Category Two Hurricane:

Are you familiar with the song, �Genius of Love� by the Tom Tom Club, Frida? Yeah? That song reminds me so much of your grandfather. That song was on the day he proposed.

I had decided to keep the baby after all. (I didn�t know I had twins at the time.) Jim supported me like him promised.

�We�ll be parents then,� he told me.

�Are you this is okay?� I asked.

�Yep,� he said.

�But what about money?�

�I�ll find work.�

�Where will we live? We can�t raise a baby in two separate dorms.�

�Then we�ll buy an apartment together.�

I opened my mouth to speak, but he held up his hand.

�I won�t abandon you,� he said. �Just leave it to me.� I tried to speak, but he cut me off.

�I�ve got this,� your grandfather assured me. �Anything else.� I drew my mouth closed. Your grandfather gave me that annoying goofy grin of his.

�Good,� he said. I resisted the urge to throw up on him. Even when serious, he could be annoying at times. Yet, he meant well.

I got a chance to see that in the spring.

I was three months pregnant then. I was studying in my dorm when I got a knock on my dorm.

�Yeah?� I asked.

�Starlette!� one my roommate said. �Jim�s here.� I paused at that statement.

What the�, I thought. I got up and walked over to my window. I looked out to see your grandfather standing outside of his car, waving at me. I rushed all the way outside to him.

�What are you doing here?� I asked. Jim grinned at me.

�I came to pick you up,� he said. I blinked at him.

�Pick me up?� I asked. �Why?�

�Cause,� he said. �We�re on a date.� I gave him a puzzled look.

�A date?� I asked. Your grandfather gave me a big smile.

�Yeah.�

�Right now?�

�Yes. Now get in.�

�Where?�

�Where what?�

�Where are we going on this date?�

�You�ll see. Just come on! Get in the car.�

I put up my hands. �Okay, okay.� He opened the car door for me. I gave him a little smile. Glad to see that boy still had some manners on him.

�Thanks,� I said as I climbed into the car. Jim nodded at me and climbed into the driver�s side. He glanced over at me.

�Ready to go?� he asked. I nodded.

�Yeah,� I said.

�Let�s go,� Jim said. Then, we pulled out. He drove all the way out the park. Jim stopped in the parking lot. He turned to me.

�One second,� he said. He got out of the car and walked to the trunk. I watched his every move. Your grandfather pulled out a picnic basket and a boom box. I blinked at him in surprise.

�Jim�� I said. �What is�� Your grandfather grinned at me.

�Picnic!� he answered. �Come on.� I opened the door and got out. I stood next to your grandfather with a smile on my face.

�Lead the way!� I said. He gave me a little nod.

�Yes ma�am!� he replied. We began our walk to find the ideal spot.

We ended up near the lake. Jim set up everything.

�Do you need any help?� I asked as I watched him spread out the blanket.

�Nah, I�m good,� he said.

�You sure?� I asked.

�Yeah, you just chill, okay?� he said.

�Okay�� I said. In three minutes, we were all set. Your grandfather made most of the food. Let me tell you now, he could cook on his saner days. Oh! I had never had such a delicious meatball BLT before in my life. I couldn�t stop licking my fingers. Your grandfather watched eat the whole time. I happened to glance over at him when I finished my sandwich.

�What is it?� I asked. He sat up straight. �I want to ask you something.�

I blinked at him. �Okay, what is it?� He gasped onto my hand.

�Jim?� I asked, bewildered. He looked me straight in the eye.

�Let�s become a real family,� he said. �Marry me, Starlette!�

1985