Dear Reader, This story is designed to connect with college students- particularly those scholars within the mobile-digital generation. Secondly, I wanted to employ soft sexual humor, plot suspense, and wanting the audience to crave more from the ending. Thirdly, I wanted to practice my use of m-dashes, semicolons and story breaks. My questions: does my intro hook you in as a reader? Should I or could I use a paragraph switch, or an omission of a paragraph? I did use the three grammatical devises correctly? What could have done better with the ending to create a more stratifying read? This class has enabled with new devices and strategies to apply into all my writings. Additionally, It strengthen my ability to edit and to better understand my reading audience. Thank you in advance for taking your time out to read my story. I Respectfully await your reactions and suggestions. Jay
The fall semester began with my Monday evening Marketing class. A class always felt better to me when it has smart, attractive, and funny students. I waited for the professor to enter the room. At the same time, I was scouting around the space to examine who might fit those three criteria’s. Suddenly the professor smoothly sauntered into the classroom and said, “Hello Students.” He explained the expectations for this course. He delivered the lesson with a manly humor. His informed hilarity and wit became his trademark trait throughout the lectures.
•••
Wednesday: I had B-Boy bopped into the classroom early. I was wearing a black and red snapback. The hat was embroidered with word: DEFY. My Bluetooth headphones was blasting Mariah Carey’s “Make It Happen”:
“If you believe
Within your soul
Just hold on tight
And don’t let go
You can make it
Make it happen!”
I got settled into my seat. I felt her looking at me, while I sang along with Mariah—“Just hold on tight and don’t let go!” I gazed at her. I smiled and nodded head rhythmically to the song. She smiled back. I had to shut off my iPhone because the professor raced into class. He said, “Sorry students for coming late” I rescued my high school humor and spoke, “In life professor not much matters as long as you come and don’t they say: The Best Things Comes to Those Who Wait! So, we are happy you did!” The Professor and classmates cackled at my innuendo. The professor announced with a plotting grin, “I am happy too that I did–Now class come with me and turn to page fourteen.”
•••
Monday: two weeks had passed and without any interaction from the smiling girl. I sat down in the classroom. I gobbled down my usual, a salad. I waited for the professor to start calling out the names for attendance:
Kim: “Here”
Seidman: “Here”
Jay: “Right on!”
I pumped my fist invoking the gestures of the African Americans and Freedom Fighters who bravely fought for Civil Rights. The professor mocked me by elevating his fist and said, “Way to go Brother!” The class exploded into a land mine of laughter.
In the middle of our lesson Redhead Rebecca whispered, “Jay do you always eat salad?” I replied, “I don’t know what you mean by eat a salad…I do like to eat healthy and love my veggies.” Rebecca laughed and waved her hand shunning my remark. I turned around to look at the blue eyed who girl who had smiled at me two weeks prior. She was nodding her head dismissively in regards to Rebecca’s gesture and question. I shrugged my shoulders and grinned. She smirked.
After the class the blond lady and I departed from the room, parallel to one another. I told her, “Take care and see you next week.” She smiled and pumped her fist in the air and said, “Right on!” I laughed and replied, “You are crazy.” We disbursed from one another laughing in our antics.
•••
Wednesday: I sat in my usual seat- the front side corner of the class. I began eating a Tuna Salad. After twenty minutes passed I felt the need to go to the bathroom. When I returned back to the classroom, the professor remarked, “Jay, I hope you had fun.” I retorted, “Always. But I am not usually that quick.”
•••
When the class concluded Ms. Blue eyes approached me and said, “Hey, Jay I wrote my number on the back of your notebook. I am going away for a week and I need you to keep me up to date with the class.” I replied, “Oh that’s not a problem. I will send you a text so you can lock in my contacts.” When I arrived to my apartment and opened my notebook, there it was her handwriting in pink ink:
JAY, CALL ME 347-555-5515 #SWAGG 🙂 Tx U
I picked up my mobile phone and sent a text message:
_____________________________________________________________
November 10, 2012, 10:26 PM
November 10, 2012, 10:28 PM
_____________________________________________________________
•••
She returned from her trip on the following Saturday. My iPhone rang. The device displayed the nickname that I attributed to her: “Blondie.” I answered the call, “Hey what’s up Diva! How was your trip?” She stated, “It was good and I had fun. You know what-Iam saying!” I continued on, ”I am so jealous of you…it’s a Saturday night and I am still in stuck studying the library.” She added, “Oh great, I coming to the library now… lets study together.” I volleyed back, “Cool good to know you are coming. I will wait for you on the fifth floor.”
She arrived at the library and slurred, “Jay lets leave this place. It’s boring! I am taking to a place, I know you are going to love it.” I agreed because I needed a break. The time was around Eight O’clock. We strolled along Twenty-third Street and pushed westward. Upon hitting Seventh Avenue I said, “Hey where is this place?” She answered, “Chill man…be patient… I know you are going to love this place.” My mind raced with the possibilities of the destination:
Could it be a museum?
Does she want us to go to the park?
No, it’s a Chelsea gallery?
We finally reached Eighth Avenue she shouted, “there it is let’s go inside.”
I replied in a baffled manner, “What? Where? She said, “Right here!” I said, “I don’t see anything! Show me what you are talking about.” Her nails stood out as she pointed because they reminded me of a gusting American flag. Each of her nails had been painted diagonally with the colors red, white, and blue. She shouted happily, “Right here! Silly BBQ’s! We can get the Fried Wing Comb, The Hennessey flavored wings, with hot sauce. They good! Plus they got Dem Texas size drinks. I know you love Dem!”
•••
We sat down and ordered. She ordered the fried combo with the extras. I ordered a House Green Salad with water. (As a person who frequently dines very well as result, I would not consider BBQ’s as a place I would like to come for food. I was not pleased that she selected BBQ’s as a place I would love.) Ironically, we had a nice time together at the fried and freaky restaurant. She made several seductive moves. For example, my straw was in my glass of water. She grabbed it out and licked it. Then she slowly dipped my straw into her glass of Pina Colada and softly sipped the cocktail. Then she gently slithered the back of my right hand with her pointer and ring fingers. After stroking my hand with those same fingers: she delicately but yet firmly pressed her nails into my skin and said,” Jay, do you like how I sound when I swallow!” My eyebrows lifted. However, my mind shifted. I wondered why did she take me to BBQ’s? Did she figure so by only going off my complexion and Hip Hop fashion? What did I demonstrate that gave her the idea that BBQ’s would be a restaurant that I would love? We continued to eat, talk and laugh.
When walked out she said, “She said, Jay do you always eat salad?”
