The Block Series Page 3

she would always come to my salon. Mama let me do her hair too and often times let Jennifer Ann paint her nails while Mama was getting her hair done. It was like I was running my own salon, for free, and this worked to both Mama’s advantage and Jennifer Ann’s as well.

  After I finished my time at community college, Mama was still at her job, and Jennifer Ann went on to some prestigious school in California. It was just me and Mama again and it had left me to decide what to do with myself and what career path I should journey on. The advice of Jennifer Ann and Mama kept echoing in my head that I should become a beautician and open my own salon. That thought went through my head daily, especially when I groomed my hair or played with my braids.

  One day I remember I woke up to an unusual, but yet familiar smell. I jumped out of bed to go find where that smell was wafting from. It led me into the kitchen where I found Mama flipping pancakes over the griddle. Instantly, I smiled from ear to ear and ran up to give Mama a hug. She was certainly surprised and even jumped back a little bit, but she didn’t let the pancake drop.

  As she finished making them, I sat down eager to eat. I encouraged her to sit down and eat with me, but she protested she didn’t have time. I had told her to sit down because I had to tell her something very important. Mama realized it really was something concerning so she took her apron off and sat down across from me, the sun beaming on both our faces. I took Mamas hand in mine and I told her what was on my mind. “Mama”, I said, “I’m going back to Brooklyn. I’m gonna open up my own salon!” Mama first said nothing, then got the biggest grin on her face. She yelled out “Child! I know you will do so well for yourself! I’m so proud of you baby girl, I know this is right for you”. I got out of my chair and went behind Mama, then put my arms around her neck. She shrugged me off, then got out of her own chair, stood up, and wrapped her arms around me. She held me close for a while, and then told me again how proud she was of me and that if I ever needed her for anything, she would be more than willing to help make my dreams come true.

  I remember I left the kitchen quickly to pack up my things, well the things that I would need to take with me. Living, I thought, wouldn’t be a hard situation, I could get an apartment with no problem, I had excellent credit and I had saved all my money.

  I met Mama by the door on the way out as I carried my belongings in some new suitcases on wheelsI had gotten as a birthday gift from my auntie when I was about fourteen. I think that was the hint she had wanted me to visit her in Alabama, but I never did make the trip because of the school play where I, Miss Akeiyla Beal, had the main part.

  Mama helped me load them into the cab that came to pick me up. For once, when I saw that mustard yellow taxi, I wasn’t sad or dreading the ride. Mama closed the open door to the cab and put her arms around me once again. She hugged me so tight I thought I might suffocate before I even made it back to Brooklyn! She said “Child, this is a right move for you. I’m gonna be here, but I will always be thinking of you and maybe someday we can live together again once I get more of my money saved. I’m gonna miss you, but you know this ain’t goodbye forever.” I knew this all too well because I remembered Mama’s promise to me that she would let me do her hair every time it needed to be done and I knew my Mama, she would hold true to that promise. She told me to say hello to all my friends if they was still around and I told her I would. Seeing them was gonna be the first thing I was gonna do when I arrived in Brooklyn. I smiled at her, gave her a last hug and kiss, told her I would miss her and then got in the cab. I rolled down the window as the taxi drove off and yelled out “Goodbye Mama! You the best!” Instead of rolling the window back up, I decided to keep it down and let my hand feel the cool Baltimore breeze. Instead of looking back out the dirty taxi window, this one was actually pretty clean; I looked outside as the scenery passed us. I didn’t want to look back, but instead look forward and to the future that lay ahead of me.

  That cab ride was a long one and I had wanted to fall asleep, but every time I closed my eyes, I thought of Mama which gave me peace, but then I kept thinking of all my girls and my old block and how excited I was to see everything again. That thought kept me up and I had to calm myself from yelling out telling the cab driver to “step on it and drive faster!”

  Finally, we passed the ice cream shop and I knew I was back where I belonged. I knew I was so close to being home and to my block. When we reached the apartment, I got out, stretched my arms up and back down, then walked over to the front of the building. I forgot about the cab driver and he surprised me when he came up to me holding my bags as I was studying the place making sure nothing had changed. I knew I wouldn’t know anything for sure till I went in. I paid the taxi driver, making sure to give him a generous tip as I knew my trip had been a long one and took my bags back from him. I started up the steps of my stoop and went into the building.

  As I went in I saw a familiar face, a white one, it wasn’t any of my girls, but it was that of Mrs. Maple, our old landlady! I rushed up to her with a hug as she recognized me and asked if it was really me. I confirmed that it was and she asked what I was doing back here. I told her my plan and she said “Well Miss, or is it Mrs. now?” I told her it was still Miss, and she continued “Miss Beal, let’s get you set up with a room!”. I was filled with excitement as I grabbed my luggage and followed her into the office. I sat down in the chair and she gave me all the forms to fill out. When I got done, she said “I only have a few rooms open, is apartment B-6 okay with you?” I smiled from ear to ear and said “Yes, that will be perfect.” She handed me the key and I grabbed my belongings, and then promptly left the room to find my new, but in reality, old home.

  As I turned the corner to go up the steps to the second level, I ran into something hard, but soft at the same time. It was another person, a black male. I apologized quickly and he said it wasn’t a big deal. He picked up my bags and asked me if I was going up to the second level. I nodded my head yes and he said he was as well. We climbed the steps together with him carrying my bags and me following, but neither of us said a word to each other except for when we reached the top of the steps. I then apologized again for running into him, but he reassured me it wasn’t a problem. I thanked him for being my personal bellboy and we both chuckled. I then said a quick goodbye and headed down the hallway to my room.

  As I walked, I could hear different footsteps other than my own behind me. I turned real quick, pushing my braids off to the side. It was the same man who had helped me. I wondered why he was following me, but I didn’t say nothing.

  I reached apartment B-6 and I took a deep breath before I went in. I put the key in the doorknob, but as I turned it, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and saw it was the same man. I had gasped, but before I could say anything, he finally spoke and said, “Is your name Akeiyla? Akeiyla Beal?” I was surprised, but said I was. “Remember me? You’ve run into me before, but if I remember right, the last time was with some vanilla ice cream and then you looked like Santa Claus.” Realizing who it was I exclaimed “Jamal!” He grinned a big toothy smile and gave me a hug. I held him tight for a minute, then asked how he had been. He said he was doing ok and was working in the local supermarket and going to college too. He also said he was in the process of moving from his Mama’s house because he was always getting kicked out the kitchen for smelling the food before it was done and sampling his Mama’s dishes while she was cooking. I laughed at this, but stopped myself to ask him where he was moving to. Jamal held up his key, then pointed to a door, and said “B-5”. I smiled at him again and told him how I grew up in B-6 and how now I was going to be living here again in the same room.

  Jamal helped me move my stuff into my room and unpack as we talked about years gone by. We took a break and Jamal said he was hungry, which I agreed to as well. He said we should go out to eat and that he would pay. I couldn’t say no, not because I wouldn’t have to spend any money, but because seeing Jamal again was unexpected and he had turned into a ha
ndsome man.

  We walked down the block and talked some more, and then Jamal did something that didn’t cross my mind for even a second. He took my hand in his and pulled me close to him. He said to me “I’m not with anyone Akeiyla, for all these years I have been waiting for you. I knew one day you would come back to Brooklyn and now here you is. I’ve been wanting to kiss you again, like how we did all those years ago on my stoop.” I stopped walking as did Jamal and I reached up and kissed him, my black lips against his black lips. Jamal held me close and moved my braids aside. He whispered in my ear and asked “Miss Akeilya Beal, how would you like to be Mrs. Akeilya Beal?” At that, I whispered into his ear “I would love it. Yes Jamal, yes, I will marry you.” We shared a few more kisses after that, but then Jamal pulled me quickly along down the block further. He said he had something to show me so I was kept in suspense as we walked.

  Finally, we reached a building. I could tell it was a salon, and that it was called “Brooklyn’s Best”. Jamal took my hand in his and pulled me inside. As soon as I got inside, I saw