I've always been one to see the logic of things, but for some reason recently...I haven't been able to do so. Hi, my name is Elizabeth, Lizzy for short. I'm 27 years old and have just received my doctorate's in chemistry. That's right I'm a bonifide scientist. I just moved to New York about three months ago from Atlanta and I'm loving it so far. The company paid for my relocation and even set me up with a nice little condo in the city of Manhattan, but...my nights are lonely and I have no one to talk to when I get home. I just sit at my computer, playing video games until I can't keep my eyes open and I drag myself to my bedroom and pass out until seven the next morning...what a boring life.
About a month ago, all of that changed, word on the grapevine was that I was getting a new neighbor. It was a Friday afternoon and I only had to work half a day, so I took my time and went to my favorite herb shop, bought some dried lavender and gardenia, honey, milk, and sage brought it all home and decided to give myself a spa day. When I got home I saw movers bringing in boxes, but really didn't bother to find out who it was or where they were going, I was on a mission. I realized that I needed to get out this weekend. I fumbled with the keys but managed to get into the door, kicked off my heels as I walked through the door and put my items on the island in the kitchen. I rushed into my room and through to my bathroom and turned on the water and set the temperature in my garden tub and began to fill it with steamy water. I ran back into my kitchen and grabbed the lavender and gardenia and sprinkled them into the water. I then took the milk, honey, and sage and mixed them into a paste for my hair. I wanted to look good when I went to the poetry spot. As the water ran, I checked myself in the mirror and thought about what I was going to wear, I stared at my chocolate complexion and thought to myself...earth tones.
I walked into the bathroom to check the water and it was the right height. I gently washed my waist length curly hair and then put the paste on it and covered it with a shower cap before I got in the bath. I reached for my remote to my Bose stereo and put on some Sarah Vaughan, leaned back in the tub and allowed the aromatherapy to commence. The lavender and gardenia soothed the week of work tension away as I breathed in the fragrance The water caressed my skin as the I reached for my special body oil. I drizzled a little into the water and felt the magic...you see this oil had this relaxing affects that nothing else could conjure. I felt my muscles relax and I drifted off for a little while.
When I came to, the water was cool and it was six o'clock, I had just enough time to shower off and jump into my clothes and I didn't even know what I was going to wear. So, as I drained the water I cut on the shower and grabbed a bar of my French seaweed soap and began to wash the rest of the week off of me. The soap felt extra comforting on my skin this evening and I didn't know why, but I continued to wash. As I slid the soap up and down my body I felt to see if I needed to touch up my wax and found that I still as smooth as a baby's bottom. I slid the soap down to my pussy to feel and see if I needed to touch up there and nope...it was still smooth and slick. I jumped out of the shower after rinsing and looked in my closet. There was this nice black, red, yellow, and green wrap dress that fit my six feet tall frame and hugged all my 215 pounds of curves just right. I had gotten a pedicure the day before so my french tip toes were looking right and my fresh manicure was on point. I really don't wear make-up but decided to put on a little red eye shadow and shiny lip gloss. I decided that I would perform so I didn't want to wash out completely on stage. I had to hurry and get there because sign up started at 8:30 and looking at the clock it was already 7:45. I looked at my hair, I wanted to rock some flat twists but I didn't have time for it so I snatched up the head dress that went with the dress and wrapped my hair up it in. I then slipped on my black sandals and looked at myself in the mirror. I turned to make sure that everything was in place and that the dress wasn't too revealing...I wanted to be stared at, not stop traffic. I looked at the time and it was 8:00. I needed to hurry up so I snatched up my keys and purse, checked the lights and alarm system and jetted out of the door.
I've been to this place before, it was nice like your classic poetry stage that you'd see on TV shows like Def Poet's and places like that. You had the center stage and tables surrounding. The stage itself was big enough for a nice little band and a singer. I talked to the manager the first time I'd come here and he said that on Fridays it was spoken word open mic and on Saturdays they had musical open mic where those that were trying to get heard could come with their bands, if they had one, and performed for the regulars. You had the poetry, hip hoppers that came on Fridays and the grown and sexy jazz heads show up on Saturdays. I was impressed...you see I'm both a poetry hip hopper and a grown and sexy jazz head, so this was beginning to be my spot on the weekends.
As I entered the front door Jose was the first person I saw. He was the one that had the sign up sheet. He looked up at me and smiled. Jose was so handsome, only thing was he was so short. He was about 5'8, caramel complexion, dimples, nice build. You can tell his Cuban heritage from jump, he also had a very good sense of humor. I think he has a crush on me, but it could be just my imagination. He waved for me to come closer and I started towards him. I saw the clip board in his hand which made me move quicker because as I looked at my watch it said 8:29 and he was strict about late comers. I waved my 15 dollars in the air and he started towards me, "You almost didn't make it mama." he said with a Latin accent when he reached me.
"I know sweetie, I lost track of time. Do you have a spot left? Please say you do."
"I told you I got you the last time you were here and you asked. Put your money away, this one is on the house. We gotta see if you got skillz, if you don't, then this one is on me and the crowd will let you know if you can hack it."
"What are the rules."
"Ummm...let me see. No touching the audience and they won't touch you and no stealing other people's shit. Got me?"
"Yeah, bae. I gotcha. So, when am I on?"
"Well, I got you in the middle so you can get a feel for the crowd, I'll let you know when you're almost up, kay???"
"Thanks bae...you're the man."
"As long as I'm your man, we're koo'"
"Whateva boy, quit playin. Who's at the bar?"
"Gretchen...you wanna drink?"
"Just some water right now...I'm nervous right now."
"Don't be nervous mama, I'm sure you'll do fine. Let me go get your water and head on stage, we're about to start. Chin up mama."
Jose moved through the crowd like a pro. I've always meant to ask how did he do that and if he could teach me. I looked around and spotted a two seater near the back corner so I could collect my thoughts. Before I could get to it a couple snatched it. I began scanning for another spot. Nothing was available. I looked around and saw this gentleman sitting at a table alone. He was a cutie, not overly cute but at the same time not plain looking either. I desperately needed a seat so I worked up my nerves and I walked over to him. Before I could reach him a woman grabbed the seat in front of him and I slowly backed away hoping that he didn't see me. As I was about to walk off I heard, "Would like to have a seat?" His voice rumbled in my tummy and my breath caught in my throat. I turned ready to decline when I saw it was him.
"Ummm, I don't know --"
"Look, this woman is really bothering me, and I kinda told her that you were my fiancee. Help a brotha out, please?"
"Well...as long as it'll get me a seat, I'm game."
"Okay, hug me so it'll look real." He grabbed me and wrapped his arms around my waist, "Oh, by the way, my name is Donny."
"Lizzy."
I wondered how tall he was because I was right at his shoulder and I knew that I was tall for a woman. He felt so good, and his was so warm against me. My knees almost buckled. He guided me to the table where the other lady sat, "Ummm, Michelle I would like you to meet my fiancee, Lizzy."
The woman looked me up and down and there was venom in her eyes, "So, you are engaged. Huh, dick probably wasn't that good anyway."
She stomped off into the crowd. I giggled into my hand, "Wow, is that all it takes nowadays? I thought I was gonna have to fight for that chair."
"Me too. Have a seat, Lizzy, right?"
"Yeah. It's short for Elizabeth."
"Who would have guessed?"
"Don't be an ass."
"Oh, and she curses. Wow. I like that. Anyway, I've only seen you around here a couple of times. Are you from around here?"
"Nah, I live in Manhattan. I just come here every now and again. I like to explore things."
"So, do I. So, you like spoken word, I see."
"Yeah I do. I'm performing tonight."
"Oh really??? So am -"
Before he could finish there was a semi-loud scream from the sound system and a loud voice boomed, "Mic check, one, two, three. Mic check. Can you hear me? Koo'. Welcome everyone to Free Mic Fridays, I'm your MC Jose and tonight we have a hot line up for you. You know how we do. WHAT IS THIS?"
"THE MOST DEF STAGE ON THE BLOCK!!!" the audience shouted back.
"AND WHAT DO WE DO?"
"SPIT!"
"HOW LONG?"
"ON AND ON TIL THE BREAK OF DAWN!!!" the audience applauded with cheers. I laughed after answering along and clapped as I saw my friend on stage. As I sat down a waitress brought me a bottle of water and I thanked her. As I looked up at the stage, Jose locked eyes with me and blew me a kiss which made me laugh and blow one back.
"We got a full roster tonight. We got some old school and some new school, we got regulars and new jacks and this is where it all starts. So, without further or do let's get on with the first poet."
"So, is that your boyfriend?" that voice grabbed my attention.
"No, I just met him maybe a few weeks ago when I stumbled onto this place. He's kool peoples."
"Oh...kool. So Miss Lizzy, tell me about you."
I pulled my chair closer to the table as the poet on stage faded to the background, "Well, Donny, what would you like to know? I mean I do better when I'm asked questions, you know."
"Well, let's start with the basics, where are you from? How old are you? Are you single? Do you have any kids? What do you do?"
"Well, to answer those...I'm originally from Atlanta, Georgia. I'm 27 years old, yes I am single with no kids, and I'm a chemist."
"Are you serious? You're a chemist?"
"Yeah, I work for a pharmaceutical company right here."
"So, you..."
"I help develop medicines. Or at least that's what I'm leading to, right now, because I'm new to the company they really want me to get the hang of all the paper work first before I get in a lab."
"Oh, I see. So, you're a lacky right now."
"Ha ha, very funny. Anyway, what about you? How old are you? Are you single? Do you have any kids? And what is your occupation?"
"Well, I'm 26, I'm very single. Was married at one time, but that didn't work out. I have one child, a daughter, that's my angel...my heart. Right now, I do construction work. I'm not looking to do that for the rest of my life. I want to be a recording artist, but right now that has to take a back seat. I'll do anything for my baby."
As he spoke I could do nothing but listen to his voice and look into his slanted green eyes. I took in his super chocolate skin, long dreads and luscious lips. I wondered what he tasted like. I mean I wanted to kiss him so badly. I didn't realize how fine this dude was.
