“Having fun, Lailah? My overtly, energetic friend asked almost spilling her drink on me after she missed colliding with a couple dancing. I inspected my dress making sure I missed disaster before shrugging.
“It’s ok. Nothing much has changed here since I’ve been gone. Same people, same music…same crap.” The smile disappeared on Kasey’s face and I immediately regretted what came out of my mouth. “Kase, I’m so sorry. I know you’re trying to show me a good time.” I said plopping down in one of the chairs at a nearby table. Kasey sipped on her wine glass and I found myself staring at the ruby, red liquid.
Red…Blood…Pain!
I shook my head trying to ignore it. “Look--” I waited until she looked away from her drink to me. “I would have rather we made dinner and stayed at my place and watched a movie. I’m still going through some things and I’m just tryin’ to take it easy. I wanted to make you happy tonight by going out.”
Kasey then sighed aloud while rolling her eyes. “Lailah, why didn’t you just say so. All I wanted to do was hang out with my girl again. You don’t have to please me by going along with all of my bright ideas.” She one-hand hugged me before turning her glass up and sucking down the rest of its contents. I couldn’t help but focus on the lone drop of fluid that escaped the corners of her lips and descended down her chin.
Another flash of the nightmare this afternoon.
Kasey finished by setting her glass on the nearby table not caring to notice the looks she received at the occupants. I gave an apologetic look as she grabbed my arm and yanked me towards the doorway.
“Come on, let’s get out of here. There is something I wanted to talk to you about anyway.” She turned her heart-shaped face up to me and grinned. It was one of those grins that made me instantly suspicious. One thing about Kasey, she always had a way of concocting some type of hair-brain scheme which usually means me being taken out of my comfort zone or us getting into trouble. Either one made me nervous.
We walked to her blue, two door Subaru arm and arm. “So, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about?” I asked anxiously. “You normally can’t contain yourself when you have important information to share, so I don’t know what to think about your silence now.” I observed her facial expression and noticed that she was having trouble trying to hide a smile. It wasn’t until we were in the car when she let out a loud ‘ok’ and turned to me.
“Now you must hear me out before you say no.” She held up her hands in front of her as if I were going to attack her at any moment. All I could think was, ‘oh boy, what did she get us into now.’
“Well, I know that you took some time off from work to relax and I wanted to do something really special for you…” she grabbed my hands. She started speaking very rapidly and I found it hard to keep up with some of the words that were coming out of her mouth. “…something special to show you how important you are to me, as a friend, and how happy and proud I am of you for how strong you have been. You refused to give up.” I blushed, lowering my head. I could feel the tears coming on and I could have strangled her for making me cry.
“So…” I heard her continue. “I signed us up for a trip to North Carolina for two weeks to that Cherokee retreat that you have been talking about for ages now. We will be staying in our own cabin near the Oconaluftee River Resort.” My mouth dropped open to speak but she shook her head and squeezed my hands tighter. “All inclusive paid. That means you don’t have to purchase anything but the souvenirs that you want to take back home and remember this trip forever.”
I tried to, once again, open my mouth to speak. Of course, she found a way to talk over top of me.
“I will not take ‘no’ for an answer, Lailah. Please let me do this for you. We haven’t been away on a fun trip in years and it is time.” She threw up her hands, waving them around, wildly.
“Time to have fun! Time to enjoy life again!”
Then as quickly as she started her rampage, she looked at me seriously but with concern. “Time to be you again.” Kasey sat back in her seat letting out the air that she had apparently been holding.
I know she couldn’t see the smile I had plastered on my face from the position I was in but that was all right. I wanted to enjoy letting her sweat it out a little longer. “Well, are you going to say something?” Kasey practically jumped out of the driver seat and onto my lap. “Are you angry… excited? What?!” I held my hands over my ears at her shrieking. Could she possibly get any louder?
“Lailah!”
Yes, she obviously could. I burst out laughing. Kasey can really be intense at times. Maybe she should go ahead and put her out of her misery.
“Calm down, Kase. I’m not upset.” I lowered my head. “Actually, I feel kind of flattered that you would go through such trouble for me. It truly makes me see how much of a good friend you are, and I would love to go on this premeditated trip with you.”
Just when I thought that she couldn’t get any louder, her shriek of joy went through me like a saber.
“Kasey can you please try to keep the decibels down some. I happen to enjoy my ability to hear.” Kasey ignored me and seemed to have set herself off into a fit of planning details of the trip to come as she drove me home. She was talking a mile a minute. Occasionally, I would catch words like makeovers, hiking, and something about river rafting!
“Oh no! I’m not going in any water. You can forget it!” I said as we pulled into the driveway. The car came to a halt and I had my feet on the pavement before she could shut off the engine.
“What are you talking about? We have to experience it all while we are there--”
“No, YOU!” I pointed to her while I straighten my clothes and then shut the door. “You can experience the water rafting extravaganza, but I will not be joining you. Water, right now, is not my best friend other than getting in and out of the shower.”
A very unattractive scowl came across Kasey’s pretty face and I returned the look, un-phased. “You chicken. You don’t even know what you’ll be missing.”
Ha! Miss Uppity must have forgotten that I have known her long enough to know that she has never been water rafting so what the hell did she know or miss rather!
“Whatever.” I shrugged and waved her away. “Get home safely and start your planning.” She waved at me as she began pulling out. “And don’t sign me up for anything crazy, Ms. Kasey.” I yelled at her.
Kasey just smiled devilishly before blowing me a kiss and disappearing into the night.
Chapter 2
Gawonii
“Oh, my geeeeee! This heat!” I fanned myself with my sun hat trying to find some relief in the suffocating heat that threatened to smother me. “I will never complain about Pennsylvania again.”
Kasey bounced beside me slamming the car door to our rental. She grinned with her shades hanging partially off her nose. “Cut it out Lailah. It’s just a little heat.” She walked on ahead of me with a skip in her step as if she were walking on a runway. She wore a gorgeous sundress in the color of yellow with a wedged sandal. That woman was an accessorizing goddess with a floppy sunhat, bangles, and hoops in her ears. I looked down at myself and grimaced. It was obvious Kase and I was totally different. I definitely oozed ‘exceptionally plain’ with my plain tank and jeans… but I dressed for comfort.
“Come on Lailah!” She called to me without even turning around jolting me out of my reverie. I grabbed my few personal belongings and quickly trailed after her. As we walked along the path to the lodge, music greeted us. A sweet, melodic sound from a pipe-like flute came from a young man with long, black hair who played alongside the road. The music brought a sense of calmness and I felt a rush of peace take over. So caught up in a trance, that I hadn’t realized I lost sight of Kasey and how much time had passed. I took off in the direction I assumed she went picking up the pace a bit, but as I got closer to the lodge, the more local activities took place, exploding with cultural beauty. Life, on the resort, rushed around me
in a brilliance of colors, music, crafts, and dance.
I passed at a group of native women beading and surrounded by baskets with millions of colorful beads. One grey-haired woman had skin so tanned it looked like frail leather. She lifted a leathery hand to show me an ornament she was beading.
Intrigue moved my feet over to her to where she sat, holding out my hand to her. I allowed her to lead me down onto the ground beside her so I could observe closer. She quickly went back to work, beading the tiny beads with swift, steady fingers. The two other younger women worked as if the old lady never acknowledged me.
“Thank you,” I said dropping the phone into my purse. “I have--” Bony fingers clutched my face in a vise grip and the air whooshed out my body at the impact. I struggled to pull free, however the hold only became tighter, forcing me to face my attacker. Peering into the old lady’s face, seemed to have changed somehow. She no longer seemed frail but had the strength of a man three times her. A strange language uttered from her lips and I couldn’t break the connection. Instead, I became entranced. My eyes traveled from her lips to her eyes. Eyes that churned a misty grey until they turned a dark brown to a startling blue.
…and then I began to fall.
My world spiraled around me, plummeting into the pools of her eyes. My chest began to constrict from the fall, and I opened my mouth to gasp for air.
Wasn’t anyone else seeing this?
The hag’s voice droned louder sounding awfully familiar. It overpowered the bustle around us until my cellphone rung. Jerking away from the woman, I blinked a few times. The old woman was still beading again. She looked up at me and smiled nodding to my phone.
Kasey…
“Hello.”
“Where are you?” Her voice chimed through the earpiece. “I turn my back and you go AWOL.”
Looking away from the women, I focused on the activity going on around me. “Yeah, sorry ‘bout that…Got caught up in the sights. Where are you?”
“Well since you’ve decided to go on your own way, I went ahead and took care of our arrangements and the keys to the cabin. I am heading back in the direction of the car. I will meet you there.”
“Ok. See you in a bit.” I ended the call. Nodding to the ladies, I walked back towards the car to meet Kasey. Along the way, there was a crowd of spectators hovering in a circle camouflaging a group of native dancers decorated in beaded tunics and feathers. Each one more elaborately dressed than the other, but equally beautiful. The females sat in a circle surrounding the dancers; long black hair flowing in the breeze of the hot spring day. The music stopped and the larger of the male dancers stepped forward raising his hands to the sky with the authority of royalty. He bellowed something in a native tongue to the heavens and the drums started softly. The dancer’s feet moved on the dirt ground to the rhythm of the drums with professional grace.
As if he was a hypnotist, I stood frozen; mesmerized at his strength and power of the dance.
The drums got louder, and his movements became more determined, punctual. The feathers that adorn his body resembled those of an eagle and if you didn’t know any better, you would actually think that he will soon take flight.
His hair flowed longer than I have ever seen on a man and I wondered what it would be like to run my fingers through it.
He was beautiful.
“Why is it that we only been here for less than an hour and I already have to put out a search party for you?”
I jumped redirecting my attention to the voice behind me. “Kasey!” I looked back to the dancers then back to my friend, blushing. I was guilty…what can I say. “I’m so sorry.” I stammered, watching her fold her arms across her chest. I pointed to the dancers. “I was--”.
“Hot, isn’t he?” She said, a smile breaking through her hard demeanor. A deeper blush spread along my features as I shrugged while picking up my bags and walking towards the car.
“He’s okay.”
I could hear Kasey’s high pitch laugh as I walked away.
The cabin that Kasey and I were staying at for the next fourteen days was beyond perfection. It faced the Oconaluftee River and had beautiful view of the Great Smoky Mountains. I fell back onto the poster-sized bed and stared up at the ceiling. This is exactly what I needed… peace and quiet.
The bed took a massive dip, and I was almost bounced off the bed as Kasey landed beside me. Well, that didn’t last long, I sighed sadly accepting the interruption.
“Let’s get something to eat. I’m starving.”
I turned my head to look over at her. Kasey had changed her clothes to a pair of short jean shorts and a cow neck tank, still looking like she just stepped off the runway instead of on vacation. I sat up on my elbow.
“You are in charge. Where and what do you have in mind?”
“Well, they have this restaurant off the resort a little way up the road and it is part of the package.” She hopped off the bed and started brushing imaginary wrinkles out of her clothes. “I think that would be a great place to start on our first day here. Plus, it has all you can drink.” She flashed a brilliant smile at that bit of information. She then grabbed me by my arm and pulled me off the bed. “Can you at least put on something presentable?” She added looking me up and down. “Really Lailah, if you want to hang with me, you are gonna have to step it up.” And with that, she walked out the room. I stuck out my tongue at her departing figure. There was nothing wrong with what I am wearing…I think.
Shrugging, I changed into that cute jumpsuit that I bought for the trip. She shouldn’t have any problem with that since she helped with the decision making on our little shopping spree a few days ago. I took some mousse and water through my short curly hair and finished the look with some gold earrings.
“Now that’s much better.” I heard coming from the doorway. “I thought I would have to help dress you, but that will do.” Kasey grabbed my purse off the bed. “Hurry, if you take much longer, you will start looking tasty to me.”
I laughed, shaking my head out the door. Once in the car, we headed off the reservation and along the vibrant countryside, home of the Cherokees. Since Kasey was driving, I was able to take pleasure in the scenery whizzing by me. It has been a while since I could take pleasure in such things, so I was not about to miss this opportunity.
We arrived at the restaurant and I had to admit, it really looked nice. I didn’t expect to find an upscale eating establishment back in the country like this. Inside, we were seated on the second level in the corner. One whole side of the wall overlooked the countryside and that was where we were seated. We settled in and each one of us ordered a glass of wine…and one glass is what I needed to tell myself. Alcohol and I are not pals. We just never seemed to have a good working relationship no matter where I was in my lifetime. It is not that I would have too much of it. I think it was more, so my tolerance was very low and nothing good ever really came out of it.
As if she heard my thoughts, Kasey commented. “Let’s keep the wine to a minimum tonight. No need to lose control so soon into our vacation.” She smirked. Mockingly, I smirked right back. If I didn’t want my drink so much, I might have thrown it at her – glass and all… but before I could make a comeback, the waiter came to the table and took our order.
“Ok, you haven’t said much since we got here.” Kasey said taking a sip of her wine. “What’s going on in that head of yours?” She leaned forward. “Please say you are happy to be here?”
I looked at her and tried to interpret the real meaning behind her question. Was that hurt I heard in her voice? I didn’t mean to appear ungrateful. I have been trying to take it all in and grasp that I was here.
“Kasey, I am ecstatic.” I saw her spirits’ lift; however, I felt a stab of jealousy. As soon as I recognized it, guilt set in.
It was no secret that I envied her. I always have.
She was beautiful and I always felt that she only hung around plain ol’ me was because it made her appear even mor
e beautiful…No competition. We were complete opposites. It was like God was having a good day and sculpted her out of the finest clay and carefully spent all four of the days out of the six making Earth, forming her. Kasey stood about six feet, if not more and she had this straight, jet black hair that cascaded down her back like fine silk.
I know why she wanted to come here. She had always wanted to research her ancestors as I have always wanted to do. But anyone could take one look at her and see the native gene flowing through her with her high cheek bones, almond shaped, dark, brown eyes, and sun-kissed skin.
Then you come to me…5’9 and holding, one hundred and sixty pounds with a little more in the rear than desired. Even after the twenty – pound weight loss I had after being sick, my rear end…yup! Still massive. I call it a cruel joke from God. Hell! Look at my chest! Let’s just say this…next to Kasey, with my short hair, people would think I’m her man. A very short and desperate man. No, I definitely was not blessed in that area.
Now if God really wanted to make up for his little joke, he could put the weight of my ass where my chest should have been and we all can be happy.
The one asset I once had… was now gone.
My hair.
Although it is growing back, one could imagine the pain I felt when it all fell out due to chemo.
Total devastation! But who really chooses hair over life?
So, I stared across the table at my best friend of many years, forcing a smile on my face. Not because I was lying about being excited ‘bout being there, but because she would not truly understand the feelings, I have held about our relationship all these years.
“I love it here, and hate to know that as the days go, it brings me a day closer to having to go back to reality.” I averted my eyes, taking a sip out of my wine glass. I looked back in time to see her nod her head, also, taking a sip from her glass. Her eyes shifted, uneasily, alerting me. It was like an awkward dance we staged going on between us. I had a feeling that something more was up here, but I couldn’t quite pinpoint what. I watched as she ran her hands through her long, beautiful hair and I became depressed all over again. Kasey then leaned forward over the table towards me.
THE AGENI SERIES: AMA ANGENI Page 2
