Tanked: TANKED

by Cheri Lewis

  “I hope it soaks up a lot more. I don’t want to go to work looking like this.”

  “Tomorrow it will practically be gone.” Jessie lies.

  I smile at him in the mirror then get back busy trying to cover my neck.

  Church goes great, and I’m surprised nobody stares or looks at me funny. I mention it to my mother and she whispers, “Nobody knows it was you. Have you not read any of the articles in the paper? It’s an unnamed woman and it happened at Tank's.”

  “But my car was out front. How could they not know it was me? I mean it wouldn’t be hard to figure out.”

  “I don’t know, you’d need to ask Tank. Did anyone ever see you?”

  “Not that I know of.”

  “We were all brought in the back way that was blocked off by the police and then taken home.”

  “So nobody knows it was me?”

  “From what I can tell they went to great lengths to keep your name safe.”

  My heart aches again. I want to call Tank and ask him if it’s true, that I wouldn’t have this following after me for the rest of my life. The girl who barely escaped a serial killer.

  The next day, my first day back at work, even my boss doesn’t seem to treat me any different. I wonder what Tank had said to him. Surely he had put two and two together. All hell breaks loose in town then suddenly I’m out a week. But nope he has me busy doing proposals and I have a ton of filing to do. It actually feels great to be back at work it helps take my mind off of everything that has went on.

  I’m excited this is Jessie’s last week of training but the days seem to be dragging on. My bruises are almost completely gone and Hunter has been coming over every evening and hanging out until he has to go to work. And thankfully I haven’t had any more nightmares of being choked or Cootie coming back to life to kill me.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Disco Fever

  It’s now Saturday and Jessie is buzzing with excitement. We spend all day getting ready for the Disco. He dances around in his purple pinstripe pimp suit and hot pink feather boa. We both have trouble with the afro wigs. The pins pull on our hair, but we get them in place. We are so excited that we found a matching purple mini dress for me to wear and the Goth store had exactly what Jessie thought I needed black lace up boots that go all the way to my knees.

  “Sunshine, you look amazing!”

  I do a little spin and then look at myself in the mirror. “It didn’t turn out too bad did it?”

  “I’d totally do you.”

  “Jessie! Seriously.”

  He shrugs his shoulders and winks at me. “I’m just saying.”

  I surprise Jessie with a cane and he goes nuts. “What a perfect accessory!” I’d found the cane accidently online last week when I was searching for something else. I paid way too much for shipping, but I wanted to make sure it came in on time. It is tall and black and has a mirrored disco ball on top.

  On our way to the disco we have to flip a coin to see who is getting out and going to the ATM to get cash for all the extra fundraisers they have going on during the disco. Thankfully I win and Jessie has to get out. Of course he says if he’s going to look like he does, he’s going to do it right. He pimp walks all the way from the car to the ATM with his cane, with me laughing until I cry. As people drive by they blow their horns and he starts dancing pointing his finger up and down. He’s so busy showing off and counting the money he leaves his cane and I wait until he makes it all the way back to the car to tell him. He gives me a sly grin and calls me an ugly word, then runs back to grab it.

  When we arrive at the recreation center I almost fall over. Jessie and I both give an eek in excitement. My mother is getting out of her vehicle and has on a wig with long black straight hair down to her waist, baby blue bell bottoms, a white shirt and a baby blue vest with all sorts of hippie patches sewn all over it. She looks fantastic. When my daddy pulls up behind her in his truck, he was in a white suit and I know immediately he’s trying to imitate John Travolta and he pulls it off except he isn’t the younger thinner version. he’s the older thicker version. “McKinsey, will y’all help me unload all these cakes, please?” my mother asks.

  “Sure,” Jessie and I both say at the same time.

  My daddy is already wiping his head with a handkerchief. “Junebug, I hope you guys have the air conditioner on in there. It’s pretty warm out here.”

  “I told you not to wear that jacket,” my mother fusses.

  “You look sharp daddy,” I say as I give him a hug.

  “Thank you, thank you very much.” His attempt at a terrible Elvis impression makes me smile.

  Jessie has already begun to unload the six cakes from the trunk of her car for the cakewalk. When I see her six layer caramel cake I know I will be participating in every cakewalk until it’s gone.

  We go inside and sit all the cakes in the lobby on the designated table. Jessie excitedly starts pulling me through the doors into the banquet hall where the disco is taking place. I’m in a little shock that somebody has really gone to a lot of trouble to decorate. It looks great. Seventies memorabilia hangs everywhere, disco lights flash and there’s a large mirrored ball hanging down in the middle of the room. There are cardboard stands for displays and someone to take photos. Jessie and I are the first to stick our faces through the little holes. There’s a life-size cutout of a Volkswagen bus and we take several silly photos in front of that as well.

  We have thirty minutes to kill before the D.J. starts the music so we get a hotdog and a soda from the concession stand. We people watch as they arrive and a huge grin spreads across my face when Peacock walks in the door. He’s wearing navy bell bottoms and a navy blue shirt unbuttoned except for the bottom two buttons, and it’s tucked in his pants. A large gold chain hangs down from his neck and he wears a hat with a feather in it. That is just too much. When he sees me he points to himself, then to me, and starts dancing. I nod yes that I’ll dance with him. Jessie leans over and whispers, “Boy, he is a hot mess.”

  “It’s great isn’t it?” He is a mess but it’s so neat seeing everybody dressed up. I love things like this.

  After Mrs. Simpson goes on the stage and talks about Relay for Life and how this fundraiser will help with the fight against cancer, the DJ starts playing music and it doesn’t take long for people to start dancing. Then it doesn’t take long for people to start dancing and not caring what they look like on the dance floor. Jessie and I dance for several songs before they stop to do the first cakewalk. Of course Jessie and I don’t win but the caramel cake was still available so we will try again. The DJ starts the music again and Jessie and I boogie down to another song when Peacock makes his way over and we dance to Shake Your Booty by KC and the Sunshine Gang. And we do. We shake our booties. He’s a great dancer and I’ll never admit this out loud but he’s better than Jessie. After the song is over he leans into my ear and asks for another dance later. Of course I agree.

  I motion to Jessie I’m going to get something to drink. I go to the concession table and am bobbing my head to the song while waiting in line. I become alert when I feel someone walk right up behind me. I jump when they say right in my ear, “You know, I never took you as a badge bunny.”

  I turn around and it’s Tank right in my personal space. I am confused but whatever he means by badge bunny and it doesn’t sound good by his tone. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I say quickly without even thinking.

  He looks pissed and scoffs a quick “Nothing.”

  “Oh no! You’ve said it. You started it and we’re going to finish it. What are you doing here anyway?”

  “Your mother invited me.”

  “Of course she did. Wait, when did you see my mother?”

  “She’s come by a lot over the last two weeks.”

  “She hasn’t.” I look around the crowded room trying to lay eyes on my mother.

  “Yes, she has.”

  “What do you want? Wait, No first you’re going to tell me w
hat a badge bunny is and then you’re going to apologize to me for saying it.”

  He tosses his canned soda into a trash can that’s a few feet away. “I don’t know why I’m here, I’ll see you around,” he angrily mutters.

  Jessie comes up behind me as Tank walks in the direction of the front door. “What’d he want?”

  I cross my arms and continue to watch him. “He didn’t say. He just called me a badge bunny.”

  Jessie gasps, “Oh no he didn’t.” I twist my head to look at my best friend waiting for an explanation when he finally says, “It’s somebody who sleeps around but only with people who have a badge. Like the police department slut.”

  “WHAT?” I shriek.

  That is it! I take off after him like a rocket. Headlights flash in the parking lot and that directs me right where I need to go. By the time I make it to him he’s opening the door to his SUV. I slap my hand on the hood to get his attention wishing I had a bat to hit him with. “You’re not going anywhere,” I roar. He spins around to say something but I don’t want to hear it. “So I only sleep with men who have badges huh?”

  “Mc—”

  “Oh no, no, no, no, no, no. You’re right. I’ve found I do enjoy the company of a man with a badge and do you know whose fault that is… YOURS! You sent him over to check on me, you big dumb dummy!” My words drip with sarcasm.

  “Mc—”

  “I have a good mind to punch you right in your jaw and this time, I’ll mean every bit of it.”

  “Mc—”

  “Quit trying to talk to me! You want the truth! Yes, Hunter has been at my house every single night and has anything happened? Well that’s just none of your business. What do you care anyway? If you cared so much why did you send somebody to my house? Why didn’t you come yourself?”

  He doesn’t say anything for a moment then finally says in a subdued tone, “You look very pretty tonight.”

  “And you need counseling!” I scream then spin around and march right back into the recreation center. I plop down in one of the chairs in the lobby fighting back tears. Why do I care what he thinks of me? Why do I even like him? Why would he call me a badge bunny, I’ve never slept with anybody who has a badge.

  “McKinsey are you alright?” my mother asks coming out of a supply room in the lobby.

  “Mom, why did you invite him tonight? And why have you been going to see him?” I cry.

  I can tell by her face she knows exactly who I’m talking about. She sits in the chair next to me. “I don’t know really. He’d be on my mind so I would go to check on him. Just pop by for a minute. Bring him some leftovers or something. He saved your life. It’s weird. I just felt like I owed him and I like him McKinsey, and it’s obvious you do, too.”

  I lay my head back and I have to wiggle my head around to get where the hair pins didn’t pull against my head. “He drives me nuts mom. One minute he’s the sweetest caring guy there is and then the next it’s like once he figures out he has let his guard down, he slaps it back into place. He practically called me a…” I think a second before I tell my mother he almost called me a slut. “He called me a person who only likes to date officers. What a jerk.” I look over at my mother and finish, “He totally needs to grow up. I only have room for one drama queen in my life.”

  “We’ll you better not be referring to me,” she huffs.

  I roll my eyes. “No Momma, you know good and well I’m talking about Jessie.”

  “He’s right for you McKinsey, you’re just going to have to be patient. You may not see it yet but I do.”

  “Mom, I really thought the same thing. I tried, I swear I did and he rejected me. Then he sent another man to come check on me. I’m telling you if he cared like I’d hoped, he would’ve come himself.”

  “I understand what you’re saying but you have to realize men don’t think like we do. Half the time I want to strangle your father but what you need to think about is that he sent someone to check on you. Wasn’t that sweet?”

  “I guess if you look at it the way you’re looking at it but I’m not. He sent somebody else and he knew I was interested in him and not to mention still scared from all that crap that went on.”

  “Oh, he cares, and he’s interested more than he’s letting on.”

  “Not enough.”

  “Every time I’ve went to check on him the first thing he asks about is you. McKinsey that man stood in the corner for an hour watching you dance and he didn’t lose it until you and your friend danced a little too close for his comfort and, well, for mine too, actually.”

  “He was here the whole time watching?” I fight hard to suppress my smile. “I didn’t realize he was here, but still, that doesn’t mean it’s alright for him to call me names. And mom, the guy I was dancing with is just a friend, one of the cops that watched me a few times.”

  “It sure didn’t look like it. I’m just glad we weren’t on the church groun—”

  The door flings open and the thumping of the music rises considerably. “Sunshine, come on they’re about to play our song.”

  “I don’t want to dance right now,” I groan.

  “Oh no, nuh uh, I have looked forward to this disco for 3 months since your momma told us about it. Come on, let's go shake it. You and Romeo can make up later. We’ll stop by his house on the way home.”

  “We are not stopping by his house!” I say, shocked that Jessie would even suggest that, I thought he was supposed to be on my side.

  He pulls on my arm making me stand. “Fine we won’t stop. But tonight we’re dancing and celebrating that my training is over.”

  I smile at that. Jessie won’t be leaving me anymore for long periods of time. He has his schedule and is off until Tuesday then he catches a flight to who knows where. I smile even bigger when I hear the beginning chords to the song we love to dance to on the Wii. We race to the dance floor and start doing the Just Dance routine to You Can Ring My Bell by Donna Summer.

  Jessie and I dance together, our shoes and wigs come off not too long after that, as my boots killed my feet and the wigs itched way too much, not to mention it makes it a lot hotter. I won’t lie. My heart still aches when we stop for different things throughout the night and I have time to think about Tank's silly accusation, and the fact he won’t talk to me. But I am not going to let it stop me from living my life and having fun. We stay after and help my mother and the rest of the women’s group clean up so by the time we are on our way home, I am dead on my feet and I let Jessie drive. He pats my leg when we turn on my street and I look in the direction he’s pointing. I let out a light groan. I’m too exhausted to fight with Tank tonight, who just happens to be sitting in his SUV in my driveway. Jessie parks and gets out of my car and I don’t move. I continue to sit not sure I even want to get out to talk to him. Jessie leans his head in and reaches his arm out and says, “Give me your boots. Otherwise they’ll be in here till I get around to cleaning out your car again for you.”

  I roll my eyes and hand him my boots. “Thanks.”

  Tank gets out of his SUV. I hear mumbles between Jessie and him but I can’t make out what they’re saying. Tank walks to my side of the car. I’m nervous but still pissed about what he said. He opens my door and sticks out his hand for me to take it. I turn in my seat and stand without taking his hand. I cross my arms and start walking toward my front door I feel his hand on my shoulder. “McKinsey, please wait.”

  “For what? You to call me a police humping slut again?”

  “I’m sorry, that’s not what it means. It just means you prefer dating someone with a badge. And I was angry, I thought you… I mean Hunter practically moved in over here and you danced the way you did with Peacock. It pissed me off and I didn’t like it. ”

  “I’ve never dated anybody with a badge, so your private investigating skills suck! And as far as what I do with Hunter and Peacock, again, that’s none of your business.”

  “See there’s where you wrong. It is my business. I’ve told bot
h of them to back off.”

  My mouth falls open. “Now why would you go and do a thing like that?”

  “Because, I’ve decided that we’re going to be together.”

  “You decided? You don’t think you should’ve talked to me or asked me before you tell me you’ve decided?”

  He hangs his head. “Nothing I say is right with you.”

  “Because everything you say is wrong.” I say as I throw my arms up in the air.

  “Fine.” he says frustrated. “I’ve been dead inside for years, McKinsey. Then you prance into my office telling me not to smoke because you’re worried your parents would think you were bar hopping. It was the most ridiculous, but cute, thing I’ve ever heard. You looked exhausted but you still had enough fire to stand up for yourself. You stirred something inside of me then and the more time I spent with you, the more I wanted to know. You seemed so true but I fought it and fought it hard. I’ve struggled with a lot of things that I wanted to do with you. I haven’t had these feelings of jealously in a long, long time and it scares the piss out of me.”

  “I don’t really think I pranced into your—.” I don’t get to finish my sentence. I’m pulled up against him and he is kissing me and kissing me hard. We wrap our arms around each other, hold on tight and it feels wonderful. His warm lips move softly over mine. I sag into him as we continue the kiss. He isn’t the only one who has been dead inside when it comes to romance. He pulls away and leans his forehead against mine. “I’ve wanted to do that since the first time I was in your living room.”