***------------------This is my 1st contest I truly hope you all enjoy it comments (be kind please) would be greatly appreciated! This is actually a true story and if you want to know more about what happens to Ruby and Chad follow me for more stories---------------------------------***
The summer of 2004 was one of the best I ever had. I got my 1st wheels and it was the year I got to kiss Ruby. I was soon turning 16 and my mother's way of celebrating was allowing me to drive the Oldsmobile. With only 2 conditions I could not take it outside of Springhill limits. Springhill Louisiana is an off the road kind of town that I am from. I was raised here my parent where raised here I am currently raising my son here. We may have only one McDonald's one Wal-Mart. But that summer was the year our town reopened its own movie theater (granted they only played one movie at a time they only have one screen). The second condition was that every Sunday I must attend church.
These terms seemed to work for me. I got to be the only kid for a while who drove down the street to the park to play basketball. My recently burned CD filled with Mike Jones Chamillionare and 50 Cent were blasted as I rode through the few miles my town had to offer. I felt like a man. Yes, these terms worked well for me, until Sunday.
Every Sunday my mother and I would have the same routine. She would get up get dressed for her shift at the IP plant just outside of town. I was always fast asleep in my room ( because every Saturday night I would stay up playing video games). I would be awaken by my mother peeking into my room softly saying to me "Chad you don't get up and get to church I'm taking the car back." With a smile she was gone to work. She never checked to see if I got up and she never asked me had I gone I never dared not go. Her confidence in my obedience always made me more afraid in what would happen if I disobeyed than my need to sleep in on Sundays.
Getting dressed was simple, a Polo shirt some clean jeans and Jordan's. Keeping my waves ( this is the type of style pattern where your short hair can curl and look like a wave) in check was a major priority so my regimen always ended with coco butter to my face and grease and brush my hair exactly 20 times before leaving.
I always went to Harrison Chapel. Springhill is a southern small town and Harrison Chapel was the closet black church to my house. This is where I meet Ruby.
My first day there I must have came on a "Children's Day" because she was everywhere. She was in the choir, she was on the praise dance team, she prayed over the collection plate. She was on the drill team and when a young child stood for the invitation for christian discipleship (This is when you would go in front of the church and ask to become a member or be batptised) it woulld be Ruy to grab the kids hand and walk up the isle with them.
She was beautiful.
One night, for no reason I can remember, I found myself on my knees in my bedroom.
"God I just ...I just want to meet her.'
That next Sunday got my chance.
That Sunday morning I got dressed brushed my hair and was on my way to see what show I was in for today or what job she would be doing. Had I known the events that would have taken place just a few hours later I would have put on some cologne.
That Sunday was a normal church day meaning the services were ran by the adults. Ruby was a few pews in front of me to my right. I had a tendency to sit in the back, it gave me the ability to leave once I thought my obligation to my mother was done. This service, like most of the others, I spent my time staring at the back of her head begging her (mentally) to turn around and look my way. Although I know I wasn't pleading out loud in some crazy way she heard me. She turns her head and looks directly at me.
I freeze Should I wave? Smile? Quickly look away? The only thought that came to my mind quick enough was to nod my head upwards and mouth "Wassup"
She smiles, okay she laughs, but hey she saw me. And that in itself, the fact that she heard me call her like our own twisted ESP . That is spectacular!
As everyone is walking out I stay in my seat. Normally I would have gone before the preacher finished but today I felt like it was now or never Today I would would say Hello to her introduce myself something anything now that she has taken some notice of me.
As she walks out into the foyer of the church I can hear her arguing with her sister.
"Jimmie you only have to walk one street over to the Gibson's. I have to walk almost a whole mile in this rain."
Jimmie smirks and shrugs her shoulders "Well do you want to baby sit I will gladly give you the job and the umbrella. Those kid are Spawns of Satan."
"No you took the job I need the umbrella."
"No mam my umbrella it's coming with me go get a trash bag from the bathroom use that!"
Seeing my shot I cleared my throat and approached.
"Um hey I have a car I can take you home."
I kept my hands in my pocket for fear they might shake I stood tall and kept a soft smile on my face. Trying my best to look inviting and not at all creepy or nervous.
As she stared at me in confusion it was her sister who smiles quickly yanks her umbrella from Ruby's hand and says, "Great thanks!"
She tries to run out of the church but is stopped.
"Wait" Ruby states "I don't know know him" she turns to me nervously but smiling softly "I don't know you."
"Yes you do" Jimmie declares pushing her further in my direction "This is Chad. Our moms are both working together as we speak. He lives around the corner from grandma . OK bye!" and off she went. The rain growing more ad more the second she opens the umbrella and runs in the direction of the Gibson's house.
After a minute of silence Ruby looks up to me. "Do you know where I stay?"750Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoq62XLFrX
"This is a small town who doesn't know where everyone stays."
She smiles and follows me as we run to my car.
I nervously turn over the engine and the radio greets us with a blasting music. Before I can react she lowers the music for me.
"Still balling money stack taller than Shaq now750Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwyWWqSXfc
Still push a button to let the roof on the 'Lac down750Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6dGttZ2GS
I'm on the road doing shows putting my mack down750Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9Ha93Vbzh
Mississippi to Philly Albuquerque to Chatt Town" She raps word for word as she boobs her head along to "Bring Em Out by TI".
I can help but to smile. Here is Ruby the drill team praise dancing Bible thumbing possibly love of my life, RAPPING! On church grounds! I was amazed, and intrigued.
After the song ended she jumps in her seat "Watch I bet this song is on right now". She puts the radio on to 94.5 and The Killers "Somebody Told Me"plays
"Ha told ya...Bring it back down bring it back down tonight never thought I'd let a roomer ruin my goodnight!" (yes I know it moonlight but hey she wasn't perfect and I never heard this song before much less used that radio station so I didn't know)
Once I make it to her house I see no one is clearly home and park in her drive way. It gets quiet other than the sound of the rain surrounding us, once the song ends she turns to me.
"How old are you?"
"I'm 16 well I will be soon."
"Oh I'm 14 I don't know if my mom will let me have a boyfriend... I will have to ask her."
"Oh" I said confused "wait but I haven't asked you--"
"You will. When's your birthday?"
"July 25."
"Well I say to ask me before your birthday... much better to tell my mom your 15 than 16."
"Ok" I say mainly because I couldn't think of much else other than one other thing to say.750Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWRnk1dS1d
"Can I kiss you?" I don't know why I asked her that. It slipped out and immediately my nerves crept back all at the sight of her surprised stare at me.750Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Zs6m6nq1z
"Um I never kissed before and I um..."
She trails off and stares up at me I knew if I was going to kiss her today I would have to kiss her. I don't know where my courage came from but just for a second my nerves stopped.
"Come here."I spoke softly to her and in my own amazement she listens and leans into my direction, waiting quietly.
This is my moment. I can remember how hard the rain was falling on my car. I can remember the sound of the windshield wipers moving at a steady pace. I cannot recall the music on the radio or the scent of her hair. But I do remember how fast my heart beat, how sweaty my hands were, how brown her eyes are. How it felt like forever when my lips met hers.The kiss itself in my memory last for an eternity. In my head sometimes she tastes of berry lip gloss and at times vanilla.
When we break away she quickly says goodbye and disappears through the fog of my windows and the rain outside.
That wasn't my first kiss and it wouldn't be my last but that kiss sparked the beginning of something for me. Ruby was the start of a whole new chapter in my young adult life, A chapter I didn't have a name for until now. This is Day One with Ruby.
ns 15.158.61.20da2
