Books

Smith had been dealt with extremely harshly for a first time non-violent offender. She was, at worst, nothing more than a reluctant accomplice to the actions of a vicious thug who, when it came down it, didn’t give a damn about her or their baby she was carrying.

When Keith asked what she thought of his plans for the kid, Lesli didn’t answer right away. Then: “The hell with it! That’s what I think.”

Meanwhile, Keith refilled Helen’s glass. Poured himself a round. They gossiped about the gang. Luis, both agreed, was going to one day get his neck in a wringer.

Alena shrugged. “What about you? You still allergic to filming? You have the looks for it. If football players, wrestlers, bodyguards, you name it, become actors. Even…” She pretended to shudder.

Keith found himself watching the DVD at the after-party, Helen resting an arm on his shoulder. “I like this part,” she said.

Keith laughed too. But admitted, “I’m gettin’ tired. Helen’s gonna have to get him his own vehicle.”

However, the thrust of the book is to kick start a frank conversation about Alzheimer’s from recognizing the warning signs, to identifying its stages, to reciting lesson’s learned thus far

Keith said, “We all saw it coming. Just not this soon.’ Helen came in breathless only nowhere near as pleased as Sam. In fact, she was mad.

When they pulled in, Lesli stepped off the bus and heard, “Hey, girl!” Looked around, saw Lola bearing down on her.

By the time Barney the driver got back, Keith and Lesli were just then rolling out of each other’s arms behind the curtain. Barney checked in with a hearty, “Anybody home?”

Keith was still grinning when Leslie grabbed his chin and asked, “You make it with anybody?” She had on a pleasant expression, but from the glint in her eye she was perfectly serious.

Hank laughed at his wife’s mischief, shook his head, and said to Keith, “I guess, son, she is not going to give you two minutes of peace as long as you’re here. Y’all got everything worked out?”

Mari came down the stairs wearing a wizened smile and a flimsy housecoat. Which was more than Keith or Lesli had on. “Looks like you two made up,” she quipped. Lesli snatched up a skimpy throw and pulled it over them. Mari had a sheet in her arms and draped it over them too. It […]

When they got to Lesli’s folks’ house, Hank answered the door and saw them in. Said to Keith, “Good to see you, son.” Lesli hung back a little, looking on.

Keith couldn’t figure out what to do with himself upon Lesli’s sudden reappearance. Wanted to walk across the floor but couldn’t move. Helen said in his ear, “If you don’t go over to that woman, I will personally kick your behind 12 ways to Sunday. You feel me?”

Meanwhile, media eyes fell heavy on Helen St. James. And on her rising-star protégé Samantha Smith. Between sound check and the show, Helen and Sam held a press conference. Microphones shoved in their faces under glaring lights.

These three Black superheroes soon will return to a comic book store near you. If all goes well, cartoons, television appearances, movies and toys will follow.