by Edwina Fort
I nodded. “Yeah…I did.”
Chapter 9
Telling It Like It Is
I ain't comin' at you with no disrespect
All I'm sayin' is that you damn well got to be correct
Because if you're gonna be speaking for a whole generation
And you know enough to handle their education
Be sure you know the real deal about past situations
And ain't just repeating what you heard on a local TV station
Sometimes they tell lies and put them in a truthful disguise
But the truth is, that's why we said it wouldn't be televised
They don't know what to say to our young folks
But they know that you do
And if they really knew the truth
Why would they tell you?
--Gil Scott Heron
Free
July 20, 1972
Daisy seems to be taking the separation from her parents, who I will call Mr. and Mrs. Rose for the sake of their identity, well, although she did show signs of agitation the first few nights. My nurses contacted me and said she asked repeatedly for her bag from her closet at home. I asked Mrs. Rose to bring the bag to the hospital for Daisy’s comfort. I will admit to being more than curious to see what was in it and why it was so important to her.
However, when her mom dropped it off, I was surprised to see that it in fact contained camping supplies: a small medical kit, a knife, rope, a small popup tent, a canteen for water, and a few protein bars. I thoroughly checked the bag for hidden compartments but couldn’t find any. Needing to get to the bottom of the mysterious items, I scheduled to meet with Daisy the next day. To keep better records of our time together, I am going to be recording our sessions from this point on.
July 21, 1972
“I’m here with Daisy, how are you feeling?”
“That’s not my name.”
“Remember when I said we were going to call you that, to protect your identity?”
“Oh.”
“How are you enjoying your stay with us?”
“It’s fine.”
“Are the nurses kind to you?”
“Yes.”
“That’s good. I want to talk about your bag today. Nurse June did give it to you, didn’t she?”
“Yes.”
“You were really upset without it. Why is that?”
“I don’t want to be like the five virgins. When it’s time, I want to be prepared.”
“Time for what?”
“When it’s time to go home.”
Naphtali
“Wait a minute… I can’t go out there and say this corny sh*t. Those kids will chew my ass up.”
Free scoffed, waving away my concerns. “No, they won’t. Not all children are like how you were in high school. This is a new generation; they care about things like the condition of the earth and environmental changes. Trust me, this message will resonate with them.”
I glanced at the teenagers filing into the auditorium. There was no doubt in my mind that more than half of them were gangbanging and that a good number of them were selling dope. Sh*t, we had to walk through a metal detector to get in this joint.
As if cued, a scuffle broke out between a couple of guys that the security guards who stood at the doors and in the aisles like prison guards quickly broke up, taking the culprits out of the auditorium with their hands behind their backs.
My gaze came back to Free. “Are you f*cking kidding me? These thugs don’t give a f*ck about the environment!”
Her mouth popped open as if I’d slapped her. “Naphtali Tucker Pelletier, that is not fair. How can you judge a whole group of children off a few bad apples sprinkled into the bunch? That’s the problem with this society, they treat kids from the inner city like dirt. They have voices and dreams…they just need somebody to believe in them.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Do it look like my name Mr. Clark?” Balling up the little speech she’d written for me to read, I tossed it in the trash. “I am not going out there saying that corny sh*t.”
Who the f*ck did she think she was dealing with?
Yeah, I know, I’m in a bad mood, but it’s her f*cking fault. First of all, I’m sober… She called me after successfully managing to dodge me for a whole week, which irritated the sh*t out of me.
With Rau here looking for the person responsible for his brother’s death, it just wasn’t safe for her. There is a very slim chance they will find me, and a slim chance is a risk I was not willing to take with Free’s life, which resulted in Jackson, Ashur, and me fluctuating in keeping watch on her from a distance all week. Of course, I took the night shift, she’s mine…don’t need them watching her during those hours. What was irritating as hell about that is, I would have preferred keeping an eye on her up close and personal and then I wouldn’t have had to bother my boys at all.
But her ass didn’t return my call and when she did, it was to ask if I would speak to a few high school kids about the dangers of drugs. What with me working for the Drug Enforcement Administration and all…Her words.
Because my goofy ass thirsty just wanted to be close to her again, I agreed. Didn’t think much of it until she told me where to meet her.
“Wait, hold up! That’s Douglass High. More crimes happen in those halls than on the streets,” I’d told her, not believing that’s where she wanted to meet.
“I’m aware of that. What better place to deliver the message of the dangers of drugs?”
Like the pu**y whipped sap that I am, I agreed, although my spidey senses were warning against it. My first instinct was to smoke, but then I’m like, I can’t show up there high. Free would kill me. And then there would be no talking her into coming back to my place tonight.
All week I’ve been craving her. The little tease gave me a taste of something I’ve always hungered for, only to pull it away. It was bad enough she’d snuck off the boat without waking me. She could have gotten hurt that morning; there were no eyes on her. Now, she’s got it in her mind that the night we’d shared was just a one-time thing, and that she and I were finished.
Damn shame after all these years, she still didn’t know what kind of mutha f*cka she was dealing with. If she thought that I was going to let her go, she was out her rabbit ass mind, especially now that her life may be in danger. But sh*t the truth is, I’ve wanted this girl for a long time, and now that I had... I just wasn’t giving her up.
Period!
After prom night, every woman that I was with fell short. They didn’t taste like Free or feel like her wrapped around me. The other night on the boat, I couldn’t get enough of her. The only reason I’d let her sleep is because she’d literally passed out in my arms. But I wanted her again. And then when I woke up to find her gone, I was angry enough to break some sh*t. After I got control of my rage, I called her. Of course, she didn’t answer the phone. So, I left her a message telling her to return my call.
I knew the game she was playing and because I ain’t no simp, I didn’t blow her phone up after that or show up at her job, but damn, I wanted to. I had to settle on watching her from a distance.
Naw, I ain’t gon’ lie to y’all, I’m worse than a simp. This f*cking girl has turned me into one of those creepy ass stalkers. A couple of those nights, I broke into her house and stood over her bed, watching her sleep and sh*t.
Yeah! I know…That’s a busta move. But I needed to see her up close and make sure she was alright. She works so much and is always tense and stressing over something. I want so bad to take away all her worries, but I know she will never let me.
And for y‘all out there listening to my sob story, don’t clown yo’ boy. You mutha f*ckas thought it was cute when old Eddie did that sh*t to Bella on that vampire movie. So, don’t throw no shade at me for doing the same sh*t. And don’t ask me how I know what happened in that simp ass movie… I just know. So, let’s just drop the subject.
Anyway, when she called me this morning, I thou
ght I’d won the f*cking lottery. But nooo…she wasn’t’ calling so that we could pick up where we left off and light another fire between the bedsheets, she was calling for me to come give a p*ssy ass speech in front of an auditorium full of snotty nose ass kids.
Damn… I should have smoked that blunt before I left.
“Now you listen to me, Mr!” she growled, stepping to me like she was 6’2 instead of 5’4. This made me smile a bit.
“You’re going to take this speech.” She held up the crumpled piece of paper that she snatched out of the trash. “And you’re going to carry yourself out there and read it to those children. Or else…”
I closed the small gap between us, staring down at her. “Or else what?” My gaze fell to her lips and the only thing I could think about was kissing her.
“Or else I’m going to get on the phone with your captain. Are you aware that he personally calls me for reports on you?”
I lifted one side of my mouth in a grin. She said that sh*t like she really thought I could be controlled by my captain. But I went on and played her game because she looked so damn sexy right now being all bossy and sh*t.
“Yeah…so?”
“So…” she hissed, poking me in the chest with her little finger. “I will call your captain and tell him you’re not being compliant to my program and I can’t possibly see how I can give you a recommendation to be reinstated.” Then she folded her arms.
My gaze fell to her enticing mouth again. As if she could sense my hunger, she licked her lips and a groan escaped mine. F*ck! This woman had me wrapped around her finger.
Ya’ll want to know a little secret? This is how I know she’s meant to be mine. There has never, ever been another human being with this kind of power over me. For Free, I’ll go out on this stage in front of a room full of mobsters and read this p*ssy ass speech.
I took the paper out of her hand, but I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her close.
“You wore your hair down.”
Biting her lip, she grinned. “I did.”
“Did you do that for me?”
She chuckled. "Nope…I did it for me.”
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered before I took her lips in the kiss I’d been waiting all week for.
Free
Good God! This man could kiss…
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I lost myself for just a moment. His kisses always made me feel so desired. He made me feel like a superwoman that could conquer anything because a great man needed me.
I moaned when he deepened it, forgetting all about the fact that we were in a school. Mmmmm…how I’ve missed him this week. And I can hear all of your thoughts out there. I know you all are saying right now, why the hell did I not return his call?
Well, the answer to that is simple. One doesn’t become addicted to a drug by doing a bunch of it all at once. One becomes addicted to a drug from all the ‘just one more time’ samples they consume.
Yes, I wanted to call him every day this week and ask him to come over and help me relax after a stressful day in that special way that he does. But I can’t allow myself to become strung out on Naphtali! He’s the only one in the world with the power to hurt me completely.
That thought gave me the strength to push him back.
“You have to stop doing that. I’m your doctor. I could get in big trouble if word got out that we slept together.”
He frowned. “That’s bullsh*t…I’m telling you now, I ain’t trying to hear that sh*t, Free!”
Hmmm… he must be sober. Today, he felt very dangerous. It felt like the rage inside of him was barely being contained. Now I was rethinking my little prank that I’d planned. I didn’t want to put any of the children’s lives in danger.
Surely, he wouldn’t hurt a kid, would he?
Hell yes, he would…I needed to abort this mission! “Hey, you know what? Let’s just call--” I began, but right then, principal Kline joined us.
“Naphtali Pelletier! Man, it is an honor to have you here speaking to our children today,” he said shaking a still frowning Tucker’s hand. “In high school, I used to dream of hanging out with you fellas. You are a legend, brotha!”
“You attended Pendleton?” my grouchy companion muttered.
Mr. Kline let out a jolly laugh that only seemed to irritate Tucker more. “Come on, man, don’t tell me you don’t remember me. I was on the football team with you… Lil’ Swift Kline?” He opened his arms as if that would somehow jog Tucker’s memory. Poor guy.
Naphtali shrugged. “Naw…don’t remember.”
With a smile on my face, I reached up and gave his arm a little pinch. Outside of his nostrils flaring a bit, he showed no other sign of even feeling it.
“Don’t feel bad, Mr. Kline, he was King of the Beautiful Ones, his royal highness barely noticed me either.” We laughed to try and ease some of the awkwardness, but Tucker didn’t laugh with us.
He turned his head to look at me. And not just any look…The one that he does when it seems as if he is searching for my soul.
“Now Free, that’s just not true. And I’m sure Lil’ Swift Kline here knows that. If he went to school with us, he’d have to be blind not see that I adored you. For some reason, only you can’t see that…” His gaze returned to the principal, who was watching us with his mouth hanging open a bit.
“Where do you want me?”
“Umm—” Like myself, Tucker’s words had momentarily robbed him of speech. “Yeah, right this way.”
Mr. Kline recovered before I did as I watched Naphtali head toward the podium and his doom, his words played over again in my head.
He’d have to be blind not see that I adored you. For some reason, only you can’t see that…
Can’t? As is present tense?
“Free! Did we miss Tucker’s speech?” Ashur called, pulling me out of my thoughts. I looked up to see him and Jackson dressed in full uniform heading my way.
Smiling, I shook my head. “No, you guys are just in time. Come on, I reserved us a few seats right up front.”
So I know most of you thought that just because Tucker rendered me completely helpless with his lovemaking the other night, I was going to abandon my plan to abstract vengeance for the suffering he put me through in high school.
Ha!
I wouldn’t dream of it. You know, just to be honest with you guys, I think that some of Mean Tucker’s qualities have rubbed off on me. Either that or this diabolical side of me has lain dormant all this time and now has decided to show its face.
It’s possible I’m enjoying Tucker’s misery a little too much. But for the first time in my life, I’m doing what’s best for Free. And what’s best for Free is making him see how it felt to be a victim. There was a little voice in the back of my head that warned that the pit I dug for my fellow man would be the one I fall in, but I ignored it.
Meanwhile, I am glad Jackson is here. At least I know that if things get too far out of hand, he will be able to stop Tucker from hurting one of the children.
At least I prayed…
So, you guys are wondering what I’ve planned this time…right? Well, let me tell you all about it as I rub my hands together with the sinister smile on my face… feel free to insert an evil laugh here.
Yeah, I know that was corny. But remember, I’m a geek and proud of it. Anyway, Mr. Kline asked me a few weeks ago if I would speak to the children during their drug awareness week. Of course, I agreed, but because things have been so hectic down at the clinic and I’d been so caught up in my grandmother’s journal’s on Daisy, I hadn’t had time to put together a presentation.
Last night, I forced myself not to go up to the attic and to sit down and at the very least, write a decent speech. That was when the idea came to me. I had the perfect way to humiliate Tucker, so that he could see how it felt to have a whole school of children laugh at him.
When I called Mr. Kline and asked him if it would be okay for Naphtali Pelletier to speak in my place,
he nearly fangirled on me before he could catch himself. At first, he didn’t believe I’d actually gotten thee Tucker to speak in my stead.
And no, I’m not kidding, those were actually his words.
“You mean thee Tucker from Pendleton?”
I’d chuckled, still amazed that folks worshipped him the way that they did…and obviously still do.
“Yes, thee Tucker from Pendleton.” It took me a little longer to convince him that it was true, but once I did, he was all for it.
So, y’all, sit back and enjoy the show…
“Let me get my phone ready…” Jackson muttered, queuing the recording setting on his phone. “Something is telling me I’m going to want to document this moment.”
I bit my lip to hide my grin. “Absolutely, this was really nice of him to come out and speak to the children about the dangers of drugs.”
Principal Kline walked out on stage and brought order to the room. It took him a full four minutes to get the children quiet.
“Douglass High, we are in for a special treat. A legend has decided to grace these halls to speak with you guys today. And you know…” He paused for just a second, once again fighting his inner fangirl.
“I just want to take a moment and try and describe what it was like to attend high school with this man.” And then he proceeded to spend the next ten minutes bragging on Naphtali’s many accomplishments.
From my seat, I could see where Tucker stood waiting to be called out on the stage and he was not happy with the fact that the principal was so starstruck. His fists were clenched and the muscle in his cheek twitched furiously.
Hmmmm… In school, folks worshipped Naphtali like a god. His father, the old mayor of Aldshore bragged on him to whoever listened. I often wondered if the reason he’d been voted into office for nearly ten years straight was because his son was so accomplished at nearly everything he put his hands to do and everyone wanted to be connected with him.