“Well I’ll take your leg pain any day over these wounds across my back, and these “monkey bites” on my *****. So who has an insatiable appetite?”

“I can’t help it they’re delicious.”

“So I’m told.” Tina said in a seductive tone with a raised eyebrow.

“So what is it exactly that you are feeding me this mornin’?”

“This is what my mother calls a Southern Woman’s secret . It’s an omelette. It’s got all the things a Southern Girl needs to keep her lover’s “strength” up. So I suggest you clean your plate.”

“Yes ma’am.”

The morning went on like that for a while, them both trading jabs at each other lovingly. After breakfast they each sat in the living room reading the books that held their attention. Tina sat on one end and Bette on the other rubbing Tina’s feet with one hand. Bette didn’t know it but subconsciously she couldn’t keep her hands off of Tina in any way. Tina noticed that Bette was obviously engrossed in the book when she stopped rubbing her feet and merely rested her hand on them.

“What you reading babe?”

“Huh?” the sound of Tina’s voice came through her thoughts and it took her a minute to register her question. “Oh, um it’s a book on Black photography in the 60′s and 70′s. It’s mainly pictures of prouder Black moments in history.”

“Really, Like what? I’d like to know what type of pictures would hold your attention so attentively.”

“It’s just a book that I have to read for my class on Black photography’s influence on American history. It has pictures of Huey P. Newton, the Black Panthers, the marches, Malcolm X, Dr. King, and some really cool pictures of people attending the rallies. These are just ordinary people they have no significance what so ever but just look at their faces, when you look at these pictures you can find every emotion imaginable, they’re so beautiful. I wish I could’ve seen these type of days.”

“My friend Delisha’s mother was a Black Panther. I had to interview her for a report in our social class. We were to interview the most influential person in our best friend’s life. You should’ve heard this woman speak about some of the programs they started, the sickle cell anemia check, the winter coat program, the breakfast program. She spoke about it with such passion and conviction, I’ve never met such a passionate person. Except you of course.”