London's Girl

My First Date

Today is another day and I'm more happier than I ever been. I couldn't believe it. Tasha asked me out on a date. A week has passed and it's Saturday again. I am so excited about tonight. It'll be my first date in six years. So I went to my grandmother's house to talk to her and to see how she was doing. I used my old house key to let myself in. "Grammy? "Grammy, are you here?" "In the kitchen, baby!" said Grammy. "I knew I smelled something good in here. So what are you cooking, Grammy?" I gave her a kiss on the cheek and a big hug. "I made some fried fish, sweet peas with rice, and some potato salad. For dessert, I made a chocolate cake." said Grammy. "Poppy's favorite meal? Grammy, Why are cooking all this food?" "I just felt like cooking, that's all." said Grammy. "Are you sure you are okay?" "No, I'm not alright, Londie." My grandfather used to call me Londie when I was little. "You haven't called me Londie since I was six years old. Grammy, what's going on here?" "I woke up this morning thinking your grandfather was still here. So I decided to make his favorite meal. When I sat down to eat, I realized that I was alone." "You do know Poppy is no longer with us and you're not going to eat all this by yourself?" "I know, Londie. It's just that sometimes I think that he is still here. I miss him so much. Some days, I can hardly get out of bed. I've been feeling so lonely since your grandfather died." said Grammy. "Grammy, why haven't you told me this? If you were lonely, I can help you find some friends to talk to, if you like?" "Baby, you're so sweet." said Grammy. I gave her a big hug. After I hugged her, I told her, "Everything's gonna be okay." "Well, are you going to join me for lunch?" said Grammy. "Yes, ma'am!" Grammy fixed me a big plate of food to eat as I went to the bathroom to wash up. I went back into the kitchen, there was a knock at the door. "Londie, get the door for me!" said Grammy. "Yes ma'am!" So I opened the door and Shane was standing in the doorway. "Are you going to let me in? It's cold as hell out here." said Shane. "Come on in". "Something smells good in here, Miss James." said Shane. "I made some lunch and some cake for dessert. Would join us, Shane?" said Grammy. "Well, Sierra's at work and there's nothing to eat at home, so of course, I'll join you and L.J." said Shane. We sat at the table and as we're eating lunch, Grammy mentioned Shane's party. "So Shane, did you have fun at your birthday party?" said Grammy. "Yes ma'am. Did L.J. tell you about about Tasha?" "Shane!" "What! I thought you told her about y'all date tomorrow." "Londie, who's Tasha and why didn't you tell me?" "Grammy, I was going to tell you later. So now it's out in the open. I'll tell you. I met Tasha last Saturday at Shane's party. We danced and had a good time then she asked me out a date with her." "Well, it's about time you started dating again and maybe I get some grandbabies this time." "Grammy, I told you I don't want to have any kids." "Okay, baby." When I was growing up, I always felt different from other girls. I didn't always feel like a girl. I felt more like a boy even though I was masculine when I was growing up. I would get teased for looking like a boy at school and I had a deep voice. I hated school and the kids there made it hell for me. I finally told my grandparents that I was gay when I was 16 years old. It started when I was dating Keisha in high school. When things were bad at home for her, she would come over to my house just to get away from the craziness. We were in my bedroom studying for midterms and decided to take a break. So I put on some music and Keisha wanted to dance. She started dancing all sexy in front of me. I stood up and started to dance but I kissed her instead. I liked it and she kissed me back. That's when my grandmother walked in on us. I thought she was going yell at us and throw me out of the house. My grandmother looked at me she couldn't believe what she saw. I told her I was I gay and it took a while for her to get use to it. Then she accepted me for who I am. I felt relieved after that. I felt happier and I wasn't afraid anymore. Poppy knew that I was attracted to women. He never had a problem with it. "So, where are you taking this girl, at?" said Grammy. "Actually, I'm meeting her at the soul food restaurant." "I took Sierra there a couple of times. The food is so good. Sierra and I are planning on going back there again on our anniversary." said Shane. "Shane, why are you even here?" I asked. "I came over to ask you something." "Well, what do you wanna ask me?" "I need your help." "For what?" "Sierra's birthday is coming up and I don't know what to get her." "How about a chain with her name on it and plan something romantic at your house like a candlelight dinner. Don't forget the cake, too." "Thanks L.J.! That sounds like a good idea." "The food is great, grammy but I got to go and get ready for my date tonight. I got to get my hair done and buy a new outfit." "Can I get a big slice of that chocolate cake to go?" "Yeah me too, Miss James." "Of course." Grammy sliced and wrapped up our cake for us. "Grammy, I love you but I gotta go and I promise I'll come back to see you again and I'll call to check on you." "Bye Miss James." said Shane. "Bye baby." "Bye Shane." said Grammy. Shane left and I went to the mall find an outfit for my date. I couldn't believe that I was going out with a girl again after six years. I had been thinking about her all day. I went to the beauty shop to get my hair braided. That took about an hour or so and it only cost me thirty bucks. Afterwards I went home. When I got there it was 10 minutes to 4. I figured I could use a little time with my boys Duke and Rocco. I fed them food and I let them run outside to play. I sat on the sofa to watch a little t.v. to pass the time. Duke likes to curl up by me on the sofa and Rocco lays next to my feet. I dozed off and next thing I know, Duke is licking my face. "Duke!" I can't help but laugh at him. "Crazy dog!" I looked to see what time it was and It was a quarter to six. "Oh shit! I got to get ready." I took a shower, changed my clothes, brushed my teeth, and washed my face. I splashed on some perfume and put on my timberlands. I had on a white long sleeve shirt with buttons down the front, a black sweater on top with some dark blue jeans and my favorite hat tilted to the side. I made sure I had some money in my wallet. There was 2 things I had to do first. First, I had to go to the gas station to fill the gas tank. I drive a Jeep Wrangler. Then I went to the floral shop to pick up some special roses for a special lady tonight. After I did all of that, I made it to the Soul Food restaurant to meet Tasha. I found a parking space and parked the truck. I went inside and saw Tasha waiting for me. She looked beautiful tonight and my heart was racing like crazy. I sat in my seat across from her. "Hey, L.J. You look nice tonight." said Tasha. "Thanks and uh may I say that you look really beautiful." "Thank you. What are those flowers for?" said Tasha. "Actually they are special roses for a special lady." I handed the flowers to her and she said, "Thank you L.J. They are beautiful and you are so sweet." said Tasha. "You're welcome." "Hello, I'm your waitress Kym and I'll be taking your order." "Yes, I'll have the sweet ice tea." "And I'll have the same." said Tasha. "I'll bring your drinks in a moment and here are some menus to look at." "Everything looks delicious! I'll think I'll have the fried chicken dinner." said Tasha. "It comes with mac and cheese, green beans, and a buttermilk biscuit and I think I'll have the same." "Are you getting dessert too?" asked Tasha. "I rather have you for dessert." I thought. "Um I'm trying to decide maybe either the raisin bread pudding with rum sauce or peach cobbler with a scoop of ice cream on top. You know what I'll get the peach cobbler. My grandmother makes them every Sunday after church when I was growing up." "I think I'll get the raisin bread pudding with rum sauce." said Tasha. "L.J., can I ask you a question?" "Sure." "What does the initials L.J. stand for?" "It stands for my name, London James." "L.J. is a nickname my friends call me." "London is such a beautiful name." "Thanks." "Did you mom name you that?" "No, my grandmother named me London. You see, my grandpa was an Army Veteran and he was stationed in London, France. My grandma was a nurse at the time. When my grandma and grandpa met, it was love at first sight. They dated for about two and half years and they got married. One day my grandpa got hurt in the war. He hurt his leg and he used to walk with a limp. My grandpa retired from the war ten years later and came back to Brooklyn, his hometown to be with his wife. My mother was pregnant with me at the time. Her water broke one day and she was rushed to the hospital to have me. After I was born, my grandma said she looked at me and decided to name me London because that's where she and my grandpa met. My grandparents have been married for 30 long years until my grandpa's death." "What happened to him L.J.?" Two weeks after I enrolled in college, my grandpa had been complaining about chest pains. I told him he should go to the doctor. So he did. He needed surgery before they could operate on him, he stopped breathing and he was gone. He died of a massive heart attack." "I'm so sorry, L.J." "It's okay, Tasha." It's been really hard since he passed but I got my good days and I got my bad days." The waitress brought us our food and placed them on the table. "This food looks great." "Yeah, It sure does." As we were eating, I had asked Tasha a question. "May I ask what exactly do you do for a living?" "Actually I'm a nurse's assistant." "So what about you L.J.?" "I'm a full-time bartender. My job is to deliver alcohol to the club I work at during the day. I drive the truck and unload the boxes into the club. Then I have to count and make sure we have the right amount of beverages to serve at the club. At night I'm a full-time bartender. My dream is to be a music producer and songwriter. I love music more than anything." "What made you decide that music is what you want to do?" asked Tasha. "Well ever since I was six years old, I used to sing. I sang in choirs but I loved rapping. I learned how by listening to other rappers on t.v. My kind of music has a message in it that everyone can learn from. I grew up listening to old school rap. It's real, it's has flow, rhythm and funky beats. It's the type of music that makes you feel good and it makes you want to get up and dance. That is the type of music I wanna do. Music even kept me of trouble also." "What kind of trouble did you get into?" "I was a angry kid who always felt abandoned and didn't have nobody who I belong to. Well, what I mean is I had a mom who was addicted to drugs since I was a baby. The only time I see her was when it was my birthday, thanksgiving, or christmas. On those days, she would be so high and I would be so embarrassed because the kids would tease me about my mother. I hated the way my mother was on drugs but I loved her. I had a father but I never met him. He spent most of his time in jail when I was growing up. One day my mother showed up to my school and I was getting ready to walk home like I always do with my friends. She was so high and acting all funny. It was my birthday at the time. She was like, "Baby come on, I'm gonna take you home." I'm like, "I'm not going anywhere with you!" Next thing I know we're arguing and she slapped me across my face in front of my friends. When she did that I was so mad. I walked away from her and this boy comes in my face. He tells me, "your mama ain't nothing but a crackhead and she ugly." When he said that, I completely lost it from there. I hit him and he hit me back. Next thing I know we are fighting in front of the school and the police was called. I got sent to juvie. I had to call my grandma to come pick me up.

I was just so full of anger and just didn't care. My grandma wasn't home so my grandpa came to pick me up. We went home and I found a present on my bed. It said to London from mama. It was a brand new walkman and some new cassettes of my favorite music. My mother actually bought them for me. I just laid on my bed and listened to the music. It kept me calm and I didn't feel so abandoned anymore but still I was hurt by mother. She never got better. She o'd on some bad drugs and was found dead in a alley. Even though I hated my mother, deep down I loved her. That present that I got for my mom on my birthday was the last thing I ever gotten from her. I'm so grateful for my grandparents today because if it wasn't for them I wouldn't be here today." "Wow, sounds like you have some amazing grandparents." said Tasha. "Yeah, I really do." "So what about you?" "Well, I was raised by mother and stepfather. Growing up in my mother's home wasn't easy. It was mostly my mom and me. As for me, I was always made good grades in school and stayed out of trouble. I did everything to please my mother. My mother even wanted me to go out with a boy when I was going to prom and dances. I just wasn't attracted to boys. I mean I'm was attracted to women who have that boyish swag. I like it when they dress manly but still look like a woman. When I was about 21 years old, I had a new apartment at the time. I had a new roommate who was my girlfriend and my mom found out about our relationship. She pretty much disowned me and as for my girlfriend, we are no longer together. She cheated on me but I don't blame her. Anyways, enough of this, Let's order some dessert." So we ordered some dessert and talked some more. I actually had a pretty good time with Tasha. "So do you write your own songs?" asked Tasha. "Yes, I do. Actually I have been writing songs since I was 13 years old. I'm actually writing a new song right now." "Really what's it called?" "It's called "Shine." "I'll tell you what, why don't you come to my studio and I'll perform the song for you." "Okay, I'll love to." "Great, here's the address to the studio and I'll see you Friday. We finished our desserts and talked some more. When we got ready to leave, I paid the bill and I walked Tasha to her car. She opened the door and turned around to kiss me on the lips. It was unexpected but hell I liked it. "Bye, L.J. I really had a good time, tonight." said Tasha. "Bye Tasha, I had a good time, too." I watched her drive away and I walked back to my car. I called Shane and I told her everything that happened. It was the best night of my life. I was so excited to see Tasha again. I have never been happier in my entire life.