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Authors: Eric Jerome Dickey
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the benediction of a jam-packed second service at FAME—First African Methodist Episcopal, just east of downtown L.A. Vince and I spoke to a few people leaving the mega church, shook a few hands, then mixed with the stampede leaving the upstairs section. It was hard to act cool and stay cute because my bladder had started speaking in tongues ten minutes before the ushers took up my tithe.
I asked Vince, “You see Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis?”
“Where?”
“Downstairs.”
The lobby was crowded like Times Square. Ushers were directing traffic. Some peeps were trying to leave, others were trying to get inside and claim a seat for the next service.
Vince told me, “I’ll be outside the door.”
“Okay. Take my Bible. Won’t be long.”
The line for the ladies’ room was longer than the line at Magic Mountain. Waiting gave me a moment to people watch. A few of my peeps looked like they had staggered in from Club Century. A sister in blue leather pants, a couple wearing short dresses, another was a cleavage factory. One was all up in an usher’s face, giving up righteous words and devilish eyes.
No matter where, men are men, and women are looking for men.
I did my biz, put on a little more lipstick, and came out, climbed back upstairs, slowly. Pumps with narrow heels are not made for mountain climbing.
Vince was outside near the street, talking to a petite, bowlegged, bronze-colored sister with wavy dark brown hair. From where I was, her narrow face reminded me of Queen Nefertiti.
When she kissed Vince on the lips, my world halted. My heart became a brick. Can’t leave your man alone for a minute.
Vince saw me and adjusted his coat. Looked so uneasy. Her eyes followed his and she looked uneasy too. I moved toward their anxious expressions like I was being sucked into a black hole.
Vince moved my Bible from his right hand to his left, then pulled me near his side. “Dana,” he said, and motioned at her, “this is Rosa Lee.”
“Nice to finally meet you.”
I’d heard about Rosa Lee and her family, but we’d never met.
I said, “You’re the schoolteacher, right?”
“Teacher, counselor, drill sergeant. And that’s just at home.”
We laughed.
“Rosa Lee,” Vince continued, but sounded a little nervous, “this is my fiancée, Dana.”
Her eyes did a quick peek-a-boo at my empty ring finger before her soft smile met my face. I scanned her ring hand, saw the huge rock on her finger.
We were interrupted by another woman. This one was a little darker than me, over six feet tall, in a dark knee-length multi-colored dress, holding an NIV Bible and her pink umbrella. She was excited to see Rosa Lee and Vince. So excited that she was rude enough to cut me off.
“Lord, I haven’t seen either one of you in years. I see you’re still keeping in touch with this knucklehead.”
Vince said a few things, but he didn’t introduce her to me.
She asked Vince, “Where’s Malaika? I called out to her momma’s house last week, but nobody answered.”
Rosa Lee made an “oh boy” face, then glanced at her watch.
My beau moved closer to me. The woman blinked a few times when he held my hand. Her new look said she got the message.
Vince was very uncomfortable. “We broke up years ago.”
“I didn’t know. The air force had me stationed in Japan forever, so I’ve been out of touch with the real world.”
Once again, Vince introduced me as his fiancée. And like they all do, her curious eyes ran across my empty ring finger.
My skin heated up. Anxiety all over my face.
She asked, “When’s the wedding?”
I said, “We’re looking at next summer.”
“That far away?”
“No rush. We have to shop for rings. I have to figure out who’s gonna be in it. If we’re going to get married here in L.A. or back at my old church in New York, which might not be practical. Where the reception will be . . . photographer . . . music . . .”
Rosa Lee saved me from going on and on. “Getting married is
I asked Vince, “You see Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis?”
“Where?”
“Downstairs.”
The lobby was crowded like Times Square. Ushers were directing traffic. Some peeps were trying to leave, others were trying to get inside and claim a seat for the next service.
Vince told me, “I’ll be outside the door.”
“Okay. Take my Bible. Won’t be long.”
The line for the ladies’ room was longer than the line at Magic Mountain. Waiting gave me a moment to people watch. A few of my peeps looked like they had staggered in from Club Century. A sister in blue leather pants, a couple wearing short dresses, another was a cleavage factory. One was all up in an usher’s face, giving up righteous words and devilish eyes.
No matter where, men are men, and women are looking for men.
I did my biz, put on a little more lipstick, and came out, climbed back upstairs, slowly. Pumps with narrow heels are not made for mountain climbing.
Vince was outside near the street, talking to a petite, bowlegged, bronze-colored sister with wavy dark brown hair. From where I was, her narrow face reminded me of Queen Nefertiti.
When she kissed Vince on the lips, my world halted. My heart became a brick. Can’t leave your man alone for a minute.
Vince saw me and adjusted his coat. Looked so uneasy. Her eyes followed his and she looked uneasy too. I moved toward their anxious expressions like I was being sucked into a black hole.
Vince moved my Bible from his right hand to his left, then pulled me near his side. “Dana,” he said, and motioned at her, “this is Rosa Lee.”
“Nice to finally meet you.”
I’d heard about Rosa Lee and her family, but we’d never met.
I said, “You’re the schoolteacher, right?”
“Teacher, counselor, drill sergeant. And that’s just at home.”
We laughed.
“Rosa Lee,” Vince continued, but sounded a little nervous, “this is my fiancée, Dana.”
Her eyes did a quick peek-a-boo at my empty ring finger before her soft smile met my face. I scanned her ring hand, saw the huge rock on her finger.
We were interrupted by another woman. This one was a little darker than me, over six feet tall, in a dark knee-length multi-colored dress, holding an NIV Bible and her pink umbrella. She was excited to see Rosa Lee and Vince. So excited that she was rude enough to cut me off.
“Lord, I haven’t seen either one of you in years. I see you’re still keeping in touch with this knucklehead.”
Vince said a few things, but he didn’t introduce her to me.
She asked Vince, “Where’s Malaika? I called out to her momma’s house last week, but nobody answered.”
Rosa Lee made an “oh boy” face, then glanced at her watch.
My beau moved closer to me. The woman blinked a few times when he held my hand. Her new look said she got the message.
Vince was very uncomfortable. “We broke up years ago.”
“I didn’t know. The air force had me stationed in Japan forever, so I’ve been out of touch with the real world.”
Once again, Vince introduced me as his fiancée. And like they all do, her curious eyes ran across my empty ring finger.
My skin heated up. Anxiety all over my face.
She asked, “When’s the wedding?”
I said, “We’re looking at next summer.”
“That far away?”
“No rush. We have to shop for rings. I have to figure out who’s gonna be in it. If we’re going to get married here in L.A. or back at my old church in New York, which might not be practical. Where the reception will be . . . photographer . . . music . . .”
Rosa Lee saved me from going on and on. “Getting married is
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