| Sunday, October 30, 2005 |
| CHAPTER 13
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Paula came over to Kourtnee’s apartment uninvited, again. Kourtnee almost did not open the door, but Paula would not leave.
Kourtnee opened the door, “Hey, What is up?”
Paula came into the apartment without being asked.
Kourtnee said, “I asked what was up. I did not say to come in.”
“Girl please. Why are you acting silly? I did not mean anything. I felt like cooking and you are the only person I know with a stove. Do you mind if I cook something.” Paula smiled big.
Kourtnee frowned, her eyebrows, one after the other, “I suppose so. Do you always go around barging into folks houses?”
“Girl please. Naw, I do not. I just barge into yours.” Paula laughed as if she had told the funniest joke ever.
Kourtnee laughed at Paula. Paula said, “I will be right back. I am going to get the groceries out of the car. I may need you help. Can you come help me?” Paula asked sweetly.
Kourtnee looked at Paula like she was crazy, “You are kidding, right?”
“NO.”
Kourtnee gasped at the rude woman’s response. Kourtnee stood up, “You are truly crazy.”
As they walked towards the door, Paula said, “I know girl. But I am a lot of fun to be around. Come on here.”
The two young ladies went to Paula’s car. As they walked down the sidewalk, a guy standing in one of the doorways said, “Where are you two fine ladies going?” Paula turned around and answered back, “Wherever it is, you cannot go.” The guy smiled, “Do not be like that, Baby. That is just cold.” Paula waved him off with her hand.
Kourtnee looked at Paula. Paula looked at Kourtnee, “Girl please. Ai not nobody thinking about that fool. He cannot be respecting a woman like that and expect to get a decent response. Men these says are silly and do not know how to act.” Paula opened the trunk of her car. Kourtnee looked in the trunk. There were four bags of groceries. Underneath the grocery bags were a blanket, some shoes, and a spare tire. Kourtnee asked, “Who are you planning to cook for?” Paula smiled, “Girl, just grab two of those bags.” Kourtnee grabbed the bags as directed, but not before mumbling, “Dang, you bossy.” Paula grabbed the remaining two bags and said, “I heard that.” Both girls laughed as they headed up the stairs. Kourtnee mumbled again, “You are still mean.”
As they passed the guy who had yelled at them before, he grabbed at one of the bags Kourtnee had in her arms and tried to look in it. He also commented, “Can I come over. I sure would like some of whatever ya’ll got cooking.” He gave Kourtnee an evil smile. Kourtnee huffed, “Would you move? And I would not want what you were cooking even if I was starving to death. Now move, please!” The guy let go of the bag and moved out of the way. Kourtnee and Paula walked by. Paula rolled her eyes at the guy as she walked by.
After Paula and Kourtnee walked back into the apartment, they put the groceries on the counter. Kourtnee went and sat on the couch. Paula went into the kitchen. She carefully took each of the ingredients from the bags. Paula separated the ingredients by product type. She went to the cabinets and pulled out the pots and pans that she needed. She began cutting up vegetables, meat, and other items.
Kourtnee secretly watched the gourmet chef in the making. Paula moved precisely and with a purpose. Kourtnee thought she was watching a cooking show or some of the sort. Paula looked at Kourtnee a couple of times and smiled.
Paula continued preparing the meal. She dumped a little of this, some of that, a pinch of that there, and a smidgen of this here into the pots and skillets. Paula stirred, tasted, shook, and sautéed like a mad woman. She was working as if her life depended on what she was making. It was a delight and a mystery to see Paula in action.
Kourtnee began to smell the results of what Paula was cooking. It smelled good. Kourtnee was curious, “What are you cooking?”
Paula did not even look in Kourtnee’s direction, “Food.”
Kourtnee balled up a piece of paper that was on the table next to the couch and threw it at Paula. Paula stopped cooking and looked at Kourtnee, “You need to quit Paula.” Paula went back to cooking. Kourtnee made a face at the gourmet chef.
Paula continued cooking. Kourtnee tried to watch TV, but the smell of what Paula was cooking and Paula’s feverish work ethic reminded Kourtnee of the times she had sat in the kitchen and watched her nanny, Ramona Jackson, cook. Ramona had helped to raise Kourtnee. Ramona also came over to Kourtnee’s apartment and cleaned the place up in addition to cooking meals for Kourtnee. Kourtnee missed having Ramona around. Ramona always made Kourtnee feel better no matter what had happened. Ramona had a way of just making a person feel better.
Paula interrupted Kourtnee’s thought when she said, “Come taste this.”
Kourtnee did not move. “Have you ever heard of asking or saying please? Do you know what manners are?”
Paula laughed, "Girl, please. Could you PLEASE come taste this?"
Kourtnee got up from the couch and walked into the kitchen. Paula handed Kourtnee a spoon. Kourtnee dipped the spoon into the pot of spaghetti sauce. Kourtnee put the spoon into her mouth and tasted the spaghetti sauce. The sauce was delicious. Not wanted to enlarge Paula’s ego, Kourtnee non-chalantly said, “It tastes ok.” Paula smacked her lips in a long rhythmic arrangement, “Girl, please. You know that is some good sauce. I ain’t even thinking about you.” Kourtnee smiled and left the kitchen. Paula cooked a little while longer.
Paula came and sat down next to Kourtnee. Kourtnee looked at her, “What are you doing over here? Are you through cooking?” Paula wiped her hands on her thighs, “Yea.” Kourtnee inquired, “Why are we sitting in here instead of eating?” Paula shrugged, “I needed to rest a few seconds. You can eat if you want to.” Kourtnee frowned at Paula.” I am not eating until I see you eat. If you are not going to eat your own cooking, I am not going to eat it. If a cook doesn’t eat her own cooking that is a bad thing.” Paula howled, “You need Jesus.”
Paula sat on the couch for about 20 minutes. Finally she said, “I am going to eat. Kourtnee looked at Paula towering over her, Kourtnee felt like an ant waiting to be stepped on. Paula smacked her lips and walked into the kitchen. Kourtnee stood up and walked into the kitchen. Paula looked at the prissy girl as she walked to the bathroom. Paula shook her head as she stirred the spaghetti.
There was a knock on the door. Kourtnee stuck her head out of the bathroom, "Paula, can you get that?" Paula put the spoon down and said, "Yea." Paula walked to the front door and opened it. Paula stared at the tall dark skinned man standing at the door. She left the man standing there and ran to the bathroom where Kourtnee was. Paula peeked her head in the door, "girl, the richest black man in Maddocha is standing at your door." Kourtnee smiled, "That's my grandfather. Did you let him in?" Paula gasped, "Girl, naw. I left him standing at the door." Kourtnee rushed by Paula. When Kourtnee reached the door, her grandfather was standing in the doorway with his hands on his hips and his eyebrow scrunched up. Kourtnee smiled at her grandfather. He walked into the apartment and then hugged Kourtnee. Paula was standing in the kitchen, trying to be conspicuous. Them Adams asked, "Where is the young lady who so rudely left me standing on the front porch?" Paula crept from around the corner, and then she stood in front of the powerful man. Mr. Adams smiled at her and said, "Hello. I am Them Adams, Kourtnee’s grandfather. Apparently, she didn't inform you that I was her grandfather." Paula smiled. Mr. Adams extended his hand to Paula, "You have a pretty smile." Paula smiled as she shook the man's large hand.
Mr. Adams sniffed the air, "Something smells good. What do you all have cooking in here?" Paula smiled, "I just threw something together." Mr. Adams smiled, "I don't normally do this and you better not say anything to your grandmother, Prissy. I am inviting myself to dinner." Paula looked at Kourtnee. Kourtnee rolled her eyes at Paula before she turned and huffed at her grandfather, "Don't call me that." Her grandfather waved his hand at his granddaughter.
He walked into the kitchen. He motioned for the two young ladies to sit down after he pulled their chairs out for them. Mr. Adams was a true gentleman. He was a hard-working man who had grown-up without a father, but never let that stop his resolve to be successful. His dark face wore the years of hard work on it. Despite that, he had a mildness about him. He treated women with respect, especially since his wife of 51 years expected nothing less. Mr. Adams was in a business that catered to women. He started a company that manufactured hair care products for African-Americans.
Mr. Adams was a man of character. He took care of his family and taught his family to do the same. Although not all of his children followed his example, Mr. Adams had raised a decent family. All of them had been successful in their endeavors. The company that he founded had helped to make his children's life easier. Both he and his wife were glad of that.
The three dinner companions prepared their plates. They began to dig into the meal after Mr. Adams said grace in his deep voice. Paula opened her eyes a time or two to get a look at the wise sounding old man.
As they ate dinner, Mr. Adams regaled them with tales of his life that included his childhood. Kourtnee had heard most of the stories, but she liked to hear her grandfather tell them, so she was glad to listen. Whenever her grandfather told his stories, she always felt like she was a 5-year old again, listening with enthusiasm to her grandfather tell her bedtime stories.
Mr. Adams fawned over the two young ladies. He had a way of making women feel special. Kourtnee liked the attention that being the star of her grandfather's eyes got her. At times, her siblings and cousins would get upset with her, but it wasn't Kourtnee’s fault that she took an immediate interest in the family business after her grandfather took her to the plant.
They finished eating dinner. Mr. Adams proceeded to the living room and sat down on the couch. Paula sat on one side of him and Kourtnee sat on the other side. The storyteller of all storytellers continued with his tales.
Mr. Adams could tell stories like no one else. He often amused his grandchildren with his tales. He would have you captured in the moment, waiting for the next event to occur. His deep voiced helped greatly, it lended a sense of believability to the old man's stories. He was famous for his fishing stories. Unlike most fishermen, the big one never got away from Mr. Adams. He would have you believing him. To verify the facts, you would have to go ask his wife for the real story. Paula was no different. Mr. Adams had the young college student wrapped in his stories.
Kourtnee looked at Paula. Paula seemed mesmerized by her grandfather. Mr. Adams seemed to be focusing in on Paula. Kourtnee became a bit jealous. Kourtnee didn't like the idea of Paula taking her grandfather's attention. That had never happened before. Kourtnee could always manage to keep her grandfather's attention no matter who was around. She finally asked, "Does Mama know where you are?" Mr. Adams turned and looked at Kourtnee, "must you ruin my moment. Yes, she knows I came over here to check on you." Kourtnee made a face at her grandfather, "what is she going to think if she finds out you are over here fawning over us?" Mr. Adams scrunched his eyebrows, "child, leave me alone and let me enjoy the company of two beautiful young women." Paula and Kourtnee laughed. Kourtnee made a face, "I'm going to tell Mama on you." Mr. Adams turned to pa, "would you talk to your friend?" Paula looked at Kourtnee, who rolled her eyes. Paula made a face at Kourtnee. Mr. Adams smiled.
He leaned back on the couch, "What are you all doing tomorrow?" Kourtnee said, "I am busy." Mr. Adams nodded, "what are you doing?" Kourtnee huffed, "I have plans." Mr. Adams smiled, "alright, I won't be nosey. I tell your mother to find out for me." Kourtnee huffed again. He rubbed his chin, "what are you all doing on Sunday?" Kourtnee answered, "I am not doing anything." Paula responded, "Nothing after church."
Mr. Adams beamed, "I tell you what; why don't you all go to church with Mar and me; and then we can go have lunch?" Kourtnee smiled. Paula looked down at the floor, "I don't know if I can go to church with you all." Mr. Adams sat up, "Why not? Do you have something against church?" Paula looked at Mr. Adams, "I usually go to church with my boyfriend." Mr. Adams patted Paula's hand, "I think your boyfriend can live without you one day." Paula agreed to go with the Adams' to church. Kourtnee smiled. She knew that Paula would enjoy the day because Mr. Adams was probably going to end up taking them shopping. Paula was a bit torn because she knew that Rick would be upset, especially if Treshon had something to say.
Mr. Adams stood up, "Well, I better get out of her. Paula, dinner was lovely. We will be over here at 7:30 in the morning. Make sure you all are ready. Kourtnee, I hope you have fun with your plans this weekend." He gave Kourtnee a stern but loving look. Kourtnee batted her eyelashes at him. He cut his eyes at her.
Mr. Adams hugged both girls after he stood up. The hug felt good to both of them. The fatherly hug surrounded them in love. Mr. Adams walked to the door, "See you two tomorrow." He winked at Kourtnee. Paula looked at Kourtnee then at Mr. Adams. She could tell that the two of them were sharing a secret. Paula wanted to know what the secret was. Had she known Kourtnee better, she would have asked.
Mr. Adams walked out of the apartment with Kourtnee and Paula in tow. They stood on the rail as Mr. Adams walked to his car. He got in the car and waved at the two young ladies. Paula and Kourtnee walked back into the apartment when he drove off. |
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