Trickery & Envy

by Johnson, D. C.

  “Did you call me?” he said from the bottom step.

  “I heated the spaghetti, did you want some?” Jennifer began stirring the spaghetti with a spatula.

  “Yeah, be up in a few minutes.”

  Jennifer opened the bin on the counter for the loaf of wheat bread.

  Vivian said, “Are you going to answer me?”

  “Oh, what did you ask me?” and Jennifer removed 4 slices of bread.

  “I asked what you meant by him wasting radiation.”

  “Oh, girl, upping the dose isn’t going to save me. Some things you just know. Like I told Charles, I’m going to die. You want some bread? I’m going to toast mine and Charles in the oven.”

  Vivian was stunned by what her friend just said. She actually looked off to the side as if to ask herself did I hear her right. She then rose from the sofa and headed to the kitchen where she just looked at Jennifer.

  “Vi don’t you come in here bawling. I’m fine. You want to eat in here at the table or in the living room?”

  Jennifer slid the pan of sliced bread into the bottom of the oven and then went to get plates from the cabinet.

  Vivian wasn’t sure if Jennifer was playing or just trying to be strong. So she waved her hand down at her and said, “Girl, you’re not going anywhere.” She then looked at her on the sly before going back down into the living room.

  Charles came up from the basement.

  “What were you doing down there watching television?” Jennifer asked and opened the refrigerator for some butter when a slight cough escaped.

  “Not really, though I did just turn it on.” Charles had changed from the blue slacks and light blue shirt he had worn to the doctor’s office with Jennifer to some black pants and grey t-shirt. “I threw what was in the bin into the washer. Umm...spaghetti smells good.”

  Jennifer reached for a knife to spread butter on their toast and also glanced at her husband on the sly. He’s doing laundry? Hauling out the garbage yes, but laundry…what has gotten into him doing chores?

  “Baby, take a seat. I’ll fix your plate,” Charles said standing next to her and happy for the opportunity to take the load off her.

  “I’m fine Charles. I know you’re only trying to help and I appreciate it, but I’m good.”

  Jennifer opened the bottom of the oven to get the toasted bread on the cookie sheet. She paused after feeling a sharp pain below.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Charles asked.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Every now and again I get a little pain below.” Jennifer then gave Charles a smidgen of a smile and removed the cookie sheet from the bottom on the oven.

  Vivian was listening to their conversation trying to get a read if the doctor had actually given a prediction of the time Jennifer had left or if Jennifer was simply giving up.

  Jennifer then said, “Vi’s having dinner with us. I know you’re not a fan of The Voice, but we are and we’re going to watch it while we eat. You want to sit with us?”

  “I think I’ll pass. I’m sure there’s something more interesting for me on television. Besides, I want to finish up in the basement. You go ahead and enjoy your friend,” Charles said taking the plate of spaghetti she was handing him. He kissed her on the jaw then set the plate on the kitchen table and moved to the refrigerator for something to drink.

  Something’s going on. My guess is she’s giving up. Vivian wiped at a few tears threatening to fall. “I’m going to turn The Voice on,” she said.

  “Okay,” Jennifer replied and reached for a glass in the cabinet. “Vi, you want some Kool-Aid?”

  “Girl you know I don’t drink that stuff. I haven’t had Kool-Aid since I was a kid and when did you start drinking Kool-Aid again?”

  Vivian turned on the television then headed to the kitchen.

  “Just recently, I don’t know about you, but I’m going out with a bang!”

  Jennifer handed Vivian a plate of spaghetti smiling.

  Vivian took the plate of spaghetti looking mystified at her friend. Why is it such a joke to her?

  Charles heard the remark and paused before taking a seat on the futon. He closed his eyes tight at the gut-wrenching feeling now coming over him.

  “If you have bottle water I’ll take one,” Vivian said.

  “I think there’s another one in the fridge, if not,” Jennifer said and walking over to the refrigerator, “I’ll ask Charles to bring one up. I know there’s some downstairs.”

  Jennifer set up two tray tables. One she sat in front of the lounge seat for her and the other in front of Vivian.

  “Vi, there’s some folks on this show with some serious talent. I really tune in because I love me some Cee Lo Green. Doesn’t he look like a Hershey with almonds? He gives me a taste for chocolate when I see him.”

  “Girl you’re silly,” Vivian said and mixing the parmesans cheese into her spaghetti with her fork. She then glanced off and on at her friend, saddened by her condition. It tugged at her heart. What bothered her most was the new nonchalant attitude her friend adapted. That new approach had Vivian staying focused on her friend.

  “He sounds like Luther Vandross, doesn’t he?” Jennifer said glancing over at Vivian. She saw the gaze and picked up her glass of Kool-Aid for a sip.

  “What?” Vivian said snapping out of her stare and took in a forkful of spaghetti.

  Jennifer with a slight smirk on her face sat the glass of Kool-Aid down.

  “Look Vi, if that gloomy look is about me you may as well change it. Don’t think I don’t feel you staring at me. I know you and Charles are worried, but stop wasting your time feeling sad for me. I don’t want any sympathy.” She picked up her fork and twirled up spaghetti with it.

  “I know Jen...it’s just difficult for me to process what sounds like you’ve given up.”

  Jennifer made a tsk sound and wiped at her mouth with the napkin she had on the side of her tray.

  “Vi...I have not given up. Don’t you see me sitting here enjoying this show, your company, life. What makes you think I’ve given up?”

  “I mean there’s something different about you. The things you’re saying. Going out with a bang? That sounds like someone who has given up.”

  Jennifer picked up the remote next to her thigh and turned the volume down on the television. She knew she wouldn’t be able to continue her show with Vivian looking sad at her.

  “What do you and Charles expects me to do Vi, walk around depressed? Well, I used to. I’m not doing it anymore. I’ve come to terms with the inevitable. I saw how my mother, my sister and aunt succumb to this disease. In my opinion, they suffered longer than they had to. I’m the one who has to deal with the fact my body has been invaded by cancerous cells. Me, Vi,” she said pointing her thumb back at herself.

  Charles heard them talking loud to each other and stopped eating to listen. He then moved to the bottom of the stairs to listen.

  “There’s nothing I can do about it,” Jennifer said. “The only thing the doctor can do at this point is fill me up with radiation with the hope it will change the outcome. It won’t. I don’t have to go to church every Sunday to know when God is calling me home.”

  Charles fell to his knees and cried quietly. A host of tears were building in Vivian eyes.

  “Now I’m not exactly sure of the date He plans to bring me up, but what I am sure about is that it’s going to happen sooner than later.”

  “Jennifer don’t, don’t do this. Please don’t talk like this. You don’t know for sure that you won’t survive this.”

  The tears that were forming ran down Vivian’s face. She laid her fork down on her plate and lowered her head and cried quietly into her hands.

  Jennifer gave her a moment to accept what she was telling her, then said, “Vi, there’s only two things I want from you, if you can grant me these wishes.”

  Vivian wiped at her eyes. “What’s that you know I’m here for you?”

  “That you and Toni, if I’m not around, name me and
Charles your baby’s Godmother and father. Two, and I don’t care how you make it happen, but I want to meet Angela Bassett.”

  Vivian sort of chuckled at her last request, so did Charles whose chuckles were heard by the both of them.

  “Charles,” Jennifer called out over her shoulder. “Are you giggling at me? Are you down there laughing at my request?”

  Charles came up from the basement and moved into the living room wiping traces of tears from his face. He then placed his hands on his hips and with a smile on his face he said, “Angela Bassett, Jennifer.”

  “Yes, Angela Bassett. It’s not impossible. All we have to do is be wherever she’s going to be the next time she comes to Chicago or go to the city she lives in.”

  “Go to the city she lives in,” Charles repeated with raised eyes brows and thinking, you’re serious.

  “Y’all know I’m her twin. I want her to know that someone else out here shares her beauty. Now promise me,” she said to them.

  Vivian looked at Charles who shrugged his shoulders.

  “Jen, the first request is granted without a doubt. Now how you think I’m going to get close enough to Angela Bassett to let her know that you have a dying wish to meet her,” Vivian said.

  Jennifer smiled. She said dying wish and she looked at Charles who broad smile had diminished some.

  “Baby, if we have to kidnap Angela that’s what we’ll do,” he said.

  “Kidnap the woman?” Vivian said, tilting her head to the side.

  “Hey, what Lola wants, Lola gets.” Charles walked away back toward the basement as if to say, it’s going to be okay. He then said where they could hear him, “That’s my Jennifer, crazy as ever.”

  “Now about my first wish,” Jennifer said and twirled some spaghetti around her fork. “I know you still may be a little alarmed about what happened, but have you talked to Toni?”

  Vivian smiled some and slid her hand across her stomach with images of Toni in mind.

  “He’s coming over this evening,” she said. “I’m scared Jennifer,” she then admitted.

  Jennifer wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Scared of what?” briefly looking over at her friend.

  “I don’t know about being a mother. So many things have happened in the last few months. I don’t know if mentally I’ll be able to handle the responsibilities.”

  “Vi you are going to be fine. If things go well with Toni like I think they will, you can’t lose. Despite his situation I think he’s going to be a great father...and husband someday.”

  “Husband, that’s jumping the gun a bit don’t you think,” Vivian said with raised eyebrows.

  “Maybe,” Jennifer answered and she looked a bit sad. “I just wish I could be around to see him or her grow up.”

  “You just might. The Lord can change His mind, can’t He?”

  Jennifer was caught off guard by the statement as she looked over at her friend and smiled at her.

  “Don’t hold your breath,” she said. “So what’s going on with the break-in?”

  Vivian sipped from her bottled water. “That’s the last thing I want to think about. The police think Vernon is behind it. This spaghetti is good.”

  “Thanks...and that wouldn’t surprise me at all. If they find that he is, are you going to press charges?”

  “After what he let happen to me, without hesitation I’d press charges. Brother or not, Vernon will be returning to the penitentiary. Would you believe he’s been dating the stylist I fired a couple months ago and she was in on it?”

  “Are you serious? Girl, they ought to throw her in a cell right next to his. I just don’t understand how Vernon ended up this way. He was smart, caring and nice looking. He could have been helping you out around your salon instead of trying to destroy it.”

  Vivian nodded her head a couple times. “That’s another thing. I’ve just about abandoned my shop. I don’t know what I would do without Patricia. I told her I was going to take a few weeks off and if she needs me to call.” Vivian then wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Girl that spaghetti hit the spot,” she said and then moved back into the sofa and rested her hands over her belly protruding from the cranberry-colored jogging suit she had on.

  Jennifer looked over at her and smiled. “Have you picked out any names yet?” and having had enough too, wiped her mouth and sat the crinkled napkin in her plate.

  “Hasn’t crossed my mind,” and Vivian burped. “Listen to me I sound like a pig.”

  “Maybe that was little Toni in there burping, too. Vi I am so happy that you’re pregnant.”

  “Why are you happy that I’m pregnant? I’m gon’ be big as the moon in a couple months. Forget about favoring Wendy Raquel Robinson, I’m going to look more like MADEA,” and they both laughed.

  “That’s a good one.”

  “Girl, I done lost my mind.”

  “What?” Jennifer said.

  “Toni was bringing ribs and mashed potatoes with him. How am I going to explain I already ate?”

  “Blame it on Toni Jr.”

  “What?”

  “Girl pregnant woman are always blaming the things they eat and do on their baby. Mark my words Vi, you and Toni are going to end up married. I may not be here to witness it, but you two are going to be married one day.”

  “Whatever. I better head back,” and she rose from the sofa. Vivian then lifted her plate and bottled water from the food tray and headed to the kitchen with it.

  ***

  Tracie stopped styling her clients hair to answer the phone after it rang. Since going to the police she felt a bit at ease. Vernon had not come back around or tried to contact her by phone. Even so, Tracie had instructed her clients to call her upon ringing her bell. She had fabricated a story that she ended her relationship with her boyfriend and felt he was now stalking her.

  Tracie hesitated answering the phone when she saw the caller ID displayed Police Department. She let the phone ring again before picking up. “Hello,” she softly spoke into the phone.

  “This is Sergeant Grayson. I’m trying to reach Tracie Allen.”

  “This is her.”

  “Ms. Allen, we need you to come back to the station as soon as possible. We have a few questions about Vernon Fowler. How soon can you get here?”

  “I style hair and have clients at my house. Can this please wait until after I’m done?”

  “At what time would that be?”

  “Around four o’clock?”

  “Stop at the reception desk and ask for me, Officer Grayson. It’s imperative that we talk to you.”

  “Okay,” Tracie said and hung up.

  Tracie returned to her client.

  “Was that the mad boyfriend?” the client asked.

  Tracie nodded.

  “Girl, you may have to put out an order of protection against him.”

  “If you don’t mind, I don’t want to talk about him,” and Tracie began to drive herself crazy thinking what other questions the police had for her. She didn’t even hear her client when she said no problem before reverting to reading the book she brought with her.

  It was three-thirty when Tracie finished up. She knew she was going to be late getting to the police station because she had no one to keep Cassidy. The babysitter she had when she was working for the salon had gone back to school. Fran would sometimes keep Cassidy, but today she was at work and her grandfather had gone to play poker with his friends.

  Tracie walked up to Cassidy’s bedroom door changing her unhappy face to upbeat.

  “Cassidy get ready. We’re about to go somewhere.”

  Cassidy was sprawled on the floor and coloring in one of her books. The two twisted ponytails in her hair swung to the motion of her head as she looked over at her bedroom door.

  “Where to mommy?” she asked.

  “I’ll tell you when we get almost there,” Tracie said to buy herself time for a believable reason they were about to visit the police station.

  “Okay.” Cassidy happily
rose from the floor and headed for her blue jeans and red sweater putting them on. “Mommy should I wear my boots even though there’s no snow outside?” she queried and went for her jacket that she had tossed into her closet a couple days ago. Cassidy then headed for the front door where most of their shoes were lined in a row.

  “If you want to wear your boots it’s okay.”

  “Mommy is you sad again?”

  Cassidy sat on the floor to put on her black boots.

  “No, why do you ask that?” and Tracie slipped into her boots covering her sadness with another fake smile.

  “I don’t know mommy, you just look sad.”

  “Mommy’s fine,” was all Tracie offered.

  Tracie took a deep breath parking about a block from the police station.

  “Look mommy policemen,” Cassidy said with bright eyes at two officers standing across the street talking.

  “Yes, they are. They don’t mind if we bring children sometimes so they could see what police stations look like. Come on let’s go see what the policemen do inside.”

  “Okay!” Cassidy said looking forward to the escapade and opened her side of the car to get out. She exited with a big smile then waved at two policemen across the street paying her no attention.

  “Give me your hand,” Tracie said as they were about to enter the station.

  Tracie walked in and her eyes quickly moved in zigzags at the officers moving about while Cassidy smiled and waved at them. Tracie headed a bit nervous over to the counter.

  “I’m here to see Officer Grayson,” she said to a Hispanic female officer.

  “Just a second,” Officer Hernandez replied.

  Officer Hernandez did a quick visual inspection of Tracie and then looked down at the little girl whose attention was drawn to an officer making goofy eyes at her. She then lifted the receiver to the phone on the counter. After she hung up from her call Tracie leaned in a bit.

  “Officer, I’m here for questioning and I don’t want my daughter to know that’s why I’m here. I told her that the police sometimes let children visit. Is there somewhere she can go while I talk to Officer Grayson?”

  The female officer gave a nod. “I understand and I’m Officer Hernandez. I’ll have her sit behind the counter with me. I’ll keep an eye on her for you.”