7-16-1997, 5:00 AM

I heard Kourtnee’s voice say my name. I thought I was dreaming, so I didn’t pay any attention to the voice. I heard the voice again. I turned over to see Kourtnee standing over my bed. She sat down on the bed as I removed my arm from under the cover. I clicked the light button on my watch so that I could see what time it was. Kourtnee laughed as I looked at my watch. It was 5:01. I groaned. She said, “It’s time to get up.” I mumbled, “Why?” She said, “We are going to go work-out.” I replied, “Do you always work out on Wednesday?” She said, “Yes,” as she walked over to the light and turned it on. I pulled the cover up over my head. Kourtnee said, “Ok, if you don’t want to go play racquetball, you can stay here at the house.” I quickly pulled the cover from over my head. I looked at her with a look of suspicion. She said, “Why are you looking at me like that?” I answered, “I am not sure whether I should believe you or not.” “Get up and come on. I am leaving in 15 minutes,” she said as she walked out of the room.

After Kourtnee left the room, I jumped up, grabbed some clothes, and went into the bathroom to take a shower. I came out of the bathroom dressed and ready to go. I had on a t-shirt and a pair of jogging pants. I ran downstairs to Kourtnee’s room. When I walked in her room, she looked at me and said, “You are not wearing that.” I looked at my clothes and asked, “What’s wrong with what I have on?” Kourtnee replied, “You have to learn how to dress better. You look like you just woke up and put something on.” I smiled and said, “I did just wake up and put something on.” Kourtnee walked over to me, grabbed my ear, and pulled it. “You are being smart,” she said as she walked out of her room. I sat down on her bed. Kourtnee walked back into her room and said, “Come on here.” I said, “You didn’t tell me to follow you.” She said, “I can just leave you here.” I ran out of the room and said, “Okay. I’m coming.”

We made it upstairs. Kourtnee looked in my dresser drawers for something for me to wear. She turned and looked at me. I gave her my sweet innocent look. She told me not to give her that look. She told me to wait in my room until she came back. She left the room. She came back about ten minutes later. She had some clothes in her hands. It was a couple of pairs of shorts and a t-shirt. She told me to put them on.

I went into the bathroom and put on the first pair of shorts and the t-shirt. The shorts were a little big. The t-shirt fit fine. I walked out of the bathroom. Kourtnee looked at me and said, “Those shorts are too big, here, put these on,” as she handed me another pair of shorts. I went back into the bathroom and changed shorts. The second set of shorts fit better.

I walked out of the bathroom. Kourtnee looked me over and said, “Those look much better. What were you going to wear to work today?” I responded, “Some clothes.” She looked at me and said, “Would you quit being smart? I am already late. Paula is going to act crazy with me if I am late.” I went to the closet and got the clothes that I had decided to wear. Kourtnee took the clothes from me and said, “You can get your shoes and stuff. Get a change of underwear, too.” I asked, “For what?” She said, “So, you can change clothes.” I sat on the bed and said, “Can you get them for me?” She glared at me and said, “Get your own clothes! Stop playing around.” I bounced on the bed a couple of times and then did a flip to the other side of the bed. When I turned and looked at Kourtnee, she had her hands on her hips. I shrugged my shoulders and then smiled. Her nostrils flared. I quickly got my underwear, socks, and shoes.

Kourtnee twisted her lips and glared at me after she took the items from me. I looked down at the floor. Kourtnee sat down on my bed and said, “LaDawnya, sit down.” I thought to myself, “Oh Lord, here comes a speech.” She looked at me for a few seconds and then said, “Never mind, get your stuff so we can leave.” I frowned at her. She said, “Quit frowning. Your face is gonna stay like that.” I was still frowning. She brushed my face and said, “Come on.” I gathered up my stuff and walked out of the room behind Kourtnee. I wonder what was she gonna say to me.