By this time, it was nearing 5:20, so the pair decided to start walking towards the pool at the front of the apartment complex. Stepping outside, Melody's face became a symphony of childlike wonder. "Wow… this is incredible! I can feel the breeze, the warmth of the sun… it's better than I ever imagined it would be."
After finishing her unintended reenactment of the opening scene from The Sound of Music, Melody squeezed Mike in a tight embrace. "Thank you… I really am a lucky, lucky genie."
"Remember, all life has to offer you. Not because I allow it, but because you deserve it. Period." A couple of tender kisses later, they were headed off towards the pool.
As they leisurely walked through the complex, Mike asked, "So, Melody Roberts, tell me all about yourself."
She giggled, responding, "Well, I grew up in Houston, mostly in orphanages. My birth parents abandoned me at the door of a fire station when I was just a baby. I tried to get adopted several times, but the system is really messed up. I also tried to stay away from foster homes, having heard way too many horror stories about them. Thankfully, I developed an artistic streak in middle school and high school, and was able to combine that with a great essay about my childhood to attend the University of Houston on scholarship. I have a bachelor degree in photography, and just moved here at the start of the year to try to start a new life from scratch."
"Photography? Nice," Mike nodded approvingly. "Have you done many jobs?"
"Just a few odd jobs here and there, haven't really hit my stride yet. I did create some web space to house a portfolio with samples of my work. Plenty to convince anyone that my background is legitimate."
"Cool. So, I guess we were attracted to each other online based on our mutual artistic interests?"
"Definitely," Melody responded. "I also really liked the fact that you had such a strong faith in God. Having the upbringing that I did, faith was in seriously short supply, but talking with you about the great things it had brought you in your life convinced me that I ought to check it out."
Her face slowly turned rather serious. "That, by the way, is completely true. It's clear to me how important your faith is in your life. Seeing the incredible person it's made you into, I want to be a part of that too."
Mike was floored. He had no clue where magical beings such as genies stood on religious matters, but he had learned long ago that, if anyone or anything expresses any interest in religion or God whatsoever, you find a way to nurture and encourage that feeling. Otherwise, you run the risk of pushing them completely away from the idea altogether.
He smiled. "Well you're in luck. Tomorrow, we'll go to my church. Oh, and one of my childhood friends is giving the sermon tomorrow, so I think you'll enjoy that quite a bit."
She beamed, wrapping her arm in his excitedly. "Sound's wonderful."
As they approached the pool area, the pair could tell that the sound system had been hooked up. Melody's eyes widened, and a huge smile slowly appeared on her face. "What is that?"
"That, my dear girl, is country music."
She paused momentarily, taking it all in. "I love it!"
As they entered the pool area, the party was in full swing, with both the kids and adults enjoying the sounds of Chris Janson's Buy Me a Boat. Tyler and his friends were in the pool, fully engrossed in a game of chicken. As Mike was about to go over and say hi, a squeal came from the area by the grill.
"MR. MIKE!!!"
Sandra's seven-year-old daughter, Sasha, ran up and tackled Mike full force before he even knew what was going on.
"Geez, Sasha! You're gonna turn into some kinda linebacker one day!" It was all Mike could do to keep from falling completely on his back. "How you doin', cutie? Working hard in school?"
Sasha nodded. "Yep! I got a check plus in reading this week. Oh! And we just had our big tap dancing recital yesterday!"
"That's right, your mother told me that was coming up. I'm really sorry I couldn't make it. I had a big performance of my own yesterday."
"That's ok, I bet we both did great!" As she smiled, it was clear Sasha was missing a few of her teeth.
"Mike! 'Bout time you showed up!" Sandra walked over from the grill area.
"Hi Sandra, great party you got going here."
"Thank you, dear. Now, forgive my being nosey, but I need to see this pretty thing I caught a glimpse of in your apartment," she said in a motherly tone.
Laughing, Mike made the introductions. "Melody, this is my neighbor, Sandra Johnson. Sandra, this is Melody Roberts, my… girlfriend." Mike hesitated momentarily. Even with their bond, the two of them hadn't formally decided on any titles for their relationship yet. However, his concerns were quickly alleviated.
Girlfriend. I love the sound of that, Melody thought in his head.
Sandra extended her hand. "Melody, a pleasure to meet you my dear."
Shaking her hand, Melody replied, "Likewise, Mrs. Johnson."
"Oh, honey please! It's Sandra. Mrs. Johnson just makes me feel old."
Melody giggled. "It shouldn't. How old are you? Thirty-two? Thirty-three?"
Stunned in flattery, she stammered, "Oh, no… thirty-eight actually."
"What?! No way! You've gotta be using some miracle product. What's your secret? Come on, what?" Melody may have laid it on a little thick, but Sandra was responding very positively as they chatted.
After a few minutes, Sandra turned to Mike. "We're actually just about to start the karaoke contest. Now, I happen to know for a fact that you know every last word of The Devil Went Down to Georgia. So I guess the only question is, how much blackmail is it gonna take to get you up to that microphone?"
Melody gasped in excitement. "Mike, you've got to do it!"
He tried his best to back out of it. Mike was never one for public shaming, which is what this would be considering his singing abilities. That was, after all, the reason he got into trumpet playing. Unfortunately, Sandra had a trump card he couldn't beat.
"Besides, Sasha wants to show you her dance moves from yesterday's recital. I bet the two of you would kill it up there."
Damn, this woman doesn't play fair!
Seeing the child's face light up in anticipation, Mike knew he couldn't say no. "Fine, fine, let's do it kid!"
They made their way up to the microphone hooked into the PA system, waiting for the intro to start. As the Charlie Daniels Band cranked through the loudspeakers, Sasha's feet turned into a blur. Sure enough, Mike hit every last one of the tongue twisting lyrics of the song, bringing cheers from the partiers as he finished the final chorus.
Once the song ended, Sasha ran excitedly back to her mother, while Melody went to grab Mike and her a couple of burgers. Cheese and ketchup on mine please, Mike thought to her.
Sure thing. I'm getting everything on mine, since it's my first burger and all.
Tyler was now out of the pool and made his way over to Mike, greeting him with his traditional fist bump. "What's up, Tyler? Happy birthday man!"
"What's wrong with you? No present? Man, that's just rude…" Tyler said sarcastically. "Well, I guess watching you make a damn fool of yourself up there was a pretty good gift."
Laughing, Mike shot back, "Watch your mouth, man. You know your mama would slap you silly if she caught you talkin' like that."
"True dat. She's scary." He nodded his head towards Melody. "That you're a new girlfriend?"
"Yep, that's her," Mike replied.
He chuckled. "Mom said she saw a girl when she stopped by your place earlier. If you ask me, this one's a BIG improvement over the last one."