Things We Lost In the Fire

Whatta Man

April 15, 1998

"Mommy come play!"

"Not right now Noah, mommy has to do work and talk to Auntie Tori." I told my baby as I ran my fingers through his deep chestnut curls.

Placing the device against his ear, he proceeds to yell into the phone. "Tooooooriiii!....playing...Love you!"

Handing me the phone, just like that he runs off back to his reign of mischief with Alonzo. As much as I love spending time with my babies, they badasses may need to start going to daycare.

"Jasmin, my dear cousin, when are you going to stop lying about who gave you that birthday dick? I know it wasn't Shawn's quick pumper ass!"

Tori and Naima have been assaulting me with these questions ever since the morning after my birthday. It was useless to try and cover the hickeys because they had become more apparent by the time I woke up and went downstairs. Walking into the kitchen I was met with a sea of 'Damnnn!'s' and 'I know thats right's!'.

"Okay fine, it wasn't Shawn. But you are the only one I've told this too."

"I KNEW IT! You linked up with that tall, light skin, model looking motherfucker from the club didn't you?! I know you did because he looks like his stroke game is immaculate. Fuck around and shift your cervix up another two inches!", she cackled into the phone. "Jazz I know it was kinda dark in Expectation that night but, I SWEAR he looks familiar. Like Ive seen him around campus before."

"Tori, thats probably because you have. He's a junior at University of Minnesota and he's on the basketball team."

Like he promised, Keith called me the next morning and invited me out to a late breakfast. I was far too tired and sore to meet him, so we just talked on the phone for a bit.

Coming to the realization that we both went to the University, we exchanged class schedules. He met me outside of my afternoon class and took me to a diner close to campus. We must've sat in there for a good two hours getting to know each other.

He made me blush so hard when he praised me for graduating college so early. 'A'int nothing I love more than a beautiful educated black queen, all that your accomplishing is the definition of black excellence right there.'

"Jasmin, you snagged a baller?! Girl you're going to be an NBA wife!"

"Tori, Its not always about the money. I admired the fact he's majoring in business more, so he at least has a backup plan. Girl, I hate to break it to you but he wasn't the guy I went to see that night."

The brief silence was erupted with a loud gasp, "What?! You have a third man?! You're a hoe, but Im not mad at you! Spill the tea girl who is he?!"

Honestly, I'd tell Tori and Naima about Prince before I'd tell Morgan because I'm not ready for Morgan to beat my ass. "Girl, I swear on Nana Antoinette's grave I will tell you, but I have to tell you in person because I need to see your reaction."

"Ima hold you to that! But back to Mr. Rico Suave."

I laughed, "His name's Keith."

"Whatever! But girl, him and his teammates are sexy as hell. God why was I born a train?"

I spit out my water at what she just said. "Tori you are so outta pocket!"

"Girl you better snatch him up now! This man is tall, light skin, probably going pro, is getting his education, and he has manners? ISSA DADDY! Girl tell him not to pull out!"

At this point I was hunched over the couch laughing. "Girl who raised you?! Look me and him are just kicking it right now. Honestly, I don't think I'm ready for a relationship."