Back to Me. Earl Sewell

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СКАЧАТЬ funny, Mike,” Sabrina said, elbowing him in the ribs.

      “Forget you, Mike.” Keysha punched his shoulder several times.

      “I was just joking. Jeez! Calm down,” Mike said as he moved away from Keysha.

      “Where are you guys headed?” Keysha asked Sabrina and Mike.

      “We’re going to the concession stand to get some food. Do you guys want to come with us?” Sabrina asked.

      “No, we just came from there,” Keysha informed them. “I actually just saw Wesley, and he wanted me to head over to the main stage to watch some type of performance,” she announced.

      “We were over there earlier, when a local dance school was performing. It was mostly little kids, though,” Mike said.

      “Do you think Misalo is over there?” I asked.

      “He might be. He was walking in that direction when I last saw him,” Mike said.

      “Well, that’s where Keysha and I are headed,” I said.

      “Cool. We’ll see you guys later,” said Sabrina as she looped her arm around Mike’s waist and began tugging him along.

      “Peace.” Mike held up his first and second fingers as he and Sabrina backed away.

      * * *

      Keysha and I made our way over to the main stage. There were large banners with the logos of the corporate sponsors, speakers, microphones and an assortment of musical equipment. Tan metal foldaway chairs were neatly organized in rows, ten seats across and ten seats deep. All the seats were nearly filled.

      “Look. Two people are getting up from those front-row seats,” Keysha pointed out.

      We picked up our pace to ensure that we got the prime spot. Once we got situated, I took a glance around in search of Misalo, but I did not see him.

      “So, what’s this all about, Keysha?” I asked as we watched a musician sit down and begin slapping his palms against bongos.

      “I have no idea. In fact, I was very surprised to see that Wesley was out of rehab,” Keysha confessed.

      “How did he look?” I asked.

      “Really good,” she answered.

      “So, like, where is Lori? Why wasn’t she attached to him?” I asked.

      Keysha chuckled. “I asked the same question. I was, like, ‘So, where is your shadow?’ Wesley grimaced when I mentioned Lori. He said that she went back to Indianapolis to visit her family.”

      “So, he’s still dating her?” I asked.

      “According to him, he dumped her,” Keysha said.

      Before long, a man appeared onstage. He walked up to a microphone that was positioned center stage. He adjusted the height of the stand and gave the microphone a few taps with the pads of his fingers to make sure it was on.

      “Thank you for coming out and spending your afternoon with us here at today’s festival. My name is Omar, and I’m one of the many organizers of this event. This year I wanted to do something different. I wanted to showcase some local spoken word artists. I hope you enjoy their work and what they have to say. First up is Candice. She’s a freshman at Illinois State University.”

      “I used to see her around Thornwood when she was a senior. I never knew she was a poet, though,” said Keysha.

      “Hello, everyone,” Candice said, greeting the audience. She was wearing a cute blue and white top with a matching miniskirt. She looked as if she was about to say something really interesting. “This piece is called ‘Standing There.’”

      He’s standing with her now.

      And I’m remembering the way he used to be when he was with me.

      Tell me. While you’re standing there with her, are you thinking about me?

      Do you remember slow dancing with me? Do you remember what you said to me?

      You used to kiss the crevices of my tortured heart. You used to look into my eyes and tell me all the things I needed to hear but didn’t care to listen to.

      Do you ever think about me when you’re with her?

      Because I think about you. I think about you the way moonlight thinks about stars. I think about you the way hearts think about love. I think about you the way a soul thinks about finding a mate.

      I’m going to tell you what I really think about her.

      She’s the knockoff of Chanel.

      The prototype for everything I was to you.

      She is a copycat.

      She will never fill the void in your soul the way that I did.

      Neither of you will ever know the pain I felt as I listened to you tell her

      “I Do.”

      The audience clapped for her because it truly was a very good poem.

      Keysha leaned in close to me and whispered, “She was all up on your street with that line about ‘I think about you the way a soul thinks about finding a mate.’”

      “Well, it’s true. I can’t help the way my heart feels,” I stated.

      Omar came back on the stage. “Okay, moving right along. Next, we have Wesley.”

      “OMG,” Keysha said as a smile spread across her face.

      Wesley walked up to the microphone.

      “I’m a little nervous,” he said as he scanned the crowd. The moment his eyes found Keysha, he smiled. “The poem I’m about to read is called ‘Keysha’s Heart,’ and I’d like to dedicate it to a very special friend.” He nodded in Keysha’s direction to let her know that he was referring to her.

      Keysha got all giddy. She sat upright and listened attentively. Omar sat down at the bongos and began playing, making light background sounds for Wesley’s piece.

      “This is something I wrote the very first time that I saw you, but I only recently finished it,” Wesley said before he began.

      I am fascinated and captivated by your mystery and secrets.

      I want to know who you are and what part of heaven you come from.

      I want the combination to your heart so that I can make your emotions my own.

      Whenever I think about you, my heart and soul soar like an eagle.

      Your smile is like warm sunshine on my face.

      Whenever it rains, it reminds me of all the tears I’ve caused you to shed.

      Your СКАЧАТЬ