by Brother Dash
"Yeah Chase?" he says.
"Look at this. You see this?" Chase shows Devantay the surface wound.
"Dayyum yo. What the hell? I mean heck,” he says.
"That kid must have bit me yesterday. You know, the pudgy one? The one that I had to hold back who was hitting on you?" Chase says.
Devantay’s left eye shrivels for a moment and then quickly returns to normal. Chase continues the story.
"What was his name again?" Chase starts snapping his fingers and hopes beyond hope that Devantay’s street smarts kick in.
”You got into a fight Devantay?" Jenae says.
“Yeah, Miss Jenae,” Devantay says with the smoothness of a 70’s pimp. “It was crazy. See these three dudes jumped me at the group home yesterday—“
“We were having a meeting of mentors in the conference room,” Chase jumps in.
“Let him tell it,” Jenae leers at Chase.
“Go ahead, Devantay,” Jenae says.
“So yeah, right in the middle of Chase’s meeting. These dudes was saying how I think I’m better than them because my mentor takes me to all these cool places and does real shit with me. And their mentors is just a bunch of bum bitches. And how Chase really cares and shit. So they jumped me. But I punched the one guy in the nose and knocked him right on his fat ass," he smirks as he enjoys the freedom to cuss without discipline. Jenae puts her hand on Devantay’s shoulder.
“Were you hurt?” she says.
“Nah not so much. Chase heard everything. I was like BAM, punch in the face, then BAM knee in the gut, I was like Iron Man taking on those two punks I mean three. And then I—“
Chase senses the excited child is about to get carried away and perhaps sabotage the story. He interjects.
“—And so that's when I got between Devantay and the other kids. My shirt got ripped open, one of them tripped me to the ground, and that's when the pudgy kid...umm what's his name again, Devantay? You mentioned him once before?"
“Cake," Devantay says.
"Cake?" Jenae repeats "That kid I told you had a terrible nickname?"
"Yup. Him. Love you like a fat kid love cake. That’s when Cake jumped on top of Chase and bit him on his shoulder,” Devantay says with a growl for good measure.
BEEP BEEP BEEP
Jenae’s cell phone rings.
"Hmmm. Well, I’m just glad you're okay. But do your best to avoid fights if you can. Especially against three guys, junior Hulk,” she says as she answers her phone. "You know I saw that bite mark and thought you were struggling to tell me something else. Glad I was stressing for nothing.” She kisses Chase on the corner of his mouth and says hello into the phone’s mouthpiece. She exits into the kitchen.
Chase watches her disappear and then leans over to Devantay.
"Well, you're pretty quick on your feet aren't you?" Chase murmurs.
“Well, it only took a sec to see you needed me to lie. You learn fast in group.” He takes a swig of the ginger beer. Chase puts his arm around Devantay and ushers him away from the kitchen entrance.
"Listen D-man. It wasn't good that I lied. And it really wasn't good for you to lie too."
“Oh okay. You want me to tell Miss Jenae I lied? I mean you never even came by yesterday, you know.”
“Shh, Shh, no of course not. I just don't want you to think that this was cool. It was just something that I kind of…had to do."
“Aw come on Chase. I get it. You're a playa. You was getting your mack on. Word that’s dope."
“No Devantay. Being a player is not dope and I'm not macking. How do you even know that word?"
Devantay stares up at Chase and rolls his eyes.
“Okay, okay I get it. You’re no dummy. We’ll talk about it later but it wasn’t right what I did.”
“So what was it then?”
“Necessary.”
"I got you Chase. Don't worry. So how did you get a bite mark on your shoulder anyway?”
“I can’t really get into that but…wait…you hear that?…Is Jenae yelling?”
Jenae's voice crescendos as she storms back into the living room clutching the cell phone.
“For the third time who the hell is this and how did you get this number?”
Devantay and Chase gawk at Jenae with confused looks.
“Yes, he’s about six foot two. Six three to be exact. Yes, he lives in a brownstone but I'm not about to answer a bunch of—huh? Excuse me?"
Jenae's light brown complexion morphs into fiery red clay.
"Who are you talking t—“ Chase asks. Jenae puts her palm up. Devantay sits on the edge of the couch nursing his ginger brew.
“Yes, he’s a professor. What do you mean he was with you last weekend? Who is this? Who? Tevarus' wife? Who the hell is Tevarus?"
Chase's heart feels like someone just clicked emergency eject. It fires and thuds against his sternum. His veins pulse and pop with the surging fear of infused blood. He can feel the sting of sweat, ooze from his pores like pus. Only one name can cause such a creepy chemical reaction. It is a name he never expected to hear again, let alone hear erupt from the lips of his beloved. He tries to stagger but his legs remain fossilized. He wails but his voice is silent. His lungs whistle and hack like whooping cough. Eyes bulge from their sockets. Adrenaline spills onto the wires of his mind; it short circuits the decision to fight, flee or freak out.
“Jenae. Who is on the phone?” Chase demands.
Her hands tremble and her lips pulse. Her eyes pool into tears as she puts the phone on speaker. A heavily accented Dominican woman’s voice barks.
"You listen to me. I don't know what he tell you but he name is Tay-Vah-Rus. Tevarus marry me in Boston."
"Boston? How long ago in Boston?” Jenae says, remembering that Chase has always claimed to be from there.
“Seven, eight year ago. We marry as kids. Only eighteen, nineteen year old. Mi abuela morió…I mean she died. I visit mi familía in The Dominican Republic and transfer the money she left for me to our bank account. But when I come back he no here. He clean out all the money mamí, everything, todos. All this time I try and find him. I hear from somebody, that he get some job in Nueva York at una escuela. At a college. I track him down three week ago. We meet. And you know something? He apologize and everything. Then he take me back to he place in Brooklyn and I spend the night.”
"Wait, wait, wait. You’re trying to tell me that my man brought you back here? No no. This isn't happening," Jenae says.
“Jenae, I don’t know who this woman—“
“Shut up,” Jenae says pointing her finger like a pistol.
“Mira mamacita. I no care about you being his girlfriend. I his wife you understand me, sí? Tevarus say he need some time to figure things out. I gave him he time. He no call back so now I calling you."
“I can’t believe this. This can’t be happening,” Jenae says as she rakes her hair and rolls her eyes to the ceiling. “Wait. How did you even get my number?"
“Jenae look she—“
“Shush, I said,” waving Chase off.
Devantay sits on the edge of his seat, literally, glued to the drama.
"When he sleep I go through he phone and right down every woman number I see. And this Jenny numero keep coming up. Jenny, Jenny, Jenny so I put the two and the two together, entiende? You understand me?”
"Oh I understand you alright," Jenae says.
Chase whispers, ”But your name is Jenae not Jenny."
Jenae puts the phone on mute.
“I said shut it. She has an accent. You know she means Jenae when she says, Jenny."
Jenae takes the phone off mute.
“Look, I have known Chase for years," Jenae says.
"Chay? Who Chay? He name is Tevarus. He tell you he name Chay?"
"Okay now I'm all confused. I don't know what the hell is going on. You’re telling me that my man is already married and his name is Tevarus?"
Jenae clutches her curls and paces the room. Tears well up in he
r eyes. Chase is helpless. Devantay looks on as if he wishes he had a bag of hot buttered popcorn to munch.
"Jenae this is crazy. She's lying to you,” is the best that Chase can muster. Jenae places her hand over the receiver.
"She knows your height, your features, your job, you live in a brownstone, you're from Boston, how could you do this?" Jenae says through sniffles and teardrops.
"How you not know he married mama? My name tattoo right on he culo…Damaris. It’s right there. Don’t play estupido," the voice says through the speaker.
Chase’s face turns puzzled.
"Tattoo?" Jenae says.
Jenae knows that Chase despises tattoos. It was their first and only real argument until recently. Jenae wanted to get a tiny, scales of justice design with a graduation cap and tassels logo on her ankle two summers ago. It was to signify the joining of their career goals into one. Chase demanded that she not get them. Jenae felt that Chase was being controlling. Chase would never tell her why he had such an issue with tattoos.
"Chase doesn't have a tattoo," Jenae says.
"Mamí please. It's right on his ass okay? You never see your own boyfriend culo?"
"I told you he doesn't have a goddamn tattoo. Wait a minute you said you were here. Describe this house."
"It's not a house mama. He live in a brownstone apartment building. Seventeen floor. Apartment number 17B. B, like boy."
“First of all a brownstone isn’t an apartment building, and it sure as hell doesn’t have seventeen floors. Anyway, you said you found out what college he works in. Where?"
"Long Island University in downtown Brooklyn. He teach Math. I even meet his boss. Some old white lady."
Chase sits down next to Devantay and breathes easier.
"And you got my number from his phone you say?"
“Sí, I mean yes."
"What's the number?"
"The number? I just dialed it mama."
"I know, I know. But repeat it to me please."
"Seven One Eight...Five, Five, Five, Thirty Three, Twenty Two.”
Devantay laughs.
“Ha Ha. That ain’t Miss Jenae number. She wrong,” Devantay says.
Chase gives a relieved half-smile.
"That's not my number. It’s close, but you misdialed."
“No, no, no. His name is Tevarus and he—“
"Look I heard you already. But just to be sure let's do this. If he's your husband you should have a picture of him right?"
“Sí, claro. Of course I have a picture."
Chase fidgets in his seat.
"Okay then, text it to the number you actually dialed. Look in your call history,” Jenae says.
"Okay, un momento."
Thirty seconds pass. It is the longest half-minute of Chase’s Brooklyn life. Two quick vibrations on Jenae’s phone, alert of an incoming text. Jenae taps the screen. Her eyebrows raise and her mouth smirks. A sigh of relief replaces her fury.
"Well your Tevarus is certainly not my Chase. Same bald head but I guess I should have confirmed that we were both talking about a Black man at least."
"He Black? Oh no, no. He not him. Tevarus no Black. Ay Díos I am so sorry Jenny. So embarrassed. Sorry I scare you."
"It's okay. Well I hope you get things worked out with your husband. Goodbye."
The conversation is finally over. Jenae’s face is flushed and her eyes are pink pools. She dries the trickles on her cheekbones. Chase rushes to embrace her. Jenae buries her face in the valley of his chest.
"Babe I'm so sorry,” she says. Chase strokes her hair and kisses her forehead. “I can't believe I let some wrong number and a crazy story get me all flustered like this."
"Sweetheart it's okay. I haven't been attentive. I made you feel like you had something to worry about. Any woman would have done the same thing," he says.
“No, it's not okay. I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm never the crazy, jealous, insecure chick."
"I know. That's why I'm marrying you," Chase says. He wraps his arm around her waist and smoothes his other palm on her rump and grabs a chunk.
“Oh,” she jumps.
”And you’re so sexy when you get all mad…,” he says, and kisses her. “…and all bothered…,” he kisses some more “…and all sweaty,” Mmph Mmph Mmph “…and nasty and—“
"Yuck. Hello, hello? Impressionable preteen on couch here," Devantay waves.
Jenae clutches the back of Chase’s scalp like a bowling ball and locks her lips onto his. Her tongue stabs inside his mouth for its thick, wet partner.
“This is gross. I'm going to make a sandwich,” Devantay says and scrambles into the kitchen.
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ
"Hmmm, is that a phone in your pocket or is Mr. Happy getting happy?” Jenae says with a wry smile.
Chase returns a devilish grin.
"Answer your phone frisky man. But be quick. I’m going to hop in the shower. Oh and I’m not in a rush to come out…hint hint.”
Jenae slips from his grasp and jogs upstairs. Chase grins and breathes uneasy. He wonders how many bullets he can keep dodging without taking one in the chest. He looks at the number on the screen as it vibrates.
INCOMING CALL
PRIVATE NUMBER
"Yes," Chase answers.
“Well, hello Tevarus."
The familiar voice makes him crush the receiver.
“Eugene,” Chase says, with disgust.
“Well how are you Tevarus?"
"Stop calling me that."
"Why Papi? You no like? You no like me call you that? Huh Papi Chulo?" Eugene laughs like a demonic hyena.
Chase cradles the phone to his mouth and walks to the far corner of the living room.
"What the hell are you doing Eugene?"
“Why, what do you mean Tevarus? Oh I'm sorry it's Chase right?"
"You called Jenae? What the hell were you thinking?"
"Well technically I didn't call her. That was a very well compensated associate of mine. I think she deserves an academy award for that performance don’t you? And check it. She ain’t even Dominican. She’s this black chick that narrates audio books and does voiceovers and shit. Owed me a favor.”
"We have an arrangement Eugene."
“Yeah, playboy we do. But your slow rolling and fuck ups ain’t making for a happy arrangement. Why I had to get a call from a fat dike on a temper tantrum?”
“Don’t act like that was my fault. What the hell Eugene? You set me up with two women? Lesbians at that?"
“Well, you can thank your redhead snowflake for that one. She suggested lesbians. Lesbians are the low hanging fruit for this sort of thing. It’s the only thing they actually need a man for,” he laughs.
“Is this a joke to you Eugene? Some sick joke?”
"Oh don't get all bitter bitch on me. This ain’t no joke. You act like you don't get anything out of this deal."
"I don't. If you think sex is some sort of incentive then you do it? I have a woman already. And you almost blew up my spot if she didn't have a lawyer's brain. She asked the right questions to your fake Dominican.”
"Sex isn't an incentive? Really. So your chumpy don't get hard from these women huh?"
“Is that all you can think about?” Chase says looking over his shoulder.
“Stop being a prissy sissy. I was only going to let that phone call go but so far. I didn’t give her all the correct information did I? I could have told her to ask for your full government name, Tevarus Huxley, and how you’re really from Georgia and your ass ain’t never even been to Boston. But I didn't do that did I?"
“Lucky for me you didn’t. Jenae is smart. She’s a lawyer for crying out loud. She can find stuff out when she wants to. All she would need is a full name. She’s like a bulldog with a pink diamond collar. Still a bulldog.”
“Don’t worry about Jenae. Bam got your ass this far didn’t he? Shoo, you’re a professor and you ain’t never even graduated with a r
eal bachelors degree. I swear that man has contacts everywhere. He got you your name. Your cushy job. So if I was you I’d stay focused or all of that, including your redbone big booty chick, goes abracadabra poof. Start keeping up your end of the bargain playboy. Or I’m going to have to keep up my end.”
“This is blackmail not a bargain. And I’m trying, okay? These women are crazy. Some European fetish chick that wants a trophy biracial kid, and then I get the lesbian surprise in need of anger management? Come on already.”
“Listen I get it. We’re not unreasonable. That call just now to Jenae was Bam’s idea. He said you needed a message. A wake-up call. A reminder of who you’re dealing with. I assume you’re woke now.”
Chase doesn’t respond.
"I'll take your silence as a yes. Now this next one here is your last chance or—“
“I know what the, or, is Eugene.”
“Good. Glad we have an understanding. Now this next chick is perfect. She's not crazy. And she’s very heterosexual. Educated, calm, cool, collected type. And she’s fine as hell. Bangin' body son. I'd smash that, up, down, sideways, back—”
"I get it, I get it. What sort of vetting did you do? That means—”
"I know what the word vetting means nigga. I ain’t stupid. Anyway, the best vetting you can get. She's Man-Man's cousin.”
Chase drops the phone to his side, shakes his head and slaps the heal of his palm on his forehead.
“You’re kidding right? Your goon's cousin is the next date? That's who you picked?"
“Look, I spoke with her myself. She understands the deal. She ain't looking for nothing but a smart, healthy child with good genes. And she’s paying double what we’ve been asking. Chick just got it like that I guess."
"You guess? You guess?" Chase says as he hears the shower turn off and Jenae’s footsteps exit the bathroom upstairs. “Look, I gotta go.”
"That's fine playboy ‘cause we done for now anyway. Instructions will be texted to your white girl. Don’t mess this one up.”
Eugene hangs up. Chase slides the phone into his back pocket and pulls the curtain on the bay window facing the street and looks out. His eyes stare into the light of the sun. But inside there is a black fog of half-truths, lies and deceptions. In the den by the kitchen is a little boy, with a big heart, watching television. And upstairs is a rare jewel with a beautiful soul. He pulls the curtain on the living room window. It keeps the light of the sun from illuminating the darkness within.