On the drive from the doctor’s office, Persha tried to make sense of everything the doctor had just informed her about. But before she could even think straight, she needed to get home, grab a few things, and get out of there before she got any worse.
A few evenings later, Persha sat waiting for Clarke to show up at her hotel room. She had rented a room at the Marriott near highway 59. When he finally knocked on the door, she was eager to spill her story.
"Did the doctor fix my baby?" Clarke asked as he strolled in, kissed her cheek, and dropped his bag on the couch.
When she closed the door, Persha leaned up against it.
"Uh-oh Shorty, is the news that bad?" He grinned.
Persha didn't feel up for his witty remarks. Finally, she sauntered into the room and turned to Clarke who already had the remote in his hand.
"Well, actually, Clarke, I was diagnosed with mold poisoning. My house and everything in it may have to be condemned."
"What the hell?" he screamed and jumped back in his seat.
"That's not even the worse part of it. Not only have I been walking around here looking like death warmed over, but now all I have to my name are the clothes on my back, two outfits that were at the cleaners, and no place to lay my head."
Clarke's brows cocked upward as he took in the information.
"I don't have a place to live Clarke," Persha contined as she started crying. "What the hell am I going to do?" she screamed.
"You can't go back home, like in a week? Can't you stay with Kori or Cricket?" She shook her head to answer his question. "You know Kori shares a room, and Cricket is taking care of her sick aunt."
He reached for her. "Come here. We can work this out."
In the comfort of his arms, for a flash second, she felt some kind of hope, almost like things were really going to be okay.
"When do you check out of this room?" he asked.
"Friday. Then I have to move, and I don't know where I'm gonna go. I haven't even told my mother. I don't want her worrying out there. Her solution is always for me to come home."
"Nah, Shorty, you can't go back to Nevada. I mean, you can't just leave a brotha hanging. Don't worry about it, we'll figure something out."
"I wish I could be as confident as you." Persha blew out a breath and eased back into the sofa.
"Shorty, let your man handle this. Hey, I'm here to take care of you, right?"
Though she was reluctant, she nodded anyway. Persha wanted desperately to believe the answers to all of her problems truly lie in his eyes. A part of her was glad he even offered to help. She figured maybe things really would be okay. She was starting to feel better, and knowing Clarke would help, she was okay.
By Thursday evening, Persha had gone back to worrying again. It had been two days since she last spoke to Clarke. She had less than 24 hours left in the room, and her money was running out fast.
She didn't even feel like going through the motions with Kori and Cricket. She could just hear them now, sounding off about what she should and shouldn’t do. So far, Clarke was the only one who knew her predicament, and she wanted to keep it that way until she knew her next move.
When her cell phone rang she silently prayed it would be Clarke on the other end. Instead, when Kori's voice rang out, she could no longer hold in her frustration.
"Gurrrrrl, what's wrong? You need me to come over?" Kori asked.
"No, you can't. Besides, I'm fine," Persha managed through sobs.
"I can't? Why not? And if you're so fine, then why are you crying? And how come you not answering your phone? And what’s up with you anyway? And where you been?" Kori rattled off.
"I don't even want to get into it."
"Nah uh, I'm coming over right now! You at home?"
"Wait, Kori. You really can't come over. I'm not at home. I've had to move out. I’m at the Marriott. My house has to be condemned and my insurance company is trying not to pay me for it. Thank God I transferred my phone to the cell. Clarke is supposed to help me but whenever he calls, he doesn’t even mention what we’re gonna do about my problem. I don't know want to bring it up, but the truth is I don’t know what I’m gonna do."
"Chile! Hold on a minute! I can barely keep up," Kori said. "So where are you? And your house is being condemned? Hold up, I need to call Cricket on three way."
"No! Please don't," Persha begged, sniffling.
"I don't believe this. You need your girls right now. We can pull together to help you out."
"I appreciate that, but Clarke’s supposed to be taking care of it."
"Oookay, so what's the game plan?"
"Well-um, I really don't know just yet. But what I do know is that check-out is noon tomorrow. So I need to get in touch with Clarke real fast."
"You know I'd let you crash over here if I could. But you know how these folks are acting. Gurl, did I tell you that they left me a note talking about there were four bananas on Saturday and now there's only one left? Please watch my portions!"
Persha started laughing. "What?"
"I know! They're counting the food, eggs, bread and all. I can't wait ‘till this lease runs out. I don't have time for this shit."
"I don't think I've ever heard such a thing."
"Tell me about it. But, Persha?" Kori said.
"Yes?"
"The next time I talk about renting a room to save money, can you please bitch-slap me back to reality and tell my cheap ass there just has to be a better way!" Persha laughed at her friend’s comment. "Now, I’m for real, girl! This shit is crazy! Folks up in here counting food and shit. I don’t need this," Kori threw in.
"Well, the last thing I need to do is burden you with my problems," Persha offered.
"Chile, please, one more problem ain’t gonna break me down. But I tell you what, I think we should call Cricket, you know they have room over there. You can stay in one of those empty bedrooms. How many do they have?"
"Kori, you know I'm not about to go stay over there with all those damn cats! I don't see how Cricket stays there."
"Last time she counted, girl, she said there was something like 9 or 15-million cats."
"Oh hell no! I'll wait to hear from Clarke, if not, I'll just call moms for a loan to hold me over. Nine cats? That’s just down right nasty ain’t it?"
"Gurl, all I know is that place wreaks of feline. But maybe you should think about it," she giggled.
"Nothing to think about. I like cats and all, but that's one at a time. Nine? Ain't no way girlfriend!"
"Yeah, I feel you on that one."
"Oh, Kori, hold on. My other line's ringing." Persha looked at the screen and rolled her eyes. It was her mother and she knew she needed to take the call.
"Kori, let me call you back. It’s my mom."
"Okay, but hurry."
"I will," Persha said as she hung up with Kori and clicked over to her other line. "Hey Ma!"
"Lawd have mercy, girl! Where have you been? And why does it sound like you on that cell phone? You know I don’t like calling on these mobile phones, I know you on it ‘cause it sounds funny. I still think they cause brain tumors. I know doggone’ well, I called your home phone. Girl, what’s going on?"
"Ma, I’m not at home. I’ve had to move out. My house is contaminated with mold."
"With what, chile? Jesus be the glory! Chile, you been praying for the good Lord’s help with this matter? Mold? That’s nothing but the devil at work! Are you living right, chile? Your father, rest his soul, would roll over in his grave if he knew the way your life was going."
"Ma, please, I’m really frustrated right now. I’ve moved into a hotel and I just need to figure out my next move."
"Baby, put it in the Lord’s hands. You can’t handle this alone. But regardless of what’s happening, you should’ve called to tell me. I’m praying for you, but I need you to pray too. This ain’t nothing but the devil testing your devotion. Hang on to the good book. You got your bible there with you?"
"Yes, Ma," Persha said, only half lying since a hotel Bible was lying on the nightstand next to the bed.
"Then open it to-"
"Ma! I’m sorry I need to go. I have another call coming in. It’s the insurance people about the house. I’ll call you later, love you."
"But Persha-"
"I know, Ma, but I need to run. We’ll pray later."
She hung up without waiting for her mother’s response. The phone wasn’t ringing, but she needed a break. Before calling Kori back she willed the phone to ring, and willed it to be Clarke calling.
After a few minutes with no luck, she dialed Kori’s number and sat back to pick up the conversation where they left off.
"How’s your mom doing?" Kori asked.
"Oh, she’s good. You know her, always with scripture at your service. Oh, Kori, that’s my other line again," Persha squealed with excitement when she saw Clarke's number appear.
"I'll call you back!" She could barely contain her enthusiasm. She blew out a breath and inhaled a deep one before mustering up her sexy voice.
"Hello?"
"Damn, Shorty, you sounding better and better," Clarke said.
"I may sound better, but I still don't have a place to stay."
"Yeah, that's what I was calling you about. I have an idea, but I'm not sure if you'll be cool with it. I mean, how long you talking about being out of pocket?"
"At least four weeks, Clarke. I've put in a request to borrow some money against my 401-K and it'll take about that long to go through the red-tape, then I'll be able to get an apartment until I work out this insurance thing."
"Okay, well hear me out. You know how a brotha been telling you that even though Kelsa got papers on me, it's more in name than anything else right?"
"Yes, and I know you're telling me the truth, Clarke, that's why I try not to bug you about when you're leaving her."
With her eyes closed, Persha could hardly believe what they were talking about. She wondered if all this mess with the mold poisoning wasn't a good thing disguised as a nightmare.
And to imagine, she was just hoping he’d spring for a few more weeks at the hotel. She thought this suggest move by Clarke was even better. She struggled not to get too ecstatic with the news she was sure he was about to share, she sat and waited.
"Yeah, Persha, I am gonna leave, but right now you're my first priority. Shorty, I can't even sleep knowing what's going on with you."
She knew it was coming, what she'd finally been patiently waiting for all these months. Her mind had already started thinking about where they could get a place; maybe in Stafford or even Sugar Land.
She was sure once he proposed to her that her mother would be just as happy. She’d of course leave out the part about them living together, and the part about him having been married before. Those were minor details she needn‘t worry her with.
"So, Persha, you still there?" Clarke chimed in.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Yes, I am. What were you saying?"
"I asked if you were willing to hear a brotha out? Support me and stick with me so we can work this out, together?"
"Of course, Clarke. You know I have faith in you and what you tell me. I know you've been trying to figure something out to help me. That's why I love you and I know you love me."
"Okay, so here's my plan. I don’t know if I told you, but Kelsa works the nightshift and has a class in the mornings. She usually gets here at about eleven o‘clock in the morning. You have to be at work by what, eight o’clock, right?"
She wondered just where he was going with the timetable. "Yeah, eight. That's right."
"So I think you should stay here, in the extra bedroom."
Persha dropped the phone right along with her mouth as Clarke’s voice was faintly heard calling out her name.
~ Clarke
On the day of the move, Clarke was nervous. With so much at stake and all the possibilities of what might go wrong, he could barely think straight. And imagine he had to actually talk Persha into moving in, like her ass had any place else to go. He knew that at first his idea probably seemed crazy, but the plan really was best for everyone involved.
He’d thought about it for three days before presenting it to Persha. While Kelsa’s at work, he and Persha would sleep in the guest room. They’d get up, shower, get dressed, and head out for work together. By the time they left, Kelsa wouldn’t even be out of class for a few hours. Then by the time she was heading home, he and Persha would’ve already been halfway through their workday.
The way he had it figured out, he could get pussy day or night, or both if that’s what he wanted. If he could, he’d pat himself on the back for the plan any man would be proud of. Now all he had to do was figure out a way to continue to get head the way he liked it. As he sat thinking about his master plan, it was easy to begin reminiscing about the place he liked to call his euphoria.
Clarke eased back and closed his eyes. He was immediately transported to the midst of his favorite activity. His eyes beamed as the moist lips became shiny with spit and parted to welcome him in. To Clarke, there was nothing better than a deep throat lodged around his member. He knew he was rendered completely useless during these sessions.
He understood the power of an excellent blowjob, it could create and ease a throbbing hard-on if it’s done properly. There was no doubt; Clarke was always reduced to a whiney boy when he was deep down the throat. And an experienced sucker knows just how deep, how rough, how wet, and how long it will take to trigger the elusive eruption. When Clarke is being sucked off, he doesn’t mind releasing his power. He knows first hand that the tongue is a tool of teasing and torture, and his family jewels are at the mercy of a wet and wanting mouth. And when done right, the sucker is getting off on it just as much as he is, or maybe even more. Clarke didn’t just love head, he was a head connoisseur. The stronger the jaw, the wetter the mouth, the more he enjoyed it.
As if right on time, his cell phone rang, and it was Persha. Clarke shook off the images that left him trembling at the memory of the spectacular sensation.
"Where are you?" he said, clearing his throat.