The long white limousine pulled in front of her high-rise midtown condo. Inside on the back seat, a bottle of champagne, a dozen yellow roses, and a card with no signature.       

CONGRATULATIONS CHRISTINA, WELCOME TO THE WINNER CIRCLE.

How difficult is it to just be there? Show up. Be present, just for her. Bradley was a now show. Again.Unlike her parents who were there for her before day one.

Christina Marie Taylor was a miracle birth and an only child. After the last miscarriage in their mid-forties, Elmo and Mary Teal were ready to consider adoption. Then, Mary missed a period. No big deal until the next month when she missed another one.

“Looks like your going to use that nursery after all” the doctor happily announced to them. The happily married couple of 22 years celebrated thanking God while Elmo cried more tears than Mary.

Determined to provide Christina with anything she could ask or think of, it was impossible for her to avoid becoming a spoiled royal brat.

 Christina was chocolate brown like warm cocoa with her Mother’s hips and her Father’s brilliance. Before Andie Russell enrolled at Langston University, Christina was enjoying life like everybody’s “Miss Everything”.     

Andie Russell was a transfer student from the University of Austin. A stunning underachiever with blinding beauty attached to an undervalued brain. They were both Journalism Majors who were destined to meet at some point.  When they met, they became tighter than knotted shoelaces.

 As a team project, they produced a magazine for Women of multi-cultures. The Journalism Department was so impressed, they financed the publication. Andie and Christina became instant campus celebrities who represented the voice of young women. For the first time in her life, Andie felt she really belonged. She no longer had to choose between her mixed heritage of African-American or Anglo-American.

 One night, while shaving her legs, Andie got a phone call.

“Who is it”? asked Christina.

“My cousin Kevin,” said Andie. “He needs me.”

“Where is he,?” Christina wondered.

“He said he’ll be waiting at the Pit”. Andie said.

“The SNAKE Pit? “Christina replied. Do they still film “Dare Me to Do It” there? Do you know what kind of place that is?

” I know about it, but something’s up. Will you cover me?”

“Do I have a choice”. Christina said.

“No”.    

Kevin had everything going for him to become a movie star except for a career as one. He was a walking 8×10-glamour photograph, perfect in all features. A triple threat. He had the works. Six feet four, baritones voice, sexy beyond belief, with intelligence, and charm is just thrown in extra. He was Andie’s favorite cousin. She was his secret keeper.

Andie drove up to the Snake Pit and squeezed past the sweaty crowd at the front of the bar. The smoke was as thick as a three-alarm fire but Kevin spotted her immediately.

“Hey Cuz, you still got it girl”. Kevin shouted. “What are you drinking”?

” White Wine, what’s up?” She asked.

“The sitcom didn’t get picked up, my demo has mysteriously disappeared from some jack-leg record producer at Opportunity Records and this was on my door when I came home”.

“You’ve been evicted again?”

“Strike three.”

” I suggest you call the Salvation Army. I’m broke”.

“You know they don’t have room service”.

Kevin could always make her laugh. His life was a work in progress. He regularly reinvented himself.

“I can charge a bus ticket back home for you, take it or leave it”.

“Will that be first class”?

“Take it or leave it”.

 Their drinks finally arrived but Andie had been ready to leave when she arrived.

She didn’t care for the atmosphere, nor the waitress with a tongue longer than the snake around her neck who stared a little too long in her direction. She appar

They had a short visit and Kevin went back on the road in his continuous search for the spotlight. Andie went back to campus.

 A few days went by, news spread about Andie hanging out regularly at “Freak Spot” an unofficial grooming parlor for the so-called washed-up.

 And so it began, a hate campaign fueled with vicious rumors about Andie.

Christina watched Andie as she tried to live above the lies. But she did not succeed.  Andie slowly withdrew from everyone including Christina. 

After weeks of avoiding her calls, and not hanging out with her, Christina decided to invite Andie to dinner the next Friday evening.

Friday arrived, but no Andie. Christina had two complimentary appetizers as she convinced the manager that her party was just late. At five after eight, Andie rushed in.

  She was with an unshaven, stoned-faced individual she introduced as “Meechy.” Christina didn’t like it but she forced a smile and invited them to join her.

  “How was Homecoming? Andie said with little interest.

“Kansas State kicked our butt, we lost the game”. Christina replied.

“What about you? Did you win?” Andie asked.

“Only because you dropped out of the race.” Christina laughed.

“You and that “Black means Beautiful” slogan. I guess it worked.”

“Black has always been beautiful Andie, the slogan just commercialized it”.

Meechy’s eyes stayed on Andie like melted gum on a hot July sidewalk Christina knew his type, and he knew her type.

“We can’t stay Chris”. Andie said with bourbon breath. “Meechy and I have

a date, I’m sorry”.

 Sorry is right, she thought to herself. This was not a date.

He looked more like someone who could start a riot at the nearest maximum-security prison.

“What about the new series you wanted to develop…ASK A WOMAN”?

“First of all, it was SOMEBODY SHOULD ASK A WOMAN, secondly, who cares?

The publisher already said this may be the last issue”.

“So that’s it? You’re going to quit? ” We started this together Andie, the women on campus will support us, we have to fight”.

“No, Christina, they will support you, everyone supports you… not us.”

“You can’t mean that Andie, this is not like you”. Andie paused with a second thought look in her eyes.                                        

 ” I’ll come in tomorrow,” she promised.

Andie stood up from her seat and Meechy put his hand on her firm backside trying to appear helpful but really helping himself. As they walked away, Meechy winked his eye at Christina puckering his lips.

“Miss Christina, are we ready to order now“? Asked the sarcastic waiter.

“No Thank you, I am ready to leave”.