5
Getting Acquainted
With the complex constructed into the side of a small hill, entering the building from the back actually put you in what was recognized as the basement, given that it was below ground level when entering from the front. Approaching the elevator, I was startled by the echo of my cell phone. BBBRRRIIINNNGGG… BBBRRRIIINNNGGG.
I was immediately concerned because Sam never used the phone unless he had business or there was something wrong. Says he prefers to see a person’s eyes when he talks to them. That way he can tell when they lying, “Yeah, uh, hello… Is everything all right Poppy?”
“I’s callin ta find out if ya needin help or somethin. We ain’t knowed if somebody done jumped yo li’l skinny ass,” he laughed.
“No Poppy,” I assured. “Matter o’ fact, I’m getting on the elevator right now. I’ll be up before you can hang up the phone.”
“Well, when ya gits here, me and Mommy, we’s got a s’prise fo ya.” he said.
“What’s up Poppy? Now you guys know how I feel about surprises.” I said.
Sam tried to play it off. “Oh, it ain’t nothin ta git bent outta shape ‘bout.”
The elevator stopped on the fourth floor and I stepped into the hallway a few feet from their apartment door when asking, “What’s the surprise Poppy? Give up the goods, or else I’ll just get back on the elevator and take your biscuits…”
Off the elevator, I looked up to see the epitome of beauty standing in the doorway of Sam and Eunice’s apartment. I stood a few feet from the door, speechless, entranced by the most attractive creature on who you’d ever want to lay eyes.
Trying to not display a total lack of composure, I asked, “And…you are?”
“I’m Cherish…Sam and Eunice’s oldest; born year before Junior. You met him already.” She extended her hand, “I’m in from L.A.… Mom and Sam told me so much ‘bout you.”
Disregarding the small bag in my right hand containing Poppy’s biscuits, I reached to greet her, “Well they didn’t tell me enough about you,” causing the bag to fall to the floor.
“Hey! Ya bet’er watch dat,” Poppy yelled from the doorway of their apartment. “Don’t let her make ya miss out on dinner.”
His comment brought me back to their unit. “Oh, yeah, speaking of dinner, what’s in the pots?” I asked.
Cherish suggested, “I can take up yo plate, if you like?”
I questioned her while thinking that would be the icing on the cake if she could dirty the pots half as good as Poppy, “You cooked?”
“Ha!” Sam yelled, “Only thang dat girl cookin come wit micr’wave d’rections on da damn box.”
Moms finally spoke up to chastise him, “All right Sam; she jest gettin here. Don’t make her not wanna stay.”
I replied, before turning to face Cherish without thinking of the implication, “Well, when you find everything in one package Poppy, most of the time you can’t afford the product,” I said prior to asking their daughter, “How long are you staying?”
“I don’t know yet,” she said. “Just taking a break from Cali.”
Trying to prolong conversation, “What is it you do out there?” I asked.
She displayed an expression that stated her preference would be to find another subject. “Oh, I work in the entertainment industry.”
Moms chimed in. “William, ain’t that the same thang you does?”
Now, I really wanted to change the subject, “Yeah, something like that Moms. But there are a number of different jobs in the entertainment industry.”
“I know you been in town a few years, but mom said you work all the time with the acting and stuff. Did you at least take time to see the sights?” Cherish offered. “Maybe I can show you ‘round.”
I was glad at the opportunity to explore another topic of discussion, “Actually, I haven’t; I don’t do the tourist thing.” The response registered a little more bluntly than intended.
“If you into acting, why you end up in New York? This city geared more for modeling, it seems,” she commented.
Now she’s going way too deep, I thought to myself. More direct than I realized, I said, “At the time I left home, I could only afford a bus ticket to New York.”
Eunice spoke up to keep from feeling left out, “But he sho done good fo his self,” she said, “…doin bet’er ‘n a lotta folk born ‘n raised right here in the city.”
Poppy input his contribution for what it was worth, “Willie doin a damn sight bet’er ‘n yo no-good li’l brother ass.”
Eunice spoke up, coming to her baby boy’s defense in his absence, “All right, Sam. Don’t start yo shit agin.”
“Yeah Willie, what’s stoppin you from hoppin on out to Cali now?” Cherish pressed. “I done met a few people; might help you to have some connections.”
I thought we were beyond this subject. “I’ve got plenty good reason to stake my claim here in the Apple,” I said. “Besides, I’m not too crazy about being someplace where as soon as you get your feet on solid ground it falls from under you.”
“Watcha mean?” Cherish asked.
Without elaborating, “Earthquakes,” I said.
Cherish’s defenses automatically went up. “Oh get real. How many folk you ever known killed by a earthquake?”
“I’ve never known anybody killed by a lion either, but that doesn’t mean I want to take my little happy ass over to Africa and run around the jungle trying to make friends with one,” I said.
Sam spoke up, muffling his laughter, “Well, he gotta damn good point dere.”
Cherish snapped, “Oh Sam, you just shut up. You old gray-haired fool!”
Sam cut his eyes at her, “Don’t lets da gray fool ya, sista!”
As she walked around the table from where she’d been standing, “And just what the hell you gone do?” Cherish questioned, “What the fuc…”
I cut in over the two of them yelling at each other, “All right, Moms, I’ll call you tomorrow,” when silence suddenly filled the previously noisy apartment.
In an almost pleading tone, “But I thought you’s stayin fo dinner?” Eunice asked.
I uttered the first thing that came to mind in order to allow reason to excuse myself. “No ma’am, I just remembered an appointment.”
One thing I always had a problem with, even as a kid, was people arguing. I could remember how my parents would constantly go at each other like two pit-bulls. Before I was old enough to run out the house into the nearby fields, I’d hide in the closet with a blanket covering my head, which is where mom would find me asleep after all the commotion had subsided.
I walked out Sam and Eunice’s apartment to the sound of more yelling. Now, the three of them were arguing about whose fault it was that I had abruptly left. It didn’t matter. I was still at the point of trying to shake the thought, or should I say, the sight of Cherish. She was definitely a looker, but I have a serious problem with anybody who disrespects their parents the way she did Sam. I guess it’s a southern thing. But she sure was a looker.
Just about the time the elevator door opened in the basement, my cell phone brought me back to reality. BBBRRRIIINNNGGG, BBBRRRIIINNNGGG. I reached for the phone attached to my hip, already prepared to defend myself against the onslaught of questions from Moms and Poppy so I wasn’t my normal bright self.
“Yeah, what’s up?” I answered.
“Hey Bill, its Cherish. I was just calling to apologize for running you off,” she said.
“You must have the wrong number,” I responded.
“This is Bill that just left Eunice’s?” she asked.
Through my annoyance I questioned, “Who the hell is Bill? You know my damn name; it’s Willie, and what you want? I told you I have an appointment. Don’t give yourself so much credit.”
“Why you trippin?” she asked.
“I’m not the one who’s tripping. That seems to be your area of expertise with all your West Coast know-it-all bullshit.” I snapped. “I don’t know what you do or how you go about it, but that doesn’t give you the right to be up in your dad’s house breaking him down the way you were.”
“This my mama house,” Cherish stated.
I snapped back, “The hell it is! It took both of them to bring your ass about, and it takes both of them to run that damn house. And they do just fine until one of their kids brings you all’s asses around stirring shit up.”
Noticeably bothered, she asked, “Hold on, now. You don’t know a damn thing ‘bout me. How you just gonna cut me up like that?”
In the process of trying to calm myself as I passed the guard’s station, I stated, “I’ve got a real problem with seeing anybody disrespect their parents the way you just did. That man deserves a damn sight more respect than you give him.”
The freshman guard posed from behind a veil of sarcasm, “Ya leavin a’ready?”
Though it was unlike me to do so, I viciously remarked as I’d not realized the degree of irritation being harnessed, “No, I’m going to pick up your mama from the soup kitchen.”
I had forgotten Cherish was even on the phone, “What you say ‘bout Eunice?” she asked. “How you gone jump all over me ‘bout disrespectin Sam and then come outta your face with some shit like that ‘bout Eunice?” she demanded.
“You mean, your dad.”
“Yeah, whatever,” she conceded.
“Well, first of all, I wasn’t talking about your mom. Fact is, I wasn’t talking to you at all,” I said.
Suddenly, she was a little more pleasant. “Look, I don’t even know how we got off on the wrong foot. Can’t you just come back upstairs and have dinner? Mom told me you come and have Sunday dinner every week, so I know you ain’t scheduled nothin else for today.”
“You know, I don’t think I like you very much. We’ve known each other less than half an hour and you’ve already disrespected your dad, insulted me, and now you’re calling me a liar,” I said.
Now, she was playing along. It was obvious Cherish knew I had made up the whole appointment story to get out the apartment. “No, I ain’t callin you a lie. I just figure you can reschedule the appointment for later or another day. Tell ‘em it’s a family emergency or somethin.”
“All right,” I conceded. “Tell Moms and Poppy I’ll be back up in a few minutes, but you’ll probably have to buzz me in. The new guard and I didn’t get off to as good a start as you and me… He doesn’t look as good. See you in a sec.”
I had barely passed the guard station on my way out when concluding the phone conversation and immediately turned to re-enter through the security door. As I approached, John turned away, pretending he was preoccupied so he’d have an excuse to not buzz me through. Knowing he had seen me, I simply walked past the counter at the guard station and took a position in front of the door. I stood there, percolating like a fresh batch of coffee until I caught a glimpse of him snickering out the corner of my eye.
Calmly, I approached the counter and asked, “Could you please buzz me in?” He ignored me without so much as even turning to acknowledge my presence. “Excuse me,” I repeated. “Can you buzz me in?”
With a condescending smirk on his face, “My bad man, did ya say something?” he asked.
Just as I was about to leap over the counter and pounce on his little wormy ass, an elderly tenant came through with two small bags while fumbling with her keys.
Reaching for them, “Let me get that door for you, ma’am,” I said.
She was somewhat reluctant at first, but then handed over her key ring after looking me over from head to toe, “That’s such a sweet thing. Thank you, young man.”
I cut my eyes at John while opening the door and offering to carry the woman’s bags; glaring at him as I passed through the doorway, I said. “Not a problem, ma’am.” And whispered at John while entering, “Naaawww, punk bitch, I didn’t say a damn thing,”
The woman asked, “What was dat, son?”
“Oh, I was just asking if you’d like me to carry these bags to your apartment for you, ma’am,” I said.
She was still not eager to trust a stranger, “Oh no, thank you; I can manage from here,” and asked to confirm, “You must not be from New York?”
I answered, stepping onto the elevator as I pressed the button for the fourth floor, “No ma’am, not originally.” Then I asked, “To which floor ma’am?”
As the doors closed, “The sec…um, the seventeenth,” she replied.
I stood to the front of the elevator for the short ride up to the fourth floor thinking to myself how this woman was going so far out of her way because a difficult life had taught her not to trust anybody. She was in the opposite corner behind me with a death grip on her handbag that would’ve put an eagle to shame. Neither of us spoke a word until the elevator came to a stop and the door opened.
As I stepped off, I commented without turning back, “Ma’am, the most difficult place to be in life is when you don’t know where you are.” I was honestly not sure if what I’d said was intended more for the old lady or for myself. Before I could take the few steps from the elevator to their apartment, Moms’ and Poppy’s door swung open with Cherish standing in the way.
“Thought I was gone have to come down and rescue you,” she said.
Without considering the fact Sam and Eunice could’ve been within earshot, my voice was filled with insinuation when I asked, “Then who would rescue me from you?”
In the short time between me leaving and coming back, Cherish had changed into a pink tube-type blouse and a sexy denim miniskirt. Before I realized it, a quick innocent peek had matured into a full-blown stare.
Sashaying back to the table a few feet from the door, “You drop somethin?” Cherish asked.
Scanning the front of the apartment for Moms and Poppy, “It’s an old player’s injury,” I commented. “In the presence of a body like yours my jaw has a tendency to drop without warning.”
I guessed there was something to how she’d looked at me and seemed to go out of her way to come into contact on occasion throughout my visit. It goes back to listening to the things people don’t say.
Cherish stood up and stepped closer, “And, what exactly is the remedy for a condition like that?”
I answered with our lips nearly touching while her breathing grew deeper and heavier as we moved even closer; with no space between us, “Well, there’s no documented cure, but it seems to help when I find a way to simply keep the jaw occupied.”
Poppy’s timing proved good for all the wrong reasons, “Billy Boy! Dat you dat come in? Cherish, who it twas dat opened da doe? I ain’t heared nobody knock.”
Cherish retreated before Sam made it up the hallway from their bedroom. “I got the door dad. It’s Willie. He changed his mind and decided to stay for dinner,” she replied.
Still unaware of his intrusion, “Well I’s sho glad ya changed yo mind. Now all dis grub don’t gotta go ta waste.” Sam said. “Eunice, Willie back. Come on outch here so we can git back ta grubbin.”
Cherish walked past me on the way to the stove. “I got your plate,” she said. “I’m gone fix you up somethin real special.”
While taking a seat in my usual place, “Not too much; I’m not all that hungry,” I said.
Sam shouted toward their bedroom, “Eunice, is ya eatin?”
Moms yelled, “Be dere jest a second!”
Moments later, Cherish returned and placed my plate on the table in front of me. She leaned over so far that I thought cleavage was on the menu. Hers were the only biscuits I could think about at the moment. It was a game to her, but if she knew how worked up I’d become her butt would have been hiding under that table instead of prancing around it.
She took a seat directly across from me before stating, “Maybe after dinner we can go out for dessert.”
I tried to compose myself as Moms approached the table and Poppy stood to offer the blessing, “Our Father, we grash’ously thanks ya,” he began.
In the middle of Poppy’s saying grace, I felt Cherish’s foot slide into the chair between my legs. About the time Sam finished his prayer, her foot found my manhood half erect.
“Oh, yes!” she blurted out. “So thankful for the abundant supply!”
Looking at his daughter, “Damn, dat’s first time I e’er heard somethin from ya durin da blessin,” Sam commented.
She responded, peering at me with eyes of invitation. “It’s just that there’s so much to be thankful for.”
Eunice stood next to Sam, “That’s right, don’t ne’er fo’get ta be thankful fo all dere is baby,” she reminded. “Good Lord sho is still in da blessin bidness, ain’t He?”
When they turned toward the stove to take up their plates, I playfully mouthed to Cherish, “You know you going straight to hell for that.”
The four of us sat making small talk for a little more than an hour while we ate before Cherish mentioned a traffic citation she’d received on the way to the airport prior to leaving Los Angeles. Immediately, I remembered the officer from earlier and tried to recall where I’d put the ticket with her number on the back.
“So, what, were you speeding?” I asked.
“Naw, badge gave me some bullsh…” She paused; looking at Moms and Poppy, and then glancing over at me, “Dude gave me some crap about a improper lane change.” she said.
I pretended to be interested, but my mind had wandered off past City College down at 116th Street, “Well, how much did it set you back?”
Rolling her eyes toward the ceiling, “It ain’t cost me nothin. Not yet, but I’m gone take care of it when I get back to L.A.,” she said.
Sam spoke up, “Be sho ya don’t furgit ta go fix thangs right when ya gits back ‘cause it be bet’er if’n ya don’t waits fo da cote date.”
Cherish made eye contact with me, and I commented before realizing it, “For some reason, I don’t think the date to take care of that ticket will have anything to do with a court.”
“Yep, I thanks I knows what ya talkin ‘bout,” Sam said.
Both Cherish and I were a bit surprised and replied simultaneously, “You do?”
Sam explained with confidence, but was clueless as to what Cherish meant, “Yep, somma dem whitties I use ta works ‘round be all da time talkin ‘bout dat Pre-paid Legal stuff. Cherish, I ain’t knowed ya done gone ‘n joined up wit dat bunch. Dey says if ‘n ya gits a tickit or most any kinda trouble wit da man, ya jest call dem Legal folks ‘n dey takes care o’ da whole thang. Ya ain’t eben gotta go ‘fore no judge.”
I knew he had totally missed the mark, but I was feeling mischievous, “So Cherish, do you have to call or go see them about the citation?”
She cut her eyes at me and frowned, “I prob’ly have to drop in for a minute or two, ain’t nothin serious.”
“It a’ways ser’ous when it come ta da law,” Poppy remarked. “Jest be sho ‘n gits it took care of soon as ya can.”
“Yeah Cherish, soon as you can,” I sneered. “Might require you to go down and do a little lip service…you know, explain yourself.”
She ignored my comment and changed the subject, “How long b’fore you pull up to go back to The Village?”
“I don’t know, a few minutes. What you need?” I asked.
“A ride,” she flatly stated.
I commented, hoping she was going in another direction, given the fact I still needed to make that phone call and stop in the area of City College which was only about fifteen blocks away, “Are you going anywhere in particular? I’m taking the West Side Highway.”
Moms asked, to remind Cherish and me of the fact she was still at the table, “You done finish eatin?”
“I got the dishes mom,” Cherish said. “Willie, you can help me.”
“How you know I don’t have something to do?” I asked.
Moms handed me her plate as she walked past, “Imma git me a shower ‘cause I’s tired. Good night Will; sees you later.”
Reaching to give her a big hug, “Good night, Moms. I’ll see you later. Much love,” I said.
Cherish dried her hands and walked over to hug her mom, “Good night, mom. Where Sam sneak off to?”
Eunice grunted, “He been in the room fo ten minutes ar’eady. Y’all too busy flirtin wit each other to notice.”
“Moms, where’d you get that?” I asked.
She just looked at me and smiled, “I’s jest old, I ain’t dead. I’s y’alls age b’fore too ya knows.”
Cherish pretended to swat Eunice on the butt with the dish towel, “Just get your little grown self in there and take a shower.”
As she headed into their bedroom, “You stayin here t’night?” Moms asked.
Cherish stood speechless for a moment, “Now, mom, where else would I be stayin?”
Eunice reappeared in the doorway of their room, “This the key to the secur’ty doe to git in the buildin and these two silver ones opens the doe to the ‘partment. This big one’s fo the dead bolt. I’ll leave off the safety chain.”
“What you sayin ma?” Cherish asked, “You puttin me on the street my first night back?”
Moms smirked, “Oh, I’s sho you ain’t gonna be left on da street. But I gives you the keys jest in case you figure on goin out. Likes I said, Imma git a shower ‘n goes to bed.”
Cherish teased, “There was more to that look than gettin a shower and goin to bed. I saw you.”
Eunice chuckled, as she disappeared into the bathroom, “Well, likes I say, I’s old; I ain’t dead.”
I called to her, as she was coming up the hall from near the bathroom, “I’m done with the dishes Cherish. You want me to put them away?”
While not-so-innocently brushing my butt as she reached for the dish towel, “No, I got it. You done plenty for a guest. I’ll dry ‘em an take care ‘o the rest,” Cherish said.
“So, you never said to where you needed a ride,” I reminded.
She had an unmistakable look in her eyes, “I don’t know, maybe to the Village.”
I was leaning against the counter, playing stupid, “You know somebody down there?”
Cherish backed up until her butt rubbed against my zipper. Looking over her shoulder, she said with a devilish grin, “Well, there is somebody down in the Village I’m thinkin I might wanna get to know.”
Trying not to laugh, “Is somebody expecting you? Did you call to let them know you were coming?” I asked.
From behind a pretentious frown, “Oh, stop play’n! What I gotta do, beg, to get you to take me down to your place?” she asked.
“Never actually considered that,” I said. “Begging might be rather interesting.”
She ran her index finger down my zipper and whispered, “I’ll beg, if that’s what it takes. But you gotta promise to tie me up first.”
I felt a chill run down my spine, “Damn girl! You’re kind of freaky, aren’t you?” The comment registered louder than intended.
She took a step in the opposite direction, turned, and said in a stern, but still erotic voice, “Why is it that when a woman see somethin she want and ain’t afraid to go after it, that make her a freak or a ho? But when a man see somethin he want, if he go for it, that just mean he gettin his mack on.”
It was obvious my comment bothered her more than she was willing to display. I expected her to tongue lash a brother and straight verbally cut me to shreds. Then I realized the only thing that turned Cherish on more than a good stiff argument was a good stiff one between her legs.