Take a Mile (Being Revised)

Chapter Five

The next morning I woke up with a small headache which usually happened when I had caffeine. It was only six so I had enough time to work on some documents for work and take a shower. Church was a must do. Every Sunday I was there. I went through the things for work fairly quickly and took a quick shower. Church was the only other place that I was really comfortable in. It didn’t give off a judgmental aura. The people were friendly and the pastor was really humble. I enjoyed it and it put my frazzled nerves at ease.

An hour later I was sitting in church raising my hands high. Not many people came to this church but, that just made it all the better in my opinion. I made up for what they didn’t have with my larger donations. After Pastor Jerome’s sermon I walked down the aisles hugging the older women who always sat next to me. They were like the grandmas that I never had! And yes it’s true; they keep loads of hard candy in their purses.

The pastor approached me before I left. “Hello Rickey, how have you been?” I smiled kindly and shrugged my shoulders, “I’ve been alright.” He always made me feel like a little girl. “How was your visit with Tyler?” Yes I told him about the situation with Tyler. He really is a good listener and pastor. He even did a whole sermon on losing loved ones just for me. I shoved my hands in my pockets looking at his vibrant brown eyes. You would think he was in his late thirties, early forties but Pastor Jerome was almost sixty. “It was great, I told him about everything that had happened in the past couple of years just like you said,” he nodded walking with me to the doors of the church, “It was really refreshing and I felt like he was listening.” I told him.

“Well, I am glad that you took my advice Rickey, and if Tyler were here I am positive he would be happy with the young woman that you are today.” I beamed up at him. He always had ways of making me feel special about myself. “Thank you Pastor Jerome,” I was about to walk away when he called my name. “Are you still helping out with the banquet next Sunday?” I nodded my head. “I’m bringing the cornbread, green beans, and cabbage right?” He nodded and waved as I walked off. Can’t go wrong with some soul food.

Back at my apartment I just sat sitting on my couch. I wasn’t really lonely, but I could use someone to talk to besides the pictures of Tyler all around. My cell phone vibrated on my leg and I looked to see Harry Styles’ Wife on my screen. I knew right away who it was. The real question was; how had she gotten her number in my phone? I answered the phone and she screamed in my ear. “What are you doing right now?!” I pulled the phone away from my ear. Who put sugar in her cheerios? “I’m just… sitting.” Another scream came from the other end of the phone.

“Okay, you have to come with me to the mall!” What else did I have to do? “Umm, so now?” It was more a question than a statement. “Yes, pick me up in ten!” She hung up and I just stared at the screen for five minutes. I guess I really do have a friend. Who would have thought? Exactly five minutes later I was parked outside of her apartment honking my horn. I was very punctual. She came clambering down the stairs a minute later. “Go, go, go!” She yelled at me.

What was her rush? I just did what she asked and got us to the mall within ten minutes. “Good timing, now move your lazy bum.” We both got out of the car and walked, well I did she ran like a hyena, to the entrance. Without a word she sprinted to the Hot Topic. Everyone gave her funny looks and I pretended to not even know her when they then looked at me questioningly. By the time I had made it she was already tearing through the racks of clothing looking for God knows what.

She looked really agitated. Her face was scrunched up and her brow was furrowed. She was in deep concentration looking at each shirt she passed over getting more and more pissed off. Like the good friend I am I went to see what was wrong. Hmm… friend won’t ever get used to that. “What’s wrong woman?” I asked putting my hand on her shoulder. She shook it off giving me an animalistic look. I backed away slowly with my hands in the air. “Hey hey, I know I eat fried chicken but I don’t taste like it.” She had to laugh at that.