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I waited for La Shanda so we could ride the train together. Normally I shower, dress in my dark business pantsuits or a black dress with a jacket which has the appearance of being expensive. I’m out of the apartment at eight a. m. Today is Friday and I’ve relaxed. I wore a skirt and blouse and carried my jacket for unsuspected cold nights in May.
Why did I wait on her today? I must be a glutton for punishment. As usual she was late getting up and late dressing. With all the going back and looking for her keys, I’m sure we would be late for work. I needed to get in early and post information on the company’s blog and Twitter page.
We rushed for the train to find out that someone had jumped in front of a moving train and luckily no one got hurt. The train would be late also. Someone trying to do a good deed pulled him or her out of the tracks on time.
When you try to do a good deed you get fucked like I am this morning.
I promised La Shanda that I would listen to her problems of which she had many. I had a few myself but you didn’t see me going around burdening everyone who looked like they would listen to all kinds of shit.
“I bet he was pushed,” La Shanda said looking around at the hordes of people behind us, some going to work, and some just standing around pretending they had jobs.
“There’s no evidence that he was pushed,” I said to her after climbing into a packed train. Which I tried to avoid by getting to work early every morning. Like that I could appear to be a good worker and get a promotion I deserved. But since it was Friday and La Shanda wanted to discuss her boyfriend and this was the only time I would listen, I waited for her and here we are stuck in the middle of the mid-town tunnel hopeful this train would start up.
La Shanda had been rattling on about her friend and how jealous he was after he had tried to fool around with her sister. I told her to get rid of him. “He is nothing but trouble,” I said turning to her as we were being jostled around by the train starting up. Finally we might make it to work on time and I could cut short this conversation.
“You always say get rid of him. I’m not like you. I’m not as pretty as you. And I don’t have two men waiting for me to decide who I will fuck. I have this sorry doctor who lives with his mother and who worships the ground I walk on,” she said more confident than she pretended to be.
“He’s playing games with you. He tries to fuck your sister in our apartment and then he tells you he’s jealous. Get real, La Shanda. He’s trying to make you jealous. And what about all the other girls you caught him with. And some of them looked like whores.”
“That’s what’s wrong with you Tamia. You’re turning your nose up at girls like that. I bet if you saw a good looking man you’d turn into a Hoe.”
“Quiet.” I look around and the train is packed and people are listening to our conversation. I think you mispronounced that word,” I whispered.
“See what I mean. I didn’t have the benefit of your education.
“Education has nothing to do with it. Common sense does. He’s trying to make you jealous so you can lose your mind one day and marry him. After his mother dies.”
“He brought me flowers and candy and told me he’s sorry.” I rolled my eyes. I wasn’t getting through to her and I didn’t have that much time in the world to try.”
“That’s just until you marry him and he knows you can’t go anywhere and then you have a lot of babies and you really can’t leave. You’re the type to get excited because he’s a doctor and marry and accept him running around with you-know what. And what is so attractive about him anyway besides being a doctor. And he’s cheap. My mother says if you can’t spend it what is it worth.”
I look to La Shanda and she has her head down. Maybe I was too rough on her. “I don’t want to date one particular man, and I don’t want to marry anyone.”
“Boy you sure are bitter. What got you so bitter so young?” She asked me.
“Listening to all the stories of men and women relationships. Don’t get me wrong, if I find the right man, I might consider marrying him. Once you marry La Shanda that jealous man won’t let you go out on Fridays for a drink with your friends.” She glances at me with a suspicious look. “Want to bet?” I said to her. She has a sour look on her face. Her eyes narrow and they are moving around and I know what she’s thinking.
“No bet. I know what you say is true,” La Shanda admits. But we are good together. You wouldn’t understand.” And then she smiles like she has a secret. She’s right I wouldn’t understand.
“Now can we talk about something else before we get to work?” I said. The train stops and we get off. I stop and get a cup of coffee and a buttered roll. That’s my breakfast. Mainly because it’s the cheapest breakfast even if eating the butter and roll every morning is making my ass big.
It’s either a big ass or save on a small apartment. I can get rid of the big ass but men seem to like it and I have a ways to go before it will get out of control. With all the walking in New York my ass will likely never get any bigger than it is now.
We put our breakfast in our purse. Drink some of the coffee and head on to work. We have a block to walk. Long city blocks with horns blowing and people walking all over you and stumbling into you.
“Watch where you’re going,” La Shanda hollers at a man that bumped into her when she stopped suddenly. “Did you see that guy? I swear his dick was hard. I felt it through the Spanx I’m wearing. You can’t walk around New York without some freak trying to get his freak on for free,” La Shanda said looking back at him and then scurrying along to catch up with me.
She was saying when she caught up with me. “I’m getting out of New York as soon as I can save enough money. Right now I couldn’t get through the tunnel. I need a raise.” When La Shanda said those words as loud as she could, we were standing in front of the building where we work.
“Did you hear that we’re getting a new boss? It’s all around that he’s coming in Monday to shake things up.” We stepped inside the building.
“Did you hear anything about being laid off,” I asked. La Shanda talks to everyone and kisses ass to keep her job. I wished I knew how to do that, but I would probably make a mess of that.”
“You don’t have to worry. Just say the word and one of those jokers will marry you in a minute.”
“Did you hear anything I said? I didn’t go to school to get married. If I were paid my worth I wouldn’t need another job.”
“We’re at the lower end of the totem pole. We need to get up a little higher. We call people up and try to sell them things. We play around on Twitter and Face book. We’re glorified salesmen. And bad ones at that. Look at our checks,” La Shanda said. “I’m your assistant and I graduated from junior college and we almost make the same money give or take a dollar or two.”
“Please can we talk about something else?” I begged.
“You just like to play games with your guys. Pit one against the other. One day they’re going to get tired of that.” I didn’t want to talk about that either so I shot her a look. She knew me long enough to know that my look meant shut the fuck up.
We got off the elevator on the fifth floor. I was glad of that. I could go into my little office and not see La Shanda until lunch. But I might skip lunch because Michael wants to take me for Chinese. Reggie works in the building and I don’t want to see him either.
I plopped down at my desk, turn on the computer to check my email and La Shanda goes her way. Then she rushes back out of breath.
“I just heard that the big boss, the new CEO of the company, will be in early Monday and will inform us if we still have jobs.”
“That is a sign to put in an application for a job. I’m sending out my resume today,” I said as I pulled up my resume before reading my email.
“We either can get married or we can pool our money and hope for the best. I’m not leaving my apartment,” La Shanda said to me.
“And you’re not getting married and bringing that man of yours in our apartment. He already comes there too much. And he likes to walk around naked. So get that out of your mind,” I said. She got up from the chair near my desk without a word and left. Then she came back.
“We’re still going to the bar tonight? Right?”