7-14-97, 2:00 PM

Kourtnee and I were on the freeway heading to the city of Absanie to meet with Jamie Frasier. Absanie was a neighboring town of Dorinda. Absanie had been founded by two African-American brothers, Allen and James Wright. Absanie was a part of Hardaway before it became an independent city. Absanie was a predominantly African-American city. Almost every business, house, church, and building was owned by an African-American. Absanie was a hot bed of talent. Some of the best musicians, singers, actors, dancers, ball players, and preachers in the state had come from the city of Absanie. Absanie was the fashion plate of the state as well. The best hair stylists and cloth designers were in the city of Absanie. If there was a new style out in Maddocha, it had come from Absanie. The city of Absanie was home to the best of the best.

Jamie Frasier ran a community outreach program that trained people to be productive workers. Some of the workers at Shimmers had graduated from the program. Jamie had gone to college with Kourtnee and Paula. Jamie considered herself one of Kourtnee’s friends. From the tone in Kourtnee’s voice, I don’t think that Kourtnee was as close to Jamie as Jamie thought they were. Paula had told me that Jamie was one of those friends that you tolerated because she always tagged along, no matter how much you told she couldn’t come along. Paula said that Jamie didn’t like her. Paula didn’t say why Jamie didn’t like her.

Kourtnee and I arrived at Harrison’s Soul Food Restaurant at 2:02 PM. Kourtnee looked annoyed because we were late. We walked into the restaurant and looked around for Jamie. Kourtnee said that she didn’t see her. We were seated at a table. Kourtnee told the waitress that we were waiting for someone. Kourtnee and I waited for 10 minutes before Jamie showed up.

Jamie walked in the restaurant. She was a portly woman. She was pretty, but she was overweight. Once she reached the table where we were, she flopped down in the seat. She was breathing hard. Immediately, she began fanning with the menu that was on the table. Jamie looked at me and made a face that I didn’t care for at all. She looked at me the way that you would look at your shoe when you step in dog doo. Kourtnee introduced me to Jamie. Jamie spoke, but still didn’t seem too enthused about me being there. Kourtnee explained to her why I was there. Jamie didn’t seem to care.

The waitress came back over to the table and took our drink orders. Kourtnee asked for water and tea. I asked for water and lemonade. Jamie asked for a Cola. The waitress left. Jamie started talking to Kourtnee. Jamie turned so that the back of her head was facing me. She was getting on my nerves. I faded into the background by hiding my face behind my menu. I know what I wanted already, but I reread the menu six times before the waitress came back to the table with our drinks. She took our orders. Both Kourtnee and I order the lunch specials, Kourtnee, the chicken, me, the meatloaf. Jamie ordered the dinner-sized portion of pork chops. I quenched my urge to say something. Jamie went back to talking to Kourtnee and ignoring me. I didn’t have a menu to hide behind.

Jamie was talking about how many new recruits that the outreach program had gained during the summer. I was uninterested. I began drumming on my knees and humming. Kourtnee tapped me on my knee. Jamie turned in my direction, scowled, and said very sharply, “It’s rude to sing at the table. Keeping up all that racket.” Kourtnee said to Jamie, “Jamie, that was unnecessary.” Jamie rolled her eyes and said, “No one asked you to bring her anyway.” Kourtnee’s eyebrow arched. Her forehead wrinkled. She said, “LaDawnya, go to the restroom.” I didn’t move. Kourtnee repeated herself. This time, I got up and went to the restroom.

I waited in the restroom for almost ten minutes. I went back into the restaurant to the table. Jamie looked hurt. Kourtnee looked frustrated. I wanted to go home, or at least somewhere that wasn’t here. When the waitress came back to the table with the food, Jamie told her to take it back and make it to go. The waitress complied. Jamie left Kourtnee and I at the restaurant eating by ourselves. I said to myself, “Lunch didn’t last long!”