Reminiscing back to the
year 1994, I remember the time like it was yesterday. It was when I re-connected
with the man who would soon become my husband.
It was July 4th,
and I was on my way over to my friend Karen’s house for a cookout. But first, I
had to make a pit stop at Kroger’s to pick up some soda. When I woke up that
morning, I had a feeling there was going to be something special about this
holiday. Wanting to look my best, I dressed in Gucci jeans that fit just right
over my apple-bottom behind, matching Gucci tank top, and open-toed Gucci
sandals to complete the look. Even my hair was on point. That fly-bitch
Christian flipped my hair real cute, putting an extra flare in it like she does
every now and then.
Before making it out the front door,
I was delayed by the daily call from my dear, but naïve friend Marcella, who
always talked about her no-good husband, Lance. To be honest, I’m baffled as to
why she even bothers putting up with him; he is a straight-up loser with a
capital L. And when I say Lance is a loser, I'm not speaking in an unsuccessful
type of way. Lance is unfaithful, and Marcella blindly believes they have such a
perfect family. Even though she is four years older than he, she allows him to
walk all over her, staying with him only because of the money, I’m sure.
Marcella wants for nothing. A
business owner, Lance co-owns JAPS, the local nightclub, with his father. The
club, which brings in a lot of money, is a frequent hangout spot for the local
pro football and basketball players.
Marcella is my best friend and I love
her unconditionally, but she needs to realize her husband means her no good.
Hey, must be the money!!!
“Hey, Marcella, I can’t talk right
now. I’m in sort of a rush. I still have to stop by my mother’s and then
Kroger’s to pick up some soda before going over to Karen’s. She called a little
while ago and said Davy invited more people than they had planned. So, she wants
to be sure they have enough food and drink.”
“Yeah, there’s gonna be a lot of
people. You know how my sister parties.”
“What’s up with Kory? Who is he
bringing to the cookout, Mikala or Christian?” I asked while giving myself a
final once-over in the full-length mirror on my bedroom door.
“Brandi, girl, I don’t even get
involved in my brother’s drama. I act like I don’t know what’s going on.
Whenever Mikala calls me crying over Kory’s ass, I rush her off the phone.”
“I don’t blame you, girl. Stay as far
away from them fools as possible.”
“I try.”
“Is Mama Lez coming to Karen’s
house?” I picked up my keys from the dresser and placed them in the side
compartment of my matching Gucci purse.
“Yes, she will be there keeping up
drama like always.”
“And is Lance coming? Or
is he going over his mother’s house to play cards with his crack head-ass
sister?”
“Naw, he’ll be there, and we’re
bringing Casey. Since Joyce went to the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans,
he is staying with us for the weekend.”
“Well, at least that will give Lance
time to spend with Casey since they live a great distance from one another.”
“Girl, Lance is my husband and I love
him, but he is not a good father to Casey. Lance thinks if he buys Casey
everything, then that’s being a good father. I tried to tell him Casey needs for
him to spend time, not money.”
“What did Lance say when you told him
that?”
“He told me when I become a mother,
then I can speak on how to be a father and to stay out of it until then.”
Not wanting to hear anymore about
Lance’s ignorance, I was just about to end the call with Marcella so I could get
on the road, when someone beeped in on her line.
“Brandi, hold on. Someone is clicking
in.”
Before I could answer, she clicked
over, leaving me waiting in dead silence.
“Hey, girl,” she said upon returning
back on the line with me, “I’ll catch up with you later. This is my sister
calling about some dilemma she has with this cookout.”
“What happened?” I asked, curious to
know the situation.
“Who knows? But I’ll talk to you
later.”
With that, I was left holding the
phone in wonderment of what was going on or about to go down.
