By Any Other Name

Not having Destiny at his side was difficult to get readjusted to. Kevin, had learned a lot about how truly large the world was by hearing Destiny’s descriptions. He missed her, not only the long talks about everything, but also her unique insights. She wasn't impressed with his Zippo lighter skills, or his massive biceps, she seemed to thoroughly enjoy playing in his hair, but the things other women liked about him underwhelmed her.

Kevin, was trying to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. He was skating through his existence and he had to do something about it. Kevin had begun thinking about going to college and had decided to check out some of the campuses in the city. Destiny, had made him really think and while he could not phantom what he would study in college he felt as if going to college would change him from just a bumpkin from Alabama.

When he began searching for a college to attend, Kevin had no idea what to look for.  He hadn’t chosen a major, so he didn’t know if the school would be a good fit for his field of study.  Kevin tried to think of an occupation that he would enjoy doing, something that going to college would assist him with. The fact was that he had never even seriously considered a career, if he had money to take care of his needs Kevin had felt as if he didn’t need a career.

So instead of researching the colleges based on what they had to offer, he just popped up on the campuses. Kevin gave no thought to what schools of study, a university might specialize in, the entire ideal of attending additional school had always been a foreign concept to Kevin. All he knew was that he didn’t want to keep working at Walmart and throwing parties.  The first school he visited was Xavier University a HBCU that was also a private Catholic college.  

Kevin parked his Park Avenue and walked around the small college campus. There were few students on campus, but he didn't know that. The addiction was instant, every direction that he turned in, his eyes saw yet another beautiful woman. He approached one of the maybe 20 women crossing the school’s yard. “Excuse me ma'am I promise I'm not a weirdo I'm just trying to figure out more about this school. What do you study?”  She had to be 6ft tall because her Halle Berry hair cut was right at his shoulder, she had a thin European nose, which highlighted her full African lips and her skin was the color of Hershey’s Quick. “Poly-Sci” she responded in a lilting accent Kevin had never heard anything like. He had heard her response but had no more notion of what she was talking about. She saw his puzzled expression. “Political Science. “Kevin, wanted to ask her where she was from, but he didn't want to embarrass himself.

“You're not really interested in going to school here!” Her accent drew him in, that and the fact that he couldn't stop looking at her. She was stunning. Her cheekbones were the most defined he could recall, she had a Smokey hypnotic quality to her eyes which slanted slightly down. He continued the conversation. “Why do say that?” She had crossed her arms. “Never a good sign!” Kevin thought. The Political Science major, unfolded her arms and began checking off her evidence.  “You don't have any reference material.”  One of her graceful index fingernails clicked against another. “Two it's the Thanksgiving break. No one would come to check out a school when school is out.”  Kevin had forgotten the holidays were approaching. He had been thinking about other things, actually other people. Namely Destiny.

The beautiful woman was making her point, and Kevin was loving each minute. “Third you don't sound like a Student. If you had gold teeth I'd say you were a local.” Kevin delivered the smoothest line of his young life.  “I would say that your career should be in Criminal justice, you're a heck of detective. Your observations are keen. I would feel safe knowing you were solving crime.” He extended his hand. “I'm Kevin.  I really did come to learn more about the school though, I am ashamed to admit.” She was hesitant to take the proffered appendage.

Kevin stood with his hand extended for about 10 seconds before she shook it. “Eddel.” She offered her name. Kevin had been reading the “Times Picayune” and he started to ask questions about the “climate of local politics” and he was pleased with Eddel’s responses. Kevin, still was dubious about asking where Eddel was from. “Do you mind showing me around?“ Eddel didn't mind, even though she thought that the handsome young man wasn't seriously considering attending.

Eddel was from Eritrea, a country off the horn of Africa that had just gained its independence from Ethiopia. Kevin, didn't know the term for it but he discovered he was a Sapiosexual, intrigued by the amount of information available and excited by women who were brilliant. He marveled that he had ever been satisfied with Butler Alabama.

Kevin learned that most of the students who were still on campus were like Eddel, to far from home for a week-long trip, or simply waiting until Christmas break. He liked her company, and she was beautiful. Kevin, found her fashion choices questionable as her body was indiscernible beneath the baggy garb. Before he knew it, he had volunteered to feed her Thanksgiving dinner.

Both of his jobs gave Kevin a longer than usual respite, and he had finally got into the feeling of the holidays. He decided to make a traditional New Orleans dish and seafood dressing stuffed Turducken won a menu spot. He grabbed exotic peppers and onions for his potato salad. He accompanied the already substantial meal with baked Mac and cheese, green beans, and candied yams.

Kevin liked having somebody to talk to again. Eddel was an excellent conversationalist, add her clipped perfectly enunciated English and she was a passable replacement for who he would rather be spending the holidays with.

It wasn't malice that made him toy with the beautiful woman's emotions, but his own emotional immaturity. Kevin, unable to sort out his own feelings about Destiny had inadvertently sought a substitute. None of that touched his conscious mind.

Kevin watched her movements, and the curves that were hidden by her loose-fitting clothes. Eddel was magnificent. She was the guard on the Gold nuggets basketball team, she also ran the 400 meters on their track and field team. He wanted to see what she looked like beneath those baggy, slack garments. Kevin decided that if he had to he would go to a track meet or basketball game, if that is what he had to do to see what her body looked like.

While he was willing to go to such extreme measures, he was planning on seeing her naked that night.  After hours of preparing food, cooking, baking, and enjoying intellectually challenging conversation.  Kevin decided he would make a move after dinner. 

The meal was spectacular and the vibe between Eddel and Kevin was easy and relaxed.  Somewhere between the desert and the wine the pair wound up in Kevin’s bed. Eddel was an extremely vocal lover and their noises spilled from the room in waves. So much so that Kevin didn’t hear the key turn in his front door or the sob that choked from Destiny’s throat as she discovered that Kevin had wasted no time in finding a bed partner.

The following day, Kevin awoke feeling great. He and his Etrian athlete had worked up an appetite and he felt like making a huge breakfast. Kevin hadn’t even finished making his morning coffee when he discovered his spare key atop an application for a passport.