The Patient Sikh: Part Thirty-Four--Breakfast

This an excerpt from a novel in progress and a work of fiction.

Well, it turns out Sonny never called Mona, or at least I think that’s what happened. She seemed to forget about it. Mona and I have been hanging out more. She actually gave me some of her clothes that she doesn’t wear anymore but thinks would look cute on me.

We pretty much hang out every weekend. She got me a fake ID so we can get into bars. She likes to go to bars a lot. I’m not sure how I feel about bars. I’m not the biggest drinker, although we have been getting long island ice teas at Scorekeepers, a local sports bar.

I get tipsy really easily. I met this dude named Papa at Scorekeepers, he was from Africa or something. He had a very strong accent. He just kept coming up to me and dancing and so I eventually let him. I mean he was cute and Mona danced with his friend.

We all went back to Mona’s apartment. It occurred to me then that I was dancing with a guy named Papa. Anyways, Mona and his friend went into her room and Papa and I sat on the couch. He made me laugh which was good, but then he started to kiss me. I immediately thought of Sonny, the last guy I kissed. And Sonny was a much better kisser.

I didn’t mind kissing Papa, but it wasn’t giving me that infatuation feeling I had with Sonny. I started to think about him again. The way he held me in his arms when we made out. I missed that.

I woke up the next morning in my dorm and met Sarita for breakfast. “So where were you last night?” she asked coyly.

“I went to Scorekeepers with Mona,” I said a little slowly, I was a little hung over.

“I see,” Sarita said and took a bite of some quiche. “So you and Mona have been hanging out quite a bit, haven’t you?” she asked as I took a sip of orange juice.

“I mean I guess so,” I said and stared at some kids playing soccer outside the window.

“I gotta be honest, I don’t like her,” Sarita said without looking up at me. I tried to look at her face after she said this.

“Why?” I asked and took a bite of some cereal.

“I mean she’s a little much, don’t you think?” Sarita said and looked me right in the eye. “I feel like she’s got a lot of drama hiding behind those princess eyes.”

“I guess she is a little bit of a princess,” I said and shrugged. “She’s fun,” I added.

“I mean I’m going to be honest, I’m not really all about the bar scene and I didn’t think you were until you started hanging out with her,” Sarita said and sucked on a piece of orange.

“I mean I’m not like the biggest fan of going to bars, but it can be fun,” I said. “I met a guy named Papa.”

“Of course you did.”

“Shut up. He’s African,” I said and smiled.

“Is that supposed to explain his name?” she asked.

“No, it’s just a fact,” I laughed.

“Look I’m all about diversity and shit can I be a fly on the wall when you bring a black man home to your father?” she asked.

“It’s not serious, it was just for fun,” I said and shook my head.

“Are you over the Sonny?” she asked in a deep voice for emphasis.

“I mean no, but I’m trying. I saw him at a party the other day. Mona said he couldn’t stop talking about me.”

“I see,” Sarita said and raised her eyebrows. “And how do you feel about that?”

“I mean I’m not gonna lie, I’m glad he’s thinking about me. But I still don’t want to have anything to do with him.”

“Mona reminds me of Sonny,” Sarita said and took a sip of water.

“How is that?” I asked and looked up from my bowl of Frosted Flakes.

“They both seem like they have an agenda. I don’t trust either one of them,” Sarita said.

“Mona is alright, you just have to break through that fake facade she puts on in front of people she doesn’t know that well. She’s a very kind and generous person,” I tried to explain.

“Right just watch out, she’s changing you.”

“Changing me how?” I asked and squinted my eyes.

“I can’t explain it, but I can see it.”

nina

If you would like to read the beginning of this novel in progress, The Patient Sikh, visit the following links in chronological order:

The Patient Sikh: Part One

The Patient Sikh: Part Two–The Wonder Years

The Patient Sikh: Part Three–Sonny

The Patient Sikh: Part Four–Song Lyrics

The Patient Sikh: Part Five–Your Song

The Patient Sikh: Part Six–Coffee Talk

The Patient Sikh: Part Seven–Chocolate Covered Love