As the two sat in the living room waiting on Kenya they embarked on a conversation or should I say Pastor Jones embarked on an interrogation. “So you go to school with Kenya, huh?” Pastor Jones studied Ronald’s body language as he responded. “No, actually I had to drop out, but I got my G.E.D. right after,” Ronald said wondering if he should’ve lied. Pastor Jones face grew long, “Son, what kind of job you think your going get with a G-E-D. Not a good one I hope.”

Tension built in the room, Ronald wanted to tell the elder man that he was not going to show any shame for his accomplishment. “How dare this man judge in five minutes,” Ronald asked himself in his mind. “Sir there are respectful people with just a G.E.D. I don’t think there is that much difference between a G.E.D. and a high school diploma,” Ronald stated remaining respectful of his elder.

The tension in the young man was noticed by the Pastor, so the Pastor switched his tone to mellow and his focus to family background, “does your mother feel the same?” Out of all the things to ask that is the question he asks me, Ronald cried in his head. “Well sir my mother is not a part of my life nor my father, and it’s a topic I wish to avoid, no offense,” Ronald explained as his throat knotted. The Pastor almost felt pity then he thought of another question that needed answering, “I apologize son but if I could ask, who are you staying with?” If Ronald knew the questions were going to go this far he would of definitely told Kenya ‘no’, when she asked him to escort her to the prom. Attempting not to be hesitant with his answer Ronald blurted out, “with a friend.”

‘Oh man’, the Pastor thought to himself, Kenya was about to make a big mistake. She was falling for the worst man there was, a dreamer. Someone who talked about one day but never lived in that one day he spoke of. Disappointment was written all over the Pastor’s face and Ronald read than tried to explain, “One day soon I’ll have my own place I got a job at Taco Bell, but I’m bout to get hired in at the Shipyard. They said they’ll pay me to go to school.” Everything Ronald said fell on dead ears; Pastor Jones’ mind was made and once his mind was set he expressed extreme dogma.

The Pastor got close enough to Ronald to whisper, “my daughter is going to the prom with you and that’s it. Not only for the night but for life.” Ronald’s heart cracked in two, he felt judged and belittled by a man of the Lord. Kenya was a smart, fun, and loving girl and Ronald would never attempt any wrong doing. He was prepared to save himself sexually for her and also save himself spiritually with the help of her father. Ronald felt like a fool now for planning so far ahead; he wanted to cry but to show her father a tear would only multiply his shame. The only response Ronald could think of to the cut and dry demand was a simple pitiful nod.

The statement the Pastor made made Ronald remember everything he wasn’t good enough for; those thoughts made him have to inquiry on the bathroom’s location. Pastor Jones escorted him then he shook his head, “out of all the boys in high school she got to pick the dropout,” he mumbled to himself. In the bathroom, Ronald turned the fan on and wept; he hated to cry because that is how he spent half of his childhood, weeping. After his sob session he threw water on his face, after drying his face he talked to himself low but loud enough for him to hear. “They don’t know you or your story, and if they did they wouldn’t care. So don’t care about him you came her for Kenya only.”

After the longest five minutes in Ronald’s life, he finally heard the voice he came to hear. He checked himself in the mirror again, poked out his chest, and then he turned the door knob. And there she stood looking as only as she could with a genuine smile. Kenya was brown skinned with a slender frame and beautiful high cheek bones and the dress she wore complemented every curve she possessed. Ronald couldn’t hold back his love for her beauty, “ Kenya you look beautiful like a princess.” Kenya’s father cut his eyes at the young man but was ignored due to Kenya’s mother intervening.

“Hi, Ronald I heard so much about you. You can call me Mrs. Jones and you’ve already met my husband. Don’t you worry about him in his mind no one is good enough for Kenya not even Jesus himself,” Mrs. Jones joked attempting to butcher the noticeable tension. Everyone laughed; Ronald went out of his way to laugh extra hard.

Ronald took Kenya’s corsage and placed the corsage at its designated location. “Bye Momma, bye Daddy see you tonight,” Kenya stated knowing that someone would be up when she got home especially since there was no after-prom in her schedule. “Okay be safe and be careful, and Ronald take care of my baby,” Mrs. Jones said out of concern. Before Ronald and Kenya could leave the Pastor gave Ronald a reminder of their talk as if Ronald needed one, as you can see he still remembers that conversation to the tee now.

“Ronald, Ronald,” Hall yelled then he finally got the response he expected, “dang boy I say the man name once and you go drifting off. The bad thing about it he does the same thing when I speak your name. Five years ya’ll been loving the same young woman, but five years ya’ll been hating each other where does it all end?” Ronald threw the topic off of discussion quick, “I don’t want to talk about it.” Ronald then handed Hall a tool for a job giving him his cue that the week warm-up ritual was over; it was time to start working. Ronald began measuring the pipe trying his hardest to forget about Kenya’s father; it was bad enough he was going to see him this weekend at the family gathering. On every third Sunday of the month, Kenya’s mother invited family and friends over for dinner.