Here is the third installment of my infamous vacation home...ready to read about it, here it go! That morning, Candace woke me up because my precautions with the alarm clock did NOT work. I jumped up and got ready because I had to find the insurance cards. My mother told me that night that she was going to go with me to court but y'all know what happened, don't you? She didn't get up in time. She did print me a temporary insurance card and sent me on my way all alone. I had to go to Bridgeview. I had been there before for court but I had forgotten how to get there. By the time I got the directions and stuff, I had like 20 minutes to get to court. Then I had to get on the tollroad. I knew that there were at least one but I didn't know you had to pay to get off. I didn't have anymore change so I just chanced it by throwing what I had in there and driving off. When I got to the courthouse, it started to drizzle. I had just gotten my hair done so I grabbed a coat from the trunk and tried to get in there before the rain came down. Now when you get to the stairs, the concrete ground turns into tile so it is slick when wet. I had on flip-flops....no that did not happen! I did not slip or fall because I was extra careful but that could've happened. After I got through security, I went to my court room that was posted on my bail bond paper. When I got in there, court had started 15 minutes earlier so I sat there waiting for recess to sign in. The court room was crowded and I watched all of these cases go through. They were serious crimes. In one case, this guy was chased and arrested for having alot of crack on him. Apparently he was a dealer 'cause he had on this expensive leather jacket...the same jacket that he was arrested in which made it easier for the arresting cop to identify him. So stupid!!! This other guy stole over $500 worth of Blockbuster videos/games from his job. When they busted him, he immediately told the truth which was smart 'cause they made a deal with him. I was thinking, "Man, just because I didn't show up in court, does that mean that I must be in here with the real criminals??? They are taking this too serious!" The judge zipped through everyone within a few minutes and I was the only one chillin' in the courtroom when he called for recess. I went in to sign in and she could not find my name or case! Y'all know I was hot, right??? It was my birthday and I was in court and they couldn't find my case? I had to go to the registrar-type office to find out where I was supposed to be. After waiting for 1/2 hour, they called my number and they told me I was in a totally different court room. When the guy that was helping me looked at my I.D, he said, "No s@*t! It's your birthday? Happy Birthday. I hope you don't go to jail." Another guy who was just standing around wished me a happy birthday too. Some birthday, huh? But I brought it all upon myself. I go to the right court room and it is packed! The judge seemed like he had an attitude and kept taking recesses. I found a seat when a couple of people left and when they came back, they stood there like I was supposed to get up. They got the wrong chick on the wrong day! I would say that majority of those cases were minor drug cases where they were caught with marijuana. And all the judge did was send them to drug school. I had never heard of drug school before in my life. These people were were overly happy and confident in that easy sentence. Because I was late, I had to wait a while to be called. They started calling some of the inmates. My heart immediately went out to them. They just sit there with no concept of time, waiting to be called. They are like sitting ducks. This one chick who looked like a typical spoiled Italian came out. She was arrested on a couple of charges including drugs. Her bail was mad high. When her father saw her, he started wiggin' out. The bailiff had to tell him to calm down. After they set her bail, the father started calling everyone in the world to ask for additional money because he didn't bring that much money to bail her out. If she didn't look like such a partygirl, I would've felt sorry for her. After a while, they called me. I didn't know what I was supposed to do but stand there. By the time I got up to the podium, the judge had already started talking and I didn't know what he was talking about. By the time I placed my hands on the podium, he was finished and calling the next person. I was stunned! All that for nothing??? No wonder I jumped bail...just kidding! I asked one of the court appointed lawyers for additional information and he was nasty. I had to ask the secretary and she didn't have no additional information except the next court date and time. I went back home but I took the streets 'cause I was out of change. Now this court house was way west and I live west so I figured I could take the streets back home. I have taken the streets to get back to the church from that court house (yes, that was not my first time going to court). So I find a main street and begin to follow it. The main street led me to a highway. I wasn't getting on no highway where I might get lost or have to pay so I follow the road through a forest. I was a little bit nervous 'cause I didn't know where this road was taking me. I had a feeling that I was going east but wasn't too sure. I did see cars coming from the opposite way so I knew there was a way out of the jungle. I was just driving and listening to my old school music. I get to the end of the yellow brick road and opt to keep going east. It seemed like every road I got on would take me through a forest preserve and end. I hopped on so many roads, it wasn't funny! By the time I recognized where I was, I was on 150th & Cicero. So, I went to 147th and kept going until I got home.
When I got home, the boys (Darrence and Tarrance) were already there from football practice. The football coach had cut Darrance but not Tarrance. I felt so bad for him. He seemed so excited about playing football. He is usually so inactive but football had him playing and feeling like a part of his brother's clique. So I decided to invite him to go to the retreat with me. When I asked him, his face lit up. I was glad that he would have some kind of happiness that week. But that happiness would show to be bittersweet. Darrance and I packed while my mother went to the DMV to get stickers for all the cars. She came back and told me that she couldn't get mine because I was a year or two behind with the stickers. Last time that happened, I had to get new plates. I didn't have the money so I was tripping. Darrance was not moved by that information. He started throwing out all types of suggestions. I was tired from being in jail for two days so I just sat around, slept, and watched television. I told him that we would leave later that night or the next day. He seemed disappointed but accepted that answer. As I sat around being bored, I had a temper tantrum because the day was not going my way. My plan was to leave for the retreat later that day but my mother wanted me to finish getting my car situation done first. Looking back retrospectively, I knew that she was right but I wanted what I wanted! I started to fuss that the whole day sucked. I felt like no one cared about me or forgot about me on my special day. I didn't make a big deal of my birthday, but I expected other people to do that. My mother overheard me whining and called me on it. I felt so low and immature. I apologized and continued to watch television. Sometime during television, Takeyla called me to wish me a Happy Birthday. I thought that was so sweet of her...especially since she was the only one! My mother asked me if I wanted to go out but I figured since we were broke that we could save money by staying home. Always the martyr! So Tarrance and I was cooking when Candace came home. Not only did she not wish me a Happy Birthday (from what I could remember) but she seemed snippy. I guess someone reminded her about my birthday so she asked if we were going out. I told her that I was saving the family money and we were eating in. She seemed annoyed with that answer and tried to convince me to go to that restaurant that specializes in home cooking. I didn't want to go out without my family so I told her no, I wanted to be with my family on my birthday. That seemed to only annoy her even more. What in the world was wrong with her?!? So we ate and my mother sent Candace to buy me a cake. She called me from the store and asked what kind of cake I wanted. I don't remember what kind I asked for but she didn't like that choice. And then she asked about ice cream (which she told me was her gift to me) and I told her a specific kind and she said that she didn't like that kind and hung up. WTH (what the heck)!?!? I ignored her. Once again looking back retrospectively, I was partly to blame. I didn't show much patience with her. FACT: She is a short fuse. FACT: The Lord has blessed me with abundant patience with people that are hurting and lash out onto others. But my patience has been tested and killed by those crazy people I pray with everyday. I noticed it but I figured that I was evolving into another person. So if you are reading this Candace...I am sorry. Anyways, we had candles but no lighter. Darrance gets the brilliant idea to try to light the candles with the cigarette lighter in the car. Did it work? Hell no! We broke that stupid thing. So I pretended to blow candles out. The cake was good. But that birthday confirmed that I was older and could not rely on "friends" to be there for me all of the time. Later that night, my dad called me to tease me about being in jail and to find out what happened in court. He was telling everyone that I had a cellmate named 'Ta-talicious'. Where he got that from I'll never know! Then who gets on the phone? Brad! He starts in with the teasing talking about that we got more in common than he thought! Whatever, dude! He did wish me a Happy Birthday when I wished him a Happy Birthday. We were talking about something when the phone went dead. The retreat site has horrible reception. I sat around for the rest of the night just chilling and watching movies. By that time, Candace had warmed up and was talking and having fun. Then she dropped the bomb on me...she asked when were we (implying her, me, and Darrance) leaving for the retreat. Uh oh....I told her that she would have to call Tara to find out if she could come. She got offended and said that she didn't want to go. I was tired of kissing up to her so I dropped the conversation. Darrance got mad because he thought that she was our last hope at going to the retreat. He went off on me! The next morning, he woke me up telling me to get ready to go. He had printed up the directions to the retreat. I was so tired that I told him that I didn't want to go. Besides, it was only a day left. He really got mad at me...including my mom so I jumped up and got my half-packed bags and went with her.
We went to the church and swapped cars...I had the car and she took the hummer. Darrance and I went to get gas and food and on the highway we went. We were driving and listening to music and having fun. Along the way, we ran into alot of detours. I reluctantly followed Darrance's advice and we got to our location....the wrong campsite!!! I should've been upset but I figured that it could happen to anyone and getting upset would not benefit or help the situation. I got the right directions and we hit the highway once again. Once we got to our exit, we had to decide whether to turn left or right. Darrance had the directions and he told me to turn right. I saw the sign that said turn left but I thought that it was irrelevant 'cause the directions said turn right. We are, once again, just a-drivin' and after a half of an hour, I started to wonder where the stupid camp was. Then something told me to look at the directions and it said for us to turn left at the exit. LEFT!!! I had to turn around and drive another 1/2 hour to get back to the exit. Then we couldn't find the way to the camp. I eventually stopped for gas and got directions. Once we got there, I was crabby and snappy. I went off on him good because he came to the retreat with no Bible. I specifically asked him if he had his Bible and he said that it was in his suitcase. When we get there, he admits that he did not have a Bible...that he lied to me! I went off, y'all. Why in the world would you come to a spiritual retreat without you sword??? That showed me that those teenagers viewed the retreat as a vacation instead of a place to get closer to God. I had to calm down and socialize with people. I was expecting people to run in my face asking me about being in jail but everyone was cool. There were a few stupid comments but those didn't bother me. I wasn't there 15 minutes before I got summoned by the grand jury...Bishop, Brad, and Elder Harris. Some little boy came and told me that Elder Pratt wanted me. I was not ready to hear their mouths so I took my time to go see them. By the time I was ready to go, Tara and Tim were finished with their 'lover's rendezvous' trip so they went with me. As soon as I walked into the door, they started on me. But it was cool...
Can I be honest??? My heart dropped when I saw Brad. I just knew he made a mistake marrying that other woman. You could tell that he gained some weight but my heart still leaped when I saw him. It actually leaped when he called me on my birthday. I know that it was love...and I say 'was' because he is married so I must get over him. Like I was saying, I know it was love because he is not the finest man in the world or the most refined, but I still wanted him.... Like I was saying...you must come back for the rest....the last entry of my vacation.
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