my past.”
“Now, baby. I know you better than that. You love basketball more than the air we breathe. I know you had your heart set on the NBA, but why you gonna let that stop you? These people from the foreign teams really want you. Why don’t you just go over there and try it?”
Kevin lost all confidence. “First of all, Mama, who’s to say I’d even make the team if I went? And what would you do if I moved off to Europe?”
“Oh, baby.” Mama laughed warmly. “Your old mama has already survived your move to the big city. I’ll be just fine. I just want you to do what makes you happy.”
“Mama, you’re the best. But I’m working on being happy right now. I really think Alicia could be the key.”
“All right, baby. I love you, and I hope you’re right about what you’re doing. But I’m going to hold on to this letter for you, and I want you to promise me you’ll keep thinking about this. We can talk about it more when you come down here for Christmas.”
“I’ll think about it, Mama. I love you.”
“Kevin?”
“Yes, Mama?”
“I’m glad you’re not lonely anymore.”
Kevin put the receiver back on the phone and headed into the kitchen, switching on the light. He stared at the picture of him and his mother hanging on the refrigerator. It was taken at his college graduation as Mama adjusted his cap and gown. Her face was glowing with pride. Kevin’s heart swelled with love as he looked at the photo. He said a quick prayer that someday he would have children of his own so he could give them all the love and support that Mama gave to him. As he went off to bed, Kevin imagined himself with Alicia and Michael as a family.
11
KEVIN AND ALICIA
Kevin and Alicia flirted with each other across the table as they finished their meal. They had been together for three months to the day and had been celebrating with Antoine and Shawna. Shawna had left them at eight-thirty so she wouldn’t be late for work. Antoine tried to play the gentleman by leaving with her, but Alicia knew from the expression on his face that he wasn’t a happy camper.
“You know, Kevin, Shawna seemed a little weird, and your friend Antoine has a major attitude problem. Why was he so angry at her for having to work?”
“What do you mean? He didn’t have an attitude.”
“Oh, please, Kevin. You men never notice these things, do you? It was written all over his face.”
Finishing the last bite of beef and broccoli, Kevin pushed his plate away. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right. He didn’t seem too happy. But look at it from his point of view. Shawna’s always working. They’ve been going together as long as we have, and Antoine’s never spent a Friday or Saturday night with her where she hasn’t rushed off to work.”
“Damn, that is a bit much. But what’s she supposed to do? Quit her job? It’s not like he’s going to support her.”
“Nobody’s asking her to quit her job, baby. But Antoine would like her to take a night off every once in a while. I mean, she does have a day job too.”
“I didn’t know that.” Alicia realized she really hadn’t learned much about Shawna in the two hours they’d spent with the couple. “Now that you mention it, she was awfully quiet when I asked her what she did for a living. What does she do?”
Kevin laughed. “Well, during the day she works as a manager at a bookstore. But Tyrone’s got me convinced she’s a stripper at night.”
Alicia’s eyes got a little wider. “A stripper!! I knew there was something strange about that woman. She kept staring at me all through dinner.”
“She probably thought you were cute. Most strippers go both ways. You’re not going to leave me for her, are you? Damn, baby, that would really be embarrassing.” Kevin couldn’t help but laugh.
“Baby, let’s get one thing straight. I know I haven’t given you any yet, but I’m strictly dickly. Got it?”
“Okay, okay. Don’t take things so serious.” Kevin
“Now, baby. I know you better than that. You love basketball more than the air we breathe. I know you had your heart set on the NBA, but why you gonna let that stop you? These people from the foreign teams really want you. Why don’t you just go over there and try it?”
Kevin lost all confidence. “First of all, Mama, who’s to say I’d even make the team if I went? And what would you do if I moved off to Europe?”
“Oh, baby.” Mama laughed warmly. “Your old mama has already survived your move to the big city. I’ll be just fine. I just want you to do what makes you happy.”
“Mama, you’re the best. But I’m working on being happy right now. I really think Alicia could be the key.”
“All right, baby. I love you, and I hope you’re right about what you’re doing. But I’m going to hold on to this letter for you, and I want you to promise me you’ll keep thinking about this. We can talk about it more when you come down here for Christmas.”
“I’ll think about it, Mama. I love you.”
“Kevin?”
“Yes, Mama?”
“I’m glad you’re not lonely anymore.”
Kevin put the receiver back on the phone and headed into the kitchen, switching on the light. He stared at the picture of him and his mother hanging on the refrigerator. It was taken at his college graduation as Mama adjusted his cap and gown. Her face was glowing with pride. Kevin’s heart swelled with love as he looked at the photo. He said a quick prayer that someday he would have children of his own so he could give them all the love and support that Mama gave to him. As he went off to bed, Kevin imagined himself with Alicia and Michael as a family.
11
KEVIN AND ALICIA
Kevin and Alicia flirted with each other across the table as they finished their meal. They had been together for three months to the day and had been celebrating with Antoine and Shawna. Shawna had left them at eight-thirty so she wouldn’t be late for work. Antoine tried to play the gentleman by leaving with her, but Alicia knew from the expression on his face that he wasn’t a happy camper.
“You know, Kevin, Shawna seemed a little weird, and your friend Antoine has a major attitude problem. Why was he so angry at her for having to work?”
“What do you mean? He didn’t have an attitude.”
“Oh, please, Kevin. You men never notice these things, do you? It was written all over his face.”
Finishing the last bite of beef and broccoli, Kevin pushed his plate away. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right. He didn’t seem too happy. But look at it from his point of view. Shawna’s always working. They’ve been going together as long as we have, and Antoine’s never spent a Friday or Saturday night with her where she hasn’t rushed off to work.”
“Damn, that is a bit much. But what’s she supposed to do? Quit her job? It’s not like he’s going to support her.”
“Nobody’s asking her to quit her job, baby. But Antoine would like her to take a night off every once in a while. I mean, she does have a day job too.”
“I didn’t know that.” Alicia realized she really hadn’t learned much about Shawna in the two hours they’d spent with the couple. “Now that you mention it, she was awfully quiet when I asked her what she did for a living. What does she do?”
Kevin laughed. “Well, during the day she works as a manager at a bookstore. But Tyrone’s got me convinced she’s a stripper at night.”
Alicia’s eyes got a little wider. “A stripper!! I knew there was something strange about that woman. She kept staring at me all through dinner.”
“She probably thought you were cute. Most strippers go both ways. You’re not going to leave me for her, are you? Damn, baby, that would really be embarrassing.” Kevin couldn’t help but laugh.
“Baby, let’s get one thing straight. I know I haven’t given you any yet, but I’m strictly dickly. Got it?”
“Okay, okay. Don’t take things so serious.” Kevin
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