Sweep Me Off My Feet

Chapter 2

Angela was excited when she woke up the next morning. It was one of those rare days she had managed to get some time off and what was even more perfect about that particular Sunday morning was the fact that her best friend, Candy, was coming over. Candy had been the one constant in Angela’s rollercoaster life and every time she got to spend some time with her, even if it was just a short while, it was pure bliss. On that particular day, Candy was actually going to be there for the better part of the day, and going by past interactions, it was very possible that Candy was going to be sleeping over or at least leave very, very late.

After having a quick shower, Angela held her curly hair in a bun and put on a pair of tights and a V-neck t-shirt before she sat down to watch some TV as she sipped on the pineapple banana smoothie she had prepared for breakfast. She was usually never in a hurry to wake up Brandon on Sundays that she was supposed to stay home. She usually just let him sleep in and run his clock out and that morning was no different. It was not until nine when Brandon got out of bed and came to cuddle in his mother’s lap.

“Good morning, my angel,” Angela said as she held him. “Are you hungry?”

Brandon shook his head.

“Why don’t you go and get out of your PJs and then I will be right in to help you make the bed, okay?” she asked a still groggy Brandon who nodded.

She took one more sip of her smoothie before she put her glass down and walked to the bedroom. She got Brandon a change of clothes and helped him brush his teeth before they made the bed together. Well, it was more of her making the bed and him tugging on one end like his life depended on it. She could tell that he was proud of himself as they walked out of the bedroom.

“Do you want some of Mama’s smoothie?” she asked, and he frowned.

“No.”

“What did we say about breakfast, honey?” she asked as she looked into his eyes.

“It is the most important meal of the day,” he said, and she nodded.

“Good. Then you need to have some smoothie.”

His shoulders drooped and she gently stroked his big fro before he walked over to where she was sitting earlier and had a few sips of her smoothie before he looked up.

“Now can I have some Cheerios?” he asked, and she smiled.

She loved how he always seemed to find a way to get exactly what he wanted.

“Not yet. Have a little more and then maybe I will think about giving you some Cheerios.”

Brandon opened his mouth to protest, but he did not get a chance. They both turned their attention to the door when they heard a soft knock on the door.

“I’ll get it,” Brandon said, racing to the door, but Angela caught his hand before he could run past her.

“No, mister. A few more sips or I get you your own cup. The big cup too.”

Brandon frowned.

“The one I don’t like?” he asked, and she nodded, smiling.

“The very one.”

Her grin grew wider as he walked back to the table, grumbling. She was still smiling when she walked to the door and opened it to find her best friend, Candy, standing at the door holding what looked like shopping bags and a pizza. As usual, she looked like a socialite who had just been dropped off at her door from Milan fashion week in her stilettos and daisy dukes that made her legs look even longer than they were and a crop top that showed off her toned abs. Her entire outfit was meant to show off her perfect figure and that was exactly what it did.

“Hey you,” Candy said cheerfully.

“Is that a pizza?” Angela asked, smiling.

Candy looked at the box in her hands and nodded.

“Yes, of course.”

“It is eight in the morning,” Angela said matter of factly.

“Yes, and there is never a bad time for a pizza,” Candy replied as she leaned in to kiss Angela’s cheek.

“Aunt Candy!” Brandon said excitedly as he got up.

“There’s my favorite little boy,” Candy said as she walked into the apartment. Angela took the pizza box and shopping bags from her before Brandon jumped into her arms. “How are you doing?” She pulled away and looked into his doe eyes.

“Mama’s making me take her smoothie,” he lamented as Angela closed the door.

“It is healthy for you,” Angela said as she walked towards them. “Don’t you want to have big, strong muscles?”

“Like Captain America?” Brandon asked, and Angela nodded.

“Yeah, like Captain America.”

He nodded.

“Well, he drinks a lot of fruit smoothies and eats his vegetables too,” Angela said as she looked at them.

“Do you know what else Captain America ate?” Candy asked and Brandon shook his head. “Pizza!”

Brandon’s eyes lit up.

“For breakfast?’ he asked as he looked at Candy who was nodding.

“Yeah, I got that weird pineapple and ham thing you like and a chicken teriyaki with extra cheese for me and your mama.” She turned around and got the pizza from Angela. Brandon was practically drooling by that point. Angela walked out of the kitchen and grabbed some napkins before she walked back to Candy who was now handing her son a gift bag. “I brought this for you.”

Angela smiled as she looked at Brandon pulling out a toy truck from the bag.

“See, now you can carry all your blocks in the back like those construction guys on TV,” she said, and Brandon suddenly lit up as if his world was not already bright enough.

“I’ll go get my blocks,” he announced before he made his way to the corner where his toys were.

“So I guess that’s it for the pizza with him,” Candy said as she stood up.

“Yeah, for now.” Angela opened the box and pulled out a slice of the chicken teriyaki side of the pizza. “But definitely not for me.”

“Good idea because I am starving,” Candy said as she grabbed the box and walked over to the kitchen area. “But before breakfast,” she said after placing the box on the island. “Take a look inside the bag,” she said as she took a seat.

Angela looked at the shopping bags in her hand and shrugged.

“Which one? I am holding three.”

“Well, the blue one is Brandon’s. I saw these slacks and shirt as I was walking downtown the other day and I just couldn’t resist.” Candy giggled. “He is going to look like a little rapper.”

Angela put the bags down and reached into the blue bag to find a blue sweatpants suit with a Spiderman print.