©2009 Wanza Leftwich
This is the continuation of part three of the Deli Style Series. Click here to read the first part of this series, click here to read part one, click here to read the continuation of part one, click here to read part two, click here to read the continuation of part two.
Esther ran into the locker room at the end of her shift. She pulled her book bag out of the locker and searched frantically for her deodorant.
“So you’re getting ready for you hot date, huh?” Her co-worker JoAnn closed the magazine she was reading.
“What date?” Esther rubbed the cool fragrance under her arm.
“Don’t play dumb with me, Ms. Dowdry.” JoAnn threw the magazine she was reading at Esther. “Everyone in this joint knows that you and the boss man are going out.”
“News travels fast, doesn’t it? We’re not going out, JoAnn,” Esther changed out of her uniform. ‘It’s one date.”
“And one date leads to another and then another. No wonder you’ve got the best shift up in this joint. I’ve been trying to get on days for the last two years, but you’ve got that sown up. I should have known.”
‘Whatever, it’s all in your head. Besides, David is fair with the schedule.” Esther decided not to say anything further. “It’s whatever, JoAnn…whatever.” Esther slammed the locker door. JoAnn had been giving her fever ever since she mentioned that she had a crush on David.
“So you say, Ms. Dowdry. So you say.” JoAnn smirked and left the locked room.
“God sometimes I just don’t understand women. Is she jealous or something? This is the one date that I’ve been waiting for.”
“You’ve been waiting for this date?” David stood at the doorway.
“Esther gasped. Had she said that out loud? “Oh, David, I didn’t know you where there.”
“I wasn’t until a minute ago. You ready to go?”
“Yes. Please, let’s go.”
~~~
Avec Moi sat two blocks from the infamous Brooklyn promenade highlighted by the Manhattan skyline. David didn’t know whether to walk fast or slow. Esther was so quiet on the train ride into Brooklyn that David began to rethink his decision to take her out.
He could not remember a time when he felt more awkward than this very moment. He was on his dream date with the love of his life. Only she didn’t know how much he loved her. David took a deep breath as they waited for the traffic light to change. Proceed with caution, David thought. He had no intentions of mission up the once chance he had waited on for the last three years. He even convinced Ms. Natalie to watch Alaya until he got home.
“Do you like this part of Brooklyn, Essie..Esther.” David stuttered as he jumped over a puddle of water.
“It’s beautiful down here. I don’t live too far from here either. I used to always come down to the promenade with my mom. This was her favorite place. When she first passed away, I came down here once a week to remember her.”
“I can understand that. I don’t know what I would do if my mom was gone. She gets on my nerves at times, but I love her just the same.”
“You don’t know what I would give t have my mom back, David. You have not clue.”
David decided not to say anything further until they reached Avec Moi. The entrance was packed with people.
“Oh, David, we can go somewhere else. The wait seems long and I don’t want to be out too late. I can’t be late for work.” Esther joked.
David smiled but felt a pang in his heart. He could see Klyde’s face of disapproval. David shook the thought from his mind.
He was not going to ruin his first date with Esther. He would have to fire her tomorrow.
Wanza Leftwich, The Gospel Writer, is a freelance writer and speaker. She is an avid blogger and the editor of thegospelwriter.org. She resides in Brooklyn, NY with her husband Arthur and daughters Symphony and Lyric.
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