Wisdom Seeds Read Online Free PDF Page B

me. “You look exactly the same.”
    â€œI’ll take that as a compliment, but I like this hairstyle better than the Shirley Temple curls.” I was a little unsure of who was who, and consciously did not address them by name.
    â€œYou look like me,” Andrea smiled. “You must favor your dad. I’m Andrea,” she said pointing to herself. “I’m the twin that looks like the Allen’s.”
    Andrea and Alicia were fraternal twins. I remembered them looking a lot more alike than they did now.
    Pittsburgh was much nicer than I had imagined. Its steel town image of dusty mill clouds was not evident as we drove along Penn Avenue. Bloomfield was the Italian community and Garfield was picture of urban America. We drove through the business district in East Liberty and turned onto Linden Avenue in Point Breeze. It was a professional community that had once been a statement of prominence for African Americans who were able to move in.
    Their street was a one-block cul-de-sac and their house was third from the corner. We pulled into the driveway of their red brick house and after a quick tour of the essentials – bathroom, kitchen, game room – Andrea showed me to the guest room. I decided to unpack later and joined my cousins in the living room.
    â€œThere’s a PUMP meeting tonight.” Alicia threw the flyer onto the coffee table as I sat on the couch.
    â€œWhat’s PUMP?” I asked, reading the acronym Professionally Upward Mobile People.
    â€œIt’s a nice crowd, business cards are passed, opportunities are made, you know networking kind of stuff,” Andrea added.
    â€œAnd they party a little, too!” Alicia smiled and winked at me. “Just don’t go in looking for a man. Keep it social Baby Cuz – you’ll have fun.”
    Even though I was tired from the bus ride and hadn’t unpacked, I decided to tag along with them. My social life over the past two years had been dismal and going out didn’t seem like such a bad idea.
    Gregory Henderson caught my eye as we entered the Student Union. He was a gorgeous hunk of chocolate sculpted into a priceless masterpiece. His tapered haircut and mustache accentuated his cheekbones and his eyes. The short sleeves of his knit shirt cuffed his biceps and his tailor made pants hugged his behind.
    â€œStop staring,” Andrea nudged me. “Let me introduce you to some people.”
    She introduced me to the group of people gathered by the window. William Christopher was in the Doctoral Education program at Duquesne University and his wife, Marcella, was a Production Engineer; Yvonna Thomas was a theater major at Carnegie Mellon University; Connie Brownowned a chain of child care centers; Dave Jenkins owned a remodeling company; Kim Lewis was an attorney; Jeanette and Victor Gardner owned a chain of hair salons which offered apprenticeships in hair care; Brandon Mitchell was an orthodontist; and Deanna Sanford was a medical student. She never introduced me to the chocolate brother.
    I was trying to decide between cranberry juice and apple juice when he came up behind me.
    â€œSo you’re new too?”
    â€œDoes it show?”
    â€œI saw you being overwhelmed with all those introductions.”
    â€œSo you’ve met?” Alicia interrupted, joining us at the snack bar.
    â€œWell not really,” I told her. “Hi, I’m Danielle.” I extended my hand to him. “And you are?”
    â€œGregory Henderson.” He smiled showing two rows of perfect teeth.
    Before I could respond, Andrea was standing between us.
    â€œGirl, I’ve been looking for you. I want you to meet someone.” She led me by the arm away from Gregory. “Baby Cuz, you’re looking a little goo-goo eyed.”
    â€œI am not!” I pulled away from her, mindfully trying not to show the attitude I felt coming on.
    We stopped outside the double doors in the hallway.
    â€œYou are