Elvis’ hours are from 1-ish until tenish pm. That’s the
whole day at home, stuck with sister dearest! He called before he got off the
first night and told me he would be home in an hour. It had been a long day, a
call or two halfway through his shift would have been appreciated. By the time
he got home, dinner was ready in the kitchen, sister had cooked. Salmon Croquettes,
some veggies, mash potato. Into the main door, to the kitchen, then to the
bedroom. He walked into the bedroom with a 2litre bottle of Diet Pepsi in hand,
drinking straight from it. He asked me about my day, I was so overwhelmed, I
told him everything. He was like, I told you, she was going to bombard you with
those stories. I will tell her not to bug you with these ever again. I begged
him not to. I didn’t need any awkwardness, he asked about my day, that was my
day. That’s it!
We all watched American Idol, they, El and Sister know all
the songs, they sing along, it’s kinda like a competition. I got over it and
went to bed. The following morning, we were chilling in bed with his eyes
closed as they always were when he wasn’t watching tv, eating or driving. Or at
least whenever he was talking to me. I asked him how old he was. He changed the
subject more than once. He told me he was as old as I knew he was. I was like,
so you’re 65, he said yeah that too. He’s not 65 but he might as well be what
with all the lying about his age! So the age thing was never formally addressed
and no apology or remorse for lying about it. Nada!
On his way to work, in his dirty uniform, he only has two
uniform t-shirts for work and two pants, I think and works five days a week,
some off days, laundry never gets done, so that’s a lot of mileage on that
uniform. Yuck! Anyway, he would take me with him to the store, The 99 cents
only store, to grab a few things and take home with me. Usually, those were a
few bottles of Diet Pepsi and whatever else we they needed around the house. I was glad to be
the heck out of that dumpster, I didn’t care where he took me or where I had to
go.
So over it that, I brought up to him that I needed him to
leave me keys when he went to work, he made me my own set when we went to
Wal-Mart. We only went to one Wal-mart. In a black beighborghood. He wanted me
to see the negativity amongst Black Americans. I automatically took offense to
that, my guard was up and I was NOT going to see any negativity, just because
it came from a white person, who has absolutely no bragging rights! Plus, I
told him, if that place were so negative, why not go to another one then? One
in a white neighbourhood. It’s Wal-Mart, they’re at every intersection! NO,
DADDY WANT YOU TO SEE WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT. Fck me!
He told me that wasn’t just his opinion, he had taken a few
of his black exes there and they also agreed. THEN STOP FCKING GOING THERE DUMB
ASS! WTF? We went in. His demeanour changed immediately! He started walking
like there was wind beneath his wings so to speak, tall and holier than thou
art! He was holding my hand like, yeah mutha Fcker, she’s with me, what! What! Ugh,
kill me! He was kissing me, he would stand in the middle of nowhere with lots
of people, black people around us, hold my chicks and plant a huge one on my
lips. Bleh! Those people paid him no mind. It was all in his mind. People in
that neighbourhood are too poor to care. I didn’t pick up any negative vibe
from there, just that it was a poor neighbourhood, that’s all.
We got a few things, stuff for Sweetie Pie (his mom), his
sister, and himself, he asked what I wanted, I told him, I was good, thanks. I
was ready to get the heck outta there. He got me my spare key and a battery for
a watch an ex bought me many many years ago. Thanks 123! Once I got my own key,
I could go wherever I wanted, whenever. Yay! When I mentioned that I was bored
at home, he was like oh yeah, I forget that you’re a world traveller, you can’t
be stuck in one place. You’ve only been here for two days, I thought we could
do something on my off days, but you can go with my sister, she’s always going
somewhere, if you don’t mind the cats, go with her! She’d love that! Nice! But
I’m not asking your sister to take me with her, you talk to her! He did! She
was excited to have me tag along. El left for work, Sister was like, get ready,
we have limited time to leave. Ok!She didn’t have to tell me twice!
I took a quick shower, got dressed, so psyched, LA baby,
whooooo! She had her keys, by keys, I mean KEYS, she must have 67 keys on that
thing, don’t ask! On our way out, she was like, “listen, Brook. You can’t tell
Elvis this but I rented a car, I’ve been using it now, for a week. He can’t
know about this. If he does, I will know that you told him and that will ruin
things between us.” Gosh, why did she tell me this because I have to tell
Elvis, I can’t keep secrets from him. Especially something about her, she may
be testing me. I only just got here! These people are tight. A fifty something
year old man and his sixty something year old sister. I felt bad immediately.
Those two sure know how to create super awkward moments. I mean that was
supposed to be a nice outing between us girls but no, not that time around!
We walked to the car, she uses a cane, remember, but she’s
totally fine, I reckon she will do just as good without one, but who asked for
my opinion? It was a cute little Nissan something. A New car, parked right by
the gate of the apartment block. Elvis was driving past this thing for an
entire week and didn’t know it was his sister’s. My poor boyfriend. The reason
he wasn’t supposed to know was because, her car was in for repairs, he paid for
that because, supposedly Sister didn’t have the money, meanwhile, she went and
rented a nice, new car. That was the deal!
We hopped on, left the cats home, thankfully! She drives
very fast, that Sister of his! She had a few errands to run and was going to
have to return the car that afternoon. We drove though LA, so fun! You have no
idea! If you think I love New York, you should see the smile on my face when in
LA :D We went to the ATM, she withdrew a whole lot of money, bought us frozen
yogurt, yum!I had to spoon feed her hers cos we had no time to sit and eat, we
had to keep going. She was playing nice music in the car, we were singing
along, soooo much fun! That wasn’t the same girl who was wining and wining
about her brother, her father, son blah blah blah the day before. She had a
very fun side to her. I will never forget that day! We then drove across town
to the car hire place, return it and walked to the Trax (subway), I got change
and bought myself a ticket. She offered but I insisted. I got a whole lot of
coin dollars for change, so cool. I had never seen those dollars before. They
look like South African 50 Cents, but double the size.
We got on the train, it was rush hour, packed to the brim. I
didn’t care, I was in LA, that’s all that mattered. I embraced it all! The
people were cool, dressed so cool, every other person was carrying a musical
instrument, usually a guitar, but some had other stuff. People were a different
cool to the cool of NYC, in New York, people are dressed up, they look serious,
all the ladies are in high, high heels, the guys are clean cut, all dressed up.
In LA, people are laid back, very artsy, they remind me of the people from
Melville, Johannesburg. LA people are more approachable compared to New
Yorkers. One of the reasons is the pace at which people walk in NYC, you can’t
keep up with them if you tried, so good luck!
We missed out stop, had to get off, then take a train back,
haha, we just laughed it off, we didn’t care, we were having fun. By the time
we got back downtown, it was dark, she was like, ‘come on girl, let’s hurry up,
we have a very hungry man to cook for! Elvis is very hungry, when he gets home,
he wants his food ready or else”
Hearing her say that creeped me out a little, she sounded
like she was referring to her man or something. Aaaannyywwayy...