ANOTHER KIND OF DIAMOND (48 page)

You don’t know what you’re talking about, she said.

You think I’m not serious right? You looked me right in the eyes and said I don’t know what I’m doing?

You don’t know how to act right, Billy ‘cause you are not true to anybody. All you ever care for is about yourself! You are selfish!

Billy charged to where she was sitting, Isabel reacted swiftly, stood up quickly and tried to get away but Billy moved faster and grabbed her by the hand.

Are you saying I’m a liar or what? He continued repetitively as Isabel struggled to free herself from his hold. All of a sudden, the guy hit her so hard with a back hand slap to the chick. Immediately she moved her right hand to assess the damage but felt nothing else other than the pain. She now tried to return a slap to Billy’s face but he quickly stopped her by hitting her again across the face with such a heavy blow that she fell to the floor and passed out.

Kondo! Where is Kondo, Billy shouted and Kondo immediately appeared. Take this piece to her room.

Chapter Twenty-Eight
 

T
he traffic slowing him down right now is nothing but a pin in the ass because he is in a rush to pick up his wife from school. As his car crawled along with others on a long stretch, his phone rang again.

I’m doing everything I can to get there but the traffic in a manner of speaking is terrific! And he could hear his wife laughing along with him as he continued talking. So hold on for me sweet heart, I’ll be there in a while, okay? Eventually Ray made it to his wife’s school after a long struggle.

Carissa had waited for hours but the moment her husband showed up she forgot the pain. Tired yes, but mad no, ‘cause she rarely gets mad with Ray. She got into the car and gave him a passionate kiss. Honey you look tired, she said.

I know! I’ve to put in everything I’ve got trying to get here on time.

You had lunch? She asked.

Yeah!

What did you get?

Some rice and vegetables! What about you?

Some salad! I ‘m seriously watching my weight ‘cause I don’t wanna lose you with the fat, she said and both laughed again like always.

Good! How was your first day at school? He continued.

Hummm! Filled with activities, but I think I’m going to like it. It is a whole new kind of experience you know, but like I said I’m gonna like it. College environment is a different set up, Carissa responded.

I’m happy to hear that! It is exactly the kind of thing I want you experience. Did you guys have classes today?

Yeah! Nothing to do with registered nursing subjects though. We got oriented to the school environment and about the program as a whole, plus some little talks on what to expect generally. We also did lots of paper work and other things we need as new students. It was a very busy day anyway.

Good! You made new friends too, ha? Ray wanted to know.

Not yet! I talked to a lot of people but I guess it is still too early to decide who you wanna hang out with and who you wanna study with. Like I said it is a whole new kind of experience and I’m gonna take some time and sip in all that is happening right now before I decide how to go about it. I must get it right first time. But there is a peculiar incident I’m still struggling with though.

And what is that? Ray asked in anticipation.

It has to do with one of the guys that talked to the new students today.

What about this person that is so special? Her husband continued.

It seems to me she is someone I used to know somewhere in the past. There is a Denyse Goldman we used to hang out with back in the days. I mean me, Isabel my former roommate and some other girls. Somewhere along the line she seemed to have disappeared and we never saw her again. But this fellow today reminds me of her in every way, except that she is now a grown woman just like all of us, get what I’m saying? I guess we are all grownups now.

Why didn’t you talk to her about it? I’m sure she won’t mind! Ray reacted.

This lady goes by the name Dr. Denyse Jacobs and that kind of makes it hard for me to make the connections.

You can still try!

You’re right! Yeah! That’s what I should do. When I see her again I’ll talk to her about it. Carissa concluded.

It was late in the evening and Ray did not take his wife home straight ahead but branched off to his favorite eating place. As they took their seats, he turned to his wife and said; honey I brought you here to celebrate your first day at school so we will also celebrate on your final day.

You and these things you do to me Ray, she said with a big smile, before they settled to their meals. Carissa did not stop talking about her new exiting experiences as they ate and after left for home.

Four weeks have passed before Ray returned to this issue. Where you able to talk to the suspect yet? He asked as he drove Carissa to school one morning.

The suspect? Carissa retorted knowing how humorous her husband can be as they laughed together.

You remember something about that old pal of yours you talked to me about?

Yeah! I remember!

Did you get to talk to her yet?

I’ve not seen her again since then, Carissa responded.

It’s been about a month now with school, ha?

Yeah!

One month old baby student! Ray quipped again.

And Carissa laughed as usual! Funny it seems but is true. Carissa is a one month old RN student in a community college. Yeah! I still think I’m in a dream or something, so it’s probably gonna take me a while to get used to it all. I thank God for his mercies and I thank you Ray for making this happen.

You are my wife Carissa!

Not all husbands care!

I know! I’m so happy you already started and before you know it, it’s over with. That is why I don’t procrastinate with anything I want to do because once you get on with it and stay with it you get it over with in no time at all. Otherwise, you never get anything done. Remember, that’s one of the ways the world gets moving babe. Anyway, keep watching out for your old pal; I’m sure you’ll run into her again.

It was almost two months in school before math classes began and guess who introduced herself as the math instructor, the same lady Carissa has been waiting to speak with. And during that class, much of Carissa’s attention was focused on the instructor than on the subject itself as she struggled to make the connections by fishing out old data, yet what she sought never really clicked. She also noticed that just as she was paying special attention to the math instruction, so she was also taking special interest in her but unable to make sense of the whole thing she made up her mind to confront the lady since math was the last subject of the day. She then called her husband to say he could come pick her up later.

It was end of class and she waited until she found a chance and seized it. Dr. Jacobs! Can I speak with you for a moment? Carissa began.

Oh sure!

I’ve been trying to make the connections but it’s not forth coming, yet I’m definitely positive I know you somewhere.

Know what? We are together in that ‘cause I’ve the same feeling we have met before now, Dr. Jacobs added.

That’s kind of encouraging! What High school did you attend? Carissa continued.

“Fountain Groove” Is that the same school you went?

No! Actually I didn’t get past Junior High” Carissa responded.

That’s ok! The Doctor continued.

Still the feeling you’re someone from my past keeps getting even stronger as I’m talking to you right now. Carissa continued.

I certainly feel exactly the same way, Dr Jacobs agreed.

What’s your first name?

Denyse.

Denyse? I used to know a lot of Denyse but never a Denyse Jacobs.

Oh! That? I wasn’t always a Denyse Jacobs. You see, my last name changed after I got married.

So you where?

Denyse Goldman!

Hold it right there! Denyse Goldman! That’s it! Do you recall friends like Isabel Diamond and Carissa Stevens and the rest of us?

Yeah! I remember! So you are!

Former Miss. Carissa Stevens but now Carissa Anderson!

That’s it! That is the missing link we all have been looking for.

Oh my God! I wouldn’t guess in a thousand years that the same Denyse I used to hang out with will ever turn out my math instructor. How things happen is amazing sometimes! This is Carissa Stevens standing right in front of you. The last time I saw you was at the Movies, remember? And you introduced me to this girl you said you met at a camp or something.

Elisa! Oh Yes! My goodness! Carissa! Is this really you? What a pleasant surprise. Come, let’s go to my office ‘cause we have a lot to talk about. And both of them walked into her very spacious well-furnished room.

Look at you! Carissa continued the moment they took their seats. You didn’t change too much though. A little sign of the grownup things here and there, that’s all. I would have recognized you still but for the change in last name!

I know!

This is really interesting. So, how have you been?

Good! Good! And how about yourself? The Doctor said beaming with smile.

Not doing badly either! Oh my God! This is unbelievable. You’re one of the instructors in this college, ha? Carissa continued exuberantly.

Yes!

The first time I saw you was at orientation class and I kind of got curious. That last name thing really got me distracted.

Oh yes! The Doctor said. I got married to the love of my life some 16 years back. Vincent Jacobs. I call him Vince though, never Vincent. We met in college and couldn’t live without each other thereafter. He studied Medicine while I got my RN first, went ahead for my BSN, then my Masters and doctorate degree in Nursing. It’s been a very fulfilling life to say the list and I won’t have it any other way. I really thank God almighty for his mercies every day, honestly; he provided me with a direction in life when I needed it most and then gave me my soul mate for a partner. I’m so happy and settled to say the list.

That’s so sweet to my ears Denyse. Do you guys have kids?

Oh yes!! Three lovely ones! Mathew, Jane and Ethel! What about you. Are you married?

Yeah! I’ve been married for eleven and half years now.

Great! I hope he is good to you, the Doctor added.

He is terrific! I consider myself one of the luckiest persons on earth after all. Denyse you are now a Doctor, ha?

Sure!

Awesome! Look at you! Is like you got it right from start babe! I wish I went the same direction as you did when you did.

It’s ok that you are here now! Better late than never!

I know! Trying to get my RN as a married woman at 38 is not that fun though.

It doesn’t matter at all. The important thing is you are here now and doing the right thing. You got to know this, whether we are busy or not the years will always pass us by, so, you better use whatever time you have wisely. In essence the two years you’ll spend here could come and pass and you’ll still be on same spot doing nothing unless you made the kind of move you are making right now. I tell you this; some of our students are already in thire70s, so age is no excuse for anyone not to achieve her dream goal in life. I always say to my friends, whatever you desire, pursue it and make sure you net it.

Oh my God! Look at you Denyse. Never thought I’ll ever meet you again! Not as a Doctor of Math?

I know! Life is a serious and tedious business and we have to continue doing our best!

You are right! That’s what I failed to grasp earlier on.

You’re not alone on that Carissa. Every one of us kind of started that way, you know? We all kind of fumbled until we found our path.

But you grasped it faster than I did. There must be a reason for that Denyse.

What I can tell you is that I was lucky to have met someone special who showed me the right way when I was grappling with darkness like every girl of my age at the time. And from that point my life took a turn.

How lucky! Carissa added.

I’ll rather say I was open to possibilities at the time, continued Denyse. I also leant a lot from that experience. Oh yes! A whole lot! It taught me that why some of us miss their part is because they don’t know the right way to go. If nobody guided you right how do you know the difference between right and wrong? And because you have no direction, you waste your time running round in circles. Is for this reason I do some of the things I do to provide every girl I can reach with that direction which to my understanding is the road map to a happy life. I have written books on that topic and involved in lots of project, all my works devoted to every girl out there. Open your mind’s eyes to view the riches bestowed on you by nature and please don’t let it go in ruin for lack of knowledge.

You must be a very busy woman as I can see! Carissa continued.

Yes I’m! I can’t help it! I had the zeal and it became a dream that materialized into a project I started about ten years ago. I call it “Ways of chicks” The Doctor continued.