I looked out the window as the vibrant city of Phoenix showed just how beautiful it is. People were going about their day, eating outside, laughing, and I even saw someone propose marriage to their partner. I looked over to Tyson to see him bobbing his head slightly to the music I was playing on the stereo.
"Oh, so you like Johnny Cash?"
"I know I bought you that vinyl back home but I just wanted to hear at least one song from the album. Thanks for playing it for me."
"You're welcome. I wonder where we are headed."
"Somewhere we haven't been in a long time."
I didn't expect to spend some time at a miniature golf course but I instantly felt like a kid again when Tyson pulled into the parking lot of the place. I eagerly jumped out of the car when Tyson opened my door and gave him the biggest kiss I could muster up.
"I see someone is excited. Are you afraid that I'm gonna win a round of golf?"
"Like hell, toots!" I quickly slammed the door shut and pulled Tyson right behind me as we walked up to the entrance.
I had eagerly reached into my bag to grab my wallet to pay for our tickets despite Tyson telling me that he'd pay for everything. I dismissed him while the cashier took my card, swiped it, and gave us our tickets.
"I pay for everything else," Tyson said to me.
"Okay, you can buy me a plushie."
"Will do."
We walked to where we had to exchange our tickets for golf clubs and the golf balls and made our way to the start of the course. Tyson let me go first and when I did, I managed to get the ball into the hole as soon as I hit it. Tyson scoffed at me, said "Lucky hit", and then placed his ball on the ground so he could hit it and managed to get his into the hole as well.
"Lucky hit," I retorted.
"Hmph."
As we went through the course, some holes were easier to get to than others: some were located on a small hill and if we didn't hit it hard enough, our ball would come rolling back to us. Some courses were zig zagged which Tyson said increased my chances of cheating but I told him he is just mad that I'm a pro and he's not. I watched as Tyson placed his golf ball down and studied the course: right, left, right right...eyes back on the ball and swing. Right, left, right…but stops.
"I bet I can make it with one more hit," he told me.
I watched as he walked to where his ball stopped and immediately hit it without even thinking about the next move. The ball somehow found its way into the hole and Tyson turned back to look at me with a big look on his face...but I managed to erase that smirk when it was my turn. I hit my ball with ease, watching it hit the corners and land right where it needed to.
"What!?"
"I have luck on my side today! What can I say?"
"Bullshit!"
I walked up to him, wrapped my arms around him, and kissed his cheek as he continued to seeth.
"We'll call it a tie. We both have had a great time today."
"Yes, we have but I need to know one thing: who won?"
"To not hurt your feelings, I'll say you won."
"Hmm….no. I didn't win this game but I will say this: being here with you is a win in itself."
"Oh…" I smiled as I gave Tyson a big hug but I didn't let go for a while.
Tyson squeezed me once he heard me sniffling into his shirt because my eyes decided to do this thing called crying.
"It's okay," Tyson said. "Let it all out."
My husband is the most understanding person and I'm lucky to even call him my husband. Whatever time I needed to let out my anger or feelings was time that needed to happen. I never wanted to seem like a burden but I knew I wasn't: I just needed someone that would help me get through some bad days.
"Sorry."
"Don't apologize. Are you feeling better?"
"Yeah...I just didn't expect you to say something that would make me cry."
"I'm glad I did say something that will remind you that I love you."
"I love you more."
"Now onto that plushie you wanted me to buy."
After our game of golf, we headed over to the arcade and game area to see what goodies were on display. I quickly spotted a SpongeBob plushie that Tyson purchased for me and I decided to end up buying a Patrick plushie to go along with his friend.
"Are you calling me stupid?" Tyson teased.
"Maybe," I joked.
"Well, at least we have matching plushies. Where to next?"
"Hmm...I have a taste for some BBQ."
"BBQ it is then."
A plate of ribs were shared between me and Tyson as we devoured the delicious food that was placed in front of us. I don't think we were aware of how much of a mess we were making until we looked at each other's face to see BBQ sauce damn near everywhere and laughed at how silly we looked. We took napkins to wipe off the sauce that smeared on our faces and I even whipped out some hand sanitizer so that we could get the stickiness off our hands.
"Damn, we're eating like pigs. Remember when I took you to a BBQ place back home while you were pregnant with Tyra and you got highly upset with me when I took a sip of your lemonade?"
"That's when I threatened to beat you up. I remember that and I did forgive you!"
"You harped on it for an entire week before you fully forgave me."
"It was all out of love." I leaned my head against him as I sipped on my water to quench my thirst.
"How are you feeling right now?"
"Better. How are the kids?"
"They're doing just fine with Jules and Jackie."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive. Don't worry about the kids because they're fine, Tia. Just relax…"
"I'm good, I'm good."
"You hear that?"
My ears grabbed ahold of the music that started to play over the speakers playing in the restaurant: it was the one and only Johnny Cash playing and I spotted some people gathering in a corner that looked like a small dance floor.
"Is this place a restaurant and a club?" I asked Tyson.
"Not a club," he said with a chuckle. "But a place where people can dance after eating good food and drinking."
"You want to hit the dance floor?"
"Most definitely."
When we got to the floor, Tyson didn't do much because he has two left feet and can't keep much rhythm going. I told him to pretend that the floor was the DDR machine at home and to move along with me. He put his hands on my hips as we swayed back and forth, my arms around him as we just vibed to the song playing and pretended we were the only ones in the building.
"Side to side, side to side," I said to Tyson. "Let the music take over…"
"Alright," he said.
I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the desert's bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
Of had I've a'had my share, man
I've been everywhere man
I've been to Reno, Chicago, Fargo, Minnesota, Buffalo, Toronto
Winslow, Sarasota, Wichita, Tulsa, Ottawa, Oklahoma, Tampa
Panama, Mattawa, La Paloma, Bangor, Baltimore, Salvador
Amarillo, Tocopilla, Barranquilla, and Padilla, I'm a killer
I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the desert's bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel I've a'had my share, man
I've been everywhere, man
Before I knew, Tyson had me spinning around the dancefloor and had me laughing in excitement as we continued to dance until the cows came home.
