by Dynah Zale
“Garrett.” Lady Lanier’s creaky, hoarse voice bought his attention back to the three individuals in his office.
“Sorry.” He muttered.
This meeting, arranged by Lady Lanier, was to address the fears Crystal Cousins was having concerning her eldest son. The kid was being bullied at school and the principal, Mr. Schneider, refused to take her complaints seriously.
“Look” The impatient principal stood up and pointed his pinky finger at Garrett. “I’m responsible for the safety of over four hundred kids daily. I’ve installed a metal detector, fifteen security cameras and three full time security guards.” Principal Schneider held his head high and walked around like a peacock showing off his pretty feathers. “The extra security measures I’ve taken haven’t deterred the number of incidences at my school. By the time I arrive at school in the morning I have at least one kid who has done something stupid like spray paint school property or got caught trying to steal a computer. By lunch time, there could be over a dozen kids in my office accused of doing a myriad of different illegal acts.” He started counting off on his fingers. “One kid could be selling weed, another will get caught getting high off the weed the first kid sold to him, and last week the janitor brought in two kids who were in the boiler room having sex.”
“Principal Schneider.” Lady Lanier spoke slow and softly. “It’s clear that you have a very difficult job.”
“Yes.” He snapped his fingers at the elderly lady. “You’re finally getting it.”
“However, isn’t the welfare of the child we’re discussing tonight just as important as the repeat...” she cleared her throat. “…offenders who are constantly in your office.”
“Ma’am with all due respect, I served in the military for ten years. I was on the battlefield during Operation Desert Storm and I live by the same motto here as I did over there. I can’t sacrifice the life of one for the lives of many.”
Crystal abruptly jumped up from her seat; flipping over her chair. “So whatcha tryin’ to say?” The girl wound her pocketbook around her arm. She looked like a rattle snake that was ready to strike at any time. “You saying my boy ain’t worth saving.”
“See, I don’t have time for this ghetto mentality.” The principal turned to walk out when Crystal swung on him. The principal felt the breeze from her attempt to hit him. He looked shocked.
Garrett quickly stood between the two and pushed Principal Schneider out the back door. “Let me speak to you outside.”
In the empty alleyway Schneider walked up to a metal trash can and kicked it over.
“Yo, whatcha doing?” Garrett rarely used street slang but every so often a word or phrase would emerge out of nowhere.
“I’m sick of this.” Schneider threw his hands up towards the sky. “I want out!”
“What do you mean?”
“I need to get out of there!” He shouted. “I have to get out of there! I’ll do anything to get out of there!” Schneider looked Garrett straight in the eye. “And I do mean anything.”
The sinister look in Schneider’s eyes made Garrett feel weary of the principal’s true intentions.
“In exchange for making sure that Markell Cousins is no longer a target for bullies at the school you have to promise me that once you’re elected you will give me a plush high paying job in city hall.”
“Do you have any experience in public service?” Garrett already knew the answer to that question.
“Nope, but how hard can it be. If I can run an entire school then I’m sure it would be a snap to assist in running city government.” Schneider’s cockiness wasn’t reassuring to Garrett. “Look, I’m not trying to con you, but this could be my only chance of getting out of here, so I’m going to play any card I can to make it happen.”
“If I agree to this then you have to assure me that I won’t hear any more complaints concerning the Cousins’ boy.” Garrett said.
“Done.”
“Also, I need for all the bullying to stop. No more kids can be attacked or taunted at your grade school.”
“Well, that is one thing you don’t have to worry about,” Schneider chuckled. “Because that Cousins kid is probably the only one the bullies pick on in the entire school.” Garrett gave him a condescending look. “All right! I agree. Can we shake on it?” Schneider held out his hand and the two sealed the deal.
“Look, things got a bit heated in there. I think it would be best if you went back in alone.” Principal Schneider said. “I can walk to my car from here.”
Garrett agreed then attempted to walk back inside when a small gust of wind circled around him. A current so strong pushed Garrett to the ground. He hit the concrete and scraped the palms of his hands. Garrett felt strange because he had never experienced anything like this before. He compared it to being in a wind tunnel; unable to get out.
***
“Was that some kind of sign from heaven?”
“Yes it was; nothing happens on earth by accident.” Kiel replied. “God usually sends subtle hints to warn his people that they are straying from their intended paths, and ninety-nine percent of the time humans ignore them. Just like you did.”
“I did feel like that deal with Schneider wasn’t a good one, but I really didn’t have any choice. If I didn’t agree to Schneider’s demands then things would have gotten worse for that kid.”
“No, what you did was take the easy way out. There are plenty of ways you could have made a significant change in that kid’s life and in the lives of all the children at that school. Instead, you followed your own plans.”
“If I would have done it God’s way, would things have turned out differently?” Garrett asked.
“Indeed they would have!” God replied.
***
“Councilman?” Schneider called to him from the end of the alleyway. “Are you okay?”
Instantly, the winds vanished.
“Yes, I’m okay.” Garrett got up and brushed dirt off his pants then he went back inside.
When Crystal saw Garrett she ran up to him, “I’m not sending my kid back to that school.”
Garrett sat her down and pulled up a chair next to her. “Listen, I talked to Principal Schneider and once I explained your concerns he assured me that all harassment towards Markell would stop immediately.”
Skeptical, Crystal said. “How do I know he’s not lying?”
“Trust me. He’s not going to go back on his word because if he does, our next step is legal action and he doesn’t want that.”
Crystal hugged Garrett tightly. When she released him she had tears in her eyes, “Thank you.” She got up from her seat. “I can’t wait to go home and tell Markell.” She hugged Lady Lanier before running out the door.
“You had to promise him something, didn’t you?” Lady Lanier said once they were alone.
“Yes Ma’am I did.”
Lady Lanier smiled, “I’ve worked in this business for a long time. Nobody does anything for free anymore.” She laughed to herself. “Don’t be ashamed. I would have done the same thing. You did what you had to do to protect the children. That's the most important thing. I’m proud of you.”
Praise from Lady Lanier was like receiving a gold medal at the Olympics. It was music to his ears hearing her commend him on a job well done. Then he thought about Blair. He could only pray that his illegitimate son wouldn’t put a damper on how she viewed Garrett. He didn’t want to be labeled as a father who forgot about one of his children. If so, then that meant trouble.
Chapter 14
As soon as Lady Lanier left, Garrett hurried over to Raquel’s house to visit with Blair. Beads of sweat barreled down Garrett’s spine. The thought of spending time with his son for the first time made him nervous. He pulled a handkerchief from his back pocket and wiped his brow before giving a light rap on Raquel’s front door.
The door abruptly swung open, startling him. Their eyes met, but he didn’t recognize the kid in front of him, leaving Garrett confused. He
looked around for the house number to make sure he was at the right address. It was. So he took a second glance at the humungous kid before him. This short stocky kid out weighed Garrett by at least fifty pounds.
“Blair?” Garrett inquired doubtfully.
Blair slowly nodded his head yes. The kid looked drastically different than he did the day of the funeral. Garrett couldn’t help but stare at Blair’s huge potbelly that extended over his pants, small tight beady Afro that covered his head and thick bottle cap eyeglasses held together by masking tape.
“Are you my dad?” Blair had such a high-pitched voice for a ten-year-old boy.
Garrett gave a small smile, unsure if Blair was happy to see him or not. Before he could answer, the door swung wide open revealing Raquel with both hands placed on her hips and a cigarette dangling out the side of her mouth. “Blair, who told you to open the door for strangers? Go sit down.”
Blair vanished and Raquel pushed Garrett further back off the front steps. She closed the door behind her. “I didn’t think you were going to make it.”
“I told you I’d be here and I’m here.”
“Do you have the money?” Raquel wasted no time.
Garrett dug deep into his suit jacket and pulled out seven crisp one hundred dollar bills. Raquel snatched the money and stuffed the bills in her bra. Then she bounced past Garrett and onto the sidewalk.
“Where are you going?” He asked.
“Out. I’ve been stuck up in this house all day taking care of your son. Now it’s your turn. I’ll be back in an hour. Oh!” She snapped her fingers. “I forgot. Make sure the kid does his homework.” Garrett watched the back of Raquel’s limp ponytail extension disappear around the corner.
When Garrett entered the house, he found Blair reclining in an old beat up beige leather lazy boy chair.
“I knew she was going to leave.” Blair never took his eyes off the television program he was watching. “Are you going to stay with me until she gets back?”
“I sure am.” Garrett noticed Blair’s eyeglasses now set on the coffee table. He picked them up and the glasses broke into two halves.
“They’re broken.” Blair whispered in embarrassment.
“We’ll have to get you a new pair.” Garrett took a seat on the sofa next to Blair. “Your aunt asked me to help you with your homework.” He glanced down at the open textbook laid on the coffee table. “Is this it?”
Blair glanced at his father momentarily before turning away, “I saw you on television today. It was a commercial with you, your wife, and two kids. Aunt Raquel said you’re running for mayor.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Do you think you’re going to win?”
“I don’t know, but I sure hope so.”
“Did you love my mom?” This time Blair turned his full attention to Garrett.
Caught off-guard, Garrett decided it would be best if he were truthful with his son.
“I loved your mother very much.” Garrett got up and picked up a picture of Reneé that sat on the end table. The picture captured Reneé’s youth. She looked so happy. “She was the love of my life.”
“Then why didn’t you marry her.” Garrett set the picture back down.
“Blair, please don’t think that I didn’t want to marry your mother it’s just that—” He hesitated a moment hoping the right words would come to him.
“Aunt Raquel said you couldn’t marry my mom because she was too black.”
Garrett’s eyebrows slanted downwards. He opened his mouth to curse Raquel, but caught himself. He swallowed the obscenities and responded with, “It’s difficult to explain, but it had nothing to do with your mom’s skin color.”
“I miss my mom.” Blair confessed to Garrett.
“I know you do, but I’m sure your mom is watching over you from heaven.”
“That’s not what my aunt said. She said my mom is dead and gone and I’ll never get to see her again ever in life.” Garrett patted his son on the back. “I can’t even talk about her. If I do, Aunt Raquel gets so angry.”
“I’m sure your aunt misses your mom just as much as you do. So the reason she probably says stuff like that is because she’s hurting inside.” Suddenly the front door opened. Raquel stumbled in with glossy eyes. She glanced at the two of them, blinked her eyes real hard then rubbed them as hard as she could. She stumbled up the stairs then slammed her bedroom door shut.
“She’s always like that.” Blair said.
Garrett stayed for well over two hours. They completed all his homework and watched a little television before he noticed how late it was.
“Blair I have to go, but I’ll be back to visit with you soon.” He glanced up the stairs unsure if Blair would be safe alone with Raquel.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine,” Blair said as if he could read Garrett’s mind.
Garrett bent down and gave his son a kiss on the forehead before heading out the door.
Chapter 15
A week later Garrett complained to his wife, “Mecca, I’m telling you I have to get my son out of that house. Raquel is negligent. She doesn’t care for that boy properly and I want him here with us.” Garrett spoke as if he were going to run over there at any moment and drag Blair home with him.
“I know you’re upset but there is nothing you can do. I think she’s right, Blair just lost his mother and then to pull him away from the only family he’s ever known could damage him emotionally.”
“Like living in the house with a drug addict isn’t emotionally damaging.” Garrett slammed his fist into his hand, “I should have been there. If I were in that boy’s life from the beginning none of this would have ever happened.”
“What’s done is done. There is nothing you can do about it now. So let’s just focus on the future.”
The house phone rang interrupting them. “Yes.” Mecca answered. Her eyes drifted towards Garrett. “Yes, may I ask who’s calling?” Garrett waved his hands no, as if to say he wasn’t there.
“Uh, yes Councilman Dunn is right here.” She passed the cordless handset to him.
“Yes, this is Garrett.” Garrett rolled his eyes. “Could you repeat that?” His cheek bones tightened, leaving lines of tension.
“I’ll be right there.” Garrett ended the call. “That was the bank. Apparently, Blair has a trust fund set up in his name and his loving aunt is down there this very moment insisting that they withdraw the money to give to her because she’s Blair’s legal guardian.” Garrett rummaged through the kitchen searching for his car keys.
“Do you want me to drive?” Mecca offered. “I can see you’re upset. You need to calm down.”
“I am calm!” He shouted so loud that Mecca nearly jumped out her skin.
Mecca dangled the keys from her pinky finger. “No, you’re not calm.” She walked up close to him. “People aren’t going to elect a man that can’t handle pressure.”
He took a deep breath and relaxed his shoulders. “You don’t have to worry. I can handle this.” He kissed Mecca on the cheek before taking the keys from her and leaving.
When he pulled up to the bank Raquel was sitting on the curb in handcuffs. People in cars driving past were rubbernecking trying to get a glimpse of the accused.
A girl with pink and purple streaks through her hair called out to Raquel from the back of a beat up Toyota Celica. “Girl, they got you locked down.”
Raquel broke out in a huge grin, “Not for long! You know they can’t keep a bad girl down.”
The cops told her to be quiet. Raquel sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes.
Inside the bank Garrett found the bank manager Mrs. Tilley talking with a police detective. “Councilman Dunn, I’m so sorry to have to call you at home.” Mrs. Tilley looked nothing like her usual self. She was a woman who always portrayed professionalism effortlessly and maintained a perfectly groomed persona. Today she appeared frazzled. “Well, that woman…” She pointed out the glass window at Raquel. “…came in here demanding that we
give her the money from her nephew’s trust. She didn’t have any identification, but claimed to be Blair Kendricks’ legal guardian. Then she called me the N-word.” The woman turned red from embarrassment.
“I apologize for her behavior.”
“Councilman, I would have gladly given her the money, but I remember when the boy’s mother came in to establish the trust for her son. She made it explicitly clear that the only person who was to have access to the account was you.”
“Thanks for notifying me. Blair is currently living with his aunt, but it’s only a temporary situation. If she needs any additional money I’ll pay for his living expenses. No money is to be released to her under no circumstances.”
Garrett was in total control of his emotions. It took every ounce of strength he had to keep himself from going outside to strangle Raquel with his bare hands, but he kept his composure. “As a matter of fact, can we set it up that any withdrawals from that account would need not only my signature, but also my wife’s signature?”
“No problem Councilman, I’ll get right on it.” Mrs. Tilley hurried to her desk to handle Garret’s request.
“Hey, Councilman.” The detective held out his hand to Garrett. “I’m Detective Brock Hart.”
Through the bank glass windows they watched Raquel fight with the cops. She cursed, kicked and spat at them until she spotted Garrett watching her.
“There he is” Garrett turned his back to her. “Garrett Dunn, you see me over here. Don’t you ignore me.” She shouted.
“Councilman, if you need me to I can have them take her down to the station. We can book and hold her overnight.”
Garrett thought about it. In his heart he figured this would be the perfect opportunity to get rid of Raquel forever. He would have his son and he could be done with her, but then he thought about Blair. Right about now, she was the only family that the boy knew and as badly as he wanted Raquel gone he couldn’t do that to his child.
“No, don’t lock her up, but can you do me another favor. Can you run a background check on her? See if you find any outstanding warrants or prior arrests. Her name is Raquel Kendricks.”