In The Company of My Sistahs by Angie Daniels Page A

loaded them at the bottom of the bus.
    Nadine nudged me in my side, and I for once didn’t mind her touching me and nudged her back. We both grinned like two fools at a brotha with legs the size of tree trunks. And he was boy-legged. Ain’t nothing better than a boy-legged brotha. In my years of experience, I discovered it ain’t the size of his hands or his feet. It was how much room he needed to accommodate his package. A boy-legged brother required a great deal of room. He was definitely a Mandingo. Just the way I like them.
    Lisa came up behind us. “Come on, you two, before the bus leaves without y’all.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Damn, Lisa, you’re missing the sights.”
    â€œI’m not missing shit,” she said as she moved to the door and climbed the stairs. “I might be married but I’m far from blind. Don’t worry, you’ll see more than enough of that this week.”
    â€œI sure hope so.”
    â€œI know that’s right, girl!” Nadine said. She and I jumped in the air and screamed with excitement as we high-fived. This trip was already starting off on the right foot.
    I boarded the bus and took a seat beside Kayla, who was reading The Daily Word, while Nadine and Lisa found a seat near the back of the bus.
    I waited until Kayla closed the small book before I spoke. “I’m hungry. I hope we aren’t too far from the hotel.” My pecan waffles were nothing but a memory.
    Kayla reached into her purse and pulled out a bag of trail mix. “Here, eat some of this. I think I heard someone say we have a half-hour drive.”
    I eagerly poured myself a handful. I have never been big on squirrel food but right now I was too hungry to care.
    While we chomped on fruits and nuts, I glanced around at all of the faces. The bus had quickly filled with eager white folks.
    â€œAs soon as we get to the hotel I’m getting myself a drink.”
    â€œMe too,” Kayla chimed in.
    I twisted my lips in a frown. “You mean a glass of Kool-Aid, right?”
    â€œYou know it.”
    I shook my head and stared across at her holier-than-thou ass. Kayla likes to act like she doesn’t remember the way the two of us used to roll up to Fort Leonard Wood. For years, we both had a thing for servicemen. Fort “Lost in the Woods” is a training post, so soldiers from all over would come down and take classes for several weeks, then return to their duty station. Every couple of months we’d drive down to meet us someone special, then let him wine and dine, and throw our legs over his shoulders. I think things changed for Kayla when she met this guy named Carter Drake. I have to admit he was fine. Taller than her, skin like a chocolate bar, and he had the sexiest smile. If she hadn’t gotten to him first, I definitely would have hopped on his ass. However, he made it clear the first night we met him and his boy Chico—who was ugly as hell—he had a thing for big women.
    Carter drove down to see Kayla every weekend, and every weekend she catered to all his needs in and out of the bedroom. He told her he loved her and promised that when he returned to California—where he was currently stationed—he would send for her.
    Kayla was strung out over the brotha. She would spend hours talking about marrying him and spending her life traveling around the world with him. She was so excited, and I was happy for her. Then the negro left and she never heard from him again. She tried to hide her pain but I knew she was hurt. I was hurt for her. After that she started spending all her spare time at church, and never wanted to go down to Fort Leonard Wood again. About that time I had already met husband number two, so I didn’t have a reason to make the trip. Then after the shit that brotha did to me I was through with servicemen myself. Like I said before, I’ll save that story for another time. That fool is a book all by