Do Tell Sister
SMASHWORDS EDITION
Published By:
Sandra D. Paul on Smashwords
Illustration by Image Zoo / Egit Sumekar
Do Tell Sister
Copyright 2012 Sandra D. Paul
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserve above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is the work of fiction. Names, characters places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
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***
Chapter 1
Teresa
“Here he comes, Margo! Here he comes!” I shouted. “We better hide before he sees us. I’ll hide in the hall closet and you hide in the dining room.”
Margo and I ran quickly to hide and made lots of noise before the front door opened.
“Hey girls, I’m home!” screamed daddy. “Althea, where are those girls?”
“They’re in the house somewhere Frank,” answered mama.
I was afraid as I hid from daddy in the closet because of what he wanted to do to us. Daddy would always take his shoes and overalls off before entering the front door. Mama never let daddy come in the house with them on because they would be covered with dirt and mud from what he described as proof he had been working hard all day. Daddy was a construction worker. His first stop into the house would be the kitchen down the hallway to grab a cold beer from the fridge. His next stop would be the bathroom across from their room. Margo and I knew these were his guaranteed stops and he also knew we would never hide from him in these rooms.
Daddy was a man who loved to play. He was 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed about two-hundred and twenty pounds. Whenever he got a chance, he would grab us and throw us up to the ceiling until we couldn’t catch our breath. It felt like we were on a roller coaster ride when we soared in the air. Margo was seven and I was ten years old. After tossing us in the air for a few minutes, he would then suck our cheeks until they turned dark. He would suck so hard sometimes until we cried and begged him to stop. That’s why Margo and I would hide from him whenever we heard daddy pull up in his loud green pick-up truck every evening around six o’clock. There were times Margo and I were so caught up in the television in the den that we didn’t hear him pull up in the driveway. That’s when mama would look out for us. Sometimes I think she felt sorry for us because of the disappointed facial expressions we would make when we heard that truck door slammed shut. There was nothing mama could do or say to convince daddy not to toss us up every time he came home from work.
Daddy loved cold beer. His favorite was Budweiser. He drank ‘Bud’ beer like it was water. It took at least two six packs to make him sleepy. Margo and I lived for Monday nights because daddy would come home later and only have time to get his cold beer and take a quick shower. Afterwards, daddy would prop right in front of the television in the den and watch Monday Night Football. Daddy would still call out for us but wouldn’t come searching for us since he didn’t want to miss a minute of the game. To be safe, Margo and I hid anyway on Mondays. Our favorite hiding spot was the hall closet near the back of the house. Once we heard Howard Cosell introduce himself, we knew we were safe.
Margo and I shared a bedroom. So when we heard Howard Cosell’s voice, we would come out from hiding and walk right pass daddy in the den to our room. I swear, the house could be on fire and daddy wouldn’t know it when Monday Night Football was on. He had his beers lined up across the coffee table and the television was up so loud while he listened to the announcers introducing the players.
When we reached our room, we would find something to play with until bedtime, which was shortly. I liked typing on my typewriter, which I got last Christmas. Margo was forbidden to touch it. I went to pull it out from under my bed. I snapped at Margo when I saw the ribbon in my typewriter was missing.
“Margo, my ribbon is missing!” I screamed.
“So, what do you want me to do about it, Teresa?” she replied
I hollered, “I know you took it out and I’m telling mama!”
“You are so stupid, Teresa,” Margo responded. “Grandpa Reid took that ribbon out your typewriter last week and made a tie out of it.” In a more calm voice I said, “Why didn’t you tell me when he did it?”
Margo said in a smart tone and rolling her neck, “Because it’s not my job to tell.”
“Girls, it’s time for bed!” mama said as she walked passed our bedroom to hers. Mama paced the floors continuously on Monday nights from cleaning up behind daddy. Daddy loved to throw his empty beer cans all over the den floor. Mama would say things to daddy like, “Frank, if you don’t slow down you’re going to have a serious beer belly. I get sick and tired of cleaning up behind you. You are worse than the girls.” But daddy paid mama no mind. He continued to watch football. Cursing at all the players who did not catch the ball when they were supposed to and calling their coach every name that wasn’t listed in Webster’s dictionary. Daddy was not a class act. But Margo enjoyed hearing daddy curse at the players and coaches. She would crack our bedroom door after mama had put us to bed so she could hear daddy’s voice a little better. Mama would be in her room getting ready for bed herself after she finished with us. Margo could hear daddy say things like, “Asshole, why are you running backwards? It’s now second and twenty! What will it take for a jackass like you to get a first down?”
Margo would ask me in the dark, “What is second and twenty and a first down?” I didn’t know either so I would tell her, “Whatever it is, it really upsets daddy more than mama does. Whoever those people are on the television, I wish they would give daddy what he wants so he would be quiet and stop cursing so much so we can go to sleep,” I complained. It seemed like this would go on forever. I would fall asleep and awaken to see Margo sitting in the doorway listening to daddy curse at the television.
As we got older, Margo would sneak in the den with daddy to watch Monday Night Football after mama fell asleep. It seemed as if Margo spent all her spare time learning everything she could about football and other sports.
Instead of celebrating her ninth birthday with family, Margo only wanted to go outside and play football with the neighborhood boys. Margo was now old enough to know what downs and yards were in football. I guess staying up all night listening to daddy and sneaking into the den to watch Monday Night Football with him these past two years paid off for her.
When I finished my daily afternoon reading, I would go watch Margo play football with the guys in the field a street over from ours. She would practice saying her plays in the mirror at home… ‘Okay guys, it’s second down and eight. We are going to have to throw on this down. Greg, you are the quarterback. Snap the ball on three. Throw me the ball once you see me cut into the middle. We’re going for the first down. Don’t screw it up guys,’ Margo would say.
All the guys wanted Margo on their team. She would sit up on the hill at the field and wait until someone came and asked her which team would she like to be on. Margo was a winner. I admired that in her. Daddy taught her everything about football and going after what she believed in. When she turned ten, she was old enough to stay up until eleven o’clock. Daddy would let her sit in the den with him every Monday night. Daddy taught her the importance of first downs, the numbers written on the field, what each penalty meant and the players’ name and their positions. Occasionally, daddy would sneak and let Margo drink a little of his beer. When she came to bed, I could smell it. Daddy never had a son. So, Margo was the next best thing. He was so happy to have someone to watch football with. Margo was always interested and excited to watch it with him. On the other hand, I enjoyed reading and studying history.
***
Chapter 2
Margo
I finally figured out why Teresa shared the same bedroom with me. She was scared of the dark. I guess mama bought that crap about us needing a guest bedroom for unexpected company Teresa fed to her. I would always tease Teresa about sleeping with her flashlight. Mama could never find it when she came in to check on us. Teresa was very smart and sneaky and would use the flashlight to read her books under her blanket. She kept a teddy bear on the floor propped up on the wall neatly. She knew as long as the bear was in the corner neatly mama wouldn’t touch it. Mama was a neat freak. She organized and cleaned up our room every day. Every time daddy bought a new flashlight, Teresa would swap her existing one with his. Daddy could never understand why his flashlights only lasted about a month after buying them.
One day I caught Teresa swapping the flashlights and I told her, “If daddy ever finds out you have been swapping out his new flashlights, he is going to punish you.” Saying this to Teresa didn’t faze her for she kept doing it. I never told daddy because I didn’t want Teresa to think I was a snitch.
Whenever Teresa was late coming home from school, daddy and mama knew she was at the library. Reading fascinated Teresa and she gets caught up in the moment and loses track of time when she’s reading. Reading was always boring to me. I would tell Teresa people who read a lot had too much boring free time on their hands. Teresa would look at me in disappointment and say, “You are so stupid, Margo. No one can have too much free boring time on their hands. Not everyone likes sports you know.”
Although I teased her about reading so much, I also wished I had that type of passion for it too. Reading made Teresa very knowledgeable about a lot of things. When Teresa wasn’t reading, she would be camped out at the mailbox waiting on the mailman.
“The mailman doesn’t run until 12:30 on Saturdays,” I said to Teresa while standing at the mailbox with her.
“I know stupid. It’s 12:10 now,” answered Teresa.
“Why are you waiting on him this early?” I asked.
“We get our new National Geographic magazine today. I can’t wait!” Teresa said with excitement.
When Teresa turned twelve, daddy bought her a subscription to National Geographic.
“You really need help, Teresa. No one wait’s for the mailman to bring a stupid magazine on a Saturday. You need to ask daddy to take you to the zoo more often. You can see plenty of real animals there instead of waiting on some dumb magazine.”
“Go away, Margo! Your stupidity may rub off on me. Go find those feebleminded, dyslexic people you call friends,” insinuated Teresa.
“What did you call my friends?” I retaliated. “Your homely friends are feebleminded too and whatever else you called my friends! And they have metal on their teeth and ugly glasses. They can’t even say hello to you without whistling!”
Even though Teresa and I argued, we were very close. We shared many secrets. When Teresa became a teenager, she would let me in the bedroom whenever any of her girlfriends were over visiting. They were all fourteen and their main interest at this time was boys. But, I wasn’t interested in boys the way they were. I was only eleven. Guys from the neighborhood were still knocking on our door looking for me to play ball with them. Whenever they showed up, I would leave Teresa and her girlfriends in the room giggling. I could hear her friends asking her, “Can your little sister introduce me to James or Samuel, they are hunks?”
Mama bought Teresa a makeup kit to practice with but she was not allowed to wear it outside the house. Mama said she wasn’t old enough to be wearing makeup in public. When we turned eighteen, we could decide then if we wanted to wear it or not. Wow! That meant Teresa would be practicing putting on makeup for the next four years. Makeup wasn’t my thing. As long as I could play ball with the neighborhood guys, I was good.
Mama was old fashioned. “You are still a fox,” I would hear daddy say to her when she got ready for church on Sundays. Mama had a nice figure. She was a size eight, had shoulder length, shiny, black hair and smooth auburn skin, and was five feet five inches tall. One thing about mama was she didn’t believe in putting chemicals in little girl’s hair and having their ears pierced. Mama thought it would be better when girls were old enough, like eighteen, to make their own decisions on these matters. She was just funny like that. However, Teresa convinced mama to let her get her ears pierced. Teresa told mama that ear piercing was a religious tradition practiced throughout many countries and it help ward off evil. Teresa was sneaky and smart. I guess waiting on those boring magazines at the mailbox and reading those encyclopedias paid off.
I didn’t care about hair or my ears being pierced. I wasn’t interested in anything but sports. All I ever talked about was the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers and the Atlanta Falcons. Daddy would let me read his sports magazines and take me to the football games from time to time. The only quality time he spent with Teresa was when he took us to the community fair. But, Teresa wasn’t bitter about it because daddy and Teresa never had anything in common. Sports really bored her and what little she knew, she learned from me. I talked about sports so much during bed time, she hardly had time to read any of her books under her blanket with daddy’s flashlight some nights.
When Teresa’s girlfriends would come over sometimes, she would get me to teach them about sports. They would tell me they wanted to meet boys and this was a good way to do it. I agreed to teach them some things but, I also told them they were crazy because guys could detect a phony sports lover a mile away. Teresa and her girlfriends spent some of their time trying to understand sports until I started taking up too much of their makeover time. They started complaining and limiting the time I could spend in the room. When I was allowed to enter the room, I would watch them comb each other’s hair and makeup each other’s faces while they giggled uncontrollably and talked about boys like they were going to drop off the face of the earth.
***
Chapter 3
Teresa
“I finally reached eighteen,” I sighed.
The day came when I was to leave for college. Mama and daddy were so proud of me after reading my acceptance letter. I also had won a full scholarship to attend a prestigious college to a great school in Virginia. Daddy walked up to me and said, “Teresa I am so proud of you. This is your last night in this house as my baby girl. I knew you were going to make it into college. That was a great investment your mama and I made buying you all those National Geographic magazines and Encyclopedias while growing up. I would see you in your room with your head buried in those books and I would say to myself, “she’s going to make us proud of her one day. And that day has come baby girl,” smiled daddy. “I want you to go up there to that school and show those professors what you got. Margo will be graduating from high school in three years and I know you have rubbed off some of your book knowledge on her so she will get in to college too,” daddy added.
Margo stood next to daddy with tears in her eyes. She didn’t want me to leave her and I didn’t want to either. We hugged for a long time. It felt like forever. Mama stood there next to daddy with tears in her eyes also. When we stopped, Margo took off her Braves’ baseball cap and gave it to me. She said it was her favorite cap and now it was mine. I was touched for Margo barely left the house without that cap. Mama had to take it from her just to wash it.
“I will take good care of it,” I replied.
This was the first time Margo and I really shared our feelings emotionally toward each other openly. We agreed to write each other often and at least talk on the phone every weekend.
“We don’t know about all these weekly phone calls, but we will try and work out something,” interrupted mama.
I headed to college that day with sadness in my heart that I had to leave my lil’ sis.
I walked to my mailbox and pulled out Margo’s umpteenth letter since I’ve been away to school the past year. As Margo and I stayed in touch like we promised, we shared everything we could think of in our letters.
“Yo sis, I don’t hang out with the boys in the neighborhood anymore. I decided to join the cheerleading squad at school. Some of the routines are hard but I’ve managed to catch on regardless. I also got my ears pierced. I pulled one of your fast ones on mama too. I did learn something from you when you lived at home,” wrote Margo.
I would not have believed this if I saw it with my own two eyes. It brought a big smile to my face. This was a very tender moment because I never thought I would see or hear of the day my little sister would turn into a little lady.
“Girls on the cheerleading squad are jealous of me because my body is a perfect size six. I still got pull with the boys. They stop in their tracks when I walk pass them. Especially all the jocks in the school because they know I am a sports buff along with a great body and good grades. Go figure.”
Hearing this from Margo made me a little jealous too, because I have grown two sizes since I left home. I am up to a size ten and all this weight has settled in my ass and hips!
“Guys are always giving me compliments on my body,” continued Margo.
“Oh! I have found a female friend. Her name is Shannon, but everyone calls her Sky. Shannon sounds too much like a guy name. She is not a cheerleader, but a majorette. She is a senior and also the homecoming queen,” Margo explained.
I heard a knock at my door.
“Teresa, you have a phone call on the hall phone,” my classmate Sheila informed.
“Thanks, Sheila. Did they say their name?” I asked.
“No, but it’s a female if that helps,” replied Sheila. I walked down the hall contemplating who that could be on the phone.
“Hello,” I said.
“What’s up big sis? Have you been reading my letters?” asked Margo.
“I can’t believe it’s you Margo. I was just in my room reading it,” I laughed with excitement.
“Oh yeah? You like the change in me?” asked Margo.
“Yes!” I responded. “This Sky person has really had an impact on you.”
“Yes, she has, Teresa.” “Guys are pulling on me left and right. I forgot to mention my hair has grown. It’s at shoulder length now. Mama let’s me get it straightened,” Margo giggled.
“Say what girlfriend?” I shouted. “I don’t believe it. What have you been putting in your hair to grow it out?”
“Nothing,” Margo replied. “Sky will come over and wash and press it out for me and I will do her hair,” Margo stated.
“You telling me mama let you straighten your hair?” I asked in disbelief.
“Yes,” replied Margo.
“Wow! Home really has changed. Mama never let me get my hair straightened. She said I had to be eighteen to get that done,” I said.
“I know, Teresa. She also lets me wear lipstick.”
“What! I don’t believe this. Get out of here,” I blurted.
“I have a surprise for you when you get home,” said Margo.
“What is it?” I demanded.
“So, how’s college?” she asked changing the subject.
“It’s great. The studying here is much harder than in high school. So, I don’t have too much spare, boring time like I did in high school,” I joked.
“What about the guys? Are they cute?” asked Margo.
“You’re interested in how cute boys are now?” I asked and surprised how much my baby sister has changed within the past year. She was sixteen now.
“Yeah, Sky and I talk about boys all the time. Just like you and your friends did in our bedroom,” explained Margo.
“What happened to your football you loved so much?” I questioned.
“It’s still there. I know the whole varsity football team at school and some other players from surrounding schools. Daddy loves it when I bring a jock home,” replied Margo.
“You’re bringing boys home now?” I emphasized.
“Yeah, Teresa. Wake up girl it’s the 80’s now and I am sixteen you know. I’m only tutoring them in Math and helping them with their play book,” Margo explained.
“It seems like everything has changed over night,” I sighed.
“I know, Teresa. You need to come up for air sometimes and give those books a break,” Margo stated.
“How are you doing in school, Margo?” I asked.
“Okay. I’m taking all advanced core classes to help prepare me for college. This is where I met Sky, in chemistry class. Did I mention I tutor some of the football players in Math and they are dumb when it comes to numbers?” Margo added.
“Yes,” I replied.
“Let’s talk about daddy,” said Margo.
“What about him?” I asked.
“Well, when I bring a guy home and it’s not a jock, he gets upset with me. He says there are never enough jocks that can walk through his door. He also said not to bring any couch potato, brainy looking boys through his door,” mimicked Margo.
“What does he mean by that?” I asked.
“I don’t have the slightest idea. But, I decided to only bring over jocks for now on. I don’t want to upset daddy. He and I have been buddies since I was little,” said Margo.
“I know Margo. Maybe that’s the problem. Daddy needs other friends. You’re his baby girl too, not his buddy,” I explained.
“Well, he has other friends. But I still watch Monday Night Football with him and a few of his work buddies, Ben and Chicken Head. He always tells his friends I’m going to marry a football player,” stated Margo.
“What do you say?” I questioned.
“I say nothing. I just sit there and smile,” answered Margo.
“What’s mama up to these days?”
“Nothing. She stays in her bedroom more and reads her bible,” replied Margo.
“Is she still cleaning up behind daddy?”
“No girl. She gave that job to me. She says if I’m going to sit out in the den with them and watch sports all night, at least I can find five to ten minutes to act like a lady and clean up behind them,” chuckled Margo.
“Yeah, now that sounds like mama,” I responded.
“Well, let me get off this phone Teresa. Mama and daddy don’t know I called you and I’m not going to tell them until they get the phone bill,” hinted Margo.
“Girl, you are still crazy,” I joked.
“I know Teresa. Please write me some more and I hope to see you Thanksgiving.”
“Okay Margo. I’m glad to hear you have at least one female friend. I hope you make more,” I said.
“Maybe in the future, Teresa, but not now. I don’t like the way girls huddle up and talk about other girls. If you see me in a huddle, it will be with guys discussing a play,” Margo remarked.
“Daddy has done a job on you and you think everything revolves around football,” I reiterated to Margo.
“Well at least I know where to find some real men,” laughed Margo.
“That was a low blow Margo. I’ll see you Thanksgiving and I might have a surprise for you too,” I responded with a low laugh.
“What is it Teresa?” asked Margo.
“I’m not telling. You will see like I will when I get home,” I answered.
“Okay Teresa, bye-bye. I love you big sis.”
“I love you too lil’ sis,” I replied with such pride in my voice.
I returned to my dorm room to finish Margo’s letter. I couldn’t get back to studying for my mid-term exams until I finished her letter. I can’t wait to see Margo’s face when I bring John home.
***
Chapter 4
Margo
“Do you see any head lights coming toward the house?”
“No Margo, not yet,” replied daddy as he stared out the window. “I’m just thinking how long it’s been since I’ve seen my oldest daughter. I wonder if she still looks the same.”
“I’m pretty sure she does daddy. It’s only been a year,” I replied.
“Daddy, don’t you want to help set the table for Thanksgiving dinner?”
“In a minute, baby girl. I want to look out the window a little longer,” answered daddy.
“Take your time daddy. I’ll do it myself,” I said.
“Margo, what did you do with the electric knife?” asked mama opening every drawer in the kitchen.
“I haven’t seen it mama. Did you look in the kitchen closet? That’s where you put things we don’t use often,” I answered.
“Hey guys, I see head lights!” shouted daddy.
“Oh my God, Frank! How do I look?” mama asked with such excitement and happiness after she ran into the living room and stood by daddy.
“You look okay, Althea,” answered daddy.
Mama and daddy had not seen Teresa in a year. She had been going home with friends at school her freshman year to visit other cities during her school breaks.
“Calm down you two. It’s not like it’s our first time meeting her!” I screamed from the kitchen, but I was just as excited as daddy and mama were to know she pulled up.
“Yeah, you’re right baby girl,” said daddy. “Let me calm down.”
“Margo, come out the kitchen. It looks like Teresa has someone with her,” cautioned mama.
I was very shocked too. This must have been the surprise we talked about on the phone a few weeks ago. I muttered as I walked into the living room to greet her and this mysterious person.
“Did you say phone, Margo? When did you talk with your sister on the phone?” asked daddy.
“Huh, I forgot to tell you I called her about two weeks ago to see if she was coming home for Thanksgiving this year,” I answered.
“Teresa spends Thanksgiving with us every year,” responded daddy.
“Teresa spent Thanksgiving with her roommate last year, daddy,” I reminded him.
The doorbell rang. We all collected ourselves before opening the door. There she was standing there with this guy, holding hands. He looked okay. He was about six feet tall, dark skinned, around one hundred and ninety pounds, and he had a damn Jheri Curl!
After we caught a good glimpse of Teresa and her guy friend, no one kept smiling but me. Mama and daddy thought it was going to be one of her female school friends with her. Teresa stood in the doorway holding her friend’s hand and she looked at least two sizes larger. She had cut her hair into a bob style and she had on makeup. Her dress fit her shape which showed off her wide hips, and her chest looked like lemons. Her jacket reached her waistline and her pumps were black and her pantyhose were very sheer. She also had an ankle bracelet on. If I didn’t know Teresa, I would have mistaken her for a prostitute and her male friend was her pimp. She was not dressed conservative in mama and daddy’s eyes.
“Hi guys, this is my friend John,” said Teresa. “He’s a junior at my school.”
“Okay Teresa, come on in out the cold and bring your friend with you,” said mama.
We all stepped aside and let them in. Mama asked John for his coat. Daddy still hadn’t said a word.
“Is everyone hungry?” asked mama.
Everyone agreed accept daddy. He just marched to his favorite chair in the dining room and sat down. Mama started rattling off the things she cooked, walking toward the dining room.
“We have turkey, honey baked ham, greens, chittlins, sweet potato pie…”
Teresa and I looked at each other and smiled.
“Oh my Mrs. Reid, everything looks great,” interrupted John. “I can’t wait to taste all of it.”
“Thank you, son. I hope it taste as good as it looks,” replied mama.
“It’s always good, isn’t it daddy?” asked Teresa.
“Yeah,” answered daddy in a low toned voice like his favorite team just lost the Super Bowl.
We all sat down at the table after washing our hands in the bathroom by the den.
“Frank, why don’t you go ahead and bless the food,” said mama when everyone was seated.
“Okay, Althea, go ahead everyone and bow your heads,” replied daddy. “Oh heavenly father, we appreciate another nice supper tonight. You have been good to this family and watched over us through good and bad…”
As daddy blessed the food, Teresa and I played footsy under the table, just like we did when we were little girls. But we kicked each other harder then. We were so glad to see each other. The last time Teresa saw me, I had a small ponytail with a baseball cap on my head. My jeans were baggy with holes in them. I had on a football jersey that read the Atlanta Falcons. Yeah, I looked like a true tomboy then. As she watched me from across the table, everything I said in my letter and on the phone to her was true. My hair had grown and rested on my shoulders, I was wearing slight makeup and I was a perfect size six. I could tell by her staring at me she couldn’t believe my drastic change. Her little sister really was a little lady now, but a tomboy at heart. I also had on fingernail polish and I looked great.
“Amen,” said everyone as daddy finished blessing the food.
“So John, what are you studying in school?” asked mama as she passed the greens around to everyone.
“I’m majoring in Clinical Psychology,” replied John. “My dad is a Psychiatrist and his practice is in Chicago.”
“Is that where you’re from?” asked mama.
“Yes, ma’am. I was born and raised there.”
“What does your mom do?” asked mama.
“She’s a History teacher, ma’am.”
“That’s what Teresa is studying. Right, baby?”
“Yes, John,” replied Teresa. “My minor is African Studies.”
Daddy looked up with disbelief. He couldn’t believe this guy was at his table calling his daughter baby.
“They are great people mama,” said Teresa.
“You met them at school?” asked mama.
“No ma’am, I met them when I went to Chicago earlier in the year,” replied Teresa.
“I see,” responded mama.
“You didn’t tell us you visited Chicago,” claimed mama in disbelief too as she stopped eating.
“I know mama. It’s not what you think. I attended the National Teacher’s Association Convention that was held in Chicago in early Spring this year,” replied Teresa. “The school funded the trip for five students. Since John was from Chicago, he went home that weekend to accompany me on the trip and to show me around Chicago. It’s a great city. Since his mother is a History teacher, she attended the convention. John introduced me to her and his dad. His parents were nice enough to take us out to dinner while we were there.” The room was silent after Teresa finished explaining herself.
“Daddy, do you have anything to say?” added Teresa in a low toned voice.
“No, baby girl. Enjoy your meal,” answered daddy as he continued to eat with his head down.
We continued to have casual conversation throughout dinner. But daddy never joined in. Once daddy finished his dinner, he dashed to the den to watch the football game. The Cowboys were playing the Lions. Before leaving the room, he asked me was I going to join him.
I replied, “Yes daddy, give me a few minutes to help clean up.”
“Okay, hurry up,” said daddy and walked away.
“Please forgive my husband. He knew this day would come when he would have to loose his daughter to another man. But he didn’t think it would be this soon and this way,” explained mama to John.
“It’s okay Mrs. Reid. I have two older sisters and my dad acted the same way when my sisters brought their first boyfriend home to meet him,” replied John.
Mama and I looked at each other and smiled.
“So, where are you staying while you are in town,” asked mama.
John replied, “I booked a room at the Marriott downtown. That’s why Teresa and I were late getting here.”
Mama and John started talking more to each other while Teresa and I excused ourselves to the kitchen to clean up before we could head to our bedroom, anxious to talk.
***
Chapter 5
Teresa
“So Margo, what’s this big surprise you had to show me?” I asked after we finished cleaning the kitchen.
“Let’s go into the bedroom while mama and John talk,” said Margo.
“Well, where is it?” Margo pulled her small, black chest from under her bed and opened it.
“Here it is,” replied Margo.
“This is a teddy, Margo? A nice piece of lingerie. Whose is it?”
I truly couldn’t believe it. Mama thought sexy lingerie was a sin and Margo had some hidden under her bed.
“It’s mine,” answered Margo. “What do you think?”
“Oh my God, when did you start wearing these?” I said.
“Months ago. Sky and I go shopping together sometimes and this is what she buys a lot of so I decided to buy me a couple of them,” explained Margo.
“Do mama and daddy know you have that in here?” I questioned.
“No, and you better not say a word,” she instructed.
“I have some more in my chest. I took one out especially for you to see and have.”
“For me,” I asked.
“Yes, you,” replied Margo.
“I want you to have it. I kind of bought two of them two sizes bigger and this one should fit you. Take it back to school and wear it for John.”
“Margo, have you lost your mind? I would get kicked out of school if I got caught having sex with John in my dorm room,” I blurted.
“Dorm?” says Margo. “I was thinking you two could go to a hotel.”
“Hotel? Girl you really have lost your damn mind. You didn’t even know I had a boyfriend. So how can you buy me some lingerie?” I asked.
“I kind of guessed you had someone. We haven’t seen you in a year. I know you weren’t just stuck in that dorm room all this time. I was just surprised to see you bring your man home today. I felt this was the perfect time to give you this,” explained Margo.
“Teresa, please tell me you and John have done the nasty,” asked Margo.
“What, are you eight years old again?” I answered.
“I’m waiting,” said Margo. “So have you?”
“No we haven’t done it yet. But that’s not to say we won’t.”
“I swear you are just like mama.”
“What?”
“You are so old fashion Teresa it’s a shame. What are you waiting on?”
“What’s the rush Margo? John respects me. He said he will wait until I’m ready.”
“And you believe that lame shit? I bet you he has done it with another girl?”
“So what if he has? Anyway, I don’t want to know.”
“Since you are all in my sex life, what about yours? Has Sky taught you how to have sex yet?”
“Funny, Teresa. No, but I have done it,” replied Margo.
“What…With whom, Margo? You are only sixteen years old,” I asked in astonishment.
“You don’t know him.”
“I’m pretty sure I don’t Margo but I would like to know his name.”
“His name is Scott. He’s a junior. He’s also the captain of the football team.”
“That figures.”
“What figures, Teresa?”
“You and a football player. I never thought my little sister would lose her virginity before me.”
“Teresa, you are nineteen years old. I have no idea what you are waiting on. Most girls nowadays lose their virginity before they reach their senior year in high school.”
I stood up from the bed with my hands on my hips looking at Margo, clearly angry about what she just said to me.
“Chill Teresa, there’s nothing to it.”
“Yes it is Margo. There are a lot of sexual transmitted diseases out there.”
“I know Teresa. We used a condom.”
“Where did you get a condom? Wait, let me guess, Sky?”
“No. I went to the free clinic downtown. They give you five free condoms and all you have to do is complete a questionnaire.”
“Have you used them all?”
Margo looked at me with a stupid facial expression.
“No, but I’ve used some of them with Scott.”
“This is a total shock to me, Margo. You are not a virgin anymore. Didn’t you want to wait until you got married?
“Yeah but it didn’t work out that way.” Margo replied.