Saved Folk in the House Read Online Free PDF

other.”
    Breaking down, Zakia asked, “What about Vashti?”
    “History, baby. Closed chapter, the past, gone, over.”
    Zakia contemplated what being with Malik would mean. It would definitely eliminate one major distraction by keeping other men at bay. She decided to go for it.
    “Okay, Malik.”

Chapter Four
    Z akia witnessed college females, like the women in her neighborhood back in Richmond, being traumatized by men who did not realize that it was not morally acceptable behavior to have harems in the United States. Zakia made it clear to Malik that she would not be disrespected in such a way. The thought had never entered Malik’s mind that Zakia would be his only woman, just his main one. All of the others would understand that and respect her as such, never letting her find out about them if they wanted a piece of him. However, Zakia was so focused on her classes, scholarship, and subsequent employment that Malik often felt neglected. He missed the attention and perks he got from other women. Some of them would do anything to get with him, but after he got Zakia, he decided he would keep her.
    It was mutually over with Vashti. She had become sick of the reports from her sorors. The only thing that had changed about Malik was his official girlfriend. Zakia had no peace in her spirit about Malik. She dismissed the uneasiness she felt from other women. She knew that the root of the stares was that they wanted her man.
    “Look, Malik, I know I don’t have a lot of time to give you all the attention you need, and I’m cool with just being your friend,” Zakia told him as he walked her to class one day.
    He thought about it for a split second, but not wanting to take a chance on a less needy brother taking his place, he reassured her. “What are you talking about? You are my woman and my friend and you always will be.”
    They grew to depend on each other and to really love each other as friends. They were both good, beautiful people who happened to find themselves in an environment that didn’t always bring the positive characteristics out of a person socially; however, they could see the goodness and inner beauty that the other possessed. They decided to stay together.
    Zakia and Malik broke up and got back together many times during Zakia’s freshman year. The main reason for many of the breakups was that Zakia would learn that Malik was messing around with another woman, especially during basketball season when groupies were a dime a dozen.
    One afternoon before a home game, Malik went to Zakia’s room to get a good-luck kiss.
    “Let me hear you cheering for me tonight. I’m going to hit three threes in a row just for you, baby,” he promised.
    “Oh, didn’t I tell you? I’m going home after my last class today. My mother’s birthday is tomorrow.”
    “What? But I have a game tonight.”
    “And you have your own cheering section. I’m sure somebody will be screaming your name.”
    “Why can’t you go after the game or in the morning?”
    “Gotta catch a ride when I can,” Zakia said.
    Malik pouted all the way to the gym.
    The post-game celebrations were the most opportune times for women to hug and kiss Malik in public. This irritated Zakia a great deal, but there wasn’t much she could do about it. She was no fool and preferred not to give these women the satisfaction of being able to love on her man in front of her. She wanted to stay and support him, but he loved the attention so much that he actually told her to get used to it because NBA groupies were way worse than college ones. He said that this was practice for her. She thought he was a fool to think she would just stand by and get used to him hugging and kissing on women in her presence, especially when she could tell more was going on than just congratulations. She asked him if he was serious.
    “They are fans, baby. We just won the game. They’re happy. It’s no big deal.”
    “Call me after basketball season is over,