All I Want for Christmas is a Ph.D.

December 25th - Part 2

Erik went around the back of the house and set the water down by the coolers. He grabbed one and stopped when he heard a group chatting near the dessert table.

"Did you see that fine ass brother that DeeDee brought home?"

"Wait, the dude with dreads came with DeeDee?" She slurped her soda, "I thought he was with Crystal."

"Nope, he's been up under her all day. I don't even know what he sees in the Ice Queen?"

"Ice Queen, though? Brittany, you wrong for that."

"Listen. All I'm saying is that she doesn't know what to do with all that man."

"And you think you do?"

He recognized Phyllis' voice when she spoke up.

"Hey Phyll. So, you know who we are talking about?"

"Of course, I do. And trust me, DeeDee can't handle him." Phyllis looked them up and down. "Just like y'all can't." She added.

"But you think you can?"

"Oh, I know that I can. He needs a woman with some experience."

Erik walked over. "Hey Ladies." He chuckled at the deer in headlight expressions on their faces.

A chorus of hellos rang out. Brittany and Kori smiled at him.

"I don't think I've met you all yet. Well, besides Phyllis." He nodded her way.

She smiled and waved at him.

"We're DeeDee's cousins. I'm Brittany." She pointed at the one with a soda, "And that's Kori."

"Nice to meet you both." He turned to Phyllis, "Have you seen DeeDee, she wasn't out front when I came back?"

"She went inside with Ma Dear."

"Great, thanks." He looked back at them, "It was a pleasure to meet you."

Erik walked into the house from the backdoor.

"No, the pleasure was all mine," Brittany said loud enough for Phyllis and Kori to hear her.

She fanned herself with a napkin and they all laughed.

---

DeeDee was with her family in the living room. She was between her mom and Bev on a loveseat. Ma Dear and Miss Carrie were in their recliners. She was talking with her aunts and uncles, who were seated across the room.

"So niece. Now that you earned your degree, what you gonna do?" Rob asked.

"Look for a full-time position teaching."

"I thought you were already looking." Gloria tapped DeeDee on her knee.

"I have, I am. I visited some schools a few months back."

"Well, what about your mentors? Isn't someone retiring?" Ma Dear asked.

"Yeah, Dr. Bell is retiring." DeeDee said, "She also told me that with the vacancy at Southern, I would be a shoo-in for the position if I applied for it."

"That's great news, sweetie." Randi exclaimed.

"Yeah, it is."

"Are you gonna apply for it?" Kay asked.

"Yeah, I mean I might as well."

"When will that be?" AJ spoke.

Erik followed the voices into the family room and waved to everyone. He walked up and stood behind DeeDee.