Welcome!!! I have decided to take a journey deep into my inner self to discover a deeper sense of peace and maybe even to get some of life's most puzzling questions answered. Feel free to join me on this journey and leave your thoughts...

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Party Season – A Short Story


Party Season – A Short Story
by Myra Williams

(Follow-up to “Dating Season”)

This Texas weather changes a lot. As day turned to night, my feelings like the weather, went from hot and sticky to cool, breezy, yet still a little humid. My cousin and I are exhausted as we stand outside the wedding reception saying our goodbyes to those who are leaving town in the morning. After giving hugs, kisses, and words of farewell to our merry, drunken, and sleepy-faced loved ones, we get in the car and start driving to the club we talked about earlier.

My cousin turns to me, “Whew! What a party!” She sighs loudly then puffs her cheeks to blow out more air. She says nervously, “You sure you want to go to that club? I think I am all partied out.”

I give her a reassuring look. “Of course girl, this night is not over. Let’s go and chill. Don’t be nervous, you’ll see. It’s fun!”

As we pull up to “The Strip” I tell her, “Welcome to the gayborhood!” She just laughs and shakes her head. I roll down the windows to let the cool night air hit my face. I exhale loudly. We listen to the sounds of people talking and laughing in the distance, car engines running, tires rolling across pavement. People around us are driving by in search of a place to park. We hear light music playing in the background but can’t tell where it’s coming from. We know there’s a party somewhere. We soon realize that there’s a party all around us.

My cousin stares out the car window at the bars and clubs lining the street. We see an older lesbian couple waiting in line who appear to be in their 40s and decked out in all their country-western gear. She gives me a look that says, “Oh my God.”

We stop at the red light. A group of skinny gay men walk across the street, some wearing tight blue jeans, some wearing baggy blue jeans, but all wearing t-shirts and polo shirts. Then we spot a group of about eight Caucasian girls walking across the street in similar attire, some are wearing half shirts that show their mid-drift.

We pull up to the African-American club and park. We see a bunch of African-American women hanging around outside, most of them dressed in hip-hop attire. We watch as two very masculine women walk across the parking lot sporting their oversized baggy shorts, big colorful t-shirts, socks, and tennis shoes.

My cousin still looking surprised says, “Interesting crowd. Look at those two girls. They are more masculine than men! Look at their hair.” She shakes her head then turns to me, “Also, we’re a little overdressed don’t you think?”

“Naw girl, I got it covered. I just did the laundry yesterday and I’ve still got my clothes in the trunk. We’re about the same size. I’ll get us both a pair of black leggings. You can change in the back seat and I’ll be the lookout.”

She rolls her eyes at me, smiles, then says, “Total fail. You didn’t take your laundry inside yet? You crazy girl!”

We laugh. “Shut up! Good thing I didn’t, don’t you think?” I roll my eyes back.

We change our clothes, freshen up our make-up, spray on more perfume, and tidy our hair. I grab a stick of deodorant out of the glove compartment and apply it to my underarms.

My cell phone lights up and starts vibrating for the third time in a row. “I’m getting a text message.”

My cousin says, “Who is that?”

I look at her out of the corner of my eye, then gasp for air as if I’m surprised. “Um, none of your business maam!” She rolls her eyes.

I decide to go ahead and tell her, “Girl, it’s this dude who has been stalking me, you know, texting and calling all the time. He’s telling me that he’s not in a relationship but I know he is. Like I told you before, I’m not a dumbass, I know he has something up his sleeve.”

“Girl, you better sing that Lady Gaga song to him." She sings, “…stop telephoning me… I’m at a par-tee...”

“Hey, did you hear that Lady Gaga is a self-professed hermaphrodite? Yeah girl, supposedly, she was born with BOTH…”

She shakes her head. “Yeah, I heard that but I think she’s lying. Who really knows the truth?”

“I don’t know. Ok girl, let’s get it! We’re early so we should be able to find a table and chill out before the show starts. Later they will have exotic dancers, karaoke/lip synching, and stuff like that.”

We walk up to the club and see security. I get patted down by a female security guard with permed hair, long shorts, and tennis shoes. She then points her index finger downward and twirls it in a circle telling my cousin to turn around. My cousin turns around and gets patted down. The security guard looks into my cousin's purse, then moves on to the next person in line.

We look at each other then burst into a smile. I laugh at her and tease,“That was fun huh?” She elbows me then grabs my shirt, holding on as we walk through the door. As we walk into the building, we see women hugged up and kissing, some sitting, some standing. While others stand by the bar and people-watch, a few shake their butt on the dance floor.

She whispers to me over the loud music, “Girl, are these women going to try to hit on me?”

I shake my head. “Most likely, not. This is not like the straight club where men might walk by you and rub on your booty. The women at this club don’t play that if they don’t know you. The secret code is eye contact. They say that eyes are the window to the soul…so be aware of the way you look at people because you might be giving someone an invitation to approach you. You can usually tell who’s straight or just bi-curious though, by the look of excitement on their faces. The veterans here are always just chill and relaxed because this is what they do every weekend.”

We stand side by side at the bar and people-watch. A young couple walks toward us holding hands, one pulling the other towards the dance floor, both girls grinning, eyes sparkling, with youthful faces like cabbage patch dolls. I say to myself, “I hope they’re old enough to be in here.” As the first one passes, the second one brushes the back of her hand lightly across my stomach above my belly button. When she passes my cousin, she lightly tickles her forearm the way a small child might when pretending their hand is a spider. She has a huge grin on her face but never makes eye contact.

I look at my cousin and say, “Aww, cute.” She elbows me again.

As people pass in front of us and behind us, I feel someone lightly touch both of my hips with their fingers and gently pull me over and out of their way. I look behind me and see a pretty, feminine/masculine girl sporting a very long ponytail. She smiles at me while she is also pulled by her partner to the dance floor.

I turn to my cousin, “Let’s go sit at that empty table over there.” We walk across the dance floor to the empty table and sit down.

I turn to my cousin, ”You know that story you told me back at the reception really broke my heart. It’s got me feelin’ kind of sad now. You know, I’ve heard so many sad stories about men using women that it’s amazing. I could put them all in a book and I’d have hundreds of stories.

“Fa sho’ girl… I am just happy I got to come to Dallas this weekend and take a break from all the drama and stress in my life.” She nods. “Thanks for bringing me out, girl." She laughs. "I still like men, though.”

I agree with her, “Yeah, me too.”

She jokes, “I’m strictly-dickly though.”

We laugh.

I tease, “Yeah, whatever you say ho.”

She pulls out a piece of paper and a pen. “Let’s play a game. Let’s try to name all the different characters we’ve come in contact with out there. You know, like the mama’s boy, etc.”

I laugh. “Ok, cool. Hey, a good name for the one you told me about earlier is Robin Hood. You can write that down. Robin Hoods like to steal from the rich and give to the poor.”

“But I’m not rich.”

“I know that. You know what I’m trying to say. He took from you and gave to another.”

“Oh, okay.” She nods. “Now what about Mama’s Boy? Have you ever seen that movie with Jennifer Lopez called Monster-In-Law? Girl, what would you do if your fiance’s mom treated you like that? Really though, would you put up with someone trying to sabatoge your relationship like that?”

“Girl, hell to-the naw! Hell no! If my boyfriend’s mom treated me like that I would have to drop him and her like a hot potato. You know, one time I called a guy I met at the club and his mom’s voice was on the answering machine saying ‘…we are not available to take your call…’ I was just done, through, finished.” I shake my head.

“What are some signs that a guy is actually Mama’s Boy in disguise?”

I laugh. “If he tells you that he massages mom’s tummy when she’s having menstrual cramps…you know for sure he is Mama’s Boy cause he does stuff for his mom that most husbands don’t even do for their wives!

She laughs as she writes down what I said.

She looks up and points to the bar. “Hey look at that cute guy over there with his girlfriend! He looks like your type.”

I look where she is pointing and I’m am shocked speechless. I think to myself, “Breathe breathe breathe.” I duck and hide my face. “Girl, that is the guy who has been texting me all night. What is he doing here?! Who is that girl he’s with?”

She gasps, “You are kidding.”

“No, I’m not! Girl, put that paper away. We need a game plan.”

(To be continued…)

Dating Season - A Short Story


Dating Season – A Short Story
By Myra Williams

(The Follow-up to “Wedding Season”)

Wedding receptions are so beautiful and so much fun! As my cousin and I admire the ambiance of the golden lights shimmering in the dimly lit banquet hall, I snap back to my senses. I turn to my cousin, “Girl, it was kinda hot in that chapel but thank goodness it is really cool in here. Now at least we can relax. Did you get some champagne?”

She holds up her glass and smiles at me.

I say to her, “Have you ever seen the movie Wedding Crashers? These two divorce lawyers attend weddings they haven’t been invited to so they can go home with single and vulnerable bridesmaids…you know, pretty much the drunk and single woman who is wrapped up in a fantasy about her own wedding… That is not going to be me tonight. Yes, I’m feeling vulnerable right now but I’m not a dumbass!”

She laughs then says, “So are you calling me a dumbass?! Girl, the last wedding I went to, I went home with one of the groomsmen.” She rolls her eyes.

I smile as I tell her, “I guess wedding season is also dating season and mating season all the way ‘round huh? How did that work out for you?”

Our conversation is interrupted when the best man stands up and chimes for the room’s attention. It is time for him to propose a toast to the newlyweds. The wedding party grins from ear to ear, the banquet hall resounding with laughter as the best man proceeds to make jokes about the groom and flirt with the bride.

She rolls her eyes. “Girl, how come my groomsman turned out to be married with three children, one of them supposedly an adopted child?”

I look at her in shock. “Girl that’s crazy. How did you find out?”

She sighs loudly. “It’s a long story. Well, at first he told me he was divorced and was paying child support because the kids were in the mother’s custody. Then he kept telling me that he was having financial trouble and asking me if he could borrow money. At one point he told me that he lost his job and couldn’t afford to pay the rent at his own place so I let him move in with me…which was a big mistake because he didn’t have any money! I ended up paying his car note, child support payments, and giving him spending change!

I can’t breathe. I whisper to her, “Girl you are kidding me!"

She shakes her head.

I laugh and say, " Girl, you already know what I'm about to ask you. Was the sex "off the chain" or what?! It must have been for you to be doing all that!

She smiled. "Oh, yes girl! He had my body burning hot for him like a furnace! He licked me from head to toe...girl he didn't have no walls, no walls! Our love making sessions always lasted a minimum of 2-3 hours and I was worn silly, but still ready to go at it some more! I would be at work thinkin about it all day, craving all the sensations he made me feel..." She sighs loudly.

Still laughing to myself I ask her, "Was it all worth it?"

She shakes her head. “No! Girl, none of that was worth the emotional suffering or hurt to my bank account... All that continued for about three months until I ran into an old friend who worked at the company my groomsman told me he had been laid off from. I asked her if she knew him.”

I watch my cousin as she pauses and lowers her eyes to hold back the tears.

She whispers, “Girl, that lady told me that he slept around with a lot of women at the company and would ask them for money to help him pay his alimony and child support. She told me she heard he was fired from his job, not laid off, after the CEO found out that he had lied about his degrees on the job application and resume.”

I ask, “So what did you do?

She looks at me out of the corner of her eye and says, “I did some research of my own and found out that my groomsman had never been married to his so-called ex-wife or anyone else for that matter and that the woman who was supposedly his ex-wife was really his baby-mama and she was on housing assistance, receiving welfare.

I stop her short. "Wait a minute, you are saying they had three kids, one adopted, and they had never been married...not even common law? Had they ever lived together?"

She rolls her eyes then says, "Yeah girl, but since he was working, she could not add him to her housing or she would lose it... she would have problems getting her welfare if she either got married or reported that another able-bodied adult was living in her household. Therefore, no common-law marriage could exist without admitting to the government that they both had committed fraud. Girl, he couldn't even receive mail at her address." She shakes her head.

"Oh, Ok. So what did you do after that?"

She continued, "...so I took off work the next day and paid one of my guy friends to follow him to see what he does all day. Around 5pm that day, my guy friend told me that he followed my groomsman to a small town about an hour away from where I live. My groomsman had spent that entire day with his baby mama and the afternoon with his children…and I assumed this is what they did everyday. That night he came home to me at 7pm as usual, after dinnertime, and I asked him what he had been doing all day. Of course, he lied to me and told me that he had been out looking for work.”

The music in the room gets louder and the people at our table get up and go to the dance floor. My cousin, now in tears, gets up and walks into the hallway. I follow her and place my hand on her back while she continues her story, ignoring all the hoopla going on around us. She wipes the tears away from her face and continues, “So the next day I cleaned out my closet full of his Armani and Gucci wardrobe, put it in my car, and donated it to Goodwill. Then I had his car towed to the dealership, which I was sure would be calling soon anyway to collect back-due payments. I had my locks changed so that he could not access my apartment anymore. I sent him a text message letting him know that if he came anywhere near my home I would call the police and tell them he was trespassing. Then I just ignored his phone calls and after a few weeks, he stopped calling.”

She looks at me with a face full of shame and embarrassment.

I hug her and tell her, “He was wrong for what he did to you. You didn’t deserve to be lied to or taken advantage of. I’m so happy and proud that you had the strength to get rid of him so quickly and effortlessly because I know a lot of women who would have just let that nonsense continue until it ate them alive. In the end, you are the better, stonger person.”

She smiles at me with a sense of relief across her face. I say to her, “Now we are supposed to be having a good time. Why don’t we have another glass of champagne then go down to "The Strip." I hear a hot new lesbian club just opened! We can just sit back and relax in the company of our own... Women. No pressure. And I swear, if you try to go home with anyone there, I will beat your ass myself!

She laughs. “Ok. What the hell! Why not? Let’s go party.”

She follows me back into the banquet hall.

I whisper to her “But first, let’s go eat! They have some good food up in here! All this talking has made me hungry, girl!

Wedding Crashers- Funniest Moments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK0pKyrBMl8

Wedding Season - A Short Story


Wedding Season - A Short Story
by Myra Williams

The bible says that there’s a season for everything under the sun. Yesterday I attended my niece’s wedding and as the preacher read from the Bible, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, a warm and salty tear rolled down my cheek. I know more about seasons, changes, transitions, heartache, heartbreak… (sigh) …than I care to even think about.

As I admire the shimmering and satin sashes of gold and beige my mind and heart is taken to a far away place. I think to myself, “When will it be my season to bask in beauty and warmth at my own wedding? Will I ever say those precious vows or know what it’s like to unite two families?

As my mind wanders more, another tear forms. I think, “Will they truly be happy? You know there’s a 50% chance that they will end up in divorce…yes but isn’t it worth it even if only to experience the beauty and awe that a wedding ceremony brings? The feelings of love, feelings of joy, the feelings of togetherness and unity that come from sharing a timeless and treasured tradition with friends and family… Who cares about the future? The future begins today…but first we gonna party like it’s 1999! Whoo hoo!”

I smile to myself then look around the chapel. I wonder which cutie here is coming home with me tonight. “Hmm…come on…where are you? We need to start planning our future together and we can start by getting it on tonight!” I smile to myself thinking about having a party between my legs. Umph umph umph… umm hmm...(sigh)

My cousin jolts me from my daydream with her elbow in my shoulder. I whisper to her loudly. “What?”
She points to a girl in a tight dress. “Look at that dress that girl got on!” She looks around to make sure no one is listening then whispers to me, “You can see her panties girl! It’s some hoes up in here!”
I elbow her back.
“Shut up girl. You so ghetto. Besides, it’s hoes everywhere…what choo talkin’ bout? Girl, I’m thinkin’ bout who I’m goin’ home with tonight. I got to find me a groom for my wedding, girl!” We both smile and laugh to ourselves.

Finally the preacher releases us and says, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Everyone in the chapel looks to see if he’s gonna give her tongue…then it’s over.
I turn to my cousin, “Let’s go party girl.”