on damn near every finger including both thumbs, pocket watch chains and probably no pocket watch on the end of the chain. Their shirts were unbuttoned down to the top button on their low-cut double breasted vests. They sported so many gold chains they presented a tangled gold mess on a bed of the nappiest gray chest hair they had ever seen. The men wore hats cocked so far to the side, one man’s hat could have covered his entire ear and the other brother’s hat covered his right eye.
“Hey big legs”, said the light-blue suited player.
“This li’l cookie in the pink so fine I’ll drink her bath water and lick the ring out the tub, just to get a date with her,” the merlot-suited brother chimed in.
The brother in the powder blue suit would not be out rapped. He leaned in close so Kenya and Terri could get a whiff of his Aramis cologne. Mind you Kenya and Terri were doing their best not to make eye contact with their admirers. The powder blue suited brother’s voice rumbled in a Barry White kind of low tone.
“Ladies, I’ll get naked and put on a raw poke chop bikini, and slap box a pissed off Pit Bull just to win the chance to take one of you all out for dinner.” He lifted his right index finger and brushing under his nose as if he knew what he said would magically enchant the two sweet young things they were trying to entice.
Terri looked up, still working to control the fart-busting laugh that was trying to escape her gut. Kenya came to her rescue.
“We are very flattered by your attention, but we already have two good brothers at home and we don’t need two more.”
Terri and Kenya got into the car and closed the doors. Both men leaned over, and then stooped down to make their last pitch. Mr. Merlot Suit spoke first.
“Baby we ain’t tryin' to take y’all from y’all men.”
“If y’all don’t want to deal with no mo’ men, then we’ll be y’all boy toys. How bout that?”
Kenya and Terri looked at each other and simultaneously motioned for these brothers to talk to the hand as they drove off laughing and screaming.
The radio was up nice and loud. Dee Jay Chico the Virgo was closing out his afternoon show with his trademarked personal advice to all of his listeners. “No matter where you go, or what you do, always remember to pray. Because prayer can change you and then you can change things…See Yaaaah!”
Terri reached over and turned off the radio as soon as they hit the highway. The car became silent like the chapel at Roy Mizell’s funeral home at three o’ clock in the morning. Terri interlocked her fingers and pressed her hands against her chest, trying to physically push the words out of her throat.
“Ken…”
Kenya did not respond. She trained her eyes on the road as if she were taking a driving test for the first time.
“Kenya…I know you hear me talking to you. Look, I’m sorry for what I said. I don’t know what got into me.”
Terri did her best to wish away the silence, but to no avail. Kenya busied herself by reaching over to the control panel to close the sunroof and the door windows.
“No you aren’t, and yes you did.” Kenya’s voice trembled when she finally answered.
“What’s that suppose to mean?”
“Why are you playing dumb all of a sudden? You knew exactly what you were saying, because you have been holding those feelings in your heart since before we graduated from college. You’re not sorry, because it felt good to finally get it out. And you did know what you were saying. You remember me telling you about this fine brother in the marching band. And when we got up the nerves to go down to try to meet him; his fire was lit for you and you only. Not that pretending to trip on the crack in the sidewalk and fall into his arms didn’t help your case. But, I yielded the right of way because I believed the man was truly attracted to my friend. You should know your friendship means more to me than just a roll in the sack. So, why are you trippin’ on me? I’m trying to help you through this rough time. I wish I had the problems you have. I’m your friend and you know my policy is, ask me no questions, I’ll tell no lies. You and your man need to start communicating. Yeah, I know I don’t have a man of my own, and I can count on you to remind me of that fact often. But it doesn’t take a genius to figure out what’s going on between you and Sweet.”
Terri looked as if she had been hit by a combination from Muhammad Ali. She tried to say something and Kenya cut her off.
“No…Let me finish while I can still talk. You got a good man. You’re right; I don’t know how good he is. But, based on what you have told me over the years, he definitely ain’t a throw away. Now all of a sudden you are thinking about tossing the baby out with the bath water. Girl, you better think before you do something you will live to regret.”
Terri wiped the tears from her eyes as she stared out of the window as they drove past the brightly lit buildings in downtown Miami.
“You got a point. But what I don’t understand is how come we don’t click like we use to”.
Kenya remained mute. She wanted Terri to feel the full weight of the mess she had created.
“It was almost like he used to read my mind.”, Terri’s words stumbled forth. “Now it’s like he is not even interested in opening the book. All he thinks about is that damn music and those damn misfits in that band. He always promised he was going to make me a rich woman. I gave his ass ten years, and all I have to show for it is a house that both of us have to work ourselves damn near to death, just to pay the mortgage and keep the lights on. That’s why I am doing my thing. His dreams are just that…Dreams. What you say is fine and good. But I’m not the one who’s changed. I am still the Terri that stood beside him since before we got married. I’m still the Terri that took all of that shit from them sophomoric hoes on the yard. I’m still the Terri who waited while he went away to play Army man. I’m tired of being the damn good wife. I’m tired of being the dependable one. It’s my turn to live. If he wants to do right by me, he knows exactly how he needs to be. Until then, his ass is on the freeze out. This man won’t even consider taking that sweet ass job.”
“Can I ask you something?”
Terri nodded a lazy yes.
“When is the last time you and Chapman made love?”
Terri thought about what Kenya asked her.
“I rolled over in the wee hours of this morning. Shit…I even initiated the whole thing. It was nothing major. I even did the two things I hate the most, besides giving him head. Which, come to think of it, I haven’t done in so long I probably forgot how to do it. I waited until he was sound asleep before I reached over and grabbed a hold of his early morning erection which felt like one of those old fat wooden rods that use to be used inside of the closet to hang clothes on. Now I do appreciate that. I even did something else he loves.”
“What’s that?”
“I licked and sucked on his chest through all of that hair on his chest. I hate that touchy, feely shit. I mean, I really extended myself. I don’t mind him touching me almost anywhere, when I’m in the mood, that is. But honestly, I don’t like to touch him anymore.”
“I think you need to find that fire again. You need to be honest with each other. You need more romance. You need to go home and slip on
