Tappin' On Thirty by Candice Dow Page B

ladies in my prayer circle said I was asking for too much. But I kept praying anyway.”
    Not as if it took a whole lot of convincing, but maybe the man she prayed for was Scooter. Maybe God heard both of our prayers. I said, “I know that’s real, Ma.”
    â€œI was fasting the week Scooter came to church, too. See, sometimes you got to give up something to get something.”
    Assuring her that I still knew the Bible, I egged her on. “Uh-huh. I know.”
    â€œWhen I saw that boy, it was as if God said, ‘That’s him.’”
    The spirit ran through my veins, too. We were on one accord and I never even said anything to her about Scooter. “Are you serious?”
    â€œAnd not only that. When your father saw him, he said the same thing.”
    â€œWhat did he say?”
    â€œHe said, ‘That boy is supposed to be Taylor’s husband.’”
    I slipped under my covers and talked to my mother like she was my girlfriend. “Ma, no he didn’t.”
    â€œGirl, you talking about praying. Me and your daddy prayed that night.”
    It’s a damn shame that my parents were praying while we were tossing around on my bedroom floor. “I don’t believe y’all.”
    â€œHuh.”
    Imagining her rolling her eyes and adjusting her thick glasses, I chuckled. This conversation was bridging the sea that had grown between us. With my phone stuck to my ear, I felt the warmth and sincerity escaping from my mother’s mouth.
    â€œWhen two touch and agree, God said it shall be done.”
    Actually warning myself, I said, “Ma, don’t get all wrapped up in believing Scooter is the guy you’ve been praying for.”
    â€œTaylor.” Before I answered, she asked. “Do you know anything about faith?”
    I snapped, “Yes, I know about faith.”
    â€œIt is the things hoped for and not seen.”
    â€œI know. But . . .”
    â€œIf you know, you better act like it. I have a brunch to go to. I’ll talk to you later.”
    That meant next Saturday. Never in the last five years did I want my mother to stay on the phone with me, but I needed her encouragement. I needed to hear all of her prophesies. If the bishop’s wife condoned me getting my man back, it had to be the right thing for me to do. I wasn’t the only one convinced that Scooter was the one. Maybe he did intend to call. Maybe I was on his mind. Maybe my mother’s phone call was confirmation for me to keep hope alive.

9
    DEVIN
    I rummaged through my apartment. My cleaning lady had taken my laundry and left me dangling in the wind with no clean underwear. This is just what I get for doing things last minute. After I put a couple of dress shirts and suits in my garment bag, I jumped in the shower.
    Aside from my business meeting, I planned to meet with a realtor in DC. Having another home base should decrease the stress of city-flopping and suitcase-swapping. I stuffed some casual clothes in my duffle bag. Still, I hung free, debated whether or not to stay that way or put on some dirty drawers. As I pulled out every garment I owned, I tried to find at least one pair of clean boxers. During my frantic search, I stopped and took a deep breath and checked the time. Unless I found something in the next minute, I would miss the 1:05 P.M. train into DC. When I opted to let it hang, a pair of spandex shorts appeared on top of one of the many clean clothes piles on my bedroom floor. I swiftly slipped them on and threw on my jeans and Nike T-shirt.
    Finally, I rushed out. As I lugged all my junk into the elevator, the two young ladies inside huffed. I chuckled, certain that they wondered why the hell I was always dragging luggage. I nodded and smiled. “Good morning.”
    One chick smiled and returned my greeting. The other smirked. To hell with you, too . The driver chuckled as I hastily walked toward the car. “Rough day again, Mr.