Army of One

by A. K. Henderson

  She was booked up for the next couple of months and, after some planning, it was finally set in stone, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. The spring weather was starting to set in, and flowers sprouted up everywhere. It was the perfect time to get away. After leaving Mya with their mother and sisters, Jelisa and Shawnie headed to Nap.

  When they arrived at the hotel, they checked in and unpacked, ready to hit the town. They found a nice bistro to have lunch at not far from where they were staying. After ordering their food and drinks, the sisters sat and took in the scenery. Shawnie could tell something was bothering Jelisa as she sat quietly, staring out of a nearby window.

  “Jelisa, what’s wrong with you? Why are you so quiet?”

  It took a few seconds for it to register to her that Shawnie was talking to her. She snapped out of her daze and looked over at Shawnie. “Oh, my bad, girl. I was daydreaming. What did you say?”

  “That’s what I’m talking about. What is wrong with you, girl? You’ve been sitting there staring out the window ever since we got here. I know something is bothering you. What is it?” Shawnie asked, reaching across the table and placing her hand on top of Jelisa’s.

  Jelisa had a worried look on her face as she searched her mind for the right words. “I don’t know if I can do this anymore, Shawnie. This Army wife stuff ain’t what I thought it was going to be. He’s gone more than he’s home, and I don’t want to wake up one morning and find out something happened to him. You get what I’m saying?”

  Shawnie nodded her head and replied, “Yeah, I know what you’re saying, Jelisa. Don’t take this the wrong way, but this is what you signed up for. You married a soldier; deployments and time apart come with the territory. I can see that it’s getting to you, but that’s why you have to make the most of the time you have with him.”

  “I tried to. But with everything that was going on, we barely had any time together before he had to go back. I just don’t know if I’m cut out for this. Now to make things worse, I think Reggie is back in town. I swear I keep seeing a car just like his everywhere I go, and God only knows, if it is him, what he’s up to. He already came to my house twice and—”

  Shawnie’s face turned sour as she interrupted, saying, “I thought you said he only came by that one time before I got there. Why didn’t you tell me this, Jelisa?”

  “Because I knew you would overreact just like you’re about to do now.”

  “Jelisa, what do you mean you didn’t want me to overreact? That bastard raped you, and you don’t think I should overreact?”

  “Shawnie, keep your voice down,” Jelisa grunted, seeing that they were starting to draw stares.

  Shawnie leaned in and looked her dead in the eyes, saying, “This goofy is lucky to even be alive right now. Not only that, but you haven’t told Shamar about it, and you got this man stalking and creeping around you and Mya. You know Shamar is going to flip when he finds out.”

  “I know, girl, I just need to get my thoughts together first. I’m going to tell him, and I promise you one thing: Reggie is going to get what’s coming to him.” What Shawnie didn’t know was that Jelisa was counting on Shamar’s street connections to help facilitate her revenge on Reggie. Her mind was already working on a plan to take care of him. At the present time, the most important thing to her was taking care of Mya and figuring out whether to stay married. It was becoming more than she had bargained for.

  “I know this can’t be easy for you, sis; but you have to remember that y’all have been through a lot and you don’t want to throw it all away just because it’s tough. Don’t let the stuff that happened to you stop you from being able to accept when somebody is trying to love you. Shamar would kill and die for you and Mya. I would hate to see you get hurt or, better yet, you hurt him.”

  Shawnie’s words were doing a number on Jelisa’s conscience. She knew Shawnie was right. But Shawnie had no idea what it felt like, so her words only meant so much. “Look, I hear what you’re saying, and I love Shamar to death. But, after all we’ve been through, he’s left me hanging one too many times. Yeah, he was there, but he wasn’t there when it mattered the most. Don’t you get it? Reggie could have killed me and my daughter!” Jelisa became extremely emotional, and tears streamed from her eyes. “Where was he when this man was in my house holding my daughter? Huh? So don’t give me that. I dealt with him running the streets. I put up with the shootouts, and I even brushed off the hoes trying to claim him. I let all of that go because I loved him. I can’t let anything else slide. I won’t do that to myself or my baby.”

  Shawnie reached up and wiped her little sister’s tears, wishing she could take away her pain. “Jelisa, I didn’t know you felt like that. I mean, I guess you have to take care of you and yours. I can’t tell you how to be happy; all I can say is do what you think is best. And, real talk, I’ll ride with you to take care of Reggie. Are you going to be okay?”

  Jelisa nodded, saying, “I’m good. I’ll take of it. you know I always do. Just promise you will look after Mya if anything happens, all right?”

  “Yeah, sis, I got you; but please don’t do nothing crazy.”

  Nobody knew the pain and anger that was attacking Jelisa’s heart. With every day that passed, she grew angrier. She had never felt this much rage. All those years of being quiet and letting stuff slide haunted her. She wasn’t going to be a victim any longer.

  The sisters continued to talk as they waited for their food to come. After their meal, they went on a small shopping spree before they got ready to hit the club that night.

  * * *

  Shamar had become distant from the rest of the people in the unit and everybody could tell something was up with him. He was usually the life of the party; but, as of late, he simply went to work, went to eat, and spent most of his time working out. He had spoken to Jelisa only once since he made it back, and it was a very dull conversation. Shamar could tell they were growing apart. Had he been able to prevent it, he would have never let her go back to Michigan City.

  Shamar was just getting back from his evening workout when he stopped by the cafeteria for a snack. Lo and behold, standing a few feet in front of him was Tamika. Shamar hurried through the line to catch up with her.

  “Hey. Psst. Mika, hold up.”

  Tamika turned around, slightly irritated with how he was calling her. But it passed when she realized it was him. “Boy, I was about to say . . . What’s up?” They gave each other a side hug and walked together to a nearby table.

  “What you been up to, Mika?” Shamar asked, smiling for the first time in weeks.

  Tamika offered a smile and responded, “Nothing much; I’m just passing through on my way home for a few weeks. What about you?”

  “Oh, straight up? I just got back from MC a couple months ago,” he said.

  “Yeah, I haven’t been home in a while. So when my unit gave me the chance to go, I took it. It’ll be nice to get away from this for a while. How was it when you went home?” Mika asked.

  Shamar’s smile was immediately erased from his face.

  “What’s wrong?” she inquired.

  “Man, my trip was hella bogus, for real. It was nothing but drama the whole time I was there. Believe it or not, I couldn’t wait to leave. You remember my partna, Kaduwey?”

  “You talking about the one with the dreads and the golds you used to hang with?”

  “Yeah. Homie got gunned down right in front of me like the day after I got there.”

  Tamika’s face displayed genuine concern. “Are you serious? I’m so sorry, Shamar. Did he make it?”

  Shamar took a sip from his water bottle and stared off into the distance. She knew what that meant. “Naw. My guy tried to hold on as long as he could but . . .”

  “Shamar, I’m sorry about your friend. You would think we’d see more of that kind of stuff over here. It makes no sense to have to go home and see it. You doing okay?” she questioned, placing her hand on his.

  Shamar looked do
wn at her hand and then back up, meeting her eyes with his. “Yeah, I’m good. It’s crazy. He was trying to tell me to do something, but I don’t know what it was. I think it had something to do with Chri . . .” He caught himself before he told her too much.

  She picked up on his discomfort with the subject. “What were you getting ready to say?”

  “Mika, you gotta promise not to say nothing, okay?”

  She nodded. “Of course, Shamar. You know me better than that.”

  “All right. Do you remember that chick Chrissy? That one mixed chick I used to mess with?”

  “Yeah, I remember her ol’ nasty self. What about her?”

  “Man, I think shorty got my kid, but she won’t tell me. I asked, and she keeps blowing me off, begging me to let it go.”

  Tamika looked confused for a moment. “Wait, that don’t make sense, Shamar,” she said.

  “What you mean?”

  Tamika continued, “Shamar, she’s a dyke. You didn’t know? I can’t believe she even had a baby. How you end up smashing that?” Tamika joked.

  Shamar was puzzled; he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Mika, stop playing, man. That broad straight up had a whole baby on me and swears up and down it ain’t mine. Now you telling me she don’t even like dudes. That’s crazy.”

  “I’m pretty sure she’s a carpet muncher. I told you back then you needed to be careful. Hardhead.”

  “Yeah, okay. But, look, do me a favor. Check in on her while you home. I need to figure out how I can get her to agree to a paternity test. I mean, I have two options. If she gets state assistance, it’s mandatory that she submit to one. If not, though, I’m going to have to take her to court; and that’s going to be hard to do without my wife knowing.”

  Tamika shook her head in disbelief. “Shamar, you didn’t tell your wife about this? Boy, are you stupid? You know how females are at home; you better hope she doesn’t already know. She might be plotting on you.” She laughed.

  “Mika, don’t play like that, for real. I need to get the issue under control before I go crazy. I can’t have her walking around like everything is sweet, knowing that little girl might be mine. You know I don’t play like that.”

  Trying to stop laughing at his desperation, Tamika agreed. “Okay, I’ll see what I can do. Now, what’s your wife’s name again? Jelisa, right?”

  “Yeah, you know her. We went to school with her sister Shawnie.”

  “Yeah, I remember. Boy, you sure know how to pick ’em. Look, I need to get out of here. I’m flying out tomorrow night, and you know how that is. So I’ll see you later. Give me a call in a few days. Here’s my number in case you lost it.” Tamika stood up after writing her number on a piece of paper and handing it to him. They shared a friendly embrace and parted ways.

  Shamar grabbed his snack and returned to his quarters, feeling more confused than he did before their conversation. What the hell did I get myself into with this chick? I swear I can’t let Jelisa find out about this. Ain’t no way she’s going to believe this, he thought as he walked out.

  * * *

  Tamika arrived in Michigan City a couple days later, after a couple of false starts at the airports. Tuesday nights were usually boring in the city; the only people out were crackheads, D-boys, and hoes. She made it to the east side, where her parents lived, and figured she’d recover and stay in for the night.

  The next morning, she went over to Platinum Designs to get her eyebrows done and to speak with Donny. He had always been like a big brother to her. Their families grew up together on Emily Street. She entered the shop that morning only planning to catch up with Donny and, hopefully, get the scoop on Chrissy.

  “I’m saying, though, I take off for a few years, and my big bro don’t even try to keep in touch,” Tamika said jokingly, mimicking Donny’s trademark walk and voice.

  Donny, who was sitting in his barber chair, cleaning his clippers, recognized her voice and his face lit up. Pushing himself out of his seat, his eyes beamed with excitement as he called out to her, “Oh, word? Don’t do me like that, Mika. What’s good with you? When you get back? Look at you, Miss Soldier.”

  “Big head, you ain’t changed at all, have you? I see you still got the shop up and running. I just got back from Iraq. They let me come home for a few weeks before I go to my next unit. How’s everything going?” Tamika asked, reaching out for a hug. They embraced and walked back over to Donny’s station, where she sat down in his chair.

  “Can you hook my eyebrows up for me? I’m woofin’ right now,” she said, examining her face in the mirror behind him.

  “Yeah, I got you. Things have been straight around here, you know. I’m eatin’. I saw your mom the other day, and I told her to tell you I said hi.”

  Tamika smirked, looking at Donny’s reflection and saying, “Yeah, right, boy. Stop lying. You ain’t bit more seen my mama. She don’t even leave the house anymore.”

  “Yeah, you got me. But, anyway, what you been up to?”

  As she looked around the shop admiring the décor, Tamika noticed a picture of Shamar and Jelisa by her workstation. She had no idea that Jelisa worked in Donny’s shop. “Jelisa works here? When she start working over here?”

  Donny looked over at the picture and rolled his eyes. Noticing his frustration, Tamika asked, “What’s wrong with you? What, you don’t like her or something? I mean, you are taking her booth rent. Why hire her if you don’t like her?”

  Donny answered, “Naw, it’s nothing like that. She’s just too much of a live wire. Plus, me and her dude don’t get along. But she knows how to bring in that money.”

  “Yeah, I feel that. It is what it is, I guess. Donny, do you remember Chrissy? That one mixed chick from the west side who used to mess with them chicks from LaPorte?”

  Donny thought for a second and remembered who she was talking about. “Oh, yeah. You talking ’bout shorty with the little girl? Yeah, I remember her. She be running round her burning people and whatnot. I was surprised that everybody didn’t know she liked chicks. People still act surprised when they hear about it. Why you ask?”

  Not wanting to give it away, Tamika thought fast and answered, “No reason. I’m just being nosy. I saw her earlier this morning while I was on my way here. That’s all, no biggie.”

  “Oh, okay, I guess. That chick is bad news anyways. You not playing for the rainbow team are you?” he asked.

  “Boy, go on somewhere with that. Don’t even play with me like that.”

  Donny smiled as if he didn’t really believe her. “So how long are you home for?”

  “I’m on leave for four weeks, and then I’m headed to Georgia. But after I leave here, I’m going to have lunch with my sister and hang out for a while.”

  Donny, being a typical creep, viewed this as a chance to get at Tamika. A girl like her being overseas for months had to be in need of a good pounding. “All right, well, holla at me when you get some free time. We need to kick it.”

  Tamika, not at all wise to his insinuation, smiled and agreed. “Yeah, we can do that. Just write your number down, and I’ll hit you up later.”

  After Donny had finished with her, he wouldn’t let her pay. He was good with the fact that she agreed to hook up. Donny wrote down his number on the back of a business card, and Tamika gave him hers. They shared a brief hug, and she bid him good-bye. Donny watched with lust in his eyes as Tamika walked out of the shop, unknowingly tempting him with every step.

  She done got thick as hell. I’m definitely smashing. Tamika drove off, headed to her sister’s house, while Donny went back to his normal activities.

  Chapter Fourteen

  While he was locked up, Block once had a man tell him that every black man in America has experienced some form of racism or another. He had never experienced it until he entered the department of corrections. He couldn’t believe the amount of confidence this so-called brotha exhibited when he made that statement. Block’s thoughts? Another typical nigga trying to blame whi
te people for black people’s problems.

  Let him tell it, that type of attitude always pissed him off. Block hated to hear people talk like that. As he sat in the great room of his new home, he turned on the fifty-inch flat-screen TV and turned to the local news. Being away for so long only granted him the opportunity to know what was going on on the outside through newspaper and the prison grapevine. He grew up believing that as long as the motives behind his actions were righteous, justice would always be on his side. Unlike many people his age growing up in Michigan City, Block didn’t know what it was like to be profiled by the police or be followed around in a department store. The fact was he had only seen and heard of examples of racism and prejudice.

  As the news reporter came on, a picture of an old white lady and a beat-up Crown Victoria flashed on the screen. She reported that the woman had blown through a red light while making a right-hand turn. Not paying attention to where she was going she mowed down eight-year-old Naomi Taylor and her fourteen-year-old brother Justin. Unfortunately, after she lay up in the children’s hospital for almost two weeks, baby girl didn’t survive. The reporter stated that the community was outraged, especially when the white woman got off with probation and a suspended license.

  Block could feel the rage building up inside as he listened to the news anchor revisit the events that had taken place surrounding this injustice. It was stated that not long after that incident a middle-aged black woman found herself in the same situation and she was given fifteen years for manslaughter.

  Hearing this news was starting to ruin Block’s mood so he quickly turned off the TV and went into the bedroom to prepare for whatever it was that Toya had planned for him that night. After getting dressed, he stepped out to take a brief ride around town. He had been locked up long enough, and he wasn’t interested in being stuck in his bedroom all day.

  * * *

  Tamika and her mother had just returned from a brief shopping spree at the Prime Outlets on the west side. After she had helped her mother into the house, she went back outside to finish unloading the rest of her bags. The pounding and vibration of subwoofers made her car rattle. She turned around to see a cocaine white Chevy Caprice approaching her from behind. The windows were blacked out, and the smell of weed escaped from the slightly opened windows. Her combat instincts were beginning to kick in; and, just then, a tall, light-skinned goon appeared from the car. Donning an Indiana Pacers fitted cap with the brim covering his eyes, he flashed his pearly whites behind his bushy goatee. Tamika tossed her bags back into the trunk and faced the man’s car head-on.