Reflections: Leaving Little Rock [Part Two]

My fondest memories of Little Rock are The Historic Sites and The Blues Festivals that Lee and I attended. The Pine Bluff Blues Fest was originated by Soul Singer Sam Cooke’s Family, although I didn’t know it at the time. It was held in an open meadow; you'd bring your own lawn chairs, food & drinks, and it started at dusk. The stage was huge and on a raised platform. I loved the down home atmosphere.

I remember the two headliners were Denise LaSalle and Clarence Carter. Denise made her Transition in January of this year. When I saw the report that she was gone, the memory of her singing very raunchy lyrics at the Pine Bluff Blues Fest came flooding back. I recalled how Lee picked up on my slight embarrassment at the lyrics immediately and grinned at me as the crowd ate it up. Something about one of her Lovers not being very well endowed… she was singing to the Ladies.

It was a cool October night and Lee had his arm around my shoulders, both of us enjoying ourselves immensely, getting lost in the music.

Denise finished her set and Clarence Carter came on rocking it out of the box with his hit song ‘Stroking’ you can imagine the sexuality of those lyrics—again Lee was amused at my obvious embarrassment. Clarence Carter who was Blind since birth did not disappoint. He launched into his 1968 hit "Slip Away" as he began that famous Guitar intro the crowd erupted.

Lee turned to face me and sang along.

“What would I give for just a few momentsWhat would I give just to have you nearTell me you will try to slip away somehowOh I need you Darling; I want to see you right now”

Oh what a night under a black velvet star-filled Arkansas sky… felt like Home. I was lulled into a warm, sweet security until an angry female came into my view standing a few feet away from us directly to Lee’s back.

She was attractive, forty-ish with her hand on her right hip, and a mean glare in her eyes burning into Lee’s back that I saw clearly from where I stood. She marched towards us with purpose.

“Lee I think we got company.” I took a step backward, and Lee turned around. He pulled me back with one hand.

“Oh this is a member of my congregation. Remember I told you I mentor young men? Her son is one.”

Lee was a bit surprised but not in the least bit concerned.

Now the woman was facing both Lee and myself her stance aggressive.

Lee attempted to introduce me, but that Sistah was not having it—to her I was Invisible.

“Are you sure she won’t try and stab me?” I whispered in Lee’s ear.

“Hmmmpf!” He did not appreciate my humor… the tables were turned.

Lee took her by her arm and walked her away from me. I watched as they had a very heated conversation. I had to give him props, he remained calm the whole time.

Finally the Sistah left in a huff giving me an ugly look over her shoulder.

“I will remember that face,” I thought to myself.

We remained a little longer, but the mood was ruined and we had an hour drive back to Little Rock. Lee was quiet and I fell asleep in the car.

There was a free daytime outdoor concert at Central High School with a roster of old school R&B Groups one weekend. Little Rock was Hot and Humid, but I felt by this time I had acclimated to the weather. As we walked from the parking area to the Stadium, I noticed it was very hot, but I had an umbrella and bottled water. We found seating and were waiting for the show to start. We saw folks with babies a few months old surely if babies could tolerate this weather I could too.

I opened my umbrella and drank water. Lee wore a baseball cap and seemed not bothered by the heat. Sooner than later I started feeling strange—it had not been an hour… I felt light-headed and my lips were tingling. I drank more water. Soon all the sounds seemed to be coming from far far away. My vision was fading and going black.

“Lee I don’t feel so good….”

The next thing I remember I was in Lee’s car heading for the Emergency Room.

“Just hang on we’ll be there in a minute.” I could hear the concern in his voice.

I tried to reply, but my lips weren’t working.

They took me in right away and started an IV immediately. I started feeling better. Lee was right there in the room with me. The nurse informed me that I had experienced Heat Exhaustion, and cautioned me about hot weather in Little Rock. She also informed me that one of the side effects was swelling of the face and lips. She gave me a mirror and I saw my lips were swollen probably three times the size, but assured me the swelling would subside in 48 hours. I looked over at Lee who had a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

Lee took me back to the apartment where Vanessa was waiting and updated her on what had happened. I braced myself for the inevitable teasing I knew was coming. At first Lee told what happened in a very caring manner, but then he launched into the teasing.

“Man I had to carry her all the way to the parking lot… good thing she don’t weigh 200 llbs.”

He glanced at me and chuckled.

“But Vanessa what Scared me was I couldn’t understand a word she was saying… she sounded just like Daffy Duck!”

He let go a howl of laughter that got Vanessa started… she laughed while holding her stomach. I sat there looking at the two of them yucking it up at my expense.

To this day my lips have never returned to normal, but at least I don’t sound like Daffy Duck anymore.

Being a Cali Gurl, I will admit that the Tornado Sirens in Little Rock frightened me… one weekend, while alone at the apartment they started up. I would rather deal with Earthquakes. At least you wouldn’t wake with your bed flying through the air. The sirens kept up wracking my nerves. Finally I called Lee and he came up the hill and picked me up.

The sirens let up for a while, and we had some wine, mainly to calm my nerves while listening to music. Finally I relaxed. Then all of a sudden they started up again.

I jumped right into Lee’s arms.

“Oh so it’s like that… now since the Sirens scare you you’re all over me.” He laughed.

Until that moment I had kept him at arm’s length, but this night was different.

Things changed. He pulled his sweater off over his head, because he was hot. He had a six pack that was unmistakable… the attraction was too strong to resist, and that’s all I’m going to say about that ‘in my Forrest Gump voice.’

Lee and I trusted each other and he confided in me that just before he met me he was in a relationship with a young lady who was presented with a huge promotion, but she had to relocate to the DC area. She had a choice: Lee or the Promotion… she chose the Promotion. I ‘got’ what he was telling me.

One night he called me and said we needed to talk… I already knew what about. I was alone at the apartment and buzzed him through the gate.

He had a serious expression on his face, and proceeded to tell me he was becoming too invested in our relationship and didn’t want to get hurt again. I tried to reason with him assuring him we could take our time and figure things out. He was not receptive as he’d already made up his mind.

We had a glass of wine, and when he rose to leave, he hugged me hard and long... then he was Gone… only the fragrance of Beoucheron remained.

Epilogue: Vanessa left the project early—her due date was near, so we threw her a Baby Shower Going Away Party. She invited Lee, but he was a no show. The last month there, while driving by his apartment building at the bottom of the hill was hard for me. I was tempted to drop in on him, but respected his decision.

I made some good friends and created great memories in Little Rock never to be forgotten.

*Last I heard Lee got married *Sigh*