-"I don't know what you expect us to bring back in this?! Red! What make you buy red?"
-"It's so small! Why you want something so small?!"
-"I'on wanna ride in that! Ain't nothin' but a small red coffin you ask me. Why didn't you buy something like a Cadillac? I'on even like Fords - Found-On-Road-Dead! And you gone be too, in this!"
-"Ain't got no room to breathe! How much you pay for this? I can tell you now, you need to take it back! Ask'em for a refund! Next time buy you a Cadillac! You too old to be running around in something like this. You had to have it, you should'ah got it - instead of pregnant... too old for that too! The mo' I see of you now, the more you like yo' daddy! Running off and leaving your husband! Like he left me, you and your brothers. He was a pipe dreamer too, like you... always dreaming of this and that - but don't have what it take to make it happen. I had what it take! I gave up all my dreams. Gave up everything to marry him, and raise ya'll! I didn't run off. He run off... and here you are, just like him - get married and run off!" Lydia had gone on, saying everything to her daughter but that Shawn was coming there, would be there in another day or so. She was hoping he would show up and catch her there. Unfortunately, due to Meribel's call... Sylvia escaped, promising to return later on in the week, saying, "I'll let you know if I win Thursday night." Although she knew her mother could care less.
She was just happy to get away. There was only so much she could endure being with her now, she hated that it was that way between them, but Lydia was so unpredictable. Sometimes she could be a pleasure to be around, then without knowing it, you could say something that registered wrong in her head and her mood would just swing on you. So often Sylvia wanted to make contact with her brothers. She resented that they'd gone this long without calling their mother - especially David, Lucas Jr. she could understand, he'd always been distant; but she and David had always been close, dependable. Before leaving, she'd gotten David's and Lucas' Jrs. number, the last that her mother had from them. It didn't mean that that's where they could be found. Lucas, her brother - had a habit of moving around a lot. It was seldom that he stayed in one area. Considering her choice of marriage partner now, she would wait until she got home and settled before trying to contact them. Lucas wasn't too keen on interracial anything. David would be the easier of the two to share her news, she would try to find him first; because Lucas Jr. she couldn't help but wonder what his reaction would be to hear about Shawn. Again, she shook off all thoughts of them, she had enough on her plate for the time being.
Like her father.
During the time Sylvia had been at her mother's, she'd been trying to contact her father. She had some time before picking up Meribel and decided to head out to blue Island to see if her father was where she remembered him to be. He owned a auto scrap yard. Had tried to phone it several times sitting in her mother's house, in the front bedroom, with no answer, getting only his answering machine, so she knew that he was still there. A couple of times while at her mother's she had been tempted to bring him up. However, after being told all that was wrong with her, was because she was like him, Sylvia decided to keep it to herself. Arriving at the scrap yard, she'd driven up to the gate, to find it locked tight. There was a rickety old intercom set up on the entry gate, oddly enough that worked. Sylvia pressed the buzzer and waited. She tried it a second and a third time, peering within through the grating trying to see if any one was walking around in there. Nothing. Sighing, she walked away, climbed back into her car and drove off.
Lydia, during her daughter's visit, didn't come off too bad, she was left with all her things to open and place around her house. Before she got to that, she went to the phone and called Sylvia's house. Shawn answered the phone.
"Just so you know... she was here. Was here two days. She left cause that woman she wit', yo' sister-in-law call her."
"Thank you Lydia for letting me know, how was she?"
"She fine, driving around in some little bitty red car! Girl don' lost her mind! She just like her daddy. I got her figured out now. I don't know what you gone do with her; you still coming here?"
"I'm still coming Lydia. I'll be there tomorrow night. I had some things to finish up here, some appointments to make. But I'll be there Wednesday evening."
"Well don't you go eatin' nothin'. I'll cook for you, what you want?"
"Lydia, I haven't had any really good greens or catfish since I left there. Sylvia won't cook it for me, she say I ask for it too much, when she knows, that's what I like."
"Like I say, I'on know what you gone do with her. Don't you worry none, I'll have you some cooked and ready to eat when you get here."
"I can't wait! Okay see you tomorrow Lydia."
* * *
"Jake... what you needin'?" He answered his mobile phone.
"Hi... it's me... you busy - can you talk?" Vivian asked with her heart thrumming.
"To you... always - I don't care what I'm doing. Wait a minute... you calling me? Is this a nice phone call... or... not so nice?" He asked hesitantly.
Vivian smiled, "Nothing against you... I just uh... well. I may have to change my plans a bit. Oh... I don't know what I'm gonna do. Sylvia was by here yesterday and she brought me back to my senses about this house. I can't just leave it, and now - I've signed a lease for the other place. I've put myself into a snug little niche. One that I can see no way out of for the time being... so... I may not be moving. I'm also going to have to call Chan and see if he's willing to take over the house."
"I don't understand what the problem is... just leave it!" Jake advised.
"Jake I can't... it would blow my good credit... I can't have something like not paying for my home as a strike on my credit rating... I just can't."
"What do you need credit for anyway? I don't have credit for anything. I want something I just buy it! If I don't have the money... I don't get it - simple as that!"
"How'd you get your home that you had and your truck?"
"I bought my home at an auction, and that truck from a friend of mine who owned a gas station garage. Some dude brought it in to be repaired and never picked it up. Couldn't pay the bill, I looked it over, and bought it from my friend. He trusted me enough to let me pay him in three payments. It was mine."
"Well... what are the odds that you'll be in another position like that? You'll no doubt need credit to get into another home. To buy another vehicle?" She asked while pointing that out.
"Naaaw... I'm gonna hit Shawn up for his truck. I like that thing... he don't need it... and I'll pay him - so I won't need credit for that. As for a home, I've got Shawn, Shanna, and my parents until something comes my way. No big hurry. I'm gonna bum-it for a while."
"It must be nice! And if Shawn says no about the truck?"
"He won't... I'll talk him into it. Shawn's a giver - I'll have it by the weekend. Hey... never mind about me - why do you need to contact that doctor?" He asked shifting on the sofa in the basement, sucking on a cigarette. He was taking a break, they'd come to prepare Shanna's lot that Shawn had marked off for her new mobile home which was due to be delivered Thursday morning. There was no way that foundation would be settled enough by then, he hoped so - but it might have to be postponed until next week, Shanna wasn't happy about that, but he and Shawn explained that the foundation needed to be settled by a few days before the home was placed on it. The men there laying it had taken a break and so had he and Shawn was off on an appointment with Angela at social services.
"I told you, to see if he will take this house over, if not - I may have to stay here." She answered.
"Screw that - you need to be out of there! Put it up for sale - go to a realtor and put it on the market. If he wants it, he'll claim it back off you."
"I don't know what I'm gonna do. My heads just spinning."
"Stick with your plans and move into the other place."
"I can't pay a house note and rent Jake... I make good money, but not to that extent."
"You know what... you sp
end too much time thinking. Just do it! The right thing is not to be living there! Any move to correct something is not a bad move - right?"
"Jake...it's not that simple."
"Right?" He repeated because all he wanted to hear was that.
Vivian sighed shaking her head thinking, 'This man, just - does not get it.'
"I'm waiting..." He reminded her.
"I know that you're right that I should be out of here, but-..."
"No buts - just do it! Pray about it. You pray?"
Vivian was stunned to hear him say such a thing, considering the things he'd gotten into, that was the last thing she expected to come out of his mouth. Overcoming the shock of hearing it, she finally responded, "Not as much as I should... I need to start praying... definitely. I know you don't pray."
"Not the way people would expect. But - I do think about God. I do talk with him now and then. Then I go and screw up by ignoring all the good sense that comes into my head from doing it." He chuckled. "Even God knows what a screw up I am, so I never really ask for forgiveness, I just say a quick... sorry about that."
Vivian was shaking her head laughing at him. "You say you're sorry? But Jake you're not sorry." She assumed saying so.
"Sometimes I am. Sometimes I am... but - I haven't really gotten a hold of myself yet. But - I've done lots of things that I regret doing."
"Anything lately?" She asked off the top of her head.
Jake turned red thinking about Edwina. He had impulsively did her. Giving himself a bunch of reasons why it made sense to do so at the time. A day and a half later, he regretted it. Now, he didn't want her to get back to Vivian with it. He'd already agonized over it and figured there was nothing he could do about it, it was over now... couldn't go back.
"Well?" She repeated.
"Emmmm yep."
"What?" She asked.
"I'm not telling you."
"Why not?"
"Because its not so nice. Be a good lil'girl and ask no more."
"In other words, mind my own business."
"I didn't say that, did I? Don't you go startin' no fight with me lil'girl! I can hear it gearing up - behave yourself and just leave it alone."
"Well I'm curious now."
"Curiosity kills cats... don't forget that. Now... back to your dilemma."
"It must be really bad, you're changing the subject."
"See how smart you are? I wish I were only, half as smart. Now - back to your dilemma."
"I thought we were friends now. The kind of friends that could tell each other anything?" She tried.
Jake threw his head back laughing deep in his chest, the sound of him truly cracking up brought a smile to her face even though she was curious as could be. "Ha ha ha! You can stop laughing now. Why can't you tell me, it must be really wicked. Would it make me mad if you told me, that why you won't come clean?" She asked.
"Yep." He responded honestly, taking a deep breath.
"It would? It would make me mad?" She asked, really needing to know now.
"Strong possibility, yes. Now ask nothing more. I'm going to be down there Saturday with my boys to move you out of there, so be packed up and ready - with all of your - stuff sorted."
"Excuse me?! Have you heard anything I said? I may not be moving, I have to talk to Chan-..."
"Screw that - I don't want you calling him, I don't want you talking to him. Lil'fucker might take it the wrong way, like you want him back or something."
"Hang on here! No you not about to be telling me what to do! And I guarantee you this, he knows full and well that I don't want him back!"
"See... that's what I'm talking about! That right there - no no no - are all black women like that? Because I can tell you now, if - and I do mean - if - I decide to make something of you and I-..."
It was Vivian's turn to laugh, and she did... cutting him off because she was so incredulous she couldn't help herself.
"IF!? If YOU decide!? Oh no... here, I want you to pay close attention to something... are you listening?" She asked.
Grinning, Jake answered, "Yeah, I'm listening."
{{ click }}
She'd click the phone off on him, in modern tech terms... hung up on him! When he realized it by the dial tone. He looked stunned in the face and then threw his head back and laughed some more. Sitting forward he dialled her number, grinning the whole time.
"Hello?" She answered again.
"Listen here lil'girl... first of all... you don't hang up-..."
{{ click }}
Jake laughed some more. "God almighthy! Lord... I know you know, because you've been watching - what woman has ever hung up on me? Me? And this is the one I'm suppose to get serious with?! Ha! No no no... I'd have to slap her on the ass, honeymoon night!" He shook his head, standing he put his phone in his pocket. He'd call her again tomorrow, and remind her, that they'd be there Saturday - so she'd better be ready. He wanted her out of that house. No excuses... out!
"...gone tell me some stuff like that!" Vivian fussed on the phone with Sheila, who was laughing at her.
"Well what you want me to do Vivian? You know the man crazy! Yo' ass crazy! Ya'll get together, you both gone be even crazier than you are now!" Sheila returned.
"He done done something too! I can tell you that now." She informed her as well.
"How you know he done done somethin'?" Sheila asked, she was setting the table about to feed her family.
"'Cause he told me he did something, but he won't tell me what it is he did! But it ain't good, because he said it would make me mad. What you think it is?" She asked.
"Girl how the hell I'm suppose to know!? I don't know that man! He probably said that just to wind yo' silly butt up! You eat yet?" Sheila asked her.
"No... not yet. I wanna know what he did. You think he went to bed with somebody already? So soon after that lady killed herself? You think he would?"
"Here we go! Here - we - go! Don't matter what the man done did... he ain't made no commitment to you, so leave it alone! You want me to come get you so you can eat?"
"Yeah come and get me. I ain't staying in this house alone tonight." She grumbled with her lip poked out thinking about what could it be that Jake had done now.
"All right, be ready... I be there in a minute."
* * *
Shawn was at the counter in the basement chopping onions, while Jake stood next to him wearing an apron and shaping meat balls with his brother's instruction. "Like this?" He asked holding up a meatball for Shawn to approve. "Jake... man, make'em all the same size! That's too big, take the pan off the heat until you get'em all made." He instructed. Jake was grumbling, he knew little to nothing about cooking. "How the hell does this happen? What the hell has happened to the role of man!? I mean come on, we can get women, I've never had a problem getting a woman. You don't do so bad either... so tell me - why the hell are we standing here, cooking dinner! Making fuckin' spaghetti and meatballs! Who wanted spaghetti and meatballs anyway?" Jake asked as he stood in disbelief, breaking off meat to try and get them all the same size.
"Break that one down too!" Shawn pointed out another one in the bowl that was too big. "Mundo said he wanted spaghetti and meatballs." He added afterwards.
"Well where the hell is he at? He should be standing here shaping balls... I'm a man, I don't play with meat balls!" Jake further complained.
Shawn looked up at him and burst out laughing, all his front white teeth showing as he laughed.
"Why is that funny? I wasn't raised to shape, mold and squeeze on balls... this is emasculating you know. I'd never let a woman catch me doing this. Making meat balls! The scene of the world is changing - do you know that? Slowly, but surely, one day at a time, one year at a time, one century at a time, men - are becoming women and women... well where are they? Well I'll tell you where they are, in some goddamn laboratory trying to figure out how to impregnate men so we get to have babies too! Well bullshit! I draw the line there dammit! I'm telling you Shawn, give'em ano
ther ten - fifteen years, and some idiot will be laying up, their own little secret experiment guinea pig, screaming his ass off in labor."
"Man get a grip, I just ask you to make meatballs!"
"But why... you know why, no women - not one in sight, but look at us here? This is bullshit - can't we just throw the shit in there and fry it up... do they have to be shaped like balls?!" He asked disgruntled as Shawn laughed on, using his shoulder to wipe the tears running from his eyes, thanks to the onions. Deciding to ask, "I think it has something to do with the name of it Jake, spaghetti and meat - balls! Most balls I've seen are round."
"I know what balls look like." Jake complained.
"Would you rather chop the onions?"
"No I don't wanna chop the onions, they burn my eyes... like now for instance, can't you move further down the counter with that?" He ordered.
"No... gotta watch you with those meat balls... that's another one still too big... smaller - smaller balls." Shawn ordered grinning.
"I don't know nothing about small balls! Why can't we do big balls? I know big balls." Both started laughing while Jake shaped the meat, grinning at Shawn. "Can't we just have two big balls each?!" Shawn was laughing so hard that Jake couldn't help but laugh too.
"I'm serious Shawn... can I make two big balls for each of us? I don't feel like making a bunch of little balls."
"Dammit Jake, leave off man... I'll do it myself! Worthless ass!" Shawn sniffed, done chopping the onions, and dropped them into the heated pan, added the crushed garlic and bell peppers, next grabbing the bowl of meat and began shaping the balls like a pro and dropping them into the large sauté pan. He'd already doctored the sauce which was simmering on low.
"The waters boiling, add the spaghetti noodles, and don't break'em, I like'em long, so does Angela and Mundo."
"Yeah yeah yeah... hey umm, that truck is nice. I've been thinking..."
"Hell no!"
"Can you let me finish first?"
"You're not getting my truck man."
"Come on Shawn... you don't need a truck... you're a SUV man... let me buy that truck off of you."
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