Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2004 14:10:08 EST
From: DefJamMariah85@aol.com
Subject: When Souls Fly Free chpt 3

                         When Souls Fly Free chpt 3


              "We should help her" Terell said with concern.

       "Ok, I'll put the groceries in the car" Marcus fled to his Sedan.


          Still whimpering...the helpless little girl stood in the
    middle of the parking lot cyring. A look of slight confusion
    and relief came over her face as she saw Terell running towards her.


        "Are you ok sweetie?...are you lost?"

        The little girl stood back wiping her tears and composed herself.

        "In this world there are so many dangers and mah mama told me
        not to talk to strangers!" she said with spunk.


       "Well my name is Terell, dont you think we should go back to the
    store and go to the front desk?" Terell said obviously noting the
     little girls wit. "It's ok honey lets get you out of this parking
      lot ok? Im sure your mama's lookin for you"


        "Well mah mama also told me that if i get lost I better ask
       for help...ok" The little girl said as she followed Terell
       back into the store. They went back up to customer service
       and found Jesse on duty once again.

            "This little girl is lost and we need to find her mother..
     what's your name sweetie?" Terell asked.


          "Michelle". The little girl eeked out under her tears."And my
    mama's name is Debbie".

             Jesse quickly paged the mother..who a few minutes later
    came running towards the front desk with her purse bouncing on
    her right arm.

         "Sweet JESUS I was looking all over for you sweetie!" The mother
     exclaimed as she snatched up her daughter and clenched her to her
     side.

         "I thought you had left and gone far
          so I went to the parkin lot looking for our car" Michelle rhymed.

         Debbie soon noticed Terell and began to thank him.

        "Thank you so much for findin my little girl, nevermind her rhymin
       its just one of her little things she loves to do...here..umm".
       Debbie said reaching in her purse to give Terell some money.

       "Oh no ma'am thats not necesary, It was just the right thing to do".
      Terell replied politely refusing the reward.


         "Oh but its the least I can do" said Debbie. "Let me at least
       give you something" Debbie insisted.


         "We'll..." Terell paused

         "How are you with......hey dont I know you?" Debbie asked as
    she noticed Marcus joining in..returning from the car.

         "Mrs. Johnson?!"...Marcus shouted. "Am I gonna run into everyone
     I've known in my life here in this store..how are you?"


          "Im fine now..had nearly a heart attack losing my child...but
     your friend was kind enough to take care of that" Debbie said
     smiling at Terell. Marcus smiled inside at the words "your friend"
     about Terell...he had barely known him and was already drawn to him.


        "Well at least shes safe now" Marcus exclaimed.

        "Yes thank goodness...oh excuse me im sorry" Debbie said turning
    to Terell" I apologize..I hope you dont mind  my asking but are you
     good with children?..I know you don't know us hardly" Debbie asked
     Terell.


        "As a matter of fact I am" Terell said

        "Funny, thing...he's lookin for a job today too" Marcus said
      smirking.


      "Well..why don't I give you our number and maybe we can set up
     an interview cause I am looking for someone to babysit Michelle
     twice a week..if you don't get another job that is" Debbie offered.

          "Sounds good to me, I have babysiting experience so" Terell
     exclaimed. Then, Debbie wrote down their number while Michelle
     stood by her leg looking up at Terell.

         "Thank you for helping me sir" Michelle innocently said

         "Youre quite welcome" Terell said smiling back at her.

         "Thank you so much again...and young lady what have I told
     you about wandering off in the grocery store?"

         "Nothing.." Michelle said in that "i know im wrong voice".

      "We'll talk later miss thing, thank you gentlemen we'll be off now"
   Mrs Johnson said walking and grasping Michelle's hand. Michelle waved
   at Terell thanking him again.


       "We'll if the grocery store doesnt reply back ya might have this
    for some money" Marcus said in a positive tone.


      "Yeah...you never know who youre gonna run into" Terell replied.


        They both went back to the Sedan and went about their day. Marcus
   and Terell had clearly hit it off that day, Marcus was all too willing
   to drive Terell around to the video store, cd store and a couple malls
   putting in applications. Marcus was finally thinking he might be
   able to trust someone finally as a friend maybe. After a long day
   of driving and walking, they both headed back to the neighborhood.
   the crunch of Marcus's tires sounded as he drove up to Terells house.


       "Hey it looks like my moms not home...would you like to come in and
  hang out for a bit?" Terell asked.


       "I dunno I don't think she likes me very much" Marcus replied
   disapointingly.

       "Ahh don't worry about it...be right back..I'll make sure shes not
   home". Terell said as he hopped out of the Sedan and went inside his
   house...he found a note on the kitchen table.


                    TERELL-
                    went to bingo night
                    be back in a couple hours
                             -MOM

        "Yes!..two hours..".Terell though to himself.

        "It's all good! come on in!" Terell shouted from the front door.

           Marcus slid out of his car and shut the driver door and entered
    the Jackson residence. Something about that place told him "you
    shouldn't be here" but he had a feeling he should ignore it. He
     followed Terell to his room. Marcus couldnt help but check out
    Terells body as he walked behind him.

            "Well you remember this place" Terell said as he let Marcus
     in his room. "Make yourself at home man".

            "Thanks" Marcus said.

          "Sorry about the mess, I'm still unpacking...moving's a real
      pain in the ass" Terell complained.

          "Yeah..tell me about it....". Marcus empathized...he noticed
    and old football Jersey with the name "Jackson" on the back of it.
    "Did you use to play football?" Marcus asked.


           "Yeah that was my old high school jersey, I love football".
      Terell beamed. "I think its really cool that you traveled the
      world in your job I've never been outside the south"


        "Yeah..its interesting...but hectic..".Marcus retorted.

           "Must be better than this dump.." Terell said still picking
      up his room for Marcus.


          "I used to think that too" Marcus said laughing "But anyways..
   you mind if i look at these magazines?" he asked.


         "Sure". Terell replied with his back to Marcus...not noticing
    that the stack of magazines Marcus was going for was on the top of
    the box that had his "secret gay stash". Marcus bounced off the
    bed and went towards the stack but only took two steps before tripping
    over one of Terells shoes and falling towards the box..tumbling it
    over spilling its contents.


        "Damnit.....jeez im such a clutz I'm so sorry" Marcus grunted.


        Terell quickly turned around and saw the box toppled over.


        "Oh here let me get that!" Terell hurried over praying Marcus
    hadnt seen the "stash" but in his attempt to reach out his hand to
    handle the mess...he accidentally brushes over the top layer of
    sports magazines to reveal the few gay porn magazines underneath.
    They both stay still for a few seconds..both speechless...


     silence.....


      "Hey man..its cool..." Marcus said.


     "God I'm so embarrased..." Terell replied.


      Another few seconds of silence pass as Terell as they
      both look away from eachother. Then without a word
      Terell began to put away the magazines as Marcus decided
      to speak his mind.

      "Hey it's ok really..." he softened his voice. " I am too..
     if you know what I mean". Marcus said mysteriously.


      "You are?" Terell exclaimed "Wow...this is weird, I
   was wondering why you wanted to be my friend so fast...hehe"

        "Well.." Marcus said blushing..then realizing he didnt
    want to reveal his true "more than friends feeling" so as
    not to jeopardize their friendship, he continued. " Listen,
    I won't tell anybody about this ok?"


         "Yeah..please" Terell said with a serious look on his face.

         "Well I better get goin my folks will have dinner soon
      and Im hungry". Marcus said hopping to his feet.


        "Alright man..and...thanks...ya know..I think were gonna
     be really good friends.....I dont care what anyone else thinks.."
    Terell said smiling.



        "Same here, catch ya later!" Marcus said trotting out
  the Jacksons front door.

          Mrs Jackson arrived about 45 min later with groceries
   in hand grunting about how rude the people were at the store.
   The evening ended with dinner, Mrs Jackson was delighted
   at the story of Terell rescuing the little girl today.
   But Terell was VERY careful not to say he was with Marcus.
   He loved his mother but on some levels they were very
   different from eachother.


         Terell finished his dinner, then went back up to his
   room soon recalling the earlier events. "Its ok" he told him
   self. Then slipped off his shirt to reveal his chocolate
   brown complexion. He again noticed Marcus's window, he stood
   there looking at it.."thank you" he muttered under his breath
   as he walked over to his window. He didnt know what was
   coming over him as he placed the fingertips of his right hand
   on his lips and kissed them...then pressed them against the
   window pane...as if sending Marcus a kiss goodnight.


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