Original Date: 7-6-97

Donna and her family had packed up their car on Saturday night. They went to church with Ms. Shields. After church, they were going to Yancey to visit her and Kourtnee's brother Andre.

It was first Sunday of July. It felt good to go to church this Sunday because I had a few friends.

We arrived at church as most of the other members were arriving. A girl named Regina saw me, came over, and asked me if I wanted to sit with the rest of the teenagers. I asked Kourtnee. She told me no. Since it was the first Sunday of the month, the Male Chorus was going to sing. Kourtnee was not going to be in the choir stand this Sunday, so she and I were going to sit together.

Greater Buelahland Interdenominational House of Rest has four choirs in operation at the church, the United Choir, the Men's Choir, the Women's Choir, and the Youth Choir. Each choir had a Sunday that they sung on. The Men's Choir sung on the first Sunday. The United Choir sung on the 2nd Sunday. The Women's Choir sung on the 3rd and 5th Sundays of the months. The Youth Choir sung on the 4th Sunday. With this set-up, each choir was able to sing. Also, on these Sundays, the appropriate department was over the service. On the first and second Sundays, the ordained men of the church conducted the service. On the 3rd and 5th Sundays, the ordained women conducted the services. On the fourth Sunday, the Youth Department conducted the service. Everyone in the church was utilized. That was something that I liked about Greater Buelahland Interdenominational House of Rest.

As Kourtnee and I were walking in the church, many of the people that spoke were speaking to Kourtnee. Every once in awhile a child or teenager would speak to me. Most of the grown-ups didn't speak to me.

Finally, people stopped talking to Kourtnee. While we were waiting for the service to start, I asked Kourtnee why she didn't have any children of her own. I don't know what made me ask her that, at this moment. Kourtnee looked at me with the strangest expression on her face. She smiled and said, "What made you ask me this now?" "I don't know. It just came out of my mouth," I stupidly replied. She grabbed my chin and said, "I'll tell you later. Okay, baby." I said okay and looked off.

The church service went the same as the other services. I was preoccupied with trying to figure out why Kourtnee didn't have any children, so the only thing I remember is that Bishop Adkins' text was... "Every little step I take is for the Lord."

When it was time for the altar call, Kourtnee asked me to go to the altar with her. I didn't have a special prayer request or anything like that, but I went anyway. I asked that I never lose her. The altar call prayer was over. I looked at Kourtnee. She had tears in her eyes. I wondered what she had prayed for.

At The House

When we got back to the house after church service, we ate dinner. We went into our separate room, after we were finished. I was in my room lying down when Kourtnee knocked on the door. I told her to come in. She came in and sat down on the bed. We talked for a little while. I couldn't find anything to watch on TV so I was flipping the channels trying to find something to watch. Kourtnee took the remote control. She asked me why I was changing the channels so much. I didn't say anything. She found a channel and we began to watch it. I didn't like what we were watching so I tried to get the remote control. She wouldn't give it to me so I walked over to the TV and changed the channel. She smiled and said, "Very funny." She changed it back to the previous channel. I stood in front of the TV and looked at her. She asked me to move. I just stood there. I told her that I would not move until she told me why she didn't have any kids of her own. She paused and looked at me. She then asked, "Why do you want to know?" I said, "'Cause I wanna know." She hesitated and then said, "Because I was waiting for you."

I was getting upset because I wanted a real reason and she was trying to be funny. She told me to sit down on the bed. I did and she looked at me. She said, "You really want to know." I nodded. This is how the question and answer session went:

Kourtnee: I don't have any children because I have never been married. You aren't supposed to have children until after you are married.

LaDawnya: Ok. Why haven't you ever been married?

Kourtnee: You sure are nosey. Because I am always busy, I guess.

LaDawnya: Oh. What about Colt?

Kourtnee: You would bring him up. I already explained that to you. I am the president of the company. It would be inappropriate for me to date an employee.

LaDawnya: I guess. Colt could have quit or you could have fired him.

Kourtnee: Yes, those would have been viable solutions, but they didn't happen. Can you change the subject? Ask me something else.

LaDawnya: Why do you go by Adams instead of Shields?

Kourtnee: Because when I was born, Granddaddy was there when I was born. Everyone says that when I was in Mother's womb, that Granddaddy said I was a special baby. So, he was there when I was born. He asked my father could I have Adams as part of my name. My daddy said yea. I was named Kourtnee DeShay Adams Shields. Whenever I went anywhere with Granddaddy, he introduced me as Kourtnee Adams. I thought that my name was Kourtnee Adams. When I grew older and people would ask me my name, I always said, Kourtnee Adams. My name has always been Kourtnee Adams.

I started to ask her about her nickname, but I heard Mrs. Adams voice ringing n my ear, "Oh Lord. I wasn't supposed to call her that in front of you. Don't ever call Kourtnee that. That is her nickname. She would get mad at me if she knew I called her that in front of you." I didn't say anything about her nickname. We talked for a while longer. It was nice talking to Kourtnee. We had never just sat down and talked. When hadn't really talked about anything of importance, but it was pleasant talking to her. I couldn't believe that she answered all of my questions, too.

She asked me was I through asking her questions. I told her that I was. She rolled over on her side and said that she was going to sleep. I rested my chin on her side and told her that this was my bed and that she had her own room downstairs. She decided to pull rank on me and she said, "Every room in this house is my room because I am the one who pays rent." I laughed. I turned over and laid down on the bed. I put my head on her side. She told me to get off her because she wasn't a pillow. I didn't move. She called me hardheaded and slid out from under me. I scooted over close to her and laid my head on her side again. She tickled me on my stomach. I moved my head and laid it on the pillow. She closed her eyes and went to sleep.

At Youth Service

Kourtnee drove me to the church for the youth service. The meeting began as it had the previous Sunday. Sister Proffen collected the money from the children. Michael prayed. We sang "Yield Not to Temptation." A girl named Netra prayed. We broke off into our separate classes. Our lesson was about "Obedience." The main character of the lesson was Abraham. We discussed the lesson and how applied to us. After the lesson was over, we went back into the fellowship hall.

Most of the kids were all ready in the fellowship hall. It seemed like our class was always the last one's to get to the fellowship hall after our class sessions. While we were working, a boy named Chauncey asked me what church I went to before I came to this one. I stated, "I went to Harmon St. COGIC." Someone shrieked, "I have a friend that goes to that church. Do you know Gia Sampson?" I said, "Yea, I do." The person who had just asked me that question, Monica, asked me, "Are you LaDawnya the choir director?" I said, "Yes. That's me." Monica said, "I hear you are supposed to be good." I said, "I guess so."

A girl named Sharon interrupted my conversation with Monica, "Are you really any good, girl? We need all the help we can get. Our youth choir stinks!"

"Girl, we ain't that bad," a guy named Arthur said. Sharon retorted, "Don't even listen to that boy cause no one ever comes to the church on our Sunday. Sometimes I think our parents don't want to be there either." I almost laughed.

The guy who played the organ for the choir, Fenton, came over and started talking to us. "Why are ya'll dissing my choir?" A girl name Monique said, "Cause we need somebody's help! LaDawnya said that she could direct. Maybe she can help us." Fenton said, "What, I am not doing a good job or something?" Someone yelled, "Naw. You ain't doing a good job!"

"Thanks a lot. Yea, the girl can help us. We have choir rehearsal Thursdays at 6:00 PM. The choir president, other musicians and I usually meet at the church at 5:45 PM to discuss what we are going to do," Fenton said as he gave me the choir president and his phone number. After I promised that I would be there, we finished our projects, had our refreshments, and went home.

During the ride home, I almost blew Kourtnee's ears off. I was trying to tell about what had happened at the youth service. She told me to calm down and that she was glad I was interested in joining the youth choir. She said, "You will probably be in charge of the Youth Choir before too long." I giggled and scratched my head.