from the grave. I didn’t yet know if I should be mad, but I was definitely confused.
“What you don’t know,” Lisa Mae continued, “is that Bishop Wilson and I have developed a very special friendship over the last year. One that I hope can blossom into a meaningful relationship.” She pulled out a tissue and wiped her eyes. My stomach did a little flip. I felt like I was gonna be sick watching this woman’s show. “You see, to be truly honest, I don’t want the responsibility of being a first lady again, but if that’s what it takes to spend the rest of my life with a man like Bishop T.K. Wilson, then I’ll be the best first lady this church has ever seen.”
I heard the last of her words and the applause they gave her as I walked out of the building. So, I was not the only one Charlene had given her blessing to, and this Lisa Mae seemed to have her shit together. She also had the support of the women of the church, which had to count for something. I’d never even considered that being with Thomas Kelly meant being the church’s first lady.
Tears rolled down my cheeks. I’d never been so hurt and embarrassed in my entire life. Why was this woman playing with me from the grave? She knew I wasn’t qualified to be the first lady. Well, I wasn’t about to let her or anyone else make a fool of me. I began to walk home, thinking that Thomas Kelly and his high-and-mighty church were better off without me. Good luck to this Lisa Mae woman, and good riddance.
By the time I got to 109th and Guy Brewer Boulevard, the drug boys were out in full force, and I was so angry and humiliated that I actually contemplated getting high to pick up my mood. Thank God I didn’t have any cash on me and the drug boys didn’t take debit cards. I’d planned to ask Thomas Kelly to take me to an ATM machine so that I could pay for our dinner, although I’m sure he wouldn’t have let me. Nonetheless, I took my lack of cash as a sign and started to walk down Guy Brewer Boulevard toward Rochdale Village, where I knew there was an NA meeting. It would be good to be around people who were supportive and knew what I was going through.
During the meeting, I actually got up and testified, something I’d rarely done since I graduated from the Apple drug program three years ago. Afterward, around eleven o’clock, I got a ride with a lady who lived on 110th Street. All I had to do was walk a few blocks to get home. I was feeling pretty good after the meeting. Matter of fact, I’d completely put the earlier events at the church out of my mind, at least until I stepped out of the woman’s car and spotted Thomas Kelly’s Cadillac standing at a traffic light. That light-skinned woman from the church was sitting in the front seat. Any good feelings from the NA meeting left me immediately as I watched the light turn green, and Thomas Kelly drove away with this woman who was sitting where I should have been. Don’t ask me why, but that shit set me off. I was so mad, I could’ve spit fire. And the next person who approached me was gonna feel my wrath.
“Hey, Ma, whatchu need? Whatchu need?” Reggie shouted, running up on me like I was carrying a million dollars.
“Look, Reggie. I’m not in the best of moods, and I ain’t got no money, so leave me the fuck alone,” I snapped. “If I have to tell you one more time that I don’t use that shit no more, then I—” My whole body tensed up. I just wanted to hit someone.
“Relax, Ma,” Reggie said, putting his hands up and slightly backing away from me. “I was just running a special today is all. I got a two for one. I know you used to like a deal.”
I didn’t have to say a word. I’m sure Reggie could tell by the look in my eyes and my clenched fists that he had one second to get away from me. He took two steps back but still continued his sales routine. “I understand the no-money thing. And, seeing as how you used to be my best customer,” Reggie said with a villainous
“What you don’t know,” Lisa Mae continued, “is that Bishop Wilson and I have developed a very special friendship over the last year. One that I hope can blossom into a meaningful relationship.” She pulled out a tissue and wiped her eyes. My stomach did a little flip. I felt like I was gonna be sick watching this woman’s show. “You see, to be truly honest, I don’t want the responsibility of being a first lady again, but if that’s what it takes to spend the rest of my life with a man like Bishop T.K. Wilson, then I’ll be the best first lady this church has ever seen.”
I heard the last of her words and the applause they gave her as I walked out of the building. So, I was not the only one Charlene had given her blessing to, and this Lisa Mae seemed to have her shit together. She also had the support of the women of the church, which had to count for something. I’d never even considered that being with Thomas Kelly meant being the church’s first lady.
Tears rolled down my cheeks. I’d never been so hurt and embarrassed in my entire life. Why was this woman playing with me from the grave? She knew I wasn’t qualified to be the first lady. Well, I wasn’t about to let her or anyone else make a fool of me. I began to walk home, thinking that Thomas Kelly and his high-and-mighty church were better off without me. Good luck to this Lisa Mae woman, and good riddance.
By the time I got to 109th and Guy Brewer Boulevard, the drug boys were out in full force, and I was so angry and humiliated that I actually contemplated getting high to pick up my mood. Thank God I didn’t have any cash on me and the drug boys didn’t take debit cards. I’d planned to ask Thomas Kelly to take me to an ATM machine so that I could pay for our dinner, although I’m sure he wouldn’t have let me. Nonetheless, I took my lack of cash as a sign and started to walk down Guy Brewer Boulevard toward Rochdale Village, where I knew there was an NA meeting. It would be good to be around people who were supportive and knew what I was going through.
During the meeting, I actually got up and testified, something I’d rarely done since I graduated from the Apple drug program three years ago. Afterward, around eleven o’clock, I got a ride with a lady who lived on 110th Street. All I had to do was walk a few blocks to get home. I was feeling pretty good after the meeting. Matter of fact, I’d completely put the earlier events at the church out of my mind, at least until I stepped out of the woman’s car and spotted Thomas Kelly’s Cadillac standing at a traffic light. That light-skinned woman from the church was sitting in the front seat. Any good feelings from the NA meeting left me immediately as I watched the light turn green, and Thomas Kelly drove away with this woman who was sitting where I should have been. Don’t ask me why, but that shit set me off. I was so mad, I could’ve spit fire. And the next person who approached me was gonna feel my wrath.
“Hey, Ma, whatchu need? Whatchu need?” Reggie shouted, running up on me like I was carrying a million dollars.
“Look, Reggie. I’m not in the best of moods, and I ain’t got no money, so leave me the fuck alone,” I snapped. “If I have to tell you one more time that I don’t use that shit no more, then I—” My whole body tensed up. I just wanted to hit someone.
“Relax, Ma,” Reggie said, putting his hands up and slightly backing away from me. “I was just running a special today is all. I got a two for one. I know you used to like a deal.”
I didn’t have to say a word. I’m sure Reggie could tell by the look in my eyes and my clenched fists that he had one second to get away from me. He took two steps back but still continued his sales routine. “I understand the no-money thing. And, seeing as how you used to be my best customer,” Reggie said with a villainous
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