Bug-Out’s eyes filled with tears and he embraced his cousin. “Thank you man! Thank you! This was all I ever needed. For someone to give a damn.”
“Huh?” Confusion was written all over his face. This was not the reaction he was expecting. He thought for certain he’d have to use more than mere words to persuade his cousin. “So that means you’re going to the program?”
Bug-Out nodded. “Most definitely! You think I wanna be like this? A lousy husband and pathetic father to my son? You set it up and I am there! In fact, you know what? I don’t even want to sell these dolls. Here you want them?”
Shocked at his cousin’s willful cooperation, he almost didn’t hear his offer. “Sure. Thanks,” He said unable to believe his luck as he accepted his sister’s impossible to find birthday gift.
“So, you ready?” Bug-Out asked anxious to get a new start on life.
Pressed for time, the bald man checked his watch, “Um no, not right this second. I have somewhere to be, but I promise I will pick you up on the way back.”
“Okay then I’ll go upstairs and wait for you and thanks again man I really mean it.” Bug-Out said then jogged home.
Stunned but very happy that his cousin wanted to get help, he got back in his ride smiling like the Kool-Aid man. Moments later he pulled up to a small red-bricked house in Bedford Stuyvesant. He got out and went up and rang the doorbell. The door opened and a beautiful woman opened the door smiling and allowed him inside.
“I’m so glad you came.” Nicky said cheerfully and surprised him with a kiss on the cheek.
“So what’s this all about?” her ex-husband asked immediately. He didn’t want to get caught up in her big brown eyes.
“Relax. Coffee?” she offered and he nodded a reply. “So how do you want it?”
“Black, just like my woman.” He said. Nicky giggled and went into the kitchen and came back out with a big cup of steaming java. “Okay, so what’s up?”
She paused for a moment as if to collect her thoughts. “I’m just going to come right out with it. I don’t know about you but this past holiday made me realize just how much I miss you. Miss us.”
“Whoa, I’m confused. The last time we spoke you made it painfully clear that you were over me.”
“I’ve had time to think things over and I really want to try and work things out.” She smiled with love in her eyes.
He could smell something good coming from the kitchen. “You cooked?”
“I was hoping it would be a celebration dinner. So, what do you say? Can we try this again?” She asked taking his hand.
As he stared long and hard into his ex-wife’s eyes he couldn’t believe how great the year was beginning. First Bug-Out agreeing to go into rehab, Tee-Tee’s doll and now Nicky asking him back. Sometimes good things came in three’s. “Well I don’t know, now that I’m back on the auction block my stock has soared.” he said with a sly wink.
Nicky pouted. “Aw you’re gonna make a sister beg huh?”
“If anybody should beg it should be me since I messed up.” He said and pulled her close then kissed her passionately.
“Hold on we need to set the mood.” Nicky said dimming the lights and switched on the stereo. “It feels like ages since we’ve danced.” she said holding out her arms and her ex-husband smiled and they embraced as the stereo volume suddenly jumped. “Isn’t the music just a bit too loud?” he shouted covering his ears as it went from a romantic melody to deafening noise.
“Huh? What?” she yelled.
“I said!-”
He sat up in bed abruptly. His stereo was blasting so loudly that his thoughts crashed together. He looked around the room wide-eyed and noticed a confused young woman in her twenties frantically fiddling with the knobs on his stereo. Before he could get the words out, the front door opened and an older woman entered his home lugging grocery bags.
“What in the world!” the older woman carrying the bags exclaimed. She looked at the dumbfounded man sitting up in bed then at the young woman struggling with the stereo. She put her bags down then came over and hit the power button silencing the deafening noise. Mayhem followed behind her wagging her tail.
“Tatiana what did mommy tell you?” she asked sternly.
The young woman poked out her bottom lip then dropped her head like a scolded child and timidly whispered, “Don’t move unless it’s a fire or a flood.”
She then directed her attention at the shocked-faced man in bed and shook her head, “Tommy Strong! It’s a brand new-year. Are you planning on sleeping through it?”
“I’m up Ma-I’m up.” he said with a stretch and yawn.
“Don’t you have something to say to your brother?” his mother asked his sister.
“Sorry I touched your radio Tommy.” Tatiana apologized.
Tommy frowned shaking his head. Bug-Out going to rehab, Nicky and him back together, even the stupid Cabbage Patch Doll, it was all a dream, a simple fantasy that he wished was a reality. He rubbed his face and forced a smile. “It’s okay Tee-Tee.” He said dipping behind the partition to throw something on. His sister giggled pointing at his bare butt.
After sliding into sweatpants and a BVD t-shirt Tommy came over to his mother circling his arms around her waist and planting a kiss on her cheek. “Hey Mommy-O. Happy New Year.”
“Hey baby, Happy New Year.”
Tee-Tee jumped up and rushed over. “What about me? Kiss me too Tommy!” her mocha-flavored face was decorated with delicate facial features which breathed new life into the phrase ‘cute as a button’.
“Happy New Year brat.” Tommy said hugging his sister and kissing her atop her head. Tee-Tee squealed then ran back to her cartoons and bowl of cereal with the vivacity of a child less than half her age. “So, how long have you two been here?” He asked his mother.
“Not long. About an hour. You must’ve been doing some serious partying last night, you didn’t even hear us when we came in.”
Tommy smelled something delicious and went over and lifted the lid off a huge pot simmering on the stove. “So that’s what I smelled.”
“And just what are you trying to say about your mama’s cooking?”
“Nothing at all. I just smelled it in my dreams.” He sighed thinking how right now he was supposed to be eating a celebration meal with Nicky.
“Dreaming ‘bout your mama’s good-luck collard greens huh? There’s no other way to start the year off right. And I put my foot in this batch.” she laughed as she removed a bottle of hot sauce from her purse then shook it all over her greens. The green leafed vegetables tasted so delicious everyone called them ‘Carla’s greens’ since that was her name and she cooked them like she created them. “C’mere baby.” She called to her son holding a fork full of greens and fed him. “Good huh?” she asked as Tommy licked his lips giving her the thumbs up. “They’re almost done. In the meantime make yourself useful and put that away.” She said pointing to the bags she brought in.
“What’s all this?”
“Groceries. Your cupboards and refrigerator look like you just moved in here yesterday.”
“My fridge ain’t empty.”
Carla opened the refrigerator and looked at him with an arched eyebrow. “My fridge isn’t empty…and yes, it is.” She corrected her son’s grammar. “A box of baking soda, a six-pack of beer, a half-eaten spiced ham and cheese hero, Ring-Dings and Cool-Whip is not food. The only thing edible in here is this box of macaroni and the expiration date on it is in Roman numerals.” His mother hissed at the garbage can overflowing with empty McDonalds, pizza and Chinese food containers. “I don’t know why you eat that junk when it’s full of salt. Especially when you know high-blood pressure runs in our family.”
“Sure you’re right!” Tommy muttered cutting an eye at the simmering pot on his stove filled with collard greens and hefty amount of salty fatback for taste. “C’mon Ma look at me.” He flexed showing off his physique that was smooth an
d hard like polished steel without a trace of body fat anywhere. “Does your son look unhealthy?”
“What’s on the outside has nothing to do with what’s on the inside Tommy.”
“You go gurl! Drop that knowledge,” Tommy smiled stealing a kiss on her cheek.
“I’m being serious.” Carla said earnestly. Tommy rolled his eyes like he didn’t want to be bothered. “You don’t like to listen son. Never did, with your hard-headed self.” his mother said in a playful but scolding tone and popped him upside his head
“Ow Ma-that hurt!” he frowned rubbing his head.
“It did? But I thought you were soooo tough.”
“Hey I’m a grown man now, you can’t be abusing me no more. I ain’t scared of you.” Tommy said from a safe distance.
“Oh boy please, ain’t nobody hardly abused your behind.” His mother laughed.
“Ma I’m pretty sure beating your kid with an orange Hot Wheels race car track constitutes as abuse.” Tommy griped.
“It was only once and you deserved it. As bad as you were Tommy you’re lucky that’s all I used.” Carla said making no apologies.
“I wasn’t bad.” Tommy said unable to keep a straight face knowing good and well, growing up he definitely tested his mother’s patience and love on numerous occasions. “I was merely asserting my independence.”
Carla looked at her son like she was two seconds away from grabbing the giant wooden spoon next to the fork hanging on the wall and giving him another whooping. “I’ll tell you this much, if I didn’t knock some sense into you from time to time you might have turned out like one of those wild boys you used to hang out with. Either in jail or worse.” Tommy had to admit, many of the guys that he grew up with were no longer around because their parents did not administer enough love. Mayhem came over to see what happened to her master and was met with Carla’s long stare. “Do we have a problem?” Carla asked placing her hands on her hips and staring down the huge dog. Mayhem backed away with her tail between her legs and promptly laid on her mat. Even she knew better than to mess around with Miss Carla ‘Take no mess’ Pinkney.
Actually no one in their right mind man, woman or beast messed with the dainty elegant looking woman of color who wore fifty-one as if she created the age. Bearing an uncanny resemblance to legendary screen goddess Leena Horne, Carla wore her silver-gray hair in a close-cropped style that perfectly framed her face. But her looks and tiny frame were the only things soft about her. Between raising two kids for the most part on her own, and teaching for the wild-style New York Board of Education, she quickly developed a zero tolerance for nonsense and could give less than a damn about pleasing others. But it was her tough as nails personality that got her offered the position as assistant Principal of Boys and Girls High School, which she graciously accepted.
“What’s wrong May Grandma’s being mean to her grand dog?” Tommy asked his dog referring to her by the nickname he used around those who didn’t know what he really did for a living.
“I wish you’d stop referring her as my grand dog and give me a real grandchild.” Carla griped as she turned off the burner under the steaming pot of collard greens.
“And I wish you’d realize that the bond between a man and his dog is just as strong as the bond between him and his wife, or even his child.”
“Hmph! I beg to differ. Look, don’t get me wrong, I think May’s a sweet dog. But she’s hardly a substitute for a grandchild.” Carla beefed. Tommy pretended not to hear and wrestled with his dog. “So, how’s the construction business?” she asked realizing it was pointless to continue.
“I do okay.” Tommy lied averting his mother’s stare.
“That’s good but Tommy do you really want to do just ‘Okay’ forever? What are your long-term goals? You need some stability in your life.” Carla asked earnestly. She was a little disappointed that her thirty-one, year old son was not where she felt he should be in life. More disappointed that he dropped out of college and got divorced with no explanation. As smart and charismatic as he was, she saw her son doing so much more than operating a jackhammer. But if construction was what he wanted, so be it because no matter what she loved her baby-boy dearly and spoiled him as an adult, as she had done when he was a child. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to stop pushing him to do more. It was her God given right as a mother.
Tommy looked to the ceiling for strength. “Stability is overrated. Seriously Ma pace yourself it’s January the first. You’ve got the whole year to pluck your son’s nerves.” He said opening a Ring-Ding and cramming the entire hockey puck shaped cake into his mouth as he turned to walk off.
“Tommy I don’t care how swollen you are from lifting them dumbbells. I’m your mother. I brought you into this world and I’ll take you out!”
Tommy leaned against the counter like he was four years old, head down thinking, if his enemies could see him now. “Yes Ma’am.”
After getting her due respect, Carla continued. “Now like I was saying, Tommy, you’re a grown man but you live like you’re still in high school. Honey you cannot live on pizza and beer forever. It is time to grow up. Have a family of your own.”
“I wanna Ding Dong! Gimme a Ding Dong!” Tee-Tee suddenly bounced over proclaiming. Tommy looked at his sister then at his mother and busted out laughing.
“Baby they’re called Ring Dings alright?” Carla corrected her daughter while glaring at her son’s immaturity.
“What?” Tommy shrugged.
“Did you finish your cereal honey?” Carla asked her daughter suspiciously. Tee-Tee nodded with her eyes glued to the box of cupcakes in her brother’s hands. Carla was about to give her one when she heard gulping sounds coming from somewhere in the room. She peeked behind the partition Tommy used to divide his place and discovered his dog lapping up the bowl of Smurf Berry Crunch on the floor.
Tommy couldn’t help but laugh. Even though his sister had the mind of an adolescent, some of the things she did were very clever and quite ‘adult-like’ in her scheming.
“You’re not helping matters any.” Carla said frustrated to her son.
“C’mon Ma you gotta give Tee-Tee her props. She should get the cake just on G.P.” He said winking at his sister.
Carla sucked her teeth and opened the foil wrapper over the small cake then handed it to Tee-Tee. “Here, you have your brother to thank for this because your sneaky behind don’t deserve nothing.” Tee-Tee accepted her award for, ‘Most creative way to simultaneously finish her food and obtain a Ring Ding’ and excitedly ran back to the television in time to the sing along with the Fraggle Rock theme song. Carla looked at her daughter sadly. Sitting there watching television Tatiana appeared to be a normal twenty-four-year-old woman. But whenever something funny happened on the children’s television show she was watching, those same elegant features that she shared with her mother transformed into those of an animated child’s. Carla forced a smile then turned to her son. “I’d really like some grandkids.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve saved a whole lot of money and gotten you one of those instead of the pearl necklace I got you for Christmas.” Tommy said sarcastically.
“I’m serious Tommy when are you going to settle down?”
“Whoa! You want me to settle down and start a family. Pop wants me to go back to school and get my degree-”
“I can’t believe that I’m saying this but I agree with you father. Partially. With the job market so competitive, you’d be better off with your Masters.” Carla added.
“I’m shocked you didn’t offer any suggestions on what I should study too.”
“Well according to L.A. Law and St. Elsewhere you can’t go wrong in either the legal or medical field. And I know I can never go wrong when I’m watching me some Blair Underwood and Denzel Washington. Mmm-mmm-mmm!” She sighed daydreaming.
“Wow Ma, really! You know what you are? An African American yenta.” Tommy said letting out a cro
ss between a sigh and a laugh. “Look, I am happy with what I am doing right now and I am certainly in no hurry to have a wrinkled little time clock.”
Carla threw her hands up feeling defeated. “Well fine then, but I still don’t understand why you and Nicky divorced. She was perfect. Good looks, brains, a sweet personality. And to this day neither of you have ever given me a straight answer.”
Tommy shrugged his shoulders like he wasn’t about to now and patted his thigh getting his dog’s attention. “Get daddy a beer.” He commanded to which she happily obliged and let out a bark then galloped over to the fridge and clamped down on the handle and pulled open the door. She stuck her head inside and grabbed a bottle of Guinness Stout by the neck, closed the door with her tail then brought it to her master.
“Nicky called me yesterday.” Carla said matter a factly.
“Oh?” Tommy said nonchalantly never mentioning she called earlier or that he dreamt about her. Instead he set the bottle cap on the edge of his counter, held on tight to his beer and brought his hand down hard on the cap to pop it off.
“Tommy can I have a sip of your beer?” Tee-Tee asked.
“No!” Both Tommy and his mother replied.
“Didn’t you have enough to dink last night? Carla asked her son.
“So, what’d Nicky want?” Tommy asked deflecting her meddling.
“Just some advice. Her Principal asked her if she’d consider teaching special education next year because of the wonderful work she’s done with her class. I told her she should do it. She’s a passionate teacher and it’s why she got into this profession in the first place, to make a difference. Remember how helpful she was with Tee-Tee?” Tommy nodded. When the special education teachers had a difficult time teaching his sister to relearn the alphabet and tie her shoelaces only Nicky was able to do it. “But that was it. It’s not like she’s going to say but so much because she knows I live for the day you two will get back together and you can move out of here”
“What’s wrong with my place?” he asked gesturing at the Manhattan skyline in his window.
Havoc and Mayhem Page 8