Mistress (4 page)

“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to Jason! Happy birthday to you!”

I could hear claps coming from everywhere.

He tried to blow out the candles, but I had to give my little baby brother some assistance on his first birthday. He was trying to get a lick of his chocolate birthday cake all day. Finally, Jason had the opportunity to do so. The next thing I knew, he dove right into it, face-first, of course. Coming up for air, all he could hear was laughter and cheers.

He looked proud, with a mighty grin, to have cake smeared all over his hands, hair, and face. I had to sneak a picture. Presents galore filled the living room courtesy of Pop, but Jason seemed more interested in the wrapping paper than the presents.

“Alex, did you get enough to eat?” Pop asked.

“Yes,” I replied patting my stomach.

“I’m tired, and I can already see your mother and her crew are cleaning up. I think I better shut down the grill.

“Last-minute call, people. Does anyone else want anything else from the grill?” Pop scanned the crowd.

Ma and Pop outdid themselves with the cookout. We had barbecue ribs and chicken, grilled rib eyes and porterhouses, hamburgers, hotdogs, Italian sausages, and grilled salmon and flounder. The side dishes were potato salad, deviled eggs, spinach dip, and a vegetable tray with ranch dressing, salt ’n’ vinegar, barbecue, and rippled potato chips. For dessert, four watermelons were lined up in the kitchen with my name on one of them. I loved sweet watermelon. Banana pudding and strawberry shortcake were freshly made for the occasion.

“Going once, going twice, gone.”

As I carried Jason back into the house, I could feel his bottom getting warm. Then the infamous aroma of crap emerged in the air. “Ma, Jason took a dump. Can you change him?” I pleaded, holding him and my nose.

“Honey, your aunts and I have a lot of dishes to wash. Will you change him for me please without the attitude?” she asked, her hands on her hips.

“All right.” I headed up the stairs.

“Thank you.”

“Look, little guy, I’m going to change your diaper, but you better not squirt me like you did last time.” I plopped him down on the bed.

“Shall we begin, Ms. Gibbs?” Mr. Barres looked down on his clipboard.

I was a complete basket case. The day finally arrived and I couldn’t seem to get myself together.

“Ms. Gibbs?”

“Huh?”

“I said, ‘Are you ready to begin?’”

“Yes, sir, I’m ready.” I gripped my hands tight around the steering wheel. Sweat was pouring down my face.

My best friend Maria passed the behind-the-wheel course on her first try. We’d been practicing for the past week. This was my third try. The first time I took this test, Pop told my instructor, if she felt even in the slightest I wasn’t ready to drive, don’t pass me, or he’d sue her company and make sure she never instructs another student again.

Okay, I did run into a pole because Ms. Stillwall kept talking to me. No, it was rather
yelling
, which made me nervous. While I’m driving, you have to talk slowly; otherwise, I get all confused and mess up.

The second time I tried, Pop rode in the back seat. Big mistake. He was worse than the driving instructor. “Did you put your seat belt on? Are you looking both ways when crossing the street? Come on, Alex, slow down,” he would say, even though it was forty-five miles per hour on the highway. He wanted me to drive twenty-five miles per hour. I didn’t know who the instructor was sick of, him or me.

This time Pop wasn’t with me, due to Ma’s special request. He was having a hard time realizing that I was growing up mentally and physically. Boys were another issue. I couldn’t even talk to them on the phone until I was fourteen.

“Listen, Ms. Gibbs, I can already see you’re nervous. Here are a few tips. Please, just relax. I don’t want you to hurt anyone. Cars can kill.” Mr. Barres rolled down his window.

“I’m aware of that.”

“Would you like me to put on the radio to help you relax?”

“No, thank you. It will just be a distraction.”

“Suit yourself. Now, let’s get on the road.”

I backed out of the parking space.

“You’re doing fine.” He marked a check on a piece of paper.

The paper was going to determine my fate. Pop made it plain and simple—no license, no Toyota 4Runner.

“Now turn right at the light.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Proceed on sixty-four west, get off at the first Military Highway exit.”

I put on my left signal to get over, but the jerk behind me wasn’t budging.

“Stay cool. I’m sure the person behind us sees the big sign on top of the car that reads
student driver
. He’ll let you over.”

Let’s hope so.
I remained signaling, and the driver wouldn’t let up.

Mr. Barres was losing his patience by the second. He stuck his head out of the window. “Let me handle this.”

“All right.”

Mr. Barres made eye contact with the stupid ass behind us. I, the huge butt crack in front of my face.

“My student needs to get over. Back off and let her go.”

“I’ve got somewhere to be. Turn around, fat ass, and shut your face up.”

Mr. Barres became red all over. “Listen to me, CXV1256, if you don’t let her over, I’ll take your license and have you cited for drinking and driving. I see the beer can in your hand. Keep fucking with me and you’ll get a year sentence of jail time with ‘Cujo’ sticking it up your ass every night.”

The man slammed on his brakes and almost caused a four-car pile-up.

After placing his head back in the car, he explained, “Ms. Gibbs, I apologize for my behavior. Some folks don’t know how to act.”

“It’s all right. Would you like a bottle of water?” I asked, trying to hold back my tears of laughter. I could see he needed it more than me.

“Yes, thank you.” He loosened up his tie.

I knew exactly where we were going. I just wanted to get there in one piece.

“Proceed through both lights and make a right on Popular Hall Drive. Your signaling is excellent.”

I forgot to signal right after all of the commotion. I didn’t even think he noticed. We were stuck at the light, while the other cars were going straight. I turned the radio on as a little reward for getting through the test.
We’re almost there.

Someone was calling my name. The voice sounded familiar. “Alex?”

I turned around. “Pop?” His car—no, my uncle’s car was right next to me. “Were you following us the whole time?”

“Yes, baby, I wanted you to be safe. You’re doing a great job. Please drive a little slower.”

“She’s driving the speed limit. Don’t worry, she’s in good hands.” Mr. Barres made some more checks on the sheet.

“I wanted to do this on my own. You didn’t have to spy on me.”

The light turned green.

“I’ll see you in a few minutes. You already know we’re ending up at the other DMV office. Maria is waiting for me.”

“Keep in mind what I said. Make sure you look both ways. Is your seatbelt on? Is the car door locked?”

“Pop, stop with the twenty questions. You’re making me nervous.” When I turned, he did as well in the lane right next to me.

“Your eyes should be on the road.”

“I’m trying to keep my eyes—” I didn’t get a chance to finish my sentence. I was speechless from slamming into a cop car.

I sat there, scared. I didn’t think I was going to jail, but I knew for sure that I wasn’t getting what I came for—my license. All of my efforts of trying to pass went down the drain. I put my head down as tears began to stream down my face.

Pop opened the car door. “Are you all right?”

“Does it look like I’m all right? You ruined my chances of getting a license. Do you not want me to have one?” I screamed at him.

“Girl, don’t raise your voice at me. I apologize for going overboard. I worry about you being out here with all these crazy drivers. If it were up to me, you would wear a helmet, as well as two seatbelts. You’re my baby girl, and I don’t want anything to happen to you. Look, I’m going to try to fix this.” He walked toward the police officer and Mr. Barres.

I waited patiently in the car to hear the heart-wrenching verdict.

“Congratulations, Ms. Gibbs. You passed the State of Virginia’s driving exam. Your father and I were telling the police officer the car’s brakes are a little squeaky, which caused you to bump him.”

“Virginia is cheap. As state employees we need pay raises, and equipment needs to be fixed and replaced. This car is probably twenty years old. It’s a shame my neck is stiff. I’ll be on medical leave for a couple of months recouping from the accident. The ambulance is on its way to take me to the hospital.” The police officer rubbed his neck.

“Go on in to the office, Mr. Barres, and I will handle things from here,” Daddy instructed, giving me a kiss on the cheek.

I walked in the DMV office to see Maria waiting for me. “Girl, I passed,” I screamed, running to her. Everyone else in the building was looking around to see what the commotion was about.

“That’s great. Now, you can get your set of car wheels just in time for the party on Saturday night.”

“You mean
truck
wheels. I got to tell you what happened.”

“We’ll discuss over a plate of food. I’m starving.”

“You’re not the only one. First, I need to cheese for the camera and get my driver’s license.”

“The lady is calling your name now. Congratulations!”

“Thanks.” I gave her a hug.

I posed with a big smile on my face. Now, the driving situation was over. I began to wonder,
What I am going to wear for this party on Saturday? I could get money for an outfit out of Pop for the stunt he pulled today.

I purchased two outfits, while Pop got to hear Ma’s mouth about the fiasco on Saturday. My car—no, excuse me—truck will not be arriving until Monday morning. Fortunately, Ma was gracious enough to let me take her car to the party.

As I got older, my mother wised up on me, except for one minor adjustment. When I got my period, she sat me down and gave me a speech I will never forget.

“One thing I hate is a woman that smells of fish but doesn’t cook in her own kitchen. Look and smell your best every day. I will not have my child smelling foul. Now, leave the cooking part up to me. I’m going to instill the power of cooking in you, so the legacy will continue in our family. I hope one day you will show my grandchildren the same,” she explained, dropping three pieces of chicken in a bucket of grease to fry.

“The period day,” as I call it, she took me out of school. Ma didn’t want me spending this day alone. Instead of my nose being stuck up a book, she took me out to lunch, shopping, and bought what seemed to be a lifetime supply of tampons, Super Maxi pads with and without Wings, Midol and ibuprofen.

I could come and go as I please, just as long as I told her
where
I was going,
who
I was going with, and
what roundabout time
I was bringing my behind in the house. I only tested her one time, and that one time I regret to this day.

When I was fourteen, two of my girlfriends, Maria, Charlotte, and I went to the school basketball game. We didn’t go to see the game. There were too many boys in the gymnasium to be eyed down. Afterward, all the kids go to Flipper McCoy’s to play video games, meet girls, meet boys, and eat, just to name a few. We were having so much fun, I lost track of time.

I was assigned to be the designated clock-watcher. The only thing I was watching was Larry’s ass, arms, and chest. Due to the extenuating circumstances, it slipped my mind I had to be home by eleven. Maria’s older sister, Tammy, made the situation even worse. Even though, I didn’t call her till midnight to come pick us up, she was shacked up and locking lips with her boyfriend Ryan.

The time we were waiting seemed endless. My hands were shaking just at the mere thought of dealing with Ma. I knew I was going to get it. It’s a wonder she didn’t come looking for me herself, or call the cops.

Tammy arrived forty-five minutes later with her hair a mess and clothes half on. She had a funny look on her face. Maria said she always has that facial expression after her love has come down.

When I finally arrived home, I tried to tiptoe upstairs.

Pop and Ma were patiently waiting downstairs with their robes on in the dark.

“Sorry, I can’t get you out of this one, champ,” Pop whispered in my ear and walked upstairs.

Needless to say, I didn’t see the nightlife for three weeks. It was a grueling three weeks of torment. While my friends were going out and enjoying themselves, Maria, Charlotte, and I were stuck in the house doing chores.

We’d all been buddies since the little-tot age. Ms. Hodges was our babysitter. During the years, Maria spent more time at my house than her own. Now, she’s very tall, caramel-skinned, with kinky curly hair. Her father walked out when she was only one week old, and her mother, Ms. Brown, is an alcoholic. You can’t tell her that though. If you ask her, she is a social drinker. I didn’t know drinking alcohol before brushing your teeth in the morning, while eating breakfast, lunch and dinner, and in between watching talk shows were social events. We’d all tried to get her help. Men were always in and out of the house.

Three years ago, Ms. Brown cleaned up her act a little because her neighbor threatened to call Social Services on her. She didn’t want to risk losing her daughters. After fifteen years, Maria hadn’t given up hope her mother would stop drinking alcohol. I tried my best to be there for her. She talked and I listened.

Charlotte’s parents were divorced. She was shuttled back and forth between weekends, holidays, and summers between her mother and father’s house. Her parents simply didn’t get along. They couldn’t carry on a conversation without almost coming to blows. If Charlotte’s father, Mr. Kitch, was a minute late with the child support checks, his behind was going straight to jail. She favored her mother with a height of five-six, smooth dark skin, and straight hair almost down to her behind. Charlotte had called me many times, crying about her father being locked up. My parents weren’t at all perfect, but I was grateful they were still together.

“Are you ready?” Maria knocked on my door.

“Girl, come in. I’ve been ready. You look great in your catwoman outfit dressed in black with your hair slicked back into a bun. Where’s Charlotte at?” I looked at myself in the mirror.

“Thanks. She’s meeting us there. You look cute too.” She plopped down on my bed.

“I try to look presentable.”

“Yeah, you can’t fool me. You’re trying to look more than presentable for Thomas. I can see it all in your eyes.”

I twirled around. “Do you think he’ll like the dress?”

“Of course, he will. You know he likes you. This brown dress with a slit up your right leg makes you look even more enticing.”

“How do you know Thomas likes me?”

“Word gets around, honey. Everyone in school wants to know who the quarterback of the star football team wants to date, because he certainly hasn’t shown interest in another female.”

“In other words, Peter told you, didn’t he?”

“Well, yeah, you know Peter and Thomas are best friends, so I may know more than the average gossip. All the girls want Thomas, and all the guys want you. The two of you can’t seem to get it together.”

“I’m not like you, Maria.
Go-getter
isn’t in my vocabulary, when it comes to guys.”

“You’re right about one thing. If I see something I like, I will get it. That’s exactly how I scooped up my chocolate thunder, Peter. If you keep hanging around me, you will go after the man you want. Put it this way. Picture Thomas as a big and juicy A. The ones that are always scrawled on your report card.”

“Now, you’re talking.” I nodded my head and put the finishing touches on my hair.

“Don’t ever let me hear you say you’re not a go-getter. Lord willing, you’re going to be a doctor. A good one at that, too.”

“I appreciate the encouragement. Someday, I’ll be able to look at myself in the mirror and say, ‘Good morning, Dr. Alexis Gibbs.’ Hmm, I get goose bumps each time I utter those three words. Back to the matter at hand, maybe I just lack sex appeal.”

“No, you don’t. Alex, you don’t how to use your sex appeal. It will come as you mature as a woman. You should talk to your mother about these things.”

“Yeah, right. Ma would have a fit. Maria, Ma and I aren’t like you and your mother. I have to admit Ma wants us to have an open relationship about sex, but I don’t want to.”

“Why?”

“I’m embarrassed to talk about it. Look at us, we’ve been best friends going to eleven years and I’m sitting here blushing about having sex appeal.”

“Well, let me give you some advice. Talk to your mother about this and everything else. She won’t steer you in the wrong direction. Yeah, she may not want you doing it till you get married. But if you decide to, there are precautions you have to consider. If I had a daughter, I wouldn’t like her getting it on either.”