In My Sister's House (22 page)

B
y the time Skylar and Sidney arrived at Deana’s the dance club was packed and the celebration was in full swing. Inside, sweating and pulsating bodies moved about in a frenzied state to the throbbing high-intensity dance music. At first glance, Skylar and Sidney probably looked like they had stumbled into the wrong place. Although chic, they were casually but conservatively dressed, quite different from some of the other fashions present. A flamboyant heavyset young man, CeCe, stood behind the encased partition collecting money and checking in V.I.P.’s. Skylar told him they were on June Alvarado’s list.

“I see a Skylar Morrison but there ain’t no plus one,” he said, still looking down at the list.

“That’s fine, we’ll pay for the other ticket. How much is it?” She started to pull out her wallet, but Sidney stopped her and told her he had it.

“Twenty dollars, but he gonna be in a different section of the club than you ’cause they got you in V.I.P.,” CeCe told her.

“Oh, well, I’m not sure what to do here,” Skylar said looking at Sidney.

“Look, baby, you go in. Just text me when you’re ready and I’ll come back to get you,” Sidney said.

“No, I can just go in whatever section you’re in,” Skylar said. Before Sidney could respond someone behind them in line loudly started clapping.

“Okay, okay, let’s move it, y’all. I’m trying to see the show, thank you!” an effeminate male voice shouted. “Ah, Miss CeCe, girl, can you either let these children in or put ’em to the side so we can move on?
Thank you.”

CeCe asked Skylar and Sidney to excuse him and stepped to the side for a minute. He then lashed out at the voice in line. “Easy, Hoe Cake! Bitch relax yo neck and settle yo queen-ass down! You have little to do! Now,
thank you!”
CeCe drew out the words “thank you” in the same fashion as “Hoe Cake,” drawing laughter from the others in line, including Sidney and Skylar.

“Girl, I’m sorry, look, I’ma let y’all both in the V.I.P. section, don’t worry about it,” CeCe said, eyeing Sidney.

Skylar and Sidney both thanked him and received neon-green wristbands notifying security they were to go to the V.I.P. area.

“Y’all together, or ya’ll just girlfriends?” CeCe asked Skylar while lustfully ogling Sidney. Sidney was not quite sure what CeCe meant by this remark, but the quick laughter from Skylar indicated that it was a harmless comment, so he relaxed.

“Ah, we’re together, man, thanks,” Sidney said, smiling and pulling Skylar close.

“Ohhh, and a pretty-ass smile, too? Miss Skylar, girl, I’d say you hit the jackpot. You better stay close to him in there ’cause some of dem cha-cha queens gonna be trying to holla at him.” CeCe was serious, but laughed. “And you better watch her, too, Mr. Fine-Ass, ’cause dem Diesels gonna be on this fine bitch you got with you,” he said, looking Skylar up and down.

When they entered the main part of the club, one of the security guys noticed the green bands and beckoned for them to follow him. Maneuvering through the dancing crowd, they had a hard time really getting a look at where they were going. The flashing lights, sirens, and smoke machines made it difficult to do anything but dance. Skylar held Sidney’s hand as they were led by security—it
was the only way she could guarantee that they wouldn’t get separated.

Sidney was getting an eyeful. As secure as he was as a heterosexual male, and knowing beforehand where they were going, he was amazed at what he was seeing. As they reached the roped-off V.I.P. area, a screaming Nettie rushed toward them, arms wide open for an embrace. She was
loud
—it was easy to tell that she’d had a few too many.

“Aw, shit! Here comes family!” she screamed, grabbing them both and throwing her arms around them. Nettie led them over to where she was seated. She was shocked to see Sidney and teared up. The fact that he had come to support June meant the world to her. June stood up and gave them both hugs. Also seated in the V.I.P. section were the evening’s two speakers, Mayor Michael Nutter and television personality Ananda Lewis. June introduced Skylar and Sidney first to Patrick Willis and Beverly Knight, the two other honorees of the evening, and then took them over to the mayor and Ananda. Skylar had met Mayor Nutter several times before: She had been a big supporter of his when he became the city’s third African American mayor. Ananda complimented her on her earrings and the two briefly discussed where Skylar had purchased them. Sidney chatted with the mayor about business, but it was clear he was mesmerized by Ananda. Skylar noticed how smitten Sidney was.

“Close your mouth, baby!” she teased.

“Huh? What?” he asked.

“Baby, I see the way you came undone when you saw Ananda,” she giggled.

“What are you talking about? I’m good, I mean, she’s a nice-looking sista,” he said while stealing a glance at her again.

Skylar laughed. “Sidney, it’s perfectly fine. Ananda is a beautiful, smart, and classy woman. I don’t blame you for being attracted to her. If Eric Benet came up in here, you know I would be acting the same way!”

“Eric Benet? Please!” Sidney dismissed the singer with a wave of his hand.

“Don’t get jealous!” Skylar shouted over the sound of the music. She playfully slapped his thigh.

“Jealous? Girl, what are you talking about? I’m just saying, Eric Benet? I mean if you gonna leave me, let it be for some real competition. Eric Benet?” He reared back and looked at her, baffled.

Skylar laughed with him and told him she’d heard Ananda was dating somebody, so he’d have to select another girl to leave her for.

“She’s hot. I’d date her, but I wouldn’t leave you for her, baby,” Sidney said. He reached over and gave her a peck on the forehead. Skylar smiled.

“Now, if it were Gabrielle Union, I might have to think twice!” Again, she slapped his thigh. Just as the music stopped and people were asked to leave the dance floor, Skylar leaned over and reminded Nettie that she and Sidney were going to leave immediately after June got her award, because she had to get to the club. Nettie nodded.

A zany, campy female impersonator named Pepper, who dressed like Patti LaBelle, opened the show with a few off-color jokes, ending one with a litany of profanity. She then remembered the mayor was in attendance.

“Ohh, chile, Mayor Nutter, I hear you’re in the house. Where you at, baby? I mean yo’ Honor.” A spotlight shone on the area where he was seated and he stood and waved to the audience. You could tell by the positive response that he was well liked.

“I just love saying your last name, Mayor,” she said, camping it up. “Let me ask the audience what their favorite cookie is.” Some shouted “Oreos,” others “Chips Ahoy,” and, way in the back, a lesbian shouted out “Girl Scout Cookies, any flavor!” The audience howled.

“Well,” Pepper said, “my favorite cookie is Nutter Butter peanut sandwich cookies.” The crowd erupted into laughter.

“Okay, it’s my job to introduce the host for the evening. Now, this bitch is gorgeous!”

The full-capacity crowd stood to hoot and holler again with shouts of approval. “She’s classy, intelligent, and no nonsense. Kind of a girl, you know, like me. Everybody, put your hands together for
one of the few, and I did say
few
, black sistas in Hollywood not wearing a weave, Miss Ananda Lewis! Y’all, give it up!”

The statuesque caramel-skinned beauty made her way to the stage in a pair of hip-hugging jeans and a leopard-print top with spaghetti straps. Her silky jet-black hair flowed long down her back. Leopard-skin ankle boots lent even more height to her lean but shapely figure. The mostly gay female crowd whistled and punched their fists in the air like they were at a pep rally. The queens screamed and snapped their fingers in unity, voicing their approval. At least a third of the crowd was straight, and they clapped appropriately—but they seemed more mesmerized by the show offstage.

Before introducing each of the honorees, Ananda spoke about how, in America, HIV/AIDS continues to affect more African American and Latino women than any other group. She said that none of what she was telling them should be news to anyone there, but that it was important they continue not only the fight against HIV, but the dialogue about it, as well. “The alarming reality is that the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS in our community are nothing short of shocking. Media propaganda would love for you to believe that we are just dealing with ‘uneducated, impoverished women of color,’ or a ‘promiscuous’ gay community, but I’m here to tell you this is not the case.” There was a sudden hush over the crowd as Ananda continued. “Speaking at many college campuses and before professional women’s empowerment groups throughout the country, I often hear stories of women who are in what they assume are monogamous relationships. So they forgo protective measures, only to find out that their mates are bisexual men or on the down-low. Or at gay teenage support groups, where I hear about kids who often look for ‘love’ in all the wrong places when they are shunned by their families. I can’t say enough how this is not a gay disease, or a white man’s disease, but a ‘people’s disease.’” This drew thunderous applause from the crowd, and Ananda stepped aside, making way for Pepper to proceed with the show.

All three honorees were led onstage as a large projector screen descended from the ceiling so the audience could be treated to a
mini-montage of their individual lives and the accomplishments they’d made in the community dealing with the illness. They were touching, funny, and poignant. When the film clips were over, Mayor Nutter came forward and presented each honoree with a Certificate of Merit from City Hall and the City of Philadelphia. Each had a few moments to address the crowd and community and to pose for pictures.

When June stepped forward, Nettie became the loudest person in the audience. June’s door-to-door awareness crusade in the community had signed up over one thousand teenagers and young adults to be tested for HIV. Because of her tireless efforts, over seventy-five HIV-infected people were being treated. Although June knew that Nettie was proud of her, she wished that she would take it down a notch. After they all left the stage, Ananda reemerged and introduced the talent segment of the show. The music started and three female impersonators came onstage who were dead ringers for Destiny’s Child. They did renditions of “Independent Women” and “Survivor” that had the crowd going wild. Even Sidney couldn’t get over how, with makeup, lights, and choreography, the three had mastered the personas of Beyoncé, Kelly, and Michelle. Afterward, Pepper took over the hosting duties again, thanked everyone for coming, and told the crowd to enjoy the rest of the evening.

Mayor Nutter, followed by his security, exited the club with Ananda Lewis and her publicist not far behind. June rejoined Nettie, Skylar, and Sidney back in the V.I.P. section. They each told her how proud they were of her. Skylar and Sidney shared a quick conversation with the two and then got up to leave.

Streams of well-wishers congratulated June while Nettie was downing her fifth drink, which did not go unnoticed by Skylar, who asked Nettie if she was going to be okay. Nettie said yes, hugged and thanked them for coming.

Skylar and Sidney made their way through the crowd on the dance floor until they reached the side exit that led to the street.

“Well, that certainly was interesting,” Sidney said to Skylar as they walked hand in hand toward their car.

“A little different, huh?” Skylar lay her head on his shoulder.

“I’d say so. It’s like a whole different subculture in there,” Sidney stated. “Don’t get me wrong, I thought I was prepared for what I was going to see tonight. I knew there were going to be a lot of guys like CeCe and Pepper, you know, real over-the-top personalities, but, babe, there were some thugged-out brothas in there. I swear, if I saw any of those cats on the street or at a Sixers game, I wouldn’t know shit. And some of the sistas? Whew, man, I was like—what the hell?” He shook his head.

Skylar laughed. “Tonight we got a crash course in reality.”

“You’re so right about that. This was a night to remember.”

“Thanks, baby, for coming with me. It meant a lot to Nettie, and it meant even more to me,” she said and kissed him passionately.

“Damn, I get all of that? Just for going out with you? Man, what I gotta do next for a little more than a kiss?” he playfully asked.

“Well, I don’t know. I mean, are you sure that I’m the one to give you
more?
Because your eyes were burning holes in Ananda’s butt when she walked offstage.”

Sidney couldn’t tell whether Skylar was seriously jealous or just teasing. He didn’t care which, he liked it.

They joked for the rest of the ride. When they reached home and got out of the car, they lingered in an embrace on the street before Skylar got in the driver’s seat and Sidney went into the house. Looking at her watch, Skylar figured that by then most of the Friday night crowd had assembled at Legends. She wondered if Storm had arrived on time and how things were. At least she had Flynn and Princess overseeing things until she got there.

Back at Deana’s, a strikingly beautiful light-complexioned girl was next in line to give June a congratulatory hug. Her presence caught June off guard. It was her ex-lover Candice. She stood and hugged her, and asked how she’d been. It was immediately obvious to Nettie that this was not just some old friend. In a split second, her whole energy changed.

“Babe, this is Candice. Candice, this is my girl, Nettie.” June was uneasy about the introduction but played it off.

“Nice to meet you,” Candice said as she offered her hand to Nettie, who did not take it but nodded her head while offering a slurred hello.

Candice and June played catch-up, keeping the conversation light while Nettie quietly continued stirring her drink. Candice told June that she had just moved back to Philly from Miami because her mom was sick. June asked for her mother’s number. She wanted to call her and say hello. They both took out cellphones and exchanged numbers. Afterward, Candice excused herself and went over to the bar, but not before addressing Nettie.