Red eyes sat low as he eyed me suspiciously, but even I couldn’t ignore the golden brown color that pierced through as he stepped into the house with Lu watching him with a small smile before looking at me like a weakened woman.
“Am I crazy for keeping his dawg ass around?” She complained with a pout, drawing her hair out through her fingers. “I’m really about to let him crawl into bed with me, and give me the business. Knowing he probably messed with a girl the night before. Does that make me crazy?”
“No...In love, but not crazy,” I said softly, looking at my nails, thinking about Percy and Nasia. “I’m the last person you should ask. I share a home with a man I know is cheating on me.”
“Girl, what are we to do with these men?” She laughed. “I don’t want to be in love if that’s what it's like. Choosing to accept hurt and pain.” Tallulah looked back into the house to watch him. “He cute though for a white boy, ain’t he?”
She smiled at me, gap in her mouth wider than normal with her bumpy cheek seemingly calmed down with the redness as she waited for my response. I just smiled, keeping my true thoughts to myself, but she laughed.
“Not your type, I know. He got a big juicy thang that stay on beat between his legs so that helps,” she shrugged. She pushed her hair back like a long black wave from her shoulder. “You know he’s not with her tonight. He’s back at the apartment by himself. Call him.”
“Who?” I questioned, confused. She just smiled with a cheesy wink before stepping inside at the sound of her boyfriend calling her name. “Who are you talking about? Percy?”
“You should come with us to the Moon Run Jas!” She yelled out. “Like an honorary Skye sister.”
Are you talking about Percy, and what’s a Moon Run?! Tallulah?!”
Delilah Skye
“The Moon Run is about to begin! Everybody in their positions! Let’s go!” Yuma called out with a loud whistle. Large black and red feather headdress expanding from his head like a Native crown, symbolizing chief status as I stood in place in front of my mother. Letting her finish painting the white markings on my face from lines and dots down my eyes, and a red line drawing from my forehead to my chin. Carefully lining my lips in the center.
“Mama? You finna go get sum’ to eat after this?” Fowler asked, coming up beside me with his white tribal markings on his face, looking from me to her. My mother was a unique specimen of her own. In tune with nature, she closed her eyes and took a deep inhale before opening them to smile at me.
“My pretty Lilah Bean,” she whispered in a sultry voice she could never turn off. Not even for her children. Long thick coarse hair falling to her shoulders with her chest on display for the average fool, and short shorts with heels she could run in if she had to. She lifted my chin up to take the white paint down my neck.
“Mama? You hear me?”
“There is food out here Fowler---.”
“I’on want no barbeque though,” he pouted. “And why she get the white paint on her neck, I ain’t get that.”
“Would you stop being a cry baby?” I snapped at my younger brother who turned his nose up at me in a snarl before stomping off. I looked up at the sky, staring at the full moon hanging in the air. Just above the tall fields of grass with little to no stars in sight as music played from somebody’s car.
Tradition. Night of the Moon Run was about to begin. A little older, a little wiser this time around. A new Young Moon.
“Let’s skooo! Let’s skooo!” Yuma yelled, feathered headpiece bouncing about as he walked up and down the dirt road. If you were able to see the magic of this place, you would notice things that seemed impossible to the average eye. Yuma suddenly let out a loud laugh as I watched his feet slowly lift just an inch or two off the ground, showing his true form as a Native spirit of the lands. He wasn’t real. Not anymore. My mother told me a long time ago he wasn’t real, and only came out at night on certain full moons. When it was time for a ceremonial Moon Run like this night. Mostly, he would get drunk, and fall in the bed with some foolish woman, as she would put it, but I smiled. Looking over at my mother and pointing as she nodded with a wink.
“Told you,” she mouthed.
“Is he going to do this forever?” I asked as she blew air threw her lips.
“Psssh… I doubt it. You are part of the new generation. Maybe your brother or one of your cousins will take his place, and set the race for the next couple decades or so, and you’ll be my little Alpha female in no time. You’ll come walking in, fierce, powerful,” smearing the white paint under my eye as she spoke in a dreamy tone. “Girls following your lead with loyalty. You will rule as you see fit my Lilah Bean. You were blessed to have been kissed by both cultures… The African in you is as powerful as the Native, and in some circles, it's the same thing so who do you choose, if you have to choose? Out of the Skye women that started this family, you pull from two at the same time. Embrace it,” she said with her eyes widening with life. “Embrace your culture, your magic, and power.”
I stood in place, smudging my hands down my jeans to wipe of any nervous sweat. I had my black purse to the side with my two cats, Amay, and Yoon sitting in the grass watching. My hair was pulled back in a makeshift ponytail as the rest took their place. Indigo with her bright white hair stood beside me with navy blue lines along her face while Tallulah stood on the other side sporting white marks slashing across her eye. Hair half way down her back wearing torn jeans, and a small stained tank with no shoes on. She looked at me with a crooked smile with her front teeth split in the middle from her gap.
“You ready to beat these dummies or are you trying to lose by my smoke?” She asked innocently, flat hand under her chin, batting her lashes. We had to be around nine years old at the time. Older over some, and younger than others, I could see Homer and my brothers down on the other end talking. Shirtless, ready for their second run.
“It's not a race,” Indigo said softly as Tallulah let out a wad of spit before whipping her hair back from her shoulders.
“Keep telling yourself that Storm,” stomping her foot onto the ground before cupping her mouth to let out a howl. “ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Neck straining, and stretched to the sky. “OWWW OWWW OOOOOW-ROOOOOO!”
“Aye cut all that out!” Yuma clapped as Tallulah settled back in her place only to hear the soft howls of something, an animal echoing back before a chorus of strays, and wild dogs from all over answered back. Even the boys couldn’t figure it out as Tallulah smirked with a nod.
“That’s my baby!” Her dad yelled. “She know who she is!”
Sure enough, she started a domino effect as Homer’s fist tightened up as he barked. He was trying to show Tallulah up who paid it no mind.
“HAU! HAU! HAAAAAUP!” He bit into the air before leaning low with his hands cupping his mouth as he stretched back, and howled. Voice carrying so far as the rest of the boys followed.
“I said cut it out!” Yuma yelled. “For y'all send these damn dogs up here! All this food we got! Cut it out!”
You could hear the sound of dogs howling in the distance, responding throughout the air. Their spirit animal barked, growled, and howled to their human form. They felt that connection to their totem while I looked at my two cats and rolled my eyes. I looked down at the boys from the neighborhoods nearby eye Tallulah with curiosity. Same look men gave my mama when they wanted to get the nerve to step to her. Tallulah knew she had their attention as she glanced back with a smile before flipping her long hair once more.
“Alright, listen up!” Yuma yelled, walking down the dirt row full of cousins anxious to get started. “Before we begin, lemme tell you the history of these lands! These grounds!”
“Ughhh we know already!” Fowler complained. “You say the same thang every time!”
“Because y'all hearing me, but y'all not listening! That’s why! Listen! Listen with your eyes, your ears, your mouth, touch, and nose! Five senses!” Holding up five fingers. There are five elements in life that we need to
live by! Earth, water, air, fire…” Holding up four fingers as he looked at us.
“And spirit!” Homer called out as I rolled my eyes. Looking back at my two cats who side eyed my cousin as well. Mimicking my exact thoughts. The suck up.
“Let these five senses guide you through your run tonight,” Yuma said as he walked towards me. Dark brown eyes, and dusty colored complexion, he stared me down. “You will learn by gentleness what you would never discover by force Delilah. May not make sense now, but when you get older...More powerful than even your mother---.”
“Tuhh,” my mom laughed lightly. “Not likely, but go on.”
“She already is,” he said with a smile, and wink at me. “And she knows it. Delilah has patience, and pride. Intelligence, and tactfulness, but lacks emotion. A soul with no feeling is no soul at all, just a body with empty eyes.” Searching my face like he was reading me, but I stared back. Giving him no satisfaction of having the chance. “Like… peering into a window only to see nothing inside. Dangerous woman right there. Anything can get inside, lay dormant, and wreak havoc… Just like ya mama,” walking back as he began to lightly bounce on his feet. Tallulah looked at me with wide eyes, brows stretched before puckering her lips.
I looked at my mom seeing she had her eyes low, jaw tight as she watched Yuma like a snake waiting to strike before she smiled at me.
“We don’t pay men like that no mind Lilah Bean, do what you do. That was directed towards me, not you and he knows better.”
Maybe she was one of the foolish women that he fell in the bed with.
“On ya mark?!” Earnell yelled, hand raised in the air. Waiting for the signal from Yuma who always took the chance to start another speech.
“Catch the white flag at the end of the field and hurry back! Catch the Moon!” He called out. “Anything you might hear or see is your journey! Your calling! Your truth! Do NOT! I repeat! Do NOT! Speak on what you see, hear, taste, or touch tonight! Your run is for you! The Moon is a feminine energy, and she is in all her glory tonight! Listen?!” Cupping his ear as the entire area grew quiet. The crackling of the fire from the BBQ to the music paused, Earnell bent down and gripped the dirt between his feet, eyes closed with a slow smile creeping on his face.
“On your mark?!” Earnell shouted again. Yuma’s eyes opened as his hands clenched the dirt.
“Get set?!”
He stood up, rubbing his hands in the dirt before slowly moving out the way of the fields as the boys on the other end inched further up.
We waited. I gripped my purse, looking back at my cats who were crouched in position, ready to snap. I listened to the neighborhood boys nearby laugh, and talk amongst themselves.
“Buckra,” I muttered with disgust. Mimicking the words I hear my uncles and aunt use all the time.
“GO!” Earnell yelled with a clap as my cousins took off running. Screaming, and laughing with family cheering them on. I decided to take my time, and walk. Seeing the tall grass reach higher the closer I got.
“Delilah forever the show off!” Caroline yelled. “Go Delilaaaah! Go Lu! Go Indie!”
“You got this cousin!” Monae hollered after. “This is nothing for you! Easy breezy!”
I stepped into my own fate, feet parting the pathway before feeling the grass close in behind me. Closing my eyes, I clutched my purse and started to walk forward. Heart thumping at a pace I could barely breathe at, I felt a hand grab at my arm. Pulling me in one direction, and another pulling me back. Strong scratchy hands, rough to the touch until I felt a presence behind me. Strength I couldn't fight against push at my head, forcing me to bow before I dropped to my knees. Rough hands still pulling me in every which direction suddenly pinned me to the dirt before my eyes flew open in the darkness. Seeing nothing but feeling the moon directly above me. Just over my back as I looked over my shoulder. I tried to open my mouth but whatever had a hold of me forced me on my stomach with my legs down, yanking off my clothes as I attempted to scream. I tried grabbing at the dirt, trying to grip something to pull my body back up but the invisible force had me further into the ground until I was stripped. I started fighting back, flinging against whatever energy was behind me. Seeing nothing but feeling hot breaths, hot hands, and a strong gust of wind and air blow around, and into me as I let out the loudest scream. Forehead cut, and bleeding from being forced against rocks as my knees scraped against the ground. Feeling my cats around me claw and scratch. Scream and hiss at my own body like I was my own enemy until I heard my mother’s voice holler out something I didn’t recognize before she snatched me off the ground. Pulling me out of whatever was happening. Heels were off, bare feet covered in dirt when she cupped my face to look into my eyes. Squeezing my jaw with her nails digging into my skin, I started to scream, and squirm. Hearing her say something I couldn’t understand, she jerked my face back so hard, almost snapping my head back before clenching my jawbone to the point of spit, and drool seeping out with sweat pouring from my face. Her eyes were dark, and unreadable, but her lips were moving a mile a minute until she let go. Face softening seconds after the attack before she stepped back seeing blood drip down from my legs.
Clothes were sprawled about as she gathered my clothes, and purse and pulled me close to her. Keeping my face hidden in her side, attempting to hide my nudity to the rest of the family that gasped in shock when I walked out of the fields.
“NO MORE! She’s not doing this anymore! Somebody get my boys! NOW!”
“Aye!? Pull them kids out! Pull em out!” Another yelled. “Yuma?! GET MY DAUGHTER OUT OF THERE NOW!”
Out of nowhere was a loud piercing shriek for help.
“INDIGOOOO!? Oh my God!” Her mother screamed, kicking her shoes off as she ran straight for the fields.
“HOMER?!”
Every aunt, and uncle abandoned rules and tradition, and went after their own as Earnell signaled for headlights to come on as trucks began rolling into the fields. Miles, and miles of grass that stretched from one end to another as more people began running into the grass.
“Hold up, hold up,” Benjamin interrupted. Pulling me out of my story. I blinked a few times as small movement of the water below rocked us in the navy blue boat. Sunday early morning in Atlanta on the Chattahoochee river. Hardly a car in sight over the bridge, and Ben stood with a fishing rod in hand. Trying to fix the string wearing nothing but jeans, and black boxers bunched underneath. Tattoo of a skulled man with wings spread throughout his backside apparent, and his thick hair braided in two plaits going back with black rubber bands curled at the end. He cut his slow country eyes at me before concentrating on the string.
“You telling me you were raped by something you couldn’t see?” He asked, hearing something pop before he strung his arms out for a stretch. Satisfied with his work. I sat quietly on the bench with my ankles crossed together. Sweats, and an oversized shirt with my locs hanging at will. Black matte nails pointed like claws holding a small mason jar of mint water to settle my stomach as I looked out into the dark river water.
“I don’t know what happened to me that night. I just never participated again. Wasn’t allowed to. None of the girls were allowed to anymore. Not after that.”
“It happened to other girls?”
I nodded.
“All that same night, we were all violated in one way or another. Our weakest points were tried, and tested. Indigo was beaten. Came out with a busted lip and eye, and Tallulah was attempting to commit suicide when they found her. I was raped. All by some…” Taking a slow sip of the water. “Boogeyman or other…Whatever got a hold of us was taking out their anger on us, and only us. The boys were unharmed. Tradition continued on.”
Ben tossed the rod with a flick of the wrist into the water before spreading his legs out to keep the boat steady. I wanted fish, and refused to get it from the store where it sat in ice on the back of a truck for days or in some warehouse.
“Did y'all speak on what happened that night to anybody else? Ain’t it pose’ to
come true if you talk about it?” He asked.
“Do you plan on letting somebody rape me while I’m with you? Unless you’re the one I have to fear?” I pressed with an attitude as he smirked. Keeping his back facing me, but he didn’t say anything. Didn’t have to.
“We spoke about it because we had to tell Auntie Keda what happened. If you speak on it, then yes, it will come true. We spoke about it, and for what I know? I haven’t been violated in that way. Tallulah has been to the hospital once, for accidentally overdosing on subscription pills during high school, and Indigo has been in abusive relationships to the point of fearing men in general. Her spirit is broken, but nothing a good, patient man can’t fix.”
Ben didn’t say anything, just focused on the water as I watched him. Wondering what he was thinking.
“It’s why I was so particular about how I lost my virginity, and to who. If I was going to have sex for the first time, it had to be with a man who would take care of the before, during, and after. My mother, you know she thrives off masculine energy intertwining with her feminine aura. She loves it. I’m picky about who I let in my space.”
“In comes Stacey,” he muttered as I smiled, thinking about Stacey Freeman. He was my soulmate in this life, and the next but my heart never belonged to him, nor did his belong to me. Ben came as a surprise. Out of nowhere, and never in a million years did I think I would want to be with someone like him, but it happened.
“You smiling over there probably thinking about that nigga,” he retorted. “I’on even know why y'all still---.”
“I like his soon to be wife, and I still keep in touch with his kids, nothing more. Besides, I’m smiling about you coming out of nowhere, and me falling for you. I see everything in my path, but I did not see you coming,” rubbing my stomach. “At all.”
Hoodwinked Page 30