How Did I Get Here: A Novella Read online

  With a look of abhorred reality she blurted out, “And to think that your behind would have said something with some decency. So you’re going to leave me here pregnant, with the kids while you and Rafiki go off and have the time of your lives?”

  “Look, all we want to do is to do the guy thing, chill, and do what he wants for his last night here! I would appreciate it just a little bit if you did not disrespect me in front of my brother. See that’s the problem I always have with you and your mouth. You can’t control it and you can’t control your emotions. Yo, Rafiki!” Preston chanted looking for his keys to the car, “Bump this dog, we out this piece. Delight stay bright!” Preston slammed the door behind himself while Rafiki sat in the driveway waiting for Preston to make his exit.

  Preston ran out to the car with a devilish grin on his face as he made his way toward the car. “Told you I would get that hall pass boy! It wasn’t pretty, but things had to happen in order for happenings to happen. Know what I’m saying.” This is going to be very bad when we get back home. I really do not know how much more this marriage could take of this, but it will soon be done if there is no respect shown by either of us here.

  Preston went into every bar Easton Town Center had to offer on a Saturday night. It was a nice spring night and the air was filled with adventurous adults looking for that special someone. Preston was relieved to see some other women himself, because the one he had at home did nothing, but cause him grief for the time being. Rafiki on the other hand was having the time of his life. He could not believe all of the beautiful women that he saw half- dressed and giving him all types of flirtatious acts that he indulged in whole-heartedly. Everything from playing hard to get to motor boating his mouth in between the breasts of some naïve college student.

  It pleased Preston that his brother was having a good time. He knew that it was hard trying to live on his own in Jersey and paying child support at the same time, with minimal college credits. This was not something that they could do everyday and it kind of saddened Preston that he decided to go to school so far away from home and not to be able to enjoy these times more often with his brother. After all, he was only nineteen when he packed his bags on the Greyhound to head West. But, Preston could appreciate the fact that being out on his own was definitely a great way for him to learn about himself and what standing on his own two feet was all about.

  “Ow,” Preston squealed rubbing the right side of his shoulder blade in pain. Rafiki was so tipsy at this time that he totally disregarded how hard he punched Preston in joyous exhilaration.

  “Man, it is definitely time for us to go hit a club. I might catch a case out here, because this one broad I tried to holla at was only sixteen, but the milk in those breasts was screaming like twenty fivvveee.”

  “Alright, I got the keys now just hold on to me while we go fetch the parking lot for the car and I’ll let you dance some of that liquor off.” Prestonhadn’t been to a club in so long, that he forgot what it felt like to actually wait in line to get into a night club. Preston paid for everything and there was nothing that Rafiki could do to make him think otherwise. As they approached a crowd of cars that they saw at a nightclub on 161, Rafiki make him park immediately as soon as he got a glimpse of a few small miniskirts and shirts barely covering the nipples of the females.

  Preston was excited and nervous at the same time. How can someone profess the gospel be here among all of the heathens? This just doesn’t even make any sense. You are already frustrated, the women in here are looking fine, and there is just nothing good that can possibly come out of this. The devil sure is letting his light shine tonight. Preston wanted to turn back, but Rafiki was so excited that he couldn’t find it in himself to disappoint his brother, so in Preston’s mind they were already on the battlefield and there was no turning back.

  “Bro, you know exactly how to find the spots and find ‘em right”, Rafiki roared as he got out of the car doing karate kicks as an affect of the alcohol reigning through his system. “Let’s get up in here and do some damage.”

  As they walked up to the bouncers to get patted down, Preston could now remember why he stopped going to clubs as an older undergraduate student. All of the pat downs, ID checks, black lights, cigarette and weed smoke in the clothes was just not his forte anymore. After paying a ridiculous admission fee to get in; they both looked around for a table, but they were all crowded by people dancing and grinding right next to them. That would be a fight just brewing to happen and ruin everything you have worked so hard for. So they maneuvered with their two step toward the main dance floor. After doing a full recon of the place they discovered that they were the only two males dancing. While the rest of the females grinded up on each other and looking seductively at Preston he continued to groove by himself.

  “Hey, you go that way and I’ll go this way. That way the ladies or the fellas won’t think we are gay”, Rafiki yelled into Preston’s ear as he stared at one of the females in his sight dropping it like it was hot with a couple of her girlfriends. After Preston saw that up close and personal, he knew for sure it has been a while since he been anywhere and he knew the devil was all up in his face with no sign of resilience. Rafiki was nowhere to be found, but Preston figured he could catch up to him right before they got out of there.

  After about two hours of dancing and running into people with an occasional drink here and there Preston felt like it was time to call it quits. He saw Rafiki waiting by the exit and Preston already knew he was going to be there, because they often thought the same thing at the same time. It wasn’t quit tight near the exit and all of the females were once again all around Preston and Rafiki fanning themselves in the air-conditioned hallway. Preston looked at his phone and caught a glimpse of the “drop it like it’s hot” girl walk right past him. Don’t do it Preston!!!!!! Preston being the “gentleman” that he was had to open his mouth…

  IX

  Preston walked up to the light-skinned female who looked as if she were a mix of Mexican and West Indian. It definitely wasn’t Puerto Rican, because he knew Puerto Ricans back in Jersey and the traits just did not add up. All of her features satisfied Preston’s BET fantasy of a video girl that had thick thighs, at least a C cup bra, and a rear end that jiggled more than a little bit with every step she took in her white stiletto shoes and her perfectly manicured nails that did not seem to be too flashy, but just right.

  Rafiki hinted he was going to the car and Preston held up his cell phone to signal that he was about to get a phone number to close out the late night. Rafiki gave him the gentleman’s nod and proceeded to go and pass out in the car. As Rafiki walked out, Preston ran up behind the young lady and gently touched her elbow with his hand and asked her slyly, ‘What’s your name miss lady?”

  The young woman battered her eyes at him in an approving manner and elegantly replied, “Lustray.”

  “So, Lustray do you have a man friend or anything like that?”

  “No, it’s just me and my two girls.” Let the drama commence!

  “Oh, okay so are you from around here? I’m originally from Jersey but I went to school at Ohio State and I am currently here in graduate school.”

  “Well, if you must know Mr….”

  “Brown, Preston Brown, my bad” Preston winced in embarrassment with his heart pounding out of his chest dealing with very unfamiliar territory.

  “That’s better. I’m from Cleveland, but I have been at OSU for the last six years, but I will be graduating next year with my degree in mathematics.”

  Preston nodded his head in shock, “So is okay if I give you a call every once in a while?”

  “Sure, let me see your cell phone so I can put my number in there for you.”

  Preston fumbled to get his phone out while she was anticipating seeing what type of phone he possessed. She punched in the numbers and made sure her phone rang so he did not think she was lying.

  “Mr. Brown, it was nice meeting you, but my girlfriends are ready to go and
we came in a group so I have to get going.”

  “That’s okay my brother is in the car waiting for me and I should be checking on him to make sure that no one takes advantage of him while he is in his drunken state of mind.”

  They both laughed at Preston’s bland comment and parted ways before the nightclub announced last call. Preston felt a new type of self worth, but was scared as hell of how he was going to play this thing out. “The girl had a banging body and could speak impeccable English”, Preston thought to himself. “Dang, I only got three hours before I can get a nap in and have Rafiki back to the airport!”

  X

  The sun was coming up and Preston was speeding down I-270 to get Rafiki back to the airport on time. For some reason Preston just could not get the picture of Lustray out of his head. Delight did all she could to give him an earful from the time they both came in the door, but it was no use. She could smell the alcohol and smoke on both of them so she just figured they were both drunk. Preston engaged in her assumption and acted just like she accused; and it worked in Preston’s favor, because he felt that it would keep him from hearing her mouth.

  They arrived at Columbus International Airport with forty minutes to spare and even enough time for a brotherly hug. “Did you see that girl I was trying to kick it to last night” Preston asked.

  “Oh yeah, I don’t remember her face too well, but I do know that she had a big ole butt and the breasts were full of milk for a brother!”

  Preston shook his head in confusion, like there was a fog that persistently clouded his head. “For some reason, I can’t remember her face, but if Delight keeps giving me hell on earth; I’ll give her a call and see where her head is at. Hey man, be safe on that plane and give me a call as soon as you board and when you land in Philly. I’ll give Mom and Dad a call and let them know you’re on your way.”

  “Alright man, thanks for a hell of a night last night, I haven’t had that much fun in a long time. Love you man.”

  “Love you too”, Preston said trying to hold back his tears. He could not stand to watch Rafiki walk off into the airport so he just sped off and didn’t look back. “What an amazing weekend,” Preston said to himself. “It was wild and fun, but now I got to go back home and face my arch nemesis….the wife.”

  Preston could not wait to get home so that he could finally shower and really take a nap the way that he wanted to, but knew that would not be possible if Delight were still awake stalking the kitchen door.

  Thankfully, as he walked through the door he didn’t see any sign of her downstairs and Preston felt it was good that she was asleep. That way he could fantasize about Lustray dropping it down in the club with no interruptions! You know Preston, once you lust with your eyes you have already committed adultery. “Aw, whatever all I’m going to do is call her in a couple of days and have a conversation then just throw the number away like I never even knew her,” he fought with his conscience.

  On another note, Preston had some other things on his mind too. He had to hurry up and get packed to do some military training at Fort Irwin in California in the next couple of days. So he figured he would get some time in with the kids when he woke up from his nap and have Delight iron and sort out all of his clothes. The day was young and there was plenty of time left to get things done in a timely manner so from then on it would be “slow motion”. “I already completed my exams early so there won’t be any conflict with the grades, the work-study people got the memo, and it’s off to making some of that officer pay on the West Coast with a maid to make my bed everyday” Preston thought in excitement.

  “Man maybe I should take the dog out and call her right now…no that would just break the forty eight hour rule. A man never calls the day after he gets the number; that would just be suicide in a desperate manner. Let me just chill, get some rest, and focus on getting out of here with everything I need.” Preston tried to shake her out of his head, but every time he tried all he could think about was how angry and frustrated Delight made him. It was something about that Lustray that caught his attention, but he just could not figure out what it was. He’s been involved with plenty of beautiful women at Ohio State and his wife wasn’t a slouch either. He just could not put his finger on it. “Well let me see if Delight will be generous in giving some to the young Lieutenant before he gets ready to pull out of town.” Preston took a shower, crept up the steps, and could not believe what he saw in the room. It was Delight, both boys, and the dog all in the bed sleeping away like they were in a coma!

  “Wake up, all y’all!” Preston barked to everyone including the dog.

  “What is your problem,” Delight said angrily. “And don’t think you are going to get any just because you kicked everyone out, you should have thought about that long before you and your brother decided to go and hop the town to come back here having the hamper smell like trash.” Delight took the covers and just covered her and rolled over like he wasn’t even there.

  Preston was dumbfounded and couldn’t find anything to say, but smiled and said, “Alright that’s cool with me, because ain’t nothing that you can do, that the hand can’t and I’ll be glad when I step out of here on Wednesday.’ He gently closed the door, went down stairs, and made his own breakfast to watch Sports Center on ESPN until he fell asleep on the couch in his robe.

  XI

  Preston could not believe that it was Wednesday already and he had to get on the road early because his plane left at four o’clock in the morning Eastern Standard Time. Everything was packed and ready. Even though Delight was still upset with him, she still managed to pack his bags and made sure that all of his dress shirts were ironed for the Protestant worship services that he would attend on Sundays.

  “Well, I guess this is good-bye for a few weeks, huh?” Preston said with his face barely touching Delight’s in anticipation of an eventual kiss. This was a ritual for Preston to kiss Delight at the door anytime he got ready to leave for any type of deployment ever since he was twenty-one. “Try not to kill the kids while I am gone and don’t fall down the steps. Kids help mommy out and make sure you get all of your homework done before you try to go outside and play.”

  “Yes sir”, the boys responded in unison. Simon asked with tearful eyes, “When will you be getting back?” He proceeded to give Preston a hug.

  “In a little while, but you guys have to take care of mommy while I go out and make all of us some money alright, so that I can take you guys all over the country and travel, okay.”

  “Yay!!” They all gave Preston a group hug and even Preston got a little lump in his throat for the simple fact that he had to leave again, but it felt adventurous to him and it made him feel good that he could actually provide for his family every now and then without any public assistance.

  The airport was never crowded and Preston felt like it’s been a daily commute for him within the past week. There were people in uniforms from all over the world and he could tell which ones were headed off into a combat zone, because they did not seem happy at all. “They are all so young,” Preston thought to himself. “I thought I was young when I was twenty-one, but these kids look like they are barely seventeen. These kids can barely shave and there is no body fat to show there is any type of maturity. Just as wide –eyed as the night owl, what a shame to not know anything about politics, but readily accept the role as a toy soldier and not know anything. I’m sure God has a plan for them, even if it is in Iraq or Afghanistan.”

  Time was going by slowly and Preston got tired of flipping through the internet on his cell phone so he contemplated calling Lustray. Here’s where it all starts. First the thought, then eventually the action. Just like a writer and a screenplay, this is where the movie starts.

  “Oh what the heck”, Preston squandered. “The worse that can happen is that she will hang up on me, so I might as well get it over with. I’m not even sure if I was drunk or not; fooling around with Rafiki, she might be looking like one of those VH1 freaks or something. Let me
see what’s up.”

  The phone rang and Preston began to fill with excitement. All he could think about was her droppin’ it like it was hot in the club. As he continued to listen to the ringing of the phone he forgot one thing….her name! “What the heck was her name? I know it began with an “L”, but was it Lucy, Lavena, Luscious, dang it I hate when I do this.” Preston hung up the phone quickly in deep embarrassment once he heard the soft voice on the other line.

  “You know what,” Preston opinionated to himself. “I am out here all alone, I might as well have myself a little bit of fun while I am at it. I’ll just call and ask for “L”. He pulled the phone back out like he was Don Juan and hit the redial button.

  “Hello”, a soft and pleasant voice avowed on the other line.

  “Uh, yeah is “L” there, I’m not sure if I have the right number, but we spoke briefly in the club a few days ago.”

  “Oh, yeah is this Preston…Preston Brown?”

  “Wow, you have a good memory I thought you might have forgotten all about me already,” Preston griped playing the humble man role.

  “No, I am sorry to disappoint you, but I am not the typical girl that you would find in the club. I was actually just out celebrating with some friends to celebrate my girl’s graduation from Ohio Dominican University. That is probably the last time for a long time that I will ever be in a club like that.”

  Preston began to get a little flustered, because it was the same school that Delight went to. He wanted to ask names and what type of program, but he kept his composure and decided to keep the conversation to a minimum.

  “Well, I am actually about to catch a flight out of town for some military work that I do while in school, but I just wanted to call you to let you know that I didn’t forget about you and that I hope we can pick up this conversation sometime soon within the next week or so.”