Flirting With Danger: A NaNoWriMo Novel by ddBoone (2005)

This blog has moved

2010-04-28T05:37:00.001-07:00

This blog is now located at http://nano2005-ddb.blogspot.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://nano2005-ddb.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

Daily Word Count

2005-12-02T21:45:00.000-08:00

Here is the chart for my story. You can read the story in order by clicking on the highlighted days. I have only posted part of my story. Hope you like what you read. I kept a tally of the work I completed. I am finished for now.

The format for below is the Day, the part, the number of words for that part, and the total after that part was added.

Day One
One -- 2,163 -- 2,163
Two -- 1,144 -- 3,307

Day Two
One -- 1,206 -- 4,513
Two -- 1,821 -- 6,334

Day Three
One -- 5,751 -- 12,085
Two -- 3,848 -- 15,933

Day Four
One -- 1,487 -- 17,420
Two -- 886 -- 18,306

Day Five
None -- 0 -- 18,306

Day Six
One -- 3,358 -- 21,664

Day Seven
One -- 2,397 -- 24,061
Two -- 3,162 -- 27,223
Three -- 6,448 -- 33,671

Day Eight
One -- 5,128 -- 38,799
Two -- 5,504 -- 44,303

Day Nine
One -- 4,774 -- 49,077

Day Ten
None -- 0 -- 49,077

Day Eleven
One -- 4,913 -- 53,990

Day Twelve
One -- 5,063 -- 59,053

Day Thirteen
One -- 2,272 -- 61,325

Day Fourteen
One -- 1,052 -- 62,377

Day Fifteen
One -- 8,374 -- 70,751

Day Sixteen
One -- 3,062 -- 73,813

Day Seventeen
One -- 14,201 -- 88,014

Day Eighteen
None -- 0 -- 88,014

Day Nineteen
None -- 0 -- 88,014

Day Twenty
None -- 0 -- 88,014

Day Twenty--One
One -- 1,298 -- 89,312

Day Twenty--Two
None -- 0 -- 89,312

Day Twenty--Three
One -- 4,551 -- 93,863

Day Twenty--Four
None -- 0 -- 93,863

Day Twenty--Five
None -- 0 -- 93,863

Day Twenty--Six
None -- 0 -- 93,863

Day Twenty--Seven
None -- 0 -- 93,863

Day Twenty--Eight
None -- 0 -- 93,863

Day Twenty--Nine
None -- 3,326 -- 97,189

Day Thirty
None -- 0 -- 97,189

Disclaimer:
There may be errors in the writing. The purpose of this endeavor is to just write. Not all errors are caught when I run the spell checker. Editing will come later.

It's Over...

2005-12-01T21:20:00.000-08:00

Well, NaNo is over. I wrote 97,189 words. That's 3 times as much as I did last year. I am so proud of myself.
Read the story in order by clicking here.

Thanks for going on this journey with me.
Until next year.

11/30/05 - 0 Words

2005-12-01T17:19:00.000-08:00

Didn’t do anything yesterday.

11/29/05 – 3,326 Words

2005-11-30T17:18:00.000-08:00

I did 3,326 words on yesterday. That’s a total of 96,667 words.
It’s been a good month for me.
Thankfully, it’s almost over.

11/28/05 – 0 Words

2005-11-29T17:14:00.000-08:00

Didn’t feel like doing anything today.

11/27/05 – 0 Words

2005-11-28T17:14:00.000-08:00

Nothing today.

11/26/05 – 0 Words

2005-11-27T17:13:00.000-08:00

Nothing today.

11/25/05 – 0 Words

2005-11-26T17:10:00.000-08:00

Didn’t do anything yesterday.
Oh well.
I am close to my goal, but I don’t know if I am going to make it.

11/24/05 – 0 Words

2005-11-25T17:09:00.000-08:00

Didn’t do anything yesterday.
I’m so lazy.

11/23/05 – 4,551 Words

2005-11-24T15:46:00.000-08:00

I typed 4,551 words. It was a good day today.
Stay tuned for more.

11/22/05 – 0 Words Total

2005-11-23T14:00:00.000-08:00

Well, I didn’t feel good and my wrists were hurting. That’s that.
Later.

11/21/05 – 1,274 Words Total

2005-11-22T13:59:00.000-08:00

I was able to write 1,274 words yesterday. It is getting hard to type because my wrist has been hurting. I think all of the typing has finally gotten to my wrists.

11/20/05 – 0 Words Total

2005-11-21T12:04:00.000-08:00

Didn’t feel like doing anything. That’s 3 days with no writing. I am getting lazy. I will try to do something before Thanksgiving. I only need a little over 8,000 words to reach 100,000.
Love ya!

11/19/05 – 0 Words Total

2005-11-20T12:02:00.000-08:00

Just lazy and didn’t do anything.

11/18/05 – 0 Words Total

2005-11-19T12:02:00.000-08:00

I didn’t write today because I took my niece and nephew to see Chicken Little. It was pretty good. I enjoyed it. It is a movie worth taking the kids to go see.

Later!

11/17/05 – 14,201 Words

2005-11-18T11:57:00.000-08:00

Well, today was a good day. I wrote 14,201 words. It felt good to write that much. It was close to 31 pages when I printed it out. I need a paper hole puncher.

Later days!

11/16/05 – 3,062 Total

2005-11-17T11:55:00.000-08:00

Today I wrote a total of 3,062 words. It was a slow day, but I did something.

Later days!

11/15/05 – 8,374 Words Total

2005-11-16T09:41:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I wrote 8,374 words all together.  It felt good to write that much.
I posted it to the site.  You can read it here.

I have 14 days left in the month.  I am feeling a bit burnt out right now.  A lot of the people who are doing this are feeling about the same.  Yesterday I went outside and wrote for a bit.  It got cold, so I didn’t stay outside, too long.  It is been warm for the first few days of November, now it wants to get cold.  Nature is too funny.

I am starting to dream about my characters.  Won’t somebody please help me?  :(

To today’s writing.  I will see what I can come up with.

Later days!

11/15/05, 4:30PM, 8,374 Words

2005-11-15T20:12:00.000-08:00

Dianne knocked on Ariel and Greg’s door.  No answer.  Dianne knew they were both there because their cars were in the driveway.  Dianne knocked again.  No answer again.  Dianne knocked a third time as she thought, “I'm not going anywhere.”

Dianne heard Greg’s voice uttered an expletive, “Why you just standing there?  Get the door!”  Greg opened the door.  Ariel was standing beside him with an evil look on her face.  Greg said, “Hey Dianne.  What you do to this girl?  She’s been tripping for days.”  Greg walked back to his room, not waiting for an answer.  He left Dianne standing outside the house with Ariel standing in the threshold of the door, staring at Dianne.

Dianne managed a smile, “You going to let me in or what?”

“NO!”

Dianne sighed.  It was hard to take Ariel’s harshness.  Dianne forced another smile, “What are you mad about?  Speak your mind.”

Ariel looked as if she wanted to cut Dianne with a knife instead of with words, “You left me for that high yella young behind joker.  I can't believe you.”

Dianne wanted to laugh.  Ariel was so mad that spit was flying out of her mouth.  Dianne controlled herself, “I didn’t leave you.  You walked off.  I called you to tell you to wait and you got mad and left.  This ain't on me.”

Greg walked back through.  He uttered an expletive, “Close my door.  Air ain't free.”  He mumbled a string of expletives and some derogatory things about women as he walked to the kitchen.

Ariel walked outside and closed the door behind her.  Dianne made a face, “We can't go inside?”

“I don’t want you in my house right now.”

Dianne leaned up against the wall of the house.  Greg and Ariel’s porch was not inviting to its visitors.

Ariel watched her traitorous friend lean against her wall, “I don’t want you on my house either.”

Dianne stood up straight, “You are intent on being mean.”

“Whatever.”

Dianne couldn’t believe that Ariel was acting this way, “See, the olds me would have been done cussed you out, but the new me is going to let you make it.  I should have cursed you out when you disrespected me in front of MaClandon.  You know full well that if I had pulled some mess like that, I would still be getting cursed out.”

Ariel interrupted with fire in her voice, “You through yet!”

“Dianne stared at Ariel with coldness in her eyes, “No, I'm not.  I should bust your tail right now and see what happens.  You wouldn’t be acting all mean then.”

Ariel smacked her lips despite the fact that she knew if Greg knew that she had flirted with another man like that, he would have hit the roof.  Ariel retorted, “You ain't going to do that.  Why you tripping over that boy anyway.  Ya’ll just friends.  Remember.”

“You shouldn’t have put him in a position like that.  It wasn’t right and you don’t know if I like him or not.  You were wrong for that.”

Ariel rolled her eyes, “Why didn’t you come to the hotel after I told you I was going home?  I waited for you.”

“Tell the truth.  How long did you wait?”

“Five minutes.”

Dianne laughed, “It took you ten minutes to walk to the hotel.  How long did you think it would take me?”

Ariel laughed, too, “Did you tell him we were going to be downtown?”

Dianne looked shocked at Ariel’s accusation, “No, our time is our time.  I would never do that.  I can't believe you even asked that.”

“I just asked a question.  Awful funny he showed up downtown.”

“Well, I didn’t have a thing to do with that.”

“He is cute though.”

Dianne smiled, “I know.  You know I don’t mess with ugly men.”

“So you say.”

Dianne laughed, “You were madder than a little bit.  I need a Kleenex to wipe the spit off my face.  That note was nasty.”

Yea, I know.  Why that boy sniffing after you anyway?”

“You know how men are about their Caramel.”  Dianne did a sexy dance move and started laughing.

Ariel almost fell, she was laughing so hard, "There goes my girl.  I was wondering where she went.  You flirted with men more than anybody else I know.”

I am still me, just a different me.”

Ariel made a face, “A dull you.”

Dianne gave Ariel a pat on her shoulder.

Ariel smiled, “I can tell that you are different.  I still ain't sure I like the new you.”

Dianne leaned on her friend, “We cool?”

“Yea, we cool.”

The two of them hugged.  They stood outside talking for over an hour before Dianne left and went home.

***

It was revival time at the Greater Buelahland Interdenominational House of Rest.  The evangelist was a fiery young preacher who preached the people into frenzy.  He messages send conviction that caused sinners to come to Christ.  They brought comfort to those who were in need of comfort.  They brought healing to those need healing.  The church was being revived nightly.

Dianne had felt the fire well up in her a time or to, but she refused to let it come out any other way, but through her tears.  She didn’t relish the idea of running around the church as if she had lost her mind.  The feelings she felt were great and she liked the way she felt.  She had made a point to ask Dr. Adkins-Garnett what was going on at the first chance she got.

MaClandon had praised God so hard that he was so full of the spirit that he could hardly walk.  His twin brother, MeClendon had fallen out a time or two.  The revival was just what the church needed.

***

Dr. Adkins-Garnett called Dianne into her office.  After Dianne closed the door and sat down, Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “I was told to ask you this.”  Dianne made a confused face.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett continued, “Why do you keep stopping the Lord from blessing you.  Every time it looks like the Lord is going to bless you.  You stop it.”

Dianne was confused, “I am not sure what you mean.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett knew that Dianne was confused.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett shook her head.  How did she let Taylor bait her into asking Dianne that?  Dr. Adkins-Garnett sighed, “What do you feel when you are in church?”

“It feels weird.  It feels like I am on fire inside me.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett wanted to laugh, but she didn’t, “What do you do when you feel like that?”

“I try to stop it.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Why do you try to stop it?”

“I don’t know.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett knew that she should have explained this to Dianne before now, “That’s the spirit of the Lord working on the inside of you.”

Dianne made a face, “What does that mean?”

“It is the Lord moving on the inside of you.  He may be cleaning something on the inside of you.  He may be trying to comfort you.  He may be trying to just touch you.  It’s different sometimes.”

Dianne nodded.

“How does it make you feel?”

Dianne looked perplexed, “It feels good, but I don’t want to run and jump around like some of those people.  I just end up crying because it feels like I am going to burst if I don’t do something.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “Why don’t you want to jump and run around?”

“I'm scared I may start dancing like I used to when I was a stripper.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “That would be funny.  Church would probably stop completely.”

Dianne laughed, too.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “You don’t have to worry about that.  God will be in control of you and you won’t dance like that.”

“Are you sure?  I still don’t like the idea of running and jumping around all wild.”

“Yes, I’m sure.  If you are in the spirit, God won’t let you make a fool of yourself.”

Dianne looked off and then back at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “It may take awhile before I run around.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “That’s okay.  You can praise the Lord however you want to.”

“How come I have never seen you dance?”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett made a face, “I'm too old to be doing all that wild stuff.  Plus, I have danced myself out over the years.”

Dianne laughed, “I guess.”

“What was your stage name when you were a dancer?”

Dianne blushed, “It was Caramel.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed hard, “Are you serious?”

“Yes, Mame.”

“That fits you.  Hum hum hum.  Lord have mercy.  I bet you men went crazy when you came out.”

Dianne blushed again, “Yes Mame.”

“You don’t look or act like you used to be a stripper.”

Dianne smiled, “You see why I don’t want Caramel coming out in church.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “You are crazy.  I would be funny to see you drop it likes it hot.”

Dianne doubled over laughing, “What do you know about dropping it like its hot?”

“Don’t let the gray hairs fool ya, Baby girl.”

“Ok, see you tripping.”  Dianne laughed hard.

“Yea, I know a little something.”

“I see that.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett and Dianne talked for awhile longer.

***

MeClendon walked up to Dianne after revival service was over, “Hey Miss Lady.”  Dianne made a face, “Do you know my name?”  Mec smiled, “Yea, its Dianne.”  Dianne flared her nostrils, “It’s Sis. Roberts.”  Mec laughed, “Hey Sis. Roberts.”  Dianne suppressed the laugh that had risen in her, “You don’t have to say it like that.”  Mec smiled slyly, “I know.”  Dianne said, “Did you want something?”  Mec smiled, “Yea, some of us are going to get something to eat.  Would you like to go?  Mac’s going, too.”  Mec gave Dianne a player smile.  She stared at him coldly, “Does Mac know you are inviting me?”  Mec made a face, “Does he need to know that I am asking you?  We are leaving in a few minutes.  Meet us in the front of the church.”  Mec walked off before Dianne could tell him no.

Dianne was standing outside waiting for MaClandon or MeClendon to show up.  She watched as Donnyea and Shalalah stood talking to each other.  The two of them made her feel old.  She was dressed differently than them.  She talked differently than them.  She acted differently than them.  She wondered what MaClandon saw in her.

Dianne felt a hand on her shoulder.  She turned around.  It was MaClandon.  He was smiling big, “What are you doing out here?”  Before Dianne could answer, MeClendon walked up to them, “Cool, you made it.  Alright ya’ll let’s roll.  DeWright, who you got with you?”  A tall dark skinned guy responded, “I got four people with me.”  MeClendon smiled, “Donnyea, who you got?”  Donnyea said, “I got like four or five with me.”  MeClendon smiled, “I'm full.  Mac, why don’t you ride with Dianne, I mean Sis. Roberts.  Ya’ll can follow us.”

MaClandon looked as if he could have spit fire.  MeClendon grabbed his brother by the neck and whispered in his ear, “You can thank me later.”  Everyone headed to their cars.

After Dianne and MaClandon got into Dianne’s car, Dianne asked, “Are you okay?”  MaClandon sulked, “Yea, I'm fine.”  Dianne touched his leg, “You are too cute for your face to be looking that mean.”  MaClandon smiled.  Dianne smiled, “Are you sure that you are ok?”  MaClandon said, “Yea, I just didn’t tell Mec to invite you.”

“Yea, I know.”

MaClandon sucked his teeth.  He was so mad at MeClendon.  No one asked his twin brother to invite Dianne anywhere with them.  MaClandon didn’t want to share Dianne with his silly friends.  They would probably end up embarrassing him by doing something stupid.

“MaClandon.”

MaClandon jumped when Dianne said his name, “Yea, what is up?”

“I am just talking to you and you are ignoring me.”

MaClandon made a face, “Sorry.”

MaClandon was planning on giving his brother a piece of his mind.  MeClendon was always doing something he didn’t have any business doing.  The more MaClandon thought about it, the madder he got.

“MaClandon.”

MaClandon jumped again, “Why do you keep yelling my name?”

“You are ignoring me again.”

MaClandon sighed, “Sorry, can we talk later?  I can't concentrate right now.”

Dianne was quiet for the rest of the ride to the restaurant.

The group of young adults and Dianne walked up to the restaurant.  Dianne felt out of place walking with the rowdy bunch of kids.  She tried to act as if she wanted to be there, but if she had her way, she would have went home.

The group had to wait to be seated.  The stood outside talking.

“Yo, did you see Sis. Trevor.  I swear she is going to run into a wall one of these days.”

“You need to quit.  Mother Johnson got her praise on for real.”

“Yea, she is going to hurt herself.”

They talked about some of the other people that were at church.  Dianne smiled as she imagined each person that they talked about.  She was surprised that she knew most of the people that they were talking about.

Donnyea said, “Sis. Roberts, when you gonna cut loose and dance at church?”

Dianne smiled, “You can call me Dianne.  I don’t know.”

Donnyea continued, “I bet you dance as proper as you walk.  That would be funny to see.”

Dianne smiled.  MaClandon shot a look at Donnyea.

Donnyea shot a look back at MaClandon, “I'm just messing with you.”  Donnyea went to talking to Shalalah in a whisper.

The hostess called their number.  After the walked to the table, they all sat down.  The group was still loud and rowdy.  They all looked at their menus and discussed what they were going to order.  MaClandon leaned over to Dianne behind his menu, “I got you.”  He smiled.  Dianne said, “Okay.  Do they have lobster on the menu?”  MaClandon laughed.  Donnyea said, “I guess the lovebirds want to be alone.”  Both MeClendon put his menu down.  Dianne made her Not Now face.  MeClendon shot Donnyea a look, “Dang, girl.  Act like you got some home training.”  Donnyea snapped, “Whatever, they are the ones behind the menus.  Tell them that.”  MaClandon said, “Grow up okay.”  Donnyea said, “Negro, please.  Just cause you got your old woman here, don’t mean I won’t read you.”

Dianne wanted to curse, “What did you just call me?”  Donnyea stared at Dianne, “I called you an old woman.  What?”  Before Dianne could answer, MeClendon said, “Everybody calm down.  It ain't even gotta escalate to this.  Donnyea, apologize.”  Donnyea didn’t say a word.  MeClendon frowned, “Girl, don’t make me act a fool up in here.  Apologize!”  Donnyea looked at Dianne, “Sorry.”  Dianne bit her lip and told herself, “Walk off, Dianne.  Leave it alone.”  She said, “Cool.”  MaClandon grabbed Dianne’s hand under the table.  That calmed Dianne down a bit.

After the incident, the table was quiet for about ten minutes.  Finally, MacArthur said, “Anybody got the new DM Adkins CD.  It is off the hook.”  That was all it took to break the silence.  From time to time, Donnyea would shot a crazy look at Dianne.  Dianne ignored her.

Donnyea and Shalalah stood up.  Donnyea announced that they were going to the restroom.  About 3 minutes later, Dianne stood up and excused herself.  She headed for the restroom.  When she walked in, Donnyea and Shalalah were standing at the sink talking.  Shalalah jumped when Dianne walked in.  Donnyea gave Dianne a defiant stared.  Dianne looked at Shalalah, “Shalalah, can you excuse us, please?”  Shalalah looked at Donnyea.  Donnyea nodded.  Shalalah left the restroom.

Donnyea walked up on Dianne, “What?  You got something to say.”  Dianne backed up from Donnyea, “You need to watch who you are walking up on little girl.”  Donnyea walked up on Dianne again, “Whatever old woman.”  Dianne made a fist, put it to her mouth, and blew, “You really need to walk off before you get hurt.”  Donnyea didn’t move, “YOU need to find a man your own age.  With your old self.”

***

Shalalah walked to the table by herself.  MaClandon and MeClendon both looked at her and asked, “Where’s Donnyea?”  Shalalah quietly said, “She’s in the restroom with Dianne.”  MaClandon said, “Oh Lord.”  MeClendon said, “You left them in there.  Girl, Dianne is going to kill that girl.  Go back in there and get them.”  Shalalah said, “I going up in there.  You tripping.”  MaClandon was already walking towards the restroom.  MeClendon walked up to MaClandon before he got too far away, “Man, leave it alone.  Debra, you and Shalalah go in there and get Donnyea.  Please.”

***

Dianne silently prayed, “Lord, don’t let me hurt this child.”  Donnyea walked up to Dianne and stare at her in her eyes, “I don’t care who you are and where you came from.  I ain't going to stand by and let you have MaClandon.  He don’t need you.”  Before Dianne could answer, Shalalah and one of the other girls that were with them walked in.  Debra said, “Donnyea, what are you doing?”  Donnyea said, “I am putting this hag in her place.”  Shalalah gasped, “Donnyea, have you lost your mind?  Sis. Roberts, I am so sorry.  I don’t know why she is acting like this.”  Donnyea got brave with her friends in the restroom with her, “You ain't gotta apologize foe me.  It’s whatever old woman.  We can step outside now.”  Debra grabbed Donnyea, “Girl, you are about to get your tail whipped.  If you don’t shut up, I may just help her whip your tail.  You stupid.  Mac done already told you, he don’t want you.  Quit acting ignant.  Come on.”  Debra drug the resistant Donnyea out of the restroom.

Shalalah stared at Dianne, “I'm sorry.  Donnyea has had a crush on Mac forever.  She acts like this with every girl that he brings around.  You gotta just overlook her.”  Dianne didn’t say anything.  Shalalah’s voice was shaky, “Are you gonna be okay?”  Dianne smiled, “Yea.”  Shalalah smiled, “I think you’re cool, if that means anything.”  Dianne laughed, “Thanks.”  Shalalah was about to say something else.  Dianne stopped her, “You don’t need to say anything else.  It is okay.”  Shalalah started to walk out of the restroom.  She stopped, “Were you going to hit her.”  Dianne smiled, “Naw.  Thank God, I'm saved, though.”  Shalalah laughed and left the restroom.

***

Donnyea and Debra sat down at the table.  MeClendon looked for signs that Donnyea had been in a fight.  There were none.  MeClendon didn’t let her sit down.  HE grabbed her and led her outside the restaurant.

After Debra sat down, MaClandon asked, “Where’s Dianne and Shalalah?”  Debra snorted, “They are still in the restroom.”

***

MeClendon drug Donnyea over to his car by her arm.  Donnyea yelped, “You’re hurting my arm.”  MeClendon didn’t say anything until he got to his car, “Your ignant behind is going to get hurt acting like a fool.  What is wrong with you?  Mac don’t want you.  Get over it.  If you act like that again, you won’t have to worry about Dianne because I am gonna handle you.  You are gonna apologize, too and mean it or else I will let Mac get hold o you.  Stupid girl.”  Donnyea made a face, “I ain't apologizing to her.”  MeClendon got right up in Donnyea’s face, “I said you were.  Don’t play with me right now.  I ain't in the mood.  You are two seconds from getting cussed out.  This ain't the time to be acting a fool.  You are going to apologize.  I mean it.”  Donnyea didn’t say anything.  They walked back into the restaurant.

***

Dianne stared in the mirror for a few minutes.  She blew a breath.  “I have got to be losing my mind.”  She pulled herself together and left the restroom to head back into the restaurant.  As she was walking back to the table, she bumped into a familiar person, Sabrina Norman.  Sabrina saw Dianne, “Hello, Sis. Roberts.  What are you doing here?”  Dianne responded, “Hello, Sabrina.  Trying to get something to eat.”  Dianne walked to the table.

MaClandon stood up while Dianne sat down.  Dianne looked at MaClandon and smiled.  MaClandon smiled.  MeClendon cut his eyes at Donnyea.  Donnyea finally said, “Sis. Roberts, I apologize for my unruly behavior earlier.  It was disrespectful.  I know better than to act like that in public.”  Donnyea looked off and didn’t wait for a response from Dianne.

The waitress finally brought the food for the eighteen people that were sitting at three tables pushed together.  Norie blessed the food and everyone started to eat.

As they talked and ate, MaClandon spotted Sabrina and a guy walk in.  MaClandon gasped quietly, “What is she doing here?”  Dianne looked at him, “Who?”  MaClandon sighed, “Sabrina.”  Dianne shrugged her shoulders.  MaClandon silently prayed that Sabrina wouldn’t notice them, but he had prayed the wrong prayer because Donnyea looked up saw Sabrina and yelled, “Hey Sabrina.”  Sabrina looked in their direction.  MaClandon couldn’t disappear.  Sabrina had spotted them.

Sabrina walked over to the table with the guy she was with in tow.  Sabrina walked right up to MaClandon and said, “Hey.  Long time no see.”  MaClandon smiled, “Yea, I guess so.”  Everyone else at the table was quiet waiting to see what would happen.  Sabrina said, “This is James.  He's my man.”  Sabrina hugged James tightly, hoping to make MaClandon jealous.  MaClandon said, “Hey James.”  James responded, “Hey.  Bree, we going to go eat?”  MaClandon couldn’t believe that James had called her that.

Donnyea opened her big mouth and spilled, “Mac had a woman too.  He’s with Dianne now.”  Donnyea smiled with accomplishment.  The whole table looked at Donnyea.  She said, “What, I thought they were introducing their new mates.  I just helped the process along.”  Norie, who was sitting across from Donnyea, kicked her.

Sabrina looked at Dianne and burst out laughing, “You hooked up with that.  You lying to me.”  Donnyea instigated, “Yea, he did.”  MaClandon responded, “And if I did?”  He put his arm around Dianne’s shoulder.  Dianne smiled at Sabrina and kissed MaClandon on the jaw.  Sabrina’s mouth almost dropped to the floor.  MeClendon hollered, “Oh my!”  Donnyea looked hurt.  Sabrina said, “You all wont be together long.  MaClandon doesn’t know how to make a woman feel like a woman, that’s why I got me a real man.”  Dianne smiled, “He makes me feel like a woman, well enough to suit me.”  Dianne rubbed MaClandon’s arm seductively.  Everyone at the table gasped.  Sabrina grabbed James’ hand and walked off.

MaClandon slowly let Dianne’s shoulder go.  He smiled at her.  Dianne couldn’t believe that she was in the middle of the mess that she was in.  MeClendon said, “Ya’ll scandalous.  Scandalous, ohh.  But I ain't mad at nobody.”  He wished he was close to his brother so he could high-five him.  He looked at Donnyea.  Her face was long and sad.  MeClendon thought, “That’s what your trifling behind gets.”

The group ate and talked amongst themselves.  Dianne tried to eat, but she didn’t have much of an appetite.  She wanted to just go home.  MaClandon noticed that Dianne wasn’t eating.  He leaned over to her, “You okay?”  Dianne sighed, “No, I wanna go home.”  MaClandon stood up and grabbed Dianne’s hand, “Come on.”  Dianne stood up.  Donnyea asked, “Where you all going?”  MaClandon shot her a look, “None of your business.  Ain't you caused enough trouble tonight?”  Donnyea rolled her eyes.

MaClandon looked over in Sabrina’s direction.  She was looking at him.  MaClandon grabbed Dianne by her hand and walked her outside.

They made it Dianne’s car.  MaClandon still had Dianne’s hand.  Dianne looked at their hands, “I don’t think we have an audience out here now.”  MaClandon reluctantly let Dianne’s hand go.  He smiled at her.  He wasn’t sure what to say after tonight.  He said, “Sorry about all of this.”  Dianne giggled, “It’s okay.  Your friends are crazy.”  Mac smiled, “Yea, I know.  I wished this wouldn’t have happened.  I didn’t tell Mec to invite you.”

“I know.  It is okay.”

“Are you upset?”

Dianne sighed, “Yea, a little, but not at you.”

“Cool.  Who are you upset with?”

Dianne looked off.  She really didn’t want to talk about it.

“I guess you don’t want to talk about it.”

Dianne looked at the ground, “No, I don’t.  Do you need me to take you home?”

“Uhh no.  I can hop in the car with one of them.”

Dianne smiled, “Okay.  See you later.”

MaClandon smiled, “Cool.  Thanks for backing me up in the restaurant with Sabrina.”

Dianne shook her head, “You’re welcomed.”

MaClandon didn’t move.

Dianne looked him in the eyes, “What?”

MaClandon looked at her in the eyes, “You look beautiful in the moonlight.”

Dianne didn’t feel like dealing with MaClandon being flirtatious right now, “Thanks.  I'm leaving.”  Dianne moved towards her car door.  MaClandon grabbed the door after she got in and leaned down in the door.

Dianne looked at him, “Goodbye, MaClandon.”

MaClandon smiled and kissed her on the lips.  He took off back towards the restaurant.

Dianne sat in the parking lot for a few minutes.  Her emotions raced.  She was mad one second.  She was cheery the next second.  She touched her lips and vowed to handle MaClandon the next time she saw him.

MaClandon walked back to the restaurant smiling.  He knew that the next time Dianne saw him, she was probably going to kill him, but he didn’t care.  He would gladly take the punishment that was coming behind the wondrous risk that he had just taken.

***

Bishop had gotten wind of the scene at the restaurant.  He had Mac in his home office talking to him, “Son, I can't believe you let that happen.  Why in the world would you act like that?”  Mac knew that he had nothing to do with the whole thing.  It was Mec’s fault.  Mac said, “Mec did it.  He invited Dianne out to eat with us.  This ain't on me.”  Bishop said, “Yea, but you are the one that was hugged up with Sis. Roberts in public.  I am very disappointed in you.  I would have never expected you to act like this.  I will talk to Mec, too.  Don’t worry about that.”  Mac was mad.  He was going to knock Mec in the mouth as soon as he saw him.  Bishop kept on talking, but Mac wasn’t listening.

Bishop finally stopped fussing at his son.  Bishop allowed him to leave the room.  Mac walked downstairs to the kitchen of his parent’s house.  Mec was in the kitchen talking to their sister Gloria.  Mac walked up to Mec and punched him in the mouth, “Ain't nobody ask you to invite Dianne anywhere.  You need to stay out of my business.”  Gloria moved out of the way.  Mec grabbed his lip and then rushed towards his brother.  He pushed him into the counter, “Nigga, you need to calm down.”  Mac didn’t calm down.  He punched Mec in the stomach.  Mec doubled over and grabbed his stomach.  Mac punched Mec in his jaw, while Mec was looking down.  Mec gathered what strength he had and stood up.  He swung at Mac and missed.  Mec hit the cabinet door and broke it.  Gloria screamed, “Daddy, they down here fighting.”  Mac punched his brother in the stomach again.  Mec grabbed his stomach, swinging blood from his cut hand on the kitchen floor.  Mac grabbed his brother and started wrestling with him.

Bishop ran in the kitchen to find his sons wrestling on the floor.  A few seconds later, Sis. Adkins appeared in the kitchen.  She gasped when she saw blood on the kitchen floor.  Gloria was just watching her brothers fight.  Bishop grabbed at both of the boys, “Quit this and now!”  The boys continued wrestling, almost knocking Bishop over.  He grabbed Mac and pushed him aside.  Bishop then grabbed Mec and stood him up.  Sis. Adkins ran over to Mec and grabbed for his hand.  She stepped on the glass as she walked over to him.  She looked down and said, “What are you all doing?”  Bishop looked at his wife and then his daughter, “Ya’ll leave.  I'll handle this.”  Gloria left the kitchen quickly.  Sis. Adkins stared at Mec.  Bishop looked at his wife, “Darlene.  I got this!”  Sis. Adkins slowly left the kitchen.

Bishop looked at Mec and then at Mac.  “Who started this?”  Neither of the boys said anything.  Bishop asked again, “Who started this?”  Mac said, “That fool!”  Mec yelled, “Nigga, I got your fool.”  Bishop said, “Mec, don’t use that word.  Mac, don’t call your brother a fool.”  Mec held his bloody hand.  Bishop said, “Mac, go wait for me in my office while I fix Mec’s hand.”  Mac left the kitchen.  Bishop and Mec walked to the downstairs bathroom to clean Mec’s hand.  They heard the front door slam.  Mac had left his parents’ house.  Bishop yelled, “Darlene, call Mac and tell him to get his behind back here.”  Sis. Adkins complied.  Mac didn’t answer his phone.

***

Mac walked quickly.  He was mad.  He knew that his father was going to come down on him and let Mec get off as usual.  He wasn’t going to stick around for that.  Mac’s phone rung again.  He looked at the phone to see who was calling.  It was his mother again.  He had no intention of talking to her or any other member of his family.

Mac let his mother’s call go to voice mail.  He grabbed the phone and dialed Dianne’s number.  Dianne picked up the phone, “Hello.”  MaClandon said, “Hey Dianne, it is Mac.”  Dianne could tell that MaClandon sounded funny, “Are you okay?”  MaClandon sighed, “Naw, can you come pick me up?”  Dianne was silent.  She wasn’t doing anything, but she didn’t feel like being with MaClandon right now.  She was still mad at him.  MaClandon said, “I guess you’re busy.  Don’t worry about it.  I'll be okay.”  MaClandon sounded so hurt that Dianne said, “Where are you?  I will come get you.”  MaClandon told her where he was.  Dianne met him 20 minutes later.

MaClandon got in Dianne’s car after she stopped.  His clothes looked disheveled and his hair was messed up.  Dianne said, “Were you in a fight or something?”  MaClandon said, “Yea, with Mec.”  Dianne made a concerned face, “Where is he?”

“He is at my parents’ house.”

Dianne looked around.  She wondered which house belonged his parents.  She said, “Aren’t your parents going to be looking for you?”

“Yea, I don’t care.  I just wanna get out of here.”

Dianne didn’t want to get in the middle of anything between MaClandon and his parents, “I think you should go back to your parents’ house and talk to them.  They are going to be worried about you.  Plus, I don’t want to get in the middle of this.”

MaClandon scowled at Dianne, “Whatever Dianne.  I should’ve known that I couldn’t count on you.”

Dianne knew that what MaClandon had just said was out of anger, “You’re upset, so I am not going to respond to that.  I still think you should go back to your parents’ house.”

MaClandon looked down at the floor, “Whatever.”  He got out of the car and slammed the door.  Dianne controlled her temper.  She hated it when people slammed her door.  She watched MaClandon walk off in her rearview mirror.  She felt bad leaving him like that, but she didn’t want to get in between him and his parents.  His parents already didn’t like her.  They would have a fit if they knew that she had taken their son away after this incident.

Dianne grabbed her cell phone and called MaClandon’s number.  He answered, “Yea, what?”  Dianne blew a breath, “I know you’re mad, but you don’t have to be rude.  I was just calling to check on you.  I can come back and get you after you talk to your parents if you want me to.”  MaClandon sputtered, “I don’t want you to do anything for me.  Bye!”  He hung up the phone before Dianne could respond.  Dianne dropped her phone on the seat and headed for her house, fuming for even coming to pick MaClandon up.

***

MaClandon made it back to his parents’ house.  He walked in the door to find his mother pacing up and down the hallway.  She looked at him, “Where have you been?  Why didn’t you answer your phone?”  Mac said, “Mama, leave me alone.”  Sis. Adkins stared at her son.  She wasn’t sure who was standing in front of her, but it wasn’t her sweet son.  She thought, “This is all Dianne Roberts’ fault!”

Bishop walked out of living room and looked at his son, “Did you have time to calm down?”  Mac looked at his father, “Yes sir.”

“Do you think you can talk now?”

Mac rubbed his forehead, “Yes sir.”  Mac headed to his father’s office without even being told to.

Bishop met his son in his office, “What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing.”

“You have never acted like this before.  Why are you beating on Mec?”

“Mec started this whole mess.  If he hadn't invited Dianne to go out to eat with us, last night wouldn’t have happened, but ain't nobody gonna say that to him.  He gets away with everything.  You all are always on my case!”

Bishop walked over to his son and hugged him.  Mac lay on his father’s chest and cried.

Mec walked into his father’s office, “Mac, I am sorry man.  I didn’t mean to cause this much trouble.  I was just trying to help you out.”

Mac moved from his father’s arms and looked at his brother, “Man, I ain't ask for your help!”

“Mac, calm down, you don’t have to shout.”

Mac glared at Mec, “You always butting in!  You get on my nerves.”

Mec looked at his brother with tears in his eyes, “I'm sorry man.  I didn’t know all of that mess was going to happen last night.  I'm sorry.”

Bishop said, “You all need to work this out.  Do I need to stay in here with you all?  I don’t want my office tore up.”

Mec looked at Mac.  Mac said, “No sir.”

Bishop left the office.

Mec said, “I didn’t know Donnyea was going to act like that.”

“Whatever man, you know Donnyea always acts a fool whenever I am with a woman.  You should’ve known she was going to act stupid.”

Mec sighed, “I know.  Who knew Sabrina was going to walk up in there?  That ain't my fault, Dawg.”

“Yea, it is.  You shouldn’t have asked Dianne anything.  Ya’ll ignant.  Ya’ll don’t know how to act like adults.  Ya’ll embarrassed me.”

Mec looked at his brother, “Come on, man.  It ain't my fault ole girl stuck up.  She doesn’t know how to have fun.  Why don’t you fuss at her?”

Mac wanted to hit his brother.  He just stared at him, “Whatever, just because Dianne doesn’t act ignant and ghetto doesn’t mean that she’s stuck up.  She just knows how to act in public, unlike them trifling girls you mess with.”

“Whatever.”

Mac sat down at h is father’s desk.  Mec sat down on the couch.

Mac looked at his brother, “Is your hand okay?”

“Yea, I just had one piece of glass stuck in it.  Pops yanked it out.  It hurt, but I'm cool.”

Mac couldn’t believe that he had gotten the best of his brother.  That was the first time that had ever happened.  He laughed.

Mec said, “What you laughing at?”

“I whipped you.”

“Boy please, you ain't whip nobody.”

Mac kept laughing, “You are the one bleeding.  I ain’t got a scratch on me.”

Mec laughed too.

They were quiet for awhile.

Mec said, “Was she mad when she left?”

“Yea.”

Mec was quiet for a second before he said, “Dawg, she backed you up good with Sabrina.  I was waiting for her to slob you down at the table.”

Mac laughed, “Yea, that’s my girl.  She got my back.”

“Did you see Donnyea’s face?  It was on the floor in about four hundred pieces.  I was like, that’s what you get.”

Mac shook his head, “Why that girl still stuck on me?  I already told her that I didn’t like her.”

“Man, I don’t even know.  She tried to get with me after you turned her down.”

Mac didn’t know about that.  He made a face, “Did you?”

“Naw, fool.  I ain't gonna do you like that.”

Mac shrugged, “I don’t know.  You are a dog.”

Mec laughed, “Whatever.  I really am sorry, man.”

“Yea, we cool.  Just leave Dianne alone, please.  I got this man.  Dang.”

Mec smiled, “Cool.  I gotta it.  Why does she call us by our right names>”

“I don’t know.”

Mec walked over to his brother and hugged him.  After Mec let him go, he high-fived his brother.  Mac asked, “What is that for?”  Mec bumped his brother’s chest with his, “You da man, Dawg.  You scandalous, but you da man.”  Mac laughed.

***

Dianne picked up her cell phone.  It was MaClandon.  Dianne said, “Hello.”

“Hey, it’s me.”

“Who’s me?”

MaClandon sighed, “The guy who was upset with you before.  I'm sorry.”

“Yea, you are.  What do you want?”

“You.”

Dianne made a face, “whatever.  I don’t have time for you right now.  What do you want?”

“You.”

Dianne made another face, ”I am going to hang up on you.”

“Can I come see you?”

“No.”

MaClandon begged, “Please.  I need to see you.”

“Why?”

“It will make me feel better.”

Dianne huffed, “No.  I don’t want to see you right now.”

“Please.  I really need to see you.”

There was no way that Dianne was going to let MaClandon talk her into letting him come see her.  “Bye MaClandon.  I'm getting off the phone.”  MaClandon sadly said, “Bye.”  They hung up the phone.

Twenty minutes later, Dianne’s phone rung again.  She picked it up.  It was MaClandon again.  She answered it, “Hello.”  MaClandon said, “Hey.  Do you want to see me now?”

“No.”

MaClandon sighed, “I'm sad.”

Dianne made a face.  She didn’t want to fool with his young behind right now.  She gathered herself and said, “Why?”

“Because you are mad at me.”

Dianne sighed heavily, “MaClandon, I will talk to you later.”

“Wait, Dianne.  I’m sorry I was so rude earlier.  Don’t be mad at me.  Please.  I need one person in my life that isn't mad at me.”

Dianne huffed, “That’s not my problem.  I drove all the way over there, because you asked me to and you acted a fool with me.  MaClandon, I do not treat my friends like that and I don’t expect them to treat me like that.  I am being as nice as I can right now.  You need to leave me alone right now.  I will talk to you later!”

MaClandon said, “Ok.  Bye.”

Dianne hung up the phone without saying goodbye.

***

Mac was lying on his bed with his head buried in the pillow.  There was a knock on the door.  Mac yelled, “Go away!”  Donnyea’s voice answered back, “I need to talk to you.”  Mac heard Donnyea’s voice and forgot that he was sad.  He jumped up from the bed and ran to the door.  He opened it and glared at Donnyea, “You ain't got nothing to say to me.  I can't stand you right now.  You are shady, Donnyea.  You shady.  Get out of my face!”  Mac slammed the door in Donnyea’s face.

Donnyea knocked on Mac’s door again, “Mac, please.  Let me talk to you.”

Mac yanked the door open, “Talk and talk fast.”

“I'm sorry.  I couldn’t help it.  Every time I see you with her, it makes me mad.”

Mac’s expression didn’t change, “I don’t want you.  I never have and I never will.  Get over it!”

Donnyea started to cry, “You are mean.”

“You scandalous and trifling.  What’s your point?”

Donnyea sobbed, “I can't believe you are acting like this.”

“I can't believe that you would try to get with my brother when I turned you down.”

Donnyea looked shocked in between her tears.  She walked off crying.

Mac went back his bed.  “I have upset almost every woman in my life.  I am truly on a roll.  God, what is wrong with me?”

***

Donnyea walked up to Mec who was playing Football on the Play Station with DeWright.  She slapped him.  Mec jumped up, “Girl, what the *&^@ is wrong with you, slapping on me like that?”

Donnyea screamed, “I can't believe you told Mac that I tried to get with you.”

Mec grabbed Donnyea by the arm and drug her to his room.  He slammed the door after they walked in the room, “You are truly tripping.”

“Yea, but you said that you weren’t going to tell him that.  I can't believe you.”

Mec sat down on his bed, “I wish I would have never asked that woman to go out to eat with us.  This don’t make no sense.  Get out!”

Donnyea cried, “Forget you, bastard.”

Mec made a face, “Whatever.  Bounce!”

Donnyea left Mec’s room.  She slammed the door.  She went into the living room and grabbed her stuff.  She left the house.

Mec sat on his bed and looked up to Heaven, “Lord, I shole do need You right now.”

***

Sunday morning was somber.  The service at Greater Buelahland Interdenominational House of Rest moved slowly.  It seemed as if there was a weight on everyone in the church.  The voice of the Lord said to Bishop, “Have Angel sing “My Soul Loves Jesus” before your sermon.”  That’s exactly what Bishop Adkins did.

Angel sung under the anointing of the Holy Ghost.  Everyone in the church was crying.  Something broke while she was singing.  After Angel sat down, the organist began to play the praise music.  Bishop started dancing all over the pulpit.  Sis. Adkins followed behind him.  Before long, the whole church was praising God in their own way.  After about twenty minutes of praise, Bishop called an altar call.  When Bishop called the line, most of the church ended up in the line.  Bishop laid hands on everyone who came through the line.  Some people fell out.  Others just cried.  Several people danced all over the place.

After Mac went through the line, he walked over to Donnyea, hugged her, and apologized to her.  Mec followed Mac and hugged Donnyea.  He apologized to her.  Donnyea cried and apologized to both of the boys.

Sis. Ida Taylor was standing next to Dianne.  Before Dianne realized what had happened, Sis. Taylor had pulled her into the altar call line.  Dianne stood in the line crying.  She watched Bishop Adkins pray for the people in front of her.

When Dianne reached Bishop Adkins, he laid his hand on her head.  He leaned to her ear and said, “God said ‘Forgive your mother’.”  Dianne stopped crying and looked at Bishop.  He said it again, “God said ‘Forgive your mother’.”  Dianne just stared at him again.  Bishop Adkins looked in the direction of his wife, “Come here, Sis. Adkins.”  Dianne watched Sis. Adkins walked towards her.  Bishop looked at Dianne and said, “This is your mother.  Tell her you forgive her.”  Dianne looked at Sis. Adkins.  She was crying.  Dianne didn’t say anything.  Bishop said, “God is going to wait on you.  You have to do this, so that the past won't have hold of you anymore.  This is just for you.  God said to wait until you do.”

Dianne felt like she was holding up the whole service.  For once, being the center of attention didn’t feel good.  She looked at Bishop, at Sis. Adkins, and then back at Bishop.  Bishop leaned to her ear and said, “God is using my wife, to see if you will be obedient.  He knows that you aren’t too fond of her, but He is gong to wait until you do.”  Bishop looked at his daughter Angel, “Sang for me Angel.  My soul loves Jesus.”

All of the preachers were looking at Dianne.  All of the altar workers were looking at her.  Dianne blew a breath.  She wasn’t sure what she had gotten into.  Bishop smiled at her, “God’s waiting on you.”  Finally Dianne walked over to Sis. Adkins and said, “I forgive you, Mama.”  Dianne fell into Sis. Adkins’s arms and wept.  Years of hurt, pain, hatred, and scorn felt off of Dianne.  She looked at Sis. Adkins, she looked like Dianne’s mother.  Dianne said, “Mama, I forgive you for shooting Daddy.  I forgive you for ruining my life.”

Dianne tried to stop speaking, but she couldn’t, “Mama, I forgive you for telling me that you weren’t my mother anymore.”

Dianne fell back into Sis. Adkins’ arm and cried some more.

Sis. Adkins hugged Dianne as if she was hugging one of her own daughters.  Sis. Adkins could feel the pain that Dianne felt.  Sis. Adkins repented to the Lord for being so mean to Dianne.

When Dianne finally stopped crying, she was sitting on the front row, still lying in Sis. Adkins’ arms.  Dianne wiped her face with her hands.  Sis. Adkins handed her some Kleenex.  Dianne wiped her face again.  Dianne looked at Sis. Adkins’ suit.  It was covered in Dianne’s make-up.  Dianne felt bad and promised herself that she would give Sis. Adkins some money to get her suit cleaned.

Bishop talked for a few minutes before he gave the benediction.

Dianne went back to her seat to get her stuff.  She sat down on the bench.  She put her face in her hands.  She knew that she looked a mess.  All of her make-up was on Sis. Adkins’ dress.  She shook her head.  She felt a hand on her back.  She looked up.  Donnyea was sitting next to her.  Dianne was too drained from crying to fight with Donnyea.  Dianne hoped that the girl hadn't come to cause more confusion.  Donnyea started crying and then said, “Sis. Roberts, I am so sorry for how I acted the other night.  I shouldn’t have done that.”  Dianne smiled at the crying girl and hugged her.  Donnyea left crying.  Dianne just sat on the bench.

Sis. Adkins’ assistant walked up to Dianne and said, “Sis. Adkins wants to talk to you in her office.”  Dianne grabbed her stuff and followed the lady to Sis. Adkins’ office.  Dianne walked in the office.  Sis. Adkins said, “Have a seat please.”  Dianne sat down.  Sis. Adkins stared at Dianne for a few minutes, “I sincerely apologize for how I have treated you.”  Dianne smiled.  Sis. Adkins smiled back, “If you don’t mind me asking, where is your mother?”  Dianne sighed, “She’s in jail.”

“For killing your father.”

Dianne looked at the floor and then back at Sis. Adkins, “Yes, Mame.”

“When was the last time you saw her?”

Dianne wasn’t sure what she felt.  Normally, she didn’t like talking about her mother, but she it felt safe to talk about her, “I don’t know, but it’s been a long time.”

“Maybe you should go see her now.”

Dianne looked at the wall.  She had no intention of going to see her mother.  It was her mother’s idea for her to never come see her.  Dianne didn’t want to go where she wasn’t wanted.  “I'll think about it, but I don’t think I will be doing that.”

“It was just a thought.  I will be praying for you.”

Dianne said, “Thanks.”

“I will let you go.  I’m sure that you are ready to go home by now.”

Dianne stood up, “Yes Mame.  Goodbye.”

“Goodbye.”

Dianne left Sis. Adkins’ office.

When Dianne walked out of Sis. Adkins’ office, MaClandon was waiting for her.

He smiled when he saw Dianne, “Hey.”

Dianne touched her face.  She couldn’t believe that MaClandon was seeing her looking like she was looking.

MaClandon smiled, “You look great to me.”

Dianne smiled.

MaClandon asked, “Are you getting ready to leave?”

“Yes.”

MaClandon smiled, “Can I walk you to your car?”

“Yes.”

They walked to Dianne’s car in relative silence.

When they made it to Dianne’s car, MaClandon reached for her keys and opened her door for her.  He kept her keys and walked over to the passenger side of the car and got in the car.  Dianne looked at him, “Can I have my keys, please?”

MaClandon smiled, “In a minute.”

Dianne smiled, “What's up?”

“Nothing, I just wanted to make sure you are okay.”

“I am.”

Mac hugged Dianne’s keys with his hand, “What did my father say to you?”

“None of your business.”

MaClandon smiled, “What did you say to my mother?”

“None of your business.”

MaClandon smiled, “Why do you call me and my brother by our right names?”

“I don’t call people by their nicknames.”

MaClandon extended Dianne’s keys towards her.  When she reached for them, he pulled them away from her.

“Why are you playing with me?”

MaClandon smiled, “because I don’t want to leave you.”

“Can I have my keys, please?”

MaClandon handed Dianne her keys.  She started the car and drove out of the parking lot with MaClandon in the car with her.

MaClandon looked at Dianne, “Where are you going?”

“None of your business.”

MaClandon was nervous, “Why are you kidnapping me?”

“You said that you didn’t want to leave me.”  Dianne turned the corner from the church and drove down the road.

MaClandon made a face, “Come Dianne, take me back to the church.  You play too much.”

Dianne ignored MaClandon.

MaClandon grabbed Dianne’s arm, “Dianne, quit playing.  No one knows I'm with you.  Take me back to the church.  I ain’t playing.”

Dianne stopped the car at the next stop sign.  She turned the corner and headed back to the church.  She pulled up to the front of the church.  She stopped the car and let MaClandon out of the car.  He stared at her.  She said, “You chicken.”  He said, “Whatever.”  He got out of the car.  Dianne waved at him and sped off.

11/14/05 – 1,052 Words Total

2005-11-15T09:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I wrote 1,052 words.  I cleaned up around the house, so that’s all I wrote.

Don’t forget to view the daily word count.  You can view the story in order on this page, too.

Keep reading.  Don’t forget to let me know what you think about the story.

Later days!

11/13/05 – 2,272 Words Total

2005-11-14T08:22:00.000-08:00

Didn’t do much yesterday.  I wrote a total of 2,272 words.  It felt good to just write.

I have created a daily word chart.  It can be view here.

I'm going to get started on today’s work.  Don’t know how much I will get done though.  I have to do some cleaning around the house.

Later Days!

11/12/05 – 5,063 Words Total

2005-11-13T10:04:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I wrote 5,063 words.  Not all of it was my best work.  Towards the end, (around 11:00 PM) I got tired.  I should have quit earlier.  Oh well, the goal of this process is to just write, which is what I did.

Big ups to Guendolen.  She helped me with the name of a place to eat in my story.

I don’t know if I will write today.  We just got a new vacuum cleaner.  I am so excited that I may just vacuum.

I’ll holla later.

11/11/05 – 4,913 Words Total

2005-11-12T18:03:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I did 4,913 words total. That brings my word count to 53,984 total. I am continuing to go on. I have set another goal of 75,000 or maybe even more. I am not sure yet. As I write, my goal will change.

I am surprised that I reached my goal so quickly. It is easier to write when you have a lot of free time, which I do right now.

I am going to see what I can get done today.

11/10/05 - 0 Words Total

2005-11-11T08:25:00.000-08:00

Well, yesterday my right wrist was hurting something fierce. I could not even turn it without pain. I was so hurt, I could not write. My husband told me to take the day off. I didn’t write anything.

I had a lot of thoughts running through my head. I should have had a tape recorder, so I could keep writing. Too funny huh.

I am going to try to write as much as I can today. I have my wrist brace on, so I do not know how much I will get done. Pray for me.

Later.

11/9/05 – 4,764 Words Total

2005-11-10T09:01:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I wrote 4,774 words. It was a good day.
Talk to you later.

11/8/05 – 10,632 Words Total

2005-11-09T08:42:00.000-08:00

My story is not following my outline exactly, but it is cool. I wrote 10,632 words yesterday. This part is pretty interesting because what I wrote about has started a rumor. Want to read about it? Also, Dianne’s former job is revealed in this part.

My novel is currently at 44,307 words.

Talk to you later.

Keep reading and thanks for reading. Don't not forget to let me know you came by.

11/8/05, 6PM, 5,504 Words

2005-11-08T19:43:00.000-08:00

MeClendon’s alarm clock went off.  He usually woke up when his twin brother MaClandon, slammed the door when he left for work.  It was 6:45 and Mec hadn’t heard the door slam.  Mec went to Mac’s room.  Mec knocked on the door.  He heard a grunt.  He opened the door and went in Mac’s room.  Mac grunted, “Yo man, I ain’t tell you to come in.”  Mec walked over to his brother and lifted the people off his head, “You going to work?”  Mac reached for the pillow without success, “Apparently, not, I haven’t left yet.”  Mec sat down on the bed, “Why you ain’t going to work?”  Mac grabbed another pillow that was on his bed and put it over his head, “Cause I don’t feel like it.”  Mec removed the pillow Mac had just put on his head.  Mec felt Mac’s head, “You sick?”  Mac sat up, “Don’t you gotta go to work?”  Mec punched his brother, “Yea, but I am checking on you.  What’s wrong with you?”  Mac punched his brother back, “You are bugging me.”  Mec threw his brother’s pillows at him, “I’m a call mama and tell her that you are sick.”  Mac grabbed his brother around his neck, “Don’t do that.”  Mec grabbed his brother’s head, “I knew you weren’t sick.  Why you shooting hooky?”  Mac wrestled from his brother’s grip, “I just don’t feel like going to work.  Leave me alone.”  Mec stood up, “I better not find out you skipped work to go hang out with your old lady.”  Mac threw a pillow at Mec, “She ain’t no old lady.  Don’t hate the playa, hate the game.”  Mec made a face, “You ain’t no playa.”  Mac smiled, “I may not be a playa, but I still pulled a woman that you couldn’t.”  Mec rolled his eyes, “Whatever.”  Mec stormed out of the room.  Mac was woke now, thanks to his brother.  Mac didn’t have a reason to stay at home.  He grabbed his clothes, ran to the bathroom, took a shower, got dressed, and headed out the door for work.

Dianne was driving to work.  Her mind was on MaClandon.  She had to talk to someone about how she was feeling.  She didn’t want to talk to Ariel about it.  She wanted to talk to someone older and wiser than Ariel.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett popped into Dianne’s head, but she wasn’t sure about doing that.  Dianne had seen most of the staff members of By Example Ministries go into Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office, walk out, and she had never heard an inkling of anyone’s business around the office.  As a matter of fact, she hadn’t heard any gossip around the office either.  As Dianne drove to work, she tried to convince herself to talk to Dr. Adkins-Garnett.

By the time Dianne had made it to her job, she had formulated a plan.  She would talk to Charlotte to see how trustworthy a confidant Dr. Adkins-Garnett was and then go from there.  Dianne had formed a friendship with Charlotte, much to Dianne’s surprise.  Dianne didn’t make friends easily, but Charlotte was cool.  Charlotte knew everything about everybody at the ministry.  She had been Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s secretary since the beginning of By Example.  Dianne felt like she was stealing something from Charlotte, by taking her job of being Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s personal assistant.  It didn’t matter anyway because Dr. Adkins-Garnett and Charlotte had a very close relationship.  At times, Dianne envied Charlotte’s relationship with Dr. Adkins-Garnett.

Dianne walked into the building.  Charlotte was the only person there.  She was walking around humming and turning on lights, computers, and equipment.  She looked at Dianne.  Charlotte said, “Hey girl.  How are you?”  Dianne responded, “Hello.  I am good.  How are you?”  Charlotte smiled, “Blessed, I am blessed.”  Dianne smiled.  Charlotte always said that when someone asked her how she was doing.  Charlotte said, “Can I go shopping in your closet?”  Dianne laughed, “Maybe, one of these days.”  Charlotte laughed, “Have you worn the same outfit twice since you have been coming here?”  Dianne paused and then said, “I don’t know.  Does it matter if I have or haven’t?”

“Not really.  I was just wondering.  Why do you have so many clothes?”

“Can't help it.  I like dressing nicely.”

“I guess.  Does your underwear match your outfits?”

“Yea, my bras match, too.”

“So, you have on pink underwear?”

“Yea.  How long have you been wondering about that?”

“Since you started working here.”

“Ok.  You are a trip.  Anymore questions?”

“Yea, are you rich?”

Dianne looked at Charlotte, “Yea.”

“Why are you working here?”

“Because Doc G asked me to.”

Charlotte shook her head, “Ok.  How did you get rich?”

“I don’t know you well enough to tell you about that.”

“If you say so.  Do you like Mac?”

“That’s none of your business.  How many more questions do you have?”

“A bunch.”

“Can they wait until another day?”

“Yep, all but one.”

“What is that?”

“Can you give me one of your outfits for my birthday?”

Dianne laughed, “Do you want the matching bra and panties?”  Charlotte laughed, “Yea, but can you buy those.  I don’t know you well enough to wear your bra and panties.”  Dianne looked at Charlotte, “You need Jesus.”  Charlotte said, “You didn’t answer my question.”  Dianne responded, “When is your birthday?”  Charlotte answered, “May 1st.”  Dianne asked, “What size do you wear and what is your favorite color?”  Charlotte answered, “Fourteen.  Blue.”  Dianne asked, “What size bra and panties do you wear?”  Charlotte blushed, “36B and medium.”  Dianne laughed, “How are you going to blush when I ask you what size bra and panties you wear and you just ask me if mine were the same color as my outfit?”  Charlotte blushed again.

Dianne sat down at her desk.  Charlotte walked over to the chairs in front of Dianne’s desk and sat down in one of them.  Charlotte stared at Dianne.  Dianne looked up, “What do you want now?”

“Nothing.”

“Why are you over here looking at me?”

“I’m trying to figure you out.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.  You’re just kind of interesting.”

“What makes me so interesting?”

“You look and act like you are the most well put together woman in the world.  I want to know how you do it.”

“It’s a gift.”

“Do you ever have a moment when you feel like you are going to lose your mind?”

“Yea, all the time, but no one will ever know.  When people see that you are weak, they take advantage of you.  I don’t let people see me when I'm weak.”

Charlotte twisted her lips.  She didn’t say anything for awhile.  She studied Dianne.  Dianne felt weird, having Charlotte staring at her.  Dianne ignored the gawking woman as best as she could.  After awhile, Dianne asked, “If I tell Doc G something, will she tell anyone?”  Charlotte blinked, “Naw, she’s good at keeping people’s confidence.”  Dianne nodded, “What if it’s something juicy and interesting?”  Charlotte made a face, “She won’t tell anyone.  What do you need to talk to her about?”  Dianne smirked, “Like I’m telling you.”  Charlotte rolled her eyes, “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”  Dianne responded, “The questions again.  No, I don’t.”  Charlotte said, “That’s probably a good thing.  I got 8 of them and I can’t get one of them to come down here and stay with my mother for a weekend.  Would you believe I’m the middle child?  Number 5.”  Dianne smiled, “So that’s what’s wrong with you.”  Dianne laughed.  Charlotte smacked her lip, “Forget you.”  Dianne retorted, “You can’t forget me. I’m kind of interesting, remember.”  Charlotte and Dianne laughed as Mother Frazier walked into the building.  Mother Frazier always came by on Wednesday.  She conducted a prayer and Bible study session on Wednesdays at 8:30.  Mother said, “Hello ya’ll.  What are you all talking about this morning?”  Dianne said, “Charlotte’s bra and panty size.”  Charlotte started choking.  She awkwardly walked towards her desk as Dianne fell out laughing.  Mother Frazier looked at Dianne, “I’m a pray for you this morning.  I may need to use my oil.  Lord, have mercy.”  Dianne was still laughing as Mother Frazier walked to the room that she was going to use.  Charlotte walked over to Dianne’s desk, “I can’t believe you did that.  She is going to tell Dr. Garnett.”  Dianne shrugged her shoulders, “So.”  Charlotte walked away from Dianne’s desk, “You do need some prayer and some oil.”  Dianne laughed.

Mother Frazier walked out of Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office.  About 20 minutes later, Dr. Adkins-Garnett called Dianne into her office.  As Dianne walked in, Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “Close the door behind you.”  Dianne complied.  She figured that Mother Frazier had dimed her out.  Mother Frazier had gone in Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office earlier that morning.  Dianne sat down in a chair and looked innocent.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked stern.

“Mother Frazier said that she asked you and Charlotte what you all were talking about this morning and you said Charlotte’s bra and panty size.”

“Yes, Mame.  I did.”

“Why in the world did you say that her?”

“Dunno.  I guess cause it was the truth.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett shook her head, “It took everything in me not to laugh while she was telling me that.  She started talking about you being gay.”

Dianne coughed, “How did she come to that conclusion?”

“You tell me.”

“Shucks.  I didn’t think that was going to happen.”

“No, you didn’t think.”

“Sorry.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett paused, “It is okay.  Just don’t do anything like that again.  I think I convinced Mother Frazier that you aren’t gay.”

“I won’t.  Thanks.”

“Lord, have mercy.  How did you all get to talking about panties and bras anyway?”

“Charlotte started it.  She asked me if my panties always matched my outfits.”

“What?  I am glad I don’t get here any earlier.  Ain’t no telling what I am liable to walk in on.  How did you all get on Charlotte’s clothing size?”

“She asked me to get her an outfit for her birthday and I asked if she wanted matching bra and panties.  She said yea, so I had to get her size.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett dropped her head, “Maybe I should have let Mother Frazier oil both of you all down with her oil.”

Dianne laughed.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett made a stern face at Dianne, “What are you laughing at?  You aren’t out of trouble yet.”  Dianne stopped laughing.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett blew a breath, “Go get Charlotte and tell her to come in here.”  Dianne stood up quickly and did as Dr. Adkins-Garnett asked.  A few minutes later, Charlotte and Dianne walked back into Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office.  They both sat down.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at them both, “You all need to watch what you all say around here.  Mother Frazier was very upset when she left here.  She said that you all grieved her spirit.  Mother Frazier is an important part of our ministry.  I would hate to loose her because you all decided to act a fool.”  Dianne interrupted Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “It was my fault.  Charlotte didn’t do anything.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett stared angrily at Dianne, “Did I ask you whose fault it was?”  Dianne looked down at the ground.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett continued, “You two represent me personally.  I need you all to act with a modicum of dignity.  That’s all I need for Mother Frazier to go around and tell people what you said, Dianne.  I would never hear the end of it.  From now on, keep your personal conversations, personal.  Ya’ll can leave.”  Charlotte jumped up first and headed for the door.  Dianne followed Charlotte.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “Close the door when you all leave.”  Dianne closed the door as Dr. Adkins-Garnett requested.

When they were outside Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office, Dianne said, “Sorry, Charlotte, I didn’t mean to get you into trouble.”  Charlotte grabbed Dianne’s arm, “Don’t worry about it.  Mother Frazier must have had a fit in Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office for her to call both of us in there.”  Dianne sucked her teeth, “Yea, she did.”  Charlotte squeezed Dianne’s arm and then let it go, “It is cool.  Dr. Garnett will be okay in awhile.  It will be like it never happened.”  Dianne walked to her desk, “I hope so.”  Charlotte walked to her desk.  Dianne couldn’t believe that she had gotten that comfortable with Charlotte.  She vowed to never let that happen again.

At 1:34, Charlotte walked over to Dianne’s desk.  Charlotte asked, “Have you gone and talked to Dr. Garnett about whatever you needed to talk to her about.”  Dianne coldly said, “No.”  Charlotte scratched her head, “Are you going to go talk to her?”  Dianne coldly said, “That’s none of your business.”  Charlotte got upset, “Why are you being so mean?”  Dianne looked at Charlotte, “I’m not being mean.  I am being business.”  Charlotte made a face, “I guess that has something to do with being weak and taken advantage of?”  Dianne didn’t answer Charlotte.  Charlotte mumbled, “You mean heifer,” as she walked away.  Dianne went into to defense mode.  She stood up and followed Charlotte, “What did you just call me?”  Charlotte ignored Dianne.  Dianne grabbed Charlotte and said, “I asked you a question.  You need to answer me.”  Charlotte snatched away from Dianne, “Don’t grab me again.”  A couple of ladies walked out of the rooms that they were in.  Dianne asked, “Do you all need something?”  One the ladies went back in the room she came out of.  The other lady headed straight for Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office.  Dianne cursed and then walked out of the building.  Charlotte said, “Carla.  Can you come here?”  A teenage girl walked out of a room.  Charlotte said, “Can you watch the phones for me?  When Dr. Adkins-Garnett comes out of her office, tell her that Dianne and I went outside.”  Carla said, “Yes, Mame.”  Charlotte left the building.

Charlotte walked around to the back of the building.  She saw Dianne sitting on a bench.  Charlotte walked towards her.  Dianne folded her arms, “Charlotte, this ain’t the time nor the place.”

“Whatever Dianne, I was just checking on you.  Whatever you got stuck in your drawers, you need to take t out.”

“Who do you think you are talking to?”

“I’m talking to you.  Get out of my face.”

“You may be able to run everybody off with your mean nature, but I ain’t scared of you.”

“I didn’t ask you to be scared of me.  Walk off Charlotte!”

A few minutes later, Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked out of her office.  She looked at Dianne’s desk and saw Carla.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett asked, “Where is Dianne?  Where’s Charlotte?”  Carla said, “They went outside.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett headed for the door as she said, “They have lost their minds.”

When Dr. Adkins-Garnett turned the corner of the building, she saw Dianne and Charlotte standing toe to toe, staring at each other.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked over to them, “Have you all lost ya’lls every loving mind.  Are you all both PMSing or something?”  Dianne turned a glared at Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Dianne had never looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett like that before.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett stared at Dianne and said to Charlotte, “Go inside.  I will talk to you later.”  Charlotte left without saying a word.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Dianne, “Say, what is on your mind.”  Dianne rolled her eyes, “Nothings on my mind.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett twisted her lips, “obviously you want to say something to me, glaring at me like that.”  Dianne looked down, “I don’t need to say anything.”  Dianne started to walk off.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett grabbed her, “I didn’t tell you to leave.  Sit down.”  Dianne didn’t move.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett made a stern face, “Dianne, I said sit down.  Do not make me act a fool out here.”  Dianne sat down.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett sounded serious.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett sat down beside Dianne, “What's going on with you?  What happened between this morning and now that would cause you and Charlotte to be arguing.”  Dianne smirked, “You told me to keep my personal s=conversation personal.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett slapped her hand to her head, “That didn’t mean for you to be cold to anyone.  Good grief.  Go inside.”  Dianne stood up and went in the building.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett sat on the bench shaking her head.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett erupted in the building, “Charlotte, in my office, now.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett didn’t even wait for a response.  Charlotte walked into Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office after she closed the door.  Charlotte looked scared.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett calmed down when she saw Charlotte’s expression, “Please sit down.”  Charlotte did as she asked.

“What happened between you and Dianne?”

“I don’t know.  She’s crazy.  That’s what’s wrong with her.  The nut.”

“What happened between this morning and this afternoon?”

“Dr. Garnett, she’s.  She needs some help.  I asked her had she come in here and talked to you yet and then she acts all mean, I ain’t even do nothing to her.”

“Just calm down.  When did she tell you that she needed to talk to me?”

“This morning.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett rubbed her neck, “You can’t be fighting with Dianne in the office.”

“I ain’t scared of her.  She may be able to bully everyone else, but I ain’t backing down from her.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Just calm down.  You can’t be fighting with her in the office.  Wait until after work and then you all can fight all you all want to away form here.  Are you going to be alright?”

“Yes, Mame.  Sorry for causing so much trouble.”

“Don’t worry about it.  You can leave.  Tell Dianne to come in here on your way out.”

Charlotte stood up and walked out of the office.  As she past Dianne, Charlotte said, “Dr. Adkins-Garnett wants you in her office.”  Dianne rolled her neck, “Now what?”  Dianne was tempted to walk out of the building.  She didn’t need the job anyway.  She could leave and never see these people again.  Something inside Dianne told her not to do that.  She went into Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office.

Dianne sat down in a chair.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Dianne, “Rough day, huh.”

“Yes Mame.”

“You’ll feel better after church tonight.”

“I’m not going to church tonight.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t feel like it.”

“Tonight is a night that you need to go to church.”

“If you say so.”

“Did you need to talk to me today?”

Dianne looked surprised, “Who told you that?”

“Charlotte told me that’s what started the argument between the two of you.”

“Charlotte has a big mouth.”

“Yea.  She only told me because she cares about you.”

“Please, she doesn’t even know me.  Why should she care about me?”

“Because the Bible says, ‘Bear ye one another’s burdens’ that’s why she cares.”

Dianne was quiet.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett was quiet too.  Finally Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “Are you going to talk to me?”  Dianne didn’t say anything.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Dianne’s eyes and squinted.  Dianne frowned, “Why are you looking at me like that?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett stopped squinting, “I am trying to read your mind.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled.  Dianne’s face didn’t change.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “It is okay to get close to the people around here.  You just can’t get that close to everyone.  It is probably not a good idea to talk about bra and panties to seventy year-old women.” Dianne smiled.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled too, “Glad you smiled.  You had me scared for a minute.  I think Charlotte wants to fight you now.”  Dianne made a face, “She called me a heifer.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “Charlotte called you that?”  Dianne responded, “Yes, she did.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed again, “You must have really upset her.”  Dianne grimaced, “She better not call me a heifer again.  If she does, we will be fighting.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett frowned, “Just don’t fight in here.  Take it down the road somewhere.”  Dianne didn’t make a move.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “What did you want to talk to me about?”

“Nothing.  Ill be okay.”

“You’re in here, if you need to talk, you can.”

“It’s not that important.”

“It must have been important.  You said something to Charlotte.”

Dianne sighed and got quiet.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett patiently waited for Dianne to say something.  Finally Dianne said, “I think I am starting to like MaClandon.  Not that I want to be his girlfriend or anything, but I like him hanging around.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that.  You all can be friends.”

“I don’t understand it.  Why did he have to like me?”

“God brings people into our lives for various reasons.  I can’t tell you why Mac happens to like you.  I just know that he does.”

“I can’t do this.  I have never had a non-sexual relationship with a man.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked startled, “what does that mean?”

“That didn’t come out right.  I can’t believe I am about to tell you this.”

“Take as long as you need.”

Dianne sighed, “I have only slept with one man.  But I used to be a stripper.  So, the only relationships I have had with a male non-family member.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett paused, “Were you with the guy that you had a relationship with when you were a stripper?”

“Yes Mame.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Dianne with a strange look, “He didn’t care?”

“The only time he cared was when I didn’t make a certain amount of money in tips.  He liked the fact that other men paid money to see my body.  He is the one who got me the job.”

“That didn’t bother you.”

“Not really.  The clients paid me attention and I liked the attention.  Plus I got to keep all of the money I made.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed.  She couldn’t imagine Dianne being a stripper.  Dianne was too classy to be a stripper.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “You don’t seem like a stripper.”

“well my ex insisted that I carry myself like a lady when we were in public, so he sent me to etiquette classes, modeling classes, and he yelled at me whenever I didn’t act like he thought I should act.  I learned how to act quickly.”

“Is that how you got all your money, from stripping?”

Dianne laughed, “No.  I invested most of my stripping money, but that’s not where I got most of my money from.  When I left my ex, I sued him from alimony since we had been together for ten years.  I won.  I also sued him because I helped him with his business.  I got some money from that, plus some stock in the company.”

“When did you leave him?”

“In 2000.”

“Why did you leave?”

“Because he hit me.  I wasn’t going to stick around and being anyone’s punching back.”

“That’s good.  I told you that you had a testimony to tell.”

“I’m not ready for that.”

“Your testimony will bless someone, I promise you it will.  But you can tell it when you want to.”

Dianne smiled.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, too, “Back to Mac…  Why do you think you like him?”

Dianne smiled, “He so sweet.  He is silly.  He is always trying to make me laugh.  He makes me feel special.  It all feels genuine.  To top it all off, he doesn’t want anything from me.  That’s the weird part.  The only other man that treats me like that is my uncle.  I don’t get Mac.”

“Mac isn’t your normal young man.”

“I can tell it.  I still feel weird about it.”

“Just tell him that you want to be friends.”

“I got a feeling he wants to be more than friends.”

“He can only be what you let him be.”

Dianne smiled, “I know.  See, I ain’t right.  I like the attention that he gives me.  This ain’t easy.”

“Do you know how many old women flirt with Mac, including Taylor with her old behind?  They all like the attention that Mac gives them.  Both he and Mec have a knack for making women feel special.  They go that from their daddy.  Mec is good with younger women.  Mac is good with older women.  That’s just how they are.”

“Your sister-in-law hates me.”

“No, she doesn’t.”

“She does, she gives me mean looks whenever she sees me in church.”

“What do you expect her to do after that little performance at the banquet?”

Dianne put her head down, “I didn’t mean anything by that.  I was just being nice to Mac because he couldn’t at the table with me.”

“Dianne, tell the truth, what did you think was going to happen if you tramped through a banquet with the Bishop’s son on your arm.”

Dianne shrugged, “That Mac would get to look special.”

“That’s all you were expecting.”

“Well, when Mec said something smart to me, I wanted to make him feel bad.”

“I could talk to her if you want me to.”

“I don’t know.  That might make her madder.”

“It wont.  I know what I’m doing.”

Dianne laughed, “I sure would appreciate it, if you did.”

“I will talk to her ASAP.”

“Thanks.”

“When you were stripping, did you get completely naked?”

“Doc G, I think that’s one of those personal questions that I should keep personal.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “That ain’t any of my business anyway.  I still can’t picture you as a stripper.  Mother Frazier would pour three or four bottles of oil on you if she knew about this.”  Dianne got quiet.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett stopped laughing, “Don’t worry.  Our conversation is going to be between us.”  Dianne smiled, “I sure hope so.  I am already going to get put out of the church for corrupting your nephew.  I don’t need them finding out I was a stripper.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed so hard that she turned red.  Dianne laughed with her.  The two women talked awhile longer before Dianne left Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office.  Dianne felt good after she left Dr. Garnett’s office.  Dianne was glad that Charlotte had said something to Dr. Garnett.

When Dianne walked out into the lobby, Charlotte was the only person in the building.  Dianne asked, “What are you still doing here?”  Charlotte smirked, “Someone had to watch the phones.”  Dianne smiled, “I guess you’re still mad at me.”  Charlotte twisted her lips, “Yea.”  Dianne said, “Sorry about earlier.  I shouldn’t have acted like that.”  Charlotte looked dazed, “You’re apologizing.”  Dianne smiled, “Yep.  We cool or what.”  Charlotte said, “Yea.  Sorry I called you a heifer.”  Dianne said, “Cool.  Is this the part where we hug?  According to my source, after a fight, friends are supposed to hug.” Charlotte laughed, “What source?”  Dianne smiled, “A cute curly haired source.”  Charlotte giggled, “Oh, your boyfriend.”  Dianne made a face, “My friend.”  Charlotte stood up, “Whatever.  Sure we can hug.”  Charlotte walked over to Dianne and hugged her.  While they were hugging, Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked out of her office.  They stopped hugging.  She said, “Lord, what would Mother Frazier think if she saw you two, now.”  Dianne almost fell over because she was laughing so hard.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett turned red again because she was laughing hard.  Charlotte looked at both of them like they had lost their minds.

Dianne made it to church.  Dr. Garnett smiled when Dianne walked into the office at the church.  Dr. Garnett said, “I thought you weren’t coming tonight.”  Dianne smiled, “Someone told me that I needed to be at church after a day like I had today.”  Dr. Garnett smiled, “That’s some good advice.  Mac has been by here three times looking for you.  When I told him that you might not be here, he almost had a fit.  He should be through here in a few minutes.”  About five minutes later, Mac stuck his head in the door.  He smiled when he saw Dianne.  He walked in the office.  Dr. Garnett said, “I don’t think either one of us invited you in.”  Mac smiled, “I couldn’t resist.  I had to be in the room.  All the beauty in here, made it hard to resist.”  Dianne smiled.  Dr. Garnett said, “You ain’t that cute.” Mac smiled and sat down.  Dr. Garnett frowned at him, “We’re working.  What do you want?”  Mac looked confused, “Oh sorry.  I will leave.”  Dr. Garnett laughed, “Sit down boy.  Is your mother here?”  Mac smiled, “Yes Mame.  She in her office.”  Dr. Garnett stood up, “Thanks, I gotta go talk to her anyway.  You two be nice and stay saved.  Ya’ll are in the house of the Lord.”  She laughed as she left the room.

Mac looked at Dianne, “What did she mean by that?”  Dianne shrugged her shoulders, “She’s your aunt.”

“I heard something about you today.”

Dianne looked scared, “What did you hear?”

“That you and Charlotte almost got into a fight in the middle of the office.”

Dianne sighed, “Who told you that?”

“Carla did.”

“When did you see her?”

“She knows my girl Donnyea.  Donnyea told MacArthur.  MacArthur told MeClendon.  MeClendon told me.”

Dianne laughed, “I bet by the time the story got to you, Charlotte and I were scratching each others eyes out.”

“Yea something like that.  I think you would have won.”

“Think.  Please I would have mopped the floor with her.”

Mac laughed, “Yes Mame.  You look nice.”

“Thanks.”

“I heard something else about you.”

Dianne made a face, “What else did you here?”

“I can’t tell you.  You’ll probably get mad.”

“I won’t get mad.  What did you hear?”

Mac had a sly grin on his face.  He looked like he knew something that he shouldn’t know.  Dianne wanted to know what he knew.  He stood up and walked towards the door.  He said, “I just have one question.  Are they blue or yellow?”  Mac left the room before Dianne could say anything.  Dianne tried to figure out what Mac was talking about.  Dianne thought about it for a minute.  She was wearing a blue skirt with a blue and yellow blouse.  Her mouth dropped open when she figured out what MaClandon meant.

After church, Dianne walked over to MaClandon.  She said, “Come with me.”  Mac looked puzzled, but he followed her. Up the stairs and to his aunt’s office.  When she walked through the door, she said, “How did you find out about what you asked me about earlier?”  Mac didn’t say anything.  Dianne glared at him.  Mac quietly said, “You’re getting mad.”  Dianne stopped glaring, “I am not mad.  Just tell me how you found out about it.”  Mac still didn’t say anything.  Dianne smiled at him and then she sweetly said, “Please tell me.”  Mac smiled and then slowly said, “The same way I found out about the fight.”  Dianne looked mad, “Charlotte told Carla?”  Mac quickly said, “No.  I think she overheard Charlotte on the phone when she was talking to her mother.”  Dianne frowned.  Mac looked sad, “Please don’t say anything to Charlotte about it.  I don’t want Carla getting into trouble.”

Dianne sat down at Dr. Garnett’s desk.  She put her elbows on the desk and then put her head in her hands.  She blew a long breathe.  Mac said, “I am not going to tell anyone else.”  Dianne looked up at Mac, “Yea, but what about your brother?”  Mac made a face, “I will talk to him.  He won’t say anything to anyone.”  Dianne looked at Mac, for the first time, she paid attention to how handsome he was.  She shook her head, “That’s all I need is your brother staring at me trying to figure out what color stuff I have on.”  Mac laughed.  Dianne looked at him, “What is so funny?”  Mac gave her an innocent look, “Nothing.”  Dianne glared at him, “I cannot believe you asked me that question and in church.”  Mac gave her another innocent look.  Dianne smiled at him, “That’s why I'm telling your aunt that you asked me that.”  Mac looked scared, “Dianne, please don’t.  She’ll have fit and yell at me.  You can’t.”  Dianne liked seeing Mac squirm, “I am telling.”  Dianne started dancing and singing, “I'm gonna tell it.  I'm gonna tell it.  I'm gonna tell it.” Mac said, “What is it going to take to get you not to tell?”  Dianne made a face at him, “Are you suggesting that I can be bribed?”  Mac nodded, “Yea, and I hope you’re not that expensive.”  Dianne smiled, “Oh, it’s going to cost you, big time.”  Mac made a face, “What is it?”  Dianne laughed, “I'm not going to tell your aunt on you, silly.  I am not like that.”  Mac smiled, “Are you serious?”  Dianne said, “Yes, I'm serious.”  Mac blew a breathe, “Thank goodness.  Are you going to tell if you’re wearing yellow or blue?”  Dianne’s eyes got big, “I'm not telling you.”  Mac smiled, “I already know what color they are anyway.  Blue.”  Dianne made a face, “If you say so.”  Mac walked over to the door, “I'm gone, see you later.”  Dianne smiled, “Bye.”  As Mac walked out the door Dianne said, “They’re not blue.  They’re yellow.”  Mac turned bright red as he closed the door.  Dianne laughed.  She couldn’t believe that she had just said that to Mac.

11/8/05, 2 PM, 5,128 Words

2005-11-08T19:37:00.000-08:00

Dr. Adkins-Garnett called Dianne into her office.  After Dianne walked in the office and sat down, Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “Bro. Sheard is bringing his daughters over here today at 3:30.”  Dianne smiled, “Cool.  I hope they like it.  How old are they?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett responded, “They are 10, 8, and 5.  I want you to be their mentor.”

“Who me?”

“Yes, you.”

“You joking, right.”

“No, I am not joking.  You are they reason that they are coming to the ministry, so you get to be their mentor.”

“There is no way that I should be mentoring anybody’s child.  I didn’t get them here.  I just gave them the information.”

“Dianne, you did get them here.  You will be a good mentor for those girls.”

“Ain’t no way.  All three of them?  Naw, ain't no way.  Doc G, I cannot do that.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett frowned, “Why do you call me that?  You have people around here calling me that?  Ya’ll make me sound like I’m a rapper or something.  You got all kinds of things around here changing.

Dianne knew what Dr. Adkins-Garnett was talking about.  Every since she had started working at By Example, the staff had started dressing better, trying to keep up with her.  Dianne looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “Quit distracting me.  I can’t do this.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Yes, you can.”

“What am I supposed to do with them?”

“You call them; check up on them, like Monica did with you.”

“Oh my Lord.  Why me?”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “You need to quit being so melodramatic.  You can do it.”  Dianne stood up, “Yea, right.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “You will need to do the interviews with them.  I will come in there with you, but you’ll have to conduct the interviews.  Charlotte can get you the paperwork.”  Dianne sighed as she walked out of Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office.

Dianne made it home after a long day at work.  The interviews with the Sheard girls took forever, especially the one with the five year-old.  She wouldn’t be still.  She kept trying to see what Dianne was writing.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett was out of her mind to think that Dianne should be mentoring that man’s children.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett was out of her mind.

After Dianne had changed from her work clothes, she picked up the phone and called her best friend Ariel.  Ariel’s husband, Greg answered the phone.  A few minutes later, Ariel voice came over the phone, “Hello.”  Dianne said, “Hey girl.”  Ariel sarcastically said, “What, you are talking to heathens these days?”  Dianne sighed, “Do not start Ariel.  I just want to talk to you.”  Ariel could tell that her friend of 26 years didn’t sound like her usual self.  Ariel replied, “Sorry.  What’s up?”  Dianne said, “Can you come over here?”  Ariel said, “Give me twenty minutes.  See you when I get there.”  They said goodbye and hung up the phones.

Dianne had been friends with Ariel every since she was 6.  Dianne didn’t know what she would do if she couldn’t be friends with Ariel.  They had been through everything together.  Ariel was her biggest supporter when she decided to leave her controlling ex-boyfriend.  Dianne didn’t know if she would ever find another friend like Ariel.  Dianne had to lead Ariel to Christ.  There wasn’t any other choice, it had to be done.

There was a knock on Dianne’s door.  She walked over to the door, looked through the peep hole, and saw that it was Ariel.  Dianne opened the door and hugged Ariel after she walked in the door.  Ariel looked around Dianne’s house.  Ariel hadn’t been over since Dianne had gotten saved.  Dianne looked at Ariel, “What are you looking for?”  Ariel smirked, “Your big old Bible.”  Dianne made a face, “Would you quit?”  Ariel laughed as the two of them sat down on the sofa.  Ariel tapped Dianne on her arm, “So, what do you need to talk about?”

“Things are crazy in my life.”

“Oh, so being a Christian ain’t all it’s cracked up to be?”

“Naw, that ain’t it.  Being a Christian is cool.  You should try it.  It’s just a lot going on.”

“Like what?”

“It’s the job, church, and MaClandon.”

Ariel looked dazed, “Hold up, who’s MaClandon?”

“The pastor’s son.  I already told you about him.”

“Oh yea, the boy you kissed on the jaw.  What does he have to do with you?”

“I will tell you that later.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett wants me to mentor these three little girls.  She is out of her mind.”

“Dr. Adkins-Garnett, that’s your boss right?”

“Yea, she’s nuts.”

“Yea, she is, if she thinks little girls should be looking up to YOU.”

Dianne made a face, “You ain’t have to say it like that.”  Ariel laughed, “Do they make two inch heels for little girls?  I can just see those little girls trying to be like you and dress up all the time.”   Dianne laughed with Ariel, “You need to quit.  They are some cute little girls.”  Ariel shook her head, “What does their daddy look like?”  Dianne made a face, “He looks ok.  He is married, but his wife is sick.”  Ariel smiled, “If you say so.”  Dianne smirked, “You need to quit.”  Ariel said, “Mr. Morris keeps asking about you.”  Dianne smiled, “Really?”

“Yea, he almost had a fit when he found out that you had a job.  He seemed a little upset that you didn’t come work for him.”

“I couldn’t work for him.  I’d have to sue him for harassment.”

“Girl please.  He has a man.”

Dianne looked shocked, “Quit lying.  He is gay?”  Ariel nodded her head, “Yea, Dude came by there the other day.  None of us knew.  I tripped out.  Mr. Morris’ man kissed him right on the lips in front of all of us.  Girl, we all had our mouths open.  After Mr. Morris introduced him as his lover, Margaret got up and left the office.  She doesn’t work there anymore.”  Dianne looked dazed, “Ariel, stop lying.”  Ariel shook her head, “I ain’t lying.  I swear for God, I could not make anything like this up.”  Dianne put her hand over her mouth, “Woe.  That’s deep.  I can’t believe that.”  Ariel stood up and walked into the kitchen.  She looked in the refrigerator.  She stuck her head from behind the refrigerator.  She held up a box of conversation hearts, “Di, who gave you these?”  Dianne looked in the kitchen.  Ariel was holding up the conversation hearts that MaClandon had given her.  Dianne blushed, “MaClandon.”  Ariel closed the refrigerator door and stormed back over to the couch.  As she sat down, she said, “How you going to go to a church and start messing with the pastor’s 25-year old son?  They are going to put you out of the church.”  Dianne made a face, “I am not messing around with him.  We are just friends.”  Ariel started dancing and singing, “But you say he just he just a friend.  You say he just friend.”  Dianne hit Ariel on her arm, “You are going to quit.”  Ariel laughed, “Have you all been out on a date?”  Dianne shook her head and told Ariel about the adventure at Happy Way.  Ariel almost fell off the couch laughing.  Ariel howled, “Girl, you were not at a bowling alley in some heels.”  Dianne laughed, “Girl, yes, I walked up in there in some 2 inch sling backs.”  Ariel laughed hard.  Dianne told Ariel the rest of the story.  Ariel was laughing so hard that she was crying.  Dianne could hardly talk because she was laughing, too.

Ariel said, “You and your friend.”  Dianne smiled, “Yea, he is sweet.”  Ariel made a face, “Sounds like you might be falling for him.”  Dianne made a face, “No, I am not.  We are just friends.”  Ariel smacked her lips, “if you say so.”  Dianne was quiet for a second then she said, “I may have gotten him into trouble with his father, though.”  Ariel said, “How did you do that?”  Dianne told Ariel the story.

***

It was the Saturday before Valentine’s Day.  Greater Buelahland Interdenominational House of Rest was having a Valentine’s Day banquet.  Dianne wasn’t sure how she let Dr. Adkins-Garnett talk her into going to the banquet.  It was a chance for Dianne to buy a new evening gown, so it wasn’t going to be that bad.  Mac was supposed to sit with Dianne, but his father had told him that he couldn’t sit at the table.  Dianne pushed all of that out of her mind as she walked into the hotel where the banquet was being held.  There were men that Dianne recognized from the church standing in the foyer of the hotel.  When she walked in, they stopped talking and stared at her.  An older man almost fell over trying to turn around and get a look at Dianne.  She smiled at them and walked pass them.  She looked around the hotel.  There were people all over the place.  Some were dressed up.  Some weren’t.  There were couples, single men, and single women walking around.  There was a long winding stair case in the middle of the foyer.  The sign at the bottom of the stairs read, “GBIDHOR Valentine’s Banquet, Upstairs.”  Dianne looked at all those steps.  She didn’t want to walk up all those stairs by herself.  She looked up at the top of the stairs.  One of the Adkins’ twins was leaning over the railing looking down.  When the Adkins’ twin smiled at her, she knew that it was MaClandon.  She thought about motioning for him to come down the steps, but she didn’t.  She started walking up the long flight of stairs.  A man caught up with her on the stairs and walked up the stairs with her.  He was talking about something.  Dianne wasn’t paying him much attention.

Mac was leaning up against the railing.  He was looking around the hotel.  He looked down and saw a woman dressed in red walk in the door.  The woman looked up.  It was Dianne.  Mac smiled at her.  She smiled back.  Mac watched her as she walked up the stairs.  Min. Dawkins caught up with her and walked up the stairs with her.  Mac got upset as he thought, “Why is this fool talking to my woman?”  Mac stopped thinking about Min. Dawkins and focused on Dianne.  She had on a long fitting red dress.  She had ruffles on her shoulders that were dark red.  The skirt of her dress was dark red.  The blouse portion of her dress had light and dark red in it.  She had on long dark red gloves.  She had on satin dark red shoes.  In her hand she had a satin dark red purse.  Mac watched her long pearl necklace move slightly as she walked.  The necklace matched the rest of her pearl jewelry.  Mac thought Dianne was a movie star for a moment as she walked up the stairs because men were staring at her like crazy.

Dianne had finally made it up the stairs.  She walked up to MaClandon and said hello.  He said hello back.  Before she could walk in the banquet room, MeClendon walked over to her and said, “Girl, you are going to make me forget I am supposed to be saved.”  Dianne scowled at him, “Why don’t you go somewhere?”  Mac laughed as Mec sulked off.

Dianne looked at Mac and said, “Have you been in there yet?”  Mac said, “Yea.”  Dianne twisted her face, “Do you know where your aunt is sitting?”  Mac smiled, “Yea.”  Dianne looked in the room, “That’s cool.  You look nice.”  Mac smiled, “But not as nice as you.”  Dianne smiled, “Thanks.  You wanna walk me in there.”  Mac smiled big, “Girl, yea.”  Dianne extended her arm to Mac, who grabbed it quickly.  Mac looked in the direction that his brother and friends were standing.  He made a face at them as he started walking Dianne towards the door.

Bishop Adkins looked at the door.  He made a face when he saw his son escorting Dianne Roberts across the room.  His wife, Darlene Adkins, looked at him, “What is Mec doing?”  Bishop said, “That ain’t Mec, that’s Mac.”  Sis. Adkins looked at her son again.  It was Mac.  Her eyes almost popped out of her head.  She grabbed her husband’s arm, “Has he lost his mind?”  Bishop frowned, “Don’t worry about it.  I will handle it.”  Bishop walked away from his wife, towards his son.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked up.  Dianne was walking in the room with Mac on her arm.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled as she thought, “Oh Lord.  This is going to be trouble.”  Eld. Garnett smiled as he watched his nephew struck like a peacock with Dianne on his arm.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett hit Eld. Garnett on his leg.  He made a face.  Mac and Dianne reached the table where Dr. Adkins-Garnett was sitting.  Dianne spoke to everyone at the table, and then thanked Mac for walking her to the table.  As Mac turned to leave, Dr. Adkins-Garnett leaned over to Dianne and said, “You are crazy, you know that.”  Dianne smiled.

Mac smiled as if he had just won a political office by a landslide.  He knew that the church busybodies were probably talking about him and Dianne like crazy.  A couple of men gave him a “Go head, Dawg” with their chins.  Mac stuck his chest.  He was feeling good.  Mac looked at his mother.  She made a mean face at him.  She had never made that kind of face at him before.  Before Mac knew what had happened, his father was standing next to him.  Bishop grabbed Mac by the arm and ushered him out of the banquet hall.  Dianne saw Bishop push Mac out the door.  She felt bad.

Bishop ushered Mac to the men’s restroom.  Bishop pushed Mac through the restroom, using Mac to open the door.  Mac rubbed his chest after he got in the restroom.  His father glared at him, “Boy have you lost your mind?  What did you think you were doing parading around in there hugged up with that woman?”  Mac looked innocent, “Daddy, she asked me to walk her in the room.  She grabbed my arm I didn’t do anything.”  Bishop blew a hard breath, “Don’t give me that innocent look.  I thought we talked about this.  You better be glad that I got to you before your mother did.  She almost had a fit.”  Bishop blew another breath.  Mac looked down, “I didn’t do anything.  Was I supposed to tell her that I couldn’t walk her in?”  Bishop glared at his, “You didn’t have to walk in the room like she was your woman or something.  Lord, I know everyone up in there is talking about you.  Your mother is going to kill you, if she gets hold of you.”  Mac smiled, “Sorry.”  Bishop somberly said, “I bet you won’t be smiling once your Mama gets you.”  Bishop turned to leave.  Mac stopped him, “I looked good walking in with her on my arm didn’t I?”  Bishop smiled at his son, “You don’t quit, do you?”  Bishop shook his head and walked out of the restroom.

Mac was looking in the mirror fixing his tie when his brother and his friends, DeWright and MacArthur walked in the restroom.  DeWright walked over to Mac and high-fived him, “Dawg, you the man.”  Mac smiled.  MacArthur said, “I wish I were you.”  Mec said, “Ya’ll need to quit.  It wasn’t all that.”  MacArthur bumped Mec arm the arm, “You need to quit hatin’ on your brother.  He out did you Dawg.  He just walked the finest woman in the building up in through here.  You gotta give him props.  I ain’t mad at ya.”  MacArthur high-fived Mac, who was grinning.  Mec ignored his brother.

The banquet was over.  People had starting leaving.  Mac walked over to the table where Dianne was.  He pretended to talk to his uncle in the hope that Dianne would ask him to walk her out.  Dianne acted as if she didn’t see Mac.  His uncle made a face at his nephew to let his nephew know that his plan had been discovered.  Finally Dianne looked at Mac and asked, “Will you walk me out?”  Mac grinned, showing all of his teeth and said, “Yes.”  Dianne extended her arm.  Mac took it and they walked out of the room.

Sis. Adkins was watching her son as he made his way over to the table where that hussy was sitting.  Sis. Adkins thought, “If she doesn’t stay away from my baby.”  She didn’t let herself finish the thought.  Sis. Adkins almost became livid when she saw the woman give her arm to Mac.  Sis. Adkins couldn’t believe how quickly Mac took the woman’s arm.  Sis. Adkins twisted her lip as she watched her son walk out of the door arm in arm with that woman.

Mac and Dianne finally reached Dianne’s car.  Mac didn’t let Dianne’s arm go at first.  Dianne looked at him and he finally let her arm go.  Mac asked, “You going home?”  Dianne responded, “Yea, where else am I going to go?”  Mac smiled, “Can I go with you?”  Dianne looked stunned, “Did you just ask me what I think you just asked me?”  Mac didn’t respond.  Dianne shook her head, “I hope getting to walk me a round makes up for not getting to sit next to me.”  Mac excitedly said, “Yea, it does!  My father is probably going to kill me, but I am going to die happy.”  Dianne laughed hard.

***

Dianne finished her story.  Ariel was looking at Dianne like she was crazy.  Dianne started laughing.  Ariel said, “That boy’s mama is gonna come looking for you.”  Dianne frowned, “Yea, I know.  She frowns at me, every time she sees at church.  I don’t care though.”  Ariel shook her head, “girl, they are going to put you out of that church for corrupting the pastors’ son.”  Dianne giggled.  Ariel said, “Where’s my other story?”  Dianne looked funny, “What other story?”  Ariel said, “The candy.”  Dianne said, “Oh yea.”  She smiled before she told Ariel the story.

***

Dianne looked up.  MaClandon was walking in the door with some bags in his hands.  As he walked towards her, he said, “Happy Valentine’s Day.  Lady in red.”  She smiled at his corny attempt to be cute.  He smiled back at her as he walked by her and towards the desk where Charlotte was sitting.  He handed a bag to Charlotte and said, “Happy Valentine’s Day, girl.”  Charlotte smiled like crazy as she said, “Thanks, sweetheart.”  Dianne made a face.  She didn’t like the way Charlotte had called Mac sweetheart.  Charlotte sounded a little too sweet when she said it.  Dianne shook her head after she realized that she was getting jealous.

Mac smiled at Dianne as he walked by her again.  He walked into Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office.  Dianne heard him say, “Hey Aunnie.  Happy Valentine’s Day to my favorite girl.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “Thanks.  Sweetie.  You make an old lady feel special.”  Mac responded, “Aunnie you ain’t old.  You just better.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed at her nephew as he walked out of his office.  Mac walked out of his aunt’s office, smiled at Dianne, and then walked out of the building with a bad still in his hand.  Dianne stared at the door after it closed.  She thought to herself, “I know he did not walk up out of here without giving me something for Valentine’s Day.  I can’t believe him.”  Dianne watched the door for a few more minutes.  When Mac didn’t walk back through the door, Dianne turned to Charlotte and said, “Ill be right back, Charlotte.  Can you watch the phone for me?”  Charlotte responded and then Dianne made a mad dash out the building.  She looked around for Mac, but she didn’t see him.  She looked puzzle as she thought, “I can’t believe that he just left.”  She paused for a moment and then snapped her fingers.  She started waking towards the back of the building.  As she turned the corner, she saw MaClandon sitting on one of the benches.  He started laughing when he saw her.

Dianne made a face at Mac when she walked up to him.  He stood up and said, “I didn’t think you were ever going to come out here.”  Dianne folded her arms and stared at Mac.  Mac smiled at her, “Why are you staring at me like that?”  Dianne rolled her eyes and her neck at the same time.  Mac blew a breath, “You are one mean looking woman.”  Dianne bit her lip and then said, “I know you walk up in there passing out bags and didn’t bring me one.”  Mac laughed, “Was I supposed to bring you one?”  Dianne made a face, “Forget you.”  She smacked her lips, turned around, and started to walk off.  Mac caught up with her and blocked her path, “You are so impatient.”  Dianne retorted, “You play too much.”  Mac smiled, “I know.  I can’t believe you are mad a t me.”  He laughed.  Dianne made a face, “I am not thinking about you.”  Mac danced, “Yea you are.  Cause you are out here with me.”  He licked his tongue out and danced some more.  Dianne laughed at him.  Mac stopped dancing and grabbed Dianne’s hand.  She shook her hand from his hand.  He smiled as he made his eyebrows go up and down.  Dianne made a face, “I am going back in the building.  I got stuff to do.”  Mac smiled, “That’s cool, but I still got your present.”  Dianne acted as if she didn’t care, “So what.”  Mac smiled and handed her a bad, “I can never have any fun.”  Dianne looked in the bag as she said, “You need to learn how to talk.”  In the bag, there was a card and a box of Brach’s conversation hearts.  She looked at Mac and smiled, “Thanks.  How did you know to get me these?”  Mac smiled, “I have ways.”   Dianne thought for a second.  She said, “Oh yea.  Charlotte.”  Mac smiled.  Dianne put the bag at her side and turned to go back into the building.  Mac said, “Are you going to read the card?”  Dianne stopped and turned around.  She opened the bag and took the card from the bag.  She read it.  It said, “I hope your Valentine’s Day is as wonderful as you have made my life.”  Mac had signed it, "Thanks for letting me walk you in and out of the banquet.  Mac.”  She looked at Mac and smiled.  He was grinning so hard that she could see all of his teeth.  She turned and waked back into the building.

When Dianne walked back into the building, Dr. Adkins-Garnett and Charlotte were sitting in the chairs in the lobby.  They both stared at Dianne when she walked in.  Dianne looked at both ladies and walked by them to her desk.  They watched her as she sat down.  Dianne stopped moving, “What?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett and Charlotte smiled.  Charlotte said, “What did you get?”  Dianne raised her eyebrows and then let them drop, “Some candy.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett asked, “Is that all?”  Dianne titled her head, “No, he gave me a card, too.”  Charlotte laughed, “I'm surprise he didn’t bust up in here with two dozen long stem roses.”  Both she and Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed.  Dianne looked annoyed, “What is that supposed to mean?”  Charlotte looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, and then at Dianne, then back at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “Why is she acting like we don’t know that Mac is crazy about her?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett shrugged, “I don’t know.”  Dianne made a face at Charlotte, “Whatever Charlotte.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “What does the card say?”  Dianne looked at the bag, “Nothing in particular.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Charlotte before she said in a deep voice, “Dianne, how do I love thee?  Let me count the ways.”  Dianne rolled her eyes, “You tripping.  The card didn’t say that.  Am I the only one that has some work to do?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed.  Charlotte sung, “Dianne got a boyfriend.  Dianne got a boyfriend.”  Dianne bawled up a piece of paper ands threw it at Charlotte.  Charlotte caught the piece of paper as she stood up.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett and Charlotte headed back to their desks.  They bother sung, “Dianne got a boyfriend. Dianne got a boyfriend,” as they walked away.  Dianne shook her head and laughed.

MaClandon walked in the building.  Dianne ignored him.  Charlotte started laughing.  Mac sat down in a chair in the lobby.  Mac looked at Dianne, “Why she laughing like that?”  Dianne looked at Charlotte and said, “She needs Jesus.”  Charlotte laughed and then started humming.  Dianne made a face.  Mac looked at Charlotte and then back at Dianne.

After a few minutes of being silent, Mac walked over to Dianne and said, “Can I have some candy?”  Dianne looked up at him, “Huh.”  Mac smiled, “can I have some candy?”  Dianne made a face, “Some of what candy?”  Mac smiled, “some Valentine candy.”  Dianne frowned, “No.”  Mac leaned on her desk he poked his lip out, “Please.”  Dianne laughed, “Naw.  Move out the way.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked out of her office with all her stuff in her hands.  She announced, “I’m going home so that I can see my husband.”  Charlotte said, “Bye.  Don’t have too much fun.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled at Charlotte, “Stay out of grown folks business.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Dianne, “Can you lock up?”  Dianne smiled, “Yes Mame.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled at her nephew, "You be nice while I’m gone.”  Mac smiled, “Always, aunnie, always.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “See ya’ll tomorrow.”  Charlotte and Mac said, “Goodbye.”  Dianne said, “Wear the black one.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett turned bright red, rolled her eyes at Dianne, and walked out of the building.  Dianne laughed.  Mac looked at Dianne like she was crazy.

Charlotte got up from her desk.  She said, “I am going to go turn the computers off.”  Charlotte left before anyone could say anything.  Mac made a sexy face at Dianne.  She smiled.  Mac asked, “Where are you going for Valentine’s Day?”  Dianne smiled, “Wherever you are taking me.”  Mac lost his balance and almost slipped off the desk.  Dianne said, “Be careful.”  Mac said, “Uhh yea.”  Dianne said, “Where are you taking me tonight?”  Mac coughed and mumbled, “What?”  Dianne scratched her face with her French tipped nail, “You heard me.”  Mac stood up, “You are killing me.  Why you gotta mess with me like that?”  Dianne looked at her computer screen, “What makes you think I am messing with you?”  Mac blew a breath, “You shouldn’t toy with me like this.”  Dianne looked at him, “I’m serious.”  Mac stared directly into Dianne’s eyes, “You would go out with me tonight for real?”  Dianne stared back at him, “Yea, maybe. If you asked me.”  Dianne was actually serious.  Not that she wanted to go out on Valentine’s Day; she just didn’t want to be at home.  Mac sighed, “This is not happening.  I want to so bad, but I better not.”  Dianne said, “Ok, that’s cool.”  Mac looked lost.  He wished Dianne would have begged or something, but she didn’t as quickly as she had said, that she would go out with him, she acted as if he had never mentioned it.  Mac looked disheartened, “I’m going to go see if Charlotte needs some help.”  Mac left as Dianne said, “Ok.”

Mac helped the two women lock up the building.  He walked them outside.  Charlotte got in her car and drove off, leaving Mac and Dianne standing in the parking lot.  Dianne asked, “You want me to give you a ride home?”  Mac’s heart was screaming, “Say yes, fool. Say yes.”  Mac brain was telling him, “If your parents find out, they are going to strangle you.”  Mac looked down at the ground, “Naw.  Ill ride the bus.”  Dianne walked close to Mac, “You sure?”  Mac sighed without looking up, “Yea, I’m sure.”  Dianne touched Mac’s face with her hand and titled it up so that he was looking at her, “As cute as you are, you shouldn’t look so sad.”  Mac nuzzled his face into Dianne’s hand, “I know.”  Dianne let Mac’s face go, “What’s wrong?”  Mac sighed and drooped his face, “I can’t do what I want to do.”  He hoped that Dianne would touch his face again.  Dianne didn’t.  Instead, she asked, “Why can’t you do what you want to do?”  Mac blew a long slow breath, “it’s hard to explain.”  Dianne smiled, “Could you lift you head up?”  Mac complied.  Dianne smiled at him, “Thanks for the candy and the card.  You sure you don’t want me to drive you home?”  Mac sighed, “Yea, I'm sure.”  Dianne unlocked her car, got in it, and started it up.  Mac walked up to her window and knocked on it.  Dianne rolled the window down, “Yea.”  Mac smiled, “Happy Valentine’s Day.”  Dianne smiled back at him, “Thanks.  Happy Valentine’s Day, to you too.”  Mac smiled and walked away from Dianne’s car.  She pulled out of the parking space and then the parking lot.  Mac was left alone to walk to the bus stop and ride the bus home, where he would end up spending Valentine’s Day with his brother and their friends.  This was going to be a horrible day.

***
Ariel stared at Dianne after she finished her story.  Ariel asked, “Why didn’t he ask you out?”  Dianne said, “I don’t know.”

“Sounds like he really wanted to go out with you.”

“Yea.”

“Would you have gone out with him?”

“Yea, I would have.  I don’t know why he didn’t ask me out.  Maybe he didn’t want to get into trouble with his parents or something.  I don’t know.”

Dianne looked off into space.  Ariel looked at her friend, “You wanted him to ask you out didn’t you?”  Dianne looked at Ariel, “Yea, a little.”  Ariel started singing, “Dianne got a boyfriend.  Dianne got a boyfriend.”  Dianne hit Ariel on the arm, “Quit it.”  Ariel stopped singing, “Tell the truth, for real.  Do you like him?”  Dianne looked away from Ariel and then back at Ariel.  As much as Dianne didn’t want to admit it, she liked MaClandon a little bit.  Dianne said, “What if I don’t want to answer that question?”  Ariel responded, “You don’t have to, but I am going to make an assumption from your non response.”  Dianne didn’t say anything else.  Ariel talked for awhile about her husband, Greg.  Ariel left Dianne’s house after 10:00.  Dianne was left alone with a lot of thoughts, most of them involving MaClandon.

11/7/05 – 12,007 Words Total

2005-11-08T07:49:00.000-08:00

Wow, I am surprised as well as pleased that I wrote a total of 12,007 words yesterday.  I just started writing and the words flowed.  The story took a turn that I was not expecting, nor planning on doing yet.  It is cool though.

My novel is currently at 33,675 words.
I am so happy.  That’s far better than I did last year.  Come on, do a little dnace with me.

You can read yesterday’s work.  It turned out pretty good.

I created a blog for MaClandon totally by accident.  You can read what he wrote about Dianne in it.  You gotta read the story to see what I am talking about.  Here’s the link for that part.  Here’s the link… http://www.alwaysinspired.info/NaNo05-Mac/.  It is purely for the sake of the story.

Well, to today’s work.  Talk to you later.

Keep reading and thanks for reading.  Do not forget to let me know you came by.

11/7/05, 6:30 PM, 6,448 Words

2005-11-07T20:21:00.000-08:00

It was a long four months for MaClandon.  He almost wished that he hadn’t told his father that he liked Dianne.  MaClandon did everything that he could to be near Dianne without causing too much of a scene.  He wrote in his journal every time that he talked to Dianne.  Most of Mac’s journal entries were filled with descriptions of Dianne’s clothing and the smell of her perfume.  All in all, everything was positive.  There were three weeks when Mac didn’t speak to Dianne.

Bishop Adkins had just given the benediction to the Wednesday night service.  Mac made his way over to his aunt.  When he arrived to where his aunt was sitting, Dianne was not there.  Mac hugged his aunt and asked, “Where’s Dianne?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett responded, “She left after the offering.  She said that she had to get home early.”  Mac was dejected.  He would have to wait until Sunday to talk to Dianne.

On the following Sunday after the benediction, Mac headed to his aunt.  She was talking to Mother Andrew when he reached her.  Mac waited until his aunt finished and then walked over to his aunt.  He hugged her and escorted her back over to where she had been sitting.  Dianne was waiting on her.  Dianne said hi to Mac.  He ignored her.  Dianne didn’t pay any attention to her.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett told Mac and Dianne that she would be right back and went to talk to a few other people.  Mac sat down beside Dianne as if he were waiting for his aunt.  Dianne smiled at him and said, “Why didn’t you speak to me?”  Mac ignored her again.  Dianne frowned, “Ok, what is wrong with you?”  Mac looked at her, “Nothing.  It ain’t like you care anyway.”  Dianne made a face, “What are you talking about?”  Mac looked straight ahead, “Nothing.  Forget it.”  A man walked up to Dianne.  He said, “Can I talk to you for a second?”  Dianne said, “Okay.”  The man walked a few steps away from Dianne.  Dianne followed him.  Mac looked at the two of them and then went back to staring straight ahead.

The man said to Dianne, “I am Bro. Sheard.  Someone told me that you are the secretary for Bishop’s sister.”  Dianne smiled, “Yes, I am.  What can I do for you?”  Bro. Sheard said, “I need to get some information about her ministry.  I would like to get my daughters enrolled.”  Dianne smiled and began talking about the ministry.  Mac looked at Dianne and the man.  Dianne seemed to be talking and smiling at the man a lot.  Mac began to get jealous.  He turned and looked straight ahead again.  Dianne said, “I can give you the information for the ministry and you can bring your daughters by.”  Mac looked at Dianne and the man again.  Dianne was writing something on a piece of paper.  Mac didn’t like the looks of that.  He got upset.  Dianne shook Bro. Sheard’s hand and said, “Nice to meet you Bro. Sheard.  Hope to hear from you soon.”  Mac could not believe his ears.  Dianne was flirting with another man right in front of him.  He got so upset that he turned red.

Dianne walked back over to Mac.  She sat down and said, “Where is your aunt?”  Mac didn’t say anything to her.  Dianne sighed, “Are you still not talking to me?”  Mac turned and glared at Dianne.  Dianne looked startled, “What is wrong with you?”  Mac didn’t answer.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked over to the two of them.  She looked at Mac.  She looked mad and his face was red.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Dianne.  Dianne looked confused.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said to them, “Come on, ya’ll let’s go.”  Dianne and Mac stood up and walked with Dr. Adkins-Garnett to her office at the church.

They reached Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Mac, “Boy what is wrong with your face?”  Mac said, “Nothing.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett rolled her eyes, “Whatever.  Dianne, can you find the schedule for the ordination classes?”  Dianne nodded and walked over to Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s desk and began looking for what Dr. Adkins-Garnett had asked for.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “I will be right back.”  She walked out of the door.  Dianne looked up from the desk.  Mac was glaring at her.  She said, “Why are you looking at me like that?”  Mac said, “Why were you flirting with that guy in front of me?”  Dianne frowned, “What?”  Mac uncaringly said, “You know what I am talking about.  That guy who gave your number to.”  Dianne had to stop herself from laughing.  Mac was acting jealous.  She could not believe it.  She looked him up and down.  He looked nice in his dark blue suit, with gray shirt, tie, and shoes.  When Dianne didn’t answer him, Mac said, “Why did you give him your number?”  Dianne blew a breath, “You are tripping.”  Mac walked close to Dianne and said, “Are you going to tell me why you gave him your number or not?”  Dianne stood up and extended herself to her full height, “I am not telling you anything.  Whatever happened between Bro. Sheard and I is none of your business.”  Mac got mad, “I can’t stand you.”  Dianne got upset, “What did you just say to me?”  Mac said, “I can’t stand you.”  Dianne resisted the urge to curse him out.  She didn’t want to have to repent for cursing in church.  Dianne moved away from Mac and said, “Look, you little young behind joker, as if it were your business anyway, the man asked about By Example.  And I wrote down the contact information for the ministry.  You need to make you that you remember, we are not in a relationship and if I choose to give my number to anyone it is none of your business.  You need to take your young behind home before you get it hurt.  You have lost your mind talking to me like that.”  Mac got mad because Dianne called him young.  He said, “Forget you.”  Dianne walked up to Mac’s face, “Little boy, you are going to get hurt.”  Mac stared her down, “I ain’t no little boy.  You need to watch who you are calling names.”  Dianne could not believe how defiant Mac was acting.  He had never acted like that before.  Dianne stepped back, “I am going to leave before I do or say something wrong.”  Mac glared at her and said, “Whatever.  I don’t care.  I still ain’t no little boy and don’t call me that again!”  Dianne grabbed her stuff and walked out of the room.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked back into her office.  Mac was in there alone.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Mac, “Where is Dianne?”  Mac said, “I don’t know where she is and I really do not care!”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at her nephew, “You need to watch your tone with me.”  Mac stood up, “Whatever.”  He started to walk out of the room.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett stopped him, “Boy, have you lost your mind.  Who do you think you are talking to?”  Mac ignored his aunt.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett put her hands on her face, “Bye MaClandon.”  Mac left his aunt’s office.  He knew his aunt was mad at him because she called him MaClandon.  The only time she called him that was when she was mad at him.

Dianne tried to talk to Mac at the next few services, but he ignored her.  Dianne could not figure out what was going on with him.  After awhile, she stopped trying to talk to him.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett noticed that Mac was acting funny towards Dianne.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett could not figure out what was going on.  She knew that eventually, Mac wouldn’t be mad at Dianne anymore.

Dianne walked into Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office.  Dianne asked, “Can I talk to you for a second?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Dianne, “Yea.  Do we need to close the door?”  Dianne walked over to the door and closed it.  She sat down in a chair.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “What’s going on?”  Dianne sighed, “I cannot believe I am even entertaining this, but MaClandon has spoken to me for like two weeks.  I can’t believe he is still mad at me.  Do you know how long he is going to stay mad at me?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “I can’t believe it either.  It all depends on what happened.  What happened?”  Dianne sighed again and told Dr. Adkins-Garnett what happened.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s mouth dropped open a couple of times.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s expressions went from startled to surprised to concerned.  When Dianne finished Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “Oh my goodness.  He really acted like that?”  Dianne responded, “Yes Mame.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett thought for a moment and then she said, “Did you try apologizing to him?”  Before Dianne realized what happened, she had gotten upset and raises her voice, “Apologize to him!  You joking right.  There is no way that I am apologizing to him! He needs to apologize to me!”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Dianne, “Calm down.  I just asked a question.”  Dianne calmed down, “Sorry.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “All I can tell you is to just wait on him to decide he wants to talk to you.  He has a habit of holding grudges.  That’s just how he is.  I would suggest just keep speaking to him and don’t let his actions bother you.”  Dianne looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “If you say so.”  Dianne stood up and walked out of Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett hadn’t helped her at all.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett and her husband Kevon were eating dinner.  Kevon had to keep repeating things to his wife.  He could tell that she had something on her mind.  Finally he said, “Denise!  What is on your mind?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at her husband, “Why are you talking to me like that?”  Kevon responded, “I am sitting here trying to talk to you and you are ignoring me.  What is on your mind?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “Your silly nephew.”  Kevon said, “Which one?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett responded, “MaClandon.”  Kevon said, “What is wrong with him?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett told her husband what Dianne had told her and how Mac had been acting towards Dianne.  Kevon laughed after his wife finished her story.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett got upset, “What are you laughing at?”  Kevon said, “YOUR nephew.  That boy is sprung.  If she were to give that boy some, he would probably lose his mind.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked stunned, “I cannot believe you just said that.”  Kevon covered his mouth a she laughed.  He said, “You know I am telling the truth.  Besides, Dianne was right.  It isn’t any of Mac’s business who Dianne gives her number to.  They aren’t in a relationship.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett knew her husband was right.  Kevon wanted to make his wife feel better so he said, “I will talk to the boy.”

Kevon drove over to Mac’s house.  He knocked on the door.  Donnyea opened the door.  She said, “Hello, Eld. Garnett.  Come in.”  Eld. Garnett said, “Hello.”  He said hello to the other people who were in the living room and then he asked, “Where is Mac?”  Everyone pointed towards Mac’s room.  Eld. Garnett said, “Thanks,” as he headed up the stairs.

Mac heard a knock on the door.  He got up from his computer and walked over to the door.  He opened.  His uncle was standing at the door.  Mac invited his uncle in.  His uncle sat down in the chair that was at the computer desk.  Mac sat down on his bed, “What’s up Unc?”

“Your aunt is worried about you.”

“Why?”

“She says that you have been acted crazy towards Dianne.”

Mac’s demeanor changed, “Why she worried about how I treat that girl?”

“You got me.  I just told her I would talk to you about it.  What’s going on between you and Dianne?”

“Ain’t nothing going on between us.  She made that painfully clear.”

Eld. Garnett acted as if he didn’t know what had happened, “What are you talking about?”  Mac told his uncle what happened.  When Mac finished, Eld. Garnett said, “You shouldn’t have asked her anything about what happened with Bro. Sheard.  It was not any of your business.”

“She didn’t have to call me young and a little boy.”

“Apparently, that’s what you were acting like.”

“I can’t believe you are taking her side!”

“Mac, I am not taking her side.  I am just telling you what is right.  You and Dianne are only FRIENDS.  And I ain’t even sure that you all are friends.  You just speak to her when she is at church.  Are you upset that she supposedly GAVE another man her number or that she hadn’t given you’re her number?”

Mac got quiet, “You still taking her side.”

“No, I’m not.  Answer my question.”

“She ain’t ever gotta give me her number.  I do not want it anyway.”

“Yea, right.  Why don’t you just tell her how you feel, instead of acting like a little boy and ignoring her?”

“Yea, whatever Unc.  Anything else?”

Eld. Garnett looked at his nephew, “Naw.  I’ll talk to you later.  Bye.”  Eld. Garnett left Mac’s room and his nephew’s house.

A week after Mac had talked to his uncle; he went up to By Example Ministries.  The only person in the lobby was Dianne.  After he walked in the door, he walked over to Dianne and said frostily, “Can I talk to you?”  Dianne looked apprehensive, “Uhh, yea.”  Mac walked towards the exit door.  Dianne didn’t move.  Mac stopped walking and turned around, “can you come with me, please?”  Dianne stood up and walked towards Mac.  Mac started walking when Dianne got close to him.  They walked outside and to the back of the building.  Mac sat down on the bench.  Dianne sat down beside of him.  Mac looked Dianne up and down.  She looked good in her spring dress.  It was light pink with dark pink flowers on it.  She had on pink sling back heels that matched the color of the dark pink flowers.  Dianne felt good that Mac was checking her out, but she wasn’t going to let him know that.  She said, “I thought you wanted to talk to me.  You didn’t say anything about looking at me.”  Mac sighed, “Yea.  I’m mad at you.”

“That’s painfully obvious.  You refuse to speak to me, even after I speak to you.”

“You called me a little boy.”

“You were acting like one.”

“I know.  I was upset because I thought you were giving old boy your number and you hadn’t given me your number.”

“You never asked me for my number.”

“You wouldn’t have given it to me anyway.”

“How do you know?  You didn’t ask.”

“Ok, you still didn’t have to call me a little boy.”

“You shouldn’t have been acting like one.”

“Ok, I shouldn’t have been.  You still hurt my feelings.”

“Ok.”

“You aren’t going to apologize, are you?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

Dianne made a face, “I do not owe you an apology.”

“You still could give me one anyway.”

“Are you going to apologize to me?”

“For what?”

“For calling me a liar, talking crazy to me, and for being rude to me for the last three weeks.”

“You sure are specific.”

“Whatever, MaClandon.  I don’t have time for this.”

“You are so impatient.”

“You are starting to get on my nerves.”

“Still impatient.  I am trying to make up with you woman.”

“Ok fine.  We have made up.  I’m leaving.”

“Dang, girl, you so mean.  Gone and leave then.”

Dianne stood up and walked off.  Mac sat outside for a few minutes.  Dianne looked up when Mac walked in the door.  She stared at her computer screen as if she were working hard.  Mac stopped at her desk and said, “Is my aunt in there with someone?”  Dianne glowered at Mac, “no.  But she is busy.”  Mac made a face, “Can you tell her I am out here?”  Dianne said, “No.”  Mac glared at Dianne.  He walked over to his aunt’s door and knocked on it.  After a few seconds, his aunt opened the door.  She saw her nephew and said, “Hey.  What are you doing here?”  Mac responded, “I came to see the most beautiful woman in the world.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett could tell that the comment was meant more for Dianne that for her.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “Yea, right.  Come on in here.”  Mac closed the door behind them.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett sat down at her desk, “I see that you too are still fighting.”  Mac sighed, “Yea, cause she is a stubborn old woman.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “If she’s old, then what does that make me?”  Mac smiled, “Refined.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Quit being cute.  What do you want?  I am busy.”  Mac sighed, “What do I gotta do to make her not be mad at me?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett responded, “Did you try apologizing?”  Mac said, “She wouldn’t let me.  She was tripping and walked off.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “Knowing how you apologize, she probably did.”  Mac laid his head on the back of the chair and looked at the ceiling, “I have got to be out of my mind.  Why did you invite her to church anyway?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “First of all, do not try to lay this one on me.  This is your fault.  You and your thing for older women.  You got yourself into this mess.”  Mac sighed, “Come on aunnie.  Can’t you get me out of this mess?  I would love you forever.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “You gotta love me forever whether or not I help you out.”  Mac gave his aunt his puppy dog eyes.  He knew that she wouldn’t be able to resist them.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett glared at her nephew, “Do not even try that with me.”  He kept making puppy dog eyes at his aunt.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “Quit it, boy.”  Mac sang, “Please aunnie.  I love you.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett flared her nostrils, “You get on my nerves.”  Mac smiled innocently at his aunt as she stood up and walked from behind her desk.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked out of her office and over to Dianne’s desk.  Dianne looked up at Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled at Dianne, “Would you please go in my office and talk to my knuckled headed nephew.  He refuses to leave unless you go talk to him.”  Dianne made a weary face, “Dr. Garnett, I do not want to talk to him.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett sighed, “He isn’t going to leave either one of us alone, unless you do.  I can watch the phones while you do.”  Dianne didn’t move.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett bit her lip and then said, “Please, for me?”  Dianne sighed, “Alright.  This is unbelievable.”  Dianne stood up and walked towards Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office.  Dianne muttered, “This boy is getting on my last nerve.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett responded, “I feel the same way.”  Dianne looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett before she walked in the office.

Dianne walked in the office, “What do you want now?”  Mac smiled at the hostile woman standing in front of him, “Can you sit down, please?  You are scaring me.”  Dianne didn’t move.  Mac played with his collar, “Ok.  I guess you can’t.”  Dianne smacked her lips, “MaClandon, what!”  Mac looked down at the ground and then back up at Dianne, “You are making this hard for me.”

“I really do not care.”

“Why you gotta be so mean?”

“Because you are working my nerves.”

“I am not trying to.”

“What are you trying to do?”

“Apologize.”

Dianne rubbed her head as she sat down, “MaClandon, I am tired.  Can we please get this over with?”  Mac looked dejected.  He finally said, “Sorry for acting silly.  Sorry for calling you a liar.  Sorry for acting crazy.  Sorry for being rude.”  Dianne looked at Mac, “Ok.  I’ll talk to you later.”  She stood up.  Mac stood up with it her, “We aren’t finished yet.”  Dianne said, “What now?”  Mac said, “You haven’t said if you accept my apology or not.”  Dianne made a face, “Are you serious?”  Mac smiled, “Yep.”  Dianne rubbed her jaw, sighed, and then said, “Ok, I accept your apology.  Are we through now?”  Mac smiled, “Nope.  I gotta ask you something first.  Are we friends?”  Dianne looked puzzled, “What?”  Mac asked, “Are we friends?”  Dianne sat down, “I don’t know.  I never really thought about it.  I guess so.”  Mac sat down as he twisted his lips, “I need a yes or no answer.”  Dianne sighed, “Yes, we are.”  Mac said, “Cool.  We have to hug.”  Dianne frowned her eyebrows, “Why?”  Mac smiled, “It is in the friendship handbook.  Clause 42.7…  After friends have had a fight, they must hug.”  Dianne suppressed her urge to giggled, “You’re silly.”  Mac laughed, “I know.  That’s why I almost made you laugh.”  Dianne made a mean face, “No, you didn’t.”  Mac said, “If you say so.  Where’s my hug?”  Dianne said, “I am not hugging you.  You might enjoy it too much.”  Mac smiled, “Probably.”  Dianne shook her head, “Is there a clause in the friendship handbook that says we can do something else in place of a hug?”  Mac thought for a second and then he said, “Nope.  We got hug to make it official.”  Dianne made a face, “You are serious, aren’t you?”  Mac steadfastly said, “Yes.”  Dianne sighed, “I don’t want to hug you.”  Mac responded, “Why not?”  Dianne made a face, “You are killing me.  Can this just be over, please?”  Mac looked sad, “Yea, I guess so.  If you want it to be.”  Dianne looked relieved, “Thanks.  Can I leave now?”  Mac groaned, “Yea.  If you want to.”  Dianne started to leave and then she stopped, “If I do not hug you, are you going to ignore me again?”  Mac coldly said, “Naw.  We cool.”

Dianne walked out of the office door and back over to her desk.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett saw Dianne and stood up and walked from around the desk.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked back into her office where she saw Mac sitting with his head drooped over.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “What’s wrong now?”  Mac sighed, “I am crazy about her and she thinks I am some young joker.  She is never going to go out with me.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett sat down next to her nephew.  She put her arm around his shoulder, “Maybe it is for the best.  She is older than you.”  Mac looked at his aunt, “I have the worst luck with women.  First, Sabrina treats me like crap and then I fall for an older woman.  I can’t win for losing.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett rubbed her nephew’s back, “It is not that bad.”  Mac sounded like he was going to start crying, “It ain’t far.  Mec can walk up to any girl he wants and she all but falls out of her panties.  I walk up to girls and they ask me computer questions.  We look just alike.  Why does he get all of the girls?”  Dianne rubbed her nephew back some more, “I can’t answer that question.  Mec couldn’t get Dianne to give him the time of day, but you have been able to talk to her.”  Mac sighed, “Yea, but Dianne is a woman, not a girl.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “I know sweetie.  You’ll be okay.”  Mac voice sounded wobbly, “No, I won’t.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett made Mac sit up, “Quit feeling sorry for yourself.”  Mac looked at his aunt, “Unc is younger than you.  Why can’t I date Dianne?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Kevon is only six years younger than me.  For the record, I never said that you couldn’t date Dianne.”  Mac twisted his lips, “I guess so.  I’m going home and curl up in my bed.”  Dianne popped her nephew on his arm, “You need to quit.”  Mac stood up.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett stood up.  Mac hugged his aunt, “Thanks aunnie.  I love you.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett responded, “Love you, too.”

Mac walked out of Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office.  He walked over to Dianne’s desk.  Dianne looked at him.  He smiled at her.  She didn’t respond in kind.  He licked his tongue out at her.  She made a face.  Mac walked over to a chair and sat down in it.  Dianne watched him.  After he sat down, Dianne went back to work.  Mac pretended to read a magazine.  Dianne paid him no attention.  Every few seconds, Mac would move the magazine from in front of his face and smile at Dianne.  She ignored him, shook her head at him, rolled her eyes at him, and made a face at him.  It didn’t deter him.  After awhile Mac walked over to her and whispered in her ear, “I am not going anywhere, so you might as well get used to me being around.”  Dianne looked up at Mac.  She made a crazy face at him.  He smiled and kissed her on the jaw.  He ran out of the building before she could respond.  Dianne sat at her desk, shocked and baffled.

When Dianne left the building to go home for the day, she had a surprise waiting on her.  Mac walked up behind her as she was unlocking her car.  He whispered, “Hey friend.”  Dianne jerked around, “Boy, you scared me.  I thought you left.”  Mac smiled, “Nope, I didn’t.  I was waiting on you.  When was the last time you did something silly, that didn’t make any sense?”  Dianne looked at Mac, “I do not remember.  I do not do silly things.”  Mac smiled, “Let’s go do something silly?”  Dianne said, “I have been at work all day.  I want to go home.”  Mac grabbed Dianne’s hand, “I have been up since 4:00 this morning.”  Dianne made a face, “So what?”  Mac rolled his head, “Can you give me a break, just once?”  Dianne rolled her eyes, “Alright, what do you wanna go do?”  Mac smiled excitedly, “It is a surprise.”  Mac opened Dianne’s door and then walked around to the passenger side and got in the car.  Dianne started the car and pulled out of the parking space.  When Dianne reached the end of the parking lot, she turned to Mac and said, “Which way?”  Mac smiled at her, “Right.”  Mac gave Dianne a series of directions in between talking to her.

“Are you rich?”

“You sure are nosey.  I don’t know, I guess it all depends on what you consider rich.”

“Do you have a lot of money?  Turn left at the stop sign.”

“Why did you ask me that anyway?”

“I have known you for like six months, and I have yet to see you wear the same pair of shoes twice, much less the same outfit twice.”

Dianne laughed.  Mac laughed, too.

“I’m not rich.  I just have a good stock broker.”

“I own some stock.  It’s like 10 shares of Shimmers Inc.  Kourtnee Adams gave it to me as a graduation present.  I don’t follow it much, though.”

“You should.  If you have a good stock broker, you can make a little money from it.”

“So are you rich or what?”

“No, I’m not rich.  Does it make a difference?”

“Nope, just asking.  Make a right.”

“Where are we going?”

“I already told you that it was a surprise.”

They drove for about 30 minutes before they ended up at Happy Way Station.  Dianne looked at Mac like he was crazy, “What are we doing here?”  Mac smiled at her, “I know someone who works here.  It’s a surprise.  Come on.”  Dianne didn’t move, “I am not dressed to be in there.”  Mac twisted his lips, “Don’t worry about it.  Come on.”

They walked into Happy Way Station.  They walked up to the counter.  Mac asked a teenage looking girl where somebody named Lucky was.  The girl pointed towards the bowling alley.  Mac grabbed Dianne’s hand and headed towards the bowling alley.  They walked up to a heavy set guy in a grungy t-shirt.  Mac asked Dianne to wait for a second and walked off with Lucky.  After a few minutes, Mac walked back over to Dianne, “You are going to have to take off your shoes.”  Dianne looked down at her shoes and then at her $7.00 stockings, “I am not taking off my shoes.”  Mac protested, “Please, for me.  I am going to have to take off mine.”  Dianne made a face, “Alright, but I am not going to like it.”  Mac smiled and grabbed her hand again.  They followed Lucky through a door.  They walked down a hall and then through another door.  Lucky said, “Out of those shoes.”  Mac took his shoes off.  Dianne leaned up against the wall and took off her shoes.  She looked at Mac, “If I tear my stockings, you are going to buy me some more.”  Mac laughed.  Lucky led them to a door and said, “You got twenty minutes.”  Mac said, “Cool.  Thanks, Lucky.”  Mac took Dianne’s hand and led her down a hallway.  As they walked down the hallway, the sound of balls crashing into pins began to sound.  The further they walked down the hall, the louder the sound became.  Mac leaned into and talked into her ear, “Be careful.”  He helped her up on a crate.  He sat on the crate next to her.  She leaned close to him and asked, “Where are we?”  Mac said, “Behind the bowling lanes.  Look.”  Mac pointed to an arm that was moving the pins out of the way.  Dianne felt silly watching pins go back and forth.  She looked at Mac; he seemed content watching the pins.  She leaned over to him, “This is not making sense.  Why are we here?”  Mac watched the pins, “It’s not supposed to make sense.”  Dianne shook her head and watched the mechanical arms, pins, and bowling balls do their thing.

After awhile Mac said, “Come on, let’s go.”  He helped Mac down and they went down the hallway, through the doors, until they were back in the hallway where they had taken their shoes off.  Mac led Dianne to an office door.  Mac knocked on the door.  A voice said, “Come on in.”  Mac opened the door for Dianne.  He walked in after Dianne.  Mac looked at Lucky, “Can I show her the computer?”  Lucky said, “Yea.  I’ll be out in front.  Ya’lls shoes are on the shelf over there.  See ya’ll.”  He walked out of the office.  Mac walked over to the computer.  Dianne followed him.  Mac made a program come up on the screen.  He looked at Dianne, “I helped design the software that runs the bowling lanes.”  Dianne looked at the computer screen and then at Mac, “Are you serious?”  Mac smiled, “Yea.  Me and one of my homeboys from college.  It was for a class project.  We got an “A” on it.  It forever to do, though.  We felt pretty good after we finished with it.”  Dianne said, “Just two of you worked on it?”  Mac smiled, “Yep, two of us.”  Dianne smiled at Mac, “Wow.”  Mac smiled, “I can make the balls or pins do what I want them to do.  It can be pretty funny messing with people’s heads.”  Dianne looked sternly at Mac, “Don’t do that.  That’s mean.”  Mac look shameful, “Yes, Mame.”  Mac left the computer and walked over to the shelf where their shoes were.  He motioned for Dianne to give him her foot.  She complied.  Mac wiped off the bottom of her right foot and put her shoe on her foot.  He did the same for the left foot.  Dianne smiled.  He smiled back at her.  After he put on his shoes, he said, “You ready to go?”  Dianne stood up, “Yea.”  They left the office and went back out into the building.  They found Lucky and walked over to him.

Lucky looked Dianne up and down before he said, “You must be special.  You are the first girl… Uhh, lady that he has shown this to.”  Dianne looked at Mac.  Mac shrugged his shoulders.  Lucky eyeballed Dianne again and then he said, “Mac, my boy.  You do have good taste.  Very good taste.”  Lucky laughed loudly.  Dianne looked at Mac.  He shrugged his shoulders again.  Dianne made a face at him.  Lucky said, “Ya’ll want something to eat.  It’s on the house.”  Dianne said, “I’m ok.”  Lucky responded, “Come on, you can class the place up for once.  Good as you looking.”  Mac walked over and stood close to Dianne and said, “Lucky, she is my girl.  Watch yourself.”  Lucky looked at Dianne and asked, “You his girl?”  Dianne looked at Lucky, “Yes.”  Lucky snarled, “Ok.  Mac, you better keep her close to you then.  I may try to take her from you.”  Lucky laughed loudly as he walked away.

Mac led Dianne in the direction of the food stand.  Dianne asked, “What is up with him?”  Mac said, “That’s Lucky.  We can go somewhere else and get something to eat if you want to.”  Dianne looked around the building.  She had never been in a place like this, in all her life.  She could not believe it either.  She began to feel sad.  Tears began to form in her eyes.  Mac looked at her, “You okay?”  Dianne said, “Not really, can we get out of here?”  Mac said, “Yea. We can.”  They walked towards the door.  They left the building and walked to Dianne’s car.  After they got in the car, Mac asked, “Are you okay now?”  Dianne sat very still and didn’t answer Mac.  Mac didn’t press Dianne for an answer.

A few minutes later Dianne said, “I am okay.”  Mac looked at Dianne tenderly.  Dianne felt as if Mac could see right through her.  She looked away from him.  Mac asked, “Do you wanna go get something to eat?”  Dianne wanted to say yes.  She wanted to say no.  She wanted Mac to hold her right hen and make the pain that she was feeling go away.  She didn’t know what to do.  She just started crying.

Mac grabbed Dianne and brought her to his chest.  He rubbed her back and let her cry.  He let her cry for five minutes.  Dianne didn’t even try to stop herself from crying.  After Dianne stopped crying, she said, “I am okay.”  Mac didn’t let her go.  He said, “Are you sure?  I don’t mind if you stay right here.”  Dianne shifted in Mac’s arms, “I don’t need to.  You can let me go.”  Mac let her go.  He took his and wiped the tears from her eyes.  Dianne moved his hand from her face.  Mac didn’t try to wipe her face again.  Dianne smiled at him, “Thanks.  Sorry I missed up your shirt.”  Mac looked down at his shirt, “Don’t worry about it.  I can wash it.”  Dianne laid her head on the headrest.  Mac asked, “Do you want to go home?”  Dianne said, “I am ok.  We can go get something to eat.”  Mac smiled, “Cool.  Have you ever been to Hazel’s Soul Food?”  Dianne said, “No, I haven’t.”  Mac said, “It’s in Absanie.  Is that too far?”  Dianne responded, “No.”  Mac said, “Cool.”

Mac and Dianne had ordered their food.  They had said much on the ride to the restaurant or while they waited.  Mac wasn’t sure what to do.  He didn’t want to risk upsetting Dianne anymore than she already was.  Mac convinced himself to take a chance.  He asked, “What upset you back at Happy Way?”  Dianne looked off.  Mac grabbed her hand that was on the table and held it.  Dianne looked at Mac and said, “That was the first time I had ever been in a place like that.”  Mac looked surprised, “Really?  Wow.”  Dianne said, “Yea.”  Mac responded, “Not even as a kid?”  Dianne said, “Nope, not even as a child.”  They didn’t talk much after that, not even while they ate.

As they were driving home Mac said, “I am good at bringing up sad memories for you.  Sorry.”  Dianne said, “You can’t know what will bring up bad memories for me.”  Mac twisted his lips, “I only want you to have good memories when you’re with me.”  Dianne smiled, “Thanks.”  They rode in silence for awhile longer.

Dianne broke the silence when she said, “Where do you live?”  Mac said, “Close to the church.  Where do you stay?”  Dianne responded, “Not near the church.”  Mac laughed.  Dianne asked, “How do you get to your house?”  Mac thought for a second.  He didn’t want his nosey friends to know about Dianne.  He said, “Do you know where my aunt stays?”  Dianne said, “I know her address.”  Mac asked, “Is that closer to where you live?”  Dianne said, “Yea.”  Mac said, “You can drop me off over there.”  Dianne asked, “Are you sure?”  Mac said, “Yea.”  They headed to Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s house.  They didn’t say anything else after that.

They arrived at Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s house.  Dianne pulled up into the driveway, “Here you go.  Your aunt has a nice house.”  Mac asked, “You wanna come in?”  Dianne said, “Naw.  I gotta get home.”  Mac said, “It’s cool.  My aunt nem won’t mind.”  Dianne shook her head, “Naw, I don’t think I should.”  Mac shrugged his shoulders, “Ok.  I had a great time tonight.”  Dianne smiled, “Me too.”  Mac smiled, “If my father finds out about this, he may kill me.”  Dianne looked baffled, “huh?”  Mac said, “My father told me to wait until April and then see how I felt about you before I went out with you.”  Dianne made a face, “You told your father that you liked me.”  Mac smiled, “Yea, I did.”  Dianne looked perplexed, “Oh my goodness.  He probably thinks I am a cradled robber.”  Mac laughed, “Naw.  He thinks his son is nuts.”  Dianne blew a breath, “I cannot believe you told your father.”  Mac responded, “I talk to m father about a lot of stuff.  He’s cool about most of the things I talk to him about.”  Dianne looked out the window.  She could not even imagine what a real father child relationship was like.  Mac felt bad, talking about his father, knowing that Dianne’s father was deceased.  Mac said, “I’m going to go.  I’ll see you later.”  Dianne looked at Mac, “Ok.  Thanks for tonight.  I had a good time, despite crying like a baby.”  Mac smiled, “Cool.  You’re welcomed.  I’m glad you had fun.  Later.”  Mac opened the door and got out of the car.  He waved at Dianne until she was out of sight.  He went to his aunt’s door and knocked on it.  He was smiling from ear to ear when his uncle answered the door.

11/07/05, 4PM, 3,162 Words

2005-11-07T20:20:00.000-08:00

MaClandon was enjoying having Dianne as a friend, but he knew that he wanted to explore more than friendship with Dianne.  He wasn’t sure what to do.  He would have asked his brother, but Mec would just tease, as well as his other friends.  Mac didn’t want to be teased.  He decided to talk to his father about the situation.

Mac rode the bus up to the Greater Buelahland Interdenomational House of Rest, the church that his father, Bishop J. Berry Adkins, founded and pastored.  Mac walked into the church and up the stairs to where his father’s office was.  His father’s secretary greeted him, “Hey Mac, what are you doing up here?”  Mac responded, “I wanted to talk to my father.”  The secretary responded, “He is in there counseling someone right now.  They should be through in 30 minutes.  You can come back then.  I will tell him that you want to talk to him.  I will put you on his schedule, so he won’t get tied up in something else.”  Mac said, “Ok.  Thanks.”  He stood up and left his father’s office.  Mac walked down the stairs and outside the church.  He wasn’t sure what he was going to do for 30 minutes.

Mac picked a direction and started walking.  He wasn’t sure where he was going to end up, but he set his alarm to ring in 10 minutes, so he could turn around and walk back to the church to talk to his father.  It was cold, but it was not as cold as normally was in January in the city of Dorinda.  It was pretty outside.  The sun shined brightly, but it offered no warmth.  Mac looked at the dead trees that usually wore bright green leaves.  He walked passed several houses that were next to the church.  As he passed Mrs. Colbert’s house, he saw that she was sitting on her porch.  She waved at him.  He waved back.  He kept on walking though because if he would have gotten wrapped up in a conversation with Mrs. Colbert, he would be there for awhile, a long while.  He walked for a few more minutes and ended up at the corner of Washington Street.  He didn’t want to cross the street, so he turned around and went back to the church.  When he reached the church, he went inside and walked up to his father’s office.  He would just have to wait for his father to be finished.

After Mac entered his father’s office, he sat down on a chair and waited for his father.  After about ten minutes, the door opened and a woman walked out, followed by Bishop Adkins.  Bishop looked at his son and smiled.  The woman talked to Bishop’s secretary and Bishop waved Mac into the office.

Mac walked up t o his father, “Bishop.  God bless you, sir.”  Bishop grabbed his son by the neck, “Boy quit acting silly and get in there.”  Bishop closed the door behind him after he walked into the office.  Mac sat down in one of the chairs in his father’s office.  His father sat down behind his desk, “What is up, son?  I got a message that you wanted to talk to me.”  Mac smiled, “Yea, I need to talk to you.”

“What do you want to talk about?”

“Uhh, there is this girl that I like.  I need your advice about it.”

“Who do you like?”

“It’s the lady that sits by Aunt Denise.”

“Not Sis. Taylor.”

“Very funny.  Come on dad, she is too old for even me.”

“You need to quit talking about my members like that, boy.  Plus, you do like them old.”

“You are the one who mentioned her.  I didn’t.”

“You like the other lady that sits next to your aunt?  The one that dresses like she is rich.”

“Yea, her name is Dianne.”

“How old is she?”

“She’s like 30 something I think.”

“Boy, are you sure?  I think she is older than that.”

“Yes, I am sure.  I like her.  She is cool.”

Bishop was quiet for a few minutes.  His oldest sons had put a number of the gray hairs that he wore on his head.  He could not believe that his son was sitting in his office telling him that he had feelings for a woman that had to be older than 30.  If she wasn’t she sure looked like it.  That woman had to be out of his son’s league.  The way she dressed, carried herself, and acted, she was way out of his son’s league.  Bishop thought to himself, “Lord, will this boy ever like a girl his age?  What should I tell him?”  Mac interrupted his father’s thoughts, “Dad, are you okay?”  Bishop looked at his son, “yea.  Have you talked to Sis. Dianne?”  Mac responded, “Yes.  I have talked to her a lot.”

“What have you all talked about?”

“Church, her job, clothes, and stuff like that.”

“Where does she work?”

“She works for Aunt Denise, at By Example.”

“That’s right.  Your aunt told me about that.  Your aunt is always talking about her.  Does your aunt know you like her secretary?”

“Yea, she knows.  She doesn’t say much to me about it though.”

“When do you talk to Sis. Dianne?”

“At church, when she is with Aunt Denise.”

“That’s good.”

“Come on dad, I don’t want the church busy body running their mouths.”

“I am glad.  Lord knows they have enough to run their mouths about.  If they got wind of this, they would have a fit.”

“I know.”  They both laughed.  Bishop said, “Why don’t you do this?  For the next four months, keep a journal about how you feel about her when you see her and talk to her at church, like you have.  We can look at it at the end of April and if you still feel the same then, we can go from there.”  Mac made a face, “For four months.”  Bishop responded, “Yep.  Starting next month.”  Mac looked at the ground and then back at his father, “Alright.  I guess so.”  His father smiled, “I didn’t tell you to stop talking to her did I?”  Mac smiled, “No, you didn’t.”  Bishop nodded and then said, “What are you doing off from work so early.  It’s 2:00 in the afternoon, shouldn’t you still be at work?”  Mac smiled, “Dad, I have told you this forever.  I go in when I wake up and then I leave after I have worked 8 hours.  Today, I went in at 4:00.”  Bishop laughed, “You wake up too early for me.”  The two of them talked for awhile longer before Mac hugged his father and left.

It was 2:13 when Mac walked outside the church.  He decided to go up to By Example Ministries.  It would be a 30 minute bus ride up there.  The bus was scheduled to come to his stop at 2:46.  He wanted to go up to his aunt’s office and see Dianne.  Mac waited for the bus with a smile on his face.

Mac stepped off the bus.  He walked two blocks and went into the building that housed his aunt’s ministry.  When he walked in, Dianne was sitting at the desk that Charlotte used to occupy.  It looked funny, not walking in and seeing Charlotte.  Dianne was a pleasant sight to see; at least she was to Mac.  She looked as beautiful as ever.  She was wearing a black, multi-colored sweater.  From under the bottom of the desk, Mac could see her black boots.  Her feet were crossed at the ankle.  She was on the phone.  Mac waved at her.  She smiled back at him.  Mac sat down in one of the chairs in the lobby of the building and pretending to read the magazine that he had picked up.

Dianne said, “Dr. Adkins-Garnett can meet with you on Tuesday, at 3:00 PM.  If that doesn’t work, she has time available on Thursday morning.”  Dianne paused for a moment, “Okay, Tuesday at 3:00.  I will put you on her schedule.”  Dianne paused again, “You’re welcomed.  See you on Tuesday.  Good bye.”  Dianne hung up the phone.  Instead of saying anything to MaClandon, she pretended to type something on the computer.  Mac lowered the magazine that he had in his hand.  He looked at Dianne.  She still ignored him.  He couldn’t believe that he was ignoring her.  He was about to say something to her when Sis. Carey walked into the lobby, “Thank you, Lord.  Mac, I need you to come look at the computer in this room.  This thing is acting up like crazy.”  Mac looked at Sis. Carey, “Uhh, Sis. Carey, I hadn’t planned on working today.  Maybe you can just switch computers.”  Sis. Carey got frustrated, “Boy, you work on the computers up here right.”  She didn’t wait for Mac to answer, “You are here, so you can work.  Now, come on in here and look at this computer.”  Mac looked at Dianne and motioned for her to help him out.  Dianne smiled, “Sis. Carey, I am sure that MaClandon would be more than happy to help you out.”  Mac looked at Dianne like she had lost her mind.  He made a face at her before he stood up and went with Sis. Carey.

Mac came back into the lobby.  Dianne saw him and laughed.  He walked over to her desk, “You are so mean.  I can’t believe that you did that.”  Dianne gave him a sweet smile.  He rolled his eyes, “You still mean.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s voice came over the intercom, “Dianne.  Is that my nephew out there?”  Dianne pushed the intercom button, “Yes, it is.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s voice said, “Mac, come in here.  This computer is acting crazy.”  Mac made a face at Dianne, “You have got to be kidding me.  I would ask you to help me out, but you so mean, you wouldn’t.”  Mac made a face at Dianne before he made his way to his aunt’s office.

Mac walked out of his aunt’s office.  His plan to spend time with Dianne had been thwarted at every turn.  There wasn’t much time left for him to spend time with Dianne.  An idea popped into his head.  He walked over to Dianne’s desk and walked behind it.  He said, “Let me check your computer while I am here.”  Dianne looked up at him, “There is nothing wrong with my computer.” Mac motioned for her to stand up, “Let me check it anyway.  Can I have the chair?”  Dianne stood up and leaned up against the credenza that sat next to the desk.  She said, “You ain’t slick.  I know what you are doing.”  Mac looked here up and down, twice before he said, “Yea, checking out your computer.  You got a problem with that.”  Mac looked at the black jeans that Dianne had on.  She looked good in those jeans.  Dianne said, “No and quit checking me out.”  Mac looked Dianne up and down again, “What makes you think I am checking you out?”  Dianne blew a breath, “Whatever.  How long are you going to be?”  Mac smiled, “A few minutes.  Can I ask you something?”  Dianne shifted her position, “Yea, I guess.”  Mac looked at her, “How old are you?”  Dianne made a face, “Why do you want to know?”  Mac didn’t look at her.  He said, “Cause I asked.”  Dianne kicked the chair.  Mac looked up, “I thought you didn’t want me to check you out.  Why are you trying to get my attention?”  Dianne made a face, “Whatever.”  Dianne moved and started to walk from behind the desk.  Mac moved the chair and blocked her path.  Dianne tapped him on his shoulder, “Would you move out of the way?”  Mac didn’t move, “Nope.”  Dianne made a face, “Do not make me call your aunt.”  Mac said, “Aunnie, come here.”  Dianne made a face, “You stupid.”  Mac laughed, “Yea, but you like me.”  Dianne smacked her lips, “Boy, please, no I do not!”  Mac laughed and then worked his neck as he said, “Why you gotta get an attitude?”  Dianne made a face.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked out of her office, “Boy, why are you screaming like you are out in the country?”  Mac smiled, pointed at Dianne, and then said, “She hit me.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled and shook her head, “Dianne, leave him alone and let him work.  Dianne looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “You joking right.  I did not hit him.”  Dianne blew a breath and then leaned back up against the credenza.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett winked at her nephew and then walked towards her office.  Dianne rolled her eyes after Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked pass her.  Mac said, “Aunnie, she just rolled her eyes at you.”  Dianne almost fell off the credenza.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett took three steps backwards and looked at Dianne, “Do not roll your eyes at me anymore.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked to her office.

Dianne punched Mac in his arm, hard.  Mac grabbed the spot that Dianne had hit, “What you do that for?”  Dianne rolled her eyes, “You are so childish.”  Mac made a face, “I was just playing, you ain’t have to hit me.”  Dianne walked pass him, “Whatever.”  Mac smiled as she sat down in the chair that he was sitting in earlier, “You mad at me?”  Dianne ignored him.  Mac stopped what he was doing and walked over to where she was and sat down beside her.  He looked at her, “You mad at me?”  Dianne still ignored him.  Mac leaned close to her and whispered, “I like your outfit.”  Dianne looked at him, “That isn’t going to work.”  Mac smiled, “It already did.”  He laughed.  Dianne stood up.  Mac stood up, too, “Where are you going?”  Dianne popped her hip, “Back to my desk, if you must know.”  Mac whispered, “Why you being so mean?  You know I came up here to see you.  You could talk to me for a few minutes.”  Dianne blew a breath, “I didn’t ask you to come see me.”  Mac said, “Didn’t your parents teach you to be nice to company?”  Dianne got very quiet.  She turned her head and stared off into space.  Mac felt Dianne disposition change.  He suspected that he had said something he shouldn’t have.  He said, “I’m going to go talk to my aunt.”  He walked pass Dianne.

Dianne walked over to her desk and sat down.  She looked at the clock.  It was 4:50.  She didn’t have anything else to do, so she shut her computer down and then she walked over to Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office door and stuck her head in and said, “Dr. Adkins-Garnett, I do not have anything else to do.  Is it okay if I leave?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at her, “Can you go tell the people in the computer room to shut down the computers and then you can leave?  Come back and tell me who is still in there.”  Dianne nodded and walked away from the door.  When Dianne was out of sight, Mac stood up, “Aunnie, I’ll be back in a second.”  He left his aunt’s office.  He walked towards the computer room.  He was leaning up against the door when Dianne walked out.  She callously said, “What do you want?”  Mac looked down at the floor and then back up at her, “Sorry, if I upset you.”  Dianne walked to her desk without acknowledging him.  She turned the power strip off.  She walked over to Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office and said, “I told everyone to shut down.  Sis. Carey, her daughter, Anne, and Joanna are still in the computer room.  I will see you tomorrow.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett responded, “Thanks see you tomorrow.”

Mac raced over to the exit of the building.  He opened the door for Dianne.  She walked passed him, “Thanks.”  She walked out the door.  Mac followed her out.  Dianne stopped when she realized Mac was following her, “What do you want MaClandon?”  Her voice sounded testy.  He smiled at her, “I don’t want you to leave mad at me.”  Dianne responded coldly, “I am not mad at you, okay.  Bye.”  She started walking.  Mac followed her.  She stopped again, “What!”  Mac smiled again, “You are acting like you are mad.”  Dianne blew a breath, “I am not mad, okay.  Now go back in the building and let me go home.”  Mac smiled, “Let me at least walk you to your car.”  Dianne made a mean face, “I am being nice to you.  You are getting dangerously close to getting your feelings hurt.”  Mac drooped his head, “Okay, but can you at least tell me what I did wrong?”  Dianne bit her lip, “My father is dead and my mother is in jail.  Are you happy now?  Walk off MaClandon!”  Dianne turned and walked away.  Mac felt like an idiot.

Mac’s aunt dropped him off at the house that he shared with his brother and friends, DeWright, Norwood, and MacArthur.  Mac walked into the house.  As usual, his brother, DeWright, Norwood, and MacArthur were sitting on the couch with Donnyea, Shalalah, and Kelly.  Mac walked past the crowd of people, just barely speaking.  He went upstairs into his room.  He put his stuff down and then turned on his computer.  He changed his clothes.  He sat down at his computer, opened up a text file and typed…

I talked to my father and told him about Dianne.  He was cool about it.  He told me to keep a journal from February through April about how I feel about Dianne when I see her and talk to her at church.  I went up to By Example today.  Dianne probably hates me now.  I am so stupid.

Mac heard a knock on the door.  He walked over to the door and opened it.  It was Donnyea.  Mac looked at her.  She was wearing her green contacts.  Her light skin looked lighter because of her eyes and her freshly light brown dyed hair.  Donnyea was like that.  She was always dying her hair or changing her hair color.  She was slightly over weight and she was always doing something to get people to notice some feature other than her weight.  Donnyea saw Mac staring at her eyes, “I wore the green ones today.  What do you think?”  Mac responded, “They look nice.  I like your hair.  When did you get it done?”  Donnyea smiled, “On Saturday.  I think it’s too light.”  Mac smiled at her, “Naw, it looks great.  You shouldn’t change it.”  Donnyea smiled big, “We’re going to get something to eat.  You wanna go?”  Mac responded, “Naw, not tonight.”  Donnyea frowned, “Why not?  You ok?”  Mac smiled, “Yea, I am tired.  I’ll catch you all another time.”  Donnyea said, “Ok.  Later.”  She closed the door and left.  Mac was expecting Mec to burst into the room, but he never did.  Mac opened up Netscape Navigator and surfed the net for awhile.

11/07/05, 11:30 AM, 2,397 Words

2005-11-07T20:19:00.000-08:00

Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s personal assistant, Charlotte George, was wanted to decrease her hours at the ministry.  Charlotte’s mother was sick and in the hospital.  Charlotte had been asking Dr. Adkins-Garnett to get a replacement for her for at least two weeks without much success.  Charlotte had suggested Dianne, but Dr. Adkins-Garnett had ignored Charlotte over and over.  Charlotte knew that Dr. Adkins-Garnett was stalling for some reason.  Every time that Dianne came into the office, Charlotte managed to talk to Dianne about her work history.  It was a hard task, but after a few tries, Charlotte had found out that Dianne had gone to secretarial school; the same one that Charlotte had gone to, although they went there 5 fives years apart.  Charlotte had told Dr. Adkins-Garnett this information, but Dr. Adkins-Garnett seemed uninterested.

Charlotte walked into Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office, “Dr. Garnett, did you talk to Dianne yet about taking my place?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked up at the constant annoyance that was Charlotte, “No, I haven’t.  I have until the end of November, why are you rushing me?”  Charlotte smiled, “You do realize that it is November 5th.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett cut her eyes at Charlotte, “Yes, I know what the date is.”  Charlotte laughed at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “Don’t cut your eyes at me.  Why are you stalling on this?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett made a face at Charlotte, “I am your boss.  You shouldn’t talk to me like you are talking to me.”  Charlotte sat down in a chair in front of Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s desk, “I know.  I am going to sit in your office until you tell me why you are stalling.  I already told you that Dianne is qualified.  I like her.  Plus, she knows how to dress, talk, and act.  She would be a good secretary for you.  I know that she wouldn’t take any stuff from you either.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett made a face at Charlotte, “you are going to worry me about this all day aren’t you?”  Charlotte nodded, “Yep.  You need to go ahead and do this, so I can train her.  Oh yea, my mother told me to thank you for coming by last week.  You brightened her day.  I am not sure how long she has to be in the hospital this time.  Her cancer has gotten worse.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett stared at Charlotte.  Charlotte was a strong woman.  Her father had died two years ago.  It was hard on her mother and the rest of the family.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett had only seen Charlotte break down once, during the whole time.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett knew that she had to make a decision, but she was not sure that she wanted to do it now.  Charlotte was used to Dr. Adkins-Garnett spacing out on her.  Charlotte said, “Dr. Garnett, what are you thinking about?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett batted her eyes, “Why you keep worrying me about this?”  Charlotte laughed, “I am going to call Dianne and ask her to come up here at 2:30.  You can talk to her then.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett frowned at Charlotte, “You’re not the boss of me.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett licked her tongue out at Charlotte as Charlotte said, “Yes, I am.  That’s what you pay me to be.”

Dianne answered her phone, “Hello.  This is Dianne.”  Charlotte said, “Hello, Dianne.  It’s Charlotte George.  How are you?”  Dianne smiled at how professional Charlotte sounded before she said, “I am doing good.  What can I do for you?”  Charlotte responded, “Are you free at 2:30 this afternoon?  Dr. Adkins-Garnett would like to talk to you.”  Dianne paused before she responded, “Uhh, yea, I am free.  What does she want to talk to me about?”  Charlotte responded, “I am not really sure.”  Charlotte silently repented for lying before she asked, “Can you meet her up here today?”  Dianne said, “Yes, I will be there.”  They said goodbye to each other and then hung up the phone.

Charlotte got up from her desk and walked into Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office, “Dianne is going to be here at 2:30.  Do you want me to write you out a list of question to ask her?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked up, “I think I know how to conduct an interview.  I interviewed you, didn’t I?”  Charlotte leaned up against Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office door, “Yes.  Dr. Garnett, seriously, I need you to do this.  You promised me that you were going to do it.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett sighed, “I am gong to do it.”  Charlotte responded, “I am not leaving.  I just need fewer hours, that’s all.  I will still be around to get you out of trouble, especially with Hazel Carter.”  Both of the women laughed.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “Alright.  I will do it and be serious.  What if Dianne says no?”  Charlotte shifted, “You have got to convince her to say yes.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett frowned, “Since you are so good at getting me out of trouble, why do not you just talk her into doing it?”  Charlotte smiled, “I am not the boss.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett rolled her eyes, “You need to quit being so smart.”  Charlotte smiled as she left Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s door.

Dianne arrived at the By Example Ministries office at 2:10 PM.  She sat out in her car in the parking lot for a few minutes.  She was trying to figure out what Dr. Adkins-Garnett wanted to talk to her about.  Dianne could not figure it out.  At 2:25, Dianne got out of her car and walked to the building.  When she walked in, Charlotte was sitting at her desk.  Charlotte stood up when Dianne walked in, “Hello, Dianne.  Dr. Garnett is waiting on you.  You can go right in.”  Dianne didn’t even have a chance to catch her breath.  She looked at Charlotte.  Charlotte smiled at Dianne.  Dianne walked towards Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office.  She looked back at Charlotte before she entered the office.  Charlotte was not paying Dianne any attention.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked up when Dianne walked into the office, “Hello.”  Dianne looked Dr. Adkins-Garnett up and down before she responded, “Hello.  What did you want to talk to me about?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked nervously at Dianne, “Just get straight to the point, huh.”  Dianne sat down in a chair in front of Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s desk, “Sorry.  I figured it must be important because Charlotte ushered me right in here without saying anything to me.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “she is in a mood today.”

“Ok.  So what did you want to talk to me about?”

“There you go again, rushing me.  Do you have somewhere to be or something?  No.”

“That’s good.  How are you doing today?”

“I am fine and how are you?”

“I am doing well.  Thanks for asking.”

Dianne stared at Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett appeared to be stalling for some reason.  Dianne said, “You are acting weird, what’s going on?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett made a face, but didn’t say anything.  Dianne stood up and walked out of Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office.  Dianne walked over to Charlotte, “Charlotte, what is wrong with that woman in there.  She is acting weirder than usual.”  Charlotte looked in the direction of Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office.  Charlotte rolled her eyes.  Charlotte looked at Dianne, “Can you come with me?  I knew that woman was going to make me do this.”  Charlotte grabbed a pad and pen.  She started walking to a conference room, with Dianne following her.  After they entered the conference room, Charlotte closed the door and sat down in one of the chairs.  Dianne followed suit.  Charlotte smiled at Dianne, “Sorry about all of this.  She has been putting this off for two weeks.”  Dianne frowned, “Putting what off?”

“You know my mother is sick right?”

“Yea, I know about that.”

“Well, I need to cut back on my hours to take care of her and Dr. Garnett needs to find a replacement for me.  I suggested you, but she has refused to talk to you about it.”

“Why has she refused to ask me?”

“I do not know.  She can get in a mood and act crazy.  I scheduled this meeting with you so that she could interview you, but she is acting crazy, so I guess I have to do it.  Do you think you would want to work here and for Dr. Garnett?”

“I hadn’t really thought about it.”

“I figured you hadn’t.  I know you went to The Franklin Secretarial School, so I know that you have a good educational background.”

“That’s right; you said that you went there, too.”

“Yea, I did.  Have you worked as a secretary anywhere?”

“Not exactly.”

“What does that mean?”

Dianne was quiet for a second.  She frowned, “It is a long story and I don’t like talking about it, much.”  Charlotte made a face, “Ok, can you tell as much as you can?”  Dianne grimaced, “I helped my ex-boyfriend run the house.  I kept track of his personal appointments, trips, and finances.”

“Oh.  I guess the break up was pretty bad, since you do not like talking about it?”

“Yea.  It was very bad.  I haven’t had any other secretarial experience.  I am a very good secretary.  He was audited by the IRS, and everything was in order.  I think the auditor wanted to offer me a job with the IRS.”

“Do you think Dr. Garnett would be harder or easier to work for than your ex?”

Dianne laughed, “Easier to work for Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  At least I think it would be.”  Both of the ladies laughed.  They talked for awhile longer.  After awhile, Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked into the conference room.  Charlotte said, “We do not need you.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett made a face, “I didn’t ask you if you needed me.”  Dianne said, “We are doing fine without you.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett made the same face at Dianne, “I didn’t ask you anything either.”  Dianne rolled her eyes, “I can’t believe you.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett made an innocent face, “What did I do?”  Charlotte answered before Dianne could, “You know what you did when you did when you did what you did.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett made a face, “Whatever.  I’m leaving.”  Dianne said, “You really should.”  Dianne and Charlotte laughed as Dr. Adkins-Garnett left the room.

Dianne looked at Charlotte, “Is she always like that?”  Charlotte smiled, “Naw.  There must be a reason she is acting like this.  If I felt like it, I could press her and find out, but I do not feel like going through that today.”  Dianne looked puzzled, “What does all that mean?”  Charlotte said, “Sometimes, when something is bugging Dr. Garnett, you have to drag it out of her by asking her questions.  It can be nerve racking at times.  This is probably one of those times when it would take forever to drag it out of her, too.”  Dianne tilted her head, “OK.  Anything else?”  Charlotte looked at the paper in front of her, “No, that’s it.  You can go try to talk to Dr. Garnett if you want to.”  Charlotte stood up and Dianne followed suit.  They both walked out of the conference room.  Charlotte went to her desk.  Dianne went into Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett was reading a book when Dianne walked in.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked up at Dianne, “Hey.”  Dianne frowned, “Do not hey me.  Why didn’t you just talk to me about working for you?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked down at her book and then back at Dianne, “I don’t know.”  Dianne sat down as she said, “I k now that you weren’t scared to ask me if I would work for you.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett made a face, “No, I was not.  Maybe I just do not want you to work for me.”  Dianne laughed, “I don’t believe that for a second.  As much as I am up here, at your inviting.  What is the real reason?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett bit her lip.  She didn’t want to tell Dianne that she didn’t want to ask her because she didn’t want her husband to be right.  It was stupid, but that was what stopped Dr. Adkins-Garnett from talking to Dianne.  Dianne looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “Well, are you going to tell me?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett shook her head no.  Dianne responded, “Well, then, I am not going to come work for you.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett face didn’t change, “That doesn’t bother me one way or the other.”  Dianne twisted her lips, “I bet it doesn’t.  I am leaving.  Bye.”  Dianne stood up and exited the room before Dr. Adkins-Garnett could respond.  Dianne walked out of Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office and over to Charlotte’s desk, “Bye Charlotte.  I will think about what we talked about and let you know.”  Charlotte said, “Ok, thanks.”  They said their goodbyes.  Dianne walked out of the building.

Dianne was half way to her car when a thought hit her.  She stopped dead in her tracks and turned around, to head back into the building.  She walked through the front door and walked into Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office.  Charlotte was in the office with Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Dianne acted as if she didn’t see Charlotte and asked Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “Does this have anything to do with your husband saying that I would end up working for you before long?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked astonished.  Charlotte looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett and then at Dianne and then back at Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Charlotte could tell by the look on Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s face that Dianne had figured out what was going on with Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Dianne and then Charlotte.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “Ok, I need you all to leave.”  Neither Charlotte nor Dianne moved.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett made an angry face, “I told you all to leave.  Now, leave.”  This time Charlotte moved.  She grabbed Dianne by the arm and ushered her out of Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s last words were, “Close the door behind you.”  Dianne closed the door as they left.

Dianne stopped moving and asked Charlotte, “What is wrong with her?”  Charlotte said, “I do not know.  She is having a moment.  I can’t believe you figured out what was going on with her.  That’s probably what’s bugging her.  Do not worry about it.  All we have to do is wait like 20 minutes and she will be okay.”  Dianne made a stern face, “I ain’t waiting for that bitty.  She can call me if she wants to talk to me.  I am leaving.”  Charlotte waved at Dianne as she left the building.

11/6/05 – 3,358 Words Total

2005-11-07T09:34:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I did 3,358 words. I think it turned out good. MaClandon finally meets Dianne and talks to her. You can read all about it here.

I am about to begin on today’s session.

Talk to you later.

11/06/05, 12:00 PM, 3,358 Words

2005-11-06T19:57:00.000-08:00

Dianne tied her yellow scarf around her neck.  The scarf matched the yellow in her orange skirt.  She had on a pink blouse that accentuated the pink stripes in her skirt.  Her orange heels matched her skirt perfectly.  Dianne laughed at herself as she thought, “I wondered what those people at the church think about me.”  She shook the thought from her head.  She was not the only woman at the church who dressed nicely.  She fixed her make-up.  Dianne walked in the living room.  She grabbed her Bible and headed out the door for church.  She never thought that she would be attending church regularly and wanted to be there.

MeClendon was standing at the top of the stairway in the church.  He saw a woman walking into the vestibule.  From the way the woman walked, Mec could tell that it was MaClandon’s girlfriend.  Mec had to talk to the woman for him so he hurried down the stairs to catch her.

Dianne saw one of the older Adkins’ twins walking towards her.  She looked him up and down quickly to figure out which one it was.  It was MeClendon.  She wanted to try to avoid him, but it was obvious that he had already seen her.

MeClendon walked up to Dianne, “Hey Miss Lady.  How you doing?”  Dianne managed a smile, “Hello, MeClendon.”  Mec looked at Dianne funny, “How did you know who I was?”  Dianne said, “Because Mac doesn’t dress like you.  He usually wears something preppy.”  Mec made a face, “I guess.  You didn’t tell me how you were doing.”  Dianne blew a breath, “I am fine.”  Mec smiled his playboy smile, “Yes, you are.”  Dianne giggled, “Do you want something?”  Mec smiled again, “To talk to you.  Is there something wrong with that?”  Dianne put her hand over her mouth before saying, “And you are flirting with me because?”  Mec got upset, “I was just trying to be a good member.  You ain’t gotta be mean about it.”  Dianne shifted her weight to her left side, “I do not have time to play with you.”  Mec frowned, “Oh, it’s like that.  You ain’t all that, anyway.”  Dianne walked up close to Mec and whispered, “I use little boys like you as toothpicks.  You do not want to try to handle what I got.  Remember that before you try your tired college rap on me.”  Dianne smiled as she walked by Mec.  Mec didn’t know what to do.  He just stood there.

Dianne reached Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office at the church.  She was laughing as she walked up to Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Dianne walked over to Dr. Adkins-Garnett and hugged her.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled at Dianne, “Girl, what are you laughing at?”  Dianne sat down in a chair, “I just met your nephew downstairs.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked startled, “Which one?”  Dianne gave Dr. Adkins-Garnett a wicked smiled, but didn’t answer her.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett responded, “Which one did you meet?”  Dianne said, “MeClendon.  I may have hurt his feelings.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett twisted her lips, “What did you say to him?”  Dianne scratched her head, “Uhh, I am not sure I should tell you.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett made a face, “What did you say to him?”  Dianne responded, I said, ‘I use boys like you for toothpicks.  You do not want to try to handle what I got.  Remember that before you try your tired college rap on me.’  He looked kind of hurt when I left.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed loudly, “You did not say that.  Are you serious?  Oh my goodness.”  Dianne shook her head up and down.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett kept on laughing.  Dianne laughed with her with.

Mec walked into the classroom that Mac was in.  Mec walked over to Mac and grabbed him by the arm.  Mec pulled Mac away from the rest of the young adults that were there.  Mac looked at his brother like he was crazy, “Man, what is wrong with you?”  Mec said, “Your old lady is here.”  Mac eyes danced, “Where is she at?”  Mec smacked his lips, “Dang, you gotta it bad for that woman.  I don’t know.  After she dissed me, I couldn’t care less.”  Mac scowled at his twin, “Man, what did you do?  You ain’t got no sense.  Do you ever act right?”  Mec scowled back at his brother, “Please, you ain’t going to be able to handle a woman like that.  She will break you in half.  You need to forget about her.”  Mac rolled his eyes, “Just cause she didn’t fall for your tired rap, doesn’t mean that she won’t fall for mine.”  Mec laughed brashly, “Ninja, you ain’t got no rap!”  Mac walked off from his brother.  Mac refused to let his brother’s words put an end to his plan.

Eld. Kevon Garnett sat down in his usual sit on the second row.  A few minutes later, his nephew, MaClandon sat down beside him and said, “Hey Unc.  How you doing?”  Eld. Garnett smiled, “I am fine.  Your aunt is over there in her usual seat, if you are looking for her.”  Mac gave his uncle some dap and said, “Naw, Unc, I’m here to hang with you.”  Eld. Garnett whispered, “Yea I bet.”  Mac looked at his uncle, “What did you say, Unc?”  Eld. Garnett smiled, “Nothing, nephew, nothing at all.”  Eld. Garnett looked over in his wife’s direction to see if she had spotted their nephew sitting next to him.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett saw Mac walk into the sanctuary.  She watched her nephew walk over to her husband and sit down.  She laughed.  Both Sis. Taylor and Dianne looked at the laughing woman.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett thought to herself, “My nephew is going to quit.  He is smart, I given that.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett leaned over to Dianne and whispered, “Do you think you could hang around a few minutes after church so that Mac can meet you?”  Dianne looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett with a negative look on her face, “Are you serious?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled a sweet smile at Dianne, “Yes.  He has been trying to meet you ever since you came to church.  He is starting to get on my husband nerves.”  Dianne looked over to where Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s husband usually sat.  Mac was sitting next to Eld. Garnett.  Dianne titled her head and made a face at Mac, who was staring at her again.  Dianne sighed, looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, and said, “Ok, I will meet him.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett, I do not have time to be fooling around with him.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett could tell that Dianne was irritated, “I know sweetie, but it would mean a lot to me.  Mac won’t be as bad as Mec.  If you tell him to leave you alone, he will.”  Dianne made a face, “Okay, fine.”  Dianne looked back over in Mac’s direction.  He was staring at her again.  Dianne made up in her mind, “I am telling that boy off as soon as I get a chance.”

After service was over and the benediction had been given, Mac huddled close to his uncle.  Everywhere that Eld. Garnett went, Mac was right there by him.  Eld. Garnett kept looking his nephew upside his head.  Mac kept smiling at his uncle.  Eld. Garnett finally said, “Boy, why are following me around like a little puppy?”  Mac smiled, “No reason.  I just wanna hang out with you.”  Eld. Garnett made a face, “You need to quit lying in the house of God like that.”  Mac made an innocent face, “What?  I didn’t do anything.  What am I lying about?”  Eld. Garnett grabbed his nephew by the neck playfully, “Come on. Let’s go get this over with.”

Dianne sat down on the bench after the benediction.  She was tempted to leave instead of waiting to meet Mac, but she had promised Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Dianne, “Please be nice.  Mac is more sensitive than Mec.”  Dianne made an “I don’t care” face at Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked left the pew to go speak to some of the other people.  Dianne just sat on the pew.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett was talking to Mother Andrew when Eld. Garnett and Mac walked up to her.  Eld. Garnett hugged his wife and whispered in her ear, “Your nephew thinks his slick.  You see what he did.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Yea, I did.”  Mac tapped his uncle on the shoulder, “Come on Unc, and let me get some love.  You live with her.”  Eld. Garnett hugged his wife tighter, “And that means.”  Mac folded his arms and sulked.  Eld. Garnett let his wife go.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked over to Mac and hugged him.  She whispered, “You aren’t slick.  I know what you are doing.”  Mac didn’t say anything.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett put her arms in between the arms of the two men, “Come on with me so I can get my stuff.”  They three of them walked over to where Dianne was.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked up to Dianne.  Dianne handed Dr. Adkins-Garnett her stuff.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Mac who was standing behind her smiling big.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Dianne.  Dianne had a frustrated look on her face.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett finally said, “Dianne, this is my nephew MaClandon Adkins.  MaClandon, this is Dianne Roberts.”  Mac extended his hand to Dianne.  Dianne took Mac’s hand and shook it.  Dianne’s hand felt warm and soft to Mac.  He didn’t want to let her hand go, but he did.  Dianne looked into Mac’s eyes.  There was something sweet about his eyes.  Dianne refused to stare in his eyes too long.  She didn’t want his eyes to convince her not to tell him off.

An inspiration hit Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  She turned to Mac and said, “Mac, why do not you give Dianne a tour of the church?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett turned to Dianne, “Is that okay with you?”  Dianne responded, “Yes, that’s okay.”  Mac smiled so big that his jaws starting hurting.  Eld. Garnett smiled at his wife.  Mac looked at Dianne, “This way Mame.”  Dianne grabbed her purse and followed Mac.  Eld. Garnett looked at his wife, “You are a trip.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Yea, I know.  I just hope she doesn’t tell him off too badly.”

Mac walked Dianne through the sanctuary, detailing its history as they walked.  He led Dianne out into the vestibule and showed her the prayer room and the bookstore.  There were people in the prayer room praying.  Mac introduced Dianne to the clerk in the bookstore.  The clerk, Bro. Terrell Boone winked at Dianne before she and Mac walked out of the bookstore.  Mac showed Dianne the rest of the vestibule area before walking upstairs.

Mac had showed Dianne some of the classrooms before they walked into the children’s church room.  Dianne hadn’t said much.  As Mac was talking about the room, Dianne said, “Did your parents teach you not to stare at people?”  Mac looked startled, “Huh?”  Dianne made a harsh face at the scared young man, “Did your parents teach you not to stare at people?  Which is what you have done to me since I walked into this church?”  Mac looked off from Dianne.  Dianne walked over into the direction that Mac was looking.  She felt bad when she saw how embarrassed he looked.  She rolled her eyes, “What else are you going to show me?”  Mac walked out of the room and showed her some other rooms.

Mac showed Dianne the minister’s library.  He hadn’t said much since she had called him on his staring.  Dianne sat down in one of the chairs in the room, “Are you going to talk to me?”  Mac sat down.  In an innocent voice, Mac said, “Sorry for staring at you.”  Dianne’s facial expression didn’t change.  Mac was not sure what to do.  He hadn’t expected her to fuss at him.  He had a whole speech planned and everything, but he could not think of a thing to say.  Mac just looked down at the floor.  Dianne looked at Mac.  He looked scared, embarrassed, and hurt.  He looked so cute.  Dianne started laughing.  Mac looked up at her, “What are you laughing at?”  Dianne put her hand over her mouth to try to stop laughing.  After she stopped she said, “At you.”  Mac made a face, “Why are you laughing at me?”

“Because you are too cute.”

“Why I gotta be cute?”

Dianne giggled, “Your aunt said that you liked me.”

Mac made a face, “She said what?”

“She said that you liked me.”

“Why would she say that?”

“You should know.  She is YOUR aunt.”

“I cannot believe she told you that.”

“Yep, she told me that you have a thing for older women too.”

Mac turned red, “Oh my God.  I am so embarrassed.”

Dianne laughed.  Mac made a face, “It is not that funny.”  Dianne stopped laughing, “Okay, let me have it.”  Mac scowled, “Have what?”

“Whatever lines you were going to try to use on me.”

“I was not going to use any lines on you.”

“You had to have something planned to say to me.”

“Yea, but I’m not going to say it now.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t want to get my feelings hurt anymore.”

“You shouldn’t have been staring at me in church.”

“I could not help it.  You shouldn’t be so pretty.”

Dianne smiled, “Ok, there goes a line.”  Mac smiled, “Did it work?”  Dianne stood up, “A little.”  Mac stood up, “Where are you going?”  Dianne started walking towards the door, “Home.  Do you want to walk me to my car?”  Mac grinned just a little too big, “Yea!”  Dianne made a face, “You get excited too easily.”  Mac smiled, “I can’t help it.  Beautiful women make me act like that.”  Dianne laughed, “Line number 2.”  Mac smiled, “Did it work?”  Dianne said, “Maybe.”

The two of them went downstairs and walked out of the church.  When they reached Dianne’s car, Mac said, “I guess I will see you Sunday.”  Dianne made a face, “That’s it.  I don’t get to hear anymore of your lines?”  Mac smiled, “Oh, I thought you were ready to go.  You said you were going home.”  Dianne said, “I am allowed to change my mind, aren’t I?”  Mac smiled, “Uhh yea.  I am kind of out of lines.  My brother is the one with all the lines.”  Dianne titled her head, “Yea, I know.”

“I know.  He told me that he saw you earlier.  He said you dissed him.  What did you say to him?”

“Can’t tell you.  That’s between us.”

“It must have been pretty bad.  He didn’t even say that you were into him.”

“That’s because I’m not into young jokers.”

Mac looked hurt, “Oh.  Ok.”

“What’s wrong?”

“You said that you don’t like young jokers.”

“So, you think I am including you in that category.”

“Yes, I guess so.”

“You are young, but are you a joker?”

“Uhh no, I am not.”

“Then, I wasn’t including you in that category.”

Mac smiled a big smile, “Cool.  You smell nice.  Are you wearing Creed 2000 Fleurs?”  Dianne looked startled, “Yes, I see that you know your perfumes.”  Mac looked like he had accomplished something great, “Yes, I do.”  Dianne shook her head, “Line number 3.”  Mac smiled, “Did it work?”  Dianne shrugged her shoulders, “Maybe.  I am too old for you.”  Mac said, “I know, but I like flirting with danger.”  Dianne giggled, “But remember, flirting with danger can get you hurt.”  Mac looked serious, “I know.  I just wanted to meet you, so I’m cool for a few minutes.”  He smiled.  Dianne looked at him, “Ok.  It was nice meeting you.  At least you aren’t as bad as your brother.”  Mac laughed, “Yea, but he usually gets the girl.”  Dianne unlocked her car door, “But I am not a girl!”  Mac made a face, “No, you’re not.”  Dianne walked over to Mac, “I’m going to go.  I’ll talk to you later.”  Mac smiled, “Yes, Mame.”  Dianne leaned closed to Mac and kissed him on the jaw, “Bye.  Bye.”  She got in her car.  Mac just stood still holding his jaw.  Dianne laughed after she got in her car.  She thought, “I was wrong for that.”  Dianne turned and looked in her rearview mirror.  Mac was still standing next to her car.  She rolled the window down and motioned for Mac.  After Mac walked over to her window, she said, “I can’t leave with you leaning on my car.”  Mac backed up, “Oh yea.  Sorry.”  Mac walked away from Dianne’s car.  Dianne backed up and pulled out of the parking space.  She waved at Mac as she drove off.

Mac walked back to the church slowly.  He couldn’t believe that Dianne had kissed him on the jaw.  He was floating.  People were speaking to him, but he didn’t hear what they were saying.  As he was walking back into the church, he ran into Mec.  Mac walked by Mec.  Mec stopped and then walked to catch up to his brother.  Mec punched Mac in the arm and said, “How you going to walk by my like I wasn’t there?”  Mac turned around, “Why you hitting on me?”  Mec said, “You walked right by me.  What’s wrong with you?  Why you smiling like that?”  Mac ignored his brother and walked off.  Nothing was going to ruin the feeling that Mac had right then.

On Thursday afternoon, Dianne drove up to her best friend, Ariel’s job.  Dianne sat at Ariel’s desk.  Ariel worked for an insurance salesman.  Dianne had been up at Ariel’s office so much, that Mr. Allan Morris had offered Dianne a sales job.  Ariel was laughing at the story Dianne was telling her about MaClandon Adkins.  Ariel shriek, “How old is he?”  Dianne responded, “Twenty-four or twenty-five.  I’m not even sure.”  Ariel laughed, “You and your men.”  Dianne shook her head, “Whatever.  You aren’t going to believe what I did when I said goodbye to him.”  Ariel looked excited, “Girl, what did you do?”  Dianne shook her head, “I kissed him on the jaw.”  Ariel hit Dianne on the arm, “Girl, no you didn’t.  Why you do that?”  Dianne dropped her head, “To mess with him.”  Ariel hit Dianne’s arm again, “That was wrong.  You oughta be shame of yourself.”  Dianne smiled, “I know, but you know I ain’t.”  Both of them laughed.

MaClandon was smiling at work on Thursday.  He usually walked around smiling, but one of his Co-workers, Tracy noticed that Mac was smiling more than usual.  Tracy said, “What you smiling for?”  Mac said, “What are you talking about?  I am always smiling.”  Tracy said, “You are smiling like you got some or something.”  Mac made a face, “Man, I already told you that I am practicing celibacy.  Why you gotta bring sex into every conversation?”  Tracy frowned, “You either got something or are on something, as much as you are smiling.”  Mac balled up a piece of paper and threw it at Tracy, “I am high on Jesus.  It is because of Him that I can smile like this.”  Tracy started to walk off, “I don’t want to hear that preaching stuff.”  Mac smiled.  He was high on Jesus, but he was also still floating from the kiss that Dianne had given him.

Dianne continued attending Greater Buelahland Interdenominational House of Rest.  Mac continued to speak to Dianne whenever she was at church.  Mac made sure to only speak to Dianne whenever she was around his aunt.  Mac didn’t want the church busybodies to get a whiff of anything to spread around the church.  Dianne began to grow fond of Mac, although she could not figure out why.  Mac acted older than his age dictated.  He was always mannerable.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett would always give Dianne this silly smile whenever Mac was around.  From what Dianne could tell Dr. Adkins-Garnett never interfered though.  Dianne could not imagine herself dating someone as young as Mac.  But she was doing a lot of things lately that she hadn’t imagine that she would be doing.  Dianne was not sure what was going on, but she was enjoying her new life in Christ.

11/5/05 – 0 Words Total

2005-11-06T09:58:00.000-08:00

Ok, yesterday, I was just lazy.  Well, as far as writing I was lazy.

Here’s the excuse. :)

I had planned on writing after my husband and I got back from grocery shopping, but we were there for 3 plus hours.  When I go grocery shopping, I shop.  Yea, three hours in three stores.  I didn’t even use coupons.

I will write something today.  I will hit you all up tomorrow.

If you want to tell me what you think of my story so far, please sign my GUESTBOOK.  I would certainly appreciate it.

11/4/05 – 2,373 Words Total

2005-11-05T09:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a slow day. I didn’t feel like doing too much. I think it was because I am so far ahead of where I should be to be.

You can read it here.

I am at 18,310 words total. I have set a goal of 2,200 words a day. With 18,310 words, I am four days ahead. It’s all good.

11/4/05, 6PM, 886 Words

2005-11-04T18:49:00.000-08:00

Mac ironed a sharp crease in his pants.  He had made up his mind.  Tonight was the night.  No matter what it took, he was going to meet Dianne, no matter what.  Dianne had been coming to services for a month.  Somehow, she always managed to exit the sanctuary before Mac could get close to her.  Mac didn’t understand it either.  How was she doing it?  She had to know of a secret passage way or something to get out of church that fast.

Mac hung his gray Dockers up on a hanger after he finished ironing them.  He grabbed his black, white, and gray long sleeved Polo shirt and began ironing it.  Mac thought about Dianne.  She seemed to be acclimating to the services.  Each time, she seemed to get more involved in the services.  Mac laughed as he pictured her waving her hand ever so properly when the preacher told them to.  Dianne gave more of a princess on parade wave than she did a give God the praise wave.

Mac creased the sleeves in his shirt.  He had to make sure that he looked good.  Mac wondered if Dianne was rich.  She had been to eight or nine services and she had walked in the church wearing a different outfit each time.  Each outfit had a shoes and a purse to match.

Mac wanted to know more about the woman that kept eluding him.  He knew her routine.  She walked in with his aunt every service and sat next to his aunt.  At the end of every service, Dianne would speak to Sis. Taylor, Mother Andrew, and his uncle.  Mac planned to make his move when Dianne talked to his uncle.  Mac was going to sit with his uncle during service.  His uncle usually sat on the second row on Wednesday nights with some of the other elders.  Mac was going to hang with his uncle the whole night.  When his uncle went over to talk to Dianne, Mac was going to be right there.  He put the finishing touches on his shirt and proceeded to shine his shoes.  He was going to look good when he meet Dianne.  He was going to meet her, no matter what.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett was putting on her yellow blouse.  She watched her five-foot eight dark-skinned husband put on his a-shirt and then his dress shirt.  He looked as handsome as ever; despite a few gray hairs and a small pooch in his mid section.  Kevon looked at his wife, who was staring at him.  Her light brown eyes danced as the light hit them.  She was still beautiful.  Her natural beige skin was still soft to the touch and her hair was even longer than it was when they first met.  His wife took care of herself.  Every two weeks, she went to the nail salon and the beauty shop.  He didn’t mind either; he liked his wife to look good.

He made a face at his wife, “Woman, you eyeballing me?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled at him, “Yep.  Is there something wrong with that?”  Kevon walked over to his wife and kissed her on the lips, “Nope, shole ain’t.”  He did his wife’s favorite dance for her before walking out of the room to the bathroom.  Kevon could not believe that the silly dance he did for his wife still made her giggle like a school girl.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett finished getting dressed.  She put on her black skirt.  She didn’t feel like dressing up tonight, so she kept it simple with her black skirt and yellow blouse.  She was going to wear her everyday heels, too.  Her husband walked back into the room, “Baby, why is Mac always looking for you after every service?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “I cannot believe you haven’t figured it out yet.”  Kevon responded, “Woman, what are you talking about?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed even harder before she said, “Mac likes Dianne.  I think he is trying to meet her.”  Kevon laughed, “Well, would you please let him meet her.  I am tired of him worrying me all the time.  That boy keeps bugging me after every service.  He does not need to talk to you after every service.  Good grief.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett grunted, “Dianne doesn’t want to be bothered with him.  You know how he can be.  He probably has planned their first four dates.  Besides, Dianne is out of that boy’s league.”  Kevon adjusted his belt, “Yea, she is.  Is she rich or something?  I do not think she has worn and outfit where the shoes and purse didn’t match.”  Dianne paused for a second, “Since I have known her, I haven’t seen her wear anything twice myself.”  Kevon looked at his wife, “You lying.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “I ain’t lying.  She hasn’t.  I do not know if she is rich or not.  She said that her previous job allowed her to get the stuff that she has.”  Kevon made a face, “What kind of job did she have?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett shrugged her shoulders, “I have no idea.  She won’t tell me.  She doesn’t like to talk about it.”  Kevon nodded, “Okay, you should still let your nephew meet her before I strangle him.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “Do not strangle my baby.  I will see what I can do for him.”

11/4/05, 1:00 PM, 1,487 Words

2005-11-04T18:28:00.000-08:00

Dianne arrived at the By Example Ministries building for her lunch date with Dr. Adkins-Garnett at 1:20 PM.  They were supposed to go to lunch at 2:00.  Dianne could not figure out why Dr. Adkins-Garnett had scheduled such a late lunchtime.  Dianne walked into the office.  The women in the office stopped and looked at Dianne.  She smiled at the women and told Charlotte, Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s assistant that she was there to meet her for lunch.  Charlotte asked Dianne to have a seat.  Dianne sat down as Charlotte paged Dr. Adkins-Garnett on the intercom.  Dianne rubbed the leg of her brown pants.  She looked fabulous in her green and brown turtleneck sweater.  The sweater went well with her brown pants.  Her brown boots matched her outfit to a tee.  Her make-up was flawless, and her silver jewelry sparkled slightly.  The women in the office were still staring at her.  Dianne made a face, at no one in particular, and began playing with her brown and green purse.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked out of her office, “Hello, Dianne, glad you could make it.  Why do not you come on in my office?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at the women in her office standing around, “Do not you all have some work to do!”  The women went to work.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett followed Dianne into her office.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett sat down in the chair behind her desk and Dianne sat down in one of the chairs in front of Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s desk.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “I see you are looking as fabulous as ever.”

“Thanks.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett nodded, “Is that all you can muster?”

Dianne looked around, “I guess so.  When are we leaving for lunch?”

“At 2:00.  We have 30 minutes.  We can talk for a few minutes.”

“Talk about what?”

“Nothing in particular, everything in particular.  How did you like the service Sunday?”

“It was okay.  That was the first time I had ever been in a church like that.”

“What kind of church had you been in before?”

“A Catholic church and a Baptist church.  I have only been to church two other times.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett gagged, “are you serious?”

“Yes, my family was not big on church.  I went to the Catholic church for a wedding and the Baptist church for a funeral.”

“Who’s wedding and who’s funeral?”

“You don’t know them, so why did you ask?”

“Just being nosey.”

Dianne didn’t respond.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “We have a service tonight.  It is Bible study.  Bishop usually teaches or one of the ministers teaches.  We are studying Romans right now.  We pray before Bible study.  Prayer starts at 6:00 and Bible study starts at 7:30.”  Dianne nodded at Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett responded, “Does that nod mean you will be coming or not?”  Dianne looked at the floor and then looked up at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “It doesn’t mean either.”  They both were quiet for a moment.  Dianne finally said, “Can I ask you something?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett nodded yes.  Dianne asked, “Why does your nephew stare at me when we are in church?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked puzzle, “Which one?”  Dianne responded, “The one that was at the picnic.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed loudly, “Sorry, MaClandon has a thing for older well dressed women.  And you are just his type.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett stopped and giggled, “It makes sense now.  That’s why he was looking for me.”  Dianne looked at the woman as she rambled.  Dianne made a face, “What are you talking about?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “Kevon told me that Mac was looking for me on Sunday.  I saw Mac in the parking lot and he didn’t’ say anything to me.  He must have been trying to get to me to speak to you.”  Dianne frowned, “Oh my.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “do not worry about Mac, he’s very respectful and well-mannered, if you told him that you weren’t interested in him, he would leave you alone.  Now, the other, Mec, I can’t say the same thing about him.”

“Yea, Mec looks like he’s lady’s man.”

“Girl, why would you say that?”

“I am pretty good and reading men.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked puzzled, “How did you get good at that?”

“It helped with my old job.”

“The job that you don’t like talking about.”

“Yes, that job.”

“So, Dianne, I suppose you can read any man.”

“Yes, Mame.  As long as I have seen him once or twice, I can.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “What about my husband?”  Dianne responded, “He loves you a lot.  He has you laughing all the time.  He likes the way you look in black nighties.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett turned red as both of the ladies laughed.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “I am going to hurt him for doing that.”  Dianne laughed, “That was a good one.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett titled her head, “Uhh huh.  What about Mac?”  Dianne smiled, “He seems like a computer geek.  He likes to dress nicely.  He likes staring at me.  He seems sweet.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “Yep, that’s him.  What about Mec?”  Dianne twisted her lips, “He thinks he looks good and that women think he looks good, too.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “You got all of that from just seeing him in the choir stand?”  Dianne smiled, “Not really.  As I was leaving the parking lot Sunday, I saw him standing in the midst of a bunch of girls.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett shook her head, “I am sure he was.  What about Bishop?”  Dianne responded, “He seems like a family man that tries to make sure his family does right.  He loves his church members.  He loves God.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Yea, that’s my brother.  That’s a gift you have.”  Dianne frowned, “Not really.  I learned how to do it so I could better service my clients.”  Dianne had a horrified look on her face.  She became very quiet.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett could tell that Dianne had said something that was not supposed to be said so Dr. Adkins-Garnett changed the subject, “When you come to church tonight, you can wear something like what you have on.  We do not usually dress up for services during the week.”  Dianne looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “Who said I was coming to service tonight?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “You’re coming tonight.  I know you are.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled again as if she knew a secret.  Dianne said, “Lady, you are weird.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett nodded, “I know, but I usually get my way, so that’s why you are coming to church tonight.”  Dianne slyly said, “And if I do not come to church tonight, what will happen?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Dianne, “You don’t want to know.”  Dianne stared at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, trying to figure the woman out.  Was she physic or something?  What was her angle?  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “I am not physic either.  I just know what I know.”  Dianne stared more intently at the woman.

Charlotte’s voice came over the intercom, “Dr. Adkins-Garnett, Mavis is here.  Do you want me to send her in?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett responded back, “Yes, Charlotte, send her in.”  A minute later, a heavy set light-skinned woman walked into Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett stood up, walked around the desk over to Mavis, and hugged the woman.   Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “Hey Mavis.  Glad you could help me out.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Dianne, “Mavis, this is Dianne Roberts.  Dianne, this is Mavis Washington.  She is a friend from college.”  Dianne and Mavis exchanged hellos.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett turned her attention to Mavis, “I need you to take over for me for the rest of the day.  I have two classes and a meeting with a parent.  You okay with that?”  Mavis said, “Yea, does Charlotte have what I need to do your classes and meet with the parent?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “Yes.  I will tell her to bring it into you when I leave.  Come on Dianne.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett told Mavis goodbye and walked out of her office with Dianne in tow.  On the way out of the building, Dr. Adkins-Garnett stopped at Charlotte’s desk, “Can you take Mavis the material for my classes tonight?  Also, give her the folder on Danisha Frazier.  I will see you tomorrow.”  Before Charlotte could respond, Dr. Adkins-Garnett was walking out of the building with Dianne.

The two women reached Dianne’s car.  Dianne said, “Are we supposed to spend the rest of the day together?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled mysteriously, “I was thinking about doing that, that way, you would end up going to church with me tonight.”  Dianne backed away from Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “You need to quit.  We are going to have lunch together that’s all.  You are scary.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed loudly, “Is Café Pessels okay?”  Dianne said, “Yes Mame.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett started walking towards her car, “You can follow me.”  Dianne got in her car as Dr. Adkins-Garnett headed to her car.  Dianne thought, “This woman is crazy, but I like her.”

11/3/05 – 9,599 Words Total

2005-11-04T08:51:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a good day. I am very proud of myself. I wrote 9,599 words. The majority of it is a church scene. It sould be good because they had some church up in through there. Hope you enjoy it.

See you tomorrow.

11/3/05, 6:00 PM, 3,848 Words

2005-11-03T18:20:00.000-08:00

Before his father began praying, Mac grabbed all of his stuff.  He had to make a quick exit from the choir loft.  As soon as his father began praying, Mac bowed his head.  When his father said, “Amen,” Mac lifted his head quickly and began moving out of the choir loft.  He kept saying excuse me and bumping into people.  He didn’t have time to worry about people’s attitude; he had to get out of the choir stand.  He made it to the choir room.  He was the second person in the room.  Carolyn was already in there.  She never spoke to anyone, so he knew that she wouldn’t bother him, other than to speak.  Mac took off his robe, hung it up, and started to head towards the door.  Carolyn said, “Hey Mac.  I enjoyed you and your family today.”  Mac hollered back, “Cool.  Thanks.”  He left the choir room and headed for the sanctuary.  He was almost there when Sis. Trevor’s twelve year old son grabbed him.  Mac huffed and stopped to talk to the little boy.

People began to leave the sanctuary.  People were hugging other people.  Kids were coming in the church and running around.  Deacons and ushers were yelling at the kids.

Dianne gathered up her stuff.  She wanted to get out of the church before she was hugged by 20 people, but Dr. Adkins-Garnett grabbed her by the arm and began leading her around the church to meet people.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked over to an elderly woman, “Mother Andrews, this is the young lady I told you about.”  The elderly woman stood up on her cane slowly.  She hugged Dianne, “Baby, glad you came.  Sis. Adkins has been talking about you a long time.”  The elderly woman sat back down.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett shook her head; Mother Andrew always called her Sis. Adkins.  Dianne was going to try to tell Dr. Adkins-Garnett that she had to go, but Dr. Adkins-Garnett grabbed her and whisked her away to meet someone else.

The next person Dianne met was First Lady Adkins.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked up to her sister-in-law and hugged her.  Sis. Adkins said, “Girl, the Lord showed up and showed out.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Yes, He did.  This is Dianne Roberts.”  Sis. Adkins hugged Dianne, “Good bless you.  Glad that you joined us.  Hope you will be back.”  Dianne was about to respond to the first lady, but someone grabbed the first lady.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett drug Dianne in another direction.  Dianne stopped walking abruptly.  It made Dr. Adkins-Garnett stumble.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett turned around, “Are you okay?”  Dianne grimaced, “No, I am not.  You keep dragging me all over the place.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett gave Dianne a motherly smile, “Sorry, I am just so excited about you being here.  I can tend to get overzealous at times.”  Dianne sat down on the bench, “It is ok.  I just wasn’t expecting all of this attention.  I will be okay.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett sat down beside her, “There is just one more person I want you to meet and I will leave you alone.”  Dianne looked up at the ceiling and then back at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “Okay.  Who is it?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett motioned at a group of men.  An average sized dark-skinned started walking towards them.  When the guy reached them, Dr. Adkins-Garnett stood up and hugged the guy.  The guy whispered something in Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s ear.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett giggled, “You need to quit.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett let the man go, “Dianne, this is my husband, Eld. Kevon Garnett.  Kevon, this is Dianne Roberts.”  Eld. Garnett extended his hand to Dianne, “Nice to meet you Dianne.  I have heard a lot about you.  You are probably tired of my wife by now.  You have to forgive her.  She gets excited at times.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett nudged her husband, “Would you keep?”  Eld. Garnett smiled at his wife and then looked at Dianne, “Has she given you a job in the ministry yet?”  Dianne looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett who was blushing, “No sir, she hasn’t.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked miffed, “Alright Kevon, Dianne is leaving, so quit being messy.”  Eld. Garnett smiled, “Dianne, would you like to go out to eat with us?”  Dianne was caught off guard by the question.  She paused before she said, “Not today.  I already have plans.”  Eld. Garnett hugged and kissed his wife, “I guess she doesn’t want to hang out with us old folk.”  He turned to Dianne and extended his hand to her, “Nice to meet you.  Oh yea, I did like the black nightie.”  Dianne put her hand over her opened mouth.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett turned bright red before she said, “Oh Lord, that man needs Jesus.”

A young lady brought Dr. Adkins-Garnett her stuff.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett handed the young lady some keys that she took from her purse.  “Donna, take these to my office for me.”  Donna took the keys and Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s stuff and walked off.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett put her arm through Dianne’s arm and began walking her up the aisle.  Dianne asked, “Where are we going now?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett responded, “I am going to walk you to your car.”  Dianne stopped walking.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett grimaced, “You have got to stop doing that.  You cannot just stop like that.  You are going to make me hurt or break something.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed.  Dianne looked at the woman who had her in a vice grip, loving as it was, it was still a tight hold.  Dianne said, “You do not have to do that.  I can go by myself.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett started walking, pulling Dianne against her will, “Don’t worry about it.  If I don’t you to your car, I will have to talk to 50 people.  Let’s go.”  Dianne started walking out with the woman that had attached herself.

Mac was not listening to Sis. Trevor’s son.  The boy said, “Yo, Mac, you listening to me?”  Mac jumped, “Sorry, Jay, what’s up?  I am kind of in a hurry.  What’s up?”  Jay said, “Can I go with you today?”  Mac said, “Naw, not today.  I got something to do.  Maybe another time.”  Jay was mad, “You don’t never want to let me go with you.”  Mac patted the boy on his head, “Alright, on Tuesday, I will come up here and we can go hang out.  Is that cool?”  Jay smiled, “Yea.”  Mac gave the boy some dap, “Cool.  Make sure you ask your mother can you do it.  And be good in school on Monday and Tuesday.  Later man.”  Mac took off before the kid could say anything else to him.

Mac ran into the sanctuary.  He was stopped by a couple of people who were trying to talk to him.  He quickly spoke to them and looked around the sanctuary for his aunt.  He didn’t see her, but he saw his uncle talking to some of the other minister.  Mac went over to the group of minister.  He tapped his uncle on the shoulder, “Excuse me, Unc.  Have you seen aunnie?”  Eld. Garnett turned and looked at his nephew, “Yea man, she just walked out of here with Dianne.”  Mac tapped his uncle’s shoulder again, “Thanks Unc.  Which way did they go?”  Eld. Garnett pointed towards the back of the church, “That way.  What are you looking for her for?”  Mac walked away from his uncle, “I gotta tell her something before I leave.  Later Unc.”  Mac tried to walk off, but his uncle grabbed his arm, “You need to speak.”  Mac huffed, “Hello Elders.  God bless you all.”  He took off before his uncle could grab him again.  One of the ministers turned to Eld. Garnett, “Where is he going?”  Eld. Garnett smiled, “I don’t know.”

Mac moved through the sanctuary full of people as quickly as he could.  People stopped him a time or to speak to him.  He spoke as quickly as he could and kept walking.  He knew that someone was going to complain to his father about him being rude, but Mac was willing to take the reprimand that he would get from his father.

Mac made it to the vestibule area.  He looked around, but he didn’t see his aunt or Dianne.  He was about to go outside when someone tugged on him.  It was Kelly, Sis. Trevor’s ten year old daughter.  She had her hand on her hips, “How are you gonna take Jay somewhere and not take me?  You mean.”  Mac didn’t have time for this.  He bent down so the he was looking in the girl’s face, “Kelly, I gotta go.  We can talk about this later.”  Kelly rolled her neck, “Whatever.”  Mac dropped his head, “You know better than working your neck like that.”  Kelly rolled her eyes and said, “Whatever.”  She smacked her lips and walked off.  Mac stood up and thought, “That girl has too much attitude.”

Mac made it outside of the church without being stopped.  He looked around for his aunt; she was no where in sight.  Mac looked around to see who was outside that might know his aunt.  Sis. Taylor was out there talking to Sis. Davidson.  Mac walked over to the two women.  Sis. Taylor stopped talking to Sis. Davidson and hugged Mac, “Hello handsome.  How are you doing?”  Mac blushed.  Sis. Davidson, not to be outdone, “Hugged and kissed Mac.  Now Taylor, leave my sweetheart alone.  He don't want no old woman like you.”  Sis. Davidson laughed as Sis. Taylor worked her neck, “Davidson please.  He don't want you either.”  Mac laughed and said, “Have you all seen my aunt?”  Sis. Taylor said, “She walked off in the parking lot with that lady that came to church with her.  That girl is pretty and she was sharp.  She acted a little stuck up though.”  Sis. Davidson laughed, “Taylor you need to quit.”  Mac thanked the two ladies and walked towards the parking lot.  He stood at the front of the parking lot.  There was no way he was going to find his aunt.  He was heartbroken.  He would have to wait and see if Dianne would be at another church service.  He sure hoped that she would be.

Dianne and Dr. Adkins-Garnett made it to Dianne’s car.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at the shiny black Honda Accord.  Dianne took her hat off and smoothed her hair down.  She unlocked the car and put her hat on the back seat.  She walked over to Dr. Adkins-Garnett to hug the woman and tell her good bye.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked over to the passenger side of the car and got in the car.  Dianne rolled her eyes, huffed, and walked over to the passenger side of the car.  She thought, “Lord, I’m going to strangle this woman.”  Before Dianne got in the car, an old man yelled, “God bless you, Sister.”  He had a sly grin on his face.  Dianne nodded and got in her car.

Dianne looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “Do you want something, Dr. Adkins-Garnett?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked around Dianne’s car, “Girl, this is a nice car.  I like this.”  Dianne laid her head back on the head rest, “Thank you.  Do you want something?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett could tell that Dianne was getting irritated.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Can you drive me back to the front of the church?  That was a long walk.”  Dianne laughed, “Sure.”  Dianne put the keys in the ignition and started the car.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked around the car again, “Where do you work at?”  Dianne was looking backwards to see if it was safe to back up, “I do not have on right now.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Dianne.

“Oh, why not?”

“I just do not have one right now.”

“Are you looking for one?”

“No Mame.  Not right now.  I guess your husband was right.  Are you gonna offer me a job at your ministry?”

“No, you probably wouldn’t accept it anyway.  Where did you work before?”

“I do not really want to talk about it.”

“Okay.  There’s a car right there.”

Dianne huffed, “Thanks, I saw it.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “You’re welcomed.  Are you getting tired of me?”

“Yes, I am.  I am not used to people fussing over me like this.  I don’t mean to offend you.”

“I am not offended.  I just see something special in you.  I just have to learn to quit being so overzealous.”

Dianne looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “What do you mean; you see something special in me?”  Dianne backed her car out of the parking space and began driving towards the church.

“I can tell that you have been hurt in the past.  You hide it very well with your sophistication and glamour, but I still see it.  I can also see that you have a testimony that will bless other young ladies.  You are a very giving person once get to know people.  There is something very loving about you and despite the hurt that you have had, you still want to share that love with people you love.  It can be hard for you, but you still try to share it.  There is something inside you that is going to bless other young ladies.”

Dianne forced the lump in her throat down.  She demanded that the tears welling up in her eyes go back where they came from.  There was no way that she was going to cry.  She forced a smile on her face.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett touched Dianne’s arm, “One of these days, that smile will come out much easier.”  Dianne glared at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “You don’t know what you are talking about woman.  I ain’t got nothing to tell anyone.  You are starting to bother me, too.  I hope this is close enough, because I am turning here.”  Dianne stopped her car and waited for Dr. Adkins-Garnett to exit the car.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett complied with Dianne’s request.  As Dr. Adkins-Garnett was getting out f the car she said, “I am right.  And I am not mad at you for getting an attitude with me and throwing me out of your car.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett closed the door and walked off smiling.

Mac was standing at the front of the parking lot talking to a young lady when someone grabbed him around his neck.  He felt a pair of wet lips kiss him on the jaw.  He turned around, it was his aunt.  He smiled at her, “Hey aunnie.  Where you been?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled at her nephew, “I walked Dianne to her car and made sure she got off okay.”  Mac lips dropped for a second, “That’s cool.  Do you know Brianna?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at the young lady, “No, I do not know here.”  Mac introduced them.  He left when his aunt began telling Brianna about By Example Ministries.  Mac knew that they would be there for awhile.

Dianne was fuming.  “How dare that woman ingratiate herself on me?  How dare she try to tell me who I was and what I was going to do?”  Dianne blew a hard breath.  She drove as quickly as could over to her friend, Ariel Lewis’ house.

Dianne reached Ariel’s house.  Dianne was hoping that she could borrow something from Ariel because she didn’t have a change of clothes.  Dianne went over to Ariel’s house every Sunday to keep Ariel company while Ariel’s husband, Greg and his friend watched some sporting event.

Dianne knocked on the door.  Ariel answered.  Ariel looked at Dianne, “girl, where you been?  Oh yea, you went to church today.  You look good.  Did you get you a man while you were there?”  Dianne smiled and said, “Maybe I did and maybe I didn’t,” as she walked in the door.  Ariel yelled, “Greg, Di is here and she is in her Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes.”  A big burly deep dark-skinned man walked in the living room he uttered an expletive before saying, “Girl, you look good.  Did you catch a deacon at the church today?”  Dianne shook her head, “You two are heathens.”  Greg laughed his usual deep laugh, “What did pastor preach on today?”  Dianne smiled, “His topic was, ‘God Has Saved Me, And My Past is Over.’  It was about not letting your past dictate your future and that once you are saved, your past no longer matters because God has forgiven you and forgotten about your past sins.”  Greg laughed his deep laugh again, “Yea, whatever.  I bet you believe that too.  Church folk.”  Greg walked out.  Dianne felt dejected.  Ariel wrapped her arms around her friend’s shoulders, “Come on; let’s go say hi to the fellas.”  The two women headed towards the den.

Dianne walked into the den with Ariel.  The usual suspects were there, David, Steve, and Ed.  They were Greg’s poker buddies.  There were two other guys there that Dianne didn’t know.  Ariel introduced them to Dianne, “This is Paul and Drake.”  Drake didn’t even look at Dianne.  Paul looked at Dianne and said, “where you been all dressed?”  Ariel answered before Dianne could, “She went to church.  She ain’t heathens like you all.”  Greg winked at Ariel, “Yea, but you love your heathen, don't you.  Now, get on outta here so we can watch the game.”  Ariel and Dianne walked out of the room into the kitchen.

Ariel reached in the refrigerator and grabbed a wine cooler out of it.  She took a drink and walked over to Dianne, “You want a sip?”  Dianne shook her head no.  Usually, Dianne would take a sip of Ariel’s wine cooler, but today, something insider he told her not to take that sip.  Ariel shrugged her shoulders, “I guess you are too saved to even keep up an old tradition.  Excuse me.  Before long you are going to be walking around with a big Bible, preaching all the time.”  Dianne laughed, “You need to quit.”  Ariel went and sat by Dianne who was sitting at the dinner table.

“A, I ain’t too sure about this church thing.  I don’t think I am going back to that church again.”

“You kidding, right?  You were about to foam at the mouth when you told me you were going to the church.  What happened?”

“I don’t know.  I just felt funny.  I got all hot and a felt weird.  I don’t know what was going on.”

Ariel started laughing, “Girl, you caught the Holy Ghost.”  Ariel yelled towards the living room, “Greg, Di caught the Holy Ghost at church.”  A few seconds later, Greg walked into the kitchen, “What?  Did you do one of those weird dances that they do?”  Greg began jumping around and acting like he was dancing.  Ariel was laughing, but it made Dianne mad.  Dianne stood up, “Greg, you need to quit that!”  Greg looked at Dianne, “Woman, watch your voice up in my house.”  Dianne glared at Greg, “You need to quick making fun of people.  That ain’t right.”  Greg looked at Dianne like she was crazy, “You’ve change, Di.  You ain’t the same no more.”  He walked out of the kitchen.

Dianne sat down and looked at Ariel, “A, have I changed that much.”  Ariel looked at her friend, “Yea, you are different.  It is a good different, but it’s going to take some getting used to.  Forget Greg.”  Dianne could not figure it out, but she felt out of place.  She had spent countless Sundays over at Ariel’s and Greg’s place, but at that moment, she wanted to leave.  She didn’t want to be there anymore.

Dianne stood up, “A, I am tired.  I am going home.  I’ll call you later.”  Ariel looked hurt, “You cannot just leave me here with these nuts.  Come on Di.  Does this have anything to do with what Greg said?”  Dianne rubbed her hair, “No, it doesn’t.  I am tired.  I had a long day at church.  You’ll be alright.  I need to go home.”  Ariel twisted her neck and walked off from Dianne, “This is how it starts, before long, I won’t see you anymore cause you will always be at church.  This ain’t right.  Just gone and leave.”  Dianne went over to her friend to hug her.  Ariel moved away from Dianne so that she could not hug her.  Dianne touched Ariel’s shoulder, “It isn’t going to be like that.  We are girls for life.  You had my back when no one else did.  I ain’t going to forget that.  I love you.  I will call you later.”  Ariel didn’t even acknowledge Dianne.  Dianne walked to the door of Ariel’s house.  Dianne yelled by to everyone in the house and then left.

Dianne drove to her house.  She felt bad about leaving Ariel, but she had to get out of that house.  Dianne thought about how she had treated Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Dianne felt bad.  When she stopped at a red light, Dianne dialed the number that Dr. Adkins-Garnett had given her.  No one answered the ministry’s telephone.  Dianne left a message for Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “Dr. Adkins-Garnett, I apologize for how I acted today.  I overreacted.  I will talk to you later.  Thanks for inviting me to church.  I had a great time.”  Dianne clicked the phone off.  Dianne continued on to her house.  She picked up a catfish nugget basket from Joe’s Chicken & Fish before going to her house.  Her car was going to smell like catfish for a couple of days, but Dianne didn’t care.  She was hungry and she wanted to eat in the solitude of her own house.

Mac didn’t want to go out to eat with his brother and friends.  They all went back to the house to change clothes.  Mac went to his room and got out of his suit.  Someone knocked on his door.  It was Shalalah Cargile, one of the girls who hung out with him and his brother.  He opened the door, “What’s up?”  Shalalah responded, “We are about to leave.  You coming?”  Mac shook his head, “Naw.  I’m a stay here today.  I do not feel good.”  Shalalah left the door.  A few minutes later, Mec came through the door.  Mac sat up in his bed, “Fool, do you know how to knock on a closed door.  You rude punk.”  Mec snarled at his brother, “I got your punk.  Why you not going wit us?”  Mac huffed, “Cause I do not want to.  Leave me alone.”  Mec bounced down on the bed next to Mac, “I bet it has something to do with that old lady you were staring at in church.”  Mac made a face, “It ain’t got anything to do with her.  And quit talking about people.”  Mec punched his brother in the chest, “Yea right.  You want me to bring you something back grave robber?”  Mac laughed, “I ain’t a grave robber.  Naw you ain’t gotta bring me nothing back.”  Mec stood up from the bed.  He kissed Mac on the forehead and headed out the room.  Mec stopped at the door and started singing, “Mac likes that old meat, old meat.”  Mac threw a pillow at his brother.  Mac could hear Mec singing down the hall.

11/3/05, 11:45 AM, 5,751 Words

2005-11-03T18:16:00.000-08:00

It was a cool October day.  The wind was blowing lightly.  The leaves on the trees had just started to change.  It was a good day for Dianne to make her first appearance at the Greater Buelahland Interdenomational House of Rest.  Dianne had decided that she was finally going to go to church with Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Dianne was tired of the woman asking her when she was going to a church.  Dianne got dressed for church.  She made sure that she looked extra good.  She wore her pink 2-piece suit with the gold buttons and extra shiny rhinestones.  She had her pink strapless purse that matched the suit.  Her pink sling back size 8 pumps went perfectly with her outfit.  She put on her gold jewelry. She was going to steal the show today.  Even if the people in the church didn’t like her, they were going to know that she knew how to dress.  Dianne took one last look in the mirror.  She smoothed out her lip stick.  She stepped back and took one last look at herself.  She looked fabulous.  She reached for her medium brim pink hat and put it on her head.  She looked in the mirror and tilted it to the right slightly and then to the left.  She decided to wear it tilting to the right.  She took the hat off and held it in her hand, and then grabbed her purse, her keys, and the Bible that Dr. Adkins-Garnett had given her.  She headed out of the door for church.

For some reason MaClandon decided to look extra special today.  He took longer than usual to get dressed.  He changed suits three times before deciding to wear his burnt orange suit with his yellow shirt and burnt orange, yellow, and gold tie set.  He combed his hair twice.  His twin brother, MeClendon came in the room.  Mac scowled at his brother, “Dang, man.  Don’t you know how to knock?”  Mec frowned at his twin brother, “Man, come on.  You are going to get left.  You got somebody coming to church today?”  Mac ran his fingers through his hair, “No, I just wanna look good.”  Mec pulled Mac’s tie, “It doesn’t matter.  Ain’t nobody going to see you because you are going to be in that robe.  Come on man, for you get left.”  Mec walked out of the room.  Mac shook his head and put on one more spray of cologne before grabbing his Bible and leaving his room.

MaClandon and his friends reached the church at 10:30 AM.  On the Sundays that the young adult choir sang, the fellas usually didn’t go to Sunday school, much to the disappointment of Bishop & First Lady Adkins.  People were outside of the church walking around and talking to each other.  It was a beautiful scene to see all the women in their Sunday-go-to-meeting best; with hats and purses to match.  The men looked dapper in suits that looked like they were tailor made.  A rainbow of colors graced the parking lot of the church; red, yellow, blue, black, green, and black, the colors were definitely precious in God’s sight.  A couple of kids ran by Mac.  He yelled, “Slow down before you all fall.”  A few seconds later, Sis. Trevor walked by.  She said, “Thanks, Mac or is it Mec?  Anyway, thanks.”  Mac smiled, “You’re welcome.  Enjoy the service Sis. Trevor.”  Mac felt sad for Sis. Trevor at times.  She had 6 children, 5 boys and 1 girl; all of them had different daddies.  Mac tried to help her as much as he could by making sure that the kids didn’t run all over the place.  She was trying, though.  She always brought them to church; to every service.  Mac silently prayed for her.  He walked towards the church.  He caught up with his brother and their friends, Donnyea, Shalalah, DeWright, and Norie.  Every one of them was dressed up.  They always dressed up on the Sunday’s that they sung.  They all hugged each other and headed for the choir room.

Dianne knew that she was going to be late for church.  She hated being late.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett had offered to give Dianne directions to the church, but Dianne told her that she could find the church on her own.  Dianne wished that she would have taken Dr. Adkins-Garnett up on her offer.  Dianne drove around for awhile longer before she picked up her cell phone and dialed the number to the church that Dr. Adkins-Garnett had given her.  “Praise the Lord, Greater Buelahland, this is Sis. Collins, how may I help you?”  Dianne responded, “I am trying to get to your church.  I am at the corner of Davis Street and Willoughby Road.”  The woman on the other end of the phone gave Dianne directions to the church.  Within 6 minutes, Dianne was pulling up to the church.

Dianne found a parking space toward the back of the parking lot.  The front of the lot was full, so Dianne had to park a ways off.  She was upset, but none the less, she had made it to the church at 10:57.  She had three minutes to get into the church.  She got out of her car, put her hat on, grabbed her purse and Bible and started to walk towards the church.  As she walked to the church, a group of woman caught up with her.  One of them said, “Girl, I like that outfit.  You look good.”  Dianne said, “Thank you,” as the ladies walked pass her.

Mac was sitting in between Mec and Norie in the choir stand.  As hard as the choir director tried to separate him his brother and their friends, two or three of them ended up sitting together in the choir.  Mec was flirting with a couple of the sopranos sitting next to him.  Norie was talking to the guy sitting next to him.  Mac looked around the church to see who was there.  He saw his aunt sitting in her usual seat on the third row.  She seemed to be saving a seat for someone.  Mac didn’t think twice about it.  He caught his aunt’s eye and smiled at her.  She smiled back.  Mec elbowed him, “Who you looking at?”  Mac nodded, “At Aunt Denise.”  Mec looked a t his aunt.  She scowled at him.  Mec flashed his playa smile at his aunt.  She shook her head at her rambunctious nephew.

Dianne made it to the entrance of the sanctuary at 11:01.  She was the only person at the door.  The doors were closed.  One of the ushers stopped her, “Let’s wait and see if anyone else comes and then I will let you in.”  Dianne smiled a slight smiled, “Do you know where Dr. Adkins-Garnett sits?”  The usher nodded, “Are you here visiting with her today?”  Dianne adjusted her purse under her arm, “Yes Mame.”  The usher smiled, “Well, I guess no one else is coming.  Let’s go.”  The usher opened the door for Dianne and then began to walk beside her.  Dianne stepped in the sanctuary.  It was huge.  There was a big chandelier hanging in the middle of a high vaulted ceiling.  The pews were laced with gold trim, which was shining.  There were about seventy pews on each side of the four sections of rows in the church.  The carpet was plush and blue.  Dianne could not hear her heels clicking on the carpet.

They have been walking for awhile before the usher pointed to a row.  Dianne thanked the usher and sat down next to Dr. Adkins-Garnett who had gotten excited and was smiling like crazy.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett hugged Dianne tightly, “Glad you could make it.”  Dianne fixed her hat that Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s hug had messed up, “Thanks.  Sorry, I am late.  I got a little lost.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “That’s ok.  I am just glad you’re here.  ”Taylor, this is Dianne Roberts, the young lady that I invited today.”  Dianne leaned forward and was met by a forty or fifty year-old woman in a gray suit and a big smile.  The lady reached over Dr. Adkins-Garnett and extended her hand to Dianne, “I am glad that you came today.  I am tired of hearing Garnett talk about you.  You would think you were her long lost daughter the way she talks about you.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett elbowed Sis. Taylor, “Taylor, quit causing trouble.  Dianne just ignored her.  You look fabulous as usual.”  Sis. Taylor chimed in, “Yea, you do.  Garnett said that you could dress.”  Dianne smiled.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled at her.  Dianne looked around the church.  The pews were full of people.

Dianne looked up in the choir stand.  Most of the people in the choir stand appeared to be about 20 to 25.  Dianne was about to look somewhere else when she saw the guy from the picnic staring at her.  His eyes were glued on her.  She looked at the guy sitting next to him.  He looked exactly like the boy who was staring at him.  The guy from the picnic kept staring at her.  She smiled at him, hoping that would make him stop staring.  He smiled back and kept staring.  She looked at the musician who had begun to play; ignoring the young boy that was staring at her.

Mac was waiting for the musician to call the service to order.  It seemed like it was taking forever this Sunday.  Usually at 11:01 exactly, the musician began to play, but today he didn’t.  Mac looked down the aisle.  One of the ushers was escorting a single woman down the aisle.  That was unusual because the ushers usually only escorted special guests down the aisle.  As the usher and the woman got closer, Mac could tell that it was Dianne.  His heart dropped, his hands started sweating, and a smile grew across his face.  He wanted to break out in dance right then and there.  He watched her walk down the aisle.  She glided in her 2 inch heels, walking as if she was the queen making a grand entrance.  She walked with her head held high; not worrying about the sanctuary of people staring at her, wondering who she was to be escorted down the aisle in such a grand fashion.  Mac studied her outfit from top to bottom.  The woman looked fabulous.  With every other step, one of the rhinestones on her outfit would sparkle as the light hit them.  He wanted to get close to her because he knew that she had to smell great.

Mec stared at Mac, “Boy, who are you looking at like that?”  Mac didn’t say a word.  He just watched Dianne walk down the aisle.  Mec looked in the direction that Mac was looking, “Awe, naw.  You done spied out an old woman.  Boy, she probably has shoes older than you.”  Mac ignored his brother.  Mec said, “Who does she think she is anyway?  She all late.”  Mac said, “Man, shut up.”  Mec punched his brother in the arm.  Mec rubbed his arm as he continued to stare at Dianne.

Mac watched Dianne as she sat down next to his aunt.  He watched his aunt hug Dianne.  He watched Dianne interact with his aunt and her best friend, Ida Taylor.  Mac knew it was wrong to stare, but he couldn’t help it.  Before Mac had a chance to turn his head, Dianne was looking at him.  In his mind he said, “Boy, turn your head.  Stop staring at her.  You idiot!”  Mac could not stop staring.  Dianne stared back at him for a few seconds and then she smiled at him.  Mac’s heart did a flip and then jumped in his throat.  He managed to smile back at her.  A few seconds later, she stopped looking at him.  Mac shook out of his stare when the musician played the introit.

All of a sudden, everyone in the congregation stood up.  They turned towards the back of the church.  Twenty men were walking down the aisle as the musician played softly.  It took awhile for the men to walk down the long aisle.  When the men got to the pulpit and took their seats, the musician began to play “You’re Worthy to Be Praised.”  After the introduction of the song, the congregation began to sing.  After two verses and four choruses of the song one of the ministers walked up to the pulpit podium and said, “Can you say praise the Lord?”  The congregation responded in accordance.  The minister said, “Can you say praise the Lord?” more forceful than the first time.  The congregation responded with more vigor this time.  The minister said, “They told me this was a church that liked to praise the Lord.  Somebody needs to act like it.”  Some of the people in the congregation clapped their hands and praised the Lord.  The minister smiled and said, “Bless God.  Let’s pray.”  He prayed an excited prayer that last for 10 minutes.  By the time he was through and had said Amen, a lot of the people in the crowd were praising God loudly.  The man walked back to his seat.

A man in a purple and white robe walked to the podium, “God bless you all.”  The crowd responded back, “God bless you Bishop.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett leaned over to Dianne and whispered, “That’s my brother, Bishop J. Berry Adkins.  He is the pastor.”  Dianne nodded.  The bishop was a handsome man.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett seemed quite proud when she announced to Dianne that the man standing before the congregation was her brother.

Bishop Adkins adjusted the microphone before he said, “Please turn in your program to the responsive reading page.  I will read the bold print.  Please respond by reading the light print.”  Bishop Adkins began read the responsive reading and sat down after he had read the last verse.  As he was sitting down, a group of men and women began to gather in the front of the church.  A tall skinny man grabbed the microphone and said, “Anybody wanna praised the Lord?”  The congregation responded with various positive responses.  A lady said, “Do I have any worshippers in the building?”  The congregation responded with various affirmative answers.  The man began singing, “Let the name of God be exalted in this place.”  The praise team and congregation responded as they continued to sing the song.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett leaned over to Dianne and said, “See the woman on the front row in the light blue suit, that’s my sister-in-law, Darlene Adkins.”  Dianne looked at the woman.  She only saw the side of Sis. Adkins’ face.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked up in the choir stand and said, “See the two guys on the second row that look just alike.  They are my nephews MeClendon and MaClandon.  As you can tell, they are twins.  My niece Gloria is the third girl from the end of the pew on the first row.”  Dianne looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s nephews; she wondered which one was the one that was at the picnic.  Dianne looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s niece, before turning her attention back to the twins.  Dianne said, “One of your nephews was the picnic.  Which one was that?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “That was MaClandon.  We call him Mac.  He is a sweetheart.  I have another niece, but I don’t know where she is sitting.  I have two more twin nephews, but I couldn’t tell you where they are either.”  Dianne added up the number of nieces and nephews that Dr. Adkins-Garnett had mentioned.  It added up to six.  Dianne shook her head and asked Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “What is there ages?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett rolled her eyes, “Let me think, Mac and Mec are twenty-four. Gloria is twenty-two, I think.  Angel is seventeen or eighteen.  Dustin and Justin are fourteen.”  Dianne nodded.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett went to talking to Sis. Taylor.  Dianne looked up at MaClandon.  He was staring at her.  Dianne scowled at him as she thought, “Lord, this boy is too young to be thinking about me.”

Mac was trying to sing with the praise team in between stealing glances at Dianne.  She seemed a bit nervous.  Mac giggled at the idea that this may be Dianne’s first time in a Pentecostal church.  Mec nudge his brother, “You going to stare at her the whole service.  She is going to think you are a pervert.”  Mac looked at his brother and rolled his eyes.  Mec went back to singing and Mac went back to looking at Dianne.  Dianne was looking at Mac.  He smiled.  She scowled at him.  He blinked his eyes as she stopped staring at him.

After the praise team had sung another song, they left the front of the church.  Bishop Adkins took the podium and said, “You may be seated.  Let’s get ready to enjoy our young adult choir.  Ya’ll better sang.”  The congregation clapped as the group of young adults stood up.  A guy walked to the front of the church and motioned for the musician to play.  After the introduction, the choir began to sing, “All that I have belongs to God.”  People in the congregation began to stand up, clap, and rock with the choir.  A female voice yelled, “Ya’ll betta sang, then.”  A male voice said, “I like that.  I belong to God.  Sang then.”  Everyone was into the song.  Dianne even stood up and clapped with everyone.  She rocked her head.  Mac looked at Dianne.  She was standing up, clapping, and rocking.  Mac smiled as her hat went from the left side to the right side to the beat of the music.

When the choir finished singing the first song, the choir director walked over the organ and grabbed the microphone, “Does anybody belong to God?”  The congregation yelled back at him with varying responses.  The choir director said, “Do you want to Holy Spirit to fall on you today?”  The choir went wild.  The choir director said, “Come on Gloria.”  Bishop Adkins said, “You better direct baby.”  Sis. Adkins stood up, “Go head baby.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “Help yourself baby.”  Dianne giggled as she thought, “These folk are crazy.”

Gloria stood in the front of the choir and began to direct the song.  It was a slow song.  The choir sung the song.  People in the congregation were crying, waving their hands, and praising by the time the choir got to the vamp.  At the end of the song, Gloria jumped up and down in the front of the choir.  The musician started playing some fast music.  Gloria started dancing.  A bunch of people in the audience started dancing too.  The choir started singing, “I got the joy of the Lord.  Joy of the Lord…”People all over the place were dancing, shouting, clapping, and running.

Dianne wasn’t sure what to do.  She looked around at the people moving around wildly.  She had only send people act like this on TV, never in person.  Dianne clapped her hands so that she wouldn’t look weird not clapping.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s shoulders were bouncing when she leaned over to Dianne and asked, “Is this your first time at a Pentecostal church?”  Dianne nodded her head up and down.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett went back to praising God.  For some strange reason, Dianne wanted to know what Mac was doing right then.  She looked up at him.  He, his brother, and two other guys were clapping the same way.  Dianne laughed at the four guys.  She looked back at Gloria.  She was still dancing.  Dianne laughed as she clapped.  This was the most exciting church she had ever visited; even though this was only the third church service she had ever been to in her life.

The audience calmed down as Bishop Adkins walked to the podium, “These young folk are going to make me dance in here.”  The congregation clapped and yelled, “Go ahead Bishop.”  The musician played some fast notes.  Some people started back to dancing.  The other people started clapping.  Bishop said, “Come on we gotta move ya’ll.  We gotta move.”  The audience became more frenzied when he said that.  He looked at the musician and nodded the musicians played the fast music again.  People who hadn’t danced before started dancing this time.

Dianne looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Are you okay?”  Dianne just looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Dianne was not sure what was going on, but she felt like there was a fire on the inside of her.  She kept telling herself to calm down.  She began to fan herself with her hand.  She thought she was getting sick.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett grabbed Dianne’s arm, “Dianne, are you okay?”  Dianne said, “I feel sick.  I am hot inside.  I have never felt like this before.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “Do not worry about it sweetie, that’s the Holy Spirit.  You are alright.”  Dianne looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett like she was crazy.  Dianne thought, “What had this woman gotten me into?” as she fanned herself.

Bishop motioned for the musician to stop playing.  The musician stopped as Bishop said, “I am going to do something right quick.  Where are my children?  Ya’ll get up here quick.  Quick, come on.”  Mac, Mec, and Gloria left the choir stand.  A teenage girl walked from the center of the church.  Two boys that looked just alike walked from the back of the church.  They walked up onto the pulpit.  Bishop said, “I am going to praise God with my children.  Any of you out there that have children that you are asking God to save, this is for you.  If you see my children and your children and me as you, and praise God as if it were happening, then God is going to bless you today.  Come on ya’ll, let’s praise God.”  Bishop and his six children started clapping and praising.  Bishop said, “Come on, we are praising some mother’s son to the Lord.”  The kids made some more noise.  Bishop said, “Come on, there’s someone daughter on drugs.  We gotta praise God for her.”  Before long, Gloria and Angel were standing.  Dustin and Justin were one their knees with their faces, hands, and arms lifted towards Heaven.  Mac and Mec were both crying with their arms extended towards Heaven.  People all over the building were crying, clapping, praising, and basking in the glory of the Lord.

Dianne had started crying.  She was trying to stop the tears, but she could not.  Before she could figure out what was going on, Dr. Adkins-Garnett had hugged her.  Dianne was laying on Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s shoulder, crying like a baby.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett kept saying, “Work it out for her Lord as only You can.”  Dianne felt comfortable on the woman’s shoulder.

After about 20 minutes Bishop finally said, “God is doing something here today.  If you need something from Him, now is the time to get it.”  His children were still in the pulpit praising the Lord.  People were still crying, clapping, and praising.  Dianne’s was still on Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s shoulder crying.  Bishop said, “Yes, yes, the Lord is moving.  The water is trouble.  You need to get in the pool with us.”  After he said that, a woman let out a high pitched squeal that sent chills down everyone’s spin.  The woman started running all over the place.  Bishop said, “That’s right, praise him Sis. Trevor.  Let the Lord bless you.”  Bishop nodded at the musician.  The musician began playing “Hail Jesus You’re My King.”  People kept on praising until the end of the song.

Dianne stopped crying when the musician began to play the song.  She raised her head up from Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s shoulder and rubbed both her eyes.  Someone handed her some Kleenex.  Dianne blotted her face as she sat down.  Dianne felt a hand rub her back as someone said, “That’s right baby, let the Lord bless real good.”  Dianne kept her head down.  She was not sure what to do at that moment so, she just sat there.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett was crying.  She was happy because the Lord had touched Dianne.  She wanted to hug Dianne and take away every hurt that Dianne had ever had in her life.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett knew that she could not do that.  It was going to take God to do that.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett began praising God as if she had given birth to Dianne.

Mac, Mec, Gloria, Angel, Dustin, and Justin went back to their seats after they each hugged their father.  Some of the people in the congregation sat down.  Some were still praising.  Sis. Trevor had stopped running.  She was in the middle of aisle dancing.  Bishop went back to the podium, “I feel like preaching.”  The crowd went crazy.  Bishop smiled, “God has changed the program around.  Is that alright?”  The congregation clapped and praised.  Bishop responded, “IT doesn’t matter if it is okay with you all or not, as long as it is okay with God.”  The congregation clapped.

People began to sit down as a man brought Bishop his Bible and a notebook.  Bishop grabbed his Bible, “Turn in your Bibles to Acts chapter 10.  Let’s look at verse 43.”  People all over the congregation stood up.  Bishop said, “It reads, ‘To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.’  You may take your seat.  I want to use as a thought for a brief few minutes, ‘God Has Saved Me, And My Past is Over.’  I don’t know who I am talking to today, but this message is for someone out there.”  People began clapping.  A female voice said, “It’s for me pastor.”  Bishop laughed, “Alright now.”  Bishop began his sermon after that.

Dianne thought about the sermon topic as she looked at the program.  They had skipped over most of the stuff listed in the program.  It seemed odd, but okay.  Dianne thought to herself, “Why in the world would he preach a sermon like this today?  Does he know something about me?  No one at this church even knows me or anything about me.  This is weird.”  Dianne listened to Bishop preach.

Mac was hot in his robe.  After standing on the pulpit praising God in his robe, he couldn’t help but be hot.  He looked at Dianne.  Her make-up seemed smeared.  He figured that she had been crying along with everyone else.  He looked at her awhile longer.  Dianne was paying attention to his father.  Mac decided to do the same thing.

Bishop said, “Some of you are still wondering, what if someone knows about my past.  It is doesn’t matter about your past.  Once you accepted Christ as your personal Saviour, He forgot about what you did before.  You are a new creature.”

Dianne looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at her with a sly grin.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett had told Dianne the same thing.  Dianne still wondered how God could have forgotten about all the stuff she had done.  She still thought it was going to take a long time for God to forget about some of the things that she had done.

Bishop continued, “When folk try to bring up your past, do not let them get to you.  Someone always wants to remind you of what you use to be.  Just tell them, ‘Look at me now.  Look what God has made of me.  I am a whole new person.  Don’t hate me, baby.  Come join me and god will change you, too.’”  People laughed, clapped, and praised.

Dianne laughed too.  She could not imagine saying that to anyone.  It was all too weird for her.  She had been forgiven.  She had been made a new creature.  Her sins had been forgotten.  All of this happened in a matter of minutes.  There wasn’t anyway that this was true.  It could not possibly be that simple.

Bishop said, “Some of you make it too hard.  Once you asked Jesus to come into your life, He forgave you, saved you, and made you brand new.  It is that simple.  Now, staying that way, takes some work.  That’s why you need to get into a good church home and be taught the word.  You need to be accountable to someone.  To someone who will tell you when you aren’t doing right.  Someone who will tell you that you need to straighten up.  It cannot be just anybody.  It has to be someone who is saved themselves and have a relationship with the Lord.”

Dianne looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett was nodding and listening.  Dianne smiled.  What Bishop Adkins was saying made sense, but she still had doubts.  This was all new to her.

Bishop said, “Salvation, understanding, and living for God takes time, takes commitment, takes pray, takes fasting, takes a lot, bit it sure is worth.  I tell ya, the blessing of the Lord maketh rich and added no sorrow.  Now, I am not just talking about money, but every aspect of life.  I’m talking about your soul, your family, your health, and so much more.  It is just like at work.  You expect your paycheck, that’s one thing, but the better the benefits package, the better you feel.  God has an awesome benefit package.”  People all over the congregation stood up and clapped.  Bishop continued preaching.

Dianne thought to herself, “This is going to be okay.  I think I might be able to do this.  I sure hope Dr. Adkins-Garnett doesn’t mind me bugging her from time to time.”  Her thoughts were interrupted when Dr. Adkins-Garnett tapped her on the shoulder, “Excuse me sweetie.  I need to go up front.”  Dianne let Dr. Adkins-Garnett by.  Sis. Taylor walked over to Dianne and hugged her.  Sis. Taylor whispered, “God blessed you real good today.”  Sis. Taylor released Dianne.

Bishop Adkins had finished his sermon.  He said, “If there is one of you who doesn’t know the Lord, will you come?  Will you come?”  No one moved.  Bishop said it a few more times before anyone moved.  Three people came at first, then more people started coming.  The ministers prayed with the people as Bishop continued to talk, “If you are saved, but you need some pray, you may come down to the altar.  There is room for you at the cross.”  People from all over the building began to come.

After the altar was over and people were back at their seats, Bishop Adkins took the microphone, “I better do this or the deacons will be upset with me.  Let’s get the offering.  Deacons, will you come?  Ushers will you come.  If you need an envelope, please let the ushers know, they will get you an envelope.  Come on choir, sing us a song.”  Bishop went and sat down as the choir stood up.  After a few minutes, one of the ministers walked to the podium.  He motioned at the musician.  The choir and the musician sung and played softly.  The minister said, “Let’s stand.  Father, we thank You for this service that You moved mightily in.  We thank You for what You have blessed us with.  Lord, we bring just a portion of what You have given us so that we may bless Your that it may be able to do Your work.  Let us give with a sincere heart, not giving grudgingly, but in love.  Bless this offering, its use, and those that have given it.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.”  The congregation responded with an Amen.  The minister said, “Hold your offering up and repeat after me…  Lord…  I give You this offering…  I give it freely…  I give it in love…  Bless it that it will be multiply that Your kingdom may be multiplied…  Ushers, choir.”  The ushers began to usher the people down to the offering table.  The choir went back to singing.

Mac looked at Dianne as she was standing up for the offering.  He wondered if her feet were hurting from standing up in her heels.  Dianne looked up at him.  He smiled at her.  She rolled her eyes and looked back at the people who were walking down the aisle.  Mac was trying to figure out how he could get back to the choir room, get out of his robe, and get back to the sanctuary in time to meet Dianne before she left.  It was going to take some doing, but Mac purposed in his heart to do just that.

Bishop took the podium, “Sis. Ransom, can you come do the welcome for us right quick.  We do not want our guests to feel unwelcome.”  A lady emerged from a side door of the church.  She took the podium, “Would all of our first time visitors please stand?”  People stood up all over the place.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett nudged Dianne and made her stand up.  After a few seconds, an usher handed Dianne a packet.  Sis. Ransom said, “We are glad that you came to visit us today.  You could have gone anywhere else, but the Lord led you here with us.  Please come back and visit us any time our doors are open.  Congregation, let’s greet our visitors.”  People started hugging the visitors.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett hugged Dianne.  Sis. Taylor hugged Dianne.  Three other women hugged Dianne.  A man shook Dianne’s hands and another man hugged Dianne.

The musician began playing “God Be with You” as Bishop walked up to the podium.  Bishop took the microphone and said, “We are going to let you go in a few minutes.  It’s only a little after 1:00.  We will be going home in a minute or two.  The doors of the church are opened.  If you would like to join our church, please come to the front.  If there is one, please come.”  A mother and her two children came down.  Three young men walked down together.  A father and his son came down.  Bishop walked down from the pulpit to where the people were.  A woman came from the audience and went to each person and asked their names.  She said each person’s name.  Bishop shook each person’s hand and said, “We are glad to have you as a member of our family.”  After each person had been introduced, the woman took them out of a side door of the church.

Bishop walked back up to the podium, “And we are stand as the choir sings…”  The choir sung “God Be with You.”  Bishop did the benediction and dismissed the congregation.

11/2/05 - 3,031 Words Total

2005-11-03T08:52:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I did 3,031 words.  Yesterday was harder than the first day.

I have a total of 6,338 for the first two days.  I feel good.  I have been reaching my goal, so that’s good, too.

Hope you are enjoying what I have written so far.  You can view it by going here.

I am going to get going on today’s session.  I will let you know how it goes tomorrow.

11/2/05, 4:00 PM, 1,821 Words

2005-11-02T20:46:00.000-08:00

Dianne Roberts sat in her 1625 square foot, three bedroom, 2 and half bathroom townhouse that she had recently paid off.  She felt good about her accomplishment, especially since her ex-boyfriend told her that she would never be able to do it.  Dianne smiled as she finished dusting her Northern Lights square cocktail table.  She had cleaned her whole house, so there was not much left to do.  She sat down on her black leather sectional sofa.  Her let her hands run across the leather to feel its texture.  Anyone that did not know her would have thought that she was being materialistic, but she was not.  She was just basking in her accomplishments.  According to her ex-boyfriend, Alstyne Murphy Dunn, she was supposed to fall flat on her face without him.  The day that Dianne left him, March 4, 2000, Alstyne proclaimed, “You’ll be back.  You ain’t nothing but a stripper and without me, you ain’t @#$*!”  Dianne smiled as she walked off without saying a word.

Dianne was very well adjusted considering her childhood and life.  Her mother went to jail when Dianne was five years-old.  Dianne’s mother had killed her father.  He was abusive to her mother.  He had started beating on Dianne.  Dianne’s mother killed him before he could begin to beat her baby like he had beaten her.  Dianne didn’t know her mother all that well.  She had only visited her mother 3 times at the jail.  The last time Dianne saw her mother; her mother told her, “Do not come down here anymore.  I am not your mother and I do not exist.  Forget about me.”  Dianne cried all the way home.  When she got home and told Alstyne what her mother had told her.  Alstyne retorted, “Good riddance to the #$%*&.  I hope you do not try to kill me like she did your father.  Women are so stupid.”  It was at that moment that Dianne made up her mine that she would get away from Alstyne.  It was 8 months later before she left him, but she left him.

Dianne looked at the Bible sitting on the end table next to the couch.  She never thought that she would have a Bible, much less be a Christian.  She had been saved for one year and two months.  She felt good about it, too.  She met Dr. Denise Adkins-Garnett in a lingerie shop on June 2, 2001.  Dianne thought it was funny watching the bashful woman shop for lingerie, so she decided to go help the woman out.

“Hello Mame.  You seem lost in here.  J.C. Penny is down the hall.”

“I guess it is obvious that I have never been in a place like this before.”

“Yes, Mame it is.  I come in here all the time.  What are you buying lingerie for?”

“My husband and I have a romantic weekend planned and I wanted to get something special for the occasion.”

“Do you want something nice, simple, and sexy or something that will make his eyes pop out of his head?”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett turned bright red.

Dianne laughed, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.  Why do not you just try a simple black nightie?  That should work for you.”  Dianne motioned towards the counter, “Stacy, come help her out.”  Dianne turned towards Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “Hope your husband likes it.”

Dianne was standing outside talking to Anne, one of the cashiers from the store when Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked out of the store.  Dianne waved by to Anne before she looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Dianne said, “You should be okay now that you are in the fresh air.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Yes, I do feel better.  What’s your name?”  Dianne responded, “Dianne Roberts.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett held her hand out to shake Dianne’s hand, “I am Dr. Denise Adkins-Garnett.  Who do you buy lingerie for?”  Dianne stared at the obtrusive woman.  It wasn’t any of the old bitty’s business, but Dianne felt compelled to respond, “No one.  My ex used to have me buy it all the time when I was with him.  Now it is just a habit that I have.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Do you mind if I treat you to lunch?”  Dianne didn’t have anything to do, but she didn’t know what that woman had in mind so she responded, “It’s ok.  I’m kind of busy today.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Too busy for a free lunch.  That’s odd, but if you say so.  I just thought I would offer.”  Dianne stared at the woman.  She was trying to figure her out.  Before Dianne knew what had happened she said, “Ok.  I will go.  I can do what I have to do later.”  Dianne was stunned.  What had she just said?  She didn’t want to go to lunch with that nosey woman.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett was walking towards a café that was near by before Dianne could weasel out of the lunch date.  That lunch led to Dianne accepting Christ right at the table.

Thoughts of Dr. Adkins-Garnett brought tears to Dianne’s eyes; no one had ever shown love to Dianne like Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett treated Dianne as if she was her child.  That made Dianne feel special.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett had been trying to get Dianne to come to church for awhile, but Dianne had resisted.  She was not sure that she was ready to be around that many Christians.  What if they found out that Dianne was once a stripper?  What would they think of her?  Surely, the good church people would throw her out of the church before she sat down good.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett kept telling Dianne that her past didn’t matter and that God had forgotten about her past sins.  Dianne knew that he hadn’t.  All of the men that she had shaken her naked body in front of; God couldn’t have forgotten about all of them.  It was probably going to take years for Him to forget about all of her sins.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked like she had been saved all of her life, so what did she know about Dianne’s life.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett did convince Dianne to come to the meetings at her ministry, By Example Ministries.  Dianne was assigned a mentor, Monica Caldwell.  Dianne was the oldest girl in the classes; being at least ten ears older than the oldest girl in the classes, but Dr. Adkins-Garnett made her feel comfortable in the classes by saying that Dianne was observing the classes to see what she could learn from the ministry.  Dianne thought that was nice of Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Monica Caldwell had been a blessing to Dianne.  Sis. Caldwell was a bit pushy, but she was sweet and she acted as if she was genuinely concerned about Dianne.

When it was time for the girls in the class to declare what there Ultimate Commitment was to be, Dr. Adkins-Garnett made Dianne make a commitment as well.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett called Dianne into her office, “I want you to make an Ultimate Commitment.”  Dianne frowned, “I think I am much too old to make commitments like those girls.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “You can make a commitment that someone your age would do.”  Dianne’s frown deepened, “Such as.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Perhaps you could commit to smiling twice each day for the whole year.”  Dianne smile quickly, “What else would you suggest?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett nodded, “How about reading the Bible in a year?”  Dianne scowled, “I do not know to read the Bible and I probably won’t understand it anyway.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett reached for her Bible, “I didn’t say understand it, I said read it.  You can even have my Bible.  It is easy to read and it has notes in it that will help you.”  Dianne reached for the Bible as Dr. Adkins-Garnett handed it to her, “I cannot take your Bible.  I can get my own.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Girl, I am a preacher.  I have plenty of Bibles.  Plus, if you have that one, I know you will read it because you do not want to let me down.”  Dianne smiled quickly again, “Thanks.  How do I go about reading the Bible in a year?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett pressed a button on the phone, “Charlotte, find Mother Frazier for me,” Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Dianne and continued, “Mother Frazier can help you.  She has read the Bible in a year several times.  You will like her.”

Dianne scowled.  How many more women would she have to meet at this place?  Dianne responded, “What’s up with you?  You are so helpful.  The people here are so helpful.  What’s you all angle?  I do not get you all.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “It is the love of God that makes us want to help each other.  I am sure that you are used to people doing what they do because it benefits them.  We do not have an angle.  We like serving others.  Plus, God has commanded us to help each other.  Let me see your Bible.”  Dianne handed Dr. Adkins-Garnett the Bible.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett flipped the pages before stopping.  She moved the Bible close to Dianne, “In Titus 2, verses 3-5, it reads… ‘The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.’  So, we old ladies have a charge to teach younger women how to be good women.  We do it because we love the Lord, not for any other reason.”  Dianne looked over the verses again, “How do you all know what a good woman is?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett grabbed the Bible and flipped the pages some more before stopping, “The Bible tells us in Proverbs 31.  Here’s my favorite part… ‘She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.  She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.  Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.  Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.’  It is not about how you look or what you where, but it is about what your family says about you.  If they can say nice things about you, then you are a good woman.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett and Dianne could not finish their conversation because Mother Frazier walked in the room happy and praising God.  Dianne liked the old lady, the moment that she walked in the room.

Dianne wiped the tears out of her eyes.  Thinking about those women of God made her want to be a good woman.  Dianne determined in her mind that she was going to do just that, be a good woman.

11/15/05, 4:30PM, 8,374 Words

2005-11-02T19:15:00.000-08:00

11/1/05 - 3,307 Words Total

2005-11-02T11:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I did over 3,000 words. That was past my goal of 2,200 words per day. It was a good day. I did it in 1 hour and 30 minutes.

I am babysitting, so I kept getting interupted, but I think it turned out good.

You can read it here.

I am about to start today’s session. I will update you on tomorrow.