Joe looked at the wall clock, he should already be at the field house dressing for the Homecomeing game. Darryl was late or else he was not coming. Joe was mad. Over his shoulder he held the suit he would wear after the game when he went out with Danita. He looked down the street, both ways, nothing. Damn Darryl. Joe went back into the apartment. Now he was going to have to ride his stupid bike to the field house. Damn Darryl. He jabbed his key into the lock. The familiar blast of Purple Bomb’s horn sounded behind him.

  Purple Bomb rattled and wheezed, but there was no music when Joe climbed in. Darryl didn’t say a word. He gunned the car and they were off. He was obviously mad too and Joe figured it was best to keep quiet.

  When they reached the field house, Coach Wilson met them, he glanced at Darryl and then said to Joe, “If you ever need a ride son, call me.” Coach then gave Darryl a look that would have withered cactus.

  In the locker room, Darryl said, “I’m sick of being your taxi. You need to use some of that damn money you're saving and buy yourself a car.” He banged his locker open.

  Joe didn’t speak. Darryl knew all his money was going toward college. All of it. Joe hung his suit up in his locker, then peeled off his clothes. The faster he got ready for the game, the faster it would be over. Then, then he would be with Danita, all alone in his mama’s car. Mama was dropping it off after work.

  *

  The game was a massacre. The Tigers were so far ahead it was ridiculous. Joe hadn’t even played since the first quarter. When he wasn’t near Darryl, he kept his eyes on Danita. Her smile did all kinds of wonderful things to his insides.

  When the game was over, he was the first one to the showers, the first one dressed and the first one out the door. He scanned the parking lot. Where was Mama’s car? She must be running late. He went to the girls gym to wait for Danita.

  The stars were big in the sky, and the night was just the right amount of cool. Danita came out of the girls’ gym. She was wearing a clinging orange dress. It hugged her body, accentuating every curve. As she move toward him, Joe felt his heart go crazy. His palms filled with sweat and his mouth went dry. She was so beautiful. When had she gotten so beautiful and why the hell hadn’t he noticed until now?

  All at once she was right in front him. His fingers fought the urge to touch her. She stared up at him with her big eyes, eyes that swallowed him whole. She smiled. Her lips had the most delicious curve to them. He wanted to kiss them more than he wanted to breathe. He leaned forward, just as she turned away. Shyly she said, “Joe, Daddy’s got to take us to get your car. Your mom had to pull a double shift tonight.”

  Inwardly Joe groaned. The last person he wanted to see was Mr. Bowen and the last place he wanted to go was the nursing home. Danita headed toward the parking lot. Joe followed. She led him to her dad’s old beat up pickup. Mr. Bowen nodded to Joe when he opened the door. Mrs. Bowen smiled. Joe said, “Hi,” and squeezed in beside Danita. He hadn’t anticipated being this close to her so soon and his body started getting stupid. He had to focus. He stared at Mr. Bowen’s big knuckles, knuckles that could break him if he ever tried anything with Danita.

  At the nursing home, Joe got out so fast he nearly fell. Danita slid out and waved.

  Mr. Bowen said, “Be home by 12:30.”

  “Yes, Daddy.” When the truck pulled away Danita reached for Joe’s hand. It was firm and cold.

  Joe asked, “Do you want to wait out here?”

  “No. I don’t like the dark.”

  “Well, what’s in there is even worse.”

  “Yeah, but I will be with you.” Her smile went straight through him.

  The stench of the nursing home hit him when he opened the doors. Danita grimaced but she didn’t say anything.

  Hopefully Mama left her keys at the front desk. The sooner they got out of here the better.

  Up ahead a set of doors flew open. Morrow Anderson bolted down the hall. Danita let go of Joe’s hand and ran after her. What the hell?

  Mama came out of the room. She asked, “Where’d she go?”

  Joe pointed. “Danita is with her.”

  “Good.” Mama handed him the keys and then went back into the room, Morrow had just left.

  Unsure of what to do, Joe sprinted in the direction he saw the girls go. He found them outside in the parking lot clinging to one another. Morrow was crying. Something must be wrong, very wrong with Mr. Anderson. Bitterly Joe thought, Couldn’t he have picked some other night to get sick?

  With her voice choked by tears, Morrow was difficult to understand. Danita kept nodding and saying, “I know Sweetie.”

  Knew what? What did she know?

  This went on for several moments, then Morrow sobbed, “I don’t want him to die. He can’t die. I still need him.”

  Die, tonight was not the night to die. Oh God, this was worse than he thought. This could not be happening. Why was this happening, why? Tonight of all nights. This was supposed to be the best evening of his life, instead it might be the last night of Mr. Anderson’s.

  Joe’s eyes took in Danita. Her perfect dress was now tear stained. She was crying too and her makeup was a mess. Helplessly he stood by, not knowing what to say.

  The sound of sirens filled the air. Morrow turned and froze. Her entire body became rigid. Danita wrapped her arms around Morrow, but Morrow pulled away. She took one small step forward, then another. Lights flashed around the corner, then the ambulance appeared, the siren screamed. Danita grabbed hold of Morrow and tried to move her onto the sidewalk, but she wouldn’t move. She stared at the ambulance, mesmerized by the spinning light. Danita shrieked, “Joe, help.” The ambulance was speeding right toward them, Joe grabbed Morrow and pulled her onto the sidewalk. In his arms she whispered, “This is really happening isn’t it? Why can’t I make it go away?”

  The ambulance parked right where they had been standing. Two men jumped out and went inside. Morrow pulled away from Joe and ran into the building. Danita followed.Joe raced after them. In the hall, Morrow and Danita stood. Morrow was so pale. Joe had never seen skin so white and bloodless before. Her lips were pressed in a straight line and her knuckles were white as she clasped and unclasped her hands. Beyond the doors they could hear voices and gasps. Danita put her arm around her. Morrow buried her face in Danita’s shoulder. She whispered, “That doesn’t sound good.” Then there was silence. And Joe heard a man’s voice say, “Time of death, 10:03 p.m.”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Morrow pulled away from Danita. She stared at the doors and took in several slow breaths of air. Joe waited for her to cry or scream or become hysterical again. That didn’t happen.

  Mrs. Anderson, Morrows mother, came out.

  Morrow asked, “Is-is grandpa ---”

  “Yes honey he is.” Morrow fell into her mother’s arms. She started crying, but these tears were not wild or out of control.

  Mama came out of the room. Her eyes traveled from Joe to Danita, then to Morrow and her mother. She said, “Mrs. Anderson, they need you back inside. I can take Morrow to the cafeteria.”

  Mrs. Anderson nodded and went back into the room.

  Mama put her arm around Morrow and led her to the cafeteria.

  For several seconds Danita stood rooted in front of Mr. Anderson’s room. Joe reached for her hand. It was cold and wet with tears. Silent tears were spilling from her eyes. Beyond the door, he heard the voices of the ambulance attendants. They would be coming out soon. Instinctively he knew it wouldn’t be a good idea for Danita to see Mr. Anderson’s body. He tugged on Danita’s hand. She looked up at him. Her eyes were filled with pain. Softly he said, “Come on, let’s go.” Danita nodded and followed him to the car. The ambulance blocked the drive, so Joe had to back up and drive out the wrong way.

  As they drove out of the parking lot Danita kept her eyes down. She did not speak. The only sound she made was an occasional sniff as they made their way to the restaurant. Joe tried to make conversation but his brain was frozen. When they pulled into the parking lot, Danita got her compact out of her purse. She mumbled, “I look awful.”

  Maybe they should just call it a night. Maybe he should take her home. Joe didn’t know what to do. He parked the car. Danita did her best to repair her make up, but it was still obvious she had been crying. Joe got out and walked around the car and opened the door for her. Her felt completely deflated. In his fantasy this was the moment he had planned to kiss her. Now, was not the time. He closed and locked the door, and then followed her inside. Danita told the hostess who they were and they were led to a table. Long minutes of silence passed before the waiter came to take their order. The only thing Danita ordered was ice cream. It wouldn’t take long to eat that. Joe was not in the mood for steak, so he opted for hamburger and French fries. When the waiter, left Danita sighed. Joe asked, “You okay?”

  Tears filled her eyes again. She shook her head. Tears spilled down her cheeks and her mascara further disintegrated.

  “I’m sorry Danita, do you want to go home?”

  She shook her head. “No, just give me a minute. Its just I was with my grandma when she died in the hospital, and it was so weird. It was like she was in the room with me one minute, then she just left. I could feel she was gone. I miss her. I was named after her.”

  Joe didn’t know that.

  More tears fell, then she wiped her eyes with her napkin. She gave him a watery smile. “This isn’t the evening I had in mind.”

  “Me either.”

  Shyly she lowered her eyes and asked, “Will there will be other evenings?”

  Joe reached across the table and took her hand. “Yes.”

  She looked at him then. In her eyes he could see how much she liked him. How long had she liked him?

  Their food came. Silently they ate. When they finished, Danita asked, “Do you mind taking me home. I'm sorry but I'm really tired.”

  Joe didn’t want to take her home, he wasn’t ready, but he nodded.

  The ride home was also silent, but at least Danita had stopped crying. When Joe pulled into the Bowen’s drive way he saw Purple Bomb, he thought Darryl said he had a hot date. If so why was he home?

  Joe got out of the car and opened Danita’s door. She didn’t look at him when she got out. She brushed passed him and walked quickly up the drive. Beneath the porch bulb Danita was bathed in yellow light. Her skin glowed. In spite of her smeared make up she looked beautiful to him. He wanted to hold her, kiss her, but he was pretty sure she didn’t want any part of that at the moment. Her eyes were focused on the contents of her purse. She pulled out her key, stuck it in the door and turned it. Before she could get inside, Joe touched her arm. She looked up at him. Some invisible force drew them closer until their lips met. The kiss was the sweetest thing Joe had ever felt or tasted. Warmth wrapped around him and fuzzed out his brain. Danita pulled away. He wanted more, but Danita was inside before he could kiss her again.

  An incredible sense of joy filled Joe. Never had he felt like this before. Never had a girl’s kiss stirred him so deeply. His feet felt light, his whole body felt light. He was weightless. He could float, probably fly home. He went to the car and crawled inside. The car purred to life when he turned the key. His eyes traveled up to the sky, a single star broke through the clouds and winked at him. He backed out of the drive and headed toward home.

  The sensation of euphoria stayed with him all the way to Main Street, then a silver BMW whirred passed him. The window was down and Christy Thorton’s long blonde hair streamed out the window. Memories of another night, ripped through his bliss. Someone was beside her. It looked like Darryl? No, it couldn’t be Darryl. Christy only went after the best of the best. She didn’t mess with second string C students. The silver BMW turned ahead of him. He got another glimpse of the guy. No, that couldn’t be Darryl.

  Street lights cast weird shadows in the car. Joe tried to return to his former state, but couldn’t. When he pulled into his neighborhood and parked, he saw Gentry, the local drug dealer shooting hoops on the complex court. He was tall. Much taller than Joe. Two years ago he had been a star basketball player. Some claimed he was Joe’s half brother. It was a rumor Mama never confirmed or denied.

  When Joe entered the apartment he was surprised to see Mama home. He asked, “They cut your shift?”

  “I cut my shift.”

  “Who brought you home?”

  Mama paused before she answered. “Uh, Brother Greene.”

  Instant anger shot through Joe. “Why him?”

  “I called him to come and talk to the Andersons.”

  “Don't they have their own preacher?”

  "No." Tears stood in Mama's eyes. “Brother Greene knows what grief is, and I knew he would be a help to them.”

  Angrily Joe said, “So afterwards, he decided to help himself to you.”

  “Josiah Aaron, you watch your mouth.”

  Joe brushed passed his mother and stomped to his room. He slammed his bedroom door hard and threw himself on his bed. Beyond his door, he heard his mother sigh