Nov 4, 2005

Dianne arrived at the By Example Ministries building for her lunch date with Dr. Adkins-Garnett at 1:20 PM.  They were supposed to go to lunch at 2:00.  Dianne could not figure out why Dr. Adkins-Garnett had scheduled such a late lunchtime.  Dianne walked into the office.  The women in the office stopped and looked at Dianne.  She smiled at the women and told Charlotte, Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s assistant that she was there to meet her for lunch.  Charlotte asked Dianne to have a seat.  Dianne sat down as Charlotte paged Dr. Adkins-Garnett on the intercom.  Dianne rubbed the leg of her brown pants.  She looked fabulous in her green and brown turtleneck sweater.  The sweater went well with her brown pants.  Her brown boots matched her outfit to a tee.  Her make-up was flawless, and her silver jewelry sparkled slightly.  The women in the office were still staring at her.  Dianne made a face, at no one in particular, and began playing with her brown and green purse.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett walked out of her office, “Hello, Dianne, glad you could make it.  Why do not you come on in my office?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at the women in her office standing around, “Do not you all have some work to do!”  The women went to work.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett followed Dianne into her office.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett sat down in the chair behind her desk and Dianne sat down in one of the chairs in front of Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s desk.

Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “I see you are looking as fabulous as ever.”

“Thanks.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett nodded, “Is that all you can muster?”

Dianne looked around, “I guess so.  When are we leaving for lunch?”

“At 2:00.  We have 30 minutes.  We can talk for a few minutes.”

“Talk about what?”

“Nothing in particular, everything in particular.  How did you like the service Sunday?”

“It was okay.  That was the first time I had ever been in a church like that.”

“What kind of church had you been in before?”

“A Catholic church and a Baptist church.  I have only been to church two other times.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett gagged, “are you serious?”

“Yes, my family was not big on church.  I went to the Catholic church for a wedding and the Baptist church for a funeral.”

“Who’s wedding and who’s funeral?”

“You don’t know them, so why did you ask?”

“Just being nosey.”

Dianne didn’t respond.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “We have a service tonight.  It is Bible study.  Bishop usually teaches or one of the ministers teaches.  We are studying Romans right now.  We pray before Bible study.  Prayer starts at 6:00 and Bible study starts at 7:30.”  Dianne nodded at Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett responded, “Does that nod mean you will be coming or not?”  Dianne looked at the floor and then looked up at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “It doesn’t mean either.”  They both were quiet for a moment.  Dianne finally said, “Can I ask you something?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett nodded yes.  Dianne asked, “Why does your nephew stare at me when we are in church?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked puzzle, “Which one?”  Dianne responded, “The one that was at the picnic.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed loudly, “Sorry, MaClandon has a thing for older well dressed women.  And you are just his type.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett stopped and giggled, “It makes sense now.  That’s why he was looking for me.”  Dianne looked at the woman as she rambled.  Dianne made a face, “What are you talking about?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “Kevon told me that Mac was looking for me on Sunday.  I saw Mac in the parking lot and he didn’t’ say anything to me.  He must have been trying to get to me to speak to you.”  Dianne frowned, “Oh my.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “do not worry about Mac, he’s very respectful and well-mannered, if you told him that you weren’t interested in him, he would leave you alone.  Now, the other, Mec, I can’t say the same thing about him.”

“Yea, Mec looks like he’s lady’s man.”

“Girl, why would you say that?”

“I am pretty good and reading men.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked puzzled, “How did you get good at that?”

“It helped with my old job.”

“The job that you don’t like talking about.”

“Yes, that job.”

“So, Dianne, I suppose you can read any man.”

“Yes, Mame.  As long as I have seen him once or twice, I can.”

Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “What about my husband?”  Dianne responded, “He loves you a lot.  He has you laughing all the time.  He likes the way you look in black nighties.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett turned red as both of the ladies laughed.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “I am going to hurt him for doing that.”  Dianne laughed, “That was a good one.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett titled her head, “Uhh huh.  What about Mac?”  Dianne smiled, “He seems like a computer geek.  He likes to dress nicely.  He likes staring at me.  He seems sweet.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “Yep, that’s him.  What about Mec?”  Dianne twisted her lips, “He thinks he looks good and that women think he looks good, too.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “You got all of that from just seeing him in the choir stand?”  Dianne smiled, “Not really.  As I was leaving the parking lot Sunday, I saw him standing in the midst of a bunch of girls.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett shook her head, “I am sure he was.  What about Bishop?”  Dianne responded, “He seems like a family man that tries to make sure his family does right.  He loves his church members.  He loves God.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “Yea, that’s my brother.  That’s a gift you have.”  Dianne frowned, “Not really.  I learned how to do it so I could better service my clients.”  Dianne had a horrified look on her face.  She became very quiet.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett could tell that Dianne had said something that was not supposed to be said so Dr. Adkins-Garnett changed the subject, “When you come to church tonight, you can wear something like what you have on.  We do not usually dress up for services during the week.”  Dianne looked at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, “Who said I was coming to service tonight?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled, “You’re coming tonight.  I know you are.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled again as if she knew a secret.  Dianne said, “Lady, you are weird.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett nodded, “I know, but I usually get my way, so that’s why you are coming to church tonight.”  Dianne slyly said, “And if I do not come to church tonight, what will happen?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Dianne, “You don’t want to know.”  Dianne stared at Dr. Adkins-Garnett, trying to figure the woman out.  Was she physic or something?  What was her angle?  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “I am not physic either.  I just know what I know.”  Dianne stared more intently at the woman.

Charlotte’s voice came over the intercom, “Dr. Adkins-Garnett, Mavis is here.  Do you want me to send her in?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett responded back, “Yes, Charlotte, send her in.”  A minute later, a heavy set light-skinned woman walked into Dr. Adkins-Garnett’s office.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett stood up, walked around the desk over to Mavis, and hugged the woman.   Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “Hey Mavis.  Glad you could help me out.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett looked at Dianne, “Mavis, this is Dianne Roberts.  Dianne, this is Mavis Washington.  She is a friend from college.”  Dianne and Mavis exchanged hellos.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett turned her attention to Mavis, “I need you to take over for me for the rest of the day.  I have two classes and a meeting with a parent.  You okay with that?”  Mavis said, “Yea, does Charlotte have what I need to do your classes and meet with the parent?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett said, “Yes.  I will tell her to bring it into you when I leave.  Come on Dianne.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett told Mavis goodbye and walked out of her office with Dianne in tow.  On the way out of the building, Dr. Adkins-Garnett stopped at Charlotte’s desk, “Can you take Mavis the material for my classes tonight?  Also, give her the folder on Danisha Frazier.  I will see you tomorrow.”  Before Charlotte could respond, Dr. Adkins-Garnett was walking out of the building with Dianne.

The two women reached Dianne’s car.  Dianne said, “Are we supposed to spend the rest of the day together?”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett smiled mysteriously, “I was thinking about doing that, that way, you would end up going to church with me tonight.”  Dianne backed away from Dr. Adkins-Garnett.  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed, “You need to quit.  We are going to have lunch together that’s all.  You are scary.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett laughed loudly, “Is Café Pessels okay?”  Dianne said, “Yes Mame.”  Dr. Adkins-Garnett started walking towards her car, “You can follow me.”  Dianne got in her car as Dr. Adkins-Garnett headed to her car.  Dianne thought, “This woman is crazy, but I like her.”