Something Real by J.J. Murray

Author:J.J. Murray
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2008-06-24T09:50:00+00:00

fifteen

I'm almost sound asleep for a badly needed nap when the phone rings.

"Good morning, Ruth," Naomi says.

"Mornin'

"What are you planning for today?"

"Nothin'.

"Want to go shopping or something? We could hit some outlet malls."

Oh, joy. All day in a car to watch Naomi spend money. "Not today."

She's quiet for a spell. "Say, I was looking at today's paper, and I happened to look at the personals section."

Not this shit again. "Just happened?"

"Um, yeah, and I saw one that looks promising."

She reads these to me occasionally, and though it sounds like they're for her, they are really for me. "Is this one for you or for me?" I ask this time.

"For you, of course" Of course. "Want me to read it to you?"

"No." I roll over and get more comfortable. "But go ahead"

"Okay. `Single black male, forty-five, dependable, honest, thoughtful, nice, never married, tall, serious, Christian churchgoer, nonsmoker, nondrinker, enjoys walking, spending quiet evenings at home, seeks single black female for friendship and hopefully a lifetime of passion.' He sounds so right for you, Ruth"

"Naomi, what are you tryin' to do?"

"Do? All I did was read-"

"I know you don't like Dewey. You've made that perfectly clear. Now stay out of my business."

"Don't take it the wrong way."

"How many other ways are there to take it?"

"I'm just saying that there are black men out there for you"

"Yeah right. First of all, a man has got to be desperate to put one of those ads in the paper." Naomi doesn't respond. What'd I say? Wait a minute. Naomi the Beautiful has an ad running in the personals?

"He might not be desperate," she says softly. "He might be shy."

Naomi's kinda shy ... hmm. "Come on, Naomi. Anyone who brags that much on hisself has to be lyin' if he's a real Christian. And I don't want to spend quiet evenings at home no more. I want to get out, go out. Shit, why don't you call him up or write him or whatever you do with those ads"

"I just might."

"Well, go on, then."

"I will. Goodbye, Ruth"

Click.

Daa-em. I can't take a nap now. I have to get to Hood's to get me a newspaper to check the personals for Naomi's ad. I grab some change and dash out to see Fred reading a newspaper. "Is that today's, Fred?"

"Yep" He folds it twice and holds it out to me without a word. I take it and find that it's open to the personals. "Third one down on the left," he says. "And the booty pin is the one in the middle."

Fred is one spooky man. I scan down the page and see Naomi's personal ad:

Christian SBF 35, no kids, n/s, n/d, likes attending church, working out, playing cards, bowling ISO SBCM for friendship first.

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