ii. good morning Harlem

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New York, New York

September 1983

". . .She aspired to be an actress that graced the world. . ."

"Michael Jackson is arguably the greatest entertainer this world has ever seen

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"Michael Jackson is arguably the greatest entertainer this world has ever seen.." The television buzzed as Symoné was in the laundry room, throwing wet clothes in the dryer to have an outfit to wear to work. She was working at a cafe called Cafe Armita. She continued to listen to the news on the television, "I think it's too early to give him that title," Came from a woman on Channel 7 news. Symoné disagreed with her, though. She felt the famous man they were talking about was just getting started.

Symoné had to be at work by nine o'clock this morning. It was just seven. She ruffled through her dresser drawers, looking for a fresh white blouse. Unfortunately, she didn't find one with a collar on it. Instead, she found a blouse with repetitive designs made up of green, black, and white. She hated this shirt but had no choice but to wear it because the rest of her clothes were washing. She had a pencil skirt already laid out on her bed that was ironed and ready to be placed around her hips. One thing she felt was missing was her pearl earrings and necklace. Suddenly, a loud banging on the Reeves' front door appeared. "Sam, get that door!" Symoné's mother, Jean, yelled from the bedroom. The door opened slightly, and Symoné heard her father say, "Symoné, it's for you."

Symoné wondered who it could be coming to her family's house around this time of the morning. No one hardly came by her house when she had to go to work. "Coming, Daddy!"

Symoné was a daddy's girl. It's been that way since the young woman came out of the womb. Now, twenty-two-year-old Symoné is an independent woman–but still keeps both of her parents in her heart. However, she wasn't expecting anyone to come over. Symoné rushed to the door, "I got it, Daddy. You can go sit down." She told her father and then turned around to see Wade Walker. He was not the one she expected to see, "Wade?" She questioned, with her eyebrows creasing as she took a second to examine his attire, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to take you to work," He chuckled and made eye contact with the dame, "What? Did you forget I told you I'd take you today?"

She doesn't recall Wade telling her he would take her to work. Symoné swallowed while keeping her eyes on the fair-skinned man. She backed away from the door, allowing Wade to enter, and shut the door behind the man, ensuring she locked it. Sitting in the living room, Sam Reeves, as Jean Reeves makes her way out of the bedroom–with a big smile. "Oh, here all of you are. What's on television?" Sitting beside her husband and lifting her head toward her daughter and Wade, she asked Sam, "That Michael Jackson is a handsome fella, isn't he, Sam?" She grinned at Symoné, "What time must you be at work, baby?"

Symoné agreed with her mother. Michael Jackson was indeed a handsome man. She regained her attention from the question Jean asked her. "Nine, Mother." She told her, looked at Wade, then cut her eyes back at her mother, "Wade was just coming here to drop me off." She explained to her parents–knowing that question would be coming next. Jean was a bubbly woman, but she had boundaries regarding her family. Symoné resembled so much of Jean; it was unbelievable. People often mistook them for one another, but neither seemed to mind. They thought it was an endearing compliment. Jean looked at her daughter, then at the clock above their fireplace, "It's almost that time, baby; you need to finish getting ready, yes?"

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