Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Dani
More Than Just a Pretty Face
makes a face and raises his hand in the air, but his fist hangs
suspended—as if he realizes he can’t throw a punch at his
young relative.
I cover my mouth with my hands and discreetly laugh
my butt off. Whew, his family is nuts. Thank God my dreams
of being married to Neil never came true.
Neil exhales loudly, grabs a hanky from his back pocket,
and quickly wipes off the spit. It looks so yucky. Neil clasps
LaNecia by the shoulders and violently shakes her. Her long
braids fly every which way and smack her in the eyes, nose,
and lips. That’s when I feel a tap my shoulder. Startled, I
spin around. Scottie gestures at me to follow him. I gladly
walk away from the drama.
LaNecia is yelling so loud I don’t have to see her to know
what’s happening. “I swear to God, y’all men ain’t shit. You
always make up the rules, but the world wasn’t made just for
you, was it, you annoying bastard.”
Scottie extends his hand to me. I reach out and accept.
His palm is surprisingly warm and comforting. He guides
me to a less crowded area of the picnic grounds. As we’re
walking, he suddenly starts cracking up. I join him, and we
shake our heads in amazement. I clutch my belly with my
free hand because I’m laughing so hard it hurts.
Scottie points to a wooden bench, releases my hand, and
takes a seat. So I plop down beside him, kick off my flip-
flops, and start swinging my feet back and forth.
“Damn, now where were we?” he says as his laughter
subsides. He dabs his eyes with his thumb.
“Awww, don’t cry,” I say teasingly and grin. Jeez, this
man’s green-gray eyes make me want to stare at him all day.
“Like I was trying to tell you before we were interrupted, I’m —-1
Dani, the proud parent of one. My little boy, Brax, is some- —0
—+1
9
where around here running wild with his cousins. And, uh,
I guess I should mention Neil and I know each other from
way back.”
“I could tell something was up with you two, but he’s
married, so . . .” Scottie says, his voice drifting off. He con-
tinues to stare at me. “You got a man?”
“Um, not really. I hang out, but no one serious.”
“You shitting me, Mariah Carey?”
“What you call me?” I grin and blush over the fact that
he compared me to the attractive singer, even though I’m
hardly as old as that narcissistic chick. His intense staring
makes me feel beautiful, desirable, and the center of his at-
tention.
Scottie reaches out and boldly brushes his fingers
through my curls. He plays with my hair, twisting my locks
around in a wide circle.
“You’re so fucking pretty that, just like Mariah, I know
you make any other woman feel ugly. And,” he continues,
his eyes running me up and down, “your body is scorch-
ing hot, mama. You oughta have ten men’s babies, not just
one.”
“Yeah, that’s what I keep hearing, but reality is a trip.”
His compliments make me feel like a princess. And even
though we’ve just met, I decide to guide him past the typical
outer-beauty crap and let him know me on a deeper level.
“To be honest, Scottie, I–I’m at a point in my life where I
want to find the right guy, fall in love, get settled, all that. I
wouldn’t want ten men even if I could have ’em.”
“I hear ya. That’s what’s up.”
“And you?” I ask, offering him an encouraging smile.
-1— “You got someone?”
0— “Me? Naw, I’m not married.” He gives a pained look,
+1—
10
“It ain’t like they perfect. Everybody got flaws. But for
some reason, some of them are always pointing fingers at
the kid, trying to make me feel like I’m not going to amount
to anything. But I’ll prove ’em wrong. They my family and I
love ’em, but fuck ’em.”
A comfortable silence develops between us, and we stare
at each other.
Scottie rises to his big ole feet. He gently grabs my hand
and whisks me out of my seat. “I love talking to you, dar-
ling, but we need to get back.”
“That’s okay. I’m cool.” I slide my feet into my flip-flops
and stand up.
By the time we get back to the Meadows setup, I can
tell the area is nearly filled to capacity. Elderly gray-haired
ladies are slumped in wheelchairs. Middle-aged men are
slapping dominoes on the table and yelling. And fast-ass
teenage girls are wearing skintight jeans, twisting their lips,
putting their hands on their hips, and yelling, all at the
same time.
I continue looking around at all the people, wondering
which table I’m going to sit at, when I realize it’s been a half
hour since my son went to the wildlife habitat. He’s proba-
bly getting hungry like me. I need to pick him up.
I excuse myself from Scottie and take quick steps toward
the sound of children’s voices. My tits nearly bounce out
of my bikini top. I can feel the disapproving stares of se-
nior women when I move past them. And although by my
serious facial expression, it should be obvious I’ve got
something important to do, all these grandmas can focus
on is my appearance. But Dani’s got to be Dani, no matter
what. And being sexy and desirable is the very essence of —-1
who I am. —0
“What y’all old bitches looking at?” I say to several —+1
13
wanted to make love. She felt guilty for denying Neil sex
and told her hubby it was okay by her if he found a mis-
tress. At first, Neil was reluctant to find another partner. But
then, being a man, he went for it. I was his cute, spirited
coworker who had the hots for him. Back then, the man was
everything I wanted. So we hooked up every time we could,
anywhere we could, and enjoyed some of the most passion-
ate, experimental sex I’d ever had. He fell in love. I did, too.
Our son, Brax, was the “shocking” outcome.
I’m lost in deep thought until I hear someone say my
name.
“And this next joint goes out to the gorgeous Ms. Dani
F.” The voice is loud, excited.
I hear the thumping bass line of a Lil Wayne song. I
slowly turn my head around until I get an unobstructed view
of the deejay booth. Scottie grins in my direction.
Several couples spill onto the dance floor, singing and
doing some funky hip-hop moves.
“My brother is giving you serious attention,” Vette says,
winking. “What’s up with that?”
“We met, instantly clicked, exchanged numbers. I think
he’s kind of cool,” I reply. Scottie and I lock eyes. I can feel
Vette staring at us.
“Vette,” I beg. “Will you watch the baby for me?”
“Girl, go ahead and do your thing.” I thank her, then
leap from my seat to the dance floor. I gyrate my hips and
sing along to Lil Wayne’s rhymes. I love it that Scottie dedi-
cated a song to me. I want to enjoy the moment and begin
to dance like I’m performing onstage at the freaking Toyota
Center.
-1— “I don’t believe this shit!” LaNecia appears from no-
0— where, shouting at me as she approaches. This chick has the
+1—
16
approach was adorable, and I love how he was into me, but
all this drama . . .” I laugh abruptly, then stop. “I ain’t trying
to go backward. Trying to move forward.”
I wave ’bye to Vette and thoughtfully observe Scottie
and LaNecia from the safe distance of the parking lot.
-1—
0—
+1—
24