Frankincense & Lavender

“Both,” Cedric answered as he held a finger to his lips to hush Luke then pointed to his phone, “Here she go now,” he said before tapping the green circle on the display to stop the sound of wind chimes.

“Good Mornin there nah,” Cedric’s grin could actually be heard through the phone causing Sandy’s eyes to soften and her face to blush. But she was gonna feign discontent one last time before letting him off the hook.

“Don’t you Good Mornin me none after I have a recording on my phone talkin bout Minnie, who’s sittin right here by the way frownin at the phone.”

“Put her on the phone.” Cedric said so matter of fact that it startled Sandy somewhat and she audibly lost her breath and stammered a bit.

“P..put my dog on the ph…”

Cedric chuckled to let her off the hook and then said, “No Darlin, no just put the speaker on, let me say something.”

“To Minnie?” Sandy asked playing along.

“Yes Ma’am.”

“You want me to put my phone on speaker phone so you can say something to my Minnie the Min Pin Puppy Doggie?”

“Is she in trouble? Did she do something wrong?” Cedric asked mocking concern.

Sandy although she was enjoying the little charade they were playing, suddenly became confused and she giggled nervously, “Why would she be in trouble?”

“I dunno,” Cedric shrugged, “All I remember when I was in trouble my mama would call my whole government out and embarrass the heck outta me.”

“Why cause you was bein sneaky?” Sandy continued to chide him yet play along.

“Nah, I had no shame back then so if I was doin somethin I ain’t have no business doin and got caught, I’d apologize to you while tryna do it again. But when mama would say my middle name…”

Sandy began giggling, “Oh no, you don’t like yo middle name…”

Cedric sucked his teeth, “Can’t stand it.”

That made Sandy laugh outwardly but then ask, “What is it, tell me?”

“Ain’t chu about nothin over there. Here I am tellin you a very personal story about my life so that you’ll get to know me a little better and possibly put my girlfriend on speakerphone so I can talk to her and you just want to make fun of me.”

Sandy cackled so loud that it startled Minnie, Cedric and even poor Luke who was trying not to make any noise at all since he was headed out the door. There was an uncomfortable lull of silence as Cedric held his phone up to see if the signal dropped, but just as he squinted to look the porch filled with Sandy’s voice coming from the speaker.

“Go head…”

Cedric chuckled and then said, “Go head what?”

“You’re on speaker?” Sandy said while shrugging.

“Well if I’m on speaker let me say good morning to the sweetest little fur face in the whole wide world…”

Minnie was asleep on Sandy’s pillow and she didn’t have the heart to tell Cedric that as soon as she heard his voice she began to burrow under Sandy’s comforter as if she was getting ready to take an extended doggie slumber.

“…did she hear me?” Cedric asked.

“Minnie is asleep, Sir.” Sandy said giggling. Cedric’s eyes widened, “Still?”

Now Sandy was becoming annoyed with confusion about this stranger’s sudden concern about her dog.

“We’ve been out already and even completely ignored a big ol doe that was just frolicking about in the trees back there. Scared the living bees outta me.”

Cedric laughed so heartily, Minnie woke up.

***Double Caramel Cappuccino with Hazelnut Creamer with a Cookie Crust 🌱💨