Army of One

by A. K. Henderson

  Shamar dropped the flowers, pushed away from Jelisa and, without breaking stride, he engaged Donny. Donny, still on the phone, was caught off guard and had no idea why he was being approached.

  “Say, homeboy, so you like to play on phones, huh?”

  It took a second for it to register with Donny that Shamar was talking to him. Before he could react, Shamar rushed him, landing a furious three piece to his mouth. The shop erupted in panic and confusion. The women screamed, and the other barbers struggled to pull him off of Donny.

  Jelisa was frantic, yelling at him to let him go. When they were finally able to separate the two, Donny lay bloodied and bruised on the floor in a fetal position. Shamar pushed his way through the crowd, storming out the door. Jelisa followed him. He marched down the street breathing heavy, his hands throbbing.

  “Shamar, will you stop? What the hell is wrong with you? You can’t just go beating people up like that. Are you crazy?”

  Shamar stopped in his tracks and snatched Jelisa by her coat. “You’re right I’m crazy. Crazy for thinking I could leave you here by yourself and not have to worry about you creeping.”

  “Shamar, what are you talking about? Ain’t nobody creeping. Where is all of this coming from?”

  “Jelisa, you know what I’m talking about. The last time I tried to call you before I came home, that clown answered your phone. Now go ahead and try to lie your way out of this one.”

  Jelisa’s heart sank to the bottom of her stomach. She knew she shouldn’t have believed Donny when he said he didn’t have her phone that night she couldn’t find it. “Baby, please let me explain. It’s not what you think. I . . . I went to a party he had at his house and—”

  “You was at his house, too? Jelisa, I swear you hella goofy. What were you thinking?” Shamar was heated.

  Jelisa knew that if she didn’t calm him down, it was only going to get worse. “Baby, I swear to you I didn’t do nothing with him. He invited everyone from the shop to his party. I told you I was going, anyway. Practically the whole neighborhood was there. Baby, you’ve got to believe me,” she pleaded with him. With a look of desperation in her eyes, she looked into his soul.

  He didn’t know if she really was innocent, as she claimed; but when he thought about the fact that he would eventually have to tell her about Chrissy, he didn’t want this to be thrown back in his face. “Look, Jelisa, I’m not really feeling like dealing with this right now. I trust you, but I don’t like that dude. I never have. If you tell me nothing happened, then I don’t have any choice but to believe you. But I’m telling you, Jelisa, you better check him before I hurt him.”

  “All right, Shamar. God,” she said under her breath.

  Shamar walked back to his car, got in, and sped off. Jelisa went back into the shop to try to smooth things over with Donny. How mad could he really be since he’d lied about having her phone anyway? When she got to her workstation, Donny was in front of his mirror attempting to clean himself up. He looked her way, embarrassed and ashamed that he had just gotten the beats put on him.

  “So what do you have to say now, Donny? I see the look on your face; don’t even try to blame this on me,” she told him with a smirk.

  “Jelisa, don’t play with me. Homeboy lucky I didn’t up the burner on him. Go on somewhere with that.” Donny’s pride was hurt; but no matter how slick he was talking to Jelisa, he and everybody present knew he wouldn’t back up anything he was saying. Donny was just a loudmouth pretty boy, and Shamar’s and Kaduwey’s names still carried weight in the city. For him, this meant he’d just have to eat this one and charge it to the game. He knew Shamar had just given him a pass; the best he could do was leave well enough alone.

  “You shouldn’t have lied about my phone. Now I’ve got to deal with my man thinking I’m creeping with you. Thanks a lot!”

  She did her best to forget about the drama that had just popped off as she finished up her last few clients and headed to her mother’s to pick Mya up. She hoped Shamar would calm down and they would be able to put the day’s events behind them. Donny messing with her phone was the last thing she needed between her and Shamar. All that was going on with Shamar and Kaduwey, the issues with Sandra, and the fact that Shamar was getting ready to have to go back to Iraq, it all was becoming too much for her.

  * * *

  It had been months since Shamar had spoken to Pete; and, after the blowup at the shop, he needed a guy to talk to. It was poor timing, but after driving around for hours he found himself parked in front of Pete’s house. Pete sat on the porch, as usual, smoking his pipe. When Shamar saw him sitting there, he began to rehearse what he would say when they spoke. Man, I don’t know if I should even talk to him about this. He already don’t like me. Shamar got out and made his way up the sidewalk, walking with his head down and a slow bop.

  “What’s up, soldier boy, how’s it going? What brings you around these parts? There must be something wrong.”

  “Hey, Mr. Adams, how you doing, sir?” Shamar didn’t look too enthused as he walked up onto the porch. “I was wondering if I could rap with you for a minute.”

  “Yeah, sure, son. Have a seat.” Pete motioned for Shamar to take a seat in the chair next to him. He took a puff from his pipe and said, “So what’s going on in your world? I know you and I don’t have too much to say to each other, so it must have to do with my daughter. So what’s going on?”

  Shamar hesitated for a minute before answering. “Well, sir, it’s Jelisa. I mean, I don’t know what’s going on with her. She keeps popping off at me. I’ve only been back a week, and something just doesn’t feel right. I just had to go at some dude’s head because she done messed around and got dude playing on her phone while I was gone. I can’t take it. I just don’t know what to do with her. Know what I’m saying?”

  Pete looked over at Shamar nonchalantly and grinned. “Son, don’t worry about that. I know my daughter and one thing she isn’t is a liar. If she says nothing’s going on, then that’s it. You know, Shamar, you and I haven’t had too many real conversations so I know this must really be bothering you. You have to see things from her perspective and know that she isn’t used to the military or the married life. I never said anything about the two of you getting married because I knew your dad and your uncles, so I knew you came from good peoples. But I knew there would be some challenges for y’all being that you both are so young.”

  Shamar hung his head, contemplating all that was being said. He knew in the beginning that it was risky to marry so young, let alone move Jelisa away from her family. However, Shamar had already seen his share of marriages fail due to deployments, and he couldn’t stand the thought of it happening to him. “Mr. Adams, I know Jelisa’s a good girl and, just like her mom and sisters, she’s got a mouth on her. You know how it is. I just want to make sure her and baby girl are straight. As for that clown she works with, I don’t trust him, and I really don’t want her around him at all. I don’t think I can do the rest of my time over there worrying about what she might be doing. She’s still human, and I don’t expect her to stay cooped up in the house the whole time I’m gone, either. What do you think I should do?” Shamar looked up at Pete, and the look of concern on his face showed that it was really getting to him.

  “Look, Shamar, I can’t tell you what to do about your own marriage; that’s not my place. My marriage to Sandra was ruined, in part, because we allowed other people to get involved with things we should have handled ourselves. You have to take her and sit down with her. You two have to be honest with each other about everything because if you don’t, you will have to face it eventually. I promise you this: if you don’t deal with the issues now, they will only get worse, especially with you being separated.”

  When Shamar considered what Pete was saying, he thought about the fallout he would have to face if Jelisa found out about Chrissy and her daughter. With her being the live wire she was, it would only turn out bad if she didn’t hear it from him. The only problem wa
s he would first have to prove that the little girl was his. He ran the risk of messing up two homes whether he was right or wrong. If he was wrong, Chrissy’s so-called marriage would be destroyed, and her relationship with her daughter wouldn’t be the same. If he was right, the same things could possibly happen. Either way, it could go bad.

  “Yeah, you right, sir. I just don’t want to leave next week with all of this friction between us. If she isn’t up to anything, I don’t want to give her a reason to do something crazy. I need to go see her and straighten things out. We’ve come too far to let something like this mess it up.”

  Shamar stood up, and Pete followed suit. Shamar stuck his hand out, reaching for a handshake, and said, “Well, sir, I appreciate you talking with me. I know we don’t usually vibe like that, but I’ll make sure I take care of this before I leave.”

  Pete reciprocated and met his handshake and replied, “Anytime, son. You just make sure you take care of my daughter and my grandbaby. I know you will make the right decision. You take care of yourself, you hear?”

  Shamar nodded as he turned to walk to his car. He knew better than to share with Pete about the recent event between him and Jelisa. He would’ve tried to kill him for putting his hands on her. Besides that, even though he promised Jelisa he’d talk to Pete, his pride would not let him bring up the nightmares. Leaving well enough alone, he waved good-bye to Pete as he drove off, headed back to Jelisa’s apartment.

  * * *

  Jelisa arrived at Sandra’s house just as it was starting to get dark. She had not heard from Shamar for the rest of the day and was beginning to worry about whether he really believed her. When she walked into the living room, Sandra and Shawnie were watching TV while Mya played with her dolls. It seemed like everything was normal, but normal didn’t feel right. Something was off; she just couldn’t tell what it was.

  “Hey, y’all, what’s up?” she said, sitting down next to Shawnie. Mya dropped her toys and ran over to her with a smile, climbing onto her lap.

  “Hey, girl, what’s up?” Shawnie said, barely taking her eyes away from the TV.

  “Hey, Mama, how you doing?”

  Sandra sat across from them in the corner, smoking a cigarette. She looked over at Jelisa, giving her a simple, “Hey, Jelisa.” Sandra still hadn’t gotten over their blowup and was only being civil with her because of Mya, at the request of Shawnie.

  “Shawnie, girl, tell me why Shamar popped up at the shop today.”

  Shawnie’s attention quickly left the show; automatically, she knew something was wrong. Sandra cut her eyes toward them, trying to listen in.

  “Aw, hell, what happened?”

  “Girl, remember I told you I thought I left my phone at the shop one night awhile back?”

  Shawnie nodded.

  “Well, I had a feeling Donny had taken it home with him ’cause I tracked it with my GPS and his address came up. But, of course, he denied having it when I asked him about it. So anyway, apparently Shamar tried to call me that night. So when he came to the shop, Donny was on the phone, and I guess Shamar recognized his voice. Girl, he beat the spit out of his mouth right there in the shop.” Her attempt at whispering failed as Mya’s ears perked up when she heard Shamar’s name.

  Realizing that Mya was listening, Jelisa said, “My-My, go upstairs with TT.”

  She fumbled around with her dolls for a few seconds before making her way upstairs.

  “Jelisa, are you serious? Please tell me you not messing with this fool.”

  “Shawnie, come on now; what you take me for? I ain’t stupid. You know this city is too small to be trying to creep with somebody. Shamar would kill me if he found out I was cheating on him. Matter of fact, that’s what he asked me. Trust me, Donny is not worth the headache.”

  Sandra scoffed, mumbling something under her breath. Jelisa looked over at her and quickly dismissed her.

  Shawnie shook her head in disbelief. “Jelisa, I told you to stop playing with that boy. He has enough to worry about being overseas. Now you got him thinking you messing around. Are you trying to make this man hurt you?”

  “Shawnie, I’m serious, I am not messing with this dude. I just hope Shamar believes me. He’s only got a few more days until he has to go back and I am not trying to have him leave with this hanging between us,” Jelisa said, lowering her head.

  “What’s wrong?” Shawnie asked.

  “I’m still thinking about Reggie popping up at my place. I can’t shake it. I hope he ain’t up to nothing; but, knowing him, he probably is. I just hope Shamar is gone by the time he tries something.”

  Shawnie looked over at her, puzzled. “Shamar doesn’t know?” she asked.

  Jelisa didn’t answer; her head remained down.

  “Jelisa, come on. Look, I’m not trying to get in your business, but you’re digging yourself a deep hole right now. I just hope this stuff doesn’t blow up in your face.”

  After thinking for a second, Jelisa raised her head and worry was painted all over her face. She knew there was a chance that this could all blow up, but she was betting on Shamar being gone before she’d have to confront her demons. If it all worked out according to her plan, it would all be dealt with, and they would be on their way back to Fort Riley. Shamar wouldn’t have to know anything. It would all be behind her.

  “I know, Shawnie. I just need to hold off until after he leaves. I’ll handle everything else. Just please don’t say nothing to him.”

  “Girl, you know I ain’t going to say nothing; it ain’t my business. But you better do something ’cause you know people around here can’t hold water.”

  “Yeah, this is stressing me out. I need a drink. Mama, what you got to drink in there?”

  Sandra looked up at her and shrugged her shoulders, saying, “Girl, stop acting like you’re a visitor or something. Go on in there and see.” She looked like she wanted to say something else but she held her peace. Both Shawnie and Jelisa picked up on it, but neither spoke up. Better to keep the peace than force the issue.

  * * *

  After driving around for a couple of hours, Shamar found himself driving down Michigan Boulevard in a daze. With just a few days before he would have to return to Iraq, he was faced with the decision of whether to tell Jelisa about Chrissy and the possibility of her daughter being his. If Jelisa wasn’t already cheating, the shock alone could be enough to push her to do it, especially with him being gone until next fall.

  Shamar pulled over in front of what used to be the Harborside projects but was now an open park owned by the local casino. He found a bench and posted up, watching the cars speed by.

  Man, now what am I going to do? I don’t want to go through all of this with Chrissy and then find out shorty ain’t mine. But, then again, I’m not trying to give her a pass either ’cause I’m gonna be pissed as if I find out later that she is. This is so stupid.

  Shamar continued conversing with himself, in his mind, trying to decide what to do. By midnight, he had made his mind up to pay Chrissy a visit and get the answer to the question that could make or break his marriage. He had no idea how it would play out, but he had no other choice; it had to be done.

  Content with his decision, Shamar made his way back to Jelisa’s place. He arrived to a cold, empty apartment. Jelisa and Mya were nowhere to be found. She drank herself to sleep at Sandra’s house, worried about what Shamar must have been thinking. Shamar, hoping the next day would be better, fell asleep on the couch in the living room.

  The next morning, Shamar was startled out of his sleep by his phone vibrating. “Hello?” he said, clearing his throat and sitting up, resting his elbows on his knees. “What’s up, Ashley? How you doing? What’s the news?” He knew something was up for her to be calling him.

  “He’s awake, and he wants to see you. Hurry, we don’t have much time,” Ashley said. She spoke with no emotion, only a sense of urgency. Her voice suggested that she had accepted the fact that this would be their final conversation.

&nbs
p; Shamar’s head dropped, and tears poured from his eyes as he processed the news. He rushed over to the hospital, blowing through every stop sign and light. When he made it to Kaduwey’s room, he asked everyone to leave. The damage from the bullet wounds was worse than everyone thought, and his body couldn’t recover from the surgery. He didn’t look like himself and Shamar struggled to keep eye contact as he fought back the tears.

  “What’s good, folk?” Kaduwey whispered; his voice was raspy and hoarse. “Yo, bruh, it ain’t looking good for me. Guess I should’ve cut back on the herb and double cupping. That lean messed my system up. I don’t know how much longer I got.”

  “Wey, don’t talk like that, man. You gonna be all right, dawg, just hold on.”

  “Look, man, I don’t know what the big Man Upstairs has for me, but I need you to do something for me.”

  Shamar stepped closer to his bed and sat down next to him. “What’s up, man? If it’s about Chrissy, I already got that covered. I’m gonna deal with that today. I just need you to pull through.” Kaduwey didn’t respond, and Shamar continued. “I know what I have to do; I just have to make sure I go about it the right way, you know what I’m saying? Wey! Wey!” Shamar began to panic. Kaduwey wasn’t responding; he stared up at the ceiling, not even moving.

  “Hey, somebody, help!” Shamar called out. “Come on, man, don’t do this to me. Wake up, man!” Shamar shook him, trying to wake him, but nothing worked. He had slipped back into a coma. What was he trying to ask him to do?

  As the nurses tended to him, standing by helpless became too much for Shamar. He quickly departed the hospital. Once he reached his car, he searched through his phone to find Chrissy’s number. He was now even more motivated to get to the bottom of their situation. Shamar knew that calling her to let her know he was on the way to see her would spook her and she would make sure he missed her. He knew she worked for a manufacturing company; and, after a little research, it wasn’t too hard to find out where she lived.