Summer Of Love

Part 13

July 12, 1967

It's a Thursday afternoon, as Chris was getting out of the shower.  Naked and wet, he grabbed his towel and began drying off.  

Just then, downstairs, the phone was heard ringing.  Wrapping the towel around his waist, Chris makes his way down the stairwell, and into the living room, answering the phone.

"Hello."

"Ayo, Chris."  It was his friend Greg on the other line.  "The fellas are going down to the Rec Center to play a game of hoops.  You want to come join us?"

"Sure.  But can I bring another dude?"

"That'd be cool.  We're short a dude anyway."

"Alright.  Me and Darren will be there in about thirty minutes."

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"Who are you calling?"  Darren asked Jackie, as she was dialing a number.

"None of your business."  Jackie said.  Someone on the other line answered.  After the person said 'hello', Jackie spoke.  "Hey, is Antione there?"

"Antione?"  Darren said.  "Who's that?"

"Boy, shut up."  Jackie said.  The doorbell then rang.  

Darren answered the door.  Chris was there.

"Hey, Chris."  Darren said.  "What are you doing over here?"

"Some fellas are meeting up down at the Rec Center to play a game of hoops.  You down for coming with me?"

"Sure.  Just let me grab my wallet."

"Alright."  Chris said, as he watched Darren run upstairs.  And then he paid attention to Jackie on the phone.

"So where do you want to meet up at?"  Jackie said.  Antione said something, as Jackie again spoke.  "Alright.  Al's Diner it is.  See you then."  She hung up.

"So you and Anthony going to Al's Diner?"  Chris asked.

"Me and Anthony don't go steady anymore."

"So who was that on the phone then?"

"His name is Antione Robinson."

"Antione's a good buddy of mine.  He's pretty cool."

"I'm kind of nervous.  Me and Antione's been talking on the phone for a few days.  And this is our first....I guess you can call it a date."

"Date or not, you're in pretty good hands with Antione.  But can I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead."

"What happened between you and Anthony?"

"He saw fit to cheat on me behind my back."

"You're jivin'."

"I wish I was."

Darren then comes back downstairs.  "What are y'all talking about?"

"Your sister's going on a date."  Chris told him.

"Is that right?"  Darren asked Jackie.  

"Yes."  Jackie said.  "And if I don't get in the shower, I'ma be late for it."  She walked up the stairwell.

"Well come on, Chris.  Let's go."  Darren told him, as they left the house.

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"Miss Sharice, please."  A man was pleading for his life.  "Don't shoot me.  I swear on my grandmama's grave it wasn't me."

"Besides me or Lonnie, you are the only dude to tend to the plants."  Miss Sharice was holding a gun to this man's head.  "Now my plants are destroyed.  Ruined."