Fall 1994: A Call From Nora
My Grandma told Nora that Miles and I were dating about a month after we made it official.
My phone rang one evening while Miles and I were in my room playing a board game.
“Hello?”
“Why the fuck are you stealing my Man?” I heard a shrill voice on the other end.
“Oh, hi Nora.” I said. Miles looked at me and covered his ears.
“Why the fuck are you stealing my Man?” Nora shrieked.
“Who said he was your Man?”
“He’s always mine!”
“He certainly hasn’t said that. He’s been dating Shirley for nearly a year.”
“It’s just a rebound thing. He’ll always come back to me!”
“Even when you dump him on Prom Night?” I questioned. Miles smiled at me. Nora always assumed that Miles would be fine with whatever she did because he didn’t yell at her.
“He forgave me!” She took the very defensive tone, which meant she she was telling what she wanted to be the truth.
“No, he didn’t.”
“That still doesn’t mean you can take my Man!”
“Grow up. You dumped him, he never forgave you, and he’s moved on.”
“So he dumped Shirley for you?”
“Of course not. We’re both his girlfriends.”
“Oh, are the two of you going to become girlfriends now?”
“No! She’s also dating Rael, so she’s like my Aunt.”
“Yeah, deny you slept with that guy!”
“You trippin’, cuz. That’s my Uncle.”
“You only call him that because he used to sleep with your Nina.”
“Well, yeah. So he’s FAMILY. Grow up.” Nora sighed. Her mother’s always insisted I was being groomed for Rael. I can’t think of anything more disgusting!
“Anyway,” I continued, “You may not like the fact that Miles and I are dating, but there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“Yeah huh there is! I forbid it! You have to listen to me because I’m older.”
I laughed. “For the third time, grow the fuck up.”
“Stop saying that! Miles will always be mine!”
“Stop believing that Miles will come back to you 20 years from now.”
“It’s not going to take that long!”
“It’s never going to happen. Accept it and leave us the fuck alone. You can’t abuse Miles anymore.”
“Damn!” Miles exclaimed, a little too loudly. He put his hand over his mouth and winced.
“Is he there?”
“Yes. Do you want to talk to him?”
“Yes!” She shrieked. I rolled my eyes and handed him the phone. He took it.
“Yes, Nora?” He said flatly. “Yes, I’m in love with Gallina. And Shirley too. No, I don’t want a threesome with them. Or anyone else, not that it’s your business.” He sighed. “Gallina’s right, I’m not yours anymore. I forgave your bullshit for years. I can’t forgive you for dumping me at Prom when you made such a huge deal about wanting to go with me.” He laughed. “I have two girlfriends who treat me better than you ever treated me. We don’t fight, we can be ourselves, and we are not possessive. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve said all I want to say. Here’s Gallina.” Miles handed me back the phone.
“So?” I asked her.
“I guess I did really hurt him.”
“Why do you make it seem like that’s some sort of surprise?”
“I thought he’d always let me do whatever I wanted and wait around for me to come back.” She sighed. “I don’t like you two dating at all. I don’t approve and I never will. I think you two are making a huge mistake and that he’s only with you because he can’t have me.”
I laughed. “We don’t need your approval. Are you done?”
She sighs heavily. “I guess.”
“Good.” I hung up the phone.
“I’m surprised we shut her down so quickly.” Miles said.
I kissed him. “We weren’t raising our voices. She wanted a fight and we didn’t indulge her.”
“Can’t wait to tell Shirley about this when she gets back from visiting Rael. She’s going to laugh.”
“I think she’ll be proud of you for standing up to her. I know I am.”
He chuckled, cynically. “Well, Shirley’s spoiled me with her love. So have you.”
“We’re just loving you the way you’ve always deserved to be loved.” I kissed him. “Let’s get back to the game.”