7/20/97, 2:35 PM

As we walked down the hallway to Banquet Hall 4, we saw people walking all around the building. The building appeared to be rather full for a Sunday afternoon. I read several of the signs posted on the doors of the halls. There was a family reunion dinner, a wedding reception, and Mrs. Adams' birthday party. We walked into the banquet hall. The room had fancy decorations all around the room. I wasn't sure if it was a birthday party or a governmental banquet. There were over 40 tables in the room. Each table seated 6 people. I heard someone say that the room could seat 300 people. There were at least four people at each table as we walked by the tables.

Kourtnee lead us to a table at the front of the room. Mrs. Austin, Mrs. Jackson, and Mrs. Shields were sitting at the table already. I sat down next to Ms. Austin. Colt sat down on the other side of me. Kourtnee sat down next to Ms. Shields, and then she pointed to me and said, "Switch seats." I made a face, "Mannnn." Kourtnee retorted, "I am not a man. Switch seats." Colt didn't move. Kourtnee tapped Colt's shoulder, "Colt, move and switch seats with her." Colt turned and said, "I ain't. I sat here. And this is where I'm sitting." Kourtnee leaned in close to Colt and whispered something in his ear. Colt had a mad look on his face as he said, "LaDawnya, switch seats," to me. We switched seats. Both Colt and my face were messed up. At the same time, Kourtnee and Ms. Austin said, "Fix your face!" Colt just stared straight ahead. I played with the nail on my right pinky finger. This was not going to be a good meal. I could already tell. I was sulking and so was Colt.

People continued to mingle. Mr. Adams walked over to our table and said, "How's everyone doing? LaDawnya, come with me for a second." I looked at Kourtnee. She nodded. I stood up and went with Mr. Adams. I was glad too, because I didn't want to sit near Kourtnee anymore. Mr. Adams took me around the room meeting people. Mostly a lot of older people. He was showing me off. He kept asking me to tell people stuff about Shimmers. I had a vast knowledge of Shimmers, since I had researched it for a couple of papers in school. Mr. Adams' chest got bigger each time I told someone something about Shimmers. I shared my knowledge of Shimmers with about ten people before Kourtnee walked over to us. "Hello, Mr. Carson. Granddaddy, Mama said that you are over here showing off my child," Kourtnee said as she looked at all three of us, one after the other. Mr. Adams smiled, "I can show off my grandbaby if I want to. She doesn't mind. Do you, baby?" I looked at Mr. Adams, "No, sir. I don't mind." I didn't mind at this moment because I didn't want to go back and sit with Kourtnee. Kourtnee stared at me as if she was trying to read my mind, "Ok, if you two say so." Kourtnee walked off. Mr. Adams and I continued walking around for 5 or 6 more minutes. I know that I had told the whole history of Shimmers while I walked around with Mr. Adams.

Mary Louise walked over to Mr. Adams and whispered in his ear. Mr. Adams hugged me, "Go back over there with Prissy. Talk to you later." I gave him a puppy dogface, "Can I come sit with you?" He frowned his forehead, "Sweetie, you can't sit with me. Whatever is going on with you and Kourtnee will be okay. Go back over to your table. It's gonna be okay." I twisted my lips so that he could tell that I was unhappy. I think I was getting on Mary Louise's nerves because she said, "Look child, carry yo' behind back over to that table!" Mr. Adams said, "Louise, you don't have to be so mean. LaDawnya, go sit down." I huffed and at Mary Louise and then stormed off.

When I reached my table, I sat back down in my seat. Mr. Adams was sitting at the head table and Mary Louise was walking towards our table. Mary Louise motioned for Kourtnee. I dropped my head and rolled my eyes. Kourtnee and Mary Louise stepped away from the table as Mary Louise talked to Kourtnee. I got up from the table and went outside. A few seconds later Kourtnee walked out into the hallway. I was sitting on a bench in the hallway. She sat down beside me. She leaned back against the wall and stretched her legs outward. She was sitting in a very unlady like manner. I put my elbows on my knees and put my chin in my hands. Ms. Shields walked outside. She walked over to us and said, "Why are you all sitting like that? What did Louise say to you?" Kourtnee sat up straight. I stayed in my position. Neither Kourtnee nor I said anything to Ms. Shields. Ms. Shields said, "I believe I just asked you all something and I didn't ask the questions to hear myself talk. One of you better answer me!" Kourtnee said, "Ask her," as she stood up and walked off. Ms. Shields looked at me, "What did Louise say to Kourtnee?" I shrugged my shoulders. Ms. Shields sat down, "Don't you ever shrug your shoulders at me again!" I said, "Yes, mame," as I played with my nails. Ms. Shields asked, "What did Louise say to Kourtnee?" I looked at her and said, "I don't have any idea!" Ms. Shields said, "You need to fix your tone with me." I looked down at my lap and twisted my lips. I was getting sick of these people. They had pulled me away from the people I knew and loved as my family and had thrust me into this big old gigantic family full of folk I didn't know and didn't want to know. At that moment, I got mad. I stood up and abruptly walked off.

I brushed by Kourtnee who was standing in the hallway. She called my name but I didn't respond. I kept walking until I had walked out of the Stockwell Hall. I kept on walking until I got to the car. I couldn't drive, I didn't have any keys, and I had no idea why I had walked to the car.

Kourtnee reached me about 4 or 5 minutes later. She sounded winded as she said, "You are one quick child. What are you doing out here?" I didn't say anything. Kourtnee stood directly in front of me, lifted my chin up with her hand, and asked, "What are you doing out here?" I had a frown on my face that I wasn't going to remove. I responded, "I don't want to go back in there." Kourtnee let my chin go, "Ok, then I am not going back in there either." I wasn't moved by her gesture, "I am serious. I am not going back in there." Kourtnee looked at me, "I am serious, too." I was still unmoved. After a minute or two Kourtnee said, "since I am going to be out here with you, can you at least tell me why I am out here?" I stared at the ground. Kourtnee said, "okay, something is wrong with the ground. That’s not a good reason to miss a fabulous birthday dinner, but if that's why you want to be out here, then, ok." I heard Kourtnee smile. I assumed that she thought her comment was amusing, but it wasn't.

Paula walked up to us. She hugged Kourtnee as she said, "Why in the world are you two out here?" Kourtnee said, "Something is wrong with the ground." Paula touched my arm and then turned around towards Kourtnee and said, "What!" Kourtnee smiled, "You have to ask LaDawnya." Paula hugged me and asked, "What's going on?" I didn't respond. Paula looked at Kourtnee, "Is somebody gonna tell me what's going on?" Kourtnee shook her head, "You might want to go back in the building. We might be out here for awhile." Paula responded, "I am about to. They are serving lunch. It's roast beef with a baked potato and salad. It looks good." I guess Kourtnee was right; I was missing a fabulous dinner.