Before his father began praying, Mac grabbed all of his stuff. He had to make a quick exit from the choir loft. As soon as his father began praying, Mac bowed his head. When his father said, “Amen,” Mac lifted his head quickly and began moving out of the choir loft. He kept saying excuse me and bumping into people. He didn’t have time to worry about people’s attitude; he had to get out of the choir stand. He made it to the choir room. He was the second person in the room. Carolyn was already in there. She never spoke to anyone, so he knew that she wouldn’t bother him, other than to speak. Mac took off his robe, hung it up, and started to head towards the door. Carolyn said, “Hey Mac. I enjoyed you and your family today.” Mac hollered back, “Cool. Thanks.” He left the choir room and headed for the sanctuary. He was almost there when Sis. Trevor’s twelve year old son grabbed him. Mac huffed and stopped to talk to the little boy.
People began to leave the sanctuary. People were hugging other people. Kids were coming in the church and running around. Deacons and ushers were yelling at the kids.
Dianne gathered up her stuff. She wanted to get out of the church before she was hugged by 20 people, but Dr. Adkins-Garnett grabbed her by the arm and began leading her around the church to meet people. Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked over to an elderly woman, “Mother Andrews, this is the young lady I told you about.” The elderly woman stood up on her cane slowly. She hugged Dianne, “Baby, glad you came. Sis. Adkins has been talking about you a long time.” The elderly woman sat back down. Dr. Adkins-Garnett shook her head; Mother Andrew always called her Sis. Adkins. Dianne was going to try to tell Dr. Adkins-Garnett that she had to go, but Dr. Adkins-Garnett grabbed her and whisked her away to meet someone else.
The next person Dianne met was First Lady Adkins. Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked up to her sister-in-law and hugged her. Sis. Adkins said, “Girl, the Lord showed up and showed out.” Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Yes, He did. This is Dianne Roberts.” Sis. Adkins hugged Dianne, “Good bless you. Glad that you joined us. Hope you will be back.” Dianne was about to respond to the first lady, but someone grabbed the first lady. Dr. Adkins-Garnett drug Dianne in another direction. Dianne stopped walking abruptly. It made Dr. Adkins-Garnett stumble. Dr. Adkins-Garnett turned around, “Are you okay?” Dianne grimaced, “No, I am not. You keep dragging me all over the place.” Dr. Adkins-Garnett gave Dianne a motherly smile, “Sorry, I am just so excited about you being here. I can tend to get overzealous at times.” Dianne sat down on the bench, “It is ok. I just wasn’t expecting all of this attention. I will be okay.” Dr. Adkins-Garnett sat down beside her, “There is just one more person I want you to meet and I will leave you alone.” Dianne looked up at the ceiling and then back at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “Okay. Who is it?” Dr. Adkins-Garnett motioned at a group of men. An average sized dark-skinned started walking towards them. When the guy reached them, Dr. Adkins-Garnett stood up and hugged the guy. The guy whispered something in Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s ear. Dr. Adkins-Garnett giggled, “You need to quit.” Dr. Adkins-Garnett let the man go, “Dianne, this is my husband, Eld. Kevon Garnett. Kevon, this is Dianne Roberts.” Eld. Garnett extended his hand to Dianne, “Nice to meet you Dianne. I have heard a lot about you. You are probably tired of my wife by now. You have to forgive her. She gets excited at times.” Dr. Adkins-Garnett nudged her husband, “Would you keep?” Eld. Garnett smiled at his wife and then looked at Dianne, “Has she given you a job in the ministry yet?” Dianne looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett who was blushing, “No sir, she hasn’t.” Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked miffed, “Alright Kevon, Dianne is leaving, so quit being messy.” Eld. Garnett smiled, “Dianne, would you like to go out to eat with us?” Dianne was caught off guard by the question. She paused before she said, “Not today. I already have plans.” Eld. Garnett hugged and kissed his wife, “I guess she doesn’t want to hang out with us old folk.” He turned to Dianne and extended his hand to her, “Nice to meet you. Oh yea, I did like the black nightie.” Dianne put her hand over her opened mouth. Dr. Adkins-Garnett turned bright red before she said, “Oh Lord, that man needs Jesus.”
A young lady brought Dr. Adkins-Garnett her stuff. Dr. Adkins-Garnett handed the young lady some keys that she took from her purse. “Donna, take these to my office for me.” Donna took the keys and Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s stuff and walked off. Dr. Adkins-Garnett put her arm through Dianne’s arm and began walking her up the aisle. Dianne asked, “Where are we going now?” Dr. Adkins-Garnett responded, “I am going to walk you to your car.” Dianne stopped walking. Dr. Adkins-Garnett grimaced, “You have got to stop doing that. You cannot just stop like that. You are going to make me hurt or break something.” Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed. Dianne looked at the woman who had her in a vice grip, loving as it was, it was still a tight hold. Dianne said, “You do not have to do that. I can go by myself.” Dr. Adkins-Garnett started walking, pulling Dianne against her will, “Don’t worry about it. If I don’t you to your car, I will have to talk to 50 people. Let’s go.” Dianne started walking out with the woman that had attached herself.
Mac was not listening to Sis. Trevor’s son. The boy said, “Yo, Mac, you listening to me?” Mac jumped, “Sorry, Jay, what’s up? I am kind of in a hurry. What’s up?” Jay said, “Can I go with you today?” Mac said, “Naw, not today. I got something to do. Maybe another time.” Jay was mad, “You don’t never want to let me go with you.” Mac patted the boy on his head, “Alright, on Tuesday, I will come up here and we can go hang out. Is that cool?” Jay smiled, “Yea.” Mac gave the boy some dap, “Cool. Make sure you ask your mother can you do it. And be good in school on Monday and Tuesday. Later man.” Mac took off before the kid could say anything else to him.
Mac ran into the sanctuary. He was stopped by a couple of people who were trying to talk to him. He quickly spoke to them and looked around the sanctuary for his aunt. He didn’t see her, but he saw his uncle talking to some of the other minister. Mac went over to the group of minister. He tapped his uncle on the shoulder, “Excuse me, Unc. Have you seen aunnie?” Eld. Garnett turned and looked at his nephew, “Yea man, she just walked out of here with Dianne.” Mac tapped his uncle’s shoulder again, “Thanks Unc. Which way did they go?” Eld. Garnett pointed towards the back of the church, “That way. What are you looking for her for?” Mac walked away from his uncle, “I gotta tell her something before I leave. Later Unc.” Mac tried to walk off, but his uncle grabbed his arm, “You need to speak.” Mac huffed, “Hello Elders. God bless you all.” He took off before his uncle could grab him again. One of the ministers turned to Eld. Garnett, “Where is he going?” Eld. Garnett smiled, “I don’t know.”
Mac moved through the sanctuary full of people as quickly as he could. People stopped him a time or to speak to him. He spoke as quickly as he could and kept walking. He knew that someone was going to complain to his father about him being rude, but Mac was willing to take the reprimand that he would get from his father.
Mac made it to the vestibule area. He looked around, but he didn’t see his aunt or Dianne. He was about to go outside when someone tugged on him. It was Kelly, Sis. Trevor’s ten year old daughter. She had her hand on her hips, “How are you gonna take Jay somewhere and not take me? You mean.” Mac didn’t have time for this. He bent down so the he was looking in the girl’s face, “Kelly, I gotta go. We can talk about this later.” Kelly rolled her neck, “Whatever.” Mac dropped his head, “You know better than working your neck like that.” Kelly rolled her eyes and said, “Whatever.” She smacked her lips and walked off. Mac stood up and thought, “That girl has too much attitude.”
Mac made it outside of the church without being stopped. He looked around for his aunt; she was no where in sight. Mac looked around to see who was outside that might know his aunt. Sis. Taylor was out there talking to Sis. Davidson. Mac walked over to the two women. Sis. Taylor stopped talking to Sis. Davidson and hugged Mac, “Hello handsome. How are you doing?” Mac blushed. Sis. Davidson, not to be outdone, “Hugged and kissed Mac. Now Taylor, leave my sweetheart alone. He don't want no old woman like you.” Sis. Davidson laughed as Sis. Taylor worked her neck, “Davidson please. He don't want you either.” Mac laughed and said, “Have you all seen my aunt?” Sis. Taylor said, “She walked off in the parking lot with that lady that came to church with her. That girl is pretty and she was sharp. She acted a little stuck up though.” Sis. Davidson laughed, “Taylor you need to quit.” Mac thanked the two ladies and walked towards the parking lot. He stood at the front of the parking lot. There was no way he was going to find his aunt. He was heartbroken. He would have to wait and see if Dianne would be at another church service. He sure hoped that she would be.
Dianne and Dr. Adkins-Garnett made it to Dianne’s car. Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at the shiny black Honda Accord. Dianne took her hat off and smoothed her hair down. She unlocked the car and put her hat on the back seat. She walked over to Dr. Adkins-Garnett to hug the woman and tell her good bye. Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked over to the passenger side of the car and got in the car. Dianne rolled her eyes, huffed, and walked over to the passenger side of the car. She thought, “Lord, I’m going to strangle this woman.” Before Dianne got in the car, an old man yelled, “God bless you, Sister.” He had a sly grin on his face. Dianne nodded and got in her car.
Dianne looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “Do you want something, Dr. Adkins-Garnett?” Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked around Dianne’s car, “Girl, this is a nice car. I like this.” Dianne laid her head back on the head rest, “Thank you. Do you want something?” Dr. Adkins-Garnett could tell that Dianne was getting irritated. Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Can you drive me back to the front of the church? That was a long walk.” Dianne laughed, “Sure.” Dianne put the keys in the ignition and started the car. Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked around the car again, “Where do you work at?” Dianne was looking backwards to see if it was safe to back up, “I do not have on right now.” Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Dianne.
“Oh, why not?”
“I just do not have one right now.”
“Are you looking for one?”
“No Mame. Not right now. I guess your husband was right. Are you gonna offer me a job at your ministry?”
“No, you probably wouldn’t accept it anyway. Where did you work before?”
“I do not really want to talk about it.”
“Okay. There’s a car right there.”
Dianne huffed, “Thanks, I saw it.”
Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “You’re welcomed. Are you getting tired of me?”
“Yes, I am. I am not used to people fussing over me like this. I don’t mean to offend you.”
“I am not offended. I just see something special in you. I just have to learn to quit being so overzealous.”
Dianne looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “What do you mean; you see something special in me?” Dianne backed her car out of the parking space and began driving towards the church.
“I can tell that you have been hurt in the past. You hide it very well with your sophistication and glamour, but I still see it. I can also see that you have a testimony that will bless other young ladies. You are a very giving person once get to know people. There is something very loving about you and despite the hurt that you have had, you still want to share that love with people you love. It can be hard for you, but you still try to share it. There is something inside you that is going to bless other young ladies.”
Dianne forced the lump in her throat down. She demanded that the tears welling up in her eyes go back where they came from. There was no way that she was going to cry. She forced a smile on her face. Dr. Adkins-Garnett touched Dianne’s arm, “One of these days, that smile will come out much easier.” Dianne glared at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “You don’t know what you are talking about woman. I ain’t got nothing to tell anyone. You are starting to bother me, too. I hope this is close enough, because I am turning here.” Dianne stopped her car and waited for Dr. Adkins-Garnett to exit the car. Dr. Adkins-Garnett complied with Dianne’s request. As Dr. Adkins-Garnett was getting out f the car she said, “I am right. And I am not mad at you for getting an attitude with me and throwing me out of your car.” Dr. Adkins-Garnett closed the door and walked off smiling.
Mac was standing at the front of the parking lot talking to a young lady when someone grabbed him around his neck. He felt a pair of wet lips kiss him on the jaw. He turned around, it was his aunt. He smiled at her, “Hey aunnie. Where you been?” Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled at her nephew, “I walked Dianne to her car and made sure she got off okay.” Mac lips dropped for a second, “That’s cool. Do you know Brianna?” Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at the young lady, “No, I do not know here.” Mac introduced them. He left when his aunt began telling Brianna about By Example Ministries. Mac knew that they would be there for awhile.
Dianne was fuming. “How dare that woman ingratiate herself on me? How dare she try to tell me who I was and what I was going to do?” Dianne blew a hard breath. She drove as quickly as could over to her friend, Ariel Lewis’ house.
Dianne reached Ariel’s house. Dianne was hoping that she could borrow something from Ariel because she didn’t have a change of clothes. Dianne went over to Ariel’s house every Sunday to keep Ariel company while Ariel’s husband, Greg and his friend watched some sporting event.
Dianne knocked on the door. Ariel answered. Ariel looked at Dianne, “girl, where you been? Oh yea, you went to church today. You look good. Did you get you a man while you were there?” Dianne smiled and said, “Maybe I did and maybe I didn’t,” as she walked in the door. Ariel yelled, “Greg, Di is here and she is in her Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes.” A big burly deep dark-skinned man walked in the living room he uttered an expletive before saying, “Girl, you look good. Did you catch a deacon at the church today?” Dianne shook her head, “You two are heathens.” Greg laughed his usual deep laugh, “What did pastor preach on today?” Dianne smiled, “His topic was, ‘God Has Saved Me, And My Past is Over.’ It was about not letting your past dictate your future and that once you are saved, your past no longer matters because God has forgiven you and forgotten about your past sins.” Greg laughed his deep laugh again, “Yea, whatever. I bet you believe that too. Church folk.” Greg walked out. Dianne felt dejected. Ariel wrapped her arms around her friend’s shoulders, “Come on; let’s go say hi to the fellas.” The two women headed towards the den.
Dianne walked into the den with Ariel. The usual suspects were there, David, Steve, and Ed. They were Greg’s poker buddies. There were two other guys there that Dianne didn’t know. Ariel introduced them to Dianne, “This is Paul and Drake.” Drake didn’t even look at Dianne. Paul looked at Dianne and said, “where you been all dressed?” Ariel answered before Dianne could, “She went to church. She ain’t heathens like you all.” Greg winked at Ariel, “Yea, but you love your heathen, don't you. Now, get on outta here so we can watch the game.” Ariel and Dianne walked out of the room into the kitchen.
Ariel reached in the refrigerator and grabbed a wine cooler out of it. She took a drink and walked over to Dianne, “You want a sip?” Dianne shook her head no. Usually, Dianne would take a sip of Ariel’s wine cooler, but today, something insider he told her not to take that sip. Ariel shrugged her shoulders, “I guess you are too saved to even keep up an old tradition. Excuse me. Before long you are going to be walking around with a big Bible, preaching all the time.” Dianne laughed, “You need to quit.” Ariel went and sat by Dianne who was sitting at the dinner table.
“A, I ain’t too sure about this church thing. I don’t think I am going back to that church again.”
“You kidding, right? You were about to foam at the mouth when you told me you were going to the church. What happened?”
“I don’t know. I just felt funny. I got all hot and a felt weird. I don’t know what was going on.”
Ariel started laughing, “Girl, you caught the Holy Ghost.” Ariel yelled towards the living room, “Greg, Di caught the Holy Ghost at church.” A few seconds later, Greg walked into the kitchen, “What? Did you do one of those weird dances that they do?” Greg began jumping around and acting like he was dancing. Ariel was laughing, but it made Dianne mad. Dianne stood up, “Greg, you need to quit that!” Greg looked at Dianne, “Woman, watch your voice up in my house.” Dianne glared at Greg, “You need to quick making fun of people. That ain’t right.” Greg looked at Dianne like she was crazy, “You’ve change, Di. You ain’t the same no more.” He walked out of the kitchen.
Dianne sat down and looked at Ariel, “A, have I changed that much.” Ariel looked at her friend, “Yea, you are different. It is a good different, but it’s going to take some getting used to. Forget Greg.” Dianne could not figure it out, but she felt out of place. She had spent countless Sundays over at Ariel’s and Greg’s place, but at that moment, she wanted to leave. She didn’t want to be there anymore.
Dianne stood up, “A, I am tired. I am going home. I’ll call you later.” Ariel looked hurt, “You cannot just leave me here with these nuts. Come on Di. Does this have anything to do with what Greg said?” Dianne rubbed her hair, “No, it doesn’t. I am tired. I had a long day at church. You’ll be alright. I need to go home.” Ariel twisted her neck and walked off from Dianne, “This is how it starts, before long, I won’t see you anymore cause you will always be at church. This ain’t right. Just gone and leave.” Dianne went over to her friend to hug her. Ariel moved away from Dianne so that she could not hug her. Dianne touched Ariel’s shoulder, “It isn’t going to be like that. We are girls for life. You had my back when no one else did. I ain’t going to forget that. I love you. I will call you later.” Ariel didn’t even acknowledge Dianne. Dianne walked to the door of Ariel’s house. Dianne yelled by to everyone in the house and then left.
Dianne drove to her house. She felt bad about leaving Ariel, but she had to get out of that house. Dianne thought about how she had treated Dr. Adkins-Garnett. Dianne felt bad. When she stopped at a red light, Dianne dialed the number that Dr. Adkins-Garnett had given her. No one answered the ministry’s telephone. Dianne left a message for Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “Dr. Adkins-Garnett, I apologize for how I acted today. I overreacted. I will talk to you later. Thanks for inviting me to church. I had a great time.” Dianne clicked the phone off. Dianne continued on to her house. She picked up a catfish nugget basket from Joe’s Chicken & Fish before going to her house. Her car was going to smell like catfish for a couple of days, but Dianne didn’t care. She was hungry and she wanted to eat in the solitude of her own house.
Mac didn’t want to go out to eat with his brother and friends. They all went back to the house to change clothes. Mac went to his room and got out of his suit. Someone knocked on his door. It was Shalalah Cargile, one of the girls who hung out with him and his brother. He opened the door, “What’s up?” Shalalah responded, “We are about to leave. You coming?” Mac shook his head, “Naw. I’m a stay here today. I do not feel good.” Shalalah left the door. A few minutes later, Mec came through the door. Mac sat up in his bed, “Fool, do you know how to knock on a closed door. You rude punk.” Mec snarled at his brother, “I got your punk. Why you not going wit us?” Mac huffed, “Cause I do not want to. Leave me alone.” Mec bounced down on the bed next to Mac, “I bet it has something to do with that old lady you were staring at in church.” Mac made a face, “It ain’t got anything to do with her. And quit talking about people.” Mec punched his brother in the chest, “Yea right. You want me to bring you something back grave robber?” Mac laughed, “I ain’t a grave robber. Naw you ain’t gotta bring me nothing back.” Mec stood up from the bed. He kissed Mac on the forehead and headed out the room. Mec stopped at the door and started singing, “Mac likes that old meat, old meat.” Mac threw a pillow at his brother. Mac could hear Mec singing down the hall.
It is a story about love, family, friends, and so much more. It ain't easy being the Bishop's son and trying to date an older woman. Enjoy, Flirting with Danger!
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