Decision Time by Earl Sewell Page B

together.”
    â€œWait! How are you going to get back here?” Maya asked.
    â€œI don’t know, but I’ll figure out something. I just need a little time alone to think things through.”
    â€œPromise me you’ll call back.”
    â€œYes, I promise to call you back,” I said and ended the call. When I looked at my phone I noticed two things: the battery was very low and there were a number of calls from Jordan, Barbara and Wesley. Just as I was about tocall Wesley back, I received an incoming call from Grandmother Katie. I really didn’t want to talk to anyone from the family, but it was too difficult for me to ignore Grandmother Katie. I couldn’t just tell her to go to hell and feel good about it.
    â€œHello,” I answered in tears.
    â€œKeysha?” Grandmother Katie’s smooth voice was like a beautiful melody to my ears. However, I could hear the questions riding beneath her angelic voice.
    â€œYes,” I whispered softly, almost afraid to speak. I knew that she must’ve been very disappointed and upset with me.
    â€œAre you okay?” she asked.
    â€œNo,” I said, leaning forward and glancing down at my feet.
    â€œAre you in a safe place?” she asked.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œDo you need some help?” she asked, sensing I was in over my head. I was overjoyed to hear her offer me help after all the drama I’d caused. I thought for sure she’d phoned to disown me. I couldn’t even bring myself to say yes because I was so choked up.
    â€œAre you still there?” she asked.
    â€œJordan hates me now. I blew up at him and I can never go back there and—”
    â€œKeysha, where are you?” Grandmother Katie asked in a firm but loving voice.
    â€œAt a hospital in Indianapolis sitting in the chapel going crazy,” I answered.
    â€œI want you to give me the name of the hospital and then I want you to sit tight until I arrive. Can you do that for me?”
    â€œYou’re actually going to come here and get me?” I felt awful about her having to travel so far on my behalf.
    â€œWell, you can’t live in a hospital, honey. Besides, hospital food doesn’t taste very good.” I laughed a little at her comment.
    â€œI have a little money left. I think I have enough to come to you,” I said, offering her an alternative.
    â€œNo, that’s not necessary. Let me come get you, baby. Now give me the address,” she demanded.
    â€œOkay,” I answered and then gave her the information she requested.
    When I ended my phone conversation with Grandmother Katie, I looked at all of the phone calls I’d gotten from Wesley. For a brief second I thought about returning his call, but then the image of him kissing Lori popped into my mind and upset me all over again. I then thought about calling Jordan and Barbara back, but I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know how to explain myself and at that particular point I wasn’t emotionally strong enough to deal with their disappointment. I decided to call Mike to see how things were going.
    â€œYo, this is your boy Big Mike. Leave a message and I might holla back.” I didn’t want to leave a message on his voice mail so I hung up the phone. I knew it would be a while before Grandmother Katie got there, so I decided to go look for something to eat. I walked out of the chapel and exited the hospital. I briefly wondered if Wesley’s father would try to find me but hoped he wouldn’t bother. I took a quick glance around and noticed a shopping center off in the distance.
    â€œThere’s probably a McDonald’s or something over there,” I reasoned. When I arrived at the shopping center, I easily located the food court area. I ordered food from a Chinese restaurant and then found a place to sit and eat. After I ate, I walked around for a while and killed some time window-shopping. I was pleasantly surprised that the