Play The Game. Doug Dixon

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      I sat at my desk, thumbing through my magazine, really not interested in any of the new bachelors that were listed. Instead I let my mind wander again to Mr. Washington. So, he has a band. Hmmm, was that a hint that he wanted me to come to his show because he is interested? By the way, he was checking me out the first time we met. I’d say he was just as curious as I was. What if I did go? I definitely couldn’t take Stephanie or Mya ’cause I don’t want to hear any shit from them. But damn, I sure would like to find out what’s inside his pants.

      Suddenly, my mind was made up. I was going to the Living Room this Saturday. A smile came across my face at my decision.

      “What the hell are you thinking about over there?” Mya said as she and Stephanie entered my classroom.

      My smile went away, as I was startled. “Oh, uh, nothing. I just read an article in Ebony magazine that I thought was funny.”

      Mya and Stephanie took a seat in the chairs next to my desk. “Girl, Ridgewell was talking to this fine-ass man a minute ago outside under the walking deck,” Stephanie said.

      “Yeah, he was very attractive,” Mya replied. “Then again, any man standing next to Ridgewell is gorgeous with a capital G.”

      We laughed.

      I knew just who they were talking about but sat there completely surprised as they went on and on about this man’s physical features. With every description they gave, my mind drifted away with wild and crazy thoughts of Walter.

      CHAPTER 14

      Stephanie

      I missed my seven o’clock Bible study class because I overslept after a long day at work and then came home and cooked dinner. I asked Curtis to wake me up at six o’clock so I could have time to shower and make it to class. Instead, I was awakened by loud laughter coming from our den. When I looked over at the clock it said eight-thirty P.M. Upset, I jumped out of bed and walked to the kitchen, where I could see a bunch of thugs in the den sitting on the couch drinking beer and watching TV. They turned and saw me standing with my arms folded as they looked over at Curtis. Some spoke as I focused my attention on Brandon, who was sitting on the floor next to Curtis playing with empty beer bottles. Curtis turned toward me, then quickly looked down at his watch. He stood up, facing me with a blank expression on his face. I called for Brandon and quickly turned around, heading toward the bathroom to run Brandon’s bathwater. Minutes later, Curtis came walking in the bathroom and closed the door behind him.

      “Baby, I’m sorry I forgot to wake you—I lost track of time.”

      I stood there in silence as I turned on the bathwater and began taking off Brandon’s clothes.

      “The guys came over unexpectedly about some more work they want me to do, and next thing I knew you were standing in the kitchen.”

      I looked over at him, my face wrinkled with anger.

      “You want me to send them home?” he asked.

      I didn’t respond.

      “Let me ask them to leave,” he continued.

      “You know what, Curtis? I don’t care what you do. I really don’t.” I was furious.

      “What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked.

      “We’ll talk about it later.” I helped Brandon into the water.

      I was so upset that I started to feel dizzy. It took all the patience I had to keep from going off on Curtis in front of his friends. My horoscope this morning stated that during rainy days we can either use an umbrella and walk to our destination or take our chances and run through it while getting drenched in its wrath. This moment was one of those rainy days that I had to take a deep breath and walk with an umbrella.

      I sat back calmly and let Brandon play with his toys in the water while I worked on a crossword puzzle.

      When I finished with Brandon’s bath, I put him in his bed and began reading him a bedtime story until he drifted off to sleep. I quietly got up and walked out, turning on the night-light near the foot of his bed. As I walked down the hallway, I passed Curtis, who was in the den picking up the empty beer bottles the guys had left everywhere. When he saw me enter the kitchen he walked toward me.

      “Go ahead and say what it is you want to say. I know you’re boiling over,” he said.

      “Curtis, you really don’t want to hear what’s on my mind right now.”

      “No, go ahead—say what’s on your mind.”

      “Just what I said,” I replied and began fixing a plate for dinner.

      “No, I do want to hear it. It seems like you have a problem every time my friends come over.”

      Just as I was about to tell him about how inconsiderate he is, not to mention how he has my son on the floor playing with fucking beer bottles, the phone rang. Because Curtis was standing closest to it, he answered.

      “It’s for you. It’s the faggot from church.” He handed me the phone.

      I walked into the den. “Hello.”

      “Sister, we missed you at Bible study tonight. Is everything okay?” Reggie asked, sounding concerned.

      “Hi, СКАЧАТЬ