2
“Your mom was real tense,” Asia said to Afrika, as they drove down Fayetteville Street heading back to their dorm. “Maybe you should call your dad, in case something is really wrong with her.”
“You’re right,” Afrika said. “I can’t figure out why she was acting so strange, and I don’t know what I’d do without Mommy, if something happened to her. She’s devoted her entire life to me—to make sure I had the things I needed. Even when she protested my going to Central, she gave in with some reservations, and instead of going to Germany with Daddy, she came here so that she would be available to support me whenever I needed. My mom was once offered a recording contract by Clive Davis of Arista Records.”
“You mean the guy who made Whitney Houston a household icon?”
“Yep, one and the same.”
“Oh, my God, Nikki! That’s so exciting. Why didn’t your mother sign?”
“I was seven at the time, but according to my grandma, Mommy said she couldn’t subject her daughter to the life of a recording artist and she was obligated to be there for her husband and his military career.”
“No offense, Nikki, but that sounds like a cop out. Maybe your mother was scared. Did she live a sheltered life?”
“No, my grandparents were and are still very outgoing. They lived for my mom. In fact, they encouraged my mother to sign the contract so she could live her dream.”
“What about your dad?”
“I don’t think he was as excited about it, according to my grandma. At the time, my dad was a young Army officer barely starting his career, and he understood what the recording industry was like since one of his close cousins was a rapper. But Grandma said Daddy would’ve let my mom sign, if she really wanted to. So I chalk it up to her being afraid. Maybe it was even out of her comfort zone. But at church, if someone asked Mommy to sing for a big event, girlfriend, she would throw down. I wonder if she regrets not signing that contract.”
“Maybe we can get your mom to sing at a campus function.”
“That’s not a bad idea.”
“If you don’t mind, Nikki, let’s stop by my house so I can introduce you to my parents. I’d love to see their faces when they see you; although, I’ve told them all about you.”
“I guess seeing is believing.”
“They’re going to do a double take like your mother. You may have already seen my father.”
“How so?”
“He works in the Admissions Office on campus. In fact, he’s the director. You couldn’t miss him. He’s kinda handsome, if I do say so myself. I hear what some of those wild bitches say about him.”
“Well, I haven’t seen any fine, sexy man on campus, let alone at the Admissions Office. Call and see if your parents are at home.”
Asia pulled her cell phone out of her purse and dialed her parents’ number. Just when she was about to hang up, someone answered on the fourth ring. “Trevor, that you?”
“Hey, Asia; what’s up, sis? How’s college? Momma’s going to give me your room.”
“Hold up, Trevor. Stop talking crazy and telling lies on Momma. Ain’t no way you and your stanky gym shoes smelling self is going to find a way into my room. Not even in your dreams, boy.”
“Ask Momma. Get out of here!!” Trevor suddenly screamed.
“What’s up with you, Trevor?”
“Meow.”
“Beyonce pounced on my bed. I would’ve killed that cat a long time ago if Momma wasn’t going to kill me afterwards. Who names a stupid cat Beyonce?”
“Whatever. Put Momma on the phone so she can tell me what a liar you are.”
“Hmph, you’re gonna have to wait because Momma is at the beauty shop getting her hair done and Dad’s on campus.”
“A’ight. Don’t let me come home and find your crusty butt in my room. I don’t want to have to do a Chris Brown on you.”
“That’s wrong, Asia. Chris didn’t mean to hit Rihanna.”
“Whatever. I’m out.” Click. Asia put her cell phone away. The girls laughed.
“I can’t wait to meet your brother,” Afrika said.
“He’s a trip but we’re closer than close. Remind me to pick up a present for him. His birthday is next Friday. He graduates from high school next year, and I’m sure he’s going to come to Central since both my parents are alums.”
“Really? My mother also went to Central, but she left after her first year. I don’t know why. She transferred to Hampton University, which is where she met my dad before he joined the Army as a Lieutenant. Asia, our lives have so many parallels.”
“It’s scary, isn’t it?”
“Since we’re about the same age, maybe our parents’ paths crossed. When is your birthday?”
“December sixteenth,” Afrika said proudly.
“Nikki, you won’t believe this.”
“Don’t tell me your birthday is on the same day as mine. If it is, I’d have to wonder whether or not one of us was adopted. Because that would truly mean we are twins.”
“No,” Asia started. “How about ten days younger than you? I was born the day after Christmas. That means our mothers were pregnant at the same time.”
Afrika remained quiet as she sat at the stoplight. She reflected on her mother’s reaction when she saw Asia earlier. For some unknown reason, seeing Asia was like a trigger…a reminder of something her mother wanted to forget. The way she acted, someone would’ve thought she was on the verge of having a nervous breakdown. Or was it all an act?
“Earth to Nikki.”
“Sorry, girl. I was in another world.”
“Obviously.”
“You were saying that your birthday was…”
“Ten days after yours.”
“Well, that proves that we were meant to be best friends; sisters.”
“I don’t know about you, Nikki, but my freshman year is going to be on. I’ve got a great new best friend, we’re both on the cheerleading squad, and all that’s left is to find the man of my dreams like my mom did her freshman year.”
“I’m going to concentrate on my studies. I’m going to be a stock broker on Wall Street.”
“Sister CEO. Finally, there’s something we don’t have in common,” Asia said. “I say go for yours. My mother didn’t get her degree right away because she was pregnant with me, and at first aspired to do nothing but be a mom and nurture me. But she did go back to school after a year off and studied hard. She’s a psychologist, analyzing everything that doesn’t make sense to her. My mom is also a life coach. It’s big business, and she has a high-profile clientele. It wasn’t until later in her life that she found her real niche.”
“What is that?”
“She’s a genealogy specialist and loves getting families together. You have to attend one of our family reunions. They’re big events; especially since my mom found relatives we didn’t know we had from every corner of the globe. She’s like a bird picking worms out of the ground after a good rain.”
“I definitely want to meet your mom.”
“I’ll check to see when she gets home. Maybe we can run over there later.”
“Just let me know.”