area – business owners, executives, and the like – so he was familiar with it. His map navigation service announced that he was approaching the house on Cambridge Lane in .1 miles. When he pulled up to the older two-story brick home, he noticed cars were parked back-to-back and the driveway was filled to capacity. After a few minutes, he secured a parking spot down the street. With gift in hand, he made his way up the narrow, tree-lined sidewalk, enjoying the scenery. The sun was setting behind a cluster of dim clouds.
Most of the trees had lost their leaves, which carpeted the ground in bright earth tones. Some blew about in the mild breeze, while some made a crunching sound under his shoes. A few houses had bicycles lying in the front yards. Some of the homes had stone water fountains on their beautifully manicured lawns, with water pouring from spigots into large basins.
It wasn’t often he wandered into the suburbs of Chicago. As of late, he felt as if he may as well pitch a tent in the middle of the courthouse. He spent more time there than at home. He breathed in the fresh, clean air. The houses were old yet sturdy, and attractive. They also had a nice distance between them. He reached the front door and gave it a hearty rap, then rang the bell.
The milk-chocolate-toned face of a young child pressed against the front window, her lips curled in a grin and showing several tiny white teeth. Her face transformed in laughter as their eyes locked. He waved at the kid, then turned and faced the door as he heard it open.
A tall, lovely dark-complexioned woman with a tapered curly afro greeted him. Her wide lips were covered in a deep burgundy lipstick and her slanted eyes popped with sparkly eyeshadow. Clad in an elegant red dress with a slit up the side, a long, curvy leg was on full display with a ladybug tattoo at the ankle.
“Hey, you!” the woman said cheerfully, showing a beautiful smile with a slight gap between her two front teeth. “You have a present in your hands, so you must be here for the party. Come right on in.”
“Hi, thank you so much.” Nixon stepped over the threshold and felt like he’d stepped back into the 1960s, only the retro-style furniture was all new. He was digging the vibe of the clear, round bubble chairs, white and tangerine couch with throw pillows. Abstract art hanging on the walls, the paintings large and simple.
The sounds of Gil Scott Heron’s, ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’ filled the room, sparking the time-machine-like mood. The scent of strong, premium marijuana, cigarettes, and cigars perfumed the air, while beautifully clothed black, brown, and beige skin basked before him like earth-toned watercolors on a vast canvas.
“My name is Toni, but I don’t know you, baby.” The woman took the present from his arms. “Thank you for the present!” she said. “Who are you here for, sweetheart?”
“I’m Nixon. I’m Yasmine’s boyfriend.”
“Hmph!” She dramatically rolled her eyes in a playful sort of way. “Well, I always said, if a sista is going to get her a White man, he better be a fine ass White man, have some money, and be damn good to her. I see she got at least one out of three right.” She gave him the once over, brows arched, as if still determining if he fit the bill. “Yaaaaasmine!” the woman called out over the music, then pulled him by the wrist and led him through the crowd.
As he swam in the ocean of people, he spotted her sitting in one of the clear chairs, a red drink in her hand, legs crossed, and looking good enough to fucking eat. His stomach literally rumbled as he eyed her in her white bell-bottomed jumpsuit, chunky white heels, and white fedora. Dark red lipstick coated her lips and diamonds sparkled in her ears and around her wrist and neck. She looked like a magical dove that would swoop down and grant peace to the entire fucking world.
Their eyes met and all he could say was, “Damn.”
She stood, wrapped her free hand around his neck and brought him close for a kiss.
“Toni, this is Nixon. Nixon, this is my Aunt Toni. She’s been married to my uncle Vernon for thirty-nine years.”
“Oh, so you got married at age nine?” he teased. This was followed by plentiful laughter from those around him. But he was