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Marquis and Amanda had just gotten out of service for the day. They were accompanied by their oldest son, Abry, and Marquis’ father, Lou. Abry was the first to dash to the car once they’d exited the doors of the church.
“Abry!” Amanda snapped as she carefully maneuvered her heels down the steps. “Walk like you got some sense please?”
“But Mama I’m hungry!” Abry protested.
“And I promise we’ll go and get something once we get in the car! Patience Abry!”
Abry was pulling frantically on Marquis’ locked door despite what he just was told by his mother. He became so determined to pry it open that the alarm went off. This startled many of the older church members as they gradually made their way out the doors.
“Abry! Really!” shouted Amanda embarrassed as she walked over to the buzzing car. “What has gotten into you, boy! I told you to be patient! Now we’re providing entertainment for the whole block! So yay! Great listening, kiddo. We got to wait for your father and granddad to come, they’re the ones with the keys,” she professed to her son.
Marquis and Lou finally exited the building.
“I know that ain’t my car making that noise!” he cried. Marquis dashed down the stairs, leaving his father.
He extracted his key and pressed the unlock button, ending the hysteria that came from his vehicle. Abry jumped into the left back seat.
“Would it have killed you to wait! Damn boy! Sheesh!” Marquis hopped into the driver’s side.
“I told him to wait,” Amanda chimed in. “But I guess he figured since he went to church he can just be an ungrateful heathen today and not listen! You got to work on that one, Abry!”
He nonetheless ignored her words.
“Well, I can’t say I’m not ready to bounce either,” Marquis confessed to his wife and his son.
“So you not going to help your father down the steps?” asked Amanda.
“Nah, he’s good!” Marquis confirmed. “Look at him, maneuvering those things like a pro. Slow and steady win the race, right?” he joked.
He cranked the ignition.
“Really! Wow!” exclaimed Amanda. “You just like your son!”
“What are you talking about?”
“The man hasn't made it completely off the steps, and you’re going to turn on the damn car before he gets to it!”
“So? What’s deal? Why you tripping? He knows I ain't leaving him,” Marquis defended.
“I don’t know, Marquis,” Amanda replied. “I just feel like maybe you could set a better example for our son and be a little more considerate towards your old man. Suppose he grows up to treat you the same way!”
“You getting too deep on it, bae! Damn!” Marquis snapped. “Look he ‘bout to hop in right now, so see; you tripping for no reason at all. The man can take care of himself! C’mon now!”
Lou finally got in, placing himself beside Abry in the right rear seat. He took pride in his Sunday attire with his black bowl hat complimenting his flashy royal blue suit. He definitely stuck out amongst this particular group, where Abry wore a modest green Ralph Lauren polo shirt with some tan khakis and some clean all white low-cut air force ones. Amanda had on a tribal print shawl, with a light blue sleeveless floral blouse underneath, complete with a pair of black slacks. Marquis rounded it everything out with his plaid blue and white button down shirt and a pair of black ripped jeans.
Lou sarcastically remarked, “looks like y’all ready to go. Sorry, for the wait. Pardon me!”
Marquis ignored his father’s comment and proceeded to carefully maneuver from the tight parking space.
“So Abry, now that we are all finally ready, what would you like to eat?” Amanda turned around to engage with her son.
Abry thought for a moment but was interrupted by his grandfather.
“You know, I could really go for some good fried pork chops!” Lou so animatedly noted to her.
Marquis rolled his eyes as he made a right hand turn off of Main Street onto 1st Ave SW. He felt rather triggered and annoyed by his father’s unwelcomed two cents. He found himself wanting to say something smart but dismissed this urge upon passing Alex’s place.
“You know what,” Marquis uttered. “I think pork chops sounds like the move, Pops. I believe they got some of the best in the city over at Corky’s. How does that sound to y’all? It’s only a few blocks away too, hella convenient.”
“Yay!” rejoiced Abry.
“Well, I guess that’s all we need to hear!” Amanda added.
“Oh yeah!” added Lou. “Corky’s! Now that brings me back! They sure do got some of the best eats in the city, if you ask me. Taste just like Mama’s home cooking, I’ll tell you that! We in for a treat today! Oh baby!”
Marquis pulled up to Corky’s about five minutes later and parallel parked on the street between Corky’s and Jeanette’s Braiding.
The four of them walked in and were greeted warmly by a dark complected young woman with a stylish natural afro sitting on top of her head. She led Marquis and his family to a booth, and as he escorted them there, Marquis couldn’t resist peeping this young fox’s exceptionally round buttocks as her hips swayed side to side in perfect rhythm.
Upon their arrival, Lou and Abry piled in on one side as Marquis made sure that he and Amanda got situated next to each other. Catching sight of his waitress’ luscious booty made him want some from his wife even more.
The waitress took all of their orders and then went on her way to the next table. Lou and Abry engaged one another in a little innocent grandfather and grandson time. Marquis saw this as a perfect opportunity to low key fool around with his woman. He slickly took his right hand and started to lightly finger Amanda through her pants.
“Marquis!” she uttered under her breath. “Cut it out!”
“What?” Marquis protested. “Oh c’mon, bae, I just want to show some gratitude for what the Lord done given me!”
“You need to knock it off!” Amanda’s tone got increasingly more aggressive as she tried her best not to catch the attention of her son and father-in-law. “I’m getting tired of having to keep telling you the same thing!”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Marquis tried to diffuse his heated spouse. “Chill out, bae. It’s all good. It’s all good. You can’t blame a man for wanting some dessert, you feel me? Especially when he got a piece looking so fine.”
“I get it Marquis!” Amanda snapped.
Meanwhile, Abry found himself fixated with a particular fair complected man who was seated a few tables down from where he was.
“Is he black or white?” Abry unequivocally asked.
The eyes of all the adults at table grew wide, a bit taken aback by this unfiltered interrogation.
“Abry, honey, that’s not an appropriate thing to say out loud in public!” Amanda scolded in barely a whisper.
“I don’t know,” Lou added. “The boy does have a point! This man looking like he came straight out of Creole Town USA! Haven't seen anyone that high yellow in ages!”
“Wow, Pops!” said Marquis, now turning around to have a look for himself. “Damn I guess y'all do have a point. Interesting look, that’s for sure.”
“Really Marquis, really!” Amanda exclaimed. “We’re really just going to keep entertaining this? You’re a grown ass man nearly breaking his neck to what, determine someone’s racial purity?”
Seconds after Amanda’s comment, the man that’d aroused so much attention from their table, started to choke on a piece of his biscuit. Marquis immediately bolts from the table and rushes over to him, then without hesitation, forms each hand in half-fists which he places over his sternum to perform the Heimlich maneuver. After about 20 seconds, the man became choke-free, followed by a surprising applause from the surrounding crowd in the restaurant.
“Wow!” the man rejoiced as he hugged Marquis. “Thank you so much for that, friend! And there I was thinking that this was it. Just my luck to bite the dust in Corky’s.”
Marquis let out a chuckle. Here was a man who was literally joking about his own possible death. He found some odd comfort in that dynamic.
“Oh, it’s no problem, brother,” Marquis said. “I’m just glad I could help a brother out, that’s all.”
“Where’d you learn a thing like that, if you don't mind me asking?” the man asked Marquis as he wiped his nose.
“Oh! Well...it was just a something I picked up in a class at my church, Jerusalem Baptist off of West Main Street. They had a course where they were training folks in all types of stuff and that maneuver just happened to be one of them.”
“Well, that’s just fine,” replied the man who, at this point, lit up with gratitude.
Amanda approached the man.
“I’m glad that my husband was able to help you, sir. Hi, I’m Amanda. We were just enjoying some dinner after service. We’ll probably be on our way soon though; I think our little one over there is getting a bit restless.”
“I understand. I definitely know how little ones can be. But the least I can do is pay for yall’s meal!”
Marquis loved the sound of that, and was in no position to refuse this offer, but Amanda didn't feel right about it.
“No, no, that’s okay, really. We really appreciate the offer, but I can’t let you do that. My husband was just doing what was right. We don't need to be compensated for that.”
“Oh nonsense!” the man chuckled. “Well, I hate to break it you, lady, but you ain’t getting out of this. I’m paying for you good folks’ meal, because after all, it’s the Lord ’s Day, and what goes around surely does come back around, so here’s one blessing in exchange for another!”
The man let out a warm smile as Amanda realized that there was no getting around this, so she smiled and nodded, being forced to accept.
“And look here!” continued the man as he reached into his right pocket. “I want you good people have my card. If there’s anything that I can do for you fine folks, don’t hesitate to reach out, okay?”
“Thank you so much, sir! Wow! That’s very kind of you! Well you take care,” expressed Amanda.
“Yeah bro,” chimed in Marquis. “You have a wonderful rest of your evening.”
And with that, Marquis motioned the others towards the door, and they headed on home with full bellies and touched hearts.