Puppy Love

It had to be about 90 degrees inside the small southern church where my cousin and I sat in the wood pews on a Sunday afternoon. My hair was sticking to my face, the flowered print dress that my grandmother made me wear was getting wrinkled, and I was annoyed at the people on either side of me passing notes back and forth. After what seemed like an eternity the preacher finished his sermon, (one which I had heard many times before) and dismissed the congregation. "Thank God," I thought to myself. I could practically smell the fried chicken, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, cornbread, black eyed peas, and home made vanilla cake that was waiting at my grandparents house.

Every Sunday after dinner the house would be filled with the sweet smell of my grandmothers soul food, laughter, arguments, and lots of love. I cherished those Sunday's when I could sit beside my big cousins and laugh uncontrollably, listen to their stories, and soak up the knowledge about life that they always seemed to share with me.


One particular Sunday I sat on the black and white couch in my grandparents den area, discussing my "relationship" issues with my big cousin who was more like a sister to me. Mind you I was in my pre teens, so I had no real "relationship" issues, but you couldn't of told me otherwise. My cousin burst out in fits of laughter as I told her how I thought my "boyfriend" and I were going to get married very soon because he kissed me, on the lips! She laughed and laughed, and I soon joined in realizing how foolish I really did sound.

"Ok," she said, tell me what really happened, when and where did he kiss you?

"Well," I explained. I was over at nanny's house (my other gma) when it all began. There was absolutely nothing on t.v. so I went outside to see what the neighborhood kids were doing. Just as I thought they were engrossed in a serious game of kickball in the nearby open field. I made my way over there, after I glanced at my reflection in my nanny's screen door. I was fresh with my clear jelly sandals, coolox shorts, matching shirt, and my braids were still new (thought i was brandy).

That's the first time I laid eyes on junior, he was the cutest boy in the entire neighborhood and every young girl had a crush on him. I paid him no attention (since my cousin taught me the best way to get a guys attention is to pay him none at all) and spoke with the other girls who were watching on the sideline. After the game was over the majority of the girls ran to tell Junior good game, I saw him glancing my way and decided to start walking home. I could hear him running to catch up with me. "Hey," he yelled after me, " why you always so mean?" I turned back and smiled at him explaining that I was a very busy girl (knowing darn well I had nothing else to do) and I didn't have time to be chasing after any boys.



A few days later Junior rang on my Nanny's doorbell and I was in shock to see him standing there looking better than Romeo from Immature (remember him?) . I almost had a heart attack as he stood there looking at me with his pretty brown eyes. My Nanny looked him up and down and told him to come in (since she had known him since birth). After giving him that look she walked up the stairs shaking her head, and Junior followed me to the basement. We sat on the big brown leather couch watching the big screen TV that my grandfather loved so much. I asked him what he was doing coming to see me? "I just wanted to spend some time with my girl." Only God could have wiped the grin off of my face after he said that. I inched a little closer to him and he put his hand in mine. After what seemed like an eternity he gave me the sweetest, slowest kiss, and at that moment I knew it was love.

"Come on" he said, grabbing my hand, "lets take a walk". .."Nanny, I'm taking a walk," I yelled up the stairs.

I smiled, but reminded him I had to be home before the street lights came on.