bad news. You remember Bertha Mae Washington’s two girls, Emily and Anna, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I think so,” Kevin mumbled, remembering how wild they were in bed. He’d had them both.
“Well, they got seven children between them, by five different daddies, and ain’t neither one of them married! And got the nerve to be Sunday-school teachers! Now, how you gonna be a Sunday-school teacher acting like that?” Mama sucked her teeth in disgust. “At least I got sense ’nough to keep your sistah Whitney and my cute little grandbabies, Joe and Martha, home on Sunday!”
Kevin shook his head as he grinned. His mother could be such a hypocrite.
“Don’t worry, Mama, she’s already made it known that sex is not in our near future.”
“You see? That’s good. You done found yourself a real woman, Kevin. She respects herself.” Mama was happy. “You don’t find too many girls that respect themselves these days. You just treat her right, like your mama taught you, and you two will have a nice family.”
Suddenly Kevin was nervous but figured now was as good a time as any to approach the subject of Michael.
“Speaking of family, Mama, before you go tellin’ everyone at church about Alicia, there’s something you should know.”
Mama gasped. “Oh, Lord, baby. Please don’t tell me the girl’s married. Mimmie Wilks’s grandbaby’s been strayin’ on her husband. There is nothin’ worse a woman can do.”
“No, Mama, Alicia’s not married. She has a seven-year-old son. A wonderful seven-year-old son. I just met him today, Mama, and he’s really a great kid.”
“Well, if she’s got a baby, where’s her baby’s daddy? And why ain’t she married to him?”
Kevin considered making up a story that would please his mother but decided against it. “Things didn’t work out with her child’s father, Mama. He was beating her so bad, she finally had to leave.”
“Dear Jesus, that poor child. Nobody should have to go through that,” Mama said with compassion. “But, Kevin, you be careful. You don’t know these women like I do. Just make sure she ain’t after you to raise her son.”
Kevin was amazed at how quickly Mama’s emotions could bounce back and forth. “Don’t worry, Mama, Alicia and I both want to take things very slowly. I’m being careful, but I know she’s not looking for anything more than companionship right now.”
“All right, baby. Mama’s glad you’re not rushin’ things. Well, I guess I won’t be meeting her anytime soon. But you’re still comin’ home to see me during your Christmas break, aren’t you?”
“Yes, Mama, I’m coming down on Christmas morning,” he said, imagining himself sitting at her table for Christmas dinner with his friends and family.
‘ “Are you still bringing those boys with you? What’s their names? Anthony and Tony?”
Kevin laughed, “Antoine and Tyrone, Mama. And, yes, they’re coming with me. We’re gonna try to drive my car. I just hope the car makes it down there. I can’t wait to see you.”
“Don’t you worry. Your car will make it, because I know the Lord would not make ol’ Mamie Brown miss her son on Christmas Day.”
Kevin was tired. He suppressed a yawn. “Okay Mama. I guess it’s time for me to go, so I can get up for work in the morning. I love you.”
“I love you too, baby, but now that you mention work, there’s something I want to talk to you about before you go.”
“What is it, Mama?”
“There’s another letter here from that Mr. Hirschfield. Ain’t he that sports agent who’s been trying to help you out?”
Kevin rolled his eyes. “Yes, Mama. He’s the one who got me the tryout with the Charlotte Hornets.”
“So, baby, why won’t you answer his calls? I’m gettin’ tired of making up excuses for you to all these coaches who call here.”
“Mama, I don’t need you to lie for me. Why don’t you just tell them I’m not interested? My life is different now. It Basketball is
“Yeah, I think so,” Kevin mumbled, remembering how wild they were in bed. He’d had them both.
“Well, they got seven children between them, by five different daddies, and ain’t neither one of them married! And got the nerve to be Sunday-school teachers! Now, how you gonna be a Sunday-school teacher acting like that?” Mama sucked her teeth in disgust. “At least I got sense ’nough to keep your sistah Whitney and my cute little grandbabies, Joe and Martha, home on Sunday!”
Kevin shook his head as he grinned. His mother could be such a hypocrite.
“Don’t worry, Mama, she’s already made it known that sex is not in our near future.”
“You see? That’s good. You done found yourself a real woman, Kevin. She respects herself.” Mama was happy. “You don’t find too many girls that respect themselves these days. You just treat her right, like your mama taught you, and you two will have a nice family.”
Suddenly Kevin was nervous but figured now was as good a time as any to approach the subject of Michael.
“Speaking of family, Mama, before you go tellin’ everyone at church about Alicia, there’s something you should know.”
Mama gasped. “Oh, Lord, baby. Please don’t tell me the girl’s married. Mimmie Wilks’s grandbaby’s been strayin’ on her husband. There is nothin’ worse a woman can do.”
“No, Mama, Alicia’s not married. She has a seven-year-old son. A wonderful seven-year-old son. I just met him today, Mama, and he’s really a great kid.”
“Well, if she’s got a baby, where’s her baby’s daddy? And why ain’t she married to him?”
Kevin considered making up a story that would please his mother but decided against it. “Things didn’t work out with her child’s father, Mama. He was beating her so bad, she finally had to leave.”
“Dear Jesus, that poor child. Nobody should have to go through that,” Mama said with compassion. “But, Kevin, you be careful. You don’t know these women like I do. Just make sure she ain’t after you to raise her son.”
Kevin was amazed at how quickly Mama’s emotions could bounce back and forth. “Don’t worry, Mama, Alicia and I both want to take things very slowly. I’m being careful, but I know she’s not looking for anything more than companionship right now.”
“All right, baby. Mama’s glad you’re not rushin’ things. Well, I guess I won’t be meeting her anytime soon. But you’re still comin’ home to see me during your Christmas break, aren’t you?”
“Yes, Mama, I’m coming down on Christmas morning,” he said, imagining himself sitting at her table for Christmas dinner with his friends and family.
‘ “Are you still bringing those boys with you? What’s their names? Anthony and Tony?”
Kevin laughed, “Antoine and Tyrone, Mama. And, yes, they’re coming with me. We’re gonna try to drive my car. I just hope the car makes it down there. I can’t wait to see you.”
“Don’t you worry. Your car will make it, because I know the Lord would not make ol’ Mamie Brown miss her son on Christmas Day.”
Kevin was tired. He suppressed a yawn. “Okay Mama. I guess it’s time for me to go, so I can get up for work in the morning. I love you.”
“I love you too, baby, but now that you mention work, there’s something I want to talk to you about before you go.”
“What is it, Mama?”
“There’s another letter here from that Mr. Hirschfield. Ain’t he that sports agent who’s been trying to help you out?”
Kevin rolled his eyes. “Yes, Mama. He’s the one who got me the tryout with the Charlotte Hornets.”
“So, baby, why won’t you answer his calls? I’m gettin’ tired of making up excuses for you to all these coaches who call here.”
“Mama, I don’t need you to lie for me. Why don’t you just tell them I’m not interested? My life is different now. It Basketball is
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