BOMAW 10-12

by Mercedes Keyes

  "She called again, this time she spoke to me. This makes the fifth time this week. She's up to everyday now. Gonna tell me where she lives now, hm?"

  Derrick stood from sawing, as well his sons pausing in what they were doing. They all knew what was going on. Because now, it seemed everyday, their parents were arguing. Everyday. Afterwards, they separated, barely speaking to each other. Mainly, their mother not speaking to their father.

  "Can we go in the house with this?" Derrick asked.

  Meribel spun in place and marched back to the house leading the way. Once inside, she stopped in the middle of the kitchen and spun once more to face him.

  "All the way to our bedroom, please."

  Her glare spoke volumes that she was fighting to maintain her composure. Once more, fighting for patience, she turned and made her way to their bedroom. Once inside she turned back to him, waiting for him to get inside and close the door. Derrick was dragging his feet dreading another confrontation. Once the door shut, with her accent very thick and pronounced. "I want you to know - that I am at - the end - of my rope! You are going to have to do something and tonight -or- first thing in the morning. I refuse to be going through this, I refuse! I should not have to. Just so you know, she is no longer calling, grunting and growling in frustration because it is not you who answers, to then hang up. Today, she finally spoke to me; want to know what she said? I'll tell you. I am now, low-life scummy residue clogging up her life, I have now, slithered out of a swamp, in fact, she now admits how much she hates me, and believe me, it is with a passion. Her desire, is that me and my kind, return to our own country and back to the swamp we slithered from. How is that, now papi, hm? The way you handle it, is just fine." She finished, sarcasm pouring from her.

  "She - she said that to you?"

  Meribel put a hand on her hip, lifting a brow, her glare intensified, "That surprises you, that she said that to me? What is with you? What world are you living in?!" She spat the question bitterly. "I HAVE HAD - ENOUGH!!!" She half shouted, half growled. Shaking her head, having run out of all patience with the whole situation, she threw her hands up, "To hell with this!" She rushed past him to the door snatching it open. "SASHA - SHAWN2 - UP HERE NOW!"

  Shocked by her actions, Derrick moved to the door wanting to close it, "What are you doing, why are you calling them up here?"

  Her heated eyes glared up at him, "Do you listen?! Does nothing, sink into your thick skull!? I'm done! I've had enough! You don't respect me, not enough to put a stop to what is happening here. I'm thinking, you must want her! I am not stupid, this must be a plan you two thought up, how to get rid of the Puerto Rican. Let me explain something papi about this Puerto Rican, you only have to ask, and I will go! Like now - you don't even have to ask, I will just go!"

  "Quit talking crazy! You're not going anywhere!"

  "Oh yes I am, it is either that, or kill someone!"

  "Mami, what's happening?" Sasha asked nervous, a bit out of breath from running up the stairs, hands wringing in worry, her face reflecting her fears. The same fear reflected on her brother's faces, all of them standing in the hallway outside of their parents bedroom, Shawn2 was at her right shoulder, Luis was on the stairs, Marcus as well, holding Joseph. Meribel turned to her daughter and Shawn2, "Start packing, you two and Joseph are going with me." Then looking at her older sons, "You two, you are almost men, stay with your father."

  "No mami - do-o-on't!" Sasha cried out.

  "No you don't, stop this Meri! No one is packing anything, go back down stairs!" Derrick ordered over Meribel's head.

  "YOU LISTEN TO ME! I AM YOUR MOTHER! WE'RE OUT OF HERE! NOW-..." Before she could finish, Derrick grabbed her arm, snatching her back into the room slamming the door. Too wound up and angry, Meribel was in the wrong mood. The attack was instant with her screaming, swinging, pushing at him, catching him in the mouth and nose before he realized what was happening. He tried to grab her swinging fist, but she was quick. Moving aside while blocking more of her blows he had to bend low and cut into her mid-section with his shoulder, lifting her off of the floor and rushing to the bed with her, turning he threw her off of him and onto the bed. Screaming in more frustration, she bounced to her feet and launched herself at him again.

  "MERI - STOP IT!!!"

  She was able to get another slap in, and was then hitting the arm he used to shield her attack as he pushed her to the bed a second time, this time trying to grab a hold of her, she was swinging and kicking too fast, before he could stop her, three more blows were delivered as well a couple of kicks.

  The kids had barreled into the room, Sasha and Joseph screaming and crying. The boys didn't know who was hitting who but forced their way between them to protect their mother, as well their father; getting slapped and kicked in the process. When they realized she was the one hitting, they all cried out, "Mami, stop it!"

  Finally Meribel's momentary burst of anger was spent, breathing hard, she glared over her children at her husband. All three boys were afraid, red, begging their mother to calm down. Sasha was holding onto her father, guarding him, glaring at her mother; it was obvious she was angry at her for hitting him. Her arms were wrapped tightly around her father's waist, crying she asked, "You okay daddy?" Because of them, Derrick, breathing hard, backed off. He'd only been trying to restrain her, he'd not laid a hand on her to hurt her other than trying to hold her down to calm her. It hadn't work.

  "What - has gotten - into you?!!" He growled low, breathing hard, stroking his daughter's hair to reassure her, calm her even though his eyes were on his wife.

  "Your - white - bitch! THAT'S WHAT!" She screamed, crying. "I WANT - TO GO!!"

  "MAMI STOP IT! I don' wanna leave my daddy." Joseph screamed at her, he was practically beneath his sister, holding onto his father's leg.

  "Get off of me! I'm fine!" She blasted her boys who stood away from her right away, afraid to move from in between them.

  "You see what you're doing? You're attacking me now, upsetting the kids! Now, calm - down, you're not going anywhere. They're not going anywhere."

  Meribel stood from the bed, looking at her husband, his lip was bleeding, his face red from where she'd gotten in some well placed blows and she'd scratched his face as well; raw welts were showing from it, "Do not dare stand there, telling me I won't go, when you have that - that - thing calling my house! If I want to go, I will go! And I'm taking them with me until you take care-..."

  "No! No mami, we don't wanna go!" Sasha cried out shaking her head, the grip on her father even tighter.

  Derrick was trying to remain calm and get through to her, "Meri, please calm down. Take a deep breath and think about what you're doing."

  "Why does it have to be me!? I am not the one, treating this as if it is no big deal!" She cried out, so frustrated she wanted to scream out. "You think about what you're letting happen to our family! She - is - insane! There is something wrong with her! People like that, only understand one language! I'm taking my three youngest and going from here!"

  "THAT'S WHAT SHE WANTS MERI! GOD-ALMIGHTY! You're doing - exactly what - she wants! Don't give her what she wants!" He at first shouted, then went low to plead with her.

  "You don't get it do you? You think this is going to suddenly ... just ... stop? That she's going to grow tired and leave us alone? I can tell you now, I don't think so! She knows where I am, and can get to me whenever she feels like it. But because you protect her - I cannot do the same. I - am - out of here!"

  "I'm not leaving my daddy!" Joseph cried out, hiding behind his father's leg, "Me either!" Sasha cried out. Shawn2 was torn, if they all stayed with his father, who would protect his mother? He looked back and forth between them unsure of what to do.

  "Mami please ... don't go." He pleaded.

  "You all wish to stay with your father?" She was crying now, hurt. Hurt becausethey weren't taking this seriously and hurt because of what she'd done to her husband. She couldn't stand to see his face that way knowing that she'd done
it to him. But neither of them understood. They hadn't grown up the way that she had grown up. They hadn't come from where she'd come from. All of her children had been spoiled, loved, protected and surrounded by nothing but this ideal life found in the gentle, boring, suburban places of Wisconsin. They had never seen the things that she had seen; knifings, shootings, drive-bys, screaming, everyday a fight somewhere, gang activities. Jealousy and petty stabbings between two women for one man. They hadn't a clue and for that matter, neither did her husband. "If that is what you all want, fine ... stay with him then. I will go! She can have it all!" She turned from them heading for her closet.

  Derrick shook his head, "You guys go out, we'll be fine, go downstairs."

  "No, don't send them away. I'm the one leaving." She stood at her closet pulling out her bags.

  "God Meri, come on! I'll go to the school board in the morning, we'll change our phone number-..."

  Meribel turned to him from their wall length closet, "And when she shows up on our doorstep - then what?"

  "She's not stupid enough to do that."

  Meribel started laughing, shaking her head at him, in total disbelief, "You are so naive my husband, really you are, if you believe that. Baby, where I come from, underestimating your enemy, someone whom you know hates you, is as good as signing your own death certificate. I'm not ready to do that yet, no way, I'm out of here."

  "Where do you think you're going?"

  "Back to Chicago, the real world. Where everybody thinks like me! See you later."

  "If she shows up here Meri we'll call the police! Take out a restraining order." He went on, starting to panic to see her pulling out her bags. The kids hadn't gone far, they were all standing in their doorway, watching, spinning in disbelief as they argued.

  "What are the police going to do? Hm? You think they give a shit of how she is disrupting my life? Our children's lives? Our family? You - don't even give a shit, why would they!"

  "That is not - true!"

  "Then do something Derrick!" She argued on the verge of desperation.

  The phone rang.

  The entire family froze, listening to it. The sound of something so normal in their everyday lives had now become something used as a subtle act of terrorism. They were paralyzed by the sound of it ringing. Sasha started crying again, Marcus pulled her to him, hugging her. All turned to look at their mother, who was staring at Derrick.

  "Well? Answer it, it's for you." She said as if daring him.

  It rang four times before Derrick finally charged to the phone on their bedside table. "Hello?!"

  "Der - Derrick? Oh Derrick, finally! Can we please - just talk - to straighten this whole mess out. I don't want this between us, this distance - suddenly - between us. It's killing me Derrick, please just give me-..."

  "I'm reporting you to the school board. I'm changing our phone number; and seeking advice towards a restraining order."

  "WHY-Y-Y?! Derrick why-y-y-y!?" She screamed and cried on the other end.

  "How dare you do this to my wife! What is your problem?! Do you know what you're doing to my family?"

  "I'll stop if you just come - just come and see me, ple-e-ease?! It doesn't have to be this way - no one has to know about us - we-..."

  He hung up, shaken, in disbelief. "Turn off all the phones, now!" He ordered brusquely.

  The kids all took off in a sprint to get it done as quickly as possible. He turned over the phone base he'd just been on, about to switch it off when it started ringing again. He couldn't believe it. He flipped the switch to off. Setting it down on the table. Yet throughout the house, the phone rang, the echo of it growing less with each phone the kids reached to turn off. He looked up at his wife. Meribel was standing there, tears rolling down her face.

  He stood a moment paralyzed by what was happening to them. Paralyzed by the pain and fear he saw in his wife's eyes. Before he could say a word, their kids were calling up the stairs that they'd turned off the kitchen phone, the living-room, the basement, his study, and even the one in the garage. All of them ran back up the stairs, back to their bedroom, crowding the door, looking from one, to the other wondering what was next. All were quiet except for a bit of heavy breathing from different ones. Derrick wasn't sure what to do to calm his wife, but he knew he couldn't stand the thought of her leaving him, "Can we please, please leave the kids out of this? Can we please, please work this out-..."

  Meribel swiped angrily at her tears, hating for once, that she loved him as much as she did.

  "Do not stand there, saying please to me, as if this is my fault."

  "Honey, I am not blaming you."

  "She is nuts. Turning off the phones, telling the school board, whatever - isn't going to work."

  "It's all I can do, for now."

  "No, you can give me her address."

  "And what, Meri - are you going to do with that? Break the law?"

  She was about to answer when he held up his hand to halt her words; turning to their children he pointed out of their room. They all made faces, neither wanting to leave. He walked towards them to usher them out and close the door. Before he could, Sasha asked, "Is mami going to leave?"

  "No, no one is going anywhere." He answered pushing the door, saying as he did, "Go downstairs."

  With the door shut, he turned back to his wife.

  They both stood staring across the room at one another. "Come on Meri, don't allow her to come between us."

  "You need to say that to yourself. Remember that movie Derrick, Fatal Attraction? You think that only happens in the movies? Because if you do, there is no hope for us, because she is that woman, I am convinced. You did not hear how deep her hatred is for me. You keep playing Mr. Gentleman with her, someone is going to get hurt, if not ... killed."

  "I'll go to the police, I promise you."

  "And say what? No crime has been committed."

  "Dammit Meri, I don't know! If I give you her address, a crime will be committed. You can't just go to someone's home and - and do - whatever it is you plan to do. It's wrong. I won't have you jeopardizing yourself, or - our family by doing that. We both know that it's a fact, the police will not hesitate to arrest you."

  Chapter 234

  She knew that his words were true. She was a minority. A Puerto Rican at that. She had worked so hard to build her life into one that was the American dream she'd always wanted. A loving husband, beautiful children, a beautiful home. She did all that was required of her to do. From the depths of her heart and soul, she loved her husband, this man who stepped into her life and made it what it now was. Even while it was happening, she couldn't believe it. Of all the times to have her dreams come true, it had been while she was pregnant with a child she hadn't a clue of how she might take care of. He thought she had just been lost in the woods when he found her. No ... in fact, the truth was, she had been lost, long before that day in the woods.

  She stood in the closet door and couldn't stop the building ache in her stomach, her chest. Her eyes filled as she stood looking at him.

  She began sobbing and with her hands up to him, she begged his forgiveness, "I'm so sorry I hit you, so sorry I hit you. I am so sorry ... please forgive me."

  Derrick rushed to her, grabbing her, squeezing and lifted her off of the floor, walking to the bed, kissing her wet face as she continued on as if in a song to him. "I would never - ever hurt you - you saved my life. You saved my life - I love you so much. I don't know what to do." She cried holding onto him. "Look what I did to you honey, look what I did..."

  "Shhh - shhh - I'm a big guy ... I'm okay - I'm okay ... I know honey, I know you love me, I love you too. Its okay, its okay. We can get through this, I know we can. You know, surely you do, that I have loved you from the moment I saw you beneath that tree. Scared, face wet from crying, like now." He chuckled, kissing her brow, her forehead, her salty lips.

  Meribel clung to him, holding on tightly, yes - she was scared. Not of facing Margaret Wheeler, but of the unknown. Of
being caught unaware. This event was bringing it all back to her, old familiar feelings, of needing to watch her back. Because Margaret, knew where they were. That was to her advantage over them. Over her. Meribel knew, as she clung to her husband, that she truly was the one under threat. Men like Derrick Paul McPherson, were a rare find. They didn't just come along everyday. She knew without a doubt - Margaret Wheeler had just cause to want him. He was made up of everything a woman wants out of her man. Tall, rugged good looks, the very depth of masculinity oozed from his pores. He was intelligent, hard working, loyal, faithful and true and yes - well endowed. He was a family man, that loved his children and his only aim in life was to keep the peace and please.

  Yes ... she knew what she was up against. And if her husband wouldn't give up her address, she would have to get it, herself. After all, this was about survival. He may not see it that way; because he wasn't aware that the battle had begun; he didn't realize that Margaret Wheeler had laid down a gauntlet. Meribel knew when a gauntlet was being laid. It would not be the first time such a thing had been done in her life. After all, having once been a member of a gang herself, part of the Latin Knights, the name for the guys; and for the girls ... Lady Assassinators - because of that, she knew. Derrick didn't know - that that had been the real reason her mother had sent her to Wisconsin to live with her uncle. Not really because of Armundo -or- because she was pregnant by him. No, but - rather - because she was pregnant and targetedto be taken down by the Twilight-Vipers - the girl members of the rival Mexican gang,King Cobras. Targeted because she'd led the way in a fight, and in the ass beating of their leader as well others in a turf battle. It seemed so long ago. She'd always hated her life in the big city but there had seemed to be no way out of it. So many times, she'd tried to back out of the gang and then when she'd become pregnant, she'd had little choice - a way out had needed to arrive, and arrive quickly. Like so many others, she didn't want that kind of life anymore - not for herself, and certainly not with a baby on the way.

  Her new life began when in her seventh month, word had gotten back to her that she was to be the initiation for three new members of the rival gang. The deed or act - was to trap her, beat her up, cut the baby out and bring it back to the leader of theTwilight-Vipers, alive; who would then keep it as her own. She had two other children the same way. Brought to her from the belly of her enemy to raise as if they were trophies - and - to use to get welfare assistance, because she didn't work; just dealt drugs, and gang banged. If the baby died, the three members who did it would get beaten to within an inch of their lives. After the leaders quota of three was met, the others - babies that is - would be left wherever around the city. Many, in garbage cans or dumpsters. If people only knew. So many thought the babies were there from mother's giving birth and deserting them to whatever fate; some instances, that wouldbe the case - but not all. In any case, her mother called her brother, and he took her in, which put her in place to meet one, Derrick Paul McPherson. He became her new life. So caught up in the ugly reminiscing Meribel did not at first hear what her husband was saying to her.