Blue had always been an old soul. She had seen more than her share of bad things, and didn’t mind at all that her eyes were clouding over. The doctor had told her it was probably caused by her diabetes, and dehydration. Their mother had been completely blind when she died.
“Sister Blue, do you miss your old life?” Dream Crow asked her.
“Working at the hospital, you mean?”
“Yes. Do you miss it?”
“Sometimes I do,” she answered her sister. “Then again,” she said slowly and thoughtfully, “sometimes I don’t.”
“What do you miss the most?”
“I used to miss caring for people. But now that Jerome’s gone, I have you to care for.”
“What don’t you miss?”
“Well, Dream Crow, you can put it like this, I couldn’t have been more ready to leave San Francisco General when you called to bring me to L.A. to sing with you. I wasn’t out to be a star or anything, but entertainment was a far cry from all the ugly I saw in the streets of San Francisco. You know, they had me nursing on children who had been beaten and abused and mistreated so badly, Jesus would have jumped off the cross to whip their parents’ asses, and the world be damned.”
“Sister Blue, you’re a mess. Now you know the good Lord wouldn’t do any such thing.”
“For a while, there was a wave of some really weird stuff going on, too,” she continued remembering. “It was like people had gotten hold of some crazy drug that was completely distorting their sense of right and wrong. In a year’s time, I treated at least seven of the same kinds of cases. They were severely malnourished children who had been locked in their rooms and bathrooms for months, sometimes years, at a time. They had lesions, lice, and worms from where they had been left in filth. They smelled from the inside out, like their insides had rotted. You would think people would need to pass a test to have children, just like you have to pass one to drive a car, or to graduate college. That’s why I never thought twice about having children of my own. There’s just too much ugly. Who knows what their husband or wife might do to their children for kicks?”
“Sister Blue, you have to have sex before you have children.”
“Oh, don’t you start in on me now; I’ve had sex.” Blue sipped and stirred the celery stick in her drink to remix the red potion that was beginning to separate in her glass. “Well, I’ve almost had sex; plenty of times.”
The women laughed for a moment, and then Blue became suddenly serious.
“Sex is just plain over-rated. And it’s misused. You should know that better than anyone, Dream Crow.”
There was a moment of somber reflection as they both thought of Seth.
“Sister?”
“Hmm?”
“You know me and Hartford always knew about you and him, right?”
“I realized that Hartford knew. He’d seen us together. I did try to keep it from you, though. How did you know?”
“He told me.”
“Hartford?”
“No, Seth.”
“Why did he do that?”
“Why do you think? So I’d feel all right about replacing you. It was just a few days after you were gone. He was missing you bad. He cried a lot and stayed high. Hartford was worried that if he made Seth leave, the county would come for us, so we let him stay.” Blue sipped her drink and continued to speak. “He wasn’t trying to rape me or anything. He just tried to get me to agree to be with him, is all.”
“Did he ever…”
“Hold your tongue! I wasn’t having it. I told him the only way I would have his dick was in a jar. It wasn’t long before he left on his own.”
“I’m glad he didn’t do anything to you. I never thought he was a bad man. I loved him, as sick as it sounds. Not the way I loved Jerome. It wasn’t pure like that. I loved him for taking care of Momma and making sure we didn’t end up on the street. You know, if it weren’t for Seth, we’d have probably ended up split apart in foster homes. You were too young to remember all the men who were taking advantage of Momma when Daddy died. She was lonely back then. They were taking her money, fucking her, and taking food right out of the refrigerator to take home to their own children.”
“Imagine that,” Blue said. “No, I didn’t know. Did Momma know about the two of you?”
“Not at first. When she figured it out, she just stopped talking.” The sisters were silent for a while, sipping and remembering.
“You want me to make you another drink?” Dream Crow asked.
“No, I’m okay,” Blue said. “I want you to know that even though I didn’t understand it, I never judged you for it. Still, it kind of soured me on the whole idea of sex. Even when I became a woman and finished the nursing program you put me through, I still didn’t want to give myself to anyone. It seemed to me it was more trouble than it was worth. Every last one of my nursing school friends dropped out because they were either pregnant or their man wanted them to take a job, move in, shack up, be in love… Sex was a damn disease in my book.”
“What about love?”
“Love? Ha! What about it? Truth be told, I might’ve been less afraid of the sex than I was of love. Sex is a byproduct of that contagion. Now, if I had been out there like you were for a time, dealing with sex like a business, I might’ve been all right. But with love comes all the rest of the symptoms.”
“You mean butterflies and that nervousness that makes you feel kind of out of control. That’s why I say I didn’t love Seth like I loved Jerome. Jerome made my hands sweat. He made my whole body catch on fire sometimes.”
“That old man?”
“You’d better believe it.”
“It sure will make you hot all right. Hot enough to kill a man,” Blue said.
Dream Crow laughed. “I guess.”
“Did I ever tell you about my VOYA theory?”
“VOYA theory? No, I don’t think so.”
“Love is a virus,” Blue said. “It’s a deceptive virus that works in conjunction with the object of your affection. See? VOYA, Viral Object of Your Affection. When you’re first infected, you don’t know that you’re sick at all. You actually think you’re feeling suddenly great. You have more energy, you’re happier than you had been before, and it’s easier to breathe now that you have VOYA. But what you think has been the antidote to your former condition is actually the venom of a virus that can be fatal if it isn’t treated properly. There’s no cure for it and once it’s inside you, it must run its course.
“Now this is the important part, because your resistance to love and your recovery from the viral infection will depend on the interactions that occur between the virus and you, the host. The host cells are primarily located in the brain and the reproductive area and are carried through the nervous system to the heart, where it is spread throughout your entire body. For women, the symptoms start to show soon after the virus gains entry and binds to vaginal receptors. How quickly it spreads from there may depend on the frequency and intensity of her orgasms, but the virus has been known to spread rapidly; even when no orgasm has occurred. The first indication that the side effects have begun is the patient’s acute inability to recognize logical fallacies, erroneous statements, or to do background checks. Your cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid your brain floats in, has been completely infested with the virus so you feel dreamy and are dazzled and short-sighted, not being able to see further than your VOYA. It’s during this period that most patients begin to form several psychoses such as general ignorance, jealousy, confusion, stupidity, and paranoia. You may experience peevishness, becoming quick to anger, or fight with family and friends who recognize your condition and try to offer advice for treatment of VOYA, or quick to forgive and excuse your VOYA. Those who survive the infant stages of the viral contagion, especially those with good credit, may suffer from something called Cosignatory. This is the worst side effect that may bring your Credit Cell count down to poverty levels. Some hosts may also get an extreme outbreak of UHaulism, which is no
t all together bad because it increases the speed at which you are likely to recover, putting VOYA at a closer range for observation.
“Usually the virus begins to dissipate as binding to vaginal receptors ceases. Following this period, a condition called Infidelity sets in. Some of the side effects that will indicate you’re entering the Infidelity phase of VOYA may include, but are not limited to, denial, weight gain, weight loss, skin rashes, loss of hair, insomnia, irrationality, feelings of self-worthlessness, alcoholism, drug use, drunken calling/texting, depression, acts of vandalism, and covert operations. In some cases, hospitalization is necessary. In the worst cases, death occurs.
“The Infidelity phase can be one of the most painful phases of VOYA, but it’s often the final phase, and when treated with the CO Solution, recovery is eminent. The CO Solution was actually created with antibodies from VOYA and spliced from one of its less common side effects, Covert Operations. Of all of the side effects that will or may occur during the Infidelity period, Covert Operations is the least harmful as it can bring clarity where there had been only speculation. The term ‘Seeing is believing’ is the national campaign slogan for the VOYA Recovery Project. Our program encourages patients to move their condition to the CO stage as early as possible to reduce infection time. It is important to note that CO should not be performed alone as it can worsen your condition causing Blind Rage—an onslaught of many or all of the other side effects combined. When performed with companionship, CO can create a great support system. Bonding with lost friends and loved ones who are happy to assist you in your recovery as you spy together under the cover of night can be the first step to a happy life after VOYA.”
Dream Crow was laughing her ass off the entire time Blue was speaking. “Now you know you don’t have a damn bit of sense,” Dream Crow said. “You missed your calling. You should have been a comedienne.”
“You asked me if I miss my old life and I have to say, I got tired of seeing those children like that. I got tired of bandaging street-walkers from the Tenderloin. They were getting younger and younger every day. I don’t miss looking at all the ugly; ugly things can make your eyes hard. It’s probably why I’m half blind now.”
“You can say that again,” Dream Crow said, pushing her glasses up on her nose, thinking of the little girl she had brought in with needle marks all over her body.
“Remember your little friend. What did you call her?”
“Pillow.”
“Yes, Pillow,” Blue said. “She was a real pretty little girl under all of that makeup. We did what we could for her, you know.”
“I knew you would.”
“They didn’t know a lot about AIDS back then and there was hardly any money for medications, if you were poor. It was a shame, the way she went out. It would’ve hurt your heart. Her hair fell out, until there were just patches left. She had purple lesions all over her body and looked like an old woman in the face. When they lifted her dead body off the bed, there were pieces of her skin stuck to the sheets.”
“Oh my God,” Dream Crow said. “I’m so sorry you had to see that. God rest her little soul.”
“So, I guess the answer is no, Dream Crow, I don’t miss it at all. I don’t miss any of it. And I thank you kindly for getting me out.”
“I am your sister. I practically raised you. How could I even think of leaving you there?”
“I’m glad you found love in the old man. You really deserved it.”
“So do you, Sister Blue. It’s not too late, you know.”
“I’m fine, right here with you. Right here with you and that pig over there, and the horses, and even that ornery old goat you have.”
“That was Jerome’s goat. He sure loved that stubborn thing.”
“Well, now it all makes sense.”
“What do you mean?”
“A man that could love an old stubborn, stinky goat wouldn’t have any trouble at all loving you.”
“That’s so cold, Sister Blue. Are you trying to say I stink?”
They laughed together and talked a while longer until Dream Crow broke the devastating news that sent Blue into a tizzy. “I guess we better get ready then,” she said.
“Get ready? Get ready for what?
“Hartford’s children are coming over.”
“What!” Blue screamed. “Both of them?”
“I’m afraid so. Hartford called last night. He’s in L.A. The wife called this morning.”
“I’ll take you up on your offer now.”
“What offer?”
“You can mix me another Bloody Mary. Lord, have mercy,” Blue said, getting up out of her seat. “I’ve got to go clean this house.”
BLUE HAD FINISHED CLEANING THE HOUSE and two more cocktails when the security guard phoned with news of visitors.
“Well, well, well. Who do we have here?” Blue said, looking at her brother’s children standing in the foyer. “Dream Crow, come see your little nieces,” she called to her sister in the kitchen.
“Don’t leave them outside, Sister Blue; let them in. I’m making an early dinner. I hope you guys are hungry!” Dream Crow shouted from the kitchen.
“It smells great,” Shawna said.
“No, it doesn’t,” Raven said under her breath, but Blue heard her.
“Hello, Shawna,” Blue said absently. “What did you say, Raven?”
“Nothing.”
“Yes, you said something. What was it?”
“I think I’m allergic to that stuff you burn.”
“The sage? Oh, yes, you probably are. Well, girls, you look lovely. Take off your shoes and coats, wash your hands, and help your aunt set the table. Okay?”
“Okay,” Alex said. “Bye,” Alex said in her stepmother’s general direction as she stepped out of her shoes, took off her coat, and hung it on the coat rack.
“What, no hug?” Shawna said to Alex.
“Not right now; I have a headache,” she snapped and turned on her heels. “Auntie Dream, I’m coming to help you!” She disappeared down the hall.
“Okay, baby. Stop in the bathroom and wash your hands,” Dream Crow called back to her. “I’ve got cabbage in the sink for you to wash.”
Blue watched carefully as Shawna helped Raven wiggle out of her coat. “Umm-hmm,” Blue began humming an old gospel hymn to herself and walked over to the little table just inside the door. She uncovered her sage, pulled a lighter from her bosom, and put a flame to the leaves until the embers burned hot.
“Come on in,” she told Raven. Blue went in for a closer look. “Let me look at you,” she said, raising the little girl’s face so that their eyes met. Raven looked away. “Don’t be frightened of me, girl; I’m your blood. What is it? Do my eyes scare you?”
“No,” Raven said, finally focusing on the woman’s eyes. “I’m not afraid of you.”
“Well,” Shawna said, in a high-pitched superficial tone that broke the pregnant silence in the smoky doorway. “I’ll be back to get them Sunday.”
“Bye, Mommy.” Raven hugged her mother’s neck tightly.
“Well,” Blue said, “go on and get washed up for dinner.” Then to Shawna, she said, “Please stay by your phone.”
CHAPTER 11:
AN ACQUIRED TASTE
Korea may not have been thinking clearly after an unforgettable session of Fantasy Friday with Melody, but she was certain that she would be sending Stormy packing before Christmas if things didn’t get spicy between them soon. The exotic dance the young woman had performed for her would have been enough to keep the voyeur’s interest for a few more weeks, but when Melody lay down on her office floor and pulled six feet of pearls from her pussy, Korea had been hypnotized. So, she had accepted Melody’s dinner invitation, to see if she had the other stuff it would take to be her woman. She definitely had heart and had proven she could be an obedient little bitch. Korea figured it couldn’t hurt to check her out. She was, after all, in complete control when it came to Melody.
But something in h
er gut was gnawing at her belly walls as she lied on Stormy’s voicemail. “Hey, beautiful, don’t wait up for me; I have a meeting that could last for quite a while tonight.”
Stormy was on a southbound plane when the message came.
Melody couldn’t believe how nervous she was, waiting for Korea to come over. She had made dinner as soon as she had arrived home from the office. She had showered and douched twice, just in case Korea decided to put her lips and tongue to her cat. After the morning they had had together, she was sure Korea was considering her a contender for the role of Mrs. Smith. She had carefully strategized every moment of their weekly rendezvous. The look on Korea’s face as she watched her slowly inching a long string of pearls from her pussy was priceless.
“I bet the old bitch came in her boxers,” Melody said as she primped in the mirror.
Melody looked delicious in her tight shorts and half-tee as she opened the door and led Korea to the living room.
“Have a seat,” Melody said proudly. “Dinner is ready. I just have to make you a plate.”
Korea sat down and looked around at the cluttered little apartment. There were candy wrappers balled up on the couch beside her, fingerprints on the television screen, and ashes piled up in the fireplace. There were pictures in paper frames on the mantle of Melody and other young women at various nightclubs. There was a large collection of music CDs and a modest library of romance novels.
“I’m so glad you’re finally here,” Melody said from the kitchen.
“When you got this place for me, I thought it meant you were going to be coming over a lot.”
“Is that what you thought?” Korea said coolly. She had walked to the kitchen door and was watching Melody’s round tight ass as she bent over and pulled a pan from the oven.
“Oh, you startled me,” Melody said. “I didn’t see you standing there. Oh well, you might as well have a seat here at the table.” Melody prepared Korea’s plate and brought it to her with a proud bright smile. “Whew!” she said, turning off the oven. “I haven’t cooked like that in a long time.” She pulled a beer can from the cabinet and returned to the table with a glass of ice. “You want me to pour that for you?”
The Punany Experience Page 16