Get Somebody New (11 page)

It’s All Because Of You

There’s a new smile on my face,

And a new dip in my step.

In my heart you’ve claimed a space,

Falling for you I couldn’t help.

I don’t know the right words to say,

Or all the right things to do.

I’m a simple man loving life each day,

It’s all because of you.

I ran away and tried to avoid,

Challenges because of fear.

In my life, you’ve filled a void,

I’m anxious when you’re far but calm when you’re near.

I’m not without transgressions,

Can’t make all your dreams come true.

You have my heart with no reservations,

And it’s all because of you.

You forgive my faults and love me anyway,

Believe in my courage and all I do.

When we met, I cherished the day,

And every moment since that I can love you.

You work me good and make me come back,

All that is true.

I’m a better man and I’m on the right track,

And baby, it’s all because of you.

Jazz Armond Hardaway

Jazz

“Yeah, Zeke will
like that.” I said as I wrote his name on the envelope containing the poem I’d
written. Expressing myself was new to me because I never had to do it. When
you’re feeling somebody as hard as I felt Zeke you can’t just do the minimum.
The little extras really show him how much he means to me. I don’t know if
there is a word to explain how I feel since I hooked up with Zeke. It’s an
intense good feeling all over that never goes away. I always have a smile on my
face now. When I see him I’m happy, when he’s away I can’t wait to see him.

With my ear
to the streets, it wasn’t long before I got some good industry connections. I
really put my all into the best work I’d ever done and ended up with a 25 track
demo to showcase my skills.

I’d met a
record executive for Daltone Records named Marlena Dalton. She liked some of my
previous work and said when I was ready to make a move to give her a call. With
my formal demo in hand I decided to run my work by her to see what she thought.

“I’m here to
see Ms. Dalton. My name is Jazz Hardaway.”

“Sure, I’ll
let her know you are here.” The receptionist said with a wide smile.

I took a seat
in the reception area in front of the receptionist’s desk.

“New meat
huh?”

“Excuse me?”

“Don’t tell
me you don’t know about that Cougar in there?”

“I’m lost.”

“You must be
really new to the industry. This office is flooded with good-looking, young men
like you. She baits them in by promising them a music career. When they get
here, it’s a different story.” She explained.

“A different
story?”

“She
basically makes them sleep with her as a prerequisite. She’ll arrange a little
studio time and cut a few singles and then get rid of them.”

“Studio time
is expensive. She wouldn’t go through all that just for some …well you know.”

“It’s not
expensive when you own the studio. Oh and my name is Shay.”

“So why are
you telling me all of this, Shay?”

“I just found
out that she’s been messing with my boyfriend. That cut throat bitch smiles in
my face every day while she’s been fucking my man for 2 months! I’m just giving
you a heads up because you are exactly her type.”

“Oh, what
type is that?”

“Tall, good
looking, thug swagger, all that.”

“I see.”

“Just be
careful. That’s all I’m saying. If you piss her off she can make life hell for
you. She’s very well connected and with one call she can stop a career cold.”

“Oh shit!
Maybe I should leave then.”

“I’ve heard
your work and you have talent, just be careful.”

“I will.”

Marlena came
out just after I’d finished talking to Shay.

“Welcome Mr. Hardaway.”
She said as she shook my hand and escorted me into her office.

“You are in
trouble.” Shay said.

“Why?” I
whispered.

“She never
comes out of her office to greet anybody.”

“Damn, wish
me luck.”

Shay giggled
as I walked into the huge upscale office.

“So Mr.
Hardaway, what do you have for me today?” Marlena asked.    I
hated the way she said my name with extra emphasis on Hard. I couldn’t help but
think about what Shay told me.

“I made a
formal demo for you to listen to and tell me what you think.” I said.  

“Okay. I will
take a listen. If I like the tracks I will be in contact with you.”

“Thanks for
seeing me.”

I left her
office on an emotional high. Despite the negatives I’d heard, Marlena seemed
ok. I couldn’t wait to tell Zeke about my day. With my good news, the nice
poem, and the positive mood I was in, I was sure I’d be getting it in with Zeke
later that night! My positive outlook must have jinxed the evening because
things went downhill from that point.

When I got
home Zeke was in a bad mood when I walked in.

“What’s the
matter Zeke?”

“What the
hell do you mean?”

“You look
salty as hell. I can tell when something is wrong with you. I can see it on
your face, baby.”

“I’m sorry I
snapped Jazz. It’s as if today was declared ‘Fuck with Zeke’ day. First my
professor gave me a hard time about my project until I got ignorant with him.
As soon as I got home, Nadiah called.”

“What did she
want? You don’t even talk to her.” I asked.

“She called
to ask where Alton was. I told her I wouldn’t tell her even if I knew. Of
course she didn’t like that answer and tried to get flip with me. I called her
everything but a child of God and told her not to call my damn house anymore!
I’ve often wished she would put her hands on me so I could beat her ass like
she stole something. She pretty much avoids me because I told her flat out I
don’t like her, I don’t appreciate the way she treats my cousin, and she needs
to steer clear of me and I’ll do the same with her.”

“Damn, so
much for being polite.”

“Why waste
pleasantries on someone I can’t stand? I make sure they know that I don’t like
them so there won’t be any misconceptions.”

“Well,
anyway, I have some good news for you.”

“I could use
some. What’s good?”

“I took my
demo to this lady over at an Atlantic subsidiary that I met at one of the
seminars. She told me that she’s always looking for new producers to bring
something fresh to the label.”

“That’s
great! Did she seem very receptive?”

“Well yes, a
little too receptive in the wrong way, but I brushed it off. I was warned about
her before I went in so I was kinda expecting something to happen, but it
wasn’t that bad. I think she got the hint I wasn’t interested.”

“I am happy
for you Jazz. What label is it?”

“Daltone,
distributed by Atlantic.”

“Daltone?”

“Yes. What’s the
matter? Why did you frown like that?”

“That’s
Marlena Dalton’s label right?”

“Yeah, what’s
up?”

“I don’t want
to rain on your parade. I’ll just say she is infamous in the business.”

“I know all
about her being a cougar and luring in young guys with promises just to sleep
with them. I am on the lookout for that and if I see it then I’m out.”

“Be careful
Jazz, she doesn’t take rejection at all. She is very spiteful. I’ve seen what
she is capable of so be careful. She likes young men, but that’s not all.”

“What do you
mean?”

“She likes a
challenge. Sex is all about the conquest for her. She always goes after someone
who is taken and men are not her only prey. She’ll fuck a snake if you hold his
head! She is also vindictive if she doesn’t get what she wants. She has ruined
many budding careers because she is an industry power broker. I’m telling you
she is Evil Incarnate!”

“Incarnate?”

“Yes, that
means she is evil in the flesh.”

“Oh.”

“Jazz I hope
I didn’t sour your mood. All this is common knowledge about her. You are
talented and I hope she is interested in your talent only because I would hate
to have to cut that bitch and shoot her kneecaps off. You are off limits.”

“Look at you
getting all territorial and shit. It’s turning me on too.”

“Oh, I watch
everything Jazz and I got your back.”

“Thanks. Oh,
I almost forgot to give you this. I wrote it this morning when I was watching
you get ready. I got a pen and jotted my feelings down. It’s just a little
something I wrote because I’m always thinking about you.”

When Zeke
started reading I anxiously awaited his reaction. I was really self-conscious
about my writing skills because I knew they didn’t compare to his. I hoped he
wouldn’t laugh at it or say it was “cute”.

When he
finished reading my moment of reckoning arrived.

“Jazz you are
usually so guarded with your emotions. This is a pleasant and beautiful
surprise. I love it and I love you Jazz.”

“It feels so
good every time you tell me you love me. Promise you’ll never stop telling me?”

“I promise.”

“You know Zeke,
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t worry about how people would see me if they
knew about us. I haven’t got to where I can just voluntarily tell people about
us. How do you deal with it?”

“Jazz for a
long time I felt like I’d been forsaken by God because of the way I am. I had
been listening to man speak for God and was led to think God hated me when in
fact God has always shown me nothing but love. Man’s limited viewpoint, the
inability to see past his own human boundaries, and ignorant self-righteous views
of God contradicted what God has actually proven to me time and time again.”

“So what
changed?”

“When I
stopped listening to man I could hear God again. My relationship with God is
personal. It doesn’t need third party validation and it’s not open to the
interpretation of someone else’s biased prejudices. There are many devils
posing as Christians to mislead the naive. Anyone who condones, practices, and
justifies hate, obviously missed the point of the word. It’s ironic how people
use God’s word to justify hating and condemning someone, yet claim to have a
loving and good heart.”

“Why do
people get so uptight about how other people live their lives when it has
nothing to do with them? The main ones doing the most evil shit are the ones
who point their finger and beat the bible the hardest while shaking it at other
people.”

“If everyone
spent their time fostering their own spiritual relationships with God and
trying to live their life the right way, they wouldn’t have time to worry about
someone else. People will find fault in you until the day you die. It’s a
defense mechanism to induce false confidence. When they criticize others, they
don’t have to look at themselves. No mortal man can tell me my God doesn’t love
me when it’s proven every single day. That’s faith and when you have it no one
can shake it.”

Seven

Ezekiel Nelson

When Alton
told me that he caught Nadiah and Ingrid in bed together, I felt so sorry for
him. Alton is such a sweet person and I hated to see him mistreated by that
ungrateful wife of his. It finally seemed like he would leave her ass for good.
With Rachel in the hospital, his marriage ending, and dealing with the reality
of divorce, things were beginning to be a bit much for him.

“Zeke I gave
that woman everything and she did this to me. I’ve known it was over between us
for some time now. I just kept hoping one day things would change. I’ve been
such a fool.”

“Alton you
know none of us in the family have ever liked Nadiah. We saw what you couldn’t
see. We tolerated her because we love you. You deserve so much more. Alton you
are one of the most amazing men I know. You are sweet, honest, loyal, warm and
giving and I am not just saying that because you are my cousin, I mean it.”

“Thanks cuz.
You know what the craziest part is Zeke? I feel sad and relieved at the same
time.”

“You have
been blocking your blessing trying to hold on to her. That girl is like a damn
cancer. You will be ok.”

“Paige is the
best thing that came from this mess of a marriage. Nadiah will be served with
divorce papers today. I’m not wasting any time. I want this nightmare over.”

“I am so
proud of you.”

“So how are
things with you and Jazz? I know he is making you happy because you’re
glowing.”

“It shows
huh?”

“Yeah, I can
see your happiness. Jazz seems like a good guy.”

“I told him
to take it one day at a time and be himself. He was trying to live up to
stereotypes until I told him there is no gay handbook.”

“So have
y’all done the …..well you know?”

“Have we? You
mean how many times! I wouldn’t keep going back for more if it wasn’t good
either, the best!”

“Really? The
best?”

“Yes.”

“Damn, my
cousin done got turned out.”

“I can’t even
lie; I’ve been turned inside out.”

“The last
time I had some was ……. When was Paige born? Well 9 months before then. That’s
how long! I was about to go crazy until that part of me just shut down. When I
do get some I might blow something up.”

Jazz walked
in just as Alton finished his sentence. When Jazz walks into a room it’s a good
feeling to be able to look at him and say, “Yeah, he’s mine.”