“Why do you always write so much in that notebook? It’s not like people will read what you have to say, anyway.”
    “Because I like to express my thoughts on paper--sometimes they might be through stories, poems, or even rap songs. Plus I just want to get my stories published, too. Have you ever felt like you wanted to accomplish something that no one else ever thought that you would do?”
    “Yeah, but sometimes I do tend to get frustrated with things. I don’t understand why some people aren’t more serious about things around here. Instead of trying to succeed and want something for themselves, they would rather think about your situation just so they can get away from the problems they have to deal with. The stories on the news still show that people are dying over nothing, and the people in Congress are arguing over nothing too, while the rest of the country is suffering because we don’t have any jobs.”
    “Just think about what you need to do.  You can help and inspire people--however, you can’t change how people feel about anything because they have to learn that for themselves.
    “You‘re right.”
    “That’s what I’m saying. Most of the people in the student center just skip class, and watch TV while playing spades or dominoes all day. Heck, some people just come up here and act like their still enrolled on campus when they’re not.”
    That’s when I decided to stop writing. Teedra had given me an important point to focus on that would soon change the whole point of what I wanted my book to focus on when it was finally published. I figured at that point, it was time to leave to head to my next class early. I said bye to Teedra, and walked out of the student center.
    As I walked to my English class, I thought about how I tried to do things in my life up to that point. To most relatives in my family, I was considered more of an outcast because I didn‘t seem to fit in to the things in which they would do. But they all treated me just the same, and I appreciated that. One day I figured that I would meet a woman that was could meet my level of intellect so that we could have conversations that meant something to both of us. I didn’t care about whether she had obtained her education from (whether it was a university or she borrowed books from a  public library)-- if she realized that somehow, you could make the best out of what the world has to offer, then I had no problems with that at all.
    That‘s when I thought about Teedra. We didn‘t always agree on things, but if there was one person I could talk with, it was her, and I admit that she was starting to become a closer friend when I usually kept most people distant. It was as if she took the initiative to see the type of individual that I was becoming to be, and I liked that. Most people wouldn’t look that deeply in me at all. When I finally reached class, I decided not to think about anyone else except her.
                                                              ***
    “Why do you have to look like that now?” I  said. We were in a restaurant off Euclid Avenue in the Central West End. “I really can’t focus.” Teedra then laughed, moving her chair closer to mine.
    “I need to head out to my mama’s house.” She read my story out quietly, and then gave me a strange glance before handing the notebook back to me. I could see that she had done enough reading for the day.
    “Where do your people live?”
    “Off of Parker Road, out near Black Jack.”
    “What neighborhood?”
    “Heatherton.”
    “So you went to Hazelwood East?”
    “Yep. What about you?”
    “My family lives in Florissant, and the neighborhood where I stayed wasn't that far from McCluer North.”
    “Ok.”
    “You’re talented--I really mean that. But you know that you’ll won’t get me to read one of your books.”
    I then frowned. “Why do you say that?”
    “Because it’s bad enough I’m reading these college textbooks just to pass some courses I won’t need after I graduate. Then I have to read law books once I head to SLU or Wash U. I swear the only thing I might read is a newspaper or a magazine--just as long as it has pictures in it.”
    “Oh, so what about my book then?”
    “The best thing you can do is to give me an autographed copy of your book when you get it published.”
    “Ok. But will you read it?”
    She then smiled. “Yeah, but it’ll take some time.”
                                                         ***
    I first kissed Teedra when we were both on the way to one of the student parking lots. I think it was around December of ‘97, and because of the weather, school was cancelled for the rest of the day. We held on to each other since the wind was so harsh, which made the visibility poor since snow was falling. Teedra was surprised because I  kissed her after what had seemed such a special moment for the both of us. I thought that she would be part of my life, and I couldn’t wait any long wondering if she would be or not. We were becoming close friends, and she told me about things that were considered secret to her, and I was beginning to do the same thing.
    “That’s cute,” she said after I kissed her gently on the lips, “but I didn’t tell you to stop.” We kissed again.
    “It’s not even 30 degrees outside, and who knows what the wind chill factor is out here,” I said later.
    “Mm-hmmm..at least drop me off at my car when we get to yours.”
    “Ok.”
    So we found my car, and got in after I unlocked it. But the ignition wouldn’t start.
    “You drive a Honda. It should start up on the first try,” said Teedra.
    “Well, this car is on its last leg. When I get a decent job, I’ll get a new car.”
    “Well, do you want me to drive you home?”
    “Drive your car over here. I’ll have to start it.”
    “But I don’t have any jumper cables.”
    “I have some.”
    So about 20 or so minutes later, my engine finally turns over and ignites. We’re both cold, but at least both cars have started. Teedra comes up to me, hugs me, then gets in her car and drives away.
    And that was it for awhile--we went out a few times, and embraced each other, but nothing more. And we both liked that.
                                                        ***
    Three years later, I asked Teedra to marry me. At the time, I was working at Edward Jones. I was still writing my novel at the time, while Teedra was in law school while working full-time at Dillard‘s in the St. Louis Galleria.  We lived in a bungalow in University City, and I had gotten accustomed to the habits of my neighbors (such as Miss Thornton--which everyone knew as “that cat lady”). But now, we were gearing up for our wedding, which was planned for July.
    I woke up one morning and stared down at the weight scale in the bathroom, when she came in quietly.
    “Hey,” she whispered into my ear.
    “Good morning.”
    “You gonna be alright while I’m gone?”
    “You act like I’ll go crazy since I have a day off.”
    “It‘s just that I know you. You always want to stay busy.”
    “You’re right.”
    “I know you gonna stay in the house all day and type that story on the computer. Don’t stay up in here, ‘cuz I’m check on you later on,” Teedra said, smiling.
    “You make it sound like I’m some weirdo. That cat lady down the street’s a weirdo. I’mll head out later on--just need to finish proofreading this chapter before I leave.”
    “Sometimes I don’t see why you’re still trying to write a book for. But I know you’ll finish it because you have something to say that people want to hear.”
    “That‘s right. I wouldn‘t stop you if you had something to do.”
    “Ok, ok--you got me. But you’re still a nerd.”
    “But see, you liked this nerd though. Remember how we didn‘t talk for those few months back in school, and you tried to talk some dude. I was at Jamestown Mall when I saw y‘all up by the food court. You looked at me the same way I looked at you, like….”
    “Like what happened? What did we argue about? Then I began to think why am I with this fool? My cousin said he was cool and everything, and he came off that way at first. He couldn’t even afford Chick-Fil-A that day, talking about the brownie was extra…like I’ll have to end up paying for it.”
    I then laughed.
    “Mm-hmmm,” Teedra said with a brief smile. “Let me take this shower. In a minute we’re going to end up doing thing we shouldn’t, and I can’t be late to work today.”
    “But you know you can call in and say that you’re sick. They have other workers they can depend on.”
    “Nah. We can wait until this evening. What do you want to eat tonight?”
    “I don’t even know. Look, I’ll cook some spaghetti and meatballs.”
    “Ok.”
    Teedra took her shower before dressing and skipping breakfast to head to work, leaving me at home to stay glued to the television, and to check my e-mail before typing some chapters to my book.
                                                          ***
    They don’t say how nervous you might feel in those final hours before a wedding ceremony. Heck, every friend you ever known is telling you why in the world are you doing this now, and you know it’s love. You couldn’t live without her because she makes you whole. And as I try to swallow my pride to say that I‘m a man, I’m literally scared to death now. What if things don’t go right? But deep down, I know that Teedra’s feeling the same way.
    So only a few months later in a packed church, I stroll up the middle aisle with my mother. In a few days we’ll be in the Bahamas running on white sandy beaches. But right now there’s a smog alert throughout the metro area, and the high temperature has remained over 100 degrees the past 7 days.
    Teedra walks in beaming in hand with her father. But by the time she reaches me, I know that she can’t turn to look at me in the face. But she finally does with tears in her eyes, leaving me to stand strong as much as I could. However, my eyes are started to getting watery.
    “Will you take Orlando Michaels…..”
     “Yes,” Teedra said. I didn’t make out the rest of what the minister said, I just remember myself saying “I do” as well. When we kissed, it was almost fake--like we wanted to do more, but this wasn’t the time nor the place for it. And as much as I wanted to skip taking the wedding pictures and heading to the reception--we couldn’t.
                                                                ***
    So that’s my story of how we got married. Of course there were plenty of moments that I left out, but this story would take too long to finish. After five or so years, I finally finished my book and I’m working on a new one. The only thing is that I self-published it, so I have to take time in learning about that process, as well as trying to promote it to people around town. However, I’m fine with that.
    But despite all that, Teedra’s a part of my life. And now she’s starting to read my book, asking plenty of questions about it each day.  Also, she’s now become inspired to write out a list of goals that she wants to complete within the next five years.  As for me, I just want to be a part of the ride--as long as I’m with her.