Hood Ornaments

When Dell pulled into the driveway with the van, Tori rolled her eyes and wondered if he was going to rent a new vehicle every time they went somewhere. She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and rolled her eyes again. Tony had not texted her.

She waited for everyone to get out of the van. When she realized it was just Malik and Dell, she checked her phone again.

He really wasn’t coming.

“Girl if you don’t stop checking that phone, and sit down here and eat some breakfast,” Trudy said while sipping her coffee.

“I’m okay Grandma.”

“You and I both know you’re not okay. But you’ll be worse if you don’t eat. And call Dell and Malik in here; they have a long ride ahead of them and they need to eat too.”

They came in before Tori had a chance to open the door. There was an odd mix of emotions that entered the kitchen. Malik was always nonchalant when he came in, but the minute he saw Trudy, he perked up. Trudy joked that he wouldn’t pay her any mind if she didn’t cook. He kissed her and looked over the burners on the stove.

“French toast and turkey sausage. Go on make you and Dell a plate.”

“I don’t think I’m eating Ms. Trudy,” Dell murmured.

Trudy finished off her coffee, but walked over to the pot to pour herself another cup, “You sound like your girlfriend, and like I told her, y’all need to eat.”

Tori and Dell glanced at each other with a surprised look on their faces. Malik was busy stacking his plate with French toast. Trudy kind of chuckled to herself, “Don’t look at each other all crazy, I called this months ago, right Tori?”

Tori was still wide eyed with her mouth open. She looked at Dell who chuckled as he made a plate.

“I don’t know what’s so funny.” Tori said sarcastically as she gave in and got a plate out of the cupboard so she could eat.

“Nah, Dell answered, “Nothin’s funny Tor, but your grandma did call it. Remember when you told me?”

“Yeah, I remember.” Tori mumbled unenthused.

Striking the whole house silent.

After the meal was finished, everything was carried to the van came the moment everybody was dreading.

Tori saying goodbye to Trudy.

It seemed that Trudy kept finding more things that Tori needed to take with her. But after the last thing was put in the van and packed away, the guys started to go outside.

“We’ll…um give…” Malik said as if he were being polite. Trudy waved at him dismissively.

“What you think I’m gonna break down and cry? You think Tori is gonna break down and cry? I don’t know what is wrong with both of y’all but my granddaughter going off to college is not a reason to cry; it’s a reason to celebrate. She is going to make me proud. Ain’t that right Tori?”

“Yes Grandma,” Tori said smiling.

“Besides if she misses me, I’m sure she got enough money at that BBQ to get a plane ticket home, right?”

Dell interjected, “About that, you gonna give up some gas money, Tori?” He said that with such a serious tone that everyone in the kitchen kind of gasped.

“I’m playin.” He said laughing.

Laughs, hugs and smiles flooded the kitchen instead of tears

The ride started out jovial enough. Tori and Dell found an old school CD to put in the stereo while Malik positioned himself in the back seat, put on some headphones, and turned on the TV with the controls on the armrest.

“Yo! This is dope! I can fall asleep while watching a movie back here.”

Dell turned down the radio and said, “That’s a good idea because once we get to Cleveland, you are going to have to take over driving.”

“Aiight bet, no problem.”

Tori chimed in, “”What movie are you watchin, Leek?”

“Lion King.” Malik said deadpan.

Dell erupted in laughter.

“Shut up it’s one of my favorites!”

“All bullshit aside Leek, it’s one of my favorites too, but do you really need headphones to watch it?” Shit as many times as we were made to watch it as kids, we have it memorized don’t we?”

Malik laughed, “You right Dell. You right.”

This made Dell turn down the CD player while he and Malik started reciting the dialogue from the movie, which made Tori giggle.

“Y’all are simple.”

“Oh don’t act like you don’t know the words to this shit,” Dell said playfully.

“I do. I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts, doo doo doo. There they are just standing in a row…”

The threesome erupted in laughter and continued to quote the movie until it was over. Then they listened to the CD again and made casual conversation. All the while, Tori kept checking her phone for a call or text from Tony. Tori knew Dell well enough to know that the events from the last couple of days were swirling around in his mind. Malik fell asleep and apparently was having a dream about talking to Rafiki.

The rest of the ride was full of rest stops, idle banter and casual ribbing. During which, Tori was sporadically looking at her phone. Malik was just concerned and decided to speak up.

“I know this is none of my business, but can I make a suggestion?” The question prompted Tori to look at Malik quizzically.

“Tori, I love you like a sister. I guess, if I had a sister. It’s killing me watching you look at your phone every ten minutes or so. If Tone was gonna call, he would have called by now. And Dell, stop getting upset. She getting ready to start school, man. The last thing she needs is for you to be all up in your emotions. If you love her like you think you do, stop being selfish and just support her so she will excel. That’s all I have to say.”

The van was eerily quiet for a while as if what Malik said had to resonate.

“Leek, you ever see the movie Chasing Amy?” Dell asked.

Malik looked in the review mirror at Dell and frowned, “Chasing who?”

Dell sighed with frustration.

“What man? You think my crib ever had cable?”

Dell didn’t answer this question but continued on with the explanation, “Okay you know Jay and Silent Bob right?”

“Yeah,” Malik chucked, “Those white dudes are stupid.”

“Okay well they were in this movie called Chasing Amy and Silent Bob doesn’t say shit throughout the whole movie,”

“Hence his name.” Tori interjected fully aware of where this conversation was going.

“Right, he doesn’t say a damn thing and then all off sudden, out of nowhere he gives the dopest monologue about relationships.”

Malik was quiet for a while as Tori kind of smirked at him and waited for a response.

“Are you trying to say you liked what I said, bamma?”

“Well yeah, and that it came outta nowhere,” Dell responded.

“So why didn’t you just say that shit then?!” Malik asked as if he were annoyed. This caused Tori to erupt in laughter, which in turn made Dell laugh. Malik was unamused.

“This bamma always gotta be all dramatic and shit,” he muttered under his breath, which made Tori start laughing all over again. Then the laughter became infectious in the van.

Before they knew it, they were heading off the exit which had the sign saying University of Chicago. They noticed the line of cars in front of the dorms. Trunks were popping open, and people were walking back and forth with luggage carriers stacked with bags, clothes, and Tupperware tubs. It was another colorful parade of sorts. After Tori’s belongings were stacked up, Malik and Dell strategically rolled the carrier and parked behind a very tall, lanky, dark-skinned male with a huge afro. Dell immediately looked him up and down and then told Malik to find legitimate parking for the van. After he was out of earshot, Dell spoke to Tori, “You okay babe?” Inwardly, she winced at the pet name. Outwardly, she just nodded. Then she noticed the “afro” smiling at her while Dell was grimacing. This caused the afro to chuckle, Dell to suck his teeth and scowl, and Tori to get pissed.

“Why don’t y’all sniff each other’s’ asses?!?” I’m not a piece of meat or even personal property. So stop.”

This caused the afro to burst out in laughter and introduce himself as he stuck out his arm to shake her hand, “I apologize, I wasn’t trying to be rude. I was just wondering how we get our dorm assignments. My name is Michael.”

Tori shook his hand and nodded, “Victoria. And this is my best friend Rondell.”

Dell felt pressured to be cordial and shook Michael’s hand, “Sup man. My bad.”

“No you’re fine. I would be protective of her too.” Then Michael tapped a female on the shoulder whom he apparently knew. “Ladee, how do we find out our dorm assignment?”

The pale girl with the long auburn braid and ice blue eyes smiled, “You have to go up to the glass doors. They have the assignments posted on the window.

”We in the same room?” Michael chided.

“No, I wish. We are on the same floor however. At least I only have one chick for a roommate. I hate meeting new people. Her name is Victoria Watts. I hope she’s nice.”

Tori immediately felt the butterflies in her stomach. Dell took this as an opportunity to try to calm Tori’s nerves. He took her by the shoulders and shifted her so she was facing the pale girl. “She aiight,” Dell said, “She could be a little snooty at times but all you have to do is feed her.”

“Shut up, Dell!” Tori snapped and playfully hit his chest.

The pale girl turned beat red as she extended her hand, “I apologize, Victoria. I didn’t mean to be an asshole. It looks as though we are roommates though. A couple of guys in red t-shirts approached them just as Malik was returning.

“There is nowhere to park Dell.” Malik sounded annoyed.

“It’s okay,” the first red shirt said, “We’re the RA’s we can help them with their stuff if you guys want to take off.”

Dell and Malik became confused and sad looking as the second red shirt spoke up, “It’s hard I know, but it’s easier if y’all just hug her and go home. She needs time to get settled in anyway.”

Michael shook Dell and Malik’s hand and said, “Ladee and I will help too. Don’t worry, she’s in good hands.” Although hesitant, the guys hugged Tori, and Malik took off running so he wouldn’t get a ticket. Or at least that was the excuse he gave people. This left Dell lingering behind.

“Look Dell, text me when you guys get to Cleveland. Let me know y’all are aiight.”

Dell sighed.

“I’ll be back before you know it. Thanksgiving is right around the corner.”

Dell decided to man up a little only because Tori needed him to be strong for her. He hugged her one last time then kissed the top of her head before he too ran in the same direction as Malik looking for the van. Tori let out a deep sigh which caused Ladee to put her arm around her shoulders. Tori was taken off guard by this gesture and raised her eyebrow skeptically at her.

“I am so sorry, Vickie, I am a real touchy feely type of person that I forget that not everyone else is.”

Tori just smiled as her, the RA’s and Michael walked towards the dorms with the luggage carriers, “It’s okay, La..d…is your name really Ladee?”

Ladee chuckled, “No, it’s Adelaide, but everyone calls me Ladee.”

“It’s kinda cute.” Tori said while shrugging.

Ladee smiled widely back, “Thank you. I’ll tell my parents.”

They made casual conversation until they made it to their room and began to unpack. That’s when all of the questions started being asked. Tori was unsure of it at first because she never liked females to begin with and now here is this white female. That was definitely a new experience for her, but as she observed around campus, there were a lot of white people around. This was going to take a lot of getting used to. The guys were all she knew, and to be honest, were all she ever needed. A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts as Michael poked his afro in, “You guys need anything else? I’ma head down to the corner and get some food.”

“If you want to get me a veggie melt, that would be great.” Ladee said nonchalantly.

Michael pointed to Tori, “How bout you, Vickie? My treat?”

“Do they have cheese steaks?”

Michael titled his head as if he were on deep thought, “I can see.”

“Thanks Michael.”

Michael popped away as quickly as he popped in.

“Is Michael your boyfriend?” Tori asked Ladee as she was taking clothes out of one of the Tupperware bins, folding them, and putting them into a drawer.

Ladee smirked and answered her in a sing song manner, “Nooo, why are you asking?”

Tori smirked back confused, “Nah y’all just seem close that’s all.”

“Kinda like you and your friend?”

“Touché.”

“So what’s your major, Vickie?”

Tori winced, “Ladee, can you not call me Vickie? I never did like when people shortened my name.”

“So it’s okay to call you Victoria?”

Tori nodded. She didn’t want people here to call her Tori. She didn’t know them. They weren’t family.

The girls continued to unpack and get to know each other. Tori was surprised at how well they were getting along. Before they both knew it, Michael came back with the food. When he handed Tori the round sandwich wrapped in tin foil, she immediately handed it to Ladee.

“This must be yours.”

“No, Michael interjected, “that is a steak and cheese. See, it’s labeled.”

Tori raised her eyebrow, “Did they run out of long rolls?” She asked as she unwrapped the sandwich. What she saw almost made her cry. It was a couple of “Steak-Um” slices with a piece of melted cheese on top of it.

It was that moment she became homesick.

“What kind of fine artist are you?” Ladee asked in between bites of her sandwich.

Tori rewrapped her sandwich and placed it to the side, “I draw and paint mostly.”

Ladee nodded, “You should get together with Michael then seriously. He does the same, plus he can get you space at the studio.”

That statement confused Tori somewhat, “Michael is a freshman like me right?”

Ladee bounced her head from side to side, “Eh, he is a freshman but he has special privileges.” Ladee said while making quotation marks with her fingers. “His parents are very important people to this university.”

Again with the finger quotations.

Tori was becoming extremely uncomfortable about the conversation. She wasn’t sure if Ladee knew too much or just talked too much. Where Tori was from, you didn’t speak about your people’s money. It was considered arrogant. She chalked it up to culture differences. That’s when her cell phone alerted her of a text message. It was Dell just checking on her.

“Rondell?” Ladee asked. Tori just nodded. This girl was just plain nosey. That’s how she got to know all of Michael’s business. There was no way in hell she was going to tell Ladee about her life back home. She would never understand, or she would glorify it and run her mouth.

“That’s a nice phone. A gift from your parents?”

The mention of her parents sent a chill down Tori’s spine. So not only was she homesick, she realized she probably was unlike any other student here.

“Yeah.” She lied.

Little did she know that lie wasn’t the only one she was going to tell.