Jackson

So Jackson and I continued to talk every now and then after the Love Jones. Yes, that's what I'm calling it. Every time I see that movie I'm instantly taken back to that place and time on the couch....Anyways, Jackson continued to page me all the time. I was starting to get tired of the "I really like you but if we go out 'the cheerleader' might see us and I just don't want to deal with that" excuses. It frustrated me that Jackson took my virginity/(slash I gave it up) and now he doesn't want to be seen in public with me. I would go and tell Rick all about him. How much I liked Jackson and how badly he treated me. I'm sure Rick got tired of hearing me talk about Jackson all the time.

Well on this one particular day, Jackson called me from work. He asked me to come up there and buy an open item for him. An open item was merchandise that was resealed at the store. Like someone bought a dvd player, opened it, and then returned it to the store. The store would reseal the box and the dvd player was now an "open item". Anyways, employees were not allowed to buy open items. Since this wasn't the first time Jackson had asked me to do this I didn't think anything of it. He would give me the money and I would purchase these random :open items". The prices ranged from $50-$100. So I drove up to his job. I hadn't seen him in a while and was just happy to be seen at his job with him. Hey, I took advantage of every opportunity. So I walk into the store and I wait in line with this "open item." It's a speaker box, you know, one of the floor speakers that came to about your waist. I buy the item and Jackson walks me out to the car. Something didn't seem right. I asked Jackson why he asked me and not the cheerleader to come and buy this open item for him. He gave me the run around that they weren't together anymore and that he had feelings for me. (Insert eye rolling) As we approached the car, the box jingled a little.Wait a minute, this is a speaker box....was there not a speaker in it? I asked Jackson what was in the box. He looked as if he was shocked that I even asked the question. He said, "A whole bunch of stuff." He opened part of the box and I looked inside.

"So you're stealing...you're a thief?! And now I'm a thief for helping you."

I can't believe how stupid I was for ever thinking there was something between Jackson and I. I can't believe he stole all that stuff inside of a speaker box. There were phones, cd's, computers, etc. You name it, it was probably in the box. And again, this wasn't my first time doing this for him. The speaker may have said $98 on the price tag but there was well over $500 worth of stuff inside that box. I am so naive. I drove off and  just like that, Jackson and I were over. I've never heard from him again. 

The Roomate

So I've mentioned Cat was my roommate during this time in my life. But I need for you to fully grasp the craziness of this chic. So here it goes.

Cat was from Fort Worth, TX where over half of the university was from. We had similar features and started off complimenting each other pretty well. When I first met Cat, I walked into the classroom and she had on the same outfit I did. We were inseparable after that. Cat's lease was up at the end of the year and we decided to get an apartment together that was less than 5 minutes from campus. I'd never lived with anyone but family so this was a totally new experience for me. Our apartment was on the 3rd floor and it was 1,200 square feet. We paid like $600 a month for rent....ahhh the good ol' days. Anyways, Cat and I signed a six month lease. When we first moved in together I was still in love with Jackson.

Ok so here's the skinny on Jackson. He played on the basketball team in high school. He "dated" this chic that was a year under us that was a cheerleader. Well, they started having problems and Jackson and I started talking. It was pretty innocent at first until he started paging me everyday before I got home from school. We liked each other but the cheerleader was a beast and apparently wasn't over Jackson. She would call my phone and say, "Do you know that Jackson just came over to my house? He just pushed me down the stairs...is that the kind of guy you want to be with?" Puuuhhhllease. The cheerleader was full of drama and I was trying to stay as far away from her as I could....but I really liked Jackson. This was my first but definitely not last experience as the side chic.

Back to my story... so when Cat and I got this apartment, I invited Jackson over. I was so excited. Cat said that she wouldn't come out of her room the entire night. She even cooked dinner for us. Jackson came over and we ate and watch Love Jones. We started fooling around and things got hot and heavy. I felt so clueless but it felt good so why not. We moved to my bedroom and one thing led to another. Jackson pulled down his pants and oh my God. Is that what it looks like? I've never seen one of those before! He tries to put it in.....words could not describe the pain. How can something so big go into something so small? Jackson tried again.....agony I'm in pure agony! He kept going another two or three times. I was blinking back the tears. Thank God it was pitch dark in my room. And what was he wiping? He had taken off his t shirt and after pulling out he wiped something on his shirt. Is it over? I guess so. Jackson pulled up his pants and I put my clothes back on and walked him to the door. He said he'd call me later. I said ok and watched him walk down the stairs. I immediately had to pee so bad. OHHHH MYYY GOD everything burns. It burns so bad my legs are shaking. Am I going to die? I wiped and there was blood...is that normal? Too many questions and no answers. I crawled into bed with Cat. She looked and me and immediately knew what had just happened. I told her it burned and she said, "You're not a virgin anymore."

Ekon

Ekon was a simple guy. Besides the loud crazy clothes, he was very chill. He loved his electronics and his basketball. We hung out on the regular and really got to know each other more. One night, after one of the study groups, Ekon came into my room.

He asked, "Can I talk to you for a second?"
I said sure and cut the television down.

Ekon said, "So, (clears his throat) I know we've been hanging out quite a bit."
Oh, Lord...where is this going? All kinds of thoughts started rushing through my mind.

He continues, "I think you are a really cool chic that I'd like to get to learn more about."
My heart is beating a mile a minute...you know, to the point where you can feel it in your feet.

"I wanted to know if you'd like to go out with me?"
And there it was.....the question that changes relationships. I'm 19....I've been sheltered my entire life. Going from church to private school to public school, and now college. I don't know the first thing about being in a relationship. So I did what I do best.

"Ekon, are you serious? I mean, no offense but I see you more like a twin brother than I do a boyfriend." Yep, I did it again. Apparently, I didn't learn my lesson with Rick and God felt the need for me to repeat that lesson with Ekon and I still didn't get the hint. Let me back track (which I'll do a lot so get used to it). I am physically attracted to light skinned guys, you know, the yellow bones. I'm chocolate and for some reason I had this idea that I didn't want chocolate kids and if I got with a chocolate guy my kids would be like blackulas. Yes I just made that word up (I'll do that a lot as well). Both Rick and Ekon are brown skinned (which there is nothing wrong with). Anyways, Ekon lowered his head and walked out of my room. I turned the volume back up and continued to watch tv. Not even realizing I just let another good guy go......

Introduction

Graduation 1999
I'm so glad that's over. I definitely had the time of my life! Our family moved from Friendswood, TX to Humble, TX less than a month after I graduated. So I get to start all over again. I was accepted to University of Houston- Main Campus and was comforted to know that quite a few people I graduated with will be there as well.

First day of college....am I really ready for this? As ready as I'll ever be. I made it to my first class with a few minutes to spare. English....wish I would've tested out of this class or something. I'm looking around the room and it's small. A chocolate brotha with cross colors walked in and sat next to me. I rolled my eyes at the flavorful guy. I mean did he have enough colors on? They're blinding me! Made it through the first class and Cross Colors introduced himself after class was over. He said his name was Ekon and he was from Dallas, TX. We started to talk and I realized that he was a lot cooler than I gave him credit. We figured out that we had all our 'A' day classes together. What a coincidence!! So as we walked to our next class we continued to talk about where we were from and where we were living.

We hung out quite a bit that semester. In the Spring semester, I decided to move out with a Cat (a girl I met on my first day of college). We had an amazing apartment less than five minutes from campus. We did the college thing, party, drink, more party. Cat was apart of this engineering club and wouldn't you know, Ekon was a part of  that club too. So needless to say he was over the apartment with some of his friends from the same club all the time. They would call me or Cat to find out what we were cooking so they could come over.

In the meantime, Rick was ever patient. Ok, so Rick and his family were very good friends with my family. We practically grew up together. I would see Rick at church all the time and I felt like I could talk to him about anything. I would talk to him about all my boy troubles and he was always so sweet. He would say things like, "that guy doesn't deserve you" and "you're better than that". Rick took me on my first date to my favorite restaurant at the time. I was so mean to him...why, I don't even know. I don't think I was ready for a real relationship at the time. So I told Rick that I saw him like my big brother. Damn....that's not the only time I let a good one go.....

Preface

Monday Comes will take you on a journey through key life events after high school graduation and beyond. These posts will give you insight into a middle child moving out, relationships, more graduations, marriage, giving birth, divorce, single parenting, and dating. You will read about some interesting people, learn about places I've been, and hopefully find yourself somewhere in these posts. 

Monday Comes the song was written by Crystal Lewis....This song brings so many memories to me. Long car trips with my parents and sisters to Arkansas...oh the memories. Here are the lyrics...

Whosoever hear shout the sound, Spread the blessings all around, Don't you know we all need a helping hand, To get us through the days we can not stand, He puts a song in my soul today, Now what I hear is a golden day, Looking at it now it's so clear, Shelter me for those days appear, Falling on my knees each time I try, You comfort, you heal my soul sad cry, I'm peaceful for I know the winds will blow, I'm anchored in his love my troubles will go, Waiting and watching He gives me light, Through the shadows I still have sight, For heavenly hope He gives me rain, To quench my thirst and ease my pain, I surrender all Lord, have Thy way, You showed me joy through my Mondays, Look and live my weary friend, Days go by and troubles mend, In times of deep distress, All my burdens I confess, Thank you Lord for this day whole, The power of the blood has cleansed my soul, Don't you know the Father allows, Our Mondays to come, Through every trial a little stronger we become, Don't you know the Father allows, Our Mondays to come, Through every trial the victory will be won.