"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." –Lao Tzu
Current Mission: Get engagement ring
Household State: Normal
Chapter 1: If it's Love
Huey's Apartment (9:45 A.M.)
"Hello?"
"Hello, Mr. Freeman, this is Catherine Lewis from Kay Jewelers."
"Oh yes, hello."
"I just called to say that your engagement ring is all done and ready for pickup. What time will you be able to retrieve it?"
"Um, is around 2:00ish good enough?"
"Of course, sir."
"Good, good. I'll swing by there around that time."
"Alrighty then. See you soon! And remember, Every Kiss begins with Kay!"
Huey hung up the phone and decided now was as good as time as any to get up from bed. He sat up and rubbed his face before looking at the bedside where a picture frame was. The picture was of him and Jazmine sometime during their Senior year of college. She was all smiles for the camera as usual, while Huey was giving the slightest of smirks. She happened to have jumped on his back and had her arms around his neck, her Emerald Green eyes all sparkling. Huey sported a small smile before going about his morning.
He showered thoroughly, dried off, and brushed his teeth. He then ran the afro pick through his head, which had grown considerably fuller in the years past. His face had molded well for adulthood, but still remained young; after all, he was only twenty-four.
After dressing warmly (it was a bit chilly for the November atmosphere), he went down to his car and took off to complete the day's activity. But first, he had to check up on his old grandfather.
Freeman House (10:32 A.M.)
The doorbell rang.
"I'M COMING, I'M COMING!"
Granddad hobbled out to the main foyer, grumbling as usual over how people kept ringing his damn doorbell when they weren't welcome. He moved slowly but steadily with his cane, and at last he reached the door.
"Now who the hell is ringing my door at this hour? Making me lose my damn sleep over the likes of you people! Can't you tell I'm an old man?"
He continued mumbling as he opened the door, and to his surprise and happiness, he saw Huey standing on the doorstep.
"Boy!" He exclaimed as he reached out to hug Huey. "It's so great to see you!"
The corners of Huey's mouth turned upward slightly as he shook his head and hugged his grandfather; after all these years, Granddad still had the nerve to call him 'Boy'.
"Great to see you too, Granddad."
"Well come on in! Don't be stingy!"
Granddad back up and hobbled into the living room as Huey followed suit. The house still looked relatively the same since Huey had moved out and got a place of his own. The living room hadn't changed one bit. Granddad sat down in his recliner and Huey settled down in the couch that faced the television set.
"So how have things been around here, Granddad?"
"Oh you know, pretty quiet so far. Don't worry about me though, I got Tom and Ruckus looking out for me on a normal basis since Riley's back at school now."
Riley was a student at Syracuse University and recently went back to start his Senior year. Huey and Riley always worried about Granddad's health and safety while they were both away attending school. He was eighty-three years old now, and he was certainly up there in age as seen with his cane. His health is not as good as before, but he's still standing strong. Riley was Granddad's caregiver when Huey left for Harvard. But after Riley started school in New York, Tom and Ruckus checked up on Granddad frequently to make sure he was still doing okay. Huey and Riley both worked while on campus and had summer jobs while at home to help pay for their tuition; they didn't want Granddad having to pay for all of it. Their parents back home sent up money to help them out with school, but they both wanted to demonstrate how independent they were when it came to finances, even if it meant doing a bit more.
"Oh that's good," Huey replied, glad to hear that his grandfather was doing well.
"Yes, yes. Ruckus is still giving trouble though, but all is well."
Huey chuckled. Ruckus was always trouble coming.
"What's your plans for today then, Boy?"
"Well actually, I was on my way to Kay Jewelers to pick up an, ahem, an engagement ring for Jazmine…"
"Whaaa…? Oh my God…My grandson is all grown up now! And you definitely positive that Li'l Mama is The One?"
Huey nodded, a smile forming on his face. "Yes," he said, his smile widening with each passing second, "Yes she is."
"Ooooo I knew it! You and Li'l Mama were meant to be from the beginning! Just the perfect little couple!"
Huey bowed his head as the smile became too wide to contain and his cheeks started to burn. Yes. The perfect little couple.
"So how you gonna do it? Bring her up on that hillside in the park all you kids loved so much when you were younger?"
Huey glanced at the wall, but with a skeptical look. Sure, The Usual Spot was where he and Jazmine shared all their big life moments: The first time they spoke, first time they became friends, where they first held hands, shared their first kiss with each other, he asked her out on that hill, they announced their college choices, their first break up, and so on. Almost every first with each other was spent under that tree. But Huey didn't want to propose to Jazmine on The Hill. Even though it held special moments for them, proposing in The Usual Spot seemed a bit too…well…cliché.
"Nah, I think I'm gonna take her to that high end bistro that she loves going to for lunch. And then afterwards, I'm gonna drive to that really nice pond in town, take her by that really nice fountain, and do the honors there."
"Ahh, that sounds real nice, Huey," Granddad said as he grabbed his handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed the corners of his eye, "You plan on doing it soon though right?"
"Actually I was planning on doing it tomorrow."
"Good! Hmph! I want to see some real nice great-grandbabies before I die!"
Huey laughed as he made to get up. Granddad was always talking about more children.
"Well, I'm headed off to get the ring. I'll drop by soon, Granddad."
"Oh okay, Boy. Just let yourself out. Meanwhile I'm gonna go tell yo' daddy the news. My Grandson is going to marry the girl of his dreams!"
Huey shook his head one last time before leaving the house. He may not be young anymore, but Robert Freeman definitely still had some energy left in him.
Woodcrest Mall (1:50 P.M.)
Huey entered the mall from the south side. He had a bit of walking to do as Kay's was located on the north side. He thought over his idea of proposing to Jazmine. He just wanted everything so right. As he walked around clouded in his thoughts, he jumped when he heard his name being called.
"Yo, Freeman!"
Huey snapped his head around and saw his longtime friend Michael Caesar walking out of the tattoo parlor, 'Ink'd Nation'. He was a part-time worker there and spent most of his time in the studio with Thugnificant forming CDs and being an Emcee at local clubs. Rap had been pretty good for him.
"What's up, Michael?" Huey smirked as they clasped hands. "You just got off work?"
"Nah man, I'm only on break. I just did like two people this morning. What brings you to this part?"
"Oh I'm just here picking up an engagement ring for Jazmine."
"Oohhh shiiitttt!" Caesar exclaimed as he covered his mouth with his gloved hand. "You actually goin' through with this?!"
"Yes, I am," Huey said smugly, a smile becoming prominent."
"Iyessss! My man!" He smacked Huey on the back. "Aye, lemme walk with you right quick!"
The duo continued walking throughout the mall, Caesar uttering out phrases of how happy he was and Huey still thinking about his proposal plan. As they walked, they happened to see Cindy walking their direction. Cindy was a Senior at University of California but she often flew up to visit.
"Hey you guys!" she called out at them.
They walked and met her halfway. "Hey, Mr. Grumpy," she said with a smirk as she grabbed Huey's chin and shook his head before giving him a one armed hug. "And there's my baby boy," she said sweetly as she kissed Caesar on the lips. They had been dating for about three years now, and they were as happy as ever. Huey often wondered when Caesar would tie the knot. Probably not until
"Hey babe, guess what?" Caesar said as he held her hand.
"What?"
"Guess who's getting his dream girl an engagement ring?"
Cindy cocked her head, confused at first, but then she slowly turned her head to face Huey, her mouth becoming wider and wider as it formed a large O.
"No…freaking…way…"
Huey nodded to confirm it and Cindy practically went bat crazy; she shrieked and jumped a bit, dropping her shopping bags as she lightly beat Huey on his chest and arms. Caesar fought to hold her back.
"Ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod OHMYGOD!" She shouted in a mush of words. "You're gonna marry my best friend! EEEKKK!"
"Cindy calm down," Caesar ushered as Huey began to blush, "Seriously, you're causing a scene."
Sure enough, people were staring at them disapprovingly. Huey instantly saw why: Two black guys and one white girl. They might as well be raping her. Some things just didn't change.
"No seriously, Cindy. You should compose yourself more. The people are not liking what they see."
Cindy instantly remembered and understood before calming down. This was still 'Whitecrest' after all.
"Sooooooo when are you getting the ring?" she asked, now straightened up and normal.
"We were on the way to get it right now," Caesar said.
"Oooo! I wanna come and see!"
"I guess you can," Huey said as he made to walk again, "But try and act like you have some class this time. I didn't expect this from a McPhearson."
Cindy nodded, although offended by that last statement; The McPhearsons were of the higher upperclass rich families in Woodcrest. They were snobbish to the extreme and racist too, no joke. But strangely enough, Cindy somehow didn't turn out to be like her parents.
They continued walking down through the mall until finally they reached Kay Jewelers. A dirty blonde woman was sitting behind one of the counters. Huey approached her.
"Hi, welcome to Kay Jewelers! How may I help you?" she greeted brightly as she saw Huey.
"Hi, my name is Huey Freeman, and I'm here to pick up an engagement ring."
"Oh yes, Mr. Freeman! Just one second, your ring will be right out."
She got up and went into the back to retrieve the ring. Cindy began getting jumpy in anticipation and even Huey was anxious to see the ring. Finally, the blonde came out and held a black box. She opened the box and when she did, Cindy lost it, Caesar was in shock, and Huey was at a loss for words. The ring was a 14K White-Gold with ¼ carat little diamonds lining the center of the band. The diamond itself was a 0.40 Carat D-S12 Round cut. The blonde closed the box top and handed it to Huey.
"Please sign here to signify you have received the ring," she said while handing him a clipboard.
Huey signed his signature on the paper and handed it back. He then gently picked up the box and placed it in his jacket pocket.
"Have a nice day, Mr. Freeman! And remember, Every Kiss begins with Kay!"
The three walked off, and Cindy tried hard not to lose it again, but to no avail.
"Oh my God, Huey Deondre Freeman is about to propose to my best friend! When will it be?"
"Tomorrow during the lunch hour after I've treated her to a nice meal."
"My man!" Caesar exclaimed. "I'm so happy for you guys!"
"Mmmm-hmmm! Same here!"
Huey turned the opposite way as his smile grew wider by the second. He was in great anticipation for tomorrow.
"Oh by the way, Huey, for tomorrow you should wear something black or something underneath your clothes," Cindy said, a smirk evident in her voice, "Remember: Jazmine's a crier."
