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They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. Psalm 126:5

Nightthirty   

            “Game point, Jovan.  Come one man, you know I gotta go,” said Bernard Norton as he wiped the bead of sweat from his forehead with his shirt.  Bouncing the ball, Jovan, Bernard’s older cousin by a couple of years, said, “Okay, man, I’m going to let us hurry up and finish this game, I know you got to get back to Montgomery,” as he bounced the ball trying to avoid being blocked by Kelvin, Bernard’s older brother, “I’ve got to go home myself, Angie’s going to be mad at me if I’m too late.  But Neal,” Jovan’s brother, “and I just wanted you two to know that we’re winning this bet this time and you’ll remember it in the morning,” as he put the ball into the net, and the game was won 21 points by Jovan and Neal.  Bernard and Kelvin stood there and laughed along with Neal and Jovan.

            Jovan said, “Man, I’ve got to go,” as they slapped high five’s and handshakes, “Angie’s going to be upset, you know I’ve got to keep the wifey happy.”

            Laughingly Bernard teased, “I oughtta call her and tell her that you’re over here talking crap and cheating me and Kelvin out of money.”

            “Awe man, don’t call her and tell her that.  I’ll never hear the end of it,” Jovan pleaded.

            Bernard Norton knew it was late and would hear his mom complaining, but he really needed to get back to Montgomery in order to be on time for the new freshman class orientation on Sunday morning, as he was in charge of college recruiting at Lang University, one of many HBCU’s in Alabama.  Bernard prepared to leave his parent’s home in Newsburg, LA, in central Lousiana.

            He knew he needed to leave before 9:00 p.m., but he was really enjoying his time with his family.  He needed his time with his family.  He was lonely in Montgomery and longed for companionship, but that department of his life was on hold.  It had been for quite some time.

            Mrs. Norton packed Bernard a care package as she had always done every since he’d been away in college, and now he was working full time and she still did this when he would leave home.  She carefully packed the cooler he was instructed to bring on each trip home so she could load him up with a home cooked meal that they both knew wouldn’t last until his next visit. 

            Mrs. Norton expressed as she finished packing ice in the cooler, “Bernard, I really hate you’re leaving so late, you know you should’ve left earlier this afternoon.”

            “I know mom, but the basketball game was so good.  And you know Jovan and Neal think they should’ve been first round draft picks for the NBA, they made a bet Kelvin and I couldn’t resist.” Laughing at him and Kelvin’s game, he added, “Even though we lost, this time.”

            She said, "Well, next time, you all play earlier."

            Mr. Norton entered the kitchen and said, “Son, it’s late you know.”

            “Dad, I know, I’ll be careful okay.”

            Mr. & Mrs. Norton hugged Bernard and wished him well on his 5 hour trip back to Montgomery.  He got into his 4 door Dodge truck and said, “Mom and Dad, don’t worry, I’ll be fine.  I’ve got my phone.”  Mr. Norton said, “I know son, but drive carefully son.” 

            Mrs. Norton said, “Son, I know there’s got to be someone special out there you can get to ride home with you.”  He looked at his mom, she worried about him finding someone since Adrianne.  She knew he was still hurting over her.

            Bernard said quietly and somewhat painfully, “Mom, I’ll be fine.”  He hated that she always worried about his love life.

            She said, “Son, you’re 28.”

            He said, “Mom, I know.”  Looking at the sad and concerned look in her eyes, he said, “Look, I’ve got to go.  I’ll call.”

            Bernard left his parent’s house and drove through town, since Newsburg, was no where near any major interstate, he had to travel state highways until he almost reached Alabama.

            He turned on the radio and listened to the local rap session as most people his age were getting ready to go clubbing on this Saturday evening.  He bobbed his head to the latest “50 Cent” rap and set his cruise for 64, just enough to get to Montgomery at a decent hour, but not enough to draw attention to himself with the state patrol.

            As the last hour of the day rolled onto the beginning of a new day, Bernard had driven out of the radio range.  He put in a CD he’d burned just before his trip home.  The CD had Regina Belle’s “All I want is forever”, Boyz II Men’s “The Color of Love”, and 15 other love songs.

            Bernard started listening and really thinking about his love life.  He felt he was a good catch for someone, but not yet.  He was 28 years old and a BMW (Black Man Working), and by December, he’d be Dr. Bernard Norton and steady moving up the ladder in higher education leadership. He knew he was in good physical shape and turned many heads on campus.

            His last meaningful relationship was with Adrianne.  She was beautiful, caring, smart and everyone in his family loved her as her family loved him.  They started dating their sophomore year and dated the remainder of their undergraduate years and all the way through their Master’s program.

            But, as they were defending their Thesis’s, Adrianne became severely ill and had to return back home to Dalton, Virginia.  And before Bernard could finish his Thesis and get to her, she had died.  He was devastated. He attended her funeral along with his brother Kelvin and parents.  If it hadn’t been for them, he knew he’d lost his mind. 

            He had decided that he would propose to her right after their Winter graduation ceremonies with both their parents there.  But instead, Adrianne was given an honorary Master’s degree which was received by her sister Toni, who represented her parents.

            After graduation, Bernard was able to land a job at Lang University as a recruiter where he had been working for the past two years.  Being on a college campus meant there were a plenty for the picking, but he just couldn’t bring himself to show a serious interest in anyone.  He was tired of going to bed alone every night, and felt like Charlie Wilson’s, “My Song,” but he couldn’t bring himself to be in a relationship with anyone now.  He was still hurting.

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