A Project Chick (24 page)

She remembered he said that he didn't love his wife.

She may have believed him, if she was his girlfriend, but she was his wife!! That was a fact. Tressa continued her thoughts, and reflected on something that Foxy Brown once said, something to the effect of:

Anybody can be in a relationship for eight or nine years. Anybody can go through struggles with you, anybody can have sex with you. It doesn't take a lot to luck up and have a baby or two with you, BUT a man's GOT to love you if he makes you his wife!!!!!!!!!

After taking all these things into consideration, she simply said to herself. "Tressa, A GIRL'S GOTTA DO WHAT

A GIRL'S GOTTA DO!!!" And she ended the relationship with Bill just like that.

Bill continued to pursue Tressa. Tressa made it clear that it was over between them. Tressa discontinued any contact with him.

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-17-

Everything that Glitters

Ain't Gold

She wanted to get the film developed quickly from the boys birthday party, because she was anxious to see the pictures. When she approached the one-hour photo stand, there was no one there. She went to the very front of the long line, and nicely asked the cashier. "Excuse me miss, is there anyone working the one-hour photo booth?" People looked very agitated, because there was only one cashier working. The fact that Tressa had walked to the front of the line, practically jumping in front of everybody else, pissed the people off. She overheard the gestures people made, but Tressa blocked them out. She simply said to herself,
shoot,
I need help in one-hour photo,
and I'm not going to stand in this line just to get to the front,
and ask for help in one-hour photo. That's crazy!

The frustrated cashier said. "I'll call someone." And she did. Two girls wearing CVS vests walked up at the same time. One was very petite and timid looking. The other was obese and very sloppy. The petite lady gathered Tressa's film, and asked for her last name. Tressa told her.

"Shawsdale."

"Ms. Shawsdale, your photos will be ready in one hour, would you fill out an envelope for each roll of film, please?"

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"Sure." Tressa answered, and started filling out the envelopes.

The obese girl walked up to Tressa, and said. "Ain't your name Tressa?" Tressa said. "Yeah," And never looked up. The girl stood there looking at Tressa from head to toe, with her nose turned up, rolling her eyes with a negative emotion written all over her face. Tressa continued to fill out her photo envelopes, never acknowledging the girl at all.

"Don't you want to know who I am or where exactly you know me from?" The girl said to Tressa in a stank tone.

Tressa could sense the tension in the air, although she'd never seen this girl before. Tressa responded. "Yeah, since you insist. I'm sure you were going to tell me anyway."

"YOU ARE FUCKING MY HUSBAND!!!!" The girl screamed and turned and walked off down the aisle.

The statement shocked Tressa, as well as every one else, in the long line, waiting to be checked out. They all turned and looked at Tressa in shame. There were two little elderly ladies, both wearing wigs and hats that women usually wear to church, standing behind Tressa waiting to be served at the one-hour photo booth. Tressa shouted to the stout girl. "Excuse Me?"

One of the two old ladies said. "You home wrecker!" And the other added. "Acting all stuck-up!" The plump girl said. "Did I stutter? I said you fucking MY husband!" As she rolled her neck around, she said. "Don't try to deny it, because I know all about you." Tressa was embarrassed, to say the least. She took a deep breath and proceeded down the aisle after the obese girl.

The girl was in the shampoo aisle straightening and pulling forward the hair products. "What are you coming down here for? Cause I damn sure don't have nothing to say to you." The girl said, rolling her eyes while continuing to work.

"Look, I really don't have the foggiest idea what you are talking about?"

"Yeah, right." The girl said.

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Tressa thought to herself,
what is she talking about,
whose wife is this? I know for a fact we couldn't have a man
in common. She's got to have me confused with someone
else.
Tressa spoke in a sure tone, while shaking her head.

"Look ma'am, I apologize that your man is a cheating bastard. I truly sympathize with you, because I had one of those myself that I was glad I got rid of. Face it, he's a loser and what do you do with losers? YOU LOSE THEM!!" Tressa said, trying to comfort her. The girl only looked at her. Tressa said. "There's been a big misunderstanding, because I don't know your husband."

"Yes you do." Responded the girl in a frustrated tone.

"Ma'am what is your husband's name?" Just out of curiosity, Tressa wanted to know, so she could straighten this out.

She screamed at the top of her lungs to Tressa.

"Bill, as if you don't know!"

You could've bought Tressa for a penny at that very moment. She stood there in astonishment. She was shocked that this was indeed Bill's wife.
How could this be?

The way she looked! She was out of shape and had truly let herself go. She was not well groomed at all. Tressa took into consideration that she was at work. She wasn't expecting her to be Versace down while working in a drug store, but there were certain things that a person maintained anyway. Especially with a man as neat and clean cut as Bill was. Tressa expected that his wife would be model material, very pretty, slim, with a flat stomach and a figure to die for. Even if Bill's wife would've been overweight, Tressa guessed she'd be very pretty and neat as a pin. Tressa was fully aware that it's not the flesh of a person that matters, but what's inside. Maybe she did have a wonderful personality, but it was certain things that made Tressa say, hum.

Wifey was really tacky! Her cornrows looked as though they should've been removed two months ago. She wore glasses that were broken. And taped together with masking tape. She had a Gap T-shirt on that was two sizes too small. Not only could she see the mustard stain on it, her belly was hanging out, because the shirt didn't cover her stomach completely. Her teeth needed dental work 161

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extremely bad, she spoke with a lisp, and her breath reeked.

Tressa felt sorry for her. She developed a little compassion for Bill's wife. She explained to wifey, in a very subtle tone. "You know from day one, I never knew Bill was married. There were no indications that he was married.

The very instant that I found out, I approached him with the information that I'd received. He denied it. After playing a psychological game with him, he finally admitted it and still wanted to pursue the relationship. At that very moment,
I
broke off the relationship. I haven't had any contact with Bill since. That was over a year ago!" The wifey felt stupid. She was upset at the fact that Tressa was pretty, that she held her head up when she walked. Tressa was everything she wasn't. The whole idea of the way Tressa actually pretended she felt empathy for her, pissed her off even more.

Wifey never looked Tressa directly in her face. She was speechless for a minute. Her voice was very abrupt.

"Well, it don't matter, because Bill gives me everything. The only thing he could offer you is a wet ass!" Tressa said to herself, l
ook you broke down winch, I
was trying to be respectful, because after all, you are his wife
and I know you must be hurt, but at the same time, don't try
to hit me with the low blow!!

"What makes you come to that conclusion?" Tressa asked while laughing as if it was a joke.

Wifey responded. "Oh, I get it all, he pays me off like a slot machine."

Tressa looked at the wife up and down while saying.

"Oh really? I can't tell!"

"Well, you wasn't nothing but his little project chick anyway!"

Oh, those were fighting words. Tressa was about to kick off her shoes and punch those old braids out of wifey's head.

"Well, honestly speaking, you should have been his project. And Lord knows he had his work cut out for him.

He should have had the mission to fix your broke down ass up. Boo, it looks like to me that you are the project chick aiming to be somebody's project. You know when you get 162

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ready for your makeover, the girls over at the Professional Hair Studio does wonders."

"Well, you know what, since you feel you are the better woman, you can have him." Said the wife.

"No thanks." Said Tressa. "I'll leave him to you." Tressa was about to turn to walk away, when the wife said. "You can have him because he's a dog anyway."

"Nah, sweetie. I don't have any room in my life for K-9's." Tressa said.

"Well, just so you know, I don't want Bill!" The wife said in a hostile voice.

Tressa laughed right in her face as she asked.

"Then why did you cause a scene in front of all these people? I know love hurts and you're in denial. I can only pray that you get the strength from your inner self to move on past this whole ordeal."

The wife said in a harsh tone. "Whatever bitch." Tressa simply looked in wifey's face and took in a mouthful of air. The wife was sure Tressa was about to smack her.

"Maybe you should consider watching Lifetime, I am sure one of those movies may be therapy." She turned and sashayed away. She thought to herself,
I handled that so
well
.

Tressa thought about all the times she secretly envied Bill's wife and it was one thought that came to her head. "Everything that glitters ain't gold."

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-18-

The Head Banger

Taking in all the drama that Tressa had gone through with Lucky and Mr. Bill, Jacko decided to step up to the plate. He started wining and dining Tressa whenever she had free time, and Wiggles or Betty had the boys. They went on friendly outings, but Tressa knew Jacko really liked her.

He called Tressa and said. "Look, I know your baby father been giving you a whole bunch of drama, and I know you are under a lot of unnecessary stress. So, look, I want to take you away this weekend to Atlantic City." Tressa agreed. She needed a break. Lucky's estranged mother, Betty started coming around to spend time with the boys. At first, Tressa was unsure if she should let the children go with Betty, because she knew the games Lucky played. Also, she had second thoughts about Betty being able to keep her children, because she was fully aware of the way Betty locked Lucky in the closet when he was little. Betty understood and assured her that the children were safe with her. She expressed to Tressa that she had made big mistakes when it came to Lucky and she wanted to make up for them through her grandsons.

Tressa felt her boys were old enough to tell her if anybody did anything to them. God forbid if they ever came back and told Tressa that Betty did something to them, she'd beat the brakes off Betty. After the boys spent, an hour here and a 165

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day there, gradually Tressa started letting Betty get the boys on every other weekend. After all, they were her grandchildren and the boys deserved to have a relationship with their grandmother. Betty mentioned to Tressa that Lucky had fathered other children too, but she didn't acknowledge any of the children but the twins.
Isn't that
something, how a guy's mother is always trying to say whose
child is their sons. Like they were actually there when the
humping, bumping and grinding was going on,
Tressa thought to herself, while Ms. Betty went on and on. Finally, she reminded Tressa that this was the weekend that she got the boys. So, Tressa was clear to go to Atlantic City.

Tressa was actually looking forward to going to Atlantic City for the weekend with Jacko. She hadn't had any sex, penetration anyway, in almost a year, so she couldn't wait. She thought about how much of a good friend Jacko had been to her and how fine he was!