicksburg or Natchez. Almost forty-five minutes to an hour to Jackson. Pop, I need to be somewhere convenient.
JACOB
I have you to know that I had a great time at ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY!!! Not only do you make new friends but you make a new family. It may be away from other places but you can have fun on the reservation. Thank you very much.
MONIQUE (laughing)
Pop you kill me when you talk about Alcorn.
JACOB
Well you have always loved going to the games and other events there.
MONIQUE
I did. But I need to start something for myself.
JACOB
Well you do you. Are you picking Ian up for school?
Ian is Monique best friend. They have known each other since elementary school. Ian is 5’10” with paper sack brown skin. He and Monique hardly do anything without each other. He is a very well-mannered young man with a bright future ahead of him.
MONIQUE
Yeap. We are going to drive to Nashville this weekend to look at Fisk University.
JACOB
Ok. That is cool.
I trust Monique. She is dependable and knows that when there is a problem that she can’t handle that she can call on me.
TWO
Monique and Ian pull up at their high school. As they are walking to the building someone called out to Ian.
Ian stops and noticed that it is Jeremy. Ian told Monique to go on into the building and that he would be on.
Ian walked over to Jeremy.
IAN
What is going on man?
JEREMY
Nothing just irritated with my mom. She is riding me about going into the Army.
IAN
You have always talked about going into the Army since I have known you. What is she saying?
JEREMY
Man, she is talking about the wars that are going on. Things like she don’t want anything to happen to me. I told her that I could get hurt or killed right here.
IAN
I can understand that she is concerned about you. Your unit may not be called in. You are going active duty not the National Guard. Ms. Nicole just wants you to be here with her and your sisters.
JEREMY
It is nerve wrecking. My oldest sister went into the military and nothing was said to her.
IAN
Look at it this way, you have five sisters. You are the only boy. Of course she doesn’t want anything to happen to you.
JEREMY
Are you my friend or her ambassador?
IAN (Laughing and push Jeremy in the side)
Shut the hell up.
Jeremy and Ian began to walk towards the auditorium to find Monique. The auditorium is where all students report to on the first day to get their new schedule.
Monique was standing in line to get her schedule when an attractive tall, muscular guy bumped into her. She turns around and noticed that it was someone that she never saw in prior years. They both say excuse me at the same time. Monique was thinking about the guy as she turned back around. The guy must have thought about something because he tapped Monique on her shoulder. Monique turned around with a smile on her face.
MONIQUE
Yes?
TEDDY
I hate to bother you but this is my first year here. I am a little nervous. I didn’t mean to bump you. How long have you been here?
Monique thought to herself, “Damn he is trying to make small talk.”
MONIQUE
I have been here all four years for my high school experience. Where did you move from?
TEDDY
My dad and I moved here from Colorado. It is really different but I am enjoying it thus far.
MONIQUE
Great.
Monique is
the next person to get her schedule. As she receives it she begins to walk off. Teddy got his schedule and yells out, “Hey”. Monique turns around and notices that it was the guy from the line again.
TEDDY
I hate to bug you but do you think that you can help me with my schedule?
MONIQUE
Yeah sure let me see it.
Teddy passed her his schedule and Monique scanned it over. There was something that caught her attention. She saw a few teachers that taught exceptional education tutorial. She was trying not to show her emotions on her face. She looked at the top of his schedule to get his name.
MONIQUE
Ok Theodore.
TEDDY
Please call me Teddy. Theodore is my dad.
MONIQUE (smiling)
Ok Teddy. Majority of your classes are on the 600 wing of the school. You would go down that hall and take the first left. The teacher’s names are on the door.
TEDDY
Thanks. By the way I didn’t catch your name.
MONIQUE
Maybe because I didn’t throw it, but my name is Monique.
TEDDY
I see that you have a smart mouth but that is cool. I will change that. I mean nice to meet you.
Monique flirted with him with the toss of her hair and the smiles that she kept flashing him. She thought about the statement that Teddy made about changing her smart mouth.
Monique looked at her watch and thought about Ian. She told Teddy that she hoped to see him around campus.
Ian and Jeremy spotted Monique. They compared their schedules. Happy that they had a few classes together, handshakes and hugs were exchanged.
IAN
This looks like it’s going to an exciting year.
THREE
While Monique was at school I decided that I would get some things done around the house. Just as I was about to return a call about a speaking engagement my phone rings. It was my Aunt Aretha. Aunt Aretha is a woman that does not take anything off of anyone. She will speak her mind even when she is not asked.
JACOB
Hello.
AUNT ARETHA
Hey Papadopoulos, how are you?
Only Aunt Aretha would call me that.
JACOB
I am good Auntie. How are you?
AUNT ARETHA
I am good baby. Just got back from Maui. I had a lovely time.
JACOB
You stay on the go but I am glad that you did. Who went with you?
AUNT ARETHA
Now you know that I am a single traveler. I can’t take sand to the beach honey.
JACOB
Ok Auntie. Well what is your next adventure?
AUNT ARETHA
I don’t have anything planned right now. I think that I am going to take a few weeks to rest. How is everything else?
JACOB
I feel you there. I need to do that but I can’t. I have several speaking engagements coming up for my foundation. Work is going good. Monique is good.
AUNT ARETHA
I am glad to hear that. She started her first day as a senior today right?
JACOB
Yes ma’am. She told me that she was a little nervous. I don’t even think that she has picked out a college yet.
AUNT ARETHA
Well that baby better get it together soon.
JACOB
Auntie I have enjoyed talking for this short time but I have got to returns some calls.
AUNT ARETHA
Ok Papadopoulos. You take it easy. I love you.
JACOB
I love you too.
As we ended our phone call I thought about what the next few calls would bring. I decided that the first call I would make would be to Dennis Hartley. Dennis is a friend from college. He used to date a guy named Andrew Robinson. Andrew was a star basketball player at Alcorn. Ellis and I used to double date with them. At 6’2, 200 pounds he is nothing short of an Adonis. Dennis is fine and has a wonderfully toned body with an ass that is dented on the sides with the promise of power. Dennis has a successful law firm where he represents Fortune 500 companies.
I pressed his picture on my phone to call him. After three rings my call went to voicemail. I decided to leave him a message asking him to call me back when he got a chance.
Thumbing throw the papers on my desk I decided that I would call about a speaking engagement in New York.
__________________
Monique was waiting in her car when Ian and Jeremy came up. She was on her web tablet checking out hotels for their weekend trip. She didn’t notice that they were standing outside until Ian knocked on the window. It startled her so much that her tablet fell to the floor. She pressed the unlock button for them to enter.
As they began to drive out of the parking lot and talking about their first day back to school, Monique noticed Teddy walking. She quickly hit the brakes and let the window down.
MONIQUE
How was your day?
Teddy turned around and saw Monique in her yellow Camaro Convertible. He smiled as he walked over to her walk. When he noticed that she had two other guys with her, his smiled dropped.
TEDDY
It was ok. I am just trying to figure everything out.
MONIQUE
That is good. Oh these are my friends Ian and Jeremy.
TEDDY
Sup fellows?
IAN
How is it going?
TEDDY
Cool.
MONIQUE
We are about to head to Chucky’s to grab something to eat. Would you like to ride with us?
TEDDY
Yeah. That’s what’s up.
Teddy jumped over the side of the car into the back seat with Jeremy. As they drove down the highway to Chucky’s, they all talked about their day at school. Monique glanced in the rear view mirror at Teddy. She flashed him a quick smile. He gave her a quick nod and wink. She could not help but to blush. They begin to talk about the upcoming football season and, of course, Jeremy tried to bring up the conversation of females.
When they arrived at Chucky’s a lot of the kids from school where there. They grabbed a table over in the corner. A waitress came over to take their order. Teddy tried to order Conjure Cognac with pineapple juice but the waitress asked to see his I.D. Needless to say that it didn’t work. They all begin to laugh out aloud.
TEDDY
Tell me what you all think about Ms. Welton.
JEREMY
We have never taken her. She is more of a tutorial teacher.
TEDDY
Oh so what is it that you are trying to say?
JEREMY
I am not trying to say anything. It’s just that we have not had to take her.
At this point Teddy was getting upset. He thought that Jeremy was trying to pick at him because he took some tutorial classes. Ian interrupted the conversation.
IAN
Have you guys heard R. Kelly’s new CD?
TEDDY
Yeah man. That thing go hard. That man is serious about his music. I would love for him, Janet Jackson, and Plies to do a collabo together. Can you imagine how many babies would be made from that track?
MONIQUE (laughing)
Yesss!!!! I think I am pregnant now just thinking about it.
JEREMY
Girl you are crazy.
An hour and a half passed before they knew it. They returned to the car and proceeded to go home. Teddy gave Monique directions to his house. She was a bit surprised that he lived about three blocks from her.
After Teddy got out of the car Jeremy made mention of the attraction between Teddy and Monique. Monique tried not to pay any attention to the conversation but she could not help but think about Teddy and smile.
When Monique arrived home Jacob was cooking dinner. She entered the house and set the alarm. She threw her bag on the sofa and walked into the kitchen. She gave Jacob a hug and kiss on the cheek.
JACOB
H
ow was your first day as a SENIOR?
MONIQUE
It was great but I think that I am going to change my schedule so that I can get out at twelve every day.
JACOB
Are you going to get an afternoon job?
MONIQUE
Yes Pop.
JACOB
I talked to Aunt Aretha today.
MONIQUE
Really? I was supposed to call her back last week but I forgot.
JACOB
She mentioned that. Dinner is ready.
Monique ran to wash her hands. I placed two plates on the table. Monique came and sat down.
I discussed my upcoming trips for the foundation. Monique’s face lit up when I told her that I was going to be out of town for a few days. Maybe she was thinking that I was going to leave her alone. She knows that I trust her but I am not about to leave her alone for three days while I am in New York.
JACOB
I am going to ask Aunt Aretha to stay with you while I am gone.
MONIQUE
Pop!!! I am 18 now. I can stay by myself.
JACOB
True but I want someone here with you just in case.
MONIQUE
Just in case of what?
JACOB
Monique, anything can happen. Just go with me on this one ok?
FOUR
Aretha retired from her job as a hospital administrator. She and her husband, Edgar, separated after being married for almost twenty-five years. Aretha always said that she would not divorce Edgar. Edgar was a stallion of a man. He was a blues singer and was always on the road.
Aretha decided she would surprise Edgar and show up at one of his concerts. To her surprise, Edgar had a mistress on the side that would travel with him when he knew that Aretha wasn’t going. She heard about this lady before from her best friend, Mattie Holmes.
Today had been a stressful day for Aretha. This morning she volunteered at a retirement home where she read to the residents and played card games with a few. After she left the retirement house Aretha went to her attorney’s office to sign papers about Edgar’s estate.
