On The Lakefront

Chapter 2

2

Pre-Chill at Momo Jean’s

I tossed my bag into my 2015 gray Chevy Sonic. My to-do list gets checked before I leave home. I went through my phone for notices and playlist options. But I had two notifications on my iPhone. One was a text from Danielle saying that she cannot wait to see me and spend time with me.

However, the following notification puzzled me. It appeared from the app: HBG. I had not checked “Hot Black Guys” in a while, so I reviewed my one new message.

I want to meet you.

The profile stats seemed just my type: 6 feet 2 inches, African-American, and 24 years old. It sounded like a pretty good catch to me. The only problem I had was no profile picture. A blank profile with words most of the time, to me, means catfish. So, I just ignored it and started scrolling on what playlist to put on.

I have always had an eclectic taste in music. I have music from the Beatles, Otis Redding, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley to Shawn Mendes, Beyoncé, Corinne Bailey Rae, and my favorite, Nicki Minaj. Lyrics and beats move me no matter what artist or genre. I was going through my playlist, and all the genres were popping up: Country, Reggae, Reggaeton, 90s pop, 00s pop, New Orleans bounce, Slow Jams, Rap, Hip Hop, Techno, EDM, and so on. After searching for that long time, I finally found my Weezyana Concert playlist, which comprised my favorite songs by artists performing in the lineup. I just knew I was about to jam to Wayne, Meek Mill, Trey Songz, and one of my new favorites, Megan the Stallion. Finally pressing play, I started driving, and let the music shuffle for the whole 2-hour drive. I pulled up to Momo Jean’s house at 11 AM on the dot. That’s when “Hot Girl Summer” came through the speakers. I was rapping it, looking in my mirror. A figure ran off the porch unseen by me. It went to the car door and knocked on my window. I was so startled that I cut the music down. I rolled down the window, and I had to stare. Danielle, my Uncle David’s daughter, was giving me a dirty look, staring back at me.

“Cousin, if you don’t get out of this car,” she stated as the sun hit her beautiful creole skin and sandy golden hair. I got out of the car and hugged my cousin. She had been there for me during this entire ordeal. “Oh, my God. Cousin, I know we all needed some time. Damn Cousin, I thought we would have been in more of contact.”

“Yeah, Cuz. I’m sorry I have just been sticking to myself,” I paused, “It really has been hard for me. I am still processing it. We will survive this as a family.”

“All of us,” she smirked, “including Melissa and her creep of a husband? When she brought him around, he would look at all of us. Especially you, though. I mean, he would stare at you for the longest time and…”

“Melissa,” I said to my cousin, “will always be family. Now, as far as her husband goes. I definitely do not want to talk about how he…”

“Say Cuz,” a familiar voice butted in, “You ain’t text me. Let me call Tee Joanne to let her know you are here. You know she is worrisome.”

I looked up, and it was Jackson, my favorite male cousin. The color of an oatmeal cookie & standing at 5 feet 9 inches, he was the male cousin I admired the most. He was the one that didn’t judge me for being myself. He was my little protector.

“My bad, Cuz. We coming,” I said. I followed Danielle up the stairs and onto the porch. She opened the door, and we walked inside. That was the moment I saw her. I was standing there in a trance directly in front of a beautiful 11 X 17 portrait of Momo Jean. She was smiling at me, bright as the sun, in her all-white ushers’ uniform. As tears rolled down my face, I slid on the couch to catch myself.

“Man, bruh, I know it is tough, but stay strong.” A deep voice had entered the room. This dark-skinned 6 feet 6 inches, 295-pound man, Terrence, Jackson’s brother, was that voice. He is my big protector. “If you need that smoke, you know I got you.”

“Thanks, Cuz. But, you know I don’t smoke,” I said.

“Right, Right,” he said with a smirk. “Well, let me call one of my hoes. You gotta get some p***y. Cuz mane look, I’m tellin’ you, if you can’t hit the weed, at least hit that.”

“Terrence!” I said in a scream and laugh. I could barely get words out of my mouth. “Cousin, leave me alone. I don’t want no p***y cat, no Egyptian Mau, no Tom & Jerry, no Puss in Boots, no Catwoman, sidebar, although Eartha Kitt, Halle Berry, and Michelle Pfeiffer were all great. This guy doesn’t like cats. At all. Period.”

Jackson and Danielle came out of the kitchen with Zapp’s salt & vinegar bags bursting out in laughter.

“Bro, push over Big T,” Jackson said, still snickering as they sat between us, “and if you got any smoke, go roll it, and I’ll smoke wit you. Please don’t call your hoes, though, because I saw one of them. I wouldn’t want cat from them either.”

“Shut up, dawg. I got some pretty ones, but I keep them where they at. Hoes can come to the house. The ones that say yes. I can tell they ain’t ya type,” he huffed.

“Yeah, I don’t want those chicken-head girls you be messing wit. Man, did this couch breathe?” Jack exhaled. Terrence playfully hit him in the arm as he went to the back. “Ouch!”

“Man, some things never change.” I said in a mumble; turning to Dani, I asked, “So girlie, what time are we leaving? You know that parking is hell. Especially when we travel down in all that traffic.”

“Well, it’s only 10:30. We will leave at 11:15 since the parking opens at 12,” Dani responded.

“Girl, you know how the traffic is. I gotta be the first one in line. Plus, they moved to the grounds from last year. We don’t want to lose the spots we always have.”

“Ok, Cousin, seeing as you dressed and you are making sense, I guess we can leave now.”

“Man, you didn’t want to hang with your cousin anymore, huh?” Jack said in a quiet tone.

“Cousin, I love you. But we will hang tomorrow. It will piss me off if I ain’t front and center,” I pouted.

“Cool, y’all, be safe. I guess I smoke wit my big bro or study.”

Dani had gone into the guest room. She returned with her purse and everything she needed.

“You ready, Aiden?” she asked.

“Yep!” I said as I raced out the door to her car. “Bye, Jack. Remember, a promise is a promise.”

Jackson nodded his head as he stood at the door. Dani was already walking to her blue 2017 Ford Focus. She pressed the button, and we both hopped in. We were on our way to our favorite event.