Venus took a dainty sip of her Mai-tai
The day began with a spa treatment, continued with shopping, and a visit to an elegant hair salon.
Her plans for shopping were interrupted by exhaustion, hunger, and of course, thirst!
"Gracious sakes, this has been a busy morning!" she exclaimed, smiling at the young woman across from her. "It might be a good idea to wear sleeves tonight!" she whispered, anticipating the family dinner at Jakes Seafood, "they got this ac cranking!" She was thinking about the earlier and very important purchase of two Black Dresses. Shocked at Megan's sparse wardrobe, she was more than happy to contribute.
Megan was beginning to relax enough to let details of her relationship with Abel slip here and there.
" So ...how serious is this between you two? Have there been any ... intimate moments? "
Megan watched Venus smile delicately over her drink. It wasn't an unexpected question, so she felt comfortable talking to her about Abel, unlike with her own mother.
" I'm really undecided on that..." she answered. Remembering his "safety meetings" she wished she was quietly getting baked herself. " We've come close, and done some stuff, but..."
Venus leaned closer to hear, her eyes suddenly very intense.
"...he's such a...a...manwhore !"
Megan was startled as the elegant woman suddenly coughed into her cocktail…
After lengthy conversation, and another Mai Tai, they walked the two blocks back to yellow beach house.
A Day with the Girls was a success, Venus thought, gently hanging up a tee shirt she purchased for Abel earlier. It was painfully clear just how Abel was beginning to follow his own fathers' attitude towards the opposite sex.
She fought the impulse find her "grandson" and slap him to Saint Louis.
Her grandson wasn't having a good day. Frozen bolts, a couple missing sockets, and long lines at a local parts supply shop added to his frustration with what started as simple maintenance on Walters' minivan.
Propped up on jacks and blocks of wood in a tight airless shack behind the tattoo shop
began with changing oil, then replaced shock absorbers, and a coolant fan. It was obvious Walter wasn't much on vehicle maintenance, but the tattoo he was getting in exchange for the work seemed worth it. Then there was the battery, covered with fluffy corrosion spreading up the cables.
" You're gonna need new brake pads pretty soon " he reported to the shop owner, shivering in the air conditioning. He didn't want to push that further until after he got his ink. Mini vans sukt in general, and he couldn't get away from them.
Walter paused with his client, a skinny woman with piercings.
" You wanna come in early Saturday morning ?"
.
" Awesome, I'll be here. It's gonna ride a lot better with the new shocks !" Abel responded, relieved there was no further work desired.
"Much obliged my friend, be here by 7 a.m. " Walter called out, but Abel was outside already.
Abel returned to the house, seemingly deserted, until he heard Megan diving into the pool out back. Feeling tired, he rummaged thru the fridge, and finding some leftover chicken, he quickly finished it , while watching Megan gently float , the sunlight practically glowing on her.
" Don't leave your mess for me to clean up, young man." Venus's voice startled him, a moment later it seemed.
" I wasn't finished," he responded, self-consciously, quickly finding a couple more drumsticks.
She watched him sit facing the backyard, seemingly oblivious to anyone else. " Don't spoil your appetite before dinner either."
The ritual of going out to Jake's was important, seemingly more so this year, she thought.
" I won't, this is all I had to eat since Robin Hoods." He mumbled, quickly shredding the last leg.
" I picked up a few things while we were out... they're on your bed. "
She added, watching him closely, his attention focused on Megan.
" You been sitting here watching almost a solid half hour.. You better treat her right..."
Abel turned to the Glamazon, hands on her hips.
"What..?"
" She's not some ratchet, she's a beautiful young woman, and she cares pretty deeply for you, sweetheart," Venus settled in the seat next to him. " I'm not up to date with you boys as much as I'd like, being y'all are growing so fast. An here you are surrounded with all these girls, so thirsty..." She emphasized the last word, looking him in the eye. " Is she one of those?"
He sighed. " I guess you guys talked some shit, right?"
" Yea..." She answered, " we talked a lot of shit!" , her eyes boring into his...she would catch him lie in a hot second with those..
" Naw, she ain't that...not any.." he looked back out the sliding door.
" So what's going on, sweet baby? I see you with her, a smile like I never seen before on your face..." She leaned forward, gently touching his arm, like when he was a six-year-old.