All About Him

by Pat Tucker

  My eyes lit up. This could be the break I needed to get Cooper to the next level.

  “Now, it showcases our talent, but also how we do things around here, so it’s really a win-win if you look at it the right way.”

  “Yeah, Lenny, I’m listening.”

  “But here’s the thing: the headliner needs to be right. We talking three sets, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, starting at six. It’s a good opportunity to be seen. We’ve had some pretty big names come through here and got some real good connections from our showcases.”

  Lenny didn’t have to sell me on the showcase. I understood the importance of it, and I had already heard about its reputation and what it had done for some other Houston alums—Destiny’s Child, Hi-Five and several others. As he spoke, all I thought about was making sure Cooper didn’t mess things up.

  The conversation with Lenny took all of fifteen minutes. I was so excited about the opportunity, I couldn’t wait to let Cooper know.

  My timing was perfect as I heard the saxophone player doing a solo, so that meant Cooper was either in the bathroom or had left the stage for a quick drink. I left Lenny in the office to do some paperwork and rushed down the hall and toward the club area when I caught a glimpse of light from the dressing room door.

  “I’d better turn that off before Lenny start asking us to share a cut on the electric bill.” I chuckled to myself as I grabbed the knob and opened the door.

  “Oh shit, Licia!”

  I heard him before I even saw him. In one quick move, Cooper shoved the groupie’s head to the side and swung his leg over.

  “What the fuck!” I bellowed, thoroughly disgusted.

  “Wait, Felicia, I can explain, I can explain,” he yelled.

  The chick lay back on her butt and used the back of her hand to wipe her mouth. She didn’t seem the least surprised or even uncomfortable.

  As Cooper hobbled toward me and tried to zip his fly, I slapped the side of his head and threw one knee to his groin. I could tell I had missed, but he still hunched over and released a hearty groan.

  “Damn, Felicia! Why you tripping and shit; I said I could explain!”

  Next, I turned my anger to the groupie who sat and stared at everything as if she had no common sense.

  “You get your nasty tramp ass outta here before I have the bouncers toss you out.”

  “What you mad at me for?” She got up from the floor and tried to adjust her top. Her big, beefy breasts flopped as she moved. “You act like he your man or something!” She rolled her eyes as she pieced her little skimpy outfit together.

  “Bitch, he’s my goddamn husband!”

  Finally, some shame and humility clouded her features. She stammered back a bit.

  “Uh, I had no idea.”

  “It’s not your job to know; it’s his!” I looked over at Cooper who had recovered a little from the half beating I’d put on him. “Get your ass together, and close out this show before you get us fucking fired!”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  For most people, $15,000 probably wasn’t a lot of money, but for me, it was about to be a whole new beginning. It wouldn’t give me the life I deserved, but it would help make things a bit easier, if only for a few months.

  As I sat on the phone with Yesterday, I couldn’t help but think about the money I’d get from the first interview I had done.

  “See, we’ve started something,” she said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “They’ve been publicizing the upcoming interview about Cooper, and it’s all everyone is talking about. I think we can try to get in a couple more before it airs.”

  I liked how Yesterday stayed on her hustle trying to make sure I made the most of what she saw as a real opportunity for me. It wouldn’t get me back on a level field with Cooper and Evelyn, but she was right that it would make me feel better. The interview hadn’t even aired yet, and I was already feeling pleasure. The weight of my story was just the beginning; it felt good to know that someone other than Yesterday and I knew about the real Cooper.

  “Why are they waiting so long to air it?”

  “Oh, I asked and the producer told me this was part of their procedure, so it’s nothing on you. Legal has to clear it before they air it, but that ain’t gonna hold up your money.”

  “Good, because after I get out of here, I’m gonna need that and then some.”

  “Well, I went by and talked to your landlord. He says he’s gonna hold the place for you. I wish I could say the same about your job.”

  Yesterday actually looked sad and spoke cautiously.

  “I already knew that was coming,” I told her. And I did. My job at the call center was not important, so they just usher bodies in and out. They probably had me replaced before the judge’s gavel banged.

  “Your supervisor from the night job said you could come back as soon as you got back from Mississippi, though.”

  “Mississippi?” I checked.

  “Yeah, girl, that’s where your disabled grandmother lived. And when she died, you had to go down there to help straighten things out.”

  I laughed so hard, tears came to my eyes. Yesterday knew she could lie real good. Even if I had taken my time, I would not have been able to make up some detailed shit like that and make it sound believable. Her attention to detail with the lie was too much.

  “Okay, so Mississippi,” I said.

  “Yeah, and I need you to remember that you had to take care of your grandmother’s affairs. Don’t go back up in there acting like you didn’t know you was helping your kinfolk and make me into a liar.”

  “Yes, ma’am!” For all the times she pissed me off by riding Cooper’s jock, and even still, talking to my mother, these were the times I really appreciated our friendship.

  Her visit I didn’t want proved that she had been busy on my behalf while I was away in Mississippi.

  “So, I’ll see if we can get another interview set up for Saturday.And shoot, you’ll be out soon, so it’s all good.”

  “Yesterday.” I started to choke up. “I really appreciate everything you’re doing to help. I guess I’m just trying to say thanks, girl.”

  I didn’t want to be crying during our visit.

  “For what?”

  Silence hung between us. I gave her a knowing look, tried to compose myself and said, “For everything, you’ve done a lot to help me.”

  “Yeah, well, I hope you remember that when you see me jamming to one of Cooper’s hit songs. I want you to remember all of this, you hear me?” she joked.

  “I hear you.”

  “But on a serious tip,” she said. “Now that I know how you feel, I can and will cut back on his music, because you are right about that. I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”

  One of the main problems with being in jail was having to be told what to do. They told us when to eat, sleep, shit, and everything else. I was grateful that I wouldn’t have to stay for thirty calendar days, but I needed my time to come quickly. Since I wasn’t a violent offender, they agreed to shave seven days off the sentence. Of course, I wanted them to shave off two weeks, and give me time served for the rest of the sentence. After the interview on Saturday, I’d have four days before I’d be free.

  On my bed, I stared at the ceiling and mentally begged sleep to come. Two women were in a corner playing cards, another was reading a book, and two were braiding hair. I hated being held in a cage like that, but I was glad the area I was in was relatively calm and quiet. And it wasn’t a literal cage, but a large room with vomit-colored walls, no windows to the outside, and several rows of bunk beds.

  For the most part, we stayed to ourselves. I didn’t want to be there long enough to get to know any of the other women on a personal level. I overheard conversations about hooking up on the outside and plans to meet each other’s families. All I
could think was, who’d want to keep the memory of jail fresh on their mind.

  If I ever saw any of these women on the outside, I’d act like I’d never set eyes on them before. My plan was to stay the hell away from jail and everything that reminded me of it—especially the ratchet-ass women who behaved like this was the norm for them.

  As I made that promise of no return to myself, thoughts of Cooper came to mind. It wouldn’t be easy to do, but I had to find a way to move past him.

  When my eyelids began to feel heavy, I felt incredible joy. But the joy didn’t last long as thoughts of my hateful sister crept to mind.

  It was day two of the talent review at Milan’s of Houston, and I had already claimed a small victory because we made it through Friday without any incidents. Surprisingly, Cooper was on his best behavior, and I beamed with pride.

  My thought was, it was Saturday night, so we had made it more than halfway through the showcase. I also played my manager role to the fullest.

  “Hi, I’m Felicia Monroe, and I represent Cooper Spears, this year’s headliner.”

  It felt incredible to be able to say I managed the headliner. Of course these people had no clue about the nightmare said headliner could be, and that didn’t matter. I was just eager to make a possible connect that could lead to something tangible for his career.

  “He’s got a good voice and a great look,” a man in an expensive suit said. Except for the few seconds he glanced at me, he kept his eyes glued to Cooper. I couldn’t remember the man’s name, but his positive feedback about Cooper made me linger. I didn’t want to appear too desperate, but I also wanted to express interest.

  “Yeah, he sounds good, real contemporary; it’s what’s in right now.”

  He seemed to enjoy the song as he moved to the beat in his chair.

  “Unfortunately, I’m desperate for a sax player right now.”

  My heart sank at the sound of that.

  “But let me give you my card; things change, sometimes without much notice at all.”

  I accepted his card and prepared to move on to the next table when the sight a few tables over stopped me cold.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  "So I guess you gon’ peddle your wares to everybody in here except me, huh?” Her icy words hit me before I could approach her table, but she was right. I had seen her there, and didn’t plan to stop. That was the problem with something like this; there was no limit to whom you’d see.

  “Bitch, don’t play; this is my business. It’s high stakes poker, and I ain’t got time for none of your games.”

  “Your business, huh.” She threw her head back and laughed, then looked around in her signature bitchy manner. “Well, it’s clear you don’t know what the hell you’re doing, as usual.” She rolled her eyes.

  In order to keep it professional and not blow whatever opportunity may have been available to Cooper, I tried to keep moving, but it was obvious, I had little control over others’ lack of professionalism.

  Unfortunately for me, Lenny walked up before I could fire back at that low blow Evelyn had made about my lack of skills. She was lucky too because it was about to go down.

  “Oh, Felicia, this is Evelyn Malone; she’s a scout for Sony. I really wanted you two to meet.”

  I was a little nervous that he might make the connection, but he didn’t, so I played along. My mind floated to a thought. Since when did Sony have scouts? The smile on my face was for Lenny alone, and I knew for sure that Evelyn was aware. She may have been full of shit, but was also stupid and that made for a bad combination.

  The hatred between Evelyn and me went back to early childhood. As the youngest, she commanded all of the attention and all of the little privileges that should’ve been divided equally between us. Even back then, she was all about self and cared nothing about what others thought.

  It wasn’t just that she was convinced she was the pretty one, but more that she always behaved as if everyone owed her something. And when she couldn’t get it from most people, she’d damn near kill herself to try and take it from me. That was the nature of our relationship: she took, and took, and took, until it was all gone.

  Although we were only four years apart, by the time Evelyn came along, my mother was tired and that meant I took over lots of responsibilities that should have had nothing to do with me. It was like Evelyn was my child, despite that I had done nothing to have her. I hated her because all she did was take from me. When she walked into a room, what little if any attention I had, was gone instantly. She’d try to take the air I breathed if she thought there was any value in her having it.

  As I eyed her suspiciously, I hoped that would be enough for her to retreat, and keep quiet. But I knew better.

  Evelyn ignored my deathly stare, boldly stood anyway, used her hands to smooth down her dress, then said, “You manage the headliner, right? He’s pretty good. His voice, he’s got the right look, a real complete package.”

  I wanted to knock her back down in that chair, but in Lenny’s presence, I had no choice but to grin and nod.

  “Yeah, you’ll find some of the country’s best hidden talent here at Milan’s of Houston,” Lenny said proudly.

  He, like most men in our presence, was all too eager to try and please Evelyn. She dressed to thrill; her clothes were always the best of the best. As a teen, she would save every dime she got her hands on, including allowances, and birthday money, so she could go buy the best knockoffs on Harwin.

  “I enjoyed his set last night, and it was even better tonight. You got something real in that one there,” Evelyn said. Her thirst was very apparent.

  “Yeah, ole Coop is really good. The bastard can sang his ass off, for sure,” Lenny said. He laughed and I understood the turbulent relationship that existed, but I was glad to know that when the time came, Lenny knew how to put aside their differences and say positive things about a fucked-up individual like Cooper.

  I stood silent as they talked about Cooper. I wasn’t sure what she was up to and why she’d come back home, but I wasn’t about to fall for her shit. If I knew anything about my sister, for sure, her agenda would mean trouble for me.

  “You know, I haven’t been home in years. If I knew this was the kind of raw talent you all had up in here, I would have been put this spot in my rotation,” Evelyn said.

  “That’s what we want you to do, make us part of your routine. Don’t sleep on Milan’s of Houston.” Lenny laughed. I wondered whether he was the same man who wanted to put his foot up in Cooper’s ass. “And wait, H-town is home for you?”

  “Yup, Northside bred and reared. ‘Gunspoint,’ Humble, I know all the hot spots,” Evelyn boasted.

  “Hotdamn! I didn’t know you was a home-girl! That’s what’s up!” Lenny slapped his thigh with the excitement of the news that Evelyn was a Houston native. I wanted to roll my eyes hard enough for them all to see, but I refrained.

  “Yeah, but you know, I move differently these days,” she boasted.

  “Okay, I see, I see. Ain’t nothing wrong with that, baby girl. That just means you a few steps ahead of these other jokers, right.”

  “Believe that. I used to be all about these streets. See, these white boys, they don’t usually know where to find the good stuff, but this right here,” she waved her arms around, “All of this screams me.”

  With all the bullshit flying around, I didn’t even notice Cooper when he snuck up on us. That was the thing about being around Evelyn; she threw me off my game and made me second-guess myself. Despite all the years that had gone by, nothing had changed when it came to that. And I didn’t know whether I hated her or myself more for it.

  Lenny’s cell phone rang. “Excuse, I gotta take this,” he said before he left. I was glad I didn’t have to endure him and Cooper in such close proximity.

  But, while I was glad a call took Lenny away, I didn’t want to be left
alone with Evelyn. And despite Cooper’s presence, I may as well have been alone. Cooper was always about team self, especially if he caught a hint of a possible opportunity.

  “Who’s this, Licia?” my husband asked. His voice startled me, since I was already off my game.

  He had never met my sister because the bitch was too important and too busy to come home for our wedding. And once she’d built her new life, her country folk didn’t fit into her new persona. Evelyn had left for New York right after high school and never looked back. Her calls were frequent in the beginning when she needed money, but it didn’t take long for those to become less frequent, until they all but stopped.

  The tone of Cooper’s voice didn’t say business when he inquired about her, and that made me even more uncomfortable.

  Before I could answer, Evelyn stepped forward, slightly in front of me, and offered Cooper a dainty jeweled hand. “I’m the woman who’s about to change your life.” She grinned so hard, I could see the bridge in the back of her mouth.

  Cooper’s right eyebrow inched upward. The thirst in his eyes was so embarrassing, he made my stomach churn. He was like a kid who needed to be reminded of stranger danger constantly, but he still wouldn’t listen, especially if he thought he could benefit.

  “Listen, Evelyn, if you want to talk business, we can set up an appointment for next week and discuss the logistics.” I tried to intervene.

  Cooper was so stupid, he couldn’t even tell when I was trying to throw him a lifeline. There was no synergy between us, and that made working together even more of a challenge. I tried to send all kinds of nonverbal warnings, but as usual, he was too busy trying to decide whether he needed to prostitute himself to make something happen.

  “Who you with?” Cooper asked before I could finish the word logistics. His brows knitted together in deep concentration.

  When she said Sony, I knew for a fact he probably creamed himself a little.