The Summer Recall: Latifah

 The barbecue is going so well. We are all mingling with all the cute guys that have come through. There was so much to drink and the food was just out of this world. Everyone seems to be having a great time. As I sat in one of the lounge chairs by the pool, I saw this guy walk up to me. Not my usual type, but good-looking. He was taller than me but definitely not touching ceilings tall. He was lighter skinned and he was an average size guy.  I sized him up and determined I wouldn't turn him down if he approached me. Thank God I had my sunglasses on, the last thing I needed was for him to think I was checking him out. 

"Hi, I saw you sitting by yourself and thought you could do with some company," the stranger said. I noticed he had an accent, he clearly was African, and most likely West African but I couldn't place where he was from. I lowered my sunglasses to look at him and I smiled, " well thanks for offering to keep me company I wouldn't mind some right about now". I responded with a smile on my lips.  He sat on the chair next to me and turned to face me. He then extended his hand out for a handshake. "Hi I'm Jerome, and you are...? I extended my hand and reached for his hand and shook it. "Latifah but my friends call me Tee. I said. "Latifah, hmmm pretty name, for a pretty girl with a pretty voice and accent," he said. My insides were fluttering and parts of me started to feel tingly.  Jerome was sexy and not in an arrogant way but in a confident way. I smiled after he complimented me and I responded. You are not so bad yourself and I also noticed you do not sound like you are from here, are you from West Africa?" I queried him.  "Yes, Senegal, but I've been here in the US since I was 12. I know I don't sound American but I love being from Senegal and I didn't want to have to lose my accent because I moved to the U.S.  Besides, Americans have to learn to accept my accent." His confidence was so sexy. He was comfortable with who he was and didn't try to change to be accepted. I was a little envious of him at that point. I have struggled with my self-esteem all my life. I hadn't been able to grasp my uniqueness and often beat myself up for not being like everyone else. I smiled at his response and said, "I think that is a beautiful thing to embrace who you are and not change yourself to fit the status quo, more of us should think the way you do".  He laughed at my response and responded to my statement. " If more people were like me then I wouldn't stand out, especially to a beautiful girl like you" He winked at me. My heart melted and I blushed. Thank God for my chocolate skin. We got lost in our conversation with one another, I didn't even notice what was going on around us. I didn't even notice  Maame approach us walking alongside another woman.  

"Tee" Maame called me and that startled me. "Oh shoot, sorry girl, I didn't mean to scare you," Maame said apologetically.  I'm sorry for interrupting you two.  Hi, I'm Maame"  as she extended her arm to shake Jerome's hand. He shook her hand and introduced himself.  "By the way Tee, you know my friend Ewurabena I was telling you about in the car, well I wanted to introduce the two of you. I looked in Ewurabena direction to size her up. She was a bit on the curvy side and had wide hips and big breasts. She had on jeans and a peasant top with sandals. She had her hair in micro braids and had them pulled back. She was definitely not a looker. But she had an air about her that gave off that she was all that and a bag of chips. I extended my hand to shake it and she gave me her limp hand to shake. She quickly removed her hand from mine and quickly put her hand on Jerome. I saw her lick her lips at him and I took note to watch her trifling behind.