“OK then, good coochie. Must be nice,” Lyric sang.
“Shut up. I guess I should decline this breakfast invitation and let this man know that I do not live in Cadet or nowhere near. I was only stopping by.”
“Ummm. Hmmm. But let him know that he’s invited to Channing, though.”
“Not really, but whatever.” I shrugged.
Hi. I wish, but I was only stopping through Cadet for the night. I’m on my way back home now. Maybe another time?
Where you live?
Channing.
You right up the street.
If you say so.
I know so. What you getting into this weekend?
I’m working this weekend and every weekend up until the 29th.
Well, it seems like I’ll be seeing you on the 29th,he responded, unfazed by the distance.
The screen on my phone seemed so small or maybe it was only because my eyes were hurting. Words were tinier than usual and it was taking me a bit longer to read the messages that appeared on the screen. I decided to give it a rest and close my eyes for a brief moment.
“You got anything in particular you want to hear?” Lyric nudged me to ask.
“Silence.” I tittered.
“Come on, Ever. I need something to keep me up until I get there,” she whined.
“OK. OK.” I grabbed her phone and unlocked it. Her music app was already open. I searched for some goodies and began compiling a playlist for us.
Though exhausted, sleep didn’t come easily. Too worried about Lyric’s driving capabilities under the circumstances, I couldn’t rest. So, instead, I played the DJ as we continued the forty-five-minute drive.
“If his status ain’t hood, I ain’t checking for him,” Lyric sang while I stayed quiet. For once, those were lyrics I could no longer relate to.
“Got to be street if he looking at me, I need a soldier,” I joined, knowing that no matter what type of man I met and married in the future, I wanted him to be familiar with my urban world.
That part would never change. No matter his profession, I wanted him to know what it looked and felt like to grow up in a Black neighborhood. That was a box he had to check or he couldn’t check for me. It was simple.
The sun had settledin its position, which happened to be in the parking lot of the prison where there wasn’t a tree in sight for shade. The wait for Lyric’s brother had officially commenced, which meant that it was safe for me to rest my tired eyes and body, but the sun’s brightness was unbearable, forcing me to climb to the back where our bags were to grab something to help shield my eyes. I found the shirt that I’d worn to Cadet the day prior. Black, it was the perfect shield. Before I was able to climbback up, Lyric had the back door open as she adjusted the seat cover to her liking.
“Ma’am, what are you doing?” I chuckled.
“I’m about to lay the hell out as soon as he gets in. I want to have my bed prepared.”
“If you’re back here, then where the heck will I sleep?”
“Shit, either on top of me or in the front seat. You can sleep sitting up. I can’t to save my life. I have to be laying down.”
She was right. I could sleep upright if necessary. Her passenger seat reclined enough so that I didn’t have to, though. If I let it back far enough, it touched the back row, nearly lying flat. I didn’t even put up a fight when I thought about it.
“You’re right,” I admitted, climbing back into the passenger seat where I began to get comfortable. Sleep was waiting impatiently for me. With heavy eyes, I knew it wouldn’t be long before I was out completely.
Bzzzzzz.
Bzzzzzz.
