“Don’t tempt me. We decided to wait didn’t we?” He smiled as he quickly lifted her and carried her off to the bedroom.
“I know but now I am regretting that decision.” She sighed.
“Don’t.” He dropped her on the bed playfully. “Things are too unsettled now and I want you to know that I wouldn’t take advantage of you just because you are stuck with me.” He backed away from the bed.
“I’m not stuck with you. I wanted to be here.” She sat up on the bed’s edge.
“All the same, when this thing is over we can think more about our relationship and where it’s headed. You are special to me.” Remy smiled and sat down next to her.
“Can we kiss then?” She asked innocently.
“Let’s go back to the living room, far away from temptation.” He took her hand and led her away into the outer room and embraced her in a warm kiss.
“I think I love you Sugar Doll.” Remy breathed in her hair.
“I love you too.” Sugar Doll allowed herself to say the very thing she’d always been afraid of. She’d remained a virgin for so long because her trust had died. Her trust died with her father and her mother’s abandonment. “I’m afraid, but I love you.” She admitted as he caressed her face.
“You should never be afraid of me. I will never leave you baby. I will always love you. Trust in me.” Remy’s bright blue eyes looked into hers and she knew that she was his forever.
Big Ma slipped into a netherworld in which everything was bright. She was fourteen again. She was walking along the levee on a warm summer’s day. The clover was in full bloom. She walked to meet a friend. She saw him sitting on the river’s bank sipping a cup of coffee. She could smell the rich scent quite clearly and decided she wanted some too. She approached her friend; his face was unusually bright and happy. He opened his red thermos and handed her a little plastic cup. He poured the strong chicory coffee into the cup.
“Now hold on a minute, I know you like cream in your coffee and a little sugar too.” Her friend said and he opened a bag with half and half and a pound of sugar. He took out his spoon and stirred it into her cup and handed it to her. She settled into the soft green clover of the levee and an unexpected cool breeze washed over them both.
“Now this is living.” Big Ma said as she sipped her coffee and poked Bertrand in the side. They both let out a giggle and enjoyed the view of the lazy Mississippi as it passed them by on its way to the city.
The ambulance finally arrived. Big Ma’s entire left side was contorted now. She was unable to talk. She seemed to be smiling. Pastor Han looked over at his wife as they loaded Mrs. Jones into the ambulance and they both knew. He climbed into the ambulance clutching the bible.
The sound of glass breaking woke Remy from his peaceful sleep. The sun shone through the cracks in the boards he had against the windows. He jumped up to see what was going on downstairs. The drugstore across the street was surrounded by people who were breaking out the windows. Remy peeked through the bay windows he had recently de-boarded. He glanced over at Sugar Doll who remained sleeping peacefully.
“Things are going to get bad.” He said under his breath as the realization of it sent his heart racing.
“I’ve got to get Sugar Doll out of the city.” He mumbled as he saw that the people had successfully broken through the glass. He went back to the bed but decided to allow her to sleep. The way her brow furrowed in her sleep made him smile.
“I’m gone man, gone.” Remy smiled to himself and playfully kissed her on the forehead. He decided to go downstairs to find out what the locals were doing. He didn’t get far when he saw Benny walking toward him carrying a shotgun.
“Man where you going with that thing… deer hunting?” Remy asked half joking yet mildly alarmed.
“No man, the looters are out in force and I’ve got to protect my place. It’s about to get dangerous in the Quarters. The city is shut down and no help is coming either.” Benny looked over at the drugstore as it was being looted.
“Are there any evacuation areas out of the city?” Remy asked.
“What the floods haven’t blocked the police are. I heard that at a few of the hotels people are paying for a charter bus out of the city.” Benny pointed down the street. “Get out man; I’m only staying to protect my business.” Benny walked away. Remy stood on the street looking as the people were climbing through the windows. The sound of glass cracking pervaded the whole street. He raced up the stairs to get Sugar Doll. She was already sitting up in bed.
“Baby we’ve got to get out of the city. The police are really not around and the worst elements are showing their faces.” Remy said as he grabbed his small suitcase which stood already packed on the dresser.
“I thought that you said that we would be safe in the Quarter’s.” Sugar Doll admonished but rose up quickly.
“I thought we would be but I didn’t think that the storm would be as bad as it was. There is no running water in the city and the government isn’t giving us any help right now. People are getting desperate. We need to try to evacuate. I want to get to the car but I need to find out which routes are available for travel.” He turned the transistor radio on but heard only static.
“Let’s just go. We’ll find a way out of the city. Things are only going to get worse.”
Chapter Eighteen
Patrice, Bobby Joe, Elise and Tommy all banded together as they walked onto the expressway. People littered the bridge. It didn’t even look like the city bridge. Some people lay on blankets sleeping while others fed their children from baby food jars. Elise pressed closer to Patrice. “Why are they just staying here on the bridge?” She asked aloud.
“I guess they ain’t got nowhere else to go.” Tommy said. There were young people holding up signs asking for water.
“I’m scared Patrice.” Elise said.
“Me too. Let’s just keep walking.” Patrice suggested.
“Where are we going to go?” Elise asked.
“My cousin’s house in Harvey.” Tommy suggested. “Ya’ll welcome until this blows over and you find your family. They walked through the people on the bridge oddly separated from them. They had a look of determination and some people began to follow them. When they reached the highest point of the bridge Bobby Joe could see that up ahead there were several police cars at the bottom.
“Look ya’ll, they must be there to help people!” He shouted for joy as he broke into a fast run. The growing crowd of followers began to run behind him. Patrice and Elise kept pace.
As they drew closer to the blockade one of the sheriffs spoke to them on the megaphone: “Now listen! Ya’ll cannot pass! Gretna will not be New Orleans! Go back to where you came from. You can’t pass here!”
Stunned the crowd of fifty or more people crowded in behind their new leader Bobby Joe. “Ya’ll can’t stop us from going to our families.” He shouted.
“The hell we can’t!” The sheriff shouted. “Now turn around!” He cocked his rifle and shot into the air. The crowd was stunned and began to turn back. Five of the police officers also pulled their guns and shot above their heads.
“Tell the rest of them.” The sheriff shouted as the crowd began to run.
Patrice ran as hard as she could, crying all the while. Elise ran behind her but her face was devoid of any emotion.
“What’s going on when the police shoot at you for trying to go home?” Bobby Joe asked.
They slowed their running when they had managed a safe distance from the police.
“Man, this is crazy! Now where we gonna go?” Tommy asked as he held onto the bridge railing.
“Elise! Elise!” Patricia screamed as Elise fell to the ground.
“Too much running.” Bobby Joe joked as he walked over to the girls.
Tommy approached them but saw the red stain on Elise’s left side. He dropped down to her side.
“She’s been shot!” Tommy shouted. A few people approached to see what was going on.
“Them
peckerwoods shot her!” Tommy screamed.
Patricia grabbed Elise’s heavy body in her arms. The young girl was unconscious.
“Help! Help!” Bobby Joe screamed aloud.
“Mr. Renair, I’m going to go back to my bar to make sure that everything is locked down. I’m worried about what’s going on in the Quarters.” Mona said as she tied her shoes.
“Do you think it’s wise to go back out there?” Mr. Renair asked.
“No one is going to do me anything. People are desperate for food and water. Maybe I can help and save my bar.” Mona said as she walked out of the door.
Sugar Doll and Remy walked to his car and threw in their stuff.
“Let’s go see if Mona went back to the bar before we leave.” Sugar Doll suggested.
“You think she’s there?” Remy asked.
“I can’t imagine Mona staying at the Superdome. Her car is still in the alley behind her bar.” Sugar Doll shrugged.
“Good point.” Remy smiled. “Let’s go.” He turned the car around and headed for Royal Street. There were crowds of people breaking into the drugstore to get food.
“Wow that’s scary.” Sugar Doll exclaimed.
“Yeah but it’s been three days since the storm hit and there is no running water or supplies. What else are people supposed to do?” Remy lamented.
“Some of the people are so poor and really have nowhere to go. You’d think if the government can help all of those other countries when they suffer from disasters they can help right here at home.” Sugar Doll said angrily while Remy nodded in agreement.
They pulled up to the entrance of Royal Street. Three teenaged boys were roaming around looking into windows for the next place to break into as one carried a small portable television. Remy felt ashamed of them.
“It’s one thing to loot for food and water but damned!” He said under his breath.
He leaned into the car window, “Stay in the car and close the window.” He instructed Sugar Doll. She felt frightened for him. The boys drew closer.
“What the hell you looking at white boy?” One of the boys said.
“Nothing.” Remy said with meaning holding the younger boy’s gaze.
“I thought not.” He said and the other boys giggled with glee. Remy walked past them. They stared after him but soon lost interest as they spotted an antique store down the street.
Remy walked tenuously toward the bar. The bright green neon sign which read Mona’s was broken and a few of the front windows were broken but the bars on the main window had blocked hopeful looters. Remy looked up and down the street. He went to the back of the building to yell up at the window again. Mona’s car remained in the alleyway packed up to the roof.
“Mona! Mona!” He yelled up at the window.
“What you hollering at boy?” Benny rounded the corner.
“I’m looking for a friend.” Remy answered.
“Who?” Benny asked suspiciously.
“My girlfriend’s mother.” Remy answered.
“What’s her name? I might know her, I live right up there.” Benny pointed to the apartments across the street.
“Mona.” Remy answered.
“Oh, Mona ain’t here, she’s at her house on Dauphine Street. I just saw her last night.” Benny answered.
“Really?” Remy said getting excited.
“Benny’s the name. Tell her that I helped you out. I didn’t know she had a daughter though.”
“Thank you sir.” Remy shook the man’s hand and took off running.
“Tell her that Benny helped you!” He shouted after the boy laughing. He looked forward to another free beer.
Remy was strangely relieved that Mona was still in the French Quarters. He ran happily toward Sugar Doll in the car.
“Remy!” Sugar Doll’s voice pierced the air.
As he approached the car he saw that the young boys he’d passed had broken the car window and were trying to pull Sugar Doll out of it. Remy felt his blood run hot. He broke into a sprint toward the car. He ran toward the biggest boy who was tearing at Sugar Doll’s blouse. An animalistic grunt escaped his mouth as he pushed the boy into the window’s broken glass. He released Sugar Doll yelping as he felt the sting of the broken glass in his side. The other two boys came to the aid of their friend and jumped Remy with full force. Remy was like a released bull scrapping with the boy who was unsuccessfully trying to pin his arm. He heard the car door open.
“Sugar Doll! Stay in the car! Stay in the car!” He ordered. He heard another yelping sound and then the crush of the three young men lightened. He fought the remaining boy who was no more than fifteen years old. He clocked one swift right hook to his cheek. The boy fell out cold. He looked up to see Benny kicking another boy who took off into a swift run. Sugar Doll leaned against the door of the car shaken with sprinkles of blood on her white blouse.
“You alright?” Remy asked jumping to his feet.
She shook her head yes. Benny stooped down to look at the young boy close up.
“I know these boys. Trash.” He spat.
“Thank you man.” Remy grasped Benny’s hand to shake it.
“Don’t thank me, thank her, man. She knocked that boy down with the car door. I’m surprised he could still run after that.” He chuckled amused. “I just gave him the extra kick to get him on his way.
Sugar Doll smiled at Remy who turned to her to give her a strong and emotional embrace. “When I saw him with his hands on you I thought that I would lose my mind.” He kissed her urgently. She softened at his touch.
“I know when I’m not needed.” Benny backed away smiling.
Mona walked through the French Quarter and she felt a sense of fear she had never had in the Quarters before. She heard the sirens of police cars and car alarms going off. There were people standing in clutters whispering in hushed voices. The street was darkened as the power was out and there was an eerie feeling in the air. Mona thought of her favorite novel and wondered if the Vampire LeStat was roaming around somewhere. She got a giggle at that thought and felt a bit more at ease.
“Funny that a vampire would actually make me feel safe.” She thought to herself. “These are my streets. My home and no one is going to mess with me.” She thought bravely even as she passed groups of people breaking into a store. As she drew closer to her bar she saw that the windows had been broken but the inner bars had prevented anyone getting into the business. She looked up and down the street debating whether she should open the gate or return to the safety of her house. Just as she turned toward her house she heard a loud whoop.
“Mona! Mona!” someone shouted from behind her. Benny came running toward her.
“Your daughter’s still here.” He smiled triumphantly.
“What are you talking about?” Mona felt her heart sink. Just then Sugar Doll walked from around the corner with Remy on her arm. There was blood on her blouse.
“What happened to you?” Mona shrieked instantly alarmed.
“She wrestled an alligator.” Remy tried to make light of the moment.
Sugar Doll ran to her mother and hugged her crying. Mona cried as well unprepared for this level of emotion from her daughter.
“What happened?” her voice softened.
“Some guys tried to attack her, but we took care of them.” Benny supplied.
“Yeah thanks man.” Then turning to Mona and said, “This man deserves a beer.” Remy supplied.
Mona stood hugging her daughter, “What are you still doing here?” she asked.
“We got stuck because of all of the road closings.” Sugar Doll lied.
“Your grandmother’s probably worried sick.” Mona said.
“Yes, but I can’t get through. All of the circuits are busy.”
“That’s not all, the city has gone crazy. It feels like we are the only ones left on the planet.” Mona sighed. She continued to hug Sugar Doll relishing the feeling.
“Mona,” Sugar Doll came out of the embrace, “We went to Cha
rity Hospital. We know about Tony.” She grimaced as she said his name because even though her hatred of the man ran deep she still felt empathy for her mother. Whatever else the man was he had been close to Mona.
“I can’t talk about that.” Mona said feeling her throat tightening up. The two walked back toward the bar amidst the darkening night sky. Remy came over to Sugar Doll and hugged her from behind. The feeling of love was palpable. Mona studied her daughter. She could see the look in her eyes and knew that she had given herself to the boy. They walked together toward Mona’s house.
Patrice held her sister in her arms. Elise’s breathing was heavy and labored. There was a strange rattle to it. There were people surrounding both girls but Patrice only heard the sound of her sister’s breathing. She could feel her skin which had become cold and clammy. She placed her hand on the side of her cheek. She knew that the death rattle signified the beginning of the end. Someone was talking to her but she wanted to stay in that moment. She wanted to be there when Elise’s spirit left her body. She needed to be there in that singular moment as she had been with her mother. The silence was deafening. The breathing came in and out, in and out. The breathing slowed and became deeper in sound. Patrice opened her eyes and looked at Elise and she blew out a final breath. She did it like one preparing to swim. Her head fell to the side and she was gone. Patrice let out a wail as she held her sister. Bobby Joe and Tommy stood behind her crying silently and in shock. The crowd that surrounded them began to walk away as though somehow the moment was too private to witness.
Chapter Nineteen
Remy held Sugar Doll in his arms as Reverend Han talked to her quietly. “Mrs. Jones had a smile on her face and I must say that she looked very peaceful.” He wiped a tear from his cheek. His wife stood behind him patting him on the back. They were the consoling brigade. She knew that he’d looked to Mrs. Jones as a mother figure. She felt his deep sadness as well.
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