Page 3 of Isn't She Lucky
She says, “Your hair is drenched, child. Didn’t you see the clouds rolling in? You should’ve been back inside.”
“Yeah, but what’s the fun in that, Mom. Lighten up. It’s just water.”
“Water thatI’llhave to mop up. You two left a trail from the back door straight to here.”
“I apologize Ms. Gardner. I’ll clean it up,” I offer.
“No, you won’t. I work for you, remember?”
“You don’t work for me, ma’am. You work for my parents.”
“Same difference,” she tosses out. “How do you think your mother would feel if she sees you mopping the floor—something she hiredmeto do?”
“I’ll explain to her what I did.”
“You mean, what youbothdid,” she says, throwing a hand on her hip and narrowing her eyes at Giada.
I hadn’t meant to get her in any trouble, but her mother looks like she’s ready to blow a fuse.
“Ma, do you think Mrs. Noble will let me use her hair dryer?”
“She will,” I answer before her mother has a chance to.
Her eyes move from Giada to me. They narrowed further than they had before – to slits.I really don’t think this lady likes me.
“You don’t need a hair dryer,” she responds. “Get your things so we can go. Your hair can get dry in the car.”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Giada. It’s all my fault. Please, don’t make her leave.”
“Kasim, we’re leaving because your mother just arrived. I’m done for the day.”
I search the wall for the time, my eyes landing on the clock above the washer. It’s a little past six. I hadn’t known the day escaped us, but that’s how it is when I’m with Giada. Time doesn’t exist.
“We’ll be back tomorrow,” Ms. Gardner says.
“Okay,” I say, trying to hide my disappointment. I don’t want to say goodbye to Giada, but I never do. If she could stay here forever, that would be a dream come true for me, but she can’t stay. She has to go home, and I’m left alone yet again, counting the hours, the days, minutes, and seconds until we can be together again.
“Bye, Kase. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay. See you tomorrow.”
1.
Present Day
It’s for charity.
That’s what my friend Diedra said to get me to come out here at The Crescent Suites in University City – sitting in this ballroom watching men grace the stage one at a time while us ladies bid on them. This bachelor auction will benefit kids and local food banks which are a safety net for most kids during summer break. With no school breakfast and lunches to carry them throughout the day, many have to turn to community organizations for help.
This is what this charity is for.
I do not want to be involved in this bachelor nonsense, but I have a soft spot for children. Growing up in a single-parent home, I know how it feels to go without, to be hungry – to wait until mom gets paid in order for us to get something decent to eat. If I can do something to prevent anyone else from going through that, I’m going to do it – even if it doesn’t sit right with my soul to bid on handsome strangers in sort of a quid pro quo.
It’s for charity, Giada. It’s for the children.
If I win a bid with a bachelor, we have to have dinner shortly after at a five-star restaurant as part of the experience. We chop it up for a few and then go our separate ways. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Yeah, you can do that, Giada, but do you want to?
