Chapter 19
Danisha felt horrible as the man had no choice but roll his window back down when his nose told him how awful she smelled.
His smile took a break, but he still managed to not miss a lyric to Otis Redding’s ‘A change gonna come.’ All of his words had a little whistle to it. Danisha smiled for a second as she faced the window.
“Percy.”
Danisha turned her head slowly to see what the man was talking about. She was confused because he was looking straight ahead. He spoke again, still looking straight ahead, “My name is Percy.”
“My name is Danisha.” Percy turned to look at Danisha and said, “Ummm that’s a tough one.”
Danisha smiled and said, “Can you say Dani?”
A little spit flew from his mouth as he said with excitement, “Yesh, that’s my cousin’s name on my Pa’s side of the family.”
Danisha smiled with her lips pressed together and nodded her head.
“I can take you home in the morning, I can’t hardly see at night baby.”
Danisha said, “Okay, thank you.”
~~
The little chubby guy at the window shook his head as he looked at the screen. “Well sir, it not sold out, but there are not two seat side by side that’s the problem.
“Sorry we are late baby.”
“It’s not your fault, you had to handle that situation, I’m not upset at all. We can just go to the next show. I can’t wait to see this movie. Will Smith was trippin but he still an awesome actor!”
“Yeah, I can’t wait to see it either. JT looked at the chubby little guy and said, “Let me get two tickets please.”
The boy took a deep breath and said, “I told you sir that I don’t have two seats together.”
“I understand, two tickets please.”
Tina leaned into the window and said, “Are the previews still playing?”
The little boy said, “Yes ma’am, for about six more minutes.”
The boy slid the tickets under the glass and JT said, “Thank you bro. Keep the change.”
The little boy bounced in his seat when he saw the two hundred-dollar bills.
JT and Tina walked briskly to the concession stand, the line was long.
JT walked to the counter and said, “I just need a xtra large popcorn and two large diet Pepsi’s. For cutting the line, I’m paying for everyone that is out here. Sorry guys, get whatever you want.” The crowd cheered. JT looked around and then reached into his pocket and handed the girl at the counter five thousand dollars.
The lady smiled brightly and handed JT and Tina their items. Tina said, “Thank you ma’am, split the change with all the other workers please.”
The lady shook her head quickly and said, “Yes ma’am I will.”
JT and Tina scooted past people as if their seats where going to magically appear. People looked to their right with aggravation to see where they were going.
JT stopped in front of the couple that sat in the seat he and Tina wanted and said, “Excuse me, can I pay your for these seats, I’ll make it worth your while?”
The man frowned his face up and said, “Hell nah, get the hell outta my face. You should have gotten here on time like the rest of us.” A few others laughed.
The couple behind the couple that JT asked said, “Y’all can have our seats if you are paying extra, we got here early but we spent our last to be here.” The couple looked at each other and laughed with each other.
JT smiled and said, “Cool you can have our tickets, they aren’t together though.”
The people that JT was standing in front of said, “Can you sit the hell down bro?”
JT ignored the guy and said, “We are paying extra.” JT looked over at Tina. She reached down in her bag and pulled out a strap of one hundred-dollar bills and handed it to the woman.
Tina said, “Thank y’all for moving. I only have that $10,000 on me. If you need more, here is my card just give me a call.”
Just as the last preview was ending the lights in the theatre came up and the screen shut off.
The manager had run back the tape once he got wind of what happened at the concession stand and recognized JT and Tina.
“Mr. and Mrs. Fisher is everything okay? Do you need anyone to be moved or anything? It was so dark in the theatre that no one recognized them. Everyone looked and their anger changed into amazement and admiration.
One college kid said to his homeboy, “I guess they paid them ten bands for no reason.”
His friend said, “Shut the hell up bro. I see you still don’t know who they are.”
Chapter 20
“What’s up son?” Tina smiled when she heard her baby’s voice come through the speakers of the car. “What’s up pops, hey mama.”
Tina said, “Hey son.”
Taj said, “Ayye Pop, baby girl hired a girl, she died, she has a daughter. The daughter is missing or she ran away. Baby girl wanna know if she alright.”
Taj stopped abruptly and said, “My bad pop, are y’all busy?”
JT’s eyebrows were bent downward as he thought and processed what he just heard and said, “Your mom and I are just headed to the movies.”
Taj shook his head and said, “Y’all kill me with that. You going to a regular theatre too right?”
JT smiled and said, “You already know. I like to be around the people.”
Taj said, “I swear y’all are the richest poor people in the world. The last time I was in a theatre like where y’all going I was with this one girl that I didn’t want to know where I lived. I bought the theatre out because I can’t stand to hear nobody talking during the movie and she talked my da- I’m sorry mama, my dag gone head off. The sound in there was terrible. The popcorn was stale, the soda was flat, even the candy tasted old.
Tina rolled her eyes, chuckled and said, “You just bougie son, I bet most of that stuff is just in your head.”
“Naw ma! You know I take my movies serious!”
Tina said, “Oh I know, Miguel told your father and I that you spent a million on your theatre room alone.”
“Yes ma’am and most of the time I’m in there by myself too.”
JT said, “Hold on son.”
JT clicked over and said, “What’s up Paul, did Rachael ever learn how to make gumbo the way you like it?”
“Hell nah, her jank trash.” Paul voice changed and JT laughed as he heard Paul say, “What baby? I’m taking to JT. Huh, yes everything is okay. Okay.”
Tina chimed in and said, “You better watch your mouth around there Paul.”
Paul turned his attention back to the phone and said, “Oh hey Tina.” Paul began to whisper and said, “She know she can’ t cook. We have chefs for a reason.”
JT said, “We about to check out that Will Smith jank in a minute.”
“Oh yeah, it’s super good. Wait, you ain’t seen it yet? I sent it to your phone about a month ago.”
“I know, but you know I like seeing certain movies with the people. I love the energy in the room.”
Tina interjected, “He like ‘hood energy’ Paul.”
Paul laughed and said, “So I bet y’all at the movie theatre on the east side huh?”
Tina said, “You already know.”
JT said, “We about to be late if y’all keep talking about me like I’m not here. What’s up Paul, you got my text.”
Paul pulled his face away from the phone and said, “Rach baby, what’s the name of that town again?”
Chapter 21
Danisha walked slowly into Percy’s house and smelled pork and beans. She looked around and everything was in it’s proper place. Danisha frowned her face up at the big black thing that was sitting in the middle of Percy’s living room. There was pot sitting on top of it and she imagined that the pork and beans was inside of it.
She soon figured out that it was some type of heater. There was a couch, two wooden rocking chairs, a table to eat at with two chairs under it and what looked like a box sitting on a little table in front of the couch.
“You want some milk or something, I just got it yesterday?”
Danisha’s heart began to beat really quickly. Her vision had become blurry. Her blood sugar was spiking.
“I drank too much orange juice,” she thought out loud.
She just collapsed where she stood covering her eyes with her hands. She had been to the hospital many times and she knew that another trip was on the way in an hour or two. She wondered if there was even a hospital nearby, she wondered if he would take her, she cried because her mother couldn’t take her.
Percy looked at Danisha crying and shrugged his shoulders. He walked slowly towards her and then past her. He grabbed a throw off of the back of the small couch that sat in the middle of his living room. He took the small blanket, unfolded it and placed it over her curled-up body. He walked over to the what Danisha thought was a box of some sort and turned it on.
“Perry Mason, my man!”
Percy sat down and then popped right back up, “Almost forgot about my beans.”
~~
“Do you have your phone with you?”
“Yes ma’am, I do.”
Tanai tapped her phone against Sabrina’s and said, “Give me a call in about-“ She paused to look at her brother. Taj held up one finger.
Tanai turned back to Sabrina and said, “One hour. We need to leave before this lets out.”
Bobby leaned over and said, “Why are you calling that young girl ma’am?”
Sabrina sat back and looked straight ahead as the preacher preached his face off and said, “Oh, I see you don’t know who she is.”
~~
“Hey son, thanks for holding. Paul said the little girl is in a small town called Dillon. He said that she is with a man name Percy. Nothing to worry about concerning him. The man is loved by everyone in the town.
He is a modest man that sells vegetables for a living. He hasn’t had any interactions with the law, not even a speeding ticket.”
Taj looked over at Tanai and nodded his head. Tanai seemed to be cool with what she heard. Taj said, “Thanks pop, we good.”
JT said, “Oh, one more thing. Paul just texted me to ask if I wanted him to send some insulin to the house. Either of you know what that mean?”
Tanai said, “The girl must be diabetic. I’m sure she has what she needs. If not, maybe she will come back home. Tell him that is not necessary. I don’t want to intervene with her plans. Whatever they happen to be.
JT said, “Okay, love y’all.”
They both responded, “Love y’all too.” Tanai said, “Oh, mama you still going with me to B2’s play recital tomorrow?”
Tina pressed her lips together after applying her lipstick and said, “Of course, he is the best piano player I have ever heard.”
JT said, “Brian’s son is that nice.”
Tina looked at her husband and said, “Me and your father will be there baby. Love y’all. We will call you after this movie if it hasn’t started yet.”
Taj said, “You want me to call them and tell them to wait for y’all?”
JT smiled and said, “Not necessary son, we gonna make it.”
Chapter 22
JT looked at the theatre manager and said, “We good brother, thank you though. Be sure to get everyone here a hundred-dollar gift card when they leave.”
JT turned to everyone and held his hand in the air as he said, “I’m sorry about all of this guys.” Everyone clapped and there were a chorus of “No problems and thank you’s” filled the theatre.
Tina scanned the room, pointed and said, “You two right there. Do you mind sliding over one seat so our friends can sit beside each other?”
The two girls got up instantly. Tina smiled, “Thank you so much. She turned to the manager and said, “Please make sure they get two gift cards a piece.”
The manager nodded his head as he said, “Yes ma’am. Of course.”
JT took a deep breath clapped his hands together one time and said, “Let’s cut these lights and get to this movie.”
Everyone screamed, “Let’s get it!” The couple that was sitting in front of JT and Tina now that had turned down their initial offer turned and apologized for how they acted minutes ago.
Tina smiled and said, “Oh no, you guys are fine. What my husband asked y’all was ridiculous.”
“Yes ma’am but I didn’t have to be nasty about it though.”
Tina said, “Now you are right about that part. Everything worked out the way it should have though. Enjoy the movie.”
~~
Danisha remembered all the times she had the insulin she needed at her disposal and decided not to use it. She shook her head weakly thinking about what she would do for some right now.
She felt her eyes roll to the back of her head, she rolled them back. Her breathing became intense, she felt her body begin to jump and shake. She didn’t remember closing her eyes, she couldn’t see anything.
She could no longer smell the beans. There was a fresh smell that made her smile. She turned her head. “Hey Ma!”
“Hey baby.”
“I miss you so much momma. People just don’t understand how I feel right now. I’m glad you back.”
“I’m not back baby.”
“What you mean, you right there, I’m right here.”
“Yes, but I’m not back where you where, you are where I am.”
“Huh, so I’m dead too.”
“You will be in a few more seconds.”
“Oh, that’s fine with me, I couldn’t wait to be back with you.”
Fallon smiled, “I know baby. Give me your hand. I can’t wait to show you around.”
Danisha smiled and extended her hand towards her mother’s hand and in a blink of an eye, she saw her mother snatch her hand back.
Chapter 23
“So the young girl said that she is safe?”
“Yes. I feel so much better.”
Bobby looked off into the distance as he thought of the best way to say what he wanted to say?”
He tilted his head from side to side slowly and closed his eyes and said calmly, “Brina, you believe what that young girl is saying? Im not trying to be funny or anything, but why? I mean the police haven’t even gone out or anything.”
Sabrina sat on her couch and sipped on her wine. She looked over at Bobby over her glass as her lips were still pressed on its rim.
She nodded her head slowly. “The young girl is Tanai Fisher.”
Bobby still looked as if that didn’t mean anything to him.
Sabrina nodded her head and said, “So you don’t know her by name either?”
Bobby’s eyebrows were bent down as he shook his head no.
“Tanai Fisher is the daughter of James and Tina Fisher.” Bobby’s eyebrows raised as his face lightened up a little.
Bobby began to chuckle. Sabrina said, “You feel it now?”
Bobby threw his head back as he laughed a little louder and said, “Wheeeeeew!”
He lowered his head and looked at Sabrina with his mouth wide open as he silently said, “Wooow.”
He shook his head and said, “It so crazy that now I can smell her. She smelled like money. I thought she smelled attractive, but I’m not attracted to young girls so I was confused until now. That girl is powerful.”
Sabrina nodded her head and said, “Yes sir ree bob.”
Bobby said, “You know years ago I heard some guys talking at the barbershop. Some of the shop believed what they were saying while others see it as a fairy tale. I believe it.”
Sabrina sipped her wine as Bobby sipped on his cognac. She looked at him and raised her eyebrows to say, “Believe what?”
Bobby winced a little from the liquor burning in his chest and said, “What they were saying was that there is a man that runs the whole world. They said he can find out anything and can see whatever he wants to see. They say he makes decisions that most people could never make.”
“Wow, like what?”
“Like who dies and who lives in certain situations. Like for example he knew that the World Trade Center massacre was going to happen.”
“So why didn’t he stop it Bobby?”
“Who knows? He has to decide if there is a greater good somewhere even in tragedies.”
“So, you think that she knows him. You know, the powerful guy?”
“If she doesn’t, her father knows him for sure.”
Chapter 24
“You are one lucky lady.” The waitress looked at the woman that sat alone in the five-star restaurant and admired her. She continued, “The man that owns this establishment thinks that you are beautiful, and he told me to tell you that everything you want is on him inside or outside the restaurant.”
The woman smiled and said, “Tell him that I said thank you very much, but I got it.”
The waitress smirked and said, “I don’t think you understand what’s happening here. I’ve worked here for five years and I have never seen him do anything like this. This man is millionaire, he is a good man. He has never tried to take advantage of any of his staff, I’ve never seen him be disrespectful to anyone.
I’m not trying to be in your business, but I don’t want you to miss out on a potential blessing.”
“Thank you, but I’m already blessed. Let him know that I am happily married.”
The waitress shook her head and said, “I am too, but I would have to at least meet the man.”
“I understand, but that’s you. I’m good.”
The waitress seemed so disappointed. She said, “Okay, I’ll tell him.”
“Thank you.”
The waitress walked back over and handed the woman an envelope. Inside the envelope was a note and 10,000 dollars. Sorry for bothering you. Please take this money and enjoy it with your husband.”
The woman smiled as her food reached the table as she finished reading the note. She sat the envelope down and enjoyed her meal. She engaged in small talk with the waitress and eventually heard the issues she had with her marriage seep out of the cracks of her conversation.
The waitress sat down and said, “I really feel like the owner is trying to not be so reserved going forward. I heard that he never got to tell his accountant how he felt about her before she suddenly died in a car crash. I think from now on he is throwing caution to the wind and going for it because he knows that life is short.”
The woman raised her eyebrows and nodded her head.
The waitress said, “I apologize for my attitude earlier. I put myself in your shoes without knowing what size you wear. I just know he could change my life and I wanted that for you not knowing if you needed any change. I’m sorry sis.”
“Oh, I understand. You good.”
The waitress said, “You are so pretty, why are you here alone? I know that you have so many people that want to be around you all of the time.”
“I like spending time alone. I like watching people, listening to people, it helps me honestly appreciate and evaluate where I am in life.”
The waitress said, “I see, like how you could have met a millionaire versus talking to a waitress. You have two extremes there. Someone above you and someone below you.”
The woman said, “You saying that because of money. I’ve met people with no money that are richer than millionaires. I never judge the quality of a person based on how much money they have.”
The waitress nodded her head, “I understand. Wow. I’m glad I met you. Thank you for that.”
The woman smiled and said, “You’re welcome. Can you bring me the check please?”
“Yes ma’am.”
The waitress watched the woman write on the note. She also saw the woman place the $10,000 inside the leather bill fold. The woman smiled as she stood, straightened up her dress and said, “Keep the change beautiful.”
The waitress couldn’t help but be nosey. She had to read what the woman who gave away $10,000 wrote.
‘Thank you, sir, for your generosity. You will soon find what you seek, just continue to follow your heart.
The food was delectable,
Persia Jones.”
Chapter 25
Danisha blinked her eyes rapidly. She began to see things and realized that she was on the floor. She felt really good, but she was hungry. She smelled bacon. Bacon wasn’t her favorite, but it smelled so good right now that she slowly sat up to see Percy standing over the furnace.
Percy turned his head and smiled, “Wheeew, good it worked.”
Danisha asked groggily, “What worked?”
“My needle, I poked it in your booty scheek. That’s were the mosh meat wasch at.” He turned to move the bacon around on his skillet.
Danisha’s hand automatically went to her butt where she could now feel where she had been injected with something.
Danisha frowned her face up and said, “What did you poke me for?”
“Looked like you were sick.”
A little fear jolted her as she said,“What was in the needle?”
“Inshulin! That’s the only medicine I got around here. Figured it was better than nothing.”
“Wow, you could have killed me.”
“You wasch dying anyway. You got the sugar?”
Years ago, Danisha heard her grandmother refer to diabetes as sugar so she said, “Yes sir, I do.”
Percy smiled and said, “Me too.”
“Thank you, Mr. Percy. I felt like I was dying for real.”
“You welcome shweetheart.”
Percy put on his coat and stepped outside and walked back in shaking his head. “I knew it was cold, but I didn’t know it was that cold last night. Everything dead.”
Danisha raised her eyebrows and said, “People died?”
“Maybe somewhere, but I’m talking about my crops. The things I shell to people.”
“So what you gonna sell them now?”
“Nothing.”
“What you gonna do for money now?”
“Dunno right now. I got food to last me a while. You ready to go home yet?”
“No sir, I wanted to stay here for a while.”
Percy smiled wide and said, “Okay, wouldn’t mind the company.”
“Can I use a phone?”
“Shure.” Percy reached into his pocket and pulled out his little flip phone and handed it to Danisha.
Danisha only knew one phone number by heart and decided to dial it even though it didn’t make any sense to do so.
She listened to it ring a few times and hoped to hear her mother’s voicemail message.
“Hello.”
“Ummm, hello,” Danisha said hesitantly.
“DANI” Sabrina yelled.
“Yes.”
“Dani girl, it me Auntie Sabrina!”
“Hey auntie.” Danisha smiled.
“Where are you? Are you okay? I can come and get you right now. Hold on, let me get my keys.”
Danisha shook her head as if Sabrina could see her and said, “No no no ma’am. I’m okay. I need some time away from everyone. I don’t know how to feel right now and where I am, I don’t have to answer any questions. I’ll call you back in a few days. Let Mr. Bobby know I’m okay.”
“Okay baby, you sure you okay?”
Danisha heard the question and wanted to say, “see what I mean?” She didn’t say anything though. Sabrina realized her mistake and apologized.
Danisha said, “It’s okay and Aunt Sabrina can you do me a favor?”
“Anything baby girl. Yes I can.”
Danisha smiled and said, “Give Mr. Bobby a chance. He used to always tell mama how pretty he thought you were.”
Sabrina’s mouth fell open and she wanted to ask a few questions but Danisha had already hung up the phone.
Chapter 26
Danisha looked at the dress she found in the closet and how well it fit her as she sat in the passenger seat of Percy’s little truck.
She smiled at his wool suit jacket that didn’t match the trousers he wore with it. His white socks were really white peeking above his brown hush puppy shoes.
She loved his brown brim hat and how effortlessly he tied his tie. He looked nice. Danisha even smiled at the pleasant scent of the after shave he splashed on his face after shaving all the little gray stubble hairs from his cheeks and chin.
Percy was a handsome little man she thought.
“I’m glad that you are coming with me and I’m glad that you liked the dress.”
Danisha smoothed it out and said, “It’s really nice. Your nieces have really good taste. I can’t believe that I can even fit the shoes.”
“Yesh, them girls are into them clothes. Whenever they spent the night, they bought complete outfits.”
“I see. When was the last time you saw them?”
“It’s been a while. When my schister died, I kinda took it hard. I schtopped answering the phone and everything. They used to schtop by and knock on the door. I didn’t answher doe.”
Danisha frowned up her face but didn’t say anything.
She looked over at Percy and saw his eyes looking heavy. He looked like he was falling asleep so she started talking.
“You look nice Mr. Percy, how far we gotta go?”
Percy’s eyes popped open wide as he adjusted himself in his seat and said, “Thank you little lady. We got about an hour left.”
“What you gonna say to them after all of this time?”
“I don’t think I’m gonna shay anything yet. I’m just gonna schit in the back, see my little man and leave before it’s over.”
Danisha’s eyes bucked open and she said, “You gonna do what in back?”
“Schit in the back.”
Danisha tilted her head and figured it out without asking again and giggled to herself.
Percy looked at Danisha and then back at the road and said, “What’s funny?”
“Nothing. If you not ready to talk, you shouldn’t force it.”
Percy smiled feeling good that someone agreed with his decision.
Danisha did her best to keep the conversation going but she felt her own eyes getting heavy.
Danisha’s eyes popped open at the sound of a horn being leaned into. All of a sudden she saw Percy’s door fly open and some man pulled him out of the car screaming. “What the hell is wrong with you old man?”
The guy punched Percy in the face so hard that he would have lost a couple of teeth if they weren’t already missing.
Danisha jumped out of the truck and slammed her body into the guys. He barely moved. He grinned at Danisha and smacked her to the ground.
Percy shook his head as he opened his eyes and saw Danisha on the ground. Tears fell from his eyes. He tried to get up quickly but the dizziness caused him to fall back down.
Danisha touched her lip, it was swollen. “Blood tastes like salt,” she said.
“I’m schorry baby. I fell asleep.”
The car with the two guys squealed off as the passenger yelled out of the window, “Stop holding up traffic.”
Danisha said, “I did too. It’s not your fault, they are crazy. You sure you don’t know them from somewhere else?”
“Honestly, I didn’t even schee who it was.”
Chapter 27
“Ayee Keesh, please let son son button up his own shirt baby. He can do it.”
Keisha pulled her hands away from the buttons. She felt like crying. She hated to see her son struggle with anything. Little Brian smiled as he poked his bottom lip out and looked down at the buttons as best he could.
He lined up a button and a slit but one was higher than the other. He got the button in the hole and his world seemed to light up. Keisha smiled and clapped and verbally praised him.
Little Brian looked back down to find the next button. Keisha looked at her husband with the puppy dog eyes. Brian smiled and nodded his head. He mouthed the words, “It’s okay.”
Little Brian successfully fastened two more buttons. Keisha wanted to scream. She forced a smile onto her face and clapped each time. Little Brian ran over to the full-length mirror. He smiled and held his hands out to the sides, “Taaaadaaah!”
Keisha fell on the couch laughing after her husband said, “That boy look dumb as hell but there is no way we are unbuttoning this moment.”
~~
Mark did his and Little Brian’s elaborate 12 step handshake that ended with a tight hug. He held him out at arm’s length by the shoulders and said, “You look, ummmm, interesting B2.”
“Thank you, did it myself.”
Mark raised his eyebrows and tiltled his head back slowly and said, “Oooooooooh, I see. Good job bro. We gotta little work to do, but great job.”
B2 frowned at the first part of Mark’s sentenced but beamed at the second part.
Sheree gently yet swiftly tapped Mark on the head and rolled her eyes.
Mark ignored her. Mark and Sheree’s daughter, Journey walked up and said, “Your shirt is wrong B, you look crazy.”
Journey unbuttoned it and buttoned it up correctly. Brian looked at Keisha. Keisha shook her head and punched Brian in the arm when B2 said, “Glad you said something Journey. Momma and nem was about to let me go on stage looking like a retard.”
Brian said, “Shut up boy, you the one that did that dumb mess.”
B2 fell to the floor laughing, “I thought I did it right too!”
Mark walked up to Brian and said, “That boy of yours is a fool.”
“Who you telling, My dad said that half of his brain is past genius level while the other half is like a toddler.”
“Speaking of Mr. Washington, where he at. Is he in surgery?”
Everyone looked up to the ceiling. The sound of a helicopter made everyone say at the same time, “No! He on the way in now.”
Chapter 28
“I really like that dress and those shoes.”
Danisha looked back and her heart almost stopped. She really didn’t know how to describe how she felt at the moment. Her body began to tingle and all of sudden she felt embarrassed. She clinched her legs together and hoped he didn’t see her do it.
She looked around as she held the bag of ice. She wished she could sit on it right now.
He said to her, “Is that all you want? You can get whatever you want out of here, I got you.”
Danisha looked around and thought of all the things she needed for house. She thought about it and said, “No thank you. The ice is good.” Danisha walked towards the door and saw the guys from the stop sign and turned around and said, “So you saying I can get anything?”
“Yes, anything is cool. It was nice meeting you.”
The guy looked at the clerk and said, “These 2 hunnits, for you. These for whatever she picks up and give her the change please.”
The guy behind the register said,
“You serious bro?”
“So serious. Be blessed.”
~~
“You sat in here the whole time Rah was in the store and now all of a sudden you gotta pee. Hurry up Syd.”
Syd looked at Jamaal and said, “Shut up.”
Big Tim cried laughing at how sharply she said shut up whenever she said it.
He loved their relationship. Neither of them took the other person seriously yet their love for each other was very serious.
Sydney got out of the truck with the custom red wrap around dress, she left her red designer six-inch heels in the truck and slid her feet in some yeezy slides. Her afro was crinkled, each coil of her hair was perfect.
Her hair was parted on the side, the diamonds in her gold Africa shaped earrings shimmered along with the diamond bracelet that was made of Nefertiti heads, black lives matter fists, and oinks. She had a wooden necklace that was trimmed in 24karat gold and diamonds also in the shape of an oink!
Her dressed jumped in the back when she walked.
“A blind man can see what you holding under that dress mama. Goooooot Daaaaaamn!”
Sydney smiled and said, “Yeah, it’s like that too.”
Jamaal looked at his phone as he worked on a project for one of his companies. Big Tim said, “Syd got these dudes out here going crazy like always.”
Sydney’s skin was sensitive and she could only wear cocoa butter for fragrance. It seemed to jump from her skin in a special way somehow. Dude said, “And I bet that box smell good too.”
Dude reached to grab Sydney’s arm and all of a sudden his face was smashed by the adjoining door of the store. He took some steps backwards holding his nose. His homeboy jumped out of the car.
Jamaal looked up and swiped his camera up and started recording.
~~
Sydney looked at Danisha and said, “Oh you are so cute, You dress just like my sisters.”
Danisha said, “Oh no, they gonna hurt him!”
Sydney turned around to see what Danisha was talking about and said, “You know them guys.”
“No, but they hurt me and my friend earlier.”
Sydney took a closer look at Danisha and said, “Oh well, you should come outside with me then.”
Chapter 29
“There is momma and pops right there. They were smart and got Captain Nick to drop them off.”
Taj looked over and saw what Persia was talking about, so he smiled and added, “Little sis and her girls getting out of the limo too.”
Persia said, “Man, your mama and sister be so fly all the time!”
Taj beamed with pride and said, “Yes they do.” He leaned up to look up past where his roof was blocking his view and said, “This jank sold out?”
Persia looked on her phone as she said, “Yes sir it is.”
Taj said, “All these people here to see the little homie play the piano?”
“10,000 people are here to hear him play babe. He is awesome.” Persia clicked on a video and explained what she saw to Taj.
“He plays and there are people dancing and acting on stage with him. This is beautiful Taj.”
“Wow, can’t wait to see it then. I honestly thought we were coming to see little Brian play chopsticks or something on the piano.”
“Nah bae, B2 is a big deal. This article says that he could sell out all over the country multiple times a week, but his parents don’t want him to burn out.”
“Wow.”
“It says that this concert sold out in minutes.”
Taj started laughing so Persia immediately scanned the area to see what he could be laughing at and laughed along with him when she saw Mark and Sheree’s daughter, Journey with some shades on as she walked up in her little diva fashion.”
Persia said, “I love that girl, she is hilarious.”
“Yes she is, she reminds me of myself. The girl says whatever is on her mind.”
“The crazy thing though Taj is that she isn’t disrespectful. Everything she says seems to be so well thought out.”
“Yeah, I noticed that too. The girl is so smart. She know more about real estate than her dad I believe.”
Persia said, “And that’s saying a lot. He owns just about every property on earth doesn’t he?”
“Yeah, except the ones we own.”
“I know that’s right baby!”
Taj pulled out his phone and said, “Them boys ain’t here yet. Look like they playing at a convenience store. They need to hurry up and get here.”
“Well baby you already know that Keisha won’t let B2 play a single note until his favorite uncle gets here.”
“That’s a fact.”
~~
“I heard this little boy is off the chain.”
Sabrina looked at the line that was wrapped around the building and said, “I heard the same thing. How in the world did you get tickets?”
Bobby smiled and said, “One of my drivers delivered a package to the little boy’s mother and she gave him four tickets. He then called me to see if I wanted two of them. I thought of you immediately. I thought it would be nice to do something different. I’m happy you accepted the invitation.”
“Thank you for thinking of me. Honestly, I’d go with you anywhere.”
Bobby looked over at Sabrina and smirked, “Is that right?”
“Well we will be doing something every week then.”
Sabrina smiled slyly and said, “Promise?”
“Whatever I ever tell you will be done as if my life depends on it. I want you to believe in me, trust me, count on me. I will not let you down.”
Sabrina felt tears well up in her eyes. She wanted to say so much about that’s all she ever wanted or needed from a man, but simply said, “Thank you.”
“You welcome. Sorry about this line. I don’t have a way around that like them up there.”
“It’s fine Bobby, this night is already better than I ever imagined it could be line or no line. I wonder who those people are though.”
“It has to be your people, the Fisher’s and them. They the only ones I could see being able to park in the front and walk straight in spot.”
“I think that is them now that you say that.”
Chapter 30
“Nooooooo!” Rah turned his head at the sound of the yell. He looked and saw the young girl from inside the store standing beside Sydney. He frowned his face up as she saw her face filled with terror. Rah moved his head forward as the guy from the car swung with all of his might trying to knock Rah’s head off of his shoulders.
Rah calmly said, “Are you okay shawty?” Danisha nodded her head vigorously.
Rah smiled and said, “Cool. Are these the guys that hurt you?”
Danisha eyes opened wide. She was scared to say anything. She was also shocked that he asked her that. She was sure that she hadn’t told him that anyone had hurt her.
Danisha’s hand automatically touched her face without her permission. She turned and looked at Sydney in disbelief and fear. Sydney placed her hand on Danisha’s shoulder and said, “It’s okay, he knows, you are safe.”
Danisha turned to Rah and said, “Yes, that’s them.”
The guy was headed back towards Rah by this time. The first guy had taken off his shirt and had it pressed against his nose. He threw it to the side and made his way towards Rah as well.
As the guy that missed hitting Rah the first time drew his fist back to throw another blow, he got punched in the face so quickly he didn’t understand why he was flying backwards.
The guy with the broken nose walked up with his fist covering his face as a fighter should. Rah slowy lifted his hand. This slow movement made the guy pause for a second as he tried to figure out what Rah was doing. Rah slowly reached for the guys face.
Before the guy could slap Rah’s hand away, Rah grabbed his broken nose and yanked it from side to side. Tears streamed from the guy’s eyes as he fell to his knees in pain.
Rah turned around and said, “Which one of these guys hit you?” Danisha’s eyes bounced back and forth as she tried to remember.
Rah said, “It’s okay baby, it doesn’t matter. The one guy came back towards Rah after he shook off the punch he had just received. He swung violently at Rah as Rah ducked and punched dude through his ribs. His bones poking into his lungs caused him to cough out gobs of blood. As he was bending over spitting out the blood, Rah used his elbow to uppercut the guy which crushed the guy’s eye socket.
Rah looked at Danisha’s face and walked back over to the guy with the broken nose and grabbed his ankle. Rah held his foot as he stepped down through the guys knee as he screamed out in so much pain that he nearly fainted.
Jamaal said, “That boy Rah must be upset about something else.”
Big Tim said, “It got something to do with that little girl right there. He not done.”
Rah turned to Sydney and said, “Did you use the bathroom yet? Go ahead and go, we about to be late.”
Sydney turned and did as she was asked of her from her big brother. Rah then said, “Can you remember which one busted your lip?”
Danisha didn’t say anything. She pointed to the guy with the broken leg. Rah nodded his head and walked over to guy that was now crying and pain. He grabbed the guy’s bottom lip paused and said, “What were you thinking? That’s a little girl. Rah then ripped the guy’s bottom lip from his jaw and tossed it to the guy’s friend and said, “Hold that for your boy.” It fell to his feet. He never saw it coming.
Chapter 31
Keisha looked up from her phone and said, “B2, Ricky said do what you do. He can’t make it because he thinks Emani has the flu.”
“Let’s go check on her. She needs some soup.”
Little Brian walked over and grabbed his coat. Sheree said, “We will go straight there after your show. Uncle Ricky got her for now. There are thousands of people here to hear you play.”
“I don’t know them.”
Sheree smiled and said, “I know, but they love what you do. You will make them smile.”
Little Brian smiled at the thought, tossed his coat back on the hook and said, “Okay, smiling is good. I’m ready.”
He began walking on stage. The crowd erupted. The dancers snapped their heads around and fear jumped over them. They knew that little Brian didn’t play about them being where they were supposed to be. Keisha knew they would be shook up so she waved them off as she grabbed Little Brian waved to the crowd and pulled him back to the side of the stage.
“We gotta wait a few more minutes. Uncle Rah Rah isn’t here yet.”
Little Brian nodded his head and said, “Journey, bet you can’t beat me in tic tac toe.”
Journey jumped up so fast from her seat and said, “Bet!”
~~
Ricky walked in the bedroom and said, “Lights purple and turn on sound system. Rainstorm!”
Kiana looked at her husband and said, “How is baby girl?”
“She good, why are you talking?”
“I’m sorry.”
Ricky seemed to look at his wife as if he hated her. She lowered her eyes as she sat naked on a cylinder that protruded from the wall. It looked like a complete roll of paper towels. Her legs were open and secured with leather shackles. Her arms were spread open and also secured with firm neoprene straps. She was a beautiful letter X to Ricky. He admired her breast and how they still seemed to look at him in the eyes even after the baby. As she stood stretched out he saw four of her abs. He was proud of how hard she worked making her body look the way she wanted it to look.
Her thighs had a little cellulite that she hated, but Ricky loved. He placed his guns on the night stand and pulled his shirt off as he walked towards her. His chest was firm and his arms were sculpted yet he had a round solid stomach that he didn’t care to lose.
Kiana always told him that he was beautiful and that worked for him because he loved to eat. Ricky walked and pressed a button in the middle of the cylinder and this cause the cylinder to vibrate.
This tickled Kiana and made her smile. A gentle yet firm slap wiped her smile away. “I’m sorry,” she said.
Ricky pressed the center button two more times which made Kiana grit her teeth because laughing wasn’t an option at the moment.
He stared at her. Her body trembled, her stomach tensed up. He cut the cylinder off. Her body fell as limp as the straps would allow. Her eyes were closed and her head hung down. He placed clips on the tips of her mounds. She snapped her head up and her approval began to drip onto the floor.
Ricky looked down and said, “Your nasty ass done made a mess.” He grabbed this little leather stick that had what looked like a little hand on the end of it and used it to slap across her mounds. Each slap made more happiness fall. He turned the cylinder back on and Kiana looked like she was being electrocuted.
Ricky grabbed her hair as happiness was now everywhere. Her body allowed her to see fireworks over and over and over again. He tilted her head with the grip of hair that he had and kissed his wife deeply. She criss crossed her tongue with his as best she could doing her best to keep from passing out. She could barely breathe.
He unbuckled his pants. The sound of that caused another splash
Ricky turned his head quickly. He undid his wife’s arms. He grabbed both sides of her face and kissed her forehead. He walked over, buckled his pants back up and put his guns back into his back. He placed his shirt back on, and said, “Stop raining.” He opened the bedroom door.
“Daddy, I just threw up in my bed.”
“Come on baby it’s okay, you and your mama nasty.”
Chapter 32
“This the last one B2.” Keisha looked at her son. He and Journey had played about 30 games of tic tac toe. The talley was 15 to 15. Brian said, “This the tie breaker son. I keep telling you that it really comes does to who goes first.”
Little Brian looked up and saw Rah walk in the door and the game didn’t matter anymore. “Uncle Rah Rah!” Everyone smiled because everyone in that room felt like doing the same thing whenever they saw him.
Little Brian ran and jumped in his arms. Rah hugged him tightly. “You ready to Rock my man?”
“I don’t have any rocks uncle Rah Rah?”
Rah smiled and said, “I mean you ready to make everyone smile?”
“Yes I am.” Little Brian jumped out of Rah’s arms and headed for the stage. Keisha pointed to the stage director and rolled her pointing finger over and over as to say, “Let’s go.”
The stage manager frantically spoke in the walkie, “Now now now.” The dancers walked out. Rah hugged everyone that was in the back. Little Brian stopped walking before he was seen by the crowd and said his grace.
“God. . .Let the people smile please, because people are sad Lord, please let them hear YOU through me, let them forget how to frown and smile tonight. Amen.”
The whole crew walked and took their seats on the front row. The crowd gasped at the people they saw.
JT stood up, JC stood up. They hugged everyone as they found their seats. All the fellas kissed Tina, and Tabitha on the cheek. “Rah said, “Ma Tina you so fine.” Tina laughed and slapped Rah’s arm. Rah said, Momma Tab, look at you! You trying to find somebody else?”
JC said, “I’d kill that niggah.” Rah turned his head to Tabitha and said, “You know he a killer for real don’t you?”
Tabitha said, “Yeah, he my killa.” Rah said, “Okay okay now, enough of that.”
Rah smiled as he walked past his pops and said, “Now you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, thank you for sitting with me tonight.
Tova smiled as he pulled her up to her feet. Her and her dress made the people in the crowd whisper. Rah hugged her tight. He kissed her slowly. He pulled away from the kiss and looked her into her eyes to make sure she always knew he meant it.
Rah sat down after Tova took her seat. He looked to see Little Brian looking at him. Rah said, “I’m sorry everyone.” Rah looked up at Little Brian and gave him the the thumbs up.
Little Brian smiled and cracked his fingers interlocking them and pushing them away from his little body and then slammed them down onto the keys. Everyone smiled.
Chapter 33
Sabrina just shook her head when the curtain closed. Everyone stood and clapped until their hands burned.
The curtains opened back up and the people somehow clapped even louder.
JT couldn’t believe what he saw. “It was absolutely perfect baby.”
Tina wiped her eyes and said, “It really was.”
Keisha walked on stage and said, “This type of response normally warrants an encore but B2 said the two hours of straight music was the best he had.”
All of a sudden Little Brian ran and slid under the piano, jumped back on bench and played another selection that Keisha and Brian hadn’t even heard.
The people were past going crazy. The dancers looked at each other and the girl in the front said, “Just follow me.” The lead singer began to freestyle a song about the whole night and how he wanted everyone to get home safely.
No one knew that his little fingers could move so fast as he concluded the concert as only he could.
~~
Sabrina said, “That was the best show ever!”
Bobby smiled and said, “I agree, I’m glad you liked it. It surpassed my wildest dreams.”
Bobby shook his head and said, “And you know what else is dope. Almost all of the money goes to Autism Awareness everytime.”
“Wow, I wonder how much they make on a night like tonight.”
~~
Would you like to know how much y’all made tonight?”
Brian and Keisha looked at each other and said,
“Sure.”
“Well it was completely sold out. “There were 500 two hundred dollars seats, and 500 five hundred dollar seats.”
Little Brian said, “3.5 million.”
The producer of the show said, “Now that’s not counting concessions and merchandise.”
“We had 23 dancers and muscians volunteer to help us out tonight. Would you like to give them something.”
Brian said, “Ask him.”
The producer looked at Little Brian and said, “I know you want all the money to go to your cause, but would you like to pay everyone that helped out tonight? They all did it for free even me. It was an honor to work along side of you, so it’s totally up to you.”
Little Brian was playing a Nintendo Switch and never took his eyes off of his game.
“How much did you make your last show you did this for and did it make you smile?”
The producer looked around and began to figet a little. “Well, my last show was a community event and they paid me like $300 dollars. I smiled because I do this for the love of the art, not for the money.”
“Do you sing or dance?”
“No sir, my job is to make sure everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing at the right time.”
“Where are they? The singers and dancers and stuff.”
“They are in the green room.”
Little Brian said, “Nooooooo.” He shook his head and continued, “I lost.” He looked up from his game and said, “I gotta play again.” He looked back down and said, “Ask them to come in here please.”
~~
“Even the dancers were awesome Bobby. I wonder how much they get paid?”
“Had to be at least a million dollars. Our tickets said $500 on them.”
Sabrina nodded her head and said, “Wow, I wonder how much the other people get paid. I knew a couple of them. They were mostly local people. Like one of them is my neighbor and then I know you know that one guy that works at the gas station downtown. Everyone knows him. I didn’t know he could sing like that though.”
~~
Everyone walked into the room. There were actually 30 people including the lighting people and stage hands.
Little Brian focused on his game.
Brian said, “I would like to thank each of you for helping my son’s show be such a success. Each of you poured and left your hearts on that stage. Thank you!”
Little Brian said, “Mama, how many more of these do we have?”
“Well B2, your father and I only want you to do 12 of these a year until you get a little older baby.”
Little Brian contorted his face as he thought his face would help him move the man on his screen better.
“Okay momma, how many of you can do the show with us every time we do it? I would like to work with the same people.”
Some hands went straight up, as chatter filled the room. A few people were sad because they had no more off days from their jobs. Most people said they would be wherever he needed them to be because they had never felt so alive.
Some were willing but just couldn’t justify doing 12 more shows with all of the rest of what they had going on in their lives.
Keisha said, “If jobs or money wasn’t an issue who would do the rest of the shows?”
All the hands went up. Little Brian lifted his head up for a second and looked at the room.
“I want everyone to practice five times a week for two hours. I need each show to be better than the last.”
Everyone looked around at each other. So many things were running through their minds, but no one said anything.
Little Brian continued to play his game as he said, “Starting Monday. Next month will be here before we know it.”
Brian saw some people looking uneasy, so he said, “So son, how much do you want them to get paid so they can decide if they can commit to this or not.”
Little Brian almost broke the game he held as he got past the board he was on and said, “Oh, pay everyone the same because everyone is important.” He kept playing the game.
Brian said, “Son, pause the game.”
Little Brian did as he was told. He paused the game and looked at his father. Brian said, “How much do you want to pay everyone. They will all get the same amount.”
Little Brian looked to the sky as he thought of the cost of living he looked up a few months ago for a school project and said, “Everyone will be paid $19,347 a month until they don’t do a good job any more.” Little Brian looked up to see everyone smiling really hard. He smiled and then said, “Can I play my game again please.”
“Sure son.”
No one could believe what they had just heard. A child had just changed each one of their lives.
Keisha stood in between them and her son and used sign language as best she could as each of them began to cry. She motioned for them to smile, smile through your tears or we will have a problem.
Chapter 34
Rah walked JC and Tabitha to their car and said, “Hey Pop, guess who I saw today?”
JC said, “Who?”
“Percy.”
“Your Meemaw’s brother, Percy?”
“Yup.”
“What he say to you?”
“He was sleep in his truck so he never saw me.”
“Where did you see him sleeping in his truck son?”
“He was at a little Shop and Save down the boulevard. He was waiting on a little girl to come out of the store.”
JC turned his head toward Rah and said, “A little girl?”
Rah put both of his hands up and said, “I don’t know.”
“It’s funny you ran into him though. We gotta figure out how to get money to him because that frost that swept through here killed his crops I know, so we won’t be able to send customers his way this season.”
“Dang. Well he don’t need much money, so it shouldn’t be too hard to figure something out. The little girl doesn’t have much I guess.”
“Why you say that son?”
“Well the the little girl was wearing an outfit I bought for Sheree years ago.”
“I’ll make a few phone calls in the morning.”
~~
“Your great nephew is amazing Mr. Percy. I use to go to-“
Percy looked over at Danisha and said, “Yesh it was super good. You mish her I know. I’m glad you got to know her though. Sheems like she was awschum.”
“She really was Mr. Percy. She was smart, she was pretty, she was funny, she was patient, she loved me.”
“My momma died giving birth to me. I feel like everyone in the family blames me for her not being here.”
“That wasn’t your fault Mr. Percy.”
“I’ve learned that, but I don’t know. I still feel bad sometimes.” Percy wanted to change the subject and said, “What you going to do about school?”
“I’ve been thinking about that. I think I’m going to make a call tomorrow and figure it out because I’m not ready to go back yet.”
“Okay, just let me know what you need from me.”
“Yes sir, I will. Thank you for taking me out tonight.
“No problem, Schoory about earlier. I hope them guys get what they deserve.”
“Ummm, I don’t think that you have to hope for that Mr. Percy.”
Chapter 35
“Hey, what’s your name new girl?”
Danisha was thinking about how her Auntie Sabrina had her transferred so quickly. She appreciated her because she missed being around people her age.
She turned her head to see the boy with the tall nappy hair and the sneakers she hadn’t ever seen anywhere staring at her as if he were waiting on something.
Danisha raised her eyebrows as she said, “Did you say something to me?”
The boy turned around in his seat and said, “Never mind now.”
Danisha turned to look straight ahead and said, “That’s what’s up?”
The boy turned back towards her and said, “You gay ain’t you?”
Danisha said, “I would be if you were the last boy around.”
The whole class said, “Daaaaaaaaaamn!”
Seems like the entire class huddle around the guy, pointed and laughed. The teacher had tears in his eyes. “Calm down everyone. The new girl with us has a name and it is Danisha Rae. Let’s welcome her with a round of applause.”
The class clapped and cheered for her.
Danisha extended her hand to the boy and he grabbed her hand and said, “My name Tavon.”
“Nice to meet you Tavon.”
Tavon smiled, showing a gold bottom row of teeth and said, “That’s what’s up.”
Danisha looked at the teacher and liked the way he looked and how he taught the class. He had on a shirt and tie, but the sleeves were rolled up to show chiseled arms that were covered in tattoos.
He had a very dark complexion, a bald head and a full beard that seemed to sparkle under the overhead lighting.
There was a tattoo peeking from under his collar that made him look as if he decided to teach after having a different life of some sort.
Brother Tariq was different than any teacher she had ever seen. He taught different as well.
He had stations that everyone walked around to visit. Each station required the students to do something different, but it all pertained to the lesson.
He played hip hop music as everyone walked around.
The music wasn’t loud enough to drown out the sound of the gunshots that caused everyone in the classroom to freeze.
Chapter 36
“I can enter your information into the system and let you know what kind of numbers we get because I’m not sure when Danisha will return.”
Sabrina hung up the phone and shook her head. She had taken at least 20 of that type of call just this morning.
She scrolled through her phone and saw a text from Bobby that made her smile. “Hey beautiful.”
She responded, “Hey handsome. How is your morning going?”
She smiled when she immediately saw the little dots jumping which told her that he was typing.
“It’s going good. I would love to take you to lunch.”
Sabrina couldn’t type her response fast enough, “I would love to go to the Burger Bistro.”
“Thank you for having a place in mind. I’ll pick you up at 11:30!”
Sabrina smiled because she remembered a guy that she dated being frustrated by the thought of women not ever knowing where they wanted to go. She always told herself that she wouldn’t frustrate a man by not having a place in mind.
She tossed caution to the wind and named a place even though she remembered a conversation she had with another friend about how the suggestion could be taken wrong by the man. She resolved in her mind that if the man took the suggestion wrong that he was indeed the wrong man.
~~
Little Brian smiled brightly as he said, “Burger Bistro has the best chocolate chip cookies! They have salt on them.”
“Okay, we will get as many as you want baby.”
Bobby looked over the cashier in disbelief, “What you mean, you sold out of cookies. It’s only 12 o’clock.”
“I know sir, I’m sorry, they normally sell out by 1130.”
Bobby looked around and said, “Why don’t ya’ll just make some more then. Why would you not want to get more money?”
“Sir, we make 100 cookies a day and that’s it.”
Bobby turned around to see if anyone else in line could believe what the little girl was saying. Other’s in the line was equally as frustrated. Bobby wanted to leave but the other food was so good. Sabrina said, “We will get here earlier next time. I gotta have the shrimp rice bowl though. You ever had that Bobby?”
Bobby smiled at how pretty Sabrina looked to him as the sun splashed on the side of her face from the large window of the front of the bistro.
“I love the bowls the best!”
Everyone in the bistro turned their heads to the sound of a powerful engine noise. Most people saw the Purple and baby blue paint and wondered what type of car it was that they were seeing.
Sabrina said, “Wow, what in the world is that?”
Bobby’s mouth dropped open slightly as he said, “That’s a Bugatti Chiron.”
“That is so pretty, wonder how much they cost?”
“They are about 3 million dollars.”
There was a buzz in bistro when the valet opened the passenger door and a little boy stepped out looking fly as a young movie star.
Designer sweat suit, custom shades, off white Jordan 1’s to match, 24 karat gold diamond flooded chain with a grand piano hanging from it. The chain was perfect for his size.
Sabrina said, “Ohhh it the little boy from the concert!”
Others said, “It’s Little Brian.” “B2 is here.” “I can’t believe Brian is here.”
Sabrina looked and said, “That doesn’t look like his mother though. I mean she looks like his mother but that’s not his mother.”
Bobby smiled silently and said, “Wow, he must be related to her. She owns the the biggest imported car dealership in the country. She sold me my car. Her name is JJ.
Chapter 37
Rah opened his eyes and slid his hand off of Tova’s breast. She opened her eyes when she felt his hand move. He kissed the back of her neck softly. He squinted his eyes and tilted his head. He looked to his left and then to his right. He said, “TV turn to the news.”
The reporter said, “We are standing outside Riverdale where there seems to be at least two active shooters inside of the building. Special forces has been called as multiple shots have been fired so far.” The news anchor ducked and flinched at the sound of four gun shots that was fired while he was live on camera.
“All we can do at this point is pray for the students that are trapped inside the building.”
Rah said, “The little girl I met in the store is inside of that school.”
Tova sat up and said, “Is she okay baby?”
“She hasn’t been shot, but she is scared.”
Tova had been around her man long enough to know that he had truly been given a gift from God to feel people’s hearts. She never questioned what he said. She began to pray for the safety of Danisha along with the rest of the students and faculty of the school.
Tova all of sudden opened her eyes and reached for her phone. She called the cafeteria manager that used to work for her and hoped that she would answer. She didn’t.
“Rah baby. Is Theresa Thompson okay?”
“I don’t know her, so I don’t know.”
Rah looked over at his phone and grabbed it. “What’s up bro?”
Jamaal said, “You watching the news?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s like 2 hours and 39 minutes away. You think it will be over by the time we get there?”
“I hope so.”
~~
“Signing autographs hurt my fingers, we can take pictures though. I don’t like when my fingers hurt.”
Somebody yelled out, “B2, what’s your favorite thing from here?”
Little Brian smiled brightly and said, “The cookies!”
Bobby smiled and threw his hands in the air, “See what I’m saying!”
The young girl from behind the counter walked around and approached Little Brian and said, “How many do you want?”
Bobby frowned up his face along with the others that was standing in line. Little Brian said, “Who else wants cookies?” He quickly added the hands that went up and said, “54 please.”
Bobby shook his head and looked at Sabrina and said,
“The power of celebrity.”
The young girl knew the rules, but she also knew that disappointing Little Brian might cost her the job she loved.
The owner of the Burger Bistro loved his entire family for some reason she didn’t know. It made sense to her though, they all were really nice filthy rich people.
JJ removed her shades and said, “Hey everyone, they will probably make our order next, so for the inconvenience we will pay for everyone’s meal. Everyone cheered. They knew that there wasn’t anything they could do about it anyway, so they really appreciated her generosity.
A man walked up to her and said, “Thank you so much for lunch. I love cars, but I’m not familiar with that one. You mind if I go and look at it?”
JJ held Little Brian’s hand as she said, “You asking me if I mind you looking at my car?”
The man didn’t know what to say. His request did sound dumb when he heard it said back to him.
JJ laughed and said, “Here, tell the valet I said you could take it around the block.”
The man looked at the ticket and then at JJ and back at the ticket. He smiled so big. He wanted to say so much. He didn’t. He looked at his wife and said, “Come on baby!”
She jumped out of her seat and ran past JJ saying, “Thank you so much, you just made his life with this.”
JJ said, “I’m sure you did that, but driving the car will be fun for him.”
The woman said, “Thank you for saying that that and thank you for this.”
“Yup.” JJ looked down at her grandbaby and said, “Where would you like to sit?”
Chapter 38
The gunshots seemed to get closer and closer. Brother Tariq seemed to be a little flustered. He told everyone to move to the back of the classroom. He flipped a table over and had everyone huddle behind it.
Everyone did as they were told except Tavon. He was frozen. Danisha walked back towards him and tapped his arm and said, “Come on, come to the back of the room.”
She understood his fear, but she needed him to listen. He just sat there with tears running down his face as he repeatedly said, “Please Lord, Please Lord, Please Lord, Please Lord.”
Danisha looked around and everyone was crying, even Brother Tariq. Brother Tariq had propped a chair against the door. All of a sudden there was a loud BOOM. Everyone jumped as the door seemed to dance.
Brother Tariq yelled, “DANISHA, LEAVE HIM THERE, GET BACK HERE!” Danisha asked Tavon to come with her one more time, the bullets that flew through the door made her listen to Brother Tariq.
~~
“Oh no, Oh no!”
Bobby closed his eyes as he bit into his cookie. He popped his eyes open and said, “What wrong Brina, you don’t like the cookie?”
“Some guys are shooting at Dani’s school.”
Bobby popped up. The screeching of his chair sliding back made everyone look at him. He ran around the table to help Sabrina stand up and said, “We gotta go now!”
Little Brian said, “What’s wrong guys, you aren’t smiling?”
Bobby said, “We have to go because someone is shooting at my little girl’s school.”
Little Brian said, “That’s bad. Take my granny’s car. They left it in front.”
He grabbed the key fob off of the table and tossed it to Bobby. “Hope she is okay.”
Bobby caught the fob and said, “Thank you, me too!”
Little Brian bowed his head and began to pray. The people in the restaurant bowed their heads as well.
“Jesus, protect the kids that need to be protected. Cover them like a warm blanket. You know best, You are our Father. We won’t worry anymore. Thank You for these cookies. Amen.”
The people in the bistro said, “Amen.” They all smiled, they all felt a peace they didn’t understand.
JJ picked up her phone and spoke, “Text Lenny, send me a car to my phone’s location. Thank you.”
JJ looked at her grandson and said, “You ready for rehershal?”
~~
Jamaal said, “Aye Rick, don’t that young boy go there who parents got shot in their house last year.”
“Yeah, I’ve been trying to reach him, but his phone is off.”
Jamaal said, “What’s his name again?”
“Tavon.”
Chapter 39
Tavon was in the closet again. He couldn’t do anything but cry. He would never forget how the bullet sounded as it went through his mother new hair style that made her so proud that she posted it on Facebook.
Her photo was his phone’s screen saver. Why wasn’t he as brave as his father. His father didn’t have a gun either but at least he ran out there and tried to stop the man.
Tavon beat himself up on a daily basis for just sitting there. In his mind, this was no time to move, he didn’t move before so why move now. Every week he felt survivor’s remorse because he was supposed to die with his parents.
There was a tattoo that ran down the side of his thigh. It reads, “The coward lives. . .”
His mentor taught him better than this. Feeling this way was just a trick of the enemy. He was alive for a reason. There was no need for him to walk into that type of slaughter. He was not a coward.
He sat in the desk and heard everything his mentor said to him on a daily basis. The mentor’s words were losing right now. He was a coward, he couldn’t even move.
The man with the gun was one kick away from entering the room and killing him and who knows who else.
“Please Lord, Please Lord, Please Lord let him come in here. Lord allow me to come with You.”
The man shoved his way into the room and stumbled to the floor. The kids in the classroom screamed. Fear consumed the room.
His mentor’s words gave him chills as he heard him say, “You don’t have to hide in the closet anymore.” He heard the one and only Ricky Jefferson in his ear. “You will never be a victim again.”
Tavon smiled as he stood up. He imagined himself pushing the closet door open and walking into his kitchen. He pulled a 9mm from his lower back and filled the man standing to his feet with every bullet that was in his clip.
He dropped the clip and pulled another one from his pocket. He slammed it into his gun. He headed for the door. Brother Tariq said, “You aren’t supposed to do that.”
Tavon said, “I know.”
~~
Ricky looked at his phone in frustration. I can’t understand why his phone is off. I pay the bill.
Jamaal said, “Oh is that the little dude that you mentor?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh well, he should be straight then. I know he got a gun.”
“Yeah, he got one. He knows how to use it too. I just don’t know if he will in a live situation. I also told him that he shouldn’t go looking for someone to shoot.”
“So Rick you saying if the shooter comes into his classroom that Tavon will shoot him?”
“I’m saying he can, I don’t know if he will.”
~~
Tavon heard two more shots and had a good idea of where they were coming from. He stalked the door and heard a man say, “Aye you and you, come right here and lay down.”
Tavon said, “You put your gun down and you lay down.”
The man put his hands up with a gun in one hand. Tavon glanced over and saw that the man had shot at least 3 kids in the room while the teacher laid in the corner leaking blood. “Never shoot a man in the back,” he heard Ricky say.
“Turn around.” The man turned around slowly to face Tavon. The man’s last words were, “Hey little man.”
A single shot through the eyes interrupted whatever speech he was about to give.