Marriage Mayhem

by Samuel L. Hair

  The following day after work Denise and Karen had a brief talk. To Denise’s surprise, she found out that Karen had a recent relationship with a cousin of hers named Bernard, who had been a crackhead for the past twenty something years. She had also found out that Karen and Bernard had lived with her Aunt Mable for a week, then Mable had kicked them both out. Karen had met Bernard in the rehabilitation program and unfortunately had fallen for his charm, which he used on women each time he was sentenced to a rehab program. He had filled her with promises, lies, hopes, and fantasies that she believed simply because he was the son of a famous musician. The main thing about him was that he had a huge penis and knew how to work it. He had promised her that he was going to marry her and provide her and her kids with a mini-mansion, his-and-hers Beamers and Porsches, and a lifestyle that only the rich and famous could live. And like a damn fool she believed him all the way, until in time she discovered that he was nothing but a crackhead.

  Denise knew that people will only tell you what they want you to know, so, following her conversation with Karen, she called her Aunt Mable to see what she could find out.

  “Girl, you’d better get that wicked bitch out of your house!” advised Aunt Mable. “She’s trouble, Denise, nothing but trouble. Do you know that I caught that heffa and Bernard smoking crack in one of my rooms? And that’s not all, girl; one day I opened their bedroom door and saw her pulling a bag of crack out of her baby’s pussy! Can you believe that shit, girl? I tried to help them by letting them stay here until they could save enough money to get their own place, but they just couldn’t leave that goddamn crack alone! Take my advice, girl, and get that scandalous bitch out of your house. And I don’t know what your father sees in that woman, anyway. I think he’s in for a nightmare.”

  “They’re talking about getting married, Auntee.”

  “Well, he’s in for marriage mayhem then, honey. Bernard told me that the girl used to turn tricks to support her crack habit up and down Sierra Highway, but hell, he’s the biggest crackhead in the world, so he can’t even talk.”

  During their conversation Denise had told Mable about the phone calls and also about what the caller had said to Maurice.

  “I’ll put my life on that bitch having something to do with it! She’s bad company, Denise. She’s been to prison a couple times and been to county jail a countless amount of times, so I wouldn’t put anything past the ho. I did my homework on that bitch, Denise, and I’m glad that you’re doing yours.”

  After the connection was broken, being the gossiper that Mable was, she immediately phoned every relative that she could think and told them about her conversation with Denise. They all had the same thing to say: Why does Jermaine always get those low-budget welfare women? As smart as he is and as much as he has going for himself, he should have chosen someone that was at least on his level But I guess them women be having him pussy-whipped.”

  Denise now had a total different outlook on Karen. Her disappointment and hatred toward Karen grew daily, especially after talking with Bernard, who had assured her that Karen was in fact an undercover crackhead and slut. Bernard had also told Denise that Karen was a smooth talker and could just about talk herself out of any fateful situation. Bernard’s relationship had ended with Karen when she had him thrown in jail for assaulting her. Denise wasted no time calling her father. However, after he heard what she had to say, he figured it was all just a bunch of bullshit and didn’t believe a damn word of it. The reality was that he didn’t want to believe it.

  Chapter 4

  Another month had gone by and Jermaine’s home renovation had not yet been completed. Living at Denise’s apartment was beginning to get intolerable for Karen. Denise no longer respected Karen as her father’s fiancée or as a human being. Most days when Denise came home from work she would not speak to Karen, but would always speak to the kids, because, after all, they were totally innocent and had nothing to do with their mother’s actions or past. Karen sensed the change in Denise’s and Maurice’s attitudes, but tried her best to deal with it even though she found it very hard to do. Karen had always been an outspoken person who had also always been the type of person who didn’t take any form of disrespect from anyone. Even though she was just a wee bit taller than four feet, she had the roar of a lion. She mentioned how she felt about the recent attitudes to Jermaine, but being the calm, peaceful man that he was, he would say things to try and pacify her.

  “Soon we’ll be out of there, sweetheart. Just hang in there the best you can without being disrespectful and without doing anything to tick them off.”

  “I’m trying to, baby, but believe me, it’s hard. Your daughter can be a real bitch when she wants to, and where I come from, bitches get dealt with. She looks at me sometimes like she hates me. She’ll look right at me, and then turn up her nose without saying anything, and walk away. The only time she says anything to me is when the kids have broken something, or if one of them hit Cordell, or if they’re making too much noise when they’re playing. I don’t know why she has a sudden change toward me,” she lied. “But I don’t like it and I can’t take too much more of it. Anyway, my uncle called and he’s not feeling any better at all. Once we move into the house I think I’ll go and nurse him for a few days, since no one else in my family seems to give a damn about him,” she lied. She had recently promised Tyrone some of her time. Besides she craved his penis and it was now time to once again satisfy her needs.

  “Okay, baby, that’s fine, as long as you keep in touch with me.”

  “Don’t worry, I will. Drive safe, baby, and have a great trip. Keep your eyes on the road, but keep your mind on Jesus.” She was now ready to get the hell out of Denise’s apartment.

  Setting aside being slapped and cursed out by Tyrone, and more so overlooking what he’d done to Maurice, Karen made her way to Los Angeles to scratch her itch.

  Once the kids had fallen asleep, Tyrone had immediately initiated an argument with Karen. She had come for sex, but he wanted to be heard. “I’m tired of this shit, shorty!” Tyrone yelled, pointing his finger in Karen’s face. “Tired of what, Tyrone? I’m living up to my promise even after you’ve hit me, and after what you done to Maurice. What more do you want? Besides, I didn’t come all the way from Lancaster to argue with you, I came to spend some quality time with you. Calm down, baby, and let’s get busy while the kids are asleep,” insisted Karen, ready for what she’d been missing.

  “There you go again with that bullshit, shorty! All you want me for is my goddamn dick! I want you to be my woman, not my fuckin’ sex toy!”

  “Tyrone, how many times do we have to go through this shit? I’m marrying Jermaine. What part of that don’t you understand?”

  “None of it! I had you first, and I ain’t into sharin’!”

  “Can we at least get our groove on before we start arguing?” She eased up to him and began rubbing his penis. She then led him to the bathroom, unzipped his pants, and began slowly sucking him, wanting it to get rock hard. Three minutes later he came in her mouth and went limp. He then attempted to zip his pants, but she stopped him.

  “Aw, hell no! Give me what I came for and nothin’ less,” Karen demanded, pulling down his pants. Then she began sucking it again, trying to make it fully erect.

  “We gotta talk, shorty, and I mean right goddamn now!” He pushed her down and then pulled up his pants.

  “Why did you push me, Tyrone? You promised me that you would never put your hands on me, but you just pushed me. Just because you know I’m hooked on the dick don’t start trippin’ on me, nigga! If you ever put your hands on me again, I swear I’ll tell the police you shot Maurice, and I’ll press charges on your black ass for assault. I told you that I’m fed up with niggas thinkin’ that they can just put hands on me whenever they feel like it!”

  “What did you say?” He gave her a crazed look. “Bitch, did you say you’ll call police on me?” Then he cocked his fist back and socked her so hard that her head made visible
prints on the wall. Then he began yelling while kicking her ass. “If you ever say some shit like that to me again, bitch, I’ll fuckin’ kill you!” He kicked her in the ass, and then walked out and slammed the door behind him.

  Karen lay on the floor crying until she had finally gathered enough strength to pull herself up. Then she glanced into the mirror, and then suddenly had flashbacks of her exes beating on her. Her right eye was bloodshot and her left eye was half closed. Staring into the mirror, she suddenly regretted driving to LA chasing Tyrone’s dick, and then she regretted ever being involved with him. He’s not going to get away with this, hell no! He’ll pay for this one way or another, and I fuckin’ mean it!

  Tyrone had gone to his room and put on a song by 2Pac, and then lit a joint.

  After washing her face, then reexamining herself in the mirror, Karen finished what was left of the gin, and then sat on the floor against the wall entertaining thoughts of revenge. “I’m gonna get this muthafucka. Fuck that!”

  At 3:30 a.m. everyone was asleep except Karen. This was the time she’d been waiting for. Quickly, she grabbed her kids and hurried them to the car, and then went back inside the house and headed to the restroom, where she grabbed a razor blade. Then she went to Tyrone’s room. She had to act quickly. He was lying across the bed in his boxers, which was perfect for Karen. Like nothing had ever happened between them, she pulled out his long penis and began rubbing it, licking it, and sucking it, until it was rock hard. He opened his eyes and then closed them while enjoying the pleasures of her tongue and lips.

  “Suck it good, Shorty, yeah baby, that shit feels good.

  Give big daddy what he deserves. Lick it up and down the vein, then lick the balls, baby,” he said in a low tone, lying in complete ecstasy.

  Suddenly, Karen slipped the razor out of her pocket and began furiously slashing his penis numerous times, and then she slashed his testicles a couple times. Blood spurted everywhere as he yelled in pain and cursed her, but fortunately for her he was momentarily crippled and could not move.

  “I’m gonna kill you, bitch!” he yelled, continuously.

  She had already run out of the house.

  It was 4:30 a.m. when Karen made it back to Denise’s residence. The combined sounds of the door opening and Alexus’s cries had caused both Denise and Maurice to awaken. Furious, Denise got up and approached Karen with an attitude.

  “Don’t you know that we’re working people around here? Why are you coming into my house at four-thirty in the morning, Karen?” Denise was standing in her robe with her hands on her hips.

  “I’m so sorry Denise, but after dropping off my uncle at the hospital, I—”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah, right,” Denise said, sarcastically. “My Daddy might believe your bullshit, but I don’t believe a goddamn word you say.” The fact of Karen holding Alexus did not prevent Denise from getting in her face. Stevie sensed this was about to get ugly so he seated himself on the couch and remained silent.

  “What are you talking about, Denise?”

  “You know what I’m talking about, Karen! Your bullshit manipulating games are over! I talked to my Aunt Mable, I talked to Bernard, and I talked to a few people that know you from Pasadena, so I know all about you now, Karen, so save the bullshit. One thing I hate is a fake-ass person, and especially one who’s manipulating my daddy.”

  “I don’t have to listen to this shit, and I can care less who you’ve talked to,” replied Karen, and then stormed toward the bedroom.

  “Stevie, come help me pack our stuff so we can get the hell outta here.”

  “Just make sure you don’t steal anything, because I know you’re still on crack. Hell, that’s probably what you’ve been doing tonight. You don’t have any respect for yourself, for people who try to be nice to you, nor for your kids. That’s a damn shame. Yeah, bitch, I’ve heard all about you,” said Denise, following Karen to the bedroom.

  As difficult as it was for her to hold her tongue, Karen ignored the derogatory remarks and continued packing. A few seconds later Maurice appeared, standing next to his wife, and began giving Karen an evil look.

  Minutes later Karen and the kids stormed out of Denise’s residence, carrying three backpacks full of her belongings. She decided to get a room at the Motel 6, but first she felt that she needed to enlighten Jermaine on what had taken place. Using her cell phone, she called him.

  “I just got cursed out and put out by your disrespectful, rude-ass daughter. Me and the kids are on our way to the Motel 6 to get a room for the night,” Karen explained.

  “What?”

  “Yeah, babe, I figured that sooner or later something was going to happen.” She then began crying. “I tried, Jermaine. Lord knows I tried my best to get along with your daughter, but for some reason she just doesn’t want us to be together. She hates me, Jermaine, and she showed it right in front of the kids.”

  “What happened, sweetheart?”

  At that moment Jermaine was driving through Wisconsin.

  “After nursing my uncle a few hours I called my brother, Jasper, to come relieve me so that I could come home and get some sleep because I was tired. Anyway, when I made it to your daughter’s she began attacking me with an attitude and started talking crazy to me because it was four-thirty in the morning and Alexus was crying. Then she began telling me that her Aunt Mable and my ex, Bernard, had told her a whole lotta negative bullshit about me.” Her cries and weeping grew even louder.

  Jermaine was furious. “I’m sick and tired of my daughter trying to ruin our relationship! Don’t worry, sweetheart, tomorrow I’ll call the contractor and tell him that I urgently need to move back in my home right away. And meanwhile, I’ll have a talk with that daughter of mines.”

  “She doesn’t want us together, Jermaine, can’t you see it?” She continued crying.

  “Regardless of what she wants, what she suggests, or what opinions or input she has toward our relationship, we’re going to be together, and we’re still getting married on Valentine’s Day. I’ll be home in a few days, sweetheart, and until then, you and the kids get some rest and stay out of harm’s way. I apologize for my daughter’s behavior, but I can assure you that once we’re in our home you’ll feel comfortable, content, and you’ll be happy.”

  Now that Karen and her kids had the privacy of their own room and were not being monitored, disrespected, or falsely accused by anyone, she felt a little better. Sensing that Tyrone would try to get revenge against her, Karen knew that Denise’s apartment would not be a safe place for her and the kids, anyway. Actually, this was perfect timing.

  It was 1:30PM when the loud, irritating sound of Alexus’s cries awakened Karen. Suddenly realizing that she had some important business to take care of, Karen hurriedly changed Alexus’s diaper, and then instructed Stevie to get dressed.

  “Mama, when is Daddy coming back?” Stevie asked, while getting dressed. He asked that same question at least three times a day. Calling Jermaine Daddy now came automatic to Stevie.

  “He should be here in a few days, Stevie. And he said that as soon as he gets back we’re moving into his house.”

  “Will I have my own room, Mama?” asked Stevie, excitedly.

  Alexus repeated the question using baby talk.

  “I guess so, Stevie. Hell, the man has four bedrooms, so unless you want to sleep with me and him, you’ll be sleeping in your own bedroom.”

  “Yes!” shouted Stevie.

  “Yes!” Alexus repeated.

  En route to the welfare office, Karen made up her mind that she was no longer going to be unfaithful, deceiving, or manipulative toward the man that loved and cared so much for her and her kids. She had been through a countless amount of men to get to this one so she had to make this work, regardless of the size of his penis. I’ll just buy myself a big dildo and be content with that, Karen thought while driving.

  When Jermaine made it back to town it was 2:45 a.m. on a Wednesday morning. The kids were asleep and Karen had been imp
atiently waiting for him to walk through the door. She had a surprise for him, something that he would never forget, and something that he could think about while traveling down all those lonely interstates and highways. She had made the kids a spot on the floor to sleep, which left the king-size bed available for her and her fiancé.

  I’ve got to lock this in. I’ve got to give him something that he can feel. It’s not every day an opportunity like this comes my way. I’m going to fuck him and suck his dick so damn good that his toes will curl. I’m going to give him the red-light special. Sex was actually the only thing she had to offer.

  They made love until the sun came up. She made Jermaine feel pleasures that no other woman had ever come close to making him feel. This was definitely a feeling that he wanted to come home to, every day if possible. Damn, am I glad she’s going to be my wife, thought Jermaine, lying back smiling, completely satisfied. All I ever wanted was to come home to a woman who knows how to sexually satisfy me, a woman that respects me and appreciates me, a woman who loves me for me and not for what I’ve got, or for what I can do for them.

  Later that day, Jermaine and Karen went to spend some time with Jasmine, Karen’s daughter. Karen wanted Jermaine to get more acquainted with Jasmine. On the same token she wanted to show Jermaine that Jasmine was totally opposite from Denise. Seeing that Jermaine was nothing like the men in her mother’s past, Jasmine liked him instantly. Jermaine had told Jasmine about his job as a truck driver, his experience as a real estate investor and a loan officer, and also about a book he was presently working on and striving to have published. Jasmine was very impressed and also extremely happy for her mother. To Jasmine, Jermaine was someone positive who could be an optimistic influence in her mother’s life as well as be an excellent father figure to her sister and brothers.

  They sat talking for a couple of hours until Jermaine volunteered to treat everyone to dinner at the Sizzler.