by Bijou Hunter
I smile at the thought of Little Court wanting to get good grades.
“Well, I was never a genius at it or anything,” he says after his silence lingered. “I wasn’t in the gifted math classes, but it was the only class where I could get A’s and B’s. I was never good at anything. Not sports. Not school. I only had math to give me any accomplishment. It was a small thing, and I worked hard because I knew I could actually do it. Then that asshole ruined sixth grade for me. I never did as well at math afterward either. Once we fell behind, I couldn’t catch up. Anyhow, that’s not my point.”
“You had a point? I thought you were just babbling like I do all the time.”
Court smirks at me. “The fucker died at the end of my sixth-grade year. Everyone knew he was an asshole. Everyone knew he was a bad teacher. Everyone knew, but they talked about him like he was a saint once he died. He’d never done a fucking thing wrong in his entire fucking life.”
“Man, you’re still pissed after all these years.”
“Fuck yeah. He was an asshole who never got what was coming to him. Most of the assholes in my life eventually had bad things happen. That still pisses me off.”
“You don’t want Felix doing the same saint stuff with Becca.”
“He knows she’s a bitch right now. He understands that more than I do since he has to live in the same house with her. I think he hates her most days. If she died, he’d start only remembering the good stuff. He’d find ways to excuse the bad. He’d turn her into a victim. It’s what people do.”
“He’ll be a teenager soon, so you’re looking at him lashing out for every slight anyway. Man, I hate teenagers.”
“Were you horrible?”
“The absolute worse. Well, that’s the way it seemed until Poppy hit thirteen and the world shuddered in terror.”
Court smiles and glances back at the house. “Felix likes Poppy. Not in a gross crush way but like she’s a cool family member.”
“Poppy is horrible to most people, but she’s pretty sweet with her dweeb friends and now Felix. I guess they bring out her kinder side. She said she thought if you and I were to stay together for real that a judge would probably want us to have custody even with your record. I told her to mind her own business, but we all know that won’t happen.”
“I’m not with you as a way to look good to a judge,” he says as if I’d ever suspect him of such a con.
“Well, duh, Court. If you wanted to pull that move, you could have done it long ago with plenty of other women. You’re with me because I’m an amazing catch, and you have great taste.”
Kissing me, Court forgets about my swollen lip. I relish the taste of him and forget about my discomfort. Love is a powerful thing.
“This is where I want to build a house one day,” I say once his lips leave mine. “Right here so my kids can walk to their grandma’s house. Do you think it’s weird to want to be so close to my mom?”
“No. I lived the block away from my mom until she died.”
“I wish I could have met her. I’d thank her for raising such a fine man I can enjoy in and out of the bedroom.”
“I’m sure she’d appreciate the compliment.” Court glances around at the open land. “This is a nice spot for a house. Away from the road. Close to your family.”
“Lots of space for a kid to run around,” I say, hinting before realizing subtlety isn’t my strong suit. “If we stay together, we’ll live here, and I’ll want Felix to live here too. I’ll want us to be a family. I don’t care about Becca’s crap, or that raising a kid is hard. I love you, and your kid owns a slice of my heart too. I’m not dumping this on you to make you…”
Court kisses me again, shutting up my attempt to be rational. He loves me. I love him. Why make anything more complicated when we can’t know our future?
27 Black Sheep
Justice
Everyone at Kroger apparently attended high school with Christine, and they all want to reunite with her at this very moment. Eventually, Poppy, Journey, and I ditch her and do our grocery shopping.
“Hi, Journey,” a pregnant woman says, waving from the other side of the freezer section.
Journey waves back before grabbing the cart when Poppy and I attempt to ditch her like we did Christine.
“She came to the clinic for an ultrasound.”
“Is she having a boy or girl?” Poppy asks while I look at TV dinners for Court and Felix.
“Boy but don’t tell her. She doesn’t want to know.”
Poppy looks ready to yell at the woman. When Journey ignores her, the prank dies a quick death.
“Sorry,” Christine says, meeting us in the meat section. “People are really friendly.”
“We’ve been in town for weeks. When do they stop being friendly?” Journey asks.
“Never. They’ll know your every failure and success. The town owns everyone who lives in it. I thought I mentioned that before we moved.”
“Yeah, but I assumed you were being overly dramatic as usual.”
Journey and Christine give each other the evil eye while Poppy looks for her preferred brand of bacon.
Raised voices draw my attention to where Jared strolls down our aisle. He’s talking to someone who replies in a thunderous voice, likely warning my mother.
“Oh, no,” Christine says.
“Isn’t it time you two made nice?” Journey asks.
“I’m not ready to talk to him.”
Journey frowns at the already freaking Christine. “What will more time give you?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure what to expect.”
“Are you afraid you two will still have sparks,” I ask.
Journey glances at our father on his way toward us. “Or that you won’t. This is the time to find out. Rip off the Band-Aid and face whatever ugly truth you find.”
Christine gnaws at her lower lip and stares at Jared.
“Hello,” he says to us, but his gaze is on his ex.
My parents stare at one another for a long minute while my sisters and I gawk at them. If they didn’t have an audience, things might go better, but I’m too curious to look away.
Stepping back, Christine reaches for the SUV keys hanging from Journey’s pocket.
“I’ll wait outside.”
“Christine,” Jared mutters before raising his voice as she bolts down the aisle, “This is getting ridiculous!”
Journey sighs. “A real man would chase her down.”
“A real man would tackle her,” I add.
“A real man would smack some sense into her,” Poppy says, causing us to frown at her. “What? Too much?”
“If she doesn’t want to talk to me, I’ll leave her alone.”
Jared says the words while watching her go. Then he focuses on me until I frown.
“What?”
“Fuck it,” he says and takes off running after Christine.
I look at my sisters who examine me for whatever hidden message Jared saw. We hurry our cart to the front of the store so we can find a good spot for the show unfolding in the parking lot.
Jared takes Christine by the arm and says something that causes her to yank free.
“Should we sneak closer?” Poppy asks.
“No,” Journey grunts. “Let them be.”
“Whatever, queef.”
Journey ignores Poppy and focuses on our parents arguing in front of the entire parking lot. Christine waves her arms around wildly while Jared shakes his head and tries to interrupt her tirade.
“Your dick let me down when I needed it,” Poppy says, doing her impression of Christine. “Why couldn’t you have left it at home while you were in prison?”
Jared begins yelling at Christine outside, and I hear his voice even if his words aren’t clear.
“You married a fat man with extremely long nose hairs,” I mutter, rubbing my imaginary mustache. “If you had waited for me, you’d have a better kid than that Poopy chick.”
My sister gives me a
side-glare. “If you hadn’t been so hairy and given me a weird daughter with freaky caterpillar eyebrows, I would have stayed.”
“I don’t have bushy eyebrows,” I growl. “You’re thinking of this one here. See?”
Journey smacks my hand away when I try to touch her furry eye-warmers.
“I think they’re going to punch each other,” Poppy says as my parents get into each other’s faces.
“Uh, I don’t think that’s where this is headed.”
Journey hasn’t finished spitting out the words before Jared grabs Christine and kisses her hard. She wraps her arms around his neck and suddenly they’re drying humping against our SUV.
“Barf,” I moan. “I don’t want to see how I got in my mommy’s tummy.”
“What are you whining about?” Journey asks. “They’re violating my car.”
“True. I stand corrected. You’ve been wronged. Go out there and make them stop.”
“Why?” Poppy asks, shoving her hip into mine. “I think their disgusting display is beautiful. Long lost lovers reuniting in front of God, nature, and everyone at Kroger. What’s more romantic than that?”
We walk outside to where Jared carries Christine to his Harley. Their lips remained locked, and their brains clearly shut off.
“Don’t forget condoms!” Poppy yells. “Gonorrhea knows no age!”
The people enjoying the show in the parking lot turn to gape at Poppy, who shrugs.
“Your educational system right here,” she says, pointing at herself.
“I’m still confused how things went so icky so fast,” I say as we watch Jared and Christine ride away on his Harley.
“It’s been nearly twenty years. That’s a lot of pent-up desire between the two of them,” Journey says before walking to her SUV where Christine left the keys.
Before Journey returns, Poppy stomps back into the store. Eventually, we find the grumpy teen tapping her foot at our cart.
“What’s your problem?”
“My dad is miles away, and my mom just ran off with some shady fella. I’m basically an orphan now.”
Journey wraps an arm around Poppy’s shoulder. “I’ll adopt you, but we’ll need to set out a few new rules. Number one is children are to be seen, not heard. Understand?”
Poppy gets into Journey’s face and nods. For the rest of the grocery shopping, she says nothing but goes eyeball-to-eyeball with her new mommy. Apparently satisfied by Poppy’s display of angry obedience, Journey can’t stop smiling. I’m more interested in how long my daddy will be defiling my mommy.
28 Black Sheep
Court
Becca loves her Trans Am. I’m not sure how she afforded to buy it. Hell, I don’t even know if she owns it legally, but she dotes on her car in a way she never does with her family. The red terror races down the roads of Tumbling Rock, scaring the shit out of anyone in its path. Becca especially loves terrorizing adult bike riders.
Journey’s beat down of Becca, Apryl, and Hilari left the bitches in a shit mood. The only way to make their lives better is to drink themselves into a stupor at one of the local bars. For the last few days, the girls have hit one place after another. I track them, unsure if my actions will throw kerosene on Becca’s fiery temper. Eventually, I decide I don’t give a shit.
As I prepare to steal Becca’s Trans Am from a packed parking lot at The Beaver, Justice texts me to say her parents’ horniness made her a sad face emoticon. I promise to drive out to her place as soon as I finish an assignment. She texts a dozen more sad faces, but I still tell her I can’t come over right then. She finally sends a middle finger emoticon.
I love Justice’s quirks and can usually tell when she’s messing with me. Face to face, anyhow, but in texts, her sarcasm feels jarring. I send her a heart emoticon just in case she’s pissed. She replies with a poem.
Roses are red.
Violets are blue.
I want to ride your face.
And then your big sexy pool cue.
That rhymed, right?
Knowing Justice is in a good mood, I return my focus to the task at hand.
My Harley is parked a few businesses over, behind a dumpster where it shouldn’t be noticeable to anyone not looking. The Beaver is at full occupancy, and I don’t doubt Becca will be partying until closing time.
I casually drive out of the parking lot without a soul in sight. The Trans Am should be a decent ride, but it turns out Becca doesn’t take any better care of the car than she does her kids. The shocks are shit, and her brakes keep slipping. The thing isn’t safe for anyone to ride in, so I’m doing her a fucking favor by driving the piece of shit into the Hunter’s Luck Lake.
Just outside out Tumbling Rock, I take a turn down a long, dirt road that leads to a drop-off over the lake. The Trans Am will soon join dozens of lost cars. Everyone knows they’re down deep in the muddy waters, but no one wants to pay to drag them out.
I don’t know if Becca will figure out where her beloved car went. She might guess I took it. She might even guess I dumped it in the lake.
Most likely, she’ll have too many enemies to know who stole her ride. In Becca’s mind, the Trans Am is worth a fortune so she’ll probably think a thief sold it. No matter what she believes, I’ll have caused her a bit of the pain she daily hands out to everyone else.
I open all of the windows in the car, check for anything important in the glove compartment, and leave behind her stash of pot. After placing a block between the seat and accelerator, I adjust the gear from neutral to drive. The Trans Am races off the cliff before crashing into the deep waters below. I stand at the drop-off long after the final bubbles pop at the surface.
I wish I were more satisfied by my revenge. Part of me wants the bitch to know I did it. Of course, she’d take it out on Felix. Becca might even go to court to fuck with my visitation again.
At the main road, I stand in the foggy evening and wait for Donovan to show up. I don’t think to ask any of my club brothers to help. They’d wonder about starting trouble with a bitch like Becca. Joe always says to leave her well enough alone before she starts shit we can’t fix. They’re so worried she’ll get the police involved in Tumbling Rock that they allow her to run wild. If we get rid of her, we’ll have to get rid of a lot of people in this town, Joe told me once. I hadn’t even asked him to kill my ex, but he knew what would make everyone’s life easier.
Donovan drives me to a spot near where my Harley is parked.
“Did it feel good?” he asks.
“I hated that car nearly as much as I hate her, so, yeah, it felt pretty fucking perfect.”
Donovan smiles in the dark car. “She’s going to be pissed.”
“I know,” I say, nearly laughing. “I better pick up Felix for the night, so he isn’t around when she gets home.”
“Glad to help out, but I better get out of town before someone spots me and thinks the cops are scoping out the place.”
After Donovan speeds away, I return to where my Harley remains safe and sound. Crime in Tumbling Rock is a part of life, and everyone expects they’ll be robbed once or twice. However, no one wants to endure the club’s wrath, and nothing pisses off the Rawkfist boys like a stolen Harley.
29 Black Sheep
Justice
First, Christine runs off to do sticky activities with Jared. Then Court says he won’t be able to stop by until late in the evening. I’m absolutely shocked to learn the world doesn’t revolve around me. My day has sucked so far. First, I had a long day at work, and then the wild time at the store, and finally a bitchy dinner with my bitchy sisters.
“You’re a hog-faced weenie machine,” Poppy says when I tell her to do the dishes.
“Your bad attitude is exactly why your parents abandoned you.”
Poppy throws a dish towel at me. “I am not the problem! The world is the problem! You are the problem! You can’t handle the truth!”
“Just wash the damn dishes,” I mutter.
“Okay, but
I will spit in your mouth while you sleep tonight.”
Rolling my eyes, I look to Journey for help. “I thought you adopted her.”
“The imaginary paperwork hasn’t gone through yet. Until it does, you’re on your own.”
“Just great.”
Journey lets out a roaring sigh, startling Hal from the front window where he waits for Christine.
“I’ll do the dishes. You two need to shut the fuck up and go to your separate corners of the house. I’m not above getting out the belt.”
Poppy stomps to her room while I mosey to mine. We both fume until Journey finishes with the dishes and we’re in the clear. Returning to her side, we stare at our big sister.
“I’m lonely,” I say, rubbing my head cat-like against Journey’s shoulder.
“She’s lonely,” Poppy adds, rubbing her head against Journey’s other shoulder.
“We’ll watch a movie until Christine returns reeking of shame and regret.”
A few minutes later, Poppy is sprawled on the floor with Hal while I sit on the couch and rest my head on Journey’s lap. Zombeavers is half over before we hear a Harley’s engine outside.
“Is that Mom returning or Justice’s hot dog?” Poppy asks without turning away from the TV. “My money is on the second one.”
Standing, I hurry to the door and hope Court’s here. I miss him and need his reassurance that the world is still beautiful even while my parents knock boots. Besides, if Christine returns too early, she’ll no doubt be sexually unsatisfied. I suspect Jared and she need at least a solid six hours to satisfy so many years of horny longing.
Court walks to the porch with Felix in tow. I manage to say hi to the kid even while attaching my lips to his father’s. Having Court’s strong arms around me soothes my long day.
“My parents got it on in a parking lot,” I say, looking up at him.
“I know. Hell, the entire town knows. Today will likely be celebrated for generations to come.”
Rolling my eyes, I lean around him enough to see Felix. “Are you bunking on the sofa bed tonight?”
“Is that okay?”
“Of course. Consider this your second home. Well third after your dad’s, but you get the point. Now let’s get inside before the mosquitoes start biting.”