Page 10 of Free to Love You
I shook my head. “No! I don’t think that they’re going to hell.” In a moment of impulsiveness, I said, “Okay, I’ll try it. I’m still going to bring my bonnet though.”
Back To The Present . ..
Ms. Beauvia’s friend, who was a hairdresser, came over to wash and straighten my hair. They both were surprised by how much hair I had. When I told them that I made my own shampoo and oil, they were amazed.
Hope arrived after my hair was done. She complimented me, then asked me to go out with her one night. Ms. Beauvia diverted the conversation, thank God.
Church was great and people told me that my hair was pretty. It felt weird and wrong at first until I remembered what was said to me this morning.There’s a difference between seeking attention and drawing attention.I wasn’t doing anything outside of my norm except for my hair not being in my bonnet. Today was a good day so far.
Now I was in my apartment about to use the bathroom on myself because Erygon’s mother wanted to leave us alone. Yes, I wanted to do things differently, but I didn’t think I was ready to be alone with a man. “No! Please don’t leave us alone.”
Erygon’s face contorted. “Hol’ up! I’m not fittin’ to do shit to you, lil one. I’m not cut from that kinda cloth.”
I gasped with anguish. “No! I don’t mean it like that. I meant that it’s inappropriate to be alone with you. I’ve never been alone with a man that wasn’t a family member.”
His face was further contorted. “Love, I’m not knocking what you did in your community or whatever, but how is it inappropriate? You act like I’m going to get on my knees, pull that long ass dress up, and eat that lil pussy.”
My wide eyes were accompanied with another gasp. Ms. Beauvia walked over to him and smacked him on the back of his head. “Boy, don’t play wit me. Watch yo damn mouth. You see Ayriss right there.”
His face was still tight as he rubbed the back of his head. It was handsome, but still tight. “Mama, she sleeping, damn. I was just trying to relay that I wasn’t going to hurt or do some funny shit.”
“Well then say it like that. You know she got sensitive ears,” she fussed. “You so damn mannish.”
They talked about me like I wasn’t in the room for another minute or so before Ms. Beauvia told me to come with her to get the food ready. “Bring my grand down here, Erygon. With your mannish ass.”
She apologized for his words on the way to the kitchen. I told her that it was alright. The truth was that I wasn’t offended, I was just shocked.He talks like my book baes.I secretly liked it. I would never admit it.
A Very Little While Later . . .
Today, I watched Ms. Beauvia make her infamous sweetgrass cake. It was mesmerizing. “That is so beautiful. The way you airbrushed it makes it look just like one of the baskets in thefront. I would love to learn how to do that. I’ve always wanted to go to school for something like that.”
She wiped her hands on her apron. “Then why don’t you, baby? You have nothing but time. It will give you something to do outside of sewing gorgeous quilts.” She peeked over her shoulder at me.
In the short time that I had my quilting equipment, I’d made two quilts. One for her and one that I shipped to Beyuna. She called me so excitedly when she received it.
I shuffled on my feet. “I would but I can’t.” When she asked me why I couldn’t, I hesitated for a second. “I-I only have an eighth-grade education. We stop going to school after that.”
She slowly turned to face me, then stood there frozen for what felt like forever. “Come again, lil girl. Did you jus’ say that y’all only go to school up until the eighth grade? Why?”
I giggled at the confusion that rested perfectly on her features. “We go to school to focus on things like math, reading, and writing. Those are the things you pretty much need to be productive in the world. Oh, we focus on the bible too. We don’t really encourage higher education or worldly ambition. You know, the simple life.”
Her lashes fluttered and her mouth fell slightly agape. “Hell no, I don’t know. I don’t understand how higher education is a bad thing.” Her eyes angled up for a moment. “I guess it’s a more you know, further you’ll go kinda thing, literally. Well, do you want more education, Lovina?”
Another thing that I never thought about. When you’ve been told all your life that you weren’t supposed to do something or it was wrong, you stopped thinking about it. Now I was in a different environment where the opportunity wouldn’t be shunned. More importantly, I wouldn’t be shunned. “I don’t think it would be a bad idea.”
She gave me a warm smile before she stepped into my personal space. She placed her hand on my cheek gingerly. “Then it will be so. We’re going to work on you getting your G.E.D.”
I smiled because I knew she would make sure that I had all the resources to get it done. We talked for a few more minutes before I took my chocolate, peanut butter, cinnamon rolls out of the oven. It was my first time making them. When I came up with new combinations, Ms. Beauvia encouraged me to make them.
After they were iced and ready, I took them to the warmer display. I loved it here. The people were so nice, and I was getting to know people. There were a few older ladies that came in. In the beginning, I barely spoke to them, but after a few weeks of them forcing me to talk to them, I looked forward to their visits. They loved my rolls.
“Hey, Lovina!” A voice greeted me.Hope.She came in with her two friends.
I smiled. “Hey, Hope. How are you today?”
“I’m good. Just got finished doing a head and I felt like one of your cinnamon rolls, so here I am.” Her cheeks rose with the corners of her lips. “I see you’re still wearing that beautiful hair out. You need to come sit in my seat.”
I gave her a warm, genuine smile. “Thank you for the compliment. Ms. Mercy does my hair. Thank you for offering.”
