Got To Give It Up
Saturday
Maggie, Sasha and Michonne wake to the exact same text: Still working. The nightly news provided limited coverage of the department's actions but as long as their guys were safe they would wait. Michonne selected her 'I'm Engaged' playlist and organized herself in the middle of the living room floor.
He fills me up…He gives me love… more love than I ever seen… he's all I got…he's all the man that I need…
She faces the 10 x 14 silver framed bulletin board attaching items from her collection to assemble her Wedding Vision Board. The final product includes swatches of fabric, magazine photos of food, dresses, shoes, suits, venues, flowers, playlists, Bible verses and quotes from authors and poets. Before she realizes how much time has passed her phone rings. "Hey Maggie…oh, Sasha you on the line too; sounds like a plan. I will get cookies from Ms. Eva's…meet in one hour-got it," she smiles as the call ends.
Tonight Noah's parents' host a house party and they are all invited. Aunt Carol even agreed to attend. Carl is balancing the register when he hears the collective squealing. He shakes his head, "What is so exciting?" he call out.
America, Sophia and Justice appear before him, "Jackets," they exclaim.
"Satin bomber jackets to be exact," America clarifies.
"Power Puff Girls," Sophia provides even greater detail to drive home the significance.
"We will be so freakin' cute," Justice declares.
"Really…aren't they kind of young," he questions.
"They are icons…you do not question their power," they chastise.
He holds up his hands in surrender, "You will look amazing."
"Nice save 'cuz," Sophia quips.
The Squad slips back into their conversation. "I wish Enid was coming," America laments.
"I know but Broderick got tickets to that art thing in Macon," Justice justifies.
"You sure Josh won't change his mind," America questions.
"Please…for a video game-never. Don't worry I am my own party," Sophia smiles.
Carol emerges from the back, "Everybody ready?"
"Yep…good to go," they reply nodding.
The Girls transformed the De-Briefing Conference room. Ice chests filled to capacity line the right wall. The tables against the left wall are covered with every flavor of cookie Ms. Eva's had on hand. Sasha, Maggie and Michonne hand out plate after plate of pizza to the exhausted deputies and SWAT team members. Morgan enters and takes in the scene with a smile. "Listen up…if you started duty yesterday-go home and do not return until Tuesday. That is a direct don't even think about it order," he commands.
They each look up searching for their significant other. "I know where they are," Sasha offers leading the trio out of the room. They each grab a plate and follow her to the 'War Room' in the back. Glenn, Rick and Daryl hunch over laptops completing reports. "Enough…time to eat…then home and straight to bed," they finish each other's sentence placing the plates in front of them.
"Hey Sweetheart…Hi Wifey…Hey Gorgeous," they greet with barely any voice left.
Daryl picks up his slice and Sasha massages his tense shoulders. "You are too good to me," he mumbles around a mouth full of food.
Maggie stands behind Glenn massaging his temples. His head falls back, "Ooh, a little piece of heaven," he exhales.
Michonne slides into Rick's lap and feeds him a slice. He smiles playfully when she steals a bite for herself. Sasha call out the pair, "Why the two of you got to be extra," she chides playfully.
They all laugh. The men silently thank God for their good fortune while the women give thanks that their men are safe in their arms.
Noah answers the door with the house party grooving behind him, "Welcome," he moves aside to let the group in the front door. He grabs America by the hand. "So here is the lay of the land: all food is between the kitchen and dining room; drinks are on ice in the sink and in chests in the backyard. Dancing in the family room-old school exclusive," he gestures in different directions.
"Thanks for the tour…I need to find your mom-I brought lemon bar," Carol explains leaving the teens behind.
"Ladies…bathroom," America lead the trio down the hallway.
Noah turns to Carl, "What up with the jackets?"
Carl shakes his head, "Do not question the iconic Power Puff Girls."
He nods, "Good looking out."
Their conversation is interrupted, "Where are my favorite nephews?"
"Hey Uncle Red," they turn in response.
"So, I don't have to drag you away from a game system and you are not in sweats or a hoodie-I'm impressed," he teases.
"Not this time," Noah replies.
"You remember what I told you…keep your head in them books and off these girls," he chides.
They mumble in response, "Mhm-hm…yep," without making eye contact.
He shakes his head, "Where are they?" he accuses.
"Who...What do you mean?" they are cut off in their lame denial.
"Carl, are you hungry?...Noah, you want something to drink?" Sophia, Justice and America approach.
"I am Uncle Red," he takes the initiative, "What are your names?" he smiles politely.
"I'm America…I'm Sophia...and I am Justice," they extend their hands in greeting.
"Nice to meet you; how do know these knuckleheads," he gestures to the guys.
"Oh, we're together…I'm Carl's cousin…We're dating," the girls gesture and speak after each other.
Before he can dig deeper Noah's mom calls the girls over, "Excuse us," they chorus before departing.
"Good luck…you're gonna need it," he laughs walking away.
"We know," they shrug responding in unison.
Rick exits the bathroom in light blue boxers with damp curls. Michonne places her Essence magazine on the nightstand and slides further into the bed. He climbs under the blankets and nestles on to her body using her breast as a pillow and burying his arms and hands between her back and the mattress. "You comfortable?" she chuckles.
"Hmm," he mumbles against her left breast covered by her short, cotton gown. He reaches for her hand placing it against the back of his head.
She takes his less than subtle hint and lovingly strokes his scalp and plays with his damp curls. "This is good," he drawls drowsily.
"Deanna thinks she might be able to get Blake to plead to specific charges and a fixed sentence to avoid a public trial; he already surrendered his law license," Michonne introduces.
His body tenses, "Would you still be required in court for the proceedings?"
"Yes…for the plea deal and sentencing. Nothing is for sure," he cuts her off.
"No matter…we will be ready for the fight," he declares.
"You bet your cute, dimpled ass," she giggles. He laughs in spite of himself. "Go to sleep," she directs.
"He is on the move-remind me again what happened," Carl informs the group peeking around the open entrance to the kitchen. They are sucking down fried chicken party wings but crowd in to watch what is happening in the family room.
"Uncle Curtis and Aunt Josephine fought-again…she put him out-again," he shares in exhaustion.
"Now we are all being tortured with his personal begging soundtrack," Justice finishes.
"So far…Gerald Levert, Al Green and Michael Jackson," Sophia recites.
"Luther Vandross has to be next," America suggests, "My dad uses him the most."
Sure enough Curtis decked out in a red rayon dress shirt tucked into severely creased black slacks; paired with red Stacy Adams over thick and thin socks and nursing a glass of Hennessy staggers into the family room. The adults are bumping and grinding to Marvin Gaye's Got to Give It Up when Curtis abruptly changes the track. A collective groan rises above the opening notes of the new song:
A chair is still a chair…but a house is not a home…
The collective fussing and shouting ensues, "Take your whipped ass home or on the porch…Stop disturbing this groove bruh…Jo, come get him." The teens burst into laughter.