first meeting my best
friend while attending The University of Memphis. This brother is
something else. First off, we are similar yet so different. For
one, we both share the same views and interest. We love sports
(particularly basketball and football), women, and most
importantly, thought-provoking conversation. How are we different?
His favorite sport is baseball (I can't stand baseball), loves big
women (I prefer a curvy woman minus a ton of gut), and doesn't care
to exercise. I try to get Greg to exercise with me but he ignores
me like a Jehovah's Witness knocking at his door. Nonetheless, he's
still my boy!
As I get out of the Mackmobile and head
towards his house, he flings the door open.
"Devin! How are you doing?" he exclaims while
extending his arms and standing at the doorway. I hate when he does
that!
"You startled me a little but I'm good.
Trying to get like you," I said. We exchanged hand slaps. "Mane,
you always say that. You're the one with the clean ass Mustang and
messing with more women than Hugh Hefner," Greg said with a sly
grin. We both began to laugh.
"True but I mean it. You're the one with the
high paying tech job. Also, you got a loving wife who fully
supports you. You're winning G," I said while waving my hands up
and down like he is a pharaoh.
"Dab, you crazy. We're both blessed. Anyway,
come on in." I began to walk in his house and sit down on his
couch. His place is damn near spotless. Here's another difference!
Greg is the neat freak of all neat freaks. Back in college, his
dorm room was always clean and well-organized. It was so
immaculate, I wondered, "Does he even live in his room?" As for my
dorm room, you would be lucky NOT to see a week old Papa John's
pizza box on top of the mini refrigerator. Of course, I would tidy
up before a female guest came over though.
"So can I get you anything to drink? I got
some beer," says Greg with a smirk.
"Yeah, I'll take a bottle of that," I reply,
sarcastically. Greg is aware of my hatred for beer. Its taste
couldn't be further from urine. Another reason is my dad loved
beer. His lifelong battle with alcoholism made me detest beer
further.
"Aw Dab. You got to drink beer with me one
day. Like my uncle say, it'll put some hair on your chest."
"Playa, I like the hair I already got," I
reply, stroking my goatee. We both laugh.
"I hear you. So you want anything to
drink?"
"No. I'm good. So what's been going on with
you?"
"Nothing much. Just working, taking care of
the bills and spending time with my wife. My life ain't as
thrilling as yours." Greg always makes comments about how my
lifestyle is more fun than his. I appreciate the compliment but it
makes me a tad bit uneasy. I don't want him to think that he is
missing out on anything. He has a thoughtful, caring wife. Their
relationship is damn near impeccable. In actuality, that's what I
desire with a woman.
"Ok. That's cool. You're doing what a man's
supposed to do. What I'm doing out here is something else. I mean
it is fun but how long can I keep doing this? What you got is what
every real man desires." I point at his wedding portrait hanging on
the wall.
"Yeah, I suppose. Marriage life is not always
peaches and cream but I am happy."
"Yep, and that is what it is all about.
Finding real love and happiness. The shit chick flicks be talking
about." We both share a chuckle.
"True. True. So you're sounding like a man
ready to settle down. This doesn't sound like the Devin I met at
freshman orientation." Greg cracked open his beer and sat back in
his chair in anticipation of my response.
"Whoa now, cowboy! I didn't say I was
settling down with nobody. It's just when you get older, you start
thinking about your future more. I don't want to be the 75 year old
cat in the club with a pacemaker trying to holler at these young
gals."
"I feel you on that," he replies, chuckling.
"So have you met anybody? Is there any lady who got the potential
of being Mrs. Banks?"
"Wellll, not exactly but this one