Message Received is the sequel to 'Did You Get the Message'!
Accepting the job in Philadelphia means Olivia and Spencer will live separate lives while being in a committed relationship with one another. However, things can get complicated as distan...
"How do I look?" My little sister Lena twirls in the dress she picked out for her eighth grade winter formal.
"Beautiful, Le! I love it." I say in between reading an email.
"So I know this is my birthday gift, but I really need a favor." Lena tells me excitedly and I stop reading long enough to listen.
"What's up?"
"My mom signed up as a chaperone at my school dance but it's this new boy at school." She babbles. "And I don't think we can be ourselves, if my mom is there."
"Wait—- yourselves? Lena, you're twelve." I respond as I put my phone away.
She sighs. "I like him. I mean, I just don't want my mom around when he asks me to dance or we hold hands—- you know?"
Her words seem innocent. And I remember how awkward it was knowing my mom would be the principal at my high school dances back in LA. And it got even more awkward, back in college, when my dad became Spencer's basketball coach.
"I'll do it. I'll take your mom's place at the dance."
She pumps her fist and does another twirl in excitement. "Do you think Spencer wants to come? I mean, all of my classmates will see just how cool I am, if I show up with an NBA superstar."
I smile, knowing he won't have the time to attend on such a short notice.
Since I've been back from LA, we've only had a few brief conversations, since he's been taking more sponsorship meetings lately.
"He has a really busy schedule. But you have his number. It's worth a try." I encourage her as I help her out of the dress.
•••
On the night of the dance, I'm honestly just excited to be here.
This is a break from the norm. No lawyer stuff. Just the innocence of preteens learning how to be young adults.
"There he is," Lena whispers to me as we walk inside the school gymnasium.
I see a little boy by the punch bowl with his friends and I giggle nostalgically.
He's tall for eighth grade. But the baby face makes it apparent that he's just a kid
"Should I ask him to dance?"
I shake my head no in between a tiny bit of laughter.
"Why don't you start by trying to get a drink of punch? Just do something simple by saying hello. Then, that'll give him time to ask you to dance. Trust me, we have all night." I suggest and she smiles. "He'll asks."
"You're right! And if he doesn't, I have a feeling that by the end of the night, all of these people, will be clamoring to dance with yours truly." She agrees before looking back at the entrance and walking over to the punch bowl.
Her confidence makes me giggle as I watch the boy and Lena spark up a conversation.
"Aye—-" I hear a voice before seeing my co-worker Kofi standing next to me.
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