GI Joe and Ebony, An American Love Story (3 page)

“So,
what
’
s
the
problem?
”

“There
is
no
problem.
Who
said
there
was
a
problem?
”

“Oh
I
see,
Barbie
only
likes
to
play
with
the
black
GI
Joe.
She
doesn
’
t
like
the
white
GI
Joe.
”

“Oh
no
you
didn
’
t
just
take
it
there!
What
does
GI
Joe
’
s
skin
color
have
to
do
with
anything?
”

“It
shouldn
’
t
but
obviously
something
’
s
holding
you
back.
”

“Holding
me
back
from
what?
”
She
challenged.

“From
having
a
drink
with
me
when
I
’
m
done.
”
His
voice
softened
and
became
sincere.
“
I
like
you
Barbie
and
I
’
d
like
to
get
to
know
you
before
I
deploy
to
Saudi
Arabia.
”

“Okay,
the
fact
that
you
’
re
white
has
nothing
to
do
with
the
reason
that
I
don
’
t
want
to
go
out
with
you.
I
just
don
’
t
know
you.
This
is
all
too
coincidental
and
staged
for
me
to
feel
comfortable
going
anywhere
you.
”

“What
do
you
mean?
”

“I
come
out
and
my
tire
is
flat
and
you
just
show
up
out
of
nowhere
to
fix
it.
Now,
you
want
to
go
out
on
a
date
with
me?
I
don
’
t
think
so.
For
all
I
know
you
could
have
stabbed
my
tire
so
that
you
’
d
have
an
excuse
to
talk
to
me.
I
was
born
at
night,
but
it
wasn
’
t
last
night.
”

“Yeah
perhaps,
or
this
nail
you
ran
over
could
have
punctured
your
tire
and
made
it
flat.
And
God
sent
me
to
help
you
so
some
ghoul
doesn
’
t
try
to
crawl
in
your
pants.
”
GI
Joe
countered
as
he
held
up
a
giant
nail
which
he
pulled
out
of
Ebony
’
s
tire.

“That
was
in
my
tire?
”

“Yes
it
was
and
I
think
you
owe
me
an
apology.
”

“Okay,
I
apologize
and
I
appreciate
your
help,
but
I
’
m
still
not
going
out
with
you.
The
best
I
can
offer
is
to
be
your
friend
on
Facebook.
I
’
m
Ebony
4Life,
you
can
contact
me
there.

“So
if
you
knew
someone
who
knew
me
then
you
’
d
go
out
with
me?
”

“Yeah,
but
I
don
’
t.
So,
I
can
’
t.
So,
I
’
m
sorry
GI
Joe,
but
thanks
for
fixing
my
flat.
”
Ebony
coyly
crinkled
up
her
nose
as
if
to
say
sorry,
but
thanks
for
playing.

“Not
so
fast.
Hold
up
a
minute.
Don
’
t
give
up
so
easily.
I
think
I
have
a
solution
to
our
little
dilemma.
”
He
said
as
he
pulled
out
his
cell
and
made
a
call.
“
Hey
are
you
busy?
Can
you
come
outside
to
the
parking
lot
for
a
second?
Okay
thanks.
”

A
few
moments
later
the
owner
of
the
fitness
club
came
out
of
the
gym
and
scanned
the
parking
lot
for
someone.
GI
Joe
waved
her
over.

“Hey,
Ebony.
Is
everything
okay?
Oh
my
God,
did
you
have
a
flat
tire?
”
Sandy
asked.

“Yeah,
but
he
fixed
it
for
me.
Sandy
do
you
know
him?
”
Ebony
asked.

Sandy
snickered.
“
I
should
know
him.
He
’
s
my
son.
Isn
’
t
he
the
most
handsome
thing
you
’
ve
ever
seen?
I
can
’
t
believe
he
doesn
’
t
have
a
girlfriend.
”
She
said
as
she
hugged
him
tight
before
messing
up
his
hair.
“
He
’
s
a
good
man.
I
love
him
to
death.
I
don
’
t
know
what
I
’
d
do
without
him.
”

“You
have
no
argument
with
me
there.
”
Ebony
mumbled
as
she
found
herself
drowning
in
GI
Joe
’
s
crystal
blue
eyes
and
captivated
by
his
brilliant
smile.
“
So
GI
Joe,
when
would
you
like
to
have
that
drink?
”

A
broad
sexy
grin
magically
spread
across
GI
Joe
’
s
adorable
face.
“
How
about
tonight,
Barbie?
”

Ebony
agreed
to
drive
GI
Joe
’
s
late
model
Dodge
Charger
home
while
he
took
her
Toyota
Camry
to
the
tire
shop
to
have
her
tire
replaced.
Much
more
relaxed
after
she
found
out
that
he
was
Sandy
’
s
son,
it
didn
’
t
take
a
lot
to
convince
her
to
allow
him
to
meet
her
with
her
car
at
her
suburban
townhouse.
Besides,
Ebony
was
convinced
that
she
needed
all
the
time
that
she
could
get
to
prepare
for
her
date.