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Throughout the week, Kareem enjoyed the serenity each morning as he was beamed up to King of Prussia. He wondered if he would be able to relocate to the ‘burbs later in life.
In his Gym class, he had been selected to participate in swimming and over the past two days, he had stared uncontrollably at Latoya Eala. Finally, she had caught his sexy eye contact and walked over to him. Without asking, she joined him on the edge of the pool.
“So, Kareem, are you going to speak, or just continue to undress me with your eyes?” she asked him boldly.
Kareem’s eyes widened into headlights. He had to come back just as strong. “Latoya, I’d never undress you without permission. The cops call that rape. I have been admiring you, though.”
“Cute for a hood boy, but I am Toi. Only my parents call me Latoya when they’re mad at me.”
“Okay, Toi, I am Reem, and not a hood boy. More like a young man.”
“Well, young man, I’ve sort of been admiring you, too.”
“So, I’ve been told. Now that that’s out the way, can I get the digits to get to know that girl that I have been undressing?”
“Depends.”
“On.”
“Me being the only girl that gives you her number.
Especially considering that there are quite a few girls that want it.”
“Deal!” Kareem said quickly.
The two teens exited the pool and walked towards the gym teacher’s office. Kareem enjoyed the close-up of her slim, nicely developed stature. Her backside and breasts giggled like gelatin in her bikini. Toi entered the office to grab a pen as Kareem waited outside. She came out of the office and stared at his pecs, then his six pack, and finally down to the bulge in his trunks. They exchanged numbers and promised to call each other later that night.
Later, after fourth period English, Mr. Burns kept Kareem after class. He complimented him on how impressed he was with his weekly vocabulary assignment. Kareem had turned in typed definitions, sentences, and a short story using each of the words. To be held after class was a true testament to Kareem’s intellect. Kareem thought, wait until he is treated to the stem- cell research article that I am writing for the newspaper group assignment.
***
Riding the train home, Kareem wondered what it was like to be wealthy enough to shop carelessly. So, when he arrived at the Market East Station in downtown Philadelphia, rather than wait on the train platform to board the next train, Kareem strolled through the Gallery Mall. At the end of the mall was the Strawbridge’s department store. Kareem walked through the men’s department and was quite impressed with the labels the chain carried: Polo Ralph Lauren, Nautica, DKNY, Claiborne, all labels featured in GQ.
Just as he savored the moment, he realized that his connecting train arrived in four minutes. Kareem raced through the mall and arrived at the train platform in the nick of time.
A half hour later, Kareem entered his home and found Jean-Mary completing a 1,000-word puzzle on the dining room table. Under the table cloth she had several completed puzzles. This was a hobby of hers, along crossword puzzles and crocheting. Rather than disturb her, he greeted her with a kiss on the forehead, grabbed some home-made cookies and then went to his room to complete his homework. That was a priority.
Jean-Mary wrapped up her puzzle and prepared dinner. There was leftover goulash, but she hated leftovers, so she fried chicken and cut up whole potatoes for home fries.
Later, Kareem walked to the corner store to buy a newspaper. He purchased a Philadelphia Inquirer, and watched the Chinese store owner fire the hired help. Kareem seized the advantage of being at the right place at the right time, and was hired on to spot to sweep, mop and stock the store after school daily. He enthusiastically jetted home and went directly into the kitchen.
Jean-Mary saw that he was out of breath and panicked. She thought that they were in danger and grabbed a bat that stood up next to the stove.
“Boy, what’s the matter with you?”
“Nothing. I have some good news and some bad news.” “I’ll take the good news first, maybe it’ll outweigh the bad.
But first, can I put the bat away?” she asked and leaned sassily on the bat.
“Yes, Mama, put the lethal weapon away. The good news is, Kim hired me to clean the store at night.”
“Congratulations!” She was excited that he had his first job. “And the bad?” She asked afraid of what she might’ve heard.
“Bad news is, I’m no longer interested in becoming an attorney. I want to be an entrepreneur.”
“It’s pronounced ahn-tre-pra-nurr, son. And what type?” She asked concerned.
“The kind that sells clothes, like Strawbridge’s. I’ll be the first black man to own a store of that magnitude,” he responded and opened his hands wide. “Ta da.”
“Boy, you’re too silly,” she said and chuckled. “What do you know about that sort of store?” She was perplexed by his sudden career change.
“Whatever the magazines I have been reading have taught me. Speaking of magazines, I am going to need a subscription to these Mama, seriously.”
“You have a job now, so you can buy them. What’s the Inquirer for?”
“I need to research what people who sell clothes earn and their job descriptions.”
“You’re serious, huh?” she asked, but she was impressed that he chose to do that.
“As serious as a fat dude at an all-you-can-eat-buffet.”
They both laughed and Jean-Mary encouraged him to be whatever he wanted to be, and too be the best at it. She prepared plates as Kareem set up fold-up tables in front of their living room TV. They would enjoy dinner there and watch their evening programs together.
After dinner and TV, Kareem perused the employment guide, and was not impressed with a sales associate’s salary. He told Jean-Mary that he might be an attorney after all. She convinced him that everyone started at the bottom of the ladder and worked their way up with dedication. With his social knack, she assured him that he would be part of a company’s executive staff in no time and then he could branch out and do his own thing. Satisfied with her points, he went to his room.
While he said his prayer that night, he asked God to bless him with the resources to become a fashionista.