Love To Luv (21 page)

             
There was a buzz on Dennis intercom.

DENNIS

Yes.

SECRETARY

Mr. Joseph Taylor is here.

DENNIS

Ok Thanks. (Looking at Aretha) Your buyer is here.

ARETHA

Great.

Dennis went to the door to meet the buyer.

DENNIS (shaking his hand)

Mr. Taylor, do come in.

JOSEPH

Thank you. How are you?

DENNIS

I am fine. This is Mrs. Aretha Matthews. She is the seller of the property.

Aretha stands to shake his hand. Dennis told him to have a seat beside Aretha. He began to pull out the papers for them to sign. After almost fifteen minutes of signing papers Joseph hands Dennis a certified check. Dennis in-turns hand him the keys to the house. Dennis told Joseph to make sure that he put insurance on the house since he did not finance the house. Aretha’s insurance would be canceled after today.

             
Dennis escorted Joseph out of his office. Aretha ran over to him and gave him a big hug. She told Dennis that she would take him out to lunch.

_______________

             
Aretha was enjoying her lunch date with Dennis. She asked him about his last relationship. Dennis told her about the relationship he had during his college days. He thought that they would be together forever. He explained to her that he had someone in mind but was not sure if the feeling were mutual. Aretha told him that she thought that maybe he should ask me out. Dennis grinned as he wiped his mouth.

ARETHA

What’s funny?

DENNIS

Nothing.

ARETHA

Oh I get it. You were talking about Jacob. Well ask him. I think that you two would be perfect. You both are great looking men, intelligent, moderately wealthy. Go for it.

DENNIS

I might. You never know. Can you excuse
me,
I have to go to the restroom.

Dennis left Aretha at the table. She was about to crack into a Cajun Crab Leg when her phone rang.

ARETHA

Heifer I called you earlier. I was going to take you out to lunch.

MATTIE

I don’t know how to tell you this but I just passed by Edgar’s house. Girl it is in flames.

ARETHA (with excitement)

What?!
Totally?

MATTIE

Yes, it is gone.

ARETHA

Well I just
be
damn. I am on my way over there.

MATTIE

I will meet you there.

Dennis came walking from the restroom. He saw Aretha putting the phone down on the table.

ARETHA

We have to go. Edgar’s house is on fire.

DENNIS

You are joking right?

ARETHA

I wished I was.

Aretha beckon for the waiter to come over so that she could pay the check. She gave him cash so that she would not have to wait on the receipt. They hurriedly walked out of the door and to the car.

             
Aretha burnt rubber leaving the parking lot.

____________________

JACOB

Hello.

JOE

How are you?

JACOB

Who is this?

JOE

I tell you, you give someone some of the best dick in their life and they soon forget you.

JACOB

Well the best dick that I have had so far is no longer on this Earth.

JOE

That ass is good enough to kill a man. This is Joe – your pen pal.

JACOB (sourly)

Oh sup.

JOE

You act like you don’t want to hear from me.

JACOB

Man you drugged me.

JOE

I didn’t drug you. I told you what was in the drink. You could have put it down.

JACOB

You told me after I took several sips.

JOE

But you have fun right?

JACOB
I don’t remember what I did.

JOE

Well you put on a show for
us,
you gave some bomb ass head and some tight ass.

JACOB

That’s messed up dude. You have to drug people to have sex with them.

JOE

Let’s get off that. I will be in Meridian next week. I want to see you.

JACOB

I don’t know. Next week is a busy one for me.

JOE

You can’t make time for me or you don’t want to make time for me?

JACOB

The latter.

JOE

Oh ok, it’s like that. Well you will see me. I will make sure of that. I will come up to you and show you this dick print. You will find time.

JACOB

Joe, I have enjoyed this conversation but I have got to go. I was in the middle of preparing a … how did you get my cell number?

JOE

Manny gave it to me. He saw us go into the room together and he figured we were friends. So he gave it to me when I told him I lost it.

JACOB

Ok. Thanks. Well you have a great afternoon.

JOE

I am not finished.

JACOB

I have a big conference coming up and I need to prepare.

JOE

Ok. I understand. Can I call you later?

JACOB

Yeah sure.

JOE

Ok you can count on it. I will be looking forward to talking to you.

JACOB

Yeah same here.

As soon as I pressed “end” on my phone I called my cellular server to change my number.

             
Ian and Jeremy were getting fitted for their tuxedos. As the older gentleman was sizing them he asked about the upcoming prom. Ian told him that he wasn’t going to the prom.

SALEMAN

Well what’s the occasion?

IAN

I am getting married.

SALEMAN

How old are you son?

IAN

Eighteen.

SALEMAN

Wow, that’s a little young isn’t it?

IAN
I don’t think so. I am very mature for my age. I know that I am making the right choice.

SALEMAN

Well this must be your best man?

IAN

You can say that…that’s my fiancé.

The salesman rose up and looked at them both.

SALEMAN

Can I be real with you for a minute?

IAN

I guess so.

SALEMAN

I don’t service punks in my shop. Get your stuff and go.

This surprised Jeremy and Ian. Jeremy was ready to fight the salesman. Ian stepped down from the stool snatching off the pants and the coat. The salesman started to laugh hard.

JEREMY

What the hell are you laughing at? You are about to get your teeth knocked out.

SALEMAN

I am laughing at you two. My name is Sam. I have been married to my husband for seventeen years.

IAN

Yeah right. You thought about the money for these suits.

Sam pulls out his wallet to show them a picture of him and his husband at Disney World.

JEREMY

Why did you do that to us?

SAM

Are you ready to encounter attitudes like that?

Jeremy and Ian looked at each other.

SAM

Let me tell you something young bucks. The world is changing but there still is prejudice out there. It is not always about race. There is gender, cultural, education, class, sexuality. You name it, it is out there. Sometimes your own family will say that they are happy for you and then talk about you like a dog behind your back. Some people will be jealous of your relationship. Do anything to break you apart. Trust me temptations are out there too. But if you really love each other, I mean truly love each other, you will look but don’t touch. Be careful with who you flirt with. Tom is always waiting, Dick is always ready, and Harry may cut you. Are you ready for all of that?

IAN

I am.

JEREMY

Me too.

SAM

What are your plans for after high school?

JEREMY

I am going into the military and he is going to college.

SAM

Ok you have a plan. What if you have to go overseas or out of state?

JEREMY

We have talked about all of that. I feel that we can be faithful.

SAM

Well Obama repealed “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” but young bucks
be
careful. I am telling you what I know not what I have heard.

Sam sized both Jeremy and Ian while he was talking. He enjoyed giving sermons to young family members.

SAM

I tell you
what,
I will charge you for one suit and let you have the other one for free. I like doing things for family. Plus I feel you two really love each other. I think you will make it. But remember to be honest with each other. Even if you think that it may hurt the other – be honest. Communicate – talk things out. Don’t go to bed upset. Don’t ever take that stuff to sleep with you. Be faithful and trust each other.

JEREMY (laughing)

I feel like we have gotten married already.

SAM

You may have you never know. Marriage is not a piece of paper.

IAN

Well Mr. Sam we appreciate the lecture and the suit discount. We will be coming back.

SAM

Well you both come back. Even if it’s just to talk, I will be here. You two have a good afternoon.

JEREMY

Thank you Mr. Sam

After walking out the door towards the car.

IAN

Are you ready?

JEREMY

I would not have proposed if I wasn’t. Question is, are you ready?

IAN

More than you know.

             
Aretha, Dennis and I were decorating the house for a multi-purpose party. We decided since Monique, Teddy, Ian, and Jeremy was such good friends we would give them a party together.
A fabulous baby/wedding shower.

             
I could not get in touch with Jeremy’s mother, Nicole. I left her a message telling her about the event.

             
We sent the kids to the movies thinking that would buy us enough time to get everything together. It wasn’t forty-five minutes later when the boys came crashing in the house. There was freight on their face. Teddy was completely out of breath. Ian and Jeremy were both yelling at the same time.

JACOB

Fellows calm down. Where is Monique?

IAN (crying)

Someone grabbed her.

ARETHA

What?! What happened?

JEREMY

We got our tickets for the movies and were in line for some snacks. Monique said that she was going to the car to get something. She never came back. Teddy went out to the car check on her and found a note that said if we wanted to see her again to come to Hattiesburg with the deed to the condo in New Orleans, $250,000, and something about a contract to a TV station.

ARETHA

What contract to a TV station?

JACOB

I know what that is. Ellis’ mother left him a TV station in Arizona when she died. I own it now.