Smart, Sexy,Spiritual, Strong

WRITTEN BY

BEVERLYA. BURCHETT

Smart, Sexy, Spiritual, Strong 3

CCHHAAPPTTEERR TTWWOO

That very next morning Sarah needed a shot ofespresso in her arm she was so tired.“Hey, Sarah, how’s it going?” Ashford asked, “Good

to see you,” he said sincerely.“Fine, fine. You too,” Sarah groggily replied not as sincerely,

then added, “How ‘bout chu?”She was on a long unruly line at Starbucks when he just so

happened by and unfortunately saw her through the store frontglass.

“Heard you got married,” she offered cordially then reluctantlyadded, “Congratulations.”

“Yeah. Yeah, thank you and happy birthday to you. Heardyou just had one,” he replied displaying very large, stained teeth.

“Thank you. I appreciate that,” she responded with a pleasantalbeit forced smile.

“You’re my age. I remember,” he nodded in recognition,“I…uh…” he suddenly stammered.

Sarah moved forward in line just as he was about to hesitantlydivulge something of relative importance to her.

“Yes?” she inquired more interested in him leaving thananything else.

“Well, it’s nothing really,” he replied with a shrug.It was the shrug that caught her attention.“No, what is it?” she simply asked really and truly wanting

him to scurry along.She was hung over. She was worn out. She just simply wasn’t

in the mood for more crazy so early on in the day.“Well, my wife, well she’s younger than us…” he hedged.“Yeah…aaannnnddd…” said Sarah watchful all the while

thinking, ‘What the heck is he getting at?’“Well, I just thought that maybe, I mean, I believed that

perhaps…” he paused.“Yyeeessss…” Sarah asked while positioning her body into a

kung Fu stance.“…Well, well, you know, well, that it might have

been…you…” he smiled and, of all things, winked.She did not wink back.“…but…” he shirked again and this time sucking in air.“But, what?” Sarah asked meanwhile thinking, ‘What the

heck, I’ll bite.’“…But, it’s just that…I wanted kids…” he finally answered

as if slightly disappointed in the outcome of his choice.Sarah’s brow furrowed. Then her head inquisitively titled

down and cocked to one side. She studied him. She was utterlyconfused not with what he said but with the implied messagewithin. Suddenly speechless she stood prepared to drop kick himif she could maneuver behind him fast enough as not to bedetected. If he knew what was best for him, he’d back up. Hell,everyone in the City could see that she was now a little crazy too,and definitely dangerous. Luckily for him, Ashford finallymanaged to see the now wickedly scathing stare Sarah was givinghim and intelligently went on about his business. He wavedgood-bye to her from the sidewalk.

4 Beverly A. Burchett

Smart, Sexy, Spiritual, Strong 5

About the Author

Beverly A. Burche4 placed second in the BillieHoliday 2eatre Poetry Contest and thusly her loveof writing was spurred. She’s a graduate of the famedHigh School of Performing Arts, and has acted in anumber of national commercials as well as a fewpopular 3lms, including “Fame”, and “Joey Breaker.”Her latest works Queen Kinni, Open Doors andRandom Arts of Kindness, a journey, are available instores and on-line at www.blackcurrantpress.com,Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. Beverly’salso a published lyrist, who resides in New York.