Homecoming Weekend (41 page)

—T
RICE
H
ICKMAN
, W
INSTON
-S
ALEM
S
TATE
U
NIVERSITY
, C
LASS OF
1991

Alabama A&M University

Normal, AL

Alabama State University

Montgomery, AL

Albany State University

Albany, NY

Alcorn State University

Lorman, MS

Allen University

Columbia, SC

Arkansas Baptist College

Little Rock, AK

Benedict College

Columbia, SC

Bennett College

Greensboro, NC

Bethune-Cookman University

Daytona Beach, FL

Bishop State Community College

Mobile, AL

Bluefield State College

Bluefield, WV

Bowie State University

Bowie, MD

Central State University

Wilberforce, OH

Claflin University

Orangeburg, SC

Clark Atlanta University

Atlanta, GA

Clinton Junior College

Rock Hill, SC

Coahoma Community College

Clarksdale, MS

Concordia College–Selma

Selma, AL

Coppin State University

Baltimore, MD

Delaware State University

Dover, DE

Denmark Technical College

Denmark, SC

Dillard University

New Orleans, LA

Edward Waters College

Jacksonville, FL

Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City, NC

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville, NC

Fisk University

Nashville, TN

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

Tallahassee, FL

Florida Memorial University

Miami Gardens, FL

Fort Valley State University

Ft. Valley, GA

Gadsden State Community College

Gadsden, AL

Grambling State University

Grambling, LA

H Councill Trenholm State Technical College

Montgomery, AL

Hampton University

Hampton, VA

Harris-Stowe State University

St. Louis, MO

Hinds Community College–Utica

Utica, MS

Howard University

Washington, D.C.

Huston-Tillotson University

Lorman, MS

Interdenominational Theological Center

Atlanta, GA

J F Drake State Technical College

Huntsville, AL

Jackson State University

Jackson, MS

Jarvis Christian College

Hawkins, TX

Johnson C Smith University

Charlotte, NC

Kentucky State University

Frankfort, KY

Lane College

Jackson, TN

Langston University

Langston, OK

Lawson State Community College–Birmingham

Birmingham, AL

LeMoyne-Owen College

Memphis, TN

Lincoln University

Jefferson City, MO

Lincoln University of Pennsylvania

Lincoln University, PA

Livingstone College

Salisbury, NC

Meharry Medical College

Nashville, TN

Miles College

Fairfield, AL

Mississippi Valley State University

Itta Bena, MS

Morehouse College

Atlanta, GA

Morehouse School of Medicine

Atlanta, GA

Morgan State University

Baltimore, MD

Morris College

Sumter, SC

Norfolk State University

Norfolk, VA

North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University

Greensboro, NC

North Carolina Central University

Durham, NC

Oakwood University

Huntsville, AL

Paine College

Augusta, GA

Paul Quinn College

Dallas, TX

Philander Smith College

Little Rock, AK

Prairie View A&M University

Prairie View, TX

Rust College

Holly Springs, MS

Saint Augustine's College

Raleigh, NC

Saint Paul's College

Lawrenceville, VA

Savannah State University

Savannah, GA

Selma University

Selma, AL

Shaw University

Raleigh, NC

Shelton State Community College

Tuscaloosa, AL

South Carolina State University

Orangeburg, SC

Southern University and A&M College

Baton Rouge, LA

Southern University at New Orleans

New Orleans, LA

Southern University at Shreveport

Shreveport, LA

Southwestern Christian College

Terrell, TX

Spelman College

Atlanta, GA

St. Philip's College

San Antonio, TX

Stillman College

Tuscaloosa, AL

Talladega College

Talladega, AL

Tennessee State University

Nashville, TN

Texas College

Tyler, TX

Texas Southern University

Houston, TX

Tougaloo College

Tougaloo, MS

Tuskegee University

Tuskegee, AL

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Pine Bluff, AK

University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Princess Anne, MD

University of the District of Columbia

Washington, D.C.

University of the Virgin Islands

Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands

University of the Virgin Islands–Kingshill

St. Croix, Virgin Islands

Virginia State University

Petersburg, VA

Virginia Union University

Richmond, VA

Virginia University of Lynchburg

Lynchburg, VA

Voorhees College

Denmark, SC

West Virginia State University

Institute, WV

Wilberforce University

Wilberforce, OH

Wiley College

Marshall, TX

Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem, NC

Xavier University of Louisiana

New Orleans, LA

I
F YOU ENJOYED
“H
OMECOMING
W
EEKEND
,”
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT

A

COLD

PIECE

OF

WORK

A NOVEL

B
Y
C
URTIS
B
UNN

A
VAILABLE FROM
S
TREBOR
B
OOKS

T
he force of his thrusts pushed her to the edge of the four-poster bed. She was lathered as much in satisfaction as she was in sweat, exhilarated and weary—and unable to hold herself atop the mattress against his unrelenting strikes. A different kind of man would have postponed the passion; at least long enough to pull up her naked, vulnerable body.

But Solomon Singletary was hardly one to subscribe to conventional thinking or deeds. He always had a point to prove and
always was committed to proving it—with actions, not words.

And so, Solomon thrust on . . . and on, until they, as one, careened onto the carpet together, she cushioning his fall from beneath him. So paralyzed in pleasure was she that she never felt the impact of the tumble. Rather, she found humor that they made love clean across the bed and onto the floor, and she found delight that the fall did not disengage them.

Solomon lost neither his connection to her nor his cadence, and stroked her on the carpet just as he had on the sheets—purposefully, unrelentingly, deeply.

“What are you trying to do?” she asked. “Make love to me? Or make me love you?”

Solomon did not answer—not with words. He continued to speak the language of passion, rotating his hips forward, as one would a hula-hoop. Her shapely, chocolate legs were airborne and his knees were carpet-burned raw, but hardly did he temper his pace.

His answer: Both.

She finally spoke the words that slowed Solomon. “Okay, okay,” she said. “Okay.” She gave in, and that pleased Solomon. She would have said the words earlier—before they tumbled off the bed—but he never allowed her to catch her breath. All she could make were indecipherable sounds.

“I mean, damn,” she said, panting. “We're good together . . . Damn.”

Solomon kissed her on her left shoulder and rolled off her and onto the floor, on his wide, strong back. He looked up toward the dark ceiling illuminated by the single candle on the nightstand, so pleased with himself that a smile formed on his face.

Then he dozed off right there on the floor. She didn't bother to wake him. Instead, she reached up and pulled the comforter
off the bed and over both of them. She nestled her head on his hairy chest, smiled to herself and drifted off to sleep with him, right there on the floor.

That was the last time she saw Solomon Singletary. And he only saw her a few times, but only in dreams that did not make much sense.

“I wish I knew what the hell it meant,” he said to his closest friend, Raymond. He and Ray became tight five years earlier, when they got paired together during a round of golf at Mystery Valley in Lithonia, just east of Atlanta. They had a good time, exchanged numbers and ended up becoming not only golf buddies, but also great friends.

Ray was very much the opposite of Solomon. He was not as tall but just as handsome, and he was charismatic and likeable, in a different way. Solomon was sort of regal to some, arrogant to others. Ray was more every man. He had a wife of seven years, Cynthia, and a six-year-old son, Ray-Ray. He was stable.

Solomon knew a lot of people, but only liked some and trusted only a few. He really only tolerated most; especially the various women who ran in and out of his life like some nagging virus. “In the end,” he told Ray, “the one person you can trust is yourself. And even with that, how many times have you lied to yourself?”

Ray figured there was something deep inside Solomon that would bring him to such feelings, and he figured if Solomon wanted him to know, he would have told him. So he never asked. Ray and Solomon coveted each other's friendship and had a certain trust. And they shared most everything with each other.

Ray's way was to provide levity when possible, which, for him, was practically all the time. His upbeat disposition seldom changed. If the Falcons lost a football game, he'd show disgust and disappointment for a while, but he'd let it go.

Solomon Singletary was not that way. He could be solemn at times, even-tempered at others and occasionally aggressive. Above all, he was quite adept at pulling people close to him. He had a unique ability to be open but remain private. He could be disinterested but still engaging. And those unique qualities made people open up to him; especially women.

“You're so interesting,” Michele told him that last night together. “We've dated for six months. You try to act like you don't love me, but you do; I can tell by how we make love. Why won't you say you love me?”

“Come here.” Michele came over to him, to the edge of her bed. “Don't get caught up on what I say to you or don't say,” he said. “Worry about what I do to you; how I make you feel.”

“Is everything about sex with you?”

“See, I wasn't even talking about sex. I was talking about how you feel inside, when we're together, when you think of me,” Solomon said. “That's more important than what I say. Right?”