Shawn sat composed, nodding his head enduring Letterman’s need to milk the entertainment value of it. After all he was a comedian who wasn’t going to waste a joke, no matter how serious the situation - black humor was often the best. Letterman continued on to say, “So considering how much money was made, did you get even a bit of it?”
His band leader, laughing had to put in his little part, “Bit of it? More like a bat of it, have you seen that thing?”
“Hey hey hey! There may be children sneaking up to watch my show!” Letterman corrected him.
“Ha, we’re lucky if there’s adults up watching this show,” And the double drum beat, *ba-doom-boomp* where laughter followed.
--“Bloody hell, get on with it!” Lowell James exclaimed beside his wife as she sat eating popcorn while watching it. “Don’t be impatient, let him do his thing.” She corrected him, scrunching her nose and making a face at him. Happy that this would end it all.—
“All right all right, let’s get serious here. In truth, this has been a serious week for you. If you don’t mind me asking, when did all of this begin?”
Shawn thought, finally, “I was ah, 18 when I arrived in California - a little after that it started and lasted until I was like, 22…” Shawn answered honestly.
“I see, I guess the question next is why?” Letterman sat back and turned the comedian off.
“Stupid - I left home to be an artist and photography - refused to listen to my parent’s direction. I had big ideas and plans, but knew no one to make them happen. Nobody tells you that part by the way - that it’s all about who you know, not - what you can do, how much talent you have. The world is full of talent, but if they don’t have that special particular friend, connection - forget it.”
“Yes, that’s true - Hollywood is filled with talent that is never seen - the land of broken dreams.”
“Exactly.” Shawn returned simply.
“Who was your porn connection?”
Shawn hated that he put it that way, but had to answer, “A man whom I came to love a great deal, I looked up to him, respected him. He lost his life protecting me and derailing an ugly - demonic set up.”
Letterman whistled as he was known to do, “Demonic set up, strong words.”
“You disagree? Any statistical little known facts about the world of child pornography?”
“Uuuh nooo, I didn’t get any of that, but I’m sure the numbers are shocking. You’re free to tell us what you know.” Letterman encouraged him further.
“All I know is my direct experience with it. They only take time to do what there’s a market for - I was a part of a team, Jesse and I-…”
“Chocolate and Vanilla swirl - etc. Etc…”
“Yes, we’d get a job, show up and see who we’d be working with.”
“As in, having sex with?”
Shawn blushed, “Well of course, it was porn.”
“All right all right, just keeping things clear. Go ahead.”
The audience was dead silent - you could have heard a pin drop.
“Jesse was the first to enter the warehouse set, so he spotted almost immediately who it was that we were supposed to be doing…” He paused, his jaw got tight, he flexed it as emotions rushed up through him. Shame burned him on the spot, he cleared his throat and sniffed because his eyes welled up and his sinuses responded, sniffing again he went on, “…sitting there, were - two little girls - I don’t know, 11 or 12 - scared to death, shaking, crying…”
The audience began booing once more, “Quiet down - quiet down! Let’s hear all of it - you don’t want to - exit is that way!” He reprimanded without a care. It took a moment, they went quiet and no one stood to leave. Letterman turned back to Shawn, “Go on.”
“Well, we were both shocked and then horrified. Jesse went off on the man who’d called us in. Dabney Harris is his name - he served a bit of time and then disappeared. Anyway, that day - they argued - Jesse let him know point blank that there was no way in hell we were doing that. We don’t do babies. They told him to take a hike and that I would do it.” Shawn shook his head, looking down in thought, “I wasn’t raised to be what I’d become. To do such a thing to a consenting adult woman - I knew it was wrong. My father raised me and my brothers to respect women. To protect them. Honor them. Not, do - what I’d begun doing. So - to see those two little girls sitting there - terrified - obviously runaways, cut me in two. I’d never in my life felt so low and I refused as well and threatened to call the police if they didn’t let them go, the little girls. That’s when all hell broke loose. Mentioning the police set off alarms with them and they decided we needed teaching a lesson, things got violent-…”
“I’m going to stop you right there, and we’ll be right back after this commercial message!” He halted Shawn for a commercial break. The band began playing an extra loud instrumental rendition of 50 cent’s - Just A Lil Bit… Shawn recognized it of course because of Mundo. The microphones were switched off so the audience couldn’t hear them speaking on stage, Letterman leaned towards him and said, “You’re doing fine, it’s almost over - hang in there.”
Shawn nodded, but still resented them playing that particular song by 50 cent, but no doubt they thought he’d see the humor in it, he didn’t, but it was what it was. Soon the band faded out and the microphone’s came back up.
Letterman went into, “If you just tuned in, you’ve missed a lot! We’re sitting here getting the porn star’s side of the story, Everett Styles everyone…” This time, no boos, just applause. Jake and Derrick stood in the wings listening and proud, “… top artist of PenTab publishing, how he went from porn to top novel artist to an infamous public enemy! You’ve seen the books…” Letterman held up the various novels by Mercy James that he’d designed the covers for, “… they’re selling like hot cakes!” Once the audience went quiet, he turned back to Shawn, “You left off at, and ‘Things got violent…’”
Shawn went on to explain what took place, how Jesse got shot and killed as well one of the young girls.
“Wow… what an experience. You were arrested as well.”
“Was in jail six months and then released on probation for two years.”
“Any regrets?”
“Of course - my actions for not being able to think clearly, and my lack of street smarts got Jesse killed. As I said, I loved him - he was the big brother I never had.”
“He got you into porn.” Letterman pointed out.
“That man - finished the education my father started in me. About this world, the truth of it, the way it really is for too many of us. There was more to him, to Jesse, than that one historical event in his life. No one - is totally and completely the sum of their worst mistakes in life. No one is. I don’t care what anyone else says or thinks of him, he was my hero, and I will never forget him. I named my newborn son after him.”
“Newborn? Really? Congratulations!”
“Thank you.”
“You ever find out what happened to the one girl that survived? What were their names?”
Shawn was quiet a moment and then shook his head, “I don’t know. I’ve often thought of them, of her - even prayed that she went back home. But no, no idea what became of her.”
“Well, I can tell you now, she wondered what became of you. You see, when all of this hit the airwaves - went on TV, was everywhere you looked, her prayer had finally been answered - because she - never forgot you!” Letterman stood commanding the audience, “Everyone give a round of applause, here tonight is that little girl, now a woman - Juliette Muniz!”
Shawn stood as well in disbelief of what was happening.
She was a little Mexican, petite as well tiny walking out from behind Derrick and Jake onto the stage a grown woman of 35 years old. She was lovely and graceful. She was scared to death, shaking, so nervous - suffering from stage fright and eyes filled with tears. She walked straight to Shawn, ignoring Letterman and grabbed Shawn’s hands in hers, looking up into his eyes, she began ri
ght away, “I never forgot you, you saved my life! You saved my life!” She cried.
The audience went wild with cheers and applause, Letterman had to pause her from talking because she could barely be heard over the applause, “Wait - wait for the audience to calm down,” he instructed her and then to the audience, “Quiet, quiet everyone. Please… settle down.”
As soon as they did so, he turned back to her, “Please, have a seat - we wanna hear from you what happened that day.”
She kept looking to Shawn as if to make sure he was there, could hear her. Nodding she sat, turning to Letterman, but she held onto Shawn’s hand, and he let her. She kept squeezing it - she was so nervous, taking several deep breaths.
“Okay, first, it’s a pleasure to meet you Juliette - who contacted you?”
“His boss, the man from PenTab, he’s English.”
“I see, and you were also looking for Mr. Styles?”
“Yes, for a long time. My parents and then me. They were so grateful to him, so was I. I told them how he refused to do the things those horrible men had us there for.”
“How did those men get you?”
“I ran away from home with a friend, who had a bad life at home.”
“The other girl who died?” Letterman asked.
“Yes! Her father was terrible, alcoholic, mean, nasty to her and her family. I didn’t want her to be alone, so I ran with her. I knew it was the wrong thing to do right away. I wanted to go home. Then this man comes upon us while we are walking the streets. He says he has work for us, to clean houses. She, Ella said yes, we’ll do it. I knew something was wrong. My father always told me, never trust adults, or men who are interested in you on the streets. He said most grownups don’t like other people’s kids, if they show an interest in you, run like hell - they are up to no good!”
The audience applauded and cheered.
Letterman laughed and nodded, “Good advice and I have to say, I think your dad is right. Then what happened?”
“We ended up at this warehouse - they tried to give us drugs. Promised us a lot of money if we just did what they told us to just this one time. I - wanted - to go home! My family is beautiful. Loving, warm and close.”
“So why did you run then?” Letterman asked.
“I was afraid for my friend. I thought - I don’t know, I thought I could help, that’s nonsense of course, but when you are young and stupid, you don’t think clearly. And there is where we ended up.” She spoke in a nervous chatter, trying to keep control of her nerves. “Then when we were not cooperating, they threatened us. Said they would kill us if we didn’t do what they said - they said we could die, or make money and soon go home. They promised us they would let us go home if we just went through with it. But we were so scared that when…” She turned to Shawn then, “… this man and his friend came in, we began crying - we were surrounded by strangers, all men. And then… his friend began yelling at the nasty man-…”
“Dabney Harris…” Shawn supplied his name because he still hated him to that day.
“Yes, him… he is a monster this man, evil - the devil himself. They started arguing, he - Mr. Styles said he would call the police, and all I could think was, yes please, please - I want to go home. They began fighting, we started screaming, and then there was gun fire and I panicked and jumped to the floor screaming for my friend to come down too, but - it was too late, I watched her fall to the ground - bleeding from her chest. I just laid there and prayed for the police, for someone to save me. Soon they came, and I opened my eyes because I pretended to be dead. That’s when I saw, his friend, was laying there dead. I swore I would never forget him, or …” She turned to Shawn, “… or you. If you two had been anyone else, that someone else might have gone through with it and used us that way. You, your friend, would not - God answered my prayers, he sent you…” She began crying, “…he sent me you, your friend - you saved my life… you saved my life.” She cried shaking, so happy to get it out, “… you and your friend, are my… heroes!”
The audience stood and applauded Shawn, whistling at him and the woman, Juliette Muniz.
Derrick and Jake each stood with tears in their eyes. Finally - they both felt, their brother got what he deserved after the life of hell he’d lived under their father and because of what their mother had done. They stood clapping as well.
Shawn sat with his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped at his forehead, hiding his face and his own tears of disbelief. Juliette rubbed his back, so happy and grateful to meet him. All Shawn could think of was his wife, and praying that she was seeing this.
Sylvia was sobbing her eyes out.
In truth, there wasn’t a dry eye watching with her.
At the farmhouse, Bart sat unable to move a muscle.
Deidre and Jeremiah sat in their hotel room watching - she didn’t care how Jeremiah took it, she cried as well, so proud of Shawn she didn’t know what to do. And yes, there was still a small remnant of regret that she’d allowed her parents to destroy her marriage to him. To save her marriage, all she’d had to do was leave… trust him and go with him.
She hadn’t… and there was no way to undo it. He was no longer hers, and as he said, he was happy and free. It was time for her to be. Sighing, she reached over and grabbed Jeremiah’s hand squeezed it.
He wasn’t convinced.
Sylvia and Shawn’s…
“Shhh…let’s go downstairs, don’t wake mama lil’man.” Shawn spoke to his son at the changing table in their room. Jesse James was wide awake, had eaten and not interested at this moment in falling back to sleep. Having learned his schedule from when he was still in the womb, Shawn knew the early shift was his. Closing his onesie back, he put the dirty diaper in the diaper bin. Lifting his son onto his shoulder, his large hand palming the back of his head, he turned to check on Sylvia. She was sleeping. Shawn blew her an air kiss. She could sleep on, he had what he wanted, his son in his arms.
Finally, he could carry Jesse James around too and did - in fact, he had a problem with putting him down. Because they’d equipped the house or various rooms and places with Jesse James’ stations, there was no need to bring anything down with him but Jesse James. The family room had a play yard cradle and changing station. Sylvia’s office had the same. His office and Mama Jojo had insisted that she have it in her room as well, no one was cheating her out of Jesse James time. Most certainly the office stations were needed because on the second day of Shawn’s, Derrick’s and Jake’s return - the phones began ringing once again.
Bookings for the B & B… bookings for Styles Studio - they were back on track, thanks to Juliette Muniz and Lowell James. In truth, his quick thinking and fixing made Shawn a hero at home. Now, various ones drove by the house and B & B sounding their horns, whistling and shouting, “YOU ROCK DUDE!!!” - Teenagers, young and wild of course. It was most certainly better than bricks through the windows and graffiti everywhere.
The last of their friends had gone home. But oh did they set up a mighty cheer when they all walked through the door upon their return. They’d been loud and proud for hours. Lucas and Lydia had been on the phone singing his praises and even Ms. Earthaleen had to give it up. He’d also gotten an email from Lowell James that simply stated, “Done! Now get back to work, we have three new novels coming out by three different authors. The time is now to send their work up the sellers list. Get on it!” And then there had been a p.s. “By the way, Mercy is smiling and said tell’im, 'Well done!”
Deidre, Jeremiah and Ben - their bodyguard crew were back off again after saying their goodbyes to them, and Angela - they were back in the air to California. The family was a bit disappointed that Ben chose to go back with them once more instead of staying and working with Shawn from the studio. Christine had especially hoped her son would stay, but everyone that knew of him and Crystal - knew why he chose to get back to work there. They’d had a brief encounter on the stairs of the basement, with Ben asking her, “Everything okay with you? The b
aby? Victor?”
Looking into his eyes, Crystal knew what he was hoping that she’d say - but she was only fooling herself. They had no true chance, after all he deserved better. Because of the baby, Ben could never be. He should have a fresh start with a family of his own, not saddled with three children right out the gate by another man. And yet, she knew he would give it a go. She simply couldn’t do it to him. So she’d answered, “Yep, everything is just fine. Everything okay with you?” Ben had gazed with longing for a moment and then, giving it up, he cut her a slight smile. She looked amazing to him. She glowed in her pregnancy. It was clear that she was moving along with it. Her bosom was fuller, and her baby bump was easy to see. That short cut fit her - she looked lovely that way. He lifted a hand and gently caressed her chin. Letting it drop away he turned from her and continued on down the stairs. Crystal stood a moment savoring the fleeting moment but knew it was time to give it up.
Now, the house was back to a normal sound volume. They could begin to put their lives back in order and truly get down to business.
Only one problem remained. Gert hadn’t gone back home yet, back to Bart. She was staying with Shawn and Sylvia because of Jesse James and Mama Jojo.
When Shawn came down the stairs into the kitchen it was to find his mother there cooking breakfast for everyone. Soon the whole house would be up. Mundo and Angela had to be off to school, and the B & B was being painted, repaired and made ready once more. They had things to do.
“Mom, when are you going home?” He asked right off the bat.
“You gettin’ tired of me?” She returned.
“Of course not and you know it. Dad’s gotta be missing you by now. He’s had plenty of time to think.”
“Doubt it - ‘sides, I’m done, told you.”
“Bull - you’re ready to go home already.” He informed her.
“I am not.”
“You are too.” No sooner had those words left his mouth than the gate buzzer sounded. He went to it, checking the camera and burst into laughter, startling Jesse James and making him jump. He’d fallen asleep on his daddy’s shoulder. Shawn transferred him to his forearm to laying him face down lengthwise with his diapered crotch palmed in his father’s large hand. He hung there against his Shawn’s body, because Shawn was an expert at holding him and balancing a baby that way. Jesse James’ was just as content and comfortable there as at his mama’s bosom - his arms and legs dangling with not a care in the world.
Beauty of Man and Woman - Volume 13: Bomaw Page 42