by S. M. Shade
“Is Veronica home?” I ask Bailey.
“She’s over at the park talking to the twins’ mom.”
I’ve seen Veronica almost every day since our zoo trip, but I still feel the same anticipation when I head out the door.
A group of neighbors mill around the park, standing in small groups and sitting at the picnic table while their kids play.
Veronica walks toward me as I approach, her jaw tight and rage in her eyes. I’ve never seen her so pissed off. “What’s going on?”
Without a word, she hands me a sheet of paper. “I got another threat letter.”
Threat letters, as we’ve started calling them, have become a common thing. They leave a letter on everyone’s door when they change a rule or notice something they don’t like. Last week a man on the other end got one because he had his granddaughter visiting, and she drew a hopscotch on the sidewalk with chalk. They threatened him with eviction if it happened again. Then they put a letter on the rest of the doors stating that sidewalk chalk is graffiti and grounds for eviction. You can’t make this shit up.
They can’t just say not to do something, it always includes an or else eviction threat. It seems they get off on threatening to make poor people homeless. One bit of advice I have received from the lawyer is that none of the reasons they’ve given would justify an eviction, and to save the letters.
Veronica’s letter is infuriating and it’s everything I can do not to go down to the office, drag the bastards outside, and show them how you should treat a bully.
My teeth grind as I read the main paragraph again.
Your son has been seen throwing handfuls of the rubber mulch into the air in the playground. Rubber mulch is very expensive and if he persists in this behavior, you will be charged for the replacement mulch and face eviction. Please remedy this situation.
An eviction threat for a kid playing in the playground.
Veronica’s smile is bitter when I look up at her, and she turns to glance back at her son who is playing with some other kids in the playground. “I asked Aiden and the other kids if they threw the mulch, and they said they were tossing it up in the air and letting it rain down on them. It’s fucking ridiculous. They weren’t taking it out of the park or harming anything.”
Jani speaks up. “And even if it is something they don’t want the kids doing, how hard is it to say, hey, don’t play with the mulch. There, problem solved. No, they have to be a dick sneeze about it and threaten people.”
Aiden runs up, and his gaze travels around the circle of adults before he asks, “Am I in trouble?”
Veronica smoothes her hand over his hair. “Not at all. Just don’t throw the mulch and tell the other kids the same thing, okay?”
“Okay. Damon says his aunt almost got kicked out because he jumped the fence last week, so don’t jump fences,” he warns the group with a wise nod.
Noble grins at him. “No fence jumping. Got it, dude.” When Aiden runs off, Noble turns to me. “Yeah, there’s more to that story. They didn’t just tag her door. Freida saw the kid jump the fence and asked him if he wanted to make his aunt homeless because if he did it again, she’d be out. He’s nine.”
Nodding, I announce. “If you all can bring me copies of the threat letters you’ve received, I’ll get them to the lawyer. Also, any written statements you might be willing to contribute about the way you or your kids have been treated. None of this shit is legal.” I look around at everyone. “And I understand if that’s not a risk you’re willing to take as well. We all have to keep a roof over our heads.”
So many here can’t afford to move, which is why I decided to lead this cause. I’m close to having my credit repaired and I can move if I have to. It would suck, because I have a few goals in mind I’m trying to reach to make sure we’re good and stable first, but it could be done. If they’re going to retaliate by evicting someone, better it be us than a family that would end up on the street.
“I have a copier if anyone needs to use it,” Noble volunteers before pulling me aside. “I have an idea. You know I work at WFUK, and if I brought this to their attention, they may be willing to do a story. Take this shit public. I wanted to see what the lawyer thought about that idea first, though.”
“I’ll get in touch with him this week and see if he thinks it’s a good idea.”
Noble nods, then grins at me. “By the way, we need a DM for Dungeons and Dragons tonight. You said you used to play when you were young.”
“You mean when this was all still farm land?” I scoff. “I’m thirty-three, not eighty.”
“Whatever, just grab your daily fiber drink, and come and DM for us.”
It’s been years since I played D&D, and the nerd in me is still strong. Noble and his friends might be a bunch of college kids, but they’re fun to be around, at least in small doses. I guess that’s the old man in me talking. It’s funny I don’t see Veronica the same way. “What time?”
“Eight o’clock.”
“I’ll be there.”
Noble only lives a few doors down, so I’m fine with letting Bailey stay alone for a couple of hours, and she’ll be thrilled.
Noble goes back to the group, and I start back across the street to my apartment to let Bailey know that no one is being evicted. It pisses me off that the management makes these kids worry over things that are in no way a child’s problem.
“Neal!” Veronica calls, and jogs to catch up with me. Wow, she’s not wearing a bra. “Did you hear about the lock-in at the community center this weekend?”
“What’s a lock-in?”
She falls in step beside me. “Since it’s spring break, they’re having a little sleepover party for kids ages four and up. They’ll have activities for them and they’ll camp out in the gym in their sleeping bags. I guess I’m going to let Aiden go since he’s begging to, and I thought Bailey might be interested.”
“I’m sure she will. Thanks for letting me know.” I pause, laying my hand on her arm. “Don’t worry about these threat letters. Nobody is getting evicted. I’ve got this.”
A smile stretches across her cheeks. “I believe you.” She glances back at Aiden who is sitting on the curb. “I’d better get back to Aiden. He’s driving me nuts. He won’t eat because he has a loose tooth, but he’s afraid to let me pull it. I swear, I’m going to pull it while he’s asleep.”
“Bailey was the same way. Can I try something?”
“Sure, but I doubt he’ll go for it.”
“I’ll be over in just a minute.”
They head back to her apartment, and I run inside to grab a remote controlled airplane. It was a gift to Bailey, but I’ve played with it more. Bailey was all freaked out over pulling a loose tooth, and I found it was best to find a creative way to do it and get her involved. Last time we tied one to a nerf dart and had her shoot the gun. Aiden likes planes so this should work well.
“A, come check this out!” I call to him as I step into Veronica’s yard.
He rushes over. “A plane! Can I fly it?”
“You sure can, but this is a special plane. It goes faster if you give it some special fuel.” Veronica watches us, and I give her a wink.
“Like gas?”
“Well, your mom says you have a loose tooth.” I produce a roll of floss and show him. “If I put this string around your tooth, the plane will go extra fast, and the tooth will fall out without you even feeling it.”
His mouth drops open and he whispers, “Really?”
Bailey speaks up, showing him where one of her back teeth is missing. “It worked with mine.”
“Okay! Do mine! I want to make the plane fly fast!”
Aiden holds still as I tie the floss around the tooth. It damn near comes out just with that, so this will be easy. “Okay, let’s do it.” I turn the plane on and show him how to control it. I made the floss long enough to give it enough slack that the tooth won’t catch until the plane is in the air and a few feet away. “You can take off anytime, Captai
n.”
Grinning with excitement, he presses the lever forward and the plane darts into the air, taking his tooth with it in a split second. “It does go fast!” he exclaims.
“Let me show you how to turn it around.” We spend a few minutes guiding the plane around the yard before he lands it on the sidewalk.
“That was so cool! When will my tooth fall out?”
Bailey laughs and follows the floss until she picks up the tooth lying at the end. “Your tooth is right here.”
Aiden’s stunned look makes us all laugh especially when he puts his fingers in his mouth and feels the hole. “It worked! Mom, look! It didn’t hurt!” he cries, running over to show her the gap.
Veronica hugs him and beams at me. “It did! What do you tell Neal?”
“Thank you!” he shouts and runs over, hugging my leg.
Bailey sits down with him to look at his tooth while I chat with Veronica for another minute until she says, “Thanks again. I have to go into work for a few hours since the front desk clerk is sick. We’ll see you later.”
And now I need to brush the dust off of my D&D handbook and drag out one of my old stories for tonight.
I’m officially too old to hang out with college kids. Not that I wasn’t aware of that fact, but his offer for a Dungeons and Dragons game had me all nostalgic for the days when I played in high school and college.
Some things you can’t go back to.
My memories of Dungeons and Dragons were late nights spent creating these layered, deeply thought out worlds, full of magic and mystery. We designed characters that had personalities, strengths, weaknesses, and personal goals.
Some defining moments from the night with Noble and the Frat Hell guys were when Kenny insisted his character was still armed because he had an arrow hidden up his ass, and when another proclaimed his penis a weapon. They then had to roll the dice for dick size. Length and girth. Since he rolled a two, followed by a ten, that’s what he was stuck with.
They named it the cheese wheel.
Don’t get me wrong, it was hilarious and fun. Just not the same. I think I’ll stick to my poker nights and bowling league.
Chapter Five
Veronica
“Don’t forget my pillow!” Aiden calls, dancing around with his backpack slapping against his back.
“It’s inside the sleeping bag,” I remind him, putting everything in the trunk.
“I’m going to have the coolest sleeping bag there!”
“No one else will have anything like it,” I laugh. Yeah, that would be because my kid had a heart attack when he saw a Five Finger Death Punch sleeping bag online, and instantly added it to his Christmas list last November. I can already hear the judgmental Hmms being uttered by the soccer moms when they see the heavy metal band bag spread out amongst all the Spiderman and cartoon characters. I can’t give a shit, though. He loves it, slept in it for a week after he got it, and that’s all that matters to me.
The Spring Break Lock In seems to be popular, judging by all the cars crammed into the parking lot of the community center. I wasn’t sure about this whole thing at first. Aiden is only five, and he’s never spent a night without me, but Neal assured me the people who are holding this party are responsible and trustworthy. Wyatt and his wife, Cassidy, are known and well liked on the Circle, since Cassidy used to live in what’s now my apartment.
A parking spot opens up when a minivan carrying two smiling parents backs out. A kid free night during the spring break holiday? People couldn’t sign up fast enough, and I’m betting the liquor stores are doing extra business tonight, along with the condom industry.
Aiden squirms with excitement, dancing around me while I unload the trunk. “Stay with me until we figure out where you’re supposed to go, Ade.”
We make our way inside, and Bailey rushes up to hug me. “Hey, the little kids are in the gym with Miss Cassidy and Noble.”
Aiden slams his hands to his hips. “I ain’t little! I just turned five.”
Bailey grins at the offense in his tone. “Shoot. They have a bounce house in the gym. I guess you’re too old for that, huh?”
Aiden’s ears seem to stand up. “A bounce house?” He jerks his gaze up to me. “Can I?”
“Go for it.”
He’s off with Bailey in a flash, leaving me smiling after him. I’m glad I’m the only one stressing over being apart for a night.
About fifteen kids, ranging in age from five to eight, run around the large gymnasium, climbing in and out of a bouncy castle, and chasing one another.
“Hey Veronica!” Noble approaches with a pretty brunette. “I don’t think you’ve met Cassidy, have you?”
“I haven’t.” Cassidy shakes my hand, and I add. “It’s nice to meet you. Everyone says good things about you on the Circle.” Then I realize how that must’ve sounded. “Not that everyone talks about you. It’s not like gossip or anything. I just live in your old apartment, so it’s bound to come up and—” I stop myself. I’m babbling like an idiot. “I’m going to stop now.”
Cassidy laughs and glances at Noble, then back to me. “You’re going to fit right in here.” She nods toward Aiden who is approaching us with pursed lips. “This is your boy?”
“Yes.” I lay my hand on his shoulder when he reaches me. “This is Aiden, Aiden, this is Ms. Cassidy.” I heard the other children addressing her that way, so that’s what I’m going with.
Cassidy kneels to speak with him. “I’m glad you came, Aiden. We’re going to have a good time tonight. And if you need anything, you just come and find me or Noble, okay?”
“Okay.” He grins. “I like Noble. He’s funny.”
Cassidy grins at me. “Noble is a big kid. They all love him.”
“Mom?” Aiden says, tugging the hem of my shirt. “Eddie is here.”
Cassidy turns to speak to another parent, so I pull Aiden aside. “He is?”
“Yeah, and he tried to say he’s still my boss, and I can’t go in the bounce house unless he says.”
Not this again. “Is he your boss?”
“No!”
“Then why are you listening to him?”
Aiden’s face scrunches in thought. “I don’t know.”
“Just ignore it, Ade.”
Noble overhears the conversation and steps in. “If you have any problems, you come and tell me, okay? Everyone gets to play in the bounce house. We’re going to have fun.”
A smile darts across Aiden’s face. “Okay.” He runs and dives back inside the bouncy castle.
“Just put his sleeping bag and backpack in that corner,” Noble says.
After following his direction, I just kind of stand there, fidgeting. It feels so strange to just…leave my kid somewhere. “If he wants to come home or anything…”
“I’ve got your phone number. I’ll call you,” Noble assures me.
“I know that look,” Neal says, joining us. “First time he’s spent a night away from home?”
“Is it that obvious?”
Neal chuckles and nods toward the door. “You need a drink. Why don’t I stop at the liquor store and I’ll remind you what a night away from kids feels like? You never know when you’ll get another one.”
“Sounds good.” Going back to my empty apartment so I can worry over Aiden every second isn’t going to do me any good. I can’t believe I’m reacting this way. I’ve never been particularly overprotective. I don’t stop him from doing things where he may get hurt, or baby him when he’s made a mistake and needs to apologize. Why am I losing it over one night away from him when he’s in perfectly capable hands?
“I’ll just tell him I’m leaving.”
Neal and Noble accompany me over to the bounce house, and we look through the mesh at the mess of jumping, giggling children. Two voices stand out over the rest, and of course, one is my son.
“You can’t jump over there! It’s against my rules!” Eddie shouts. I can’t blame Aiden for how he feels about him. As sorry as I fee
l for the kid, he does behave like a little d-bag.
Noble opens his mouth to intervene, but Aiden beats him to it.
“I can do what I want. You’re just mad cause you got Zacktly Disease.”
“What’s Zacktly Disease?” a little girl asks, struggling to stay on her feet.
Aiden faces Eddie with a grin. “Your face looks zacktly like your butt!”
All the kids laugh, and the little girl looks at Aiden like he’s the best thing she’s ever seen.
“Aiden!” I call out, and he runs over, slamming his hands into the mesh, a look of joy on his face. I’m not even going to say anything. I mean, really? How much abuse is he supposed to take from the kid? I taught him to use his words, not his fists. It’s not my fault he’s so damned good at it.
“I’m going to go now. You listen to Noble and Cassidy, and have fun.”
“I will! Bye!” He rushes off without a backward glance. A few seconds later, fingers wrap around my arm and Neal’s amused voice fills my ear.
“Come on. He’s fine. Time to go.”
Nodding, I glance at Noble. “Good luck. You’re a saint.”
When I make the turn into our apartment complex, a laugh erupts from my throat. The playground and the picnic table are covered in people. You can’t give Violent Circle a night with no kids. We don’t know how to act. In other words, this is going to be fun.
Denton waves at me and calls my name as I get out of my car. Before I can answer, all the guys from Frat Hell echo him in unison. They’re a crazy bunch of college guys and everyone likes them. “Get your ass over here!” Denton calls. “We picked up a keg!”
They did. A metal tub of ice has pride of place in the center of the basketball court, a silver keg resting inside.
“Spring break, baby!” Kenny yells, chugging a beer faster than I thought humanly possible.
It hadn’t occurred to me that the college kids were on break as well. Looking around, there are plenty of neighbors out here who will have to drag their hungover asses to work tomorrow. From teenagers to a few of the elderly people who live on the opposite end of the circle, everyone is out and having fun. I’m glad my days off work happened to coincide.