Lookin For Me

I woke up to the sound of my 3yr old whispering in my ear.

“It’s my birthday Mama?”

“No. Your birthday party is Saturday. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday then SATURDAY!”

“Ok Mama.”

After dropping them off to school I grinned as I walked into my office building. Smiled at the receptionist. Remember I used to sit there? ~wink~

I heard her call my name and I backtracked. “What’s up?”
“I have something for you.”
“A present?”
“No. A message.” she answered as I took the small green slip of paper from her fingertips.

I read the message as I walked down the hall to my department. I laughed. Wow. This man has really been looking for me and he says the message is URGENT. Hmmm….

I logged onto the computer and at the same time pulled out my pad and pen to write down any messages from my voice mail. My phone is to my ear and I press 1 to listen to new messages.

Recording:
One new message. 8:45 am.
~male voice~ “Hey Ms. Tee, this is Raymond. I’ve been looking all over for you. I heard you were back in town. Call me back here’s my cell and my work numbers.”

I smile. Raymond. Highschool friend. He was really sweet and cute too. He used to hang with a group of guys that were my little clique’s counterparts. So we ran in the same circle. In fact, he and those guys smoked us out for the first time in our lives. LOL! What a crazy day! I have spoken to him once since highschool but never kept in touch. I havent even SEEN him since graduation day. My bestfriend texted me the other day with his number and asked me to call him, but I forgot.

I check my work email. Three new messages in my inbox. One is from him. whoa.

He’s funny.

I call him.

“What’s up Raymond?”
“Well heyyyy! I’ve been trying to get up with you. I found you on the internet. Your work number and email was listed there. You have been doing a LOT of writing girl. I’m so happy for you. And you’re really good!”
“Thanks. It’s good to hear from you. I was down in Coconut Grove a few weeks ago when I went to see DL Hughley. I thought about you when I was down there.”
“Oh really, when? How was it?”
“A few weeks ago. It was okay.”

We chat for a bit more and I give him the house number and tell him to call me after 9pm.

I go on to do my daily routine of emailing Val all day and ofcourse doing some work.

By 4pm its all done and I go pick up my boys.

While they are eating dinner I notice a missed call from my girl Sylvia. I check the message.

“Girl!” she screams into the phone. “I just got a message from LaJuan asking me for YOUR phone number. He says some guy named Mario has been looking for you for years. Call me back girl!”

I raise my eyebrow while I dial her number.

“Girl, it’s me. Call my house phone. I got no reception in here.”
“ok.”

She calls my phone and I answer.

“So first of all, who the HELL is LaJuan?”
“Girl, he’s this friend of my ex-boyfriend. I introduced you to him once back in 2001.”
“And?”
“And he has this friend named, uh Mario, who he says has been looking for you for a couple of years. He gave me his number to pass along.”
“What?”
“He called me today and said, ‘You still friends with that girl, Ms. Tee?’ and I told him yes. So he said to pass on this number. Do you even remember a guy named Mario?”

I pause.

I do remember a guy named Mario.

“Yeah I remember a Mario. But that’s not his real name. It’s just the name he goes by. I haven’t seen him since I was 21. I won’t even tell you how we met. Is it a Miami number?”

“Uh, uh.. It’s Ft. Lauderdale.”

“Yeah, thats where he lived. Wow. I wonder what he’s been up to.”

“Well, obviously he’s wondering the same thing. Do you want the number or not?”

I pause. I hope he doesn’t try to holla at me. ~rolls eyes~ I’m not in the mood for that right now. ~these freakin assholes~ But he was a very nice guy back then. Introduced me to his parents after our 2nd date. He didn’t even try to hit. Very clean cut like I like ’em. Button downs, fresh sneakers, earring. The typical pretty boy. And he drove a Ac. But I was in college…he couldn’t keep up with me.

Hmm….

“Yeah, gimme the number. I’ll call him to see how he’s doing…maybe tomorrow.”