"You and I, don't want a price
From what we like
But it's coming
Wish that time was on my side
But it keeps running
Hands on the wall would sang
Hands on my body screaming
We're loving out of time"
Rosie Lowe – "Paris, Texas"
Erik kept his eyes wide open, looking for Disa.
When his class marched in formation toward their seats in front of the spectators of family and friends, he focused on sneaking a peek at the crowd inside the auditorium when he made the sharp turn into the row of chairs to take his place among fellow graduates. His back was ramrod straight in his dark dress blue navy uniform as he stood in front of his chair. He scoped the officers in front of him through the gaps of the other graduates staggered before him. His right leg shook with impatience. He wanted the ceremony to be over so he could go to her. Hold her. Touch her face. Reacquaint himself with her light.
The night before, he read all of her love letters again. Each line was a poem and a secret song just for his lovesick heart. All he could think about was getting through the day, having dinner, then grabbing his duffle bags and running off with his family down to D.C. He would ride to D.C. with Disa, along with his aunt and uncle, for a relaxing road trip. They'd spend two days with Bakari and Shavonne before catching a flight to Sao Paulo.
Rubbing his white-gloved hands in tiny nervous, imperceptible circles, Erik itched to turn around and look for Disa.
They made an announcement that allowed family to walk from their seats toward the front, where they could take pictures of their loved ones. His leg shook even more as he waited to see if Bakari, Shavonne, or Disa would be able to find him before people were told to return to their seats. The Black officer next to him, Baxter, sucked air under his breath as he sputtered in a near whisper,
"My God, who is she here for?"
Erik moved only his eyes to the right, and he caught the vision of her.
My God indeed.
His mouth went lax as he stared at the woman in the killer navy-blue waist-tied blazer dress that sat snug on every lush curve. The ruched long sleeves were sheer, and there was respectful cleavage that gave views of her ample breasts. Matching heels made her statuesque frame hard to openly ignore. She held up her cell phone with Aunt Shavonne next to her, also taking pictures and probably video clips of him to share with everyone around the world. Disa stepped closer to the aisle to get a better shot, and her body jiggled in all the right places. Even the training officer at the podium had to stop and look at her.
"Damn," another officer said from behind him.
Disa waved and blew him a kiss as the guests were asked to return to their seats.
"Is that your lady?" Baxter whispered.
Erik didn't respond.
A commander gave the verbal signal for the new officers to look behind themselves to make sure they were close to their chairs to sit, and on cue, all the men and women graduates sat down at the same time. They all placed their gloved hands on their thighs and waited for the signal to stand up again and listen to a military band stationed in the rear of the auditorium behind the guests to play "The Star-Spangled Banner". Instructions were given to family and friends again of what to expect, and then once more Erik and the crew were standing up, hands in a salute, as the music played. A chaplain gave the invocation and eventually they could sit down again. Gloves were taken off and placed at their feet. The captain gave the graduation speech and Erik tried to focus on keeping his leg still. Another captain took to the podium and eventually, time sped by.
There were announcements for award recognitions for outstanding enlisted men and officers chosen by classmates and high-ranking staff. Erik nearly yawned until his name was called.
"Officer Erik Stevens and Lieutenant Commander Brian Houghton… front and center."
Erik stood up from his middle row and headed toward the aisle. His moves were precise and sharp. He walked with confident strides toward the stage where two high-ranking lieutenants stood waiting to hand him a gold-embossed certificate of achievement. Erik walked up on stage first and gave a salute to the officer who held his award. Over a mic, another officer spoke to the audience.
"The Honor Student Award goes to the officer who best demonstrates an overall excellence in the areas of academics, physical fitness, and military bearing…"
Erik held one side of the award as the older lieutenant held the other. They faced a photographer in front of the stage so they could snap a photo. He then saluted and shook the hand of the other seasoned lieutenant and walked offstage and back to his seat. Another award was given to two other graduates, and Erik relaxed. Just ten more minutes and it would be over—
"Officer Erik Stevens and Ensign Jeff Kolchak… front and center…"
Again?
Erik shot up from his seat and left his first award on his chair. More crisp walking led him back up onto the stage.
"… the Captain Frank Temple Cooper Leadership award is presented to the officer who personifies the highest standards of personal example, good leadership practices, and more responsibility. The recipients of this award were nominated by their peers and selected by officer training command staff…"
Erik took his second award, posed for another picture, and strode offstage with a secret pimp step in his gait. A final award was given, and a small bit of pomp and circumstance took place before they rose from their seats again, and reaffirmed the oath of office.
"All personnel in uniform, please come to the position of attention…"
"Class 20050 … attention!"
Erik stood with his class.
"Class 20050, raise your right hand."
They all did.
"Repeat after me…"
The young white female officer before them spoke the words the others followed. Erik mimicked the language, but in certain key parts where the constitution, the United States, or war were mentioned, Erik substituted the Black diaspora and his family. He cemented his fervor in overthrowing the country of his birth and any other country that oppressed people that looked like him. Standing there in his dress uniform, looking sharp as a tack, Erik reaffirmed his personal goal of taking over the world with the ultimate justice claim. The blood in his veins boiled hot, and he ground his teeth together to keep himself centered. Patience. The reward would come in due time. Today was the start of being inside the Trojan horse.
More band music played to close out the ceremony.
When it was over, he grabbed his things and lined up with his fellow graduates to take the class photos in front of the stage. The enlisted men took their group photos first. When they were finished, they moved out of the way so that the officers could take theirs. Erik was tall, so he was positioned in the back of the group photo, but at the end. He gave a serious look until family and friends could come up with their own opportunity to take more pictures after the professional photographer finished.
He watched Disa scamper forward with the biggest grin on her face. Bakari and Shavonne joined her, but Shavonne started crying and his uncle had to console her.
At last.
They were free to go to their families before the dinner.
Erik clutched his cover close to his chest. His other hand held his awards and gloves. Disa approached him with shiny eyes and a smile bigger than the world. Her hands reached out and touched his face as a surge of people swarmed around them to get to their loved ones.
"Baby," she said.
Her matte red lips touched his, and he fought to keep tears inside.
Home.
Her lips tasted like home.
She stopped the closed-mouth kiss and pressed her forehead into his and they breathed for each other.
"You look amazing… beautiful. Powerful…" she whispered into his parted lips.
He couldn't even speak. Sound vanished around him. His peripheral was a blurred, hazy nothingness. He heard only his heartbeat and Disa's voice.
"I love you," she cooed.
Her fingers slid around his neck, and she rested her temple on his shoulder. His full hands rested near her sides until Uncle Bakari grabbed his personal items so he could wrap his arms around her waist. He rocked her and they stood that way for nearly ten minutes. He just wanted her softness, her caresses, and the feel of her warm breath on his neck.
"Shavonne, honey…"
Uncle Bakari tried to soothe the tears still streaming down Aunt Shavonne's face.
"Go," Disa said.
She unwrapped herself from him and he pulled her in close again for a proper kiss. Disa tapped his shoulder and pressed closer into him.
"Save that for later. I know how you get," she teased.
She tapped her fingers on his back to make him greet his aunt.
"Hey Auntie," he said.
Aunt Shavonne was small and cute. He leaned down to hug and kiss her.
"So handsome! And you got all those awards. You see him get all those awards, Bakari? Best in his class," she said.
"Yes, baby, I was here with you. I saw him," Uncle Bakari said, winking at Erik.
"Here, let me hold his awards so they won't get messed up," Shavonne said.
She took his awards, and Uncle Bakari shook his hand before hugging him.
"Proud of you nephew. A soldier like your daddy and mom."
"Yep."
"Where's your gear? We better put that in the car before the dinner."
"They have our stuff in a special storage room."
"Let's get it put away," Bakari said.
Erik put on his cover.
"Take a picture with him and Disa over by the flags, baby," Shavonne said.
Another fifteen minutes were wasted taking pictures. They were assisted by one of his classmates who used their three cell phones so they could all be in a photo together. He clasped Disa's hand in his and showed off having her as they walked across the auditorium. He made sure to pass by Baxter and a few of the guys who snuck peeks at his photos from home by accident. Their eyes bulged when they saw Disa in person and up close.
Punk bitches.
She looked like a priceless jewel on his arm.
"Officer Stevens."
One captain stopped his stride toward the exit.
"Captain Lewis," Erik said.
A robust-looking white man with thinning hair blocked their path. They shook hands, and he introduced his aunt and uncle. When it came to Disa, Erik put his arm around her waist and said, "This is my fiancé, Dr. Disa Abdullah-Woods."
Disa's mouth fell open. So did Bakari and Shavonne's.
"You all have a stellar young officer here. We expect exciting things from him. You should all be proud. I have my eye on you, Officer Stevens."
Captain Lewis dug into the pocket of his uniform and pulled out a card.
"This is the contact info of Lieutenant Oscar Filmore out at the Naval Amphibious Base. If you have any questions or concerns about your training out there, he is your contact. He knows that I'm looking out for you. Get in touch with him as soon as you get some free time. He can help you with the transition to San Diego after your eight weeks in Illinois."
"Thank you, sir," Erik said.
Captain Lewis saluted Erik, and he did the same right back. They shook hands, and the man turned to Disa.
"You're marrying a hell of a soldier, Dr. Abdullah-Woods."
Flustered, Disa stood there in shock. Erik pulled her by her hand. Outside in the sunshine and away from the swarm of people, his family surrounded him with perplexed looks.
"Fiancé?" Disa said.
"Yeah, about that…"
Erik dug into his pocket and pulled out a velvet black box. He dropped to his knee and held the box open. The five-thousand-dollar engagement ring sparkled in the bright outdoor light. 1.30 carat Marquise cut Pavé infinity diamond engagement ring. Aunt Serah made sure it arrived to him before he left for training.
"Oh, Jesus!" Shavonne said.
"Will you marry me, Disa?"
Disa's hand flew to her mouth.
"This is for the future. I'm not rushing us any time soon, but I am tryna lock you down. You are my queen. You're uprooting yourself to come to the west coast with me and I don't want you to think I'm not really down with you for life, Ma. This is a promise. A few years from now, I want to tell people you are Dr. Mrs. Disa Stevens."
Her eyes were on him and not on the ring.
A shiver went down his back. Was that doubt in her eyes? How long were women supposed to take to answer? Weren't they supposed to scream and jump up and down? Fear gripped him.
Was this a no?
