Keepin It Tight - A Sample

"He hasn't? You know how these boys are. Once they get together, that's it. I'll make sure to send him your way when I find him." Lela chuckled. Grandma Jana always put her in the highest spirits.

"Well, how you been, sweet pea?"

"Just fine, Grandma. How about you? Have you been back to see the heart doctor?"

"Yes. He told me everything will be fine as long as I eat right and exercise."

Grandma Jana was seventy five, but she would put a young girl to shame during a workout. "Enough about me. When are you gonna get married, child. A beautiful girl like yourself should have no problem finding a man."

"Not you, too, Grandma. I just ran away from Jenny, Lacy, and Tab, who were nagging me about the same thing. If you must know, it's not finding a man that's the problem. I've found plenty. It's finding one that will do right by me and Antwan."

Grandma Jana leaned in close and spoke in a whisper. "You want your grandma to show you how it's done?"

Lela wondered where her grandma was taking this. With Grandma Jana, it could be anywhere.

"How what's done?"

"Picking up a man and making him do right."

Hesitantly, Lela answered, "Okay then. Show me what you working with, Grandma."

Within seconds, Grandma Jana pranced off in the direction of an older gentleman who was hiking up toward the parking area with his fishing gear. Grandma Jana had her hand on her hip, and Lela didn't want to think about what her grandmother was going to say to the unsuspecting man.

When the man reached into his vehicle and pulled out a small card, handing it to Grandma Jana, Lela stood in disbelief. Go on and work it then, Grandma. Between Grandma Jana and Tonya she had two divas as best friends.

If any of Lela's other family knew Grandma Jana was over there picking up a man, they would have tried to stop her. But they were none the wiser, as they were all gathered under the canopy that was draped with a "Welcome to the James Family Reunion 2005" banner.

Music boomed from the speakers. As usual, Uncle Calvin was doubling as DJ and cook. He sported a Michael Jordan jersey, some baggy FUBU jeans, and a pair of Air Jordan sneakers on his feet.

Even though he was knocking on fifty's door, he still dressed more hip than most teenagers.

Everyone was having a ball laughing and reminiscing about old times. Until, like clockwork, the story came up about Lela's uncles fighting in the middle of the road in their teens. That's when Calvin and John started fussing all over again about who won the fight.