Maybe You Never Cry Again by Bernie Mac

I called Geri instead; gave her another chance. She turned me down flat. Said she’d already asked her cousin. Then she hung up. Girl was mad.
    I got Rhonda’s number and phoned over. “Rhonda,” I said, “this is Bernie. Bernard Mac. Can I come by and talk?”
    â€œSure,” she said. She said it like it was the most natural thing in the world.
    I went over to her place.
    â€œYou know Geri broke up with me, right?” I said.
    â€œI know.”
    â€œWell,” I said, “prom’s next week, and I got no one to go with, and I thought maybe you’d like to go with me.”
    Rhonda didn’t say anything for a minute, then she shook her head. “I can’t go, Bernard,” she said. “I don’t have a dress.”
    Well, I guess her mother, Mary, was in the other room listenin’, because right quick she came out and said, “Honey, the dress is no problem. Don’t you worry about the dress. I’ll take care of the dress.”
    Rhonda looked at her mother, then she looked at me. What’s she gonna say now? No?
    And Mary said, “As long as you’re going to the prom, Rhonda, you ought to go to Bernard’s graduation, too. It’s this Saturday.”
    Rhonda looked at me and smiled. Her mama was in total control.
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    So Rhonda came to my graduation. Sat there with my grandparents, Lorraine and Thurman, and my aunt Evelyn. Everyone beamin’. Little spooky juice up there; boy made it.
    I wished my mother had been sitting there with them, and for a moment, I felt I might cry. But I held strong and the moment passed.
    When they called my name, I got up and strutted across the stage like a tough guy, big smile on my face, always the clown. But the truth is, I felt mighty good inside.
    Principal looked me in the eye, handed me my diploma, said, “You ought to be proud of yourself, Bernard.”
    And I said, “I am, sir.” I was, too. Real proud.
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    Rhonda wore a real pretty yellow gown to the prom, and I wore a tux with a yellow shirt to match the gown.
    When we walked through the door, guess who’s the first person we saw? That’s right: Geri. And boy, was she pissed. “Bernie Mac,” she said. “I knew all along you had your eye on Rhonda!”
    â€œYou’re wrong,” I said.
    But she wouldn’t hear it. She was furious. And that guy she was with didn’t look like no cousin I ever met!
    Then I’m thinking, Wait a minute. Why do I feel bad? I haven’t done anything wrong here. So I began to relax with Rhonda. And I had the best time ever. And she looked so pretty. She had her hair pulled back, tapered, sitting high on her head.
    I took that girl by the arm and led her out onto the dance floor, and brother—we danced. I was the best dancer out there. I ain’t lyin’. You should have seen me. The Bump. The Funky Chicken. The Four Corners. Me and Rhonda, we tore the place up. We tore it up so bad they’re still rebuilding.
    Later, during a break, I said to her, “Maybe I didn’t pay attention to you before, Rhonda, but I should’ve paid attention.” She was so sweet and pretty, but I hadn’t seen it because I was with someone else and I hadn’t allowed myself to see it.
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    After the prom, I took Rhonda to White Castle for burgers. And after that, we went and parked by the lake and watched the sun come up. I had never felt so comfortable with anyone in my life. It seemed like we’d been close forever.
    But when I got back to her house, there was hell to pay. Her father, Freddie, cussed me out somethin’ fierce: “You better not let daylight catch you with my daughter again, Bernard Mac, or you’ll be catching a bullet!”
    Even Aunt Evelyn was waitin’ up for me at home. “Where have you been all night, Bernie? You in trouble. You got that poor Rhonda in trouble, too.”
    I thought it was a little late for her