Page 17 of Ms. V's Hot Girl Summer

Milton: Hey, love. I’m sorry I got mad at you. I know this is important. For you and for me to meet your kids. But maybe we should talk. When you return. I am still going to go on the trip even though it’s a couples one. I explained to them that you have a last-minute event to attend for the children, so they were okay with it. So let’s have dinner when you come back and talk some more about the next steps for us to solidify this as something more than casual…maybe.

Well, that went well.

Me: Okay, Milton, I’ll hit you up as soon as I’m back.

I put my phone down and closed my eyes, hoping sleep would take over. Every inch of my body screamed in protest and exhaustion. I should have taken an edible to relax; my brain had the tendency to take over, not allowing me to sleep during flights.

The flight attendants traveled up and down the aisle, assisting guests with their luggage. Damn, everyone on this flight seemed to have some oversized carry-on. It would take us twice as long to leave at this pace. Most passengers were my people, and most of them seemed my age or younger. The buzz of excitement was contagious; laughter and elevated voices transformed this regular plane into the ride to a summer cookout. One passenger held an intricate headpiece with feathers, the crystals on them reflecting all across the plane’s ceiling, lending to the festive feel.

The beautiful colors reminded me of Labor Day here in New York, or my days when I used to go to carnival in Miami in October.

If only I were on my way to carnival… I was seriously overdue for a break. I used to prioritize some time for self-care before, but I needed to be everything for my children now. Everything that my ex-husband wasn’t. They needed stability and normalcy, not a mom that flew to Miami for carnival with her ass cheeks out for everyone to see.

Thoughts of my client, of Milton, of the twins all invaded my mind, keeping me from the sleep I so desired. It was time for a quick meditation to empty my brain. Popping out my cell phone, I quickly found my guided meditation app and inserted my headphones to listen. Finally, slumber and I made peace, and as I drifted off to sleep, the last thing I heard was, “I can’t wait to enjoy my first carnival in Ofele!” from the same passenger with the headpiece. Warning bells clanged, but tiredness overpowered any other thought as sleep finally took over.

EIGHT

Trinidad

There was nothing like landing in Florida and being greeted by the beautiful palm trees and sunshine. Now if Florida could keep the excessive humidity that seeped in as I walked down the Jetway into the airport. Already beads of perspiration traveled the middle of my back as I maneuvered the packed small-town airport.

This cheerleading competition must be a big deal. I still didn’t understand how it wasn’t in the original planning schedule of the season, but I was glad it was happening in a Black town with a beautiful history.

There were rumors that a lot of maroons from the Caribbean, the south, and other areas of the continent came and settled here. They took ownership of this little piece of paradise by the water and were mostly left unbothered by, well, everyone else. It was a feat to be able to have a town like this that had been almost untouched by time. A space where Black people had prospered and created a tight community that welcomed others like them every year for a vacation. It was a blessing of peace and tranquility, a land to be ourselves.

Ofele Town had been on my bucket list for years, and I had yearned to come and bring the boys to visit. There were so many historical locations here, as well. Many luminaries had either lived here or come to create in this area.

To be in Ofele felt serendipitous. While standing at a crossroads in my life, without planning, I ended up here. Work had not been feeling as fulfilling as before. Maybe it was this douchebag changing the date, but I missed working on bigger events like this cheerleading town-wide event, where I was the head BAC calling the shots for big festivals.

A faraway thread of concern popped into my mind, like when you’re trying to remember if you locked your front door or not.What was the thing I wanted to look into right before falling asleep?As hard as I tried, my brain refused to give the deets. It served me right for always keeping it filled with overanalysis, endless to-do lists, and worries. At this point, my brain was considering joining a union for mistreatment. Giving up, I left the faraway thread alone, hoping it would voluntarily return to me later.

All around me, people my age or younger wandered around, looking fine in sundresses and hooch daddy shorts. Now, I know my generation was the flyest to exist, but this didn’t look quite like parents coming to see a cheerleading conference.

I had yet to see a teenager. That faraway thread vibrated in the back of my brain, still teasing me.

The sliding doors opened and closed, letting the humid heat creep into the cool airport as I finally approached the exit.

A banner hung on the top of the doorway leading to the rental car area.

Welcome, revelers, to Ofele Carnival.

Ofele Carnival? Was that supposed to be this weekend? It explained the people in the plane and all around me right now. My mommy sense tingled, my breath hitched, and just to be certain, I took stock of my surroundings. I still didn’t see any kids—only adults, all beautiful Black people.

A quiet dread seeped into my pores as I took all this information in. The rental area brimmed with travelers; navigating through the space, I stood in line to wait to get my car.

Once I saw the twins I would get to the bottom of whatever hell was happening.

* * *

“Sorry, ma’am. Well, you know, today we got swamped with everything happening with the carnival. Everybody has come to get cars. I don’t know how the town will manage all this traffic.” A frazzled older woman stood at the counter with a look of inpatient pity.

This was the fourth counter I’d tried.

“Oh, I can imagine with all this activity happening in the town…is there another branch close to here?”

“Oh, no, no, no, no, we’re too small for that. All of the rental companies are located here in our airport. I think there’s only one in town and it’s one of our branches. And by looking at it really quickly, they’re equally as sold-out. Most people made reservations a month ago, at least. But you never know there might be some cancellations.”

“Oh my God. Are you serious?” I really did not like depending on rides to be able to navigate this little town. Maybe walking would be the way to go. “Is it too far from here to the Ofele Resort and Spa?”

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