I’m in real estate, but I’m not even sure if it’s actually my passion. I have to figure it out.”
His eyes smiled as he stated, “Don’t take too long.”
I melted.
“You’re a leader,” Marley blurted, breaking through our fog. “When you discover your passion, you will be a boss at it. Mark my words!”
“Of course! I’m a boss at everything I touch,” I boasted.
Ronnie laughed with his eyebrow raised and asked, “Are you, now?” Rather than verbally answer, I gave a sly wink and a smile.
CHAPTER 8
Later that evening, Dominic helped me carry my shopping bags to my bedroom. After Marley dropped me off home from hanging out at her father’s house, I immediately hopped in the Range and dashed to the mall. I hit Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, and a few other stores. If I was going to attended church every Sunday, I needed more suits…with matching hats… fabulous ones that a first lady would wear… I needed matching shoes too! And, a purse for my bible…. and a bible.
“All this stuff, Nola?” Dominic tossed my bags into my walk-in closet.
“Careful, Dom. Look, boo, I got you something, too.”
I tossed him a small bag and watched as he pulled out two Armani Exchange T-shirts. I loved how Dominic looked in A|X shirts, because they helped him look more his age. Although Dominic could care less about apparel, he appreciated A|X t-shirts, because they didn’t have the scratchy, flapping tags on the back which drove him absolutely insane.
“Thank you, Nola. I love red shirts,” he stuffed them back into the bag. Then he suddenly grinned big and pointed his finger at me. “What is the name of the source of electric power for a subway car?” he asked.
“Aw, man. Another pop quiz?”
Dominic smiled, anxiously awaiting my answer. It was a warming smile - a smile that had enough power to brighten any of my worst days… a smile that I’ve often needed growing up.
Dominic was born on my tenth birthday, and he was the best gift my parents have ever given me. He came at a time in my life when it was difficult to make friends, and when I often felt isolated from my family.
“I don’t know. Electric train?” I answered from inside of my closet.
Dominic burst into a roar of laughter. At his age, most guys were interested in bagging women, enrolling in maybe their second semester of college, pledging a fraternity, or deciding which house party to crash next. Dominic’s preoccupations were trains. In fact, he was the walking and talking Wikipedia on the subject. When he wasn’t educating us all on trains, he was showing a rare but genuine interest in people’s thoughts and emotions. He housed many of my secrets and deepest thoughts, because I trusted Dominic more than anybody I’ve ever known. I trusted his advice, his criticism, and his opinions. Where most people see a socially and behaviorally impaired young man, I saw a genius life coach, and I sometimes imagined he was one.
When he finally stopped laughing at my incorrect answer, he answered, “Third rail, Nola!”
I snapped my finger as if the answer was on the tip of my tongue and said, “Aw, man. I should have known.”
“Next time you get it right like Derrick did. Derrick is smart.”
I poked my head out of my closet.
“Derrick was here?”
Dominic nodded enthusiastically.
“Why was he here?” I pried.
His eyes smiled as he stated, “Don’t take too long.”
I melted.
“You’re a leader,” Marley blurted, breaking through our fog. “When you discover your passion, you will be a boss at it. Mark my words!”
“Of course! I’m a boss at everything I touch,” I boasted.
Ronnie laughed with his eyebrow raised and asked, “Are you, now?” Rather than verbally answer, I gave a sly wink and a smile.
CHAPTER 8
Later that evening, Dominic helped me carry my shopping bags to my bedroom. After Marley dropped me off home from hanging out at her father’s house, I immediately hopped in the Range and dashed to the mall. I hit Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, and a few other stores. If I was going to attended church every Sunday, I needed more suits…with matching hats… fabulous ones that a first lady would wear… I needed matching shoes too! And, a purse for my bible…. and a bible.
“All this stuff, Nola?” Dominic tossed my bags into my walk-in closet.
“Careful, Dom. Look, boo, I got you something, too.”
I tossed him a small bag and watched as he pulled out two Armani Exchange T-shirts. I loved how Dominic looked in A|X shirts, because they helped him look more his age. Although Dominic could care less about apparel, he appreciated A|X t-shirts, because they didn’t have the scratchy, flapping tags on the back which drove him absolutely insane.
“Thank you, Nola. I love red shirts,” he stuffed them back into the bag. Then he suddenly grinned big and pointed his finger at me. “What is the name of the source of electric power for a subway car?” he asked.
“Aw, man. Another pop quiz?”
Dominic smiled, anxiously awaiting my answer. It was a warming smile - a smile that had enough power to brighten any of my worst days… a smile that I’ve often needed growing up.
Dominic was born on my tenth birthday, and he was the best gift my parents have ever given me. He came at a time in my life when it was difficult to make friends, and when I often felt isolated from my family.
“I don’t know. Electric train?” I answered from inside of my closet.
Dominic burst into a roar of laughter. At his age, most guys were interested in bagging women, enrolling in maybe their second semester of college, pledging a fraternity, or deciding which house party to crash next. Dominic’s preoccupations were trains. In fact, he was the walking and talking Wikipedia on the subject. When he wasn’t educating us all on trains, he was showing a rare but genuine interest in people’s thoughts and emotions. He housed many of my secrets and deepest thoughts, because I trusted Dominic more than anybody I’ve ever known. I trusted his advice, his criticism, and his opinions. Where most people see a socially and behaviorally impaired young man, I saw a genius life coach, and I sometimes imagined he was one.
When he finally stopped laughing at my incorrect answer, he answered, “Third rail, Nola!”
I snapped my finger as if the answer was on the tip of my tongue and said, “Aw, man. I should have known.”
“Next time you get it right like Derrick did. Derrick is smart.”
I poked my head out of my closet.
“Derrick was here?”
Dominic nodded enthusiastically.
“Why was he here?” I pried.
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