ChapterEighteen
Asher
It’s time. We have practiced, rehearsed, and practiced some more. I think we are ready. The whole family is here, except for Saint and Shepp, but Savvy is recording it for them. I look up at my brothers looking at me because I am the one who got us into this.
“Stop looking at me like that. If I didn’t volunteer first one of y’all would have.” And just like that they stop mean mugging me because they know I’m right. A few seconds later Bubba comes through the door with his black pants, yellow shirt, black cardigan, and black loafers.
“Hi uncles! I was looking at everyone else and I am not sure if I want to go through with this. Besides everyone is much older than me, I’m the youngest to enter the contest.” The college put on and hosted the talent show which was a great way to gain exposure and raise money.
“Nonsense! Age is not going to matter; you’ve practiced your heart out and we’ve got your back. It’s going to be amazing. Now come on shake out the nerves, your Bibi and everyone else is out there waiting on us.” Aryan tells him right before our name is announced.
We walk out on stage and take our positions behind the microphone stands and wait for the music to start. A few seconds later New Edition’s If It Isn’t Love begins to play and we begin dancing the choreography straight off the music video. And then Bubba begins to sing—and that little boy can sing, no lip synching going on here—as we sing the back up and do the dance moves. The women are in the audience going crazy like they are at a real New Edition concert. Cameras are flashing, women are screaming, and someone threw a pair of panties on the stage. In all fairness the whole auditorium is on their feet dancing and singing with us. I tell you what, the military needs to revamp their exercise routine to include 90’s R&B moves, because I am tired as hell.
Spin, kick, bend, hands and arms, sing repeat. We each have a moment to solo dance and of course Josh dances and Savvy goes crazy and fake faints. Atlas goes to the edge of the stage and does a dance with hip thrusts included and True throws a gun holster on stage. Joseph crawls across the stage to Joyce, who in turn throws condoms on the stage. I am glad this is an adult crowd, Bubba is the youngest contestant, and no one can really see what’s happening on this stage.
And I can’t, for the life of me figure out how a man who can keep time of his chest compressions and mouth to mouth for almost an hour keeps going off beat until I see him too busy watching Brooklyn to concentrate on his dancing. Jaasiel doesn’t dance to anyone in particular but you would think he did with the way the women exploded during his dance solo. But Jabarri takes the cake when he lets his hair down and does a head shake Fabio would be jealous of, then he rips his shirt down the middle like a WWE wrestler, fell to his knees and hit a high note. You would have thought we were the Five Heartbeats because the auditorium exploded, and I think one or two of the women in the audience real life fainted. FAINTED.
Bottom line, we are having a great time and Bubba is living his best life. I would not be surprised if he ends up being an entertainer when he grows up. Even though he’s obviously a child when he came back to lead after our solos, the audience showed him the same love and excitement, they showed each of us. He looks into the audience and stutters a little when he notices his mom in the crowd. We wanted to surprise him by flying her out and I guess it worked since his little face is locked into a permanent smile. Five minutes later we have finished our routine and taking a bow to the thunderous applause and cheers of the audience. If he doesn’t win this talent show I am going to flip this whole auditorium over. It’s obvious my nephew worked harder than anyone else who performed tonight.
Thirty minutes later we are helping Bubba lift his first-place trophy up over his head. Along with the trophy he won a thousand dollars that he split with us for being his background dancers. Giving us all a little bit over a hundred dollars each. Such a good kid. Since he tried to split his winnings with us, we decided to return the money and match his winnings. However, he got to spend part of his winning and the rest went to his savings account. So, we followed suit, he was able to spend part of the money we gave him, part went to his savings account and the last part went to shares that was purchased in his name. Oh, did I mention the five-foot-tall trophy we had made for him? All in all, it was an amazing and hilarious night, and I wish we could do it all over again. Monday we’ll take him on a shopping spree with his bounty, even though I can’t imagine he needs anything between his dad, mom, bonus mom, Bibi, Tipuna (Josh), Shepp, Skai, Alayna and the rest of us.
One month later
Asher
Tonight, is the grand opening of the restaurant and club, and if everything goes well it will be epic. My outfit is black from head to toe with the exception of my purple and white diamond cuff links and diamond encrusted watch. I let my hair down and spray on some Clive Christian No. 1 cologne and I am ready to go. But when Carla walks out of her closet, I literally lose my breath.
She decided to match me and go all black too. She has on a one-shoulder beaded see-through wrap gown. Of course, she has her signature color of purple earrings, bracelet and necklace. Her hair is up in an intricate design and her makeup in flawless.
“Mianach, you look exquisite, I can’t wait to show you off. And then take you to our room at the club and strip you out of this dress.”
“Thank you, Asher, and I too can’t wait for that.”
“I got something for you, and I want you to wear it for me.”
“What is it?”
I walk into my closet and grab the one of the boxes that has been there for months, I was just waiting for the right time, and walk back to her in the bedroom.
“Close your eyes little one.” And once she does, I stand in front of her with the open box. “Open your eyes, Carla.”
“Oh my gosh, Asher! It’s stunning! Are those diamonds?”
“Yes, baby doll, they are purple diamonds, but do you know what this is?”
“A collar? You’re going to collar me? You want me to wear your collar?”
She asks the questions in quick succession, not giving me a chance to answer her questions.
“Yes dove, you’re going to wear my collar, and not for just tonight.” She hastily takes off the necklace she is wearing off so that she can wear her new collar. It’s a gorgeous purple diamond choker necklace with several small dangling diamond butterflies attached. I made it so that she can wear it on special occasions and it not being easily recognizable for what it is. I also had another one made that she can wear every day. There is not a chance in France of her not wearing a symbol of our relationship. Once I secure the clasp, she runs to the mirror to admire her new piece of jewelry. When she turns back to me grinning and giggling like a teenager, I can’t help but lean down to give her what was supposed to be a chaste kiss that quickly turned passionate. It is an internal battle to relinquish her lips, but I manage to do it.
“Let’s go baby, tonight is going to be one for the record books.”
A few minutes later we pull up to the restaurant and park on our private level of the garage. Carla and I came early but the rest of the family will be coming soon. We get to the dock to await our gondola to the restaurant, and it is a picture-perfect evening; my vision is better than I dreamed. Once the gondola reaches the restaurant we are escorted to our private section, I make sure Carla is seated comfortably and has something to snack on before I go to check that everything is set for the guests.
Jaasiel is in the kitchen, but he’s not cooking and looks like he is the owner and not me. He’s wearing emerald-green, gold and white and has also worn his hair down.
“Brother, looks like you’re ready to do a photoshoot. How are things going?”