Tears on a Sunday Afternoon - Michael Presley [46]
“What’s up, Donna?”
This was my second time in Prospect Park for the week. I parked my car on Park Avenue and walked through the entrance on Ocean Avenue. I meandered down to the boat rental club next to the lake. I had taken Emerald riding on one of the paddle boats about two weeks earlier. Donna had instructed me to meet her by the boathouse. I had on a blue and white sweat suit with white Air Jordan running shoes. I spotted Donna in a brown sweat suit, talking to a black man in jeans and a white tee. She waved at me and immediately left the man, who seemed perturbed by her actions. Some women looked good in anything they wore. Donna was one of those women.
“Praise God, you’re here,” she said as she scampered over to me. “That man was promising me everything. He’s a manager at McDonald’s, but he’s trying to change to Wendy’s. He said I could have his paycheck,” Donna said as we walked to a small clearing.
“So, did you take him up on his offer?” I asked, a big smile on my face.
“Imagine me fucking with a manager from a fast-food restaurant. I’m glad the brother has a job, but you know my lifestyle. I need a bankroll, not a hundred-dollar bill. I already make four times his salary. What the hell? I’m going to get a discount on a Big Mac? Plus the motherfucker has three kids.” She stopped at the clearing and opened her feet until they were shoulder-length apart.
I stood next to her and reached down to touch my toes. “Maybe he’s first-rate in bed.”
Donna went from her feet being shoulder-length apart to a complete split. “Dicks are a dime a dozen. That brother isn’t even playing on the same field as me. Even if we weren’t involved in this venture, I still wouldn’t fuck with him.”
“You want to dine in five-star restaurants, where the check is never questioned?” I asked as I lifted my hands into the air and stood on my tiptoes.
Donna glared at me like I was asking a stupid question. “Dating him would be like you dating a crackhead with no teeth. A sister can only stoop but so low.”
I took my left hand and pushed against that side of my face, then I did the same with the right hand. I turned my head around, hearing a slight crackling sound as I worked my head. “I guess you’ll never date your plumber.”
“Yeah, I would, if he owned Roto-Rooter. Are you ready?” she asked.
“Let’s go,” I said.
We joined the rest of the joggers and bicyclists on the trek around Prospect Park.
Donna jogged effortlessly. “I see that you’re a runner.”
I matched her step for step. “I try to mix it up with cycling.”
“I’m bringing someone else on board,” she stated nonchalantly.
“Are you asking me or telling me?”
“Both.”
“Why do you want to involve someone else?”
“I won’t be able to be there so we need someone to give you the signal.”
We started up a small hill. “Well, don’t you think I should be choosing that someone, if it deals with communication between me and them?”
“I have no problem with that, as long as the person is trustworthy and they’re not part of our deal. The person I had in mind would be doing me a favor. I’m also in the position to fuck up his life, if I so choose.” She increased her pace as we came down the hill. “I don’t care who you get, as long as the person knows absolutely nothing about what’s going down and the take. Anything you decide to give him would be coming from your end. My guy wasn’t getting anything.”
I kept up with her, doing longer strides. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll have that covered. What’s up with Kathleen?”
“She said she saw you and your wife at the party. She said you have a beautiful wife.” A visible smirk came on Donna’s face.
“I’m sure you know about doing your wifely duties. I was simply playing husband. What’s your husband’s name anyway?