“Momma, Daddy. Ten and Kohl are here,” Ronnie announces. “Kohl, this is my Daddy, Phillip, and my Momma, Madge.”
“Very nice to you meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Leeland,” I say.
“Kohl, welcome to our home. I’m very impressed with you on the court this year, Son,” the Mayor says shaking my hand, filling me with a sense of pride.
Moving to Ten, he embraces her in a hug, “You’re a radiating beauty tonight, young lady.”
“Move, move, Phillip,” Madge says, shoving him out of the way, wrapping Ten in a hug. “Yes, my dear. You are stunning. Such captivating eyes without those thick lenses and black frames. My goodness, what a beauty you are with some makeup and a great dress. All this was hiding under all those frumpy clothes.”
Tens face flames red pulling back from Madge, Ronnie gasps at her mother’s rudeness.
“Mother,” Ronnie exclaims.
“What?” she responds. Clueless of the insult she threw.
“Did you know that it actually takes 142 licks to get to the center of a tootsie pop? Not the three like the owl in the commercial says. Plus, a duck’s quack doesn’t echo; did you know that?” Ten rambles.
I fight the laugh that bubbles up at her nervousness and the wide eyes of Ronnie’s mom. Another one of the many things I love about this woman. She is full of wild information that comes out when she’s uncomfortable.
Laughing, gesturing to the table, Mayor Phillip insists we eat, “Very interesting, Tensanne. Madge, kids, how about we eat some of this food?”
I hear Ronnie’s mom whisper to her husband, “Did I say something wrong, Phillip?” as we move to sit at the table.
A buffet style spread of food sits atop a thick, long, oval oak table surrounded by thirteen chairs. The Mayor and his wife take their spots at either end of the table, Ronnie moves to sit on the left side while I pull out Ten’s chair on the right.
Once we are seated, we grab our plates and begin to fill them with all the offerings. Turkey, ham, scalloped potatoes, grits, greens, corn casserole, sweet rolls and many other southern dishes.
“Now, girls, take it easy on all those carbohydrates,” Mrs. Leeland says placing salad only on her plate. “A moment on the lips is a lifetime on the hips,” she sings.
“Oh, Momma,” Ronnie scowls holding her sweet roll to her lips. Tens hand pauses midway to her mouth frowning at her bread.
Reaching, I grab Tens free hand drawing her attention to me. Staring into her eyes, I say, “I don’t know about you, Mayor Leeland, but I like for my woman to have curves. Soft spots to lay my head. I don’t want a woman that’s all skin and bones,” I wink when her mouth tips in a small grin. “No disrespect, Ma’am, but the time for stick skinny women has passed, every guy I know wants the voluptuous figure. So, you girls eat all the bread you want.”
“Mrs. Leeland, did you know that America’s sweetheart and the ultimate bombshell, Marilyn Monroe’s, dress size was a size fourteen? In a recent poll of 4000 men, it was found that most prefer women with curves and 78% said the most attractive feature on a woman is her smile,” Tensanne informs us eyeing the roll in her hand.
“See Momma,” Ronnie gloats smiling, “I say, LET THEM EAT BREAD, carbs be damned,” reaching out her hand holding the roll to Ten who also raises her roll.
“I propose a toast to fluffy, sweet, succulent, carbohydrate filled bread,” she cheers while her and Ten tap rolls in a mock toast. Bringing it back to their mouths, taking a huge bite.
“You should try it, Momma. Maybe you wouldn’t be so grouchy if you ate some curve inducing food,” Ronnie gurgles around a mouthful of sweet roll.
“Veronica Anne Leeland, don’t talk with your mouthful,” Mrs. Leeland huffs.
Mayor Leeland, Ten and myself cover our mouths to hide our laughter.
Dinner continues with the Mayor asking me about the season and the women talking about the classes Ten and Ronnie will be taking the next semester. After dinner, we all enjoy a generous amount of Madge’s marvelous banana pudding. Creamy, sweet and all southern, it’s a decadent explosion in your mouth. Once we finish a man in a suit enters the room.
“Sir, Madame,” a member of the staff calls, “Your guests have begun to arrive.”
Rising from our seats, Ronnie bounces on her toes grabbing our hands she drags us into the other room exclaiming, “Let’s get this party started.”
Chapter Nineteen
A bad day can always be made better with banana pudding
—Ronnie to Ten
Tensanne
THE PARTY IS in full swing. Tons of people from this little college town all mingling together in the Mayor’s Mansion. The Chief of Police and many of his men, the firemen dressed in their tuxedos with muscle’s bulging makes Ronnie drool. Professors, students, friends, colleagues all dressed up, drinking and enjoying the evening.
Kohl said I’m more beautiful than a princess but I feel like Cinderella at the Ball. Waiting to turn into a pumpkin at midnight.
Dancing, laughing, feeling free and wonderful. Kohl is amazing. A true Prince Charming. Every little girl grows up wanting the fairy tale and right now I’m living it.
I have been carrying around the truth potion in my clutch all night. Debating on whether I want to add a couple of drops to his drink or not.
Ronnie and I have been dancing our feet off. Taking a break, Kohl is sitting at the table with a few members of the basketball team. Catching his attention, I signal that I’m going to get a drink.
Standing in line, I feel a tap on my shoulder.
“Yous having a good time, Tensanne?”
Turning I meet the white smiling eyes of Esmeralda, the little old Gypsy.
“Yous are vondering if the handsome boy’s feelings are true, zes?” she asks.
“Yes,” I whisper glancing at Kohl laughing with his friends.
“His eyes vill tell yous
