Hoodwinked

by Desiree Granger

  “Who was the girl? Pia? You think the girl was Pia?” Piru asked incredulously, not believing the story at all. “Pia has told you the story before, and you’re----.”

  “The little girl was me, or a child that looked like me,” he said. “She looked like Violet… Didn’t know what it meant until now with us walking through the fields together like before. Life just got a funny ass way of coming back around is all. Ain’t nothing else to it. We’re almost at the end.”

  I looked down at the grass, trying to picture what he was saying, and what it could possibly mean until we came up on the edge of the forest that lined the back of the field. I looked up at the towering pine trees that waved and swayed before looking into the deep forest. I wouldn’t want to be caught anywhere near this at night, but Homer instructed us to spread out, and place stakes into the ground with the white cloth wrapped around it. I watched Homer close his eyes, and kneel to the ground, mumbling a few words to himself before he turned, and started back.

  “It’s about to begin,” he said. “If yall wanna change clothes or not, feel free, but this ain’t the place to try and dress up at. Might wanna hurry up before this grass gets tall. Supposed to be over seven feet---.”

  “What?” I laughed incredulously at the knee high grass but Homer took off without another word. I looked back at the looming trees above us that began to sway under the grey clouds before seeing Piru was already gone.

  “Wait a minute!” I yelled, looking back at the trees before following behind my brother. “Hold on! I’m not used to running!”

  I was already coughing, and hacking up spit trying to keep up with a limber brother, and athletic beast before I felt a brush of wind behind me. Almost like it was gaining on me, applying pressure and fear that caused me not to turn around until we were shoved out of the fields with a jerking force I couldn’t explain. I nearly collapsed on the ground, gasping for air as I pushed my glasses back up my nose, and looked back seeing the grass that used to be barely above ground. Now it swaved like the lengthy trees that backed it with the weeds well over my height.

  “AYE?!” A voice called out as I struggled to balance myself while looking around the back road, seeing cars parked everywhere now with people walking from both sides. “Block up the streets! Sun finna set soon!”

  Just like that, we were back where we started. The afternoon was coming to a slow close as more cars were made to park further down and forced people to walk. From what I was told, family was the only one that could get front row. The kids were running around with the same few boys running up to Piru, ready to get their faces painted. I stayed close to my brother who was able to grab a small plastic white table, and two chairs so he could paint.

  “You seem to really enjoy this… All of this out here,” I muttered irritably as I watched Homer run down the road to hop inside a car. He reminded me of the jocks in school that everyone wanted to be around. Always craving for his attention, and wanting to sit next to him during lunch. Even in the cheesy high school movies, he would have been the one wearing a football uniform all the time in the halls. “You fit in well Piru. Should think about moving out here.”

  When Piru didn’t say anything, I continued on with my rant.

  “Why are we even here? People are weird, and the food taste funny. It’s hot, and I don’t even know how to get back to my own damn car to change clothes.”

  “Why did he ask you about his ex-girlfriend?” Piru asked. I shrugged.

  “Her, and Jasmine are best friends. Sure he wanted to get any information about her out of desperation.”

  “Lift ya chin up,” Piru instructed to the kid before using his pinky finger to smear grey paint across his face. Women walked by occasionally peeking to see Piru’s work before asking if they could get their faces painted too until one of the kids stated only family participating were allowed to have face paint.

  “How long do you plan on staying out here?” I asked, looking around. “Jasmine has ignored me the entire way here, and I don’t even know what I did this time. Just irritating to have to be around her, and all of this…”

  When Piru didn’t say anything, I continued.

  “This is stupid. Do you realize we’re basically at this ghetto county fair----?”

  “Look,” Piru cut in with a low tone. “I’m here so I don’t piss my wife off. If you want to leave that bad, then go Percy. Nobody is stopping you. I’m not leaving with you---.”

  “I’m not asking you to leave with me---.”

  “So shut the fuck up. Either sit down, and shut up or leave, and go home. Simple. You getting on my fucking nerves with this.”

  The kids all looked at me before one of them let out a small ooooooo…

  “Nigga you whine too much anyway,” the Augusta boy let out before sticking his chin in the air with his eyes closed as Piru continued to paint his face. “You woulda been put out if this was my Moon Run.”

  Piru cut his eyes at me as if the kid drove his point home so I sat quiet. Sulking in my seat with my nails drumming against the plastic chair. Every so often, I would push my glasses up and just watch people come together. Setting tables, and chairs out with others sitting on the back of pick up trucks. Blankets were laid out for those wanting ground level seats while plates were being prepared. Evening was now rolling into the sky as clouds cleared with the sun beginning to set. I don’t know why my agitation grew the moment I saw Homer appear again from the end of the road with a group of people, but it was clear he knew all attention would be focused on him. He started strutting bare chest with white, and red tribal markings smeared on his body, and face wearing nothing but joggers, a silver chain that looked cheap, and white socks with slides on. Tackiest shit I’ll never understand. His face was still busted on one side thanks to my sister, and while that gave me little satisfaction, the look he gave me dried my smile right up.

  Something was wrong… or off… Even Piru noticed it as he sent the last kid running before setting the brush down as he looked at me.

  “Did you say something to him?” He asked, wiping his hands on the napkin. “What the fuck is his problem with you?”

  “I didn’t say anything. Maybe he realizes I’m not going to roll over as easy as you did when it comes to Violet, and our sister.”

  “Lights off!” Homer yelled with his hand in the air. “Let’s go! We’re about to begin!”

  Kids started to scatter as music from all around started to surround the back road. I looked back seeing a growing crowd of people watching nearby, including white people that attempted to run into the fields behind us, mimicking the tradition. It felt like everyone was tailgating, and preparing for the biggest game of the year when he signaled again for everyone to shut off all lights off from any cars or trucks.

  “Look at my baby yall!” An older woman said as she planted her chair right next to our table. Silver streaks in her ponytail, she sat down with a plate full of food before her husband who looked eerily similar to Homer sat down beside her. “Kenneth get the picture!”

  “I know you see me eating woman,” he fussed but Piru suddenly got up with the widest grin and held his phone out as I followed his line of vision.

  The first woman I saw come down was Tallulah as drums began to beat. Her hair was bone straight from the scalp, hanging down her face as she began to move her entire body with her arms flailing from one side to another. Bare feet stomped along the road as people began to scream, whistle, and shout in encouragement.

  “LET’S GO LUUUU! LET’S GOO LUUU LUUU!”

  I found myself leaning forward, watching the display as her hair swung from side to side, hardly seeing her face, but the red band that stretched around her head held a single feather in the back while her ankles were decorated in beaded bracelets that shook to the beat. Her only attire was a single colorful dashiki with feathers, beads, and gold jewelry that hung around her neck of the shirt.

  Suddenly she stopped.

  The drums kept going as she whipped her h
air, smiling at everyone with her face completely made up into a different woman, seeing the red markings drawn over, and across her eyes before she ducked, and slapped the ground with her hand to start up again with the dance.

  “That’s right LU! That’s right! Let em know!”

  I almost fell forward on the table when I spotted Jasmine further back walking in the parade of women, but the ones that followed Tallulah were three little girls. Hardly above three or four years old with Piru’s daughter being one of them as she walked wearing with wide eyes looking around in her Indian get up with two plaits going back, and white markings on her face. Violet walked close beside, looking just as shocked, and confused as her cousin with her face having three dots on each cheek, and a red circle in the center of her forehead. Mimicking the same look as Homer except her hair was out in a thick fro with a simple headband with small purple, and white feathers around it like a headdress. She had no shirt, and black bottoms with her play sneakers, only being prompted to keep walking when she would stop.

  “They coulda put a shirt on my grandbaby, lawd,” I heard Homer’s mother mutter. “It ain’t that hot out here.”

  I started to look at Piru only to realize he was further up along the road to get a better picture, calling out to his daughter to get her to smile. Jasmine, and Indigo walked together while Francesca walked side by side with a few other girls ranging from their teens to mature adults waving. My eyes fell on Jasmine who wore a pink body hugging dress with her hair laying against her shoulders in dark shining curls that tucked behind each ear. Just to show off the feather earrings. She smiled, laughing at something Indigo said while her eyes cut towards me in passing. I started to smile when she looked away in disgust, and started to whisper to Indigo once more who looked at me.

  She was beautiful, but that was it.

  That was as far as it went with her.

  I couldn’t even ignore the men on the side eyeing her, obviously finding her the most attractive, but it didn’t matter.

  “My wife though!” Piru yelled proudly as Francesca tried to silence him, embarrassed. “But my wife though!”

  “I did good husband?! I did yo wife up right!” Tallulalah yelled proudly from the front as the drums continued. Didn’t take much for his daughter to come crying, running for him to be picked up as he went to his family, and affectionately kissed Francesca who indeed did look beautiful with her headdress on that was full of color, and matching face paint that Indigo had on hers. A crescent moon drawn in the center of their foreheads facing the opposite direction.

  “Thank yall for coming out!” Tallulah yelled to everyone before looking further down. “Can yall hear me down there!?”

  A few raised their hands in response before she stood directly in the center with a proud smile as the girls began to find their seat. Piru came back with his daughter in his lap while Francesca pulled a chair up to our table to sit next to me.

  “I want to thank everybody, all the chiren, and kids for coming out,” she said with a bop of her neck as she snapped her fingers. “Yall know, we haven’t had a Moon Run in a while, but now we know why!” She laughed. “Locals in the back, as always?! You are welcomed to see, and hang out!” She paused, eyes growing wide with fear as she stared openly in the distance. I looked back, following her line of view to see nothing but a few white men hanging around the edge of the road before she shook her head like it was nerves. “As I was saying! You are not allowed to our food, nor are you allowed to imitate, impersonate, participate, or mock our traditions! I’on care if you black, brown, blue, white! You are a guest to our lands! Rules are rules! Get the music going! We almost ready!”

  She suddenly walked off, and it didn’t take long to figure out when one of the white boys suddenly ducked off, and followed from behind us.

  “I was able to get us some plates,” Francesca said suddenly as she came, and sat back down. Not even realizing she got up, but I eyed the saucy meat, and beans with smoked sausage, and a plate of red rice. I looked over at Jasmine again, seeing she was talking to a group of men hovering over her, and Indigo.

  “Daddy I want,” Peyton let out softly as Piru began to pull at the meat to put into her mouth for a taste.

  “Have you two been enjoying yourself? I trust everything went well with Homer,” she said curiously, eyeing her husband. “And no drama was started because you two can’t control your temper?”

  “Why do you want us to kiss up to these people so bad?” I pressed as Piru laughed.

  “It’s not kissing up to these people, they’re my family. I just want to fit in, and I want yall to be liked as much as I like yall.”

  “I don’t need validation or acceptance from people with an education that doesn’t go past the third grade.”

  “You and this nigga was just in the car talking about that gay fraternity shit so clearly he went to college,” Piru snapped as Francesca smiled.

  “So yall did bond… I know yall will be great friends or even just great in a social setting. They’re my family, and I want yall to act accordingly so we can do more things like this. All I want.”

  “Yeah well, I don’t know how many times I can keep this up,” Piru said before his wife cut him off.

  “You will though. For the sake and sanity of our friendship, and marriage you will.”

  “You threatening our marriage over these people Frannie? You for real? They don’t even fuck with you like that---.”

  “Because of you and your attitude. Every time I try and talk to someone, it's… It’s oh your husband is the one who don’t speak, so in turn? They think I’m rude, stuck up, and mean. I’m just trying to fit in so I don’t feel left out, and because you and me are a package deal, I need you to act right. When you dip into our savings for your family, what do I say, and you do it sometimes without asking me, but what do I say?”

  Piru said nothing, and for the first time, I could see he was trying to keep quiet. Just focused on feeding his daughter.

  “Exactly so stop complaining when I want to bond with family for the first time in my entire life. Piru, you can’t keep me cooped up in the house to myself with no family, no friends, nobody but you, and our daughter. You let my cousins tell it, that’s a form of mental abuse.”

  “This is why I don’t like being around different people with you. You switch up like a mothafucka---.”

  “I’m just being honest, but I’m glad you all got to talk with Homer. He’s a really great guy overall. They all are.”

  When neither of us responded, she just sighed.

  “I just don’t want to have to keep yall separate in my life. You want to keep me to yourself, and I want to share, and show you off to the world. I can’t help that,” she muttered before looking me over with thought.

  “You know Jasmine has this crazy idea that you hate her,” she let out. “I try and mind my business, but I do have a number for a therapist---.”

  “What did she tell you?” I questioned, confused. “I thought Jasmine made it clear I was free to cheat on her the way she is with me. Why is it suddenly, I hate her? She doesn’t even like me Frannie.”

  “I’m not here to place judgement… I just wish you two could work it out… I mean, your assistant? Percy? C’mon,” she huffed as my mouth dropped with more confusion. “That’s tacky. Even for you.”

  “I’m not sleeping with my damn assistant, where did she even get that from? I haven’t messed with anybody since Na…”

  Piru’s eyes cut towards me with a raised brow when Jasmine’s laughter suddenly erupted from the other side. I shot up from the table, irritated, and at my breaking point.

  “I’m leaving before I do something stupid.”

  “Huh?” Francesca let out, confused. “What---?”

  “Let him go. He’s been annoying and complaining like a baby all day,” Piru retorted, handing his daughter another piece.

  “Are you all coming or not?” I asked, standing up as Francesca looked at Piru. “I’m leaving now as soo
n as I can find my way back to the house.”

  “We’re staying here until the morning. You’re about an hour outside of where Delilah stays. It’s going to take forever to get back with all the roadblocks,” she said. “Just stay. Not everything has to be a problem. Just calm down, and----. Percy?”

  “Should have thought of that before you opened your mouth about my relationship---.”

  “Nigga get the fuck on!” Piru snapped angrily causing heads to turn our way. “NOW! You can bitch all day long, but you’re not about to disrespect my wife! LEAVE!”

  I was already gone. Walking off after hearing Jasmine’s laughter from the otherside, like she was doing it on purpose at this point. It was definitely time for me to leave. Maybe when I get back to Atlanta, I can find another woman to occupy my time. Maybe even check on Nasia who I haven’t heard from. At this point, I was ready to call the wedding off altogether, and say fuck it.

  Delilah Skye

  I watched Percy walk off from my view on the back of a pickup truck. Small patio table able to sit two with a blanket over my lap as I curiously followed the gaze of my anxious male cousins who watched him like a hawk. Even though the smell of meat was intoxicating in the worst way possible, I was glad Ben and I stopped to pick up food for me to eat before I got here. So I was able to watch everything play out for myself. Detail for detail, I peeped everything, including the dark aura surrounding Percy to the point where even he couldn’t take it anymore.

  “Something is so off about tonight,” I said out loud in thought. Ben looked up from his plate with a rib planted between his lips before proceeding to pull the rest of the meat off. I smiled at a passing aunt who waved, and pointed at my growing stomach.