Wifey: Part 1
“You passed your first exam,” I said.
“Oh really? And what exam would that be?”
“You’re open to new things. I like that.”
“That’s what keeps life interesting.” Jasmine then added, “You taught me something today.”
“What’s that?”
“That I shouldn’t settle and I should set my standards real high for myself. I mean, to me it’s hot that you got a driver opening doors for you and chauffeuring you around and drinking hard-to-pronounce drinks and all of that.”
I laughed.
“No, I mean, really. I see shit like that on TV and it’s always like, ‘Oh, that’s for the Donald Trump’s and people like that,’ but it can be for people who look just like me. It’s just that I never see it, so I assume that it’s not possible.”
“I feel you. Life is all about what you expose yourself to. But you gotta have vision to see what other people can’t see and then be relentless in pursuing it.”
“I like that,” Jasmine replied. “You sounding all educated and stuff. Let me find out you sma
rt.”
“I just got you by ten years, so it’s more life experience than anything,” I replied and then paused before continuing to speak. “I got a two-year degree, but I keep that to myself. It ain’t really nothing to talk about in the hood. But what about you? In the car you was saying you in school. What’s your major?”
“Nursing.”
I nodded my head and drank some more sake. “That’s a good look.”
“You don’t seem like the college type,” Jasmine said to me. “No offense, I’m just saying.”
“Quiet as it’s kept, I never even finished high school. But I got my G.E.D. and then I went to community college because I always wanted more than just these streets, you feel me?”
Jasmine nodded her head yes.
“I own twelve Taco Bells, twelve Subway sandwich shops, and I also own twelve income tax franchises.”
“Wow! That’s really good. So you’re a businessman.”
“Entrepreneur.”
“Oh, my bad.” Jasmine laughed. “Why is everything that you own in groups of twelve? And why you still fuckin’ with the streets if you sitting on all of that?”
I laughed. “You just passed exam number two.”
“You better stop with all these goddamn tests,” she joked.
Then I explained that I liked the fact that she paid attention to details and told her how important that was in life. I went on to explain to her that in the Bible certain numbers had significance, and that the number twelve represented completion and perfection, so that’s why I did things in groups of twelve.
“Interesting. So you’re a smart businessman that knows the Bible and could teach me a lot about life. Always the good ones that are taken. Dayum!” She laughed. “So when are you getting married?”
“We set the date for next New Year’s Eve.”
“Oh, OK. A New Year’s Eve wedding. That’s different,” Jasmine said and then she paused before continuing to talk. “Let me ask you something.”
“Yeah. What’s up?”
“Mia don’t ever encourage you to leave the streets alone?”
I shook my head no, and looked at Jasmine to see where she was going with her words.