Time Waits for No One

Chapter 2 - Daddy Lessons

1 Month Later

Summers in Harlem were magical. Since coming up through her childhood in the streets of Manhattan's most significant neighborhood, Jacqueline awaited the first signs of summer every year. Some of her fondest memories were running around with her brothers and playing at the parks, buying cold icees on the corners, and making it home before the street lights came on. On the rare summers, she traveled down to the south to spend a few weeks with her mom's folks and would always spend those days counting down to the ride back to the Big Apple.

This year was her first summer of freedom; she had graduated high school early that year for having excellent grades (she walked the stage in early June with her peers) and moved into her big brother's old apartment as he and Margaret sized up. Despite being a few months shy of no longer being a minor, she planned on spending her summer doing whatever she wanted. She would be starting beauty school in the fall, but until then, Jacqueline was focused on having fun, making a decent living for herself at her actual job and part-time, and stepping into womanhood.

It was a few days shy of the solstice, and the streets were alive and buzzing, and she could barely see farther than a few paces up the block because of all the people, but that didn't stop her from hustling on through, trying to get to her destination in good time.

After what felt like an eternity, Jacqueline's feet carried her to the big brown doors of Estella's, and she paused in front of the familiar entrance to catch her breath before pulling out her keys to the landmark. Since the mid-1930s (a wise investment by a visionary black man not long after the end of Prohibition), Estella's was a lounge in Striver's Row with a prestige that preceded itself. The venue had built a reputation, having hosted some of Harlem's brightest renaissance luminaries, from poets to politicians to jazz musicians, over the last three decades. For some, it was a great place to get a drink. For others, it was a great place to perform new material. For the long-term patrons, it was a place to take visiting loved ones to show them the real Harlem; for Jacqueline, it was her former basement and daycare. Some days it would be her half-job where she had a close relationship with her boss, who paid her under the table. As she stepped inside, that very boss was behind the bar, setting up for what was sure to be a busy night for the business.

"Hello, Bird!" James Carter called from across the room as he paused, stocking up rail bottles in perfect order.

"Hey, Daddy!" she cheered, pushing the door shut behind her and stepping into the cool air of the space. Though taking on different renovation projects, patch-ups, and improvements over the years, the lounge was a product of its time with mostly wooden structure and accents. It had a nice mix of intimate booths and nicely clothed tables surrounding a dance floor that kept growing in size as the musical landscape shifted from jazz to more danceable genres like soul, disco, and funk. The small stage remained the same, big enough for a small band and a singer or two but not so large that it was obtrusive when not in use. Having run through the space since she could walk, Jacqueline had every creak and corner memorized and delighted in knowing that her family's contribution to Harlem history was still thriving under her father's ownership. Aside from his family, everyone knew it was his most profound pride and joy.

"How are you today, princess?" Her father asked, a crinkle appearing by his eyes as he smiled brightly upon his daughter.

"I'm well, much better now that I'm in here. It's crazy hot outside." She said, approaching the bar and taking a seat.

"It sure is, and Harlem is out. We'll probably make a killing tonight. Too bad you can't stay and get some tips tonight." He said with a hint of a plea in his eyes.

Not a chance.

Jacqueline had volunteered (been voluntold) to help out here and there around the family business while one of his bar girls was out on maternity leave. Jacqueline had been supporting the family business for as long as she could remember, whether it was helping with clean-up projects on off days, helping decorate and set up seasonal decorations and private events, or supplementing the staff during nights with big performances lined up. She was always one of her siblings who was always the most eager to help while coming up, and now that Jacqueline was coming of age, she could help more formally.  Though not quite old enough to work behind the bar full time, she could float between backing up the bartenders, supporting the wait staff with tables and expediting orders, and ensuring the patrons stayed happy enough to keep their tabs open. With her older brother coming in some nights to DJ and emcee on nights when they had performers, it reminded her of her childhood, kept her close to family, and it didn't hurt that the tips were usually pretty sweet at the end of a long night. Her self-imposed obligation to the family, more money to fund her newfound love for long nights out on the town, and the opportunity to keep getting facetime with family despite moving out of the family home made it easy to oblige her father.