True Beauty

by Shelia E. (Lipsey) Bell

  “Well, we live below poverty guidelines. What’s the difference?”

  “Stop talking nonsense. It is not going to help one way or another. We’ve already prayed about this, and God has everything under control. You talk like this is a murder trial or something, when it isn’t a trial at all,” snapped Envy.

  “I know it’s not a trial,” Kacie snapped back. “But this hearing will determine if the case can be settled today, or if it needs to be set up to go to court and possibly before a jury.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Envy told her. “Watch how God works things out. I believe everything will be settled today. Kenny, and you too for that matter, will be vindicated. Just watch.”

  The bailiff ordered everyone in the courtroom to stand for the entrance of the judge, and the hearing began.

  The judge listened as both sides presented their versions of what had taken place five weeks prior. Kacie was pleased with the manner in which the mediator presented her side of the case, but she cringed when she heard Jackie Cheney’s attorney. He made the whole incident sound like it was a figment of Kacie’s imagination.

  Kacie was soon called to stand before the judge.

  The mediator addressed her. “Miss Mayweather, please tell the court what you witnessed the night of the alleged incident.”

  Kacie retold the story just as she had numerous times already to the mediator, Child Protective Services, the police, Rape Crisis, not to mention Envy, Layla, and Thomas.

  Jackie Cheney’s attorney asked the judge permission to question Kacie.

  “Miss Mayweather, when you walked into your den, it was dark. Am I right?”

  “Yes, and?”

  He had his hands clasped together in front of him. His white face, black tailored suit, and black striped tie, with a white shirt, somehow gave Kacie a feeling of powerlessness.

  “Did you see my client engaging in a sexual act with your son, or did you assume there had been a sexual encounter?”

  “I didn’t have to see her doing anything. Her being naked—”

  He cut her off. “So did you or did you not see them engaging in sex? Yes or no?”

  “No,” Kacie answered, and shifted her weight from her right side to her left.

  “Has your son admitted to having engaged in sexual intercourse or any sexual act before this alleged incident, Miss Mayweather?”

  “My son is the one who was violated.”

  “Just answer the question, please.” The lawyer sounded irritated.

  “I don’t know why you’re asking questions about my son, when you should be talking to your client. She’s the one who’s a sex-crazed maniac.”

  “There will be no name-calling in my court, Miss Mayweather,” the judge told her in a stern voice. “She’s the child molester.” Kacie looked over at Jackie and pointed a finger at the girl. “And you want to stand there and act like my son is at fault.”

  “I said, settle down or I’ll dismiss this hearing right now,” the judge warned, and hit his gavel.

  The mediator stepped closer to Kacie and whispered something in her ear. She nodded.

  “So, Miss Mayweather, will you answer the question?”

  Kacie looked down. She felt defeated. No one had to tell her that this was not going to turn out as she’d hoped.

  “Yes, but it’s not like you think—”

  “Thank you, Miss Mayweather. That’s all the questions I have.”

  “You may have a seat, Miss Mayweather,” the bailiff told her.

  Jackie Cheney was called next. When Jackie stood before the judge, she denied that any wrongdoing had occurred on her part or Kenny’s. Her testimony was that the two of them had been listening to music and they both fell asleep.

  “Your Honor,” the babysitter said, speaking in a mild-mannered tone, “What Miss Mayweather said, simply isn’t true.”

  Kacie wanted to jump up and choke the girl until she turned two shades darker than her high-yellow skin. She was just about to do it too, if it had not been for the fact that she was sandwiched in between Layla and Envy. Both had a tight hold on each one of her arms, like they knew what was on her mind.

  Listening to lies being told about the incident caused Kacie’s head to start pounding. Kenny had moved from sitting next to his father and was now sitting next to Kacie. She dug her knuckle into his back where no one could see. “You better get up there and tell the truth,” she warned him.

  The mediator peered over his shoulder. “Please, Miss Mayweather, you have to be quiet,” he whispered.

  Kacie groaned and leaned back against the hard wooden seat. Envy patted Kacie’s hand in a comforting manner.

  “Kenny Mayweather, please come forward,” the bailiff ordered.

  For the first time since the incident, Kacie looked at Kenny and saw a frightened boy. She watched as he stood in front of the judge and promised to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

  Prosecutor Otis Morgan asked Kenny questions about his version of what had happened.

  “Nothing happened.”

  “Why do you think your mother would say that Ms. Cheney was naked and you had on your underpants?”

  “Because it was dark in the room.” Kenny fidgeted as he stood before the table and in front of the judge. The look on his face revealed his embarrassment of being put in a situation where people could possibly judge his manhood. His mother would be furious, of that he was certain, but he couldn’t allow himself to be put on display like he was one of his little brothers or sisters.

  Much to Kacie’s surprise and dismay, Kenny answered his questions almost identical to that of Jackie Cheney. The mediator sucked in his breath, bit his bottom lip, and listened to Kenny tell about what had occurred that night. He had briefed Kenny more than once about his testimony, and still the boy stood before the judge with a very different version of what they had talked about in his office.

  The mediator stopped Kenny from relaying any more damaging testimony. “That’s all of the questions I have.”

  Jackie’s attorney, Lawrence Denton, quickly walked forward. “Why was it dark, Kenny? Did you want my client to engage in sexual acts with you?”

  The prosecutor jumped up. “I object. My client is thirteen years old. He cannot make a decision to engage in sex.”

  “Sustained.”

  “We were listening to music that I had downloaded from off the Internet,” Kenny said.

  “I see. Tell me, Kenny, were you lying on the floor with a quilt covering your body?”

  Kenny stuttered and paused. “Yes, b-because it was more fun that way . . . and the house was a little cold. My mom always tells me not to touch the thermostat.” Kenny did not look at all in the direction of his mother.

  Kacie sat back and her eyes looked cutting. Her face was so red it looked the color of a fresh ripe tomato. Her legs trembled and she shook her head from side to side. Layla squeezed her hand.

  “So you’re standing here this morning, Mr. Mayweather, stating that Miss Cheney and you did not engage in any sexual contact whatsoever, including oral sex?”

  “Yes, no. I mean, no, sir. Nothing happened—”

  “Prosecutor Morgan,” the judge interrupted. “Why would you bring this case to court? There is no evidence of inappropriate sexual conduct on the part of Miss Cheney. I’ve looked through these files and the only witness is Miss Mayweather. I do not plan on wasting the remainder of my morning listening to this nonsense.”

  “But, Judge . . .”

  “Judge Johnson, may I say something?” asked Attorney Denton.

  “Yes, you may,” the judge replied.

  “I ask that the allegations against my client be dropped, and as of today this matter be considered closed. Mr. Mayweather has been questioned openly, as well as by a child advocacy counselor, and he continues to say that nothing occurred between him and my client. What we have, Your Honor, is a case of a mother who left not one, but all seven of her children at home with a young, inexperience
d babysitter so she could go out and party.”

  Kacie jumped up on her shaking legs. “How dare you!” she yelled. “You don’t know anything about me. My son was molested, assaulted, and maybe even raped by that—that hussy.” Kacie pointed at a scared-looking Jackie Cheney, and her father looked like he wanted to get up and knock Kacie to the ground.

  “Order in the court,” the judge yelled. “Sit down now, Miss Mayweather, or you will be found in contempt of court and escorted out of the courtroom to jail.”

  Kacie reluctantly obeyed.

  The judge hesitated before continuing. “After hearing the plaintiff and the defendant, along with the witnesses; after reading the reports from Child Protective Services, the Rape Crisis Division, and the police report, there is not enough evidence to support the allegations of sexual misconduct on the part of Miss Jackie Cheney.”

  “What?” Kacie bounced up again.

  “This case is dismissed.” He hit his gavel on the judge’s bench. “Get this woman out of my courtroom.”

  The group stood and filed out. Kenny’s father walked along with his son, talking to him.

  “The next case is. . . ,” the bailiff stated as they departed.

  Once they were outside in the heavily overcrowded foyer, Kacie let loose. She blasted the mediator and she totally went off on Kenny for what she called blatantly lying and making her look like a total idiot.

  “Hold up, Kacie,” Thomas said as he stepped between her and Kenny. “Settle down. It’s over with. Let it go. I told you in the first place that you were taking this too far. Let the boy move on from this. He’s already embarrassed enough.”

  “He’s embarrassed? Oh no, you did not just go there. He should be getting his butt kicked for making a fool out of me in there,” she screamed, and pointed back toward the courtroom.

  “Calm down, Kacie,” Envy encouraged her, and rubbed her shoulders.

  “Yeah, she’s right, Kacie. You’re not making things better. The judge has ruled, and it’s over with,” Layla said.

  “Let me take Kenny with me. I’ll bring him home later this evening. It’ll give both of you some time to settle down,” Thomas suggested.

  “Oh, it’ll be a while before I settle down after what he just pulled. You’re right, you better take him with you because the way that I feel, I won’t be responsible for what I might do to him if he comes home with me.”

  Kenny cowered next to his father. The facial expression on his face showed a real fear of what his mother would do. Kacie was definitely hot-tempered, and it was nothing for her to punch or slap her kids when they got on her nerves or did something that made her angry.

  “Good decision,” said Layla. “Let’s get out of here. I’ve never seen so many men, women, and children gathered in one small place like this.”

  “Kenny, are you all right?” Envy asked before he walked away with his father.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said barely above a faint whisper, and then looked off.

  Jackie, her father, and her arrogant, highfalutin attorney passed by Kacie and her friends. They glanced in Kacie’s direction as they walked toward the exit.

  Kacie gave Jackie, Mr. Cheney, and Lawrence Denton the evil eye. Thank God, looks couldn’t kill.

  The three women proceeded to walk out of the building behind Cheney and his entourage.

  “Where are you two headed?” asked Kacie.

  “I’m going back to the office,” said Envy. “I have some projects that need my attention, but I had to come to support Kenny, and you, of course.”

  “I’m going to visit my parents before I go to the salon. I have five clients. I want to finish them at least by six, no later than seven. I have a date tonight, so I don’t plan on being at the salon all night.”

  “With Dennis?” Envy asked in a hesitant voice. She arched her eyebrows as she waited on Layla’s response.

  Kacie waited in silence too.

  Layla played them off with the wave of her hand. “No. Gosh, how many times do I have to tell y’all that Dennis is not the only man on the face of the earth? Y’all act like I’m supposed to be so gung ho over him,” she said, talking nonstop with her hands gliding through the air. “I had to let Dennis know that I’m no longer interested in saving all my love for him, as Whitney used to sing.”

  “What are you saying? You broke up with him?” asked Kacie, an astonished look on her face.

  Envy’s mouth hung open. “What did you do?”

  “I didn’t do anything but let him know that enough is enough.”

  “Wow,” said Kacie. “Poor Dennis.”

  “I can’t believe you two.” Layla brushed them off with a throw of her hand. “Whateva.”

  “Excuse us, then,” said Envy. “We didn’t mean to get your panties in a wad.”

  “I know that’s right,” Kacie agreed. “But, tell us.”

  “Tell y’all what?”

  “About who you’re meeting,” said Envy. “Is it Omar again?”

  “Since y’all insist on being all up in my business, no it is not Omar. I met this guy at Precious Cargo a few nights ago. I went with some of the girls from the salon.”

  Envy’s eyes widened. “You didn’t tell us.” She turned and looked at Kacie. “Unless she told you about it,” said Envy with curiosity dripping from her surprised lips.

  “Nope. This is the first I’ve heard about it.”

  “Dang, I didn’t know I had to tell y’all every move I make. A few of us went after work to get a bite to eat and listen to some spoken word. I heard about Precious Cargo, but never bothered to go to the Pinch District. But I’m glad I did, because there was this cutie behind the bar, with eyes the color of midnight and a smile that could knock a girl off her feet. Whew,” Layla said, and feigned like she was about to pass out. “I went to the bar, and he offered me my drink of choice on the house. I asked for a ginger ale on the rocks. I think it was the best ginger ale I’ve ever tasted.”

  Envy stumbled. A stunned look crossed her face, but she remained silent.

  “Be careful, girl,” Kacie told her when she saw Envy trip and almost fall.

  “Thanks,” replied Envy. “My heel got caught in between one of the cracks on the concrete.” She took a deep swallow before she continued to speak. She addressed Layla. “I had no idea you hung out at Precious Cargo.”

  “I don’t. It was my first time going. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing. But I will tell you this, it may have been my first time, but believe me, it surely won’t be my last. Anyway, I’m meeting him tonight after he gets off work. We’re going to hang out.”

  “What’s his name?” Envy asked. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. Maybe it was the part-time bartender, Spencer, but she doubted it. He wouldn’t be Layla’s type—too hefty, for one thing, and not so easy on the eyes.

  “Tyreek. Isn’t that an appealing name?”

  “What can you and this Tyreek fellow possibly have to do late at night, Layla? Girl, you better be careful. Sounds like you’re about to be somebody’s booty call.” Envy faked a smile.

  “What is your problem?” Layla asked Envy. “Don’t even go there with me. Kacie, you better tell your girl about herself, because she is not one to talk about anything I do, with anybody.”

  “Both of y’all need to stop tripping. If I didn’t know for myself that you all are best friends, I’d think the way y’all getting all heated up about nothing, y’all are arch enemies. Layla, listen. I think Envy is just concerned about you, that’s all. Frankly, I am too. We’re not used to this new you. Every time we look around, girl, you calling out some other man’s name that you’ve met. Dennis is getting pushed farther and farther on the back burner.”

  “Tell you what—y’all start the violin music for Dennis while I say this one more time, because you two just don’t get it for some reason. Okay, Dennis was there to pick up the pieces after Mike. I’ll always be grateful to him. But I do not owe him the rest of my life, duh.” She continued to speak as they arrive
d near their parked cars. “Y’all have heard of the cliché, I’m sure, ‘People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.’ I’m afraid that Dennis’s season has come to an end.”

  The three of them stood next to Layla’s car.

  Kacie’s voice was controlled, almost tight. “So which part applies to this guy, Tyreek, and what about O . . . Omario?”

  “Girl, his name is Omar, not Omario!” Layla laughed. “Like Martin Luther King said, ‘Longevity has its place.’ And Omar’s place has ended,” she laughed again. “Let me get out of here. I’ll talk to y’all later.”

  Layla got in her car, and Kacie and Envy walked to their cars, parked several spaces apart in the private parking lot.

  “I don’t know what to say about her. She’s gone bananas,” Envy told Kacie.

  “Oh, she’s just having fun. Trying to enjoy her new life, and I don’t blame her too much. You only live once, and for the past thirty-two years, she was on life support. Now she’s fully resuscitated; and she has her whole life before her. She’ll be all right. She just needs to be careful out there, and knowing Layla like we do, she’s not going to take any mess off anyone. I have to say that I’m glad for her.”

  “Humph, well, you can think what you want, but I think she’s treading on dangerous ground. But it’s her life, like you said. I’ll talk to you later,” Envy told Kacie when they arrived at Kacie’s car.

  “Thanks for coming to support me and Kenny. I’m praying that he’ll get himself together before he goes too far with some girl out there and ends up with a baby.”

  “Kacie, Kenny will be fine. You’ll see.” Envy pecked her on the cheek and squeezed her hand. “If you’re going to worry, don’t pray; and if you’re going to pray, don’t worry. Remember Pastor Betts preaching about that one Sunday?”

  “Yeah, I do, and you’re right. I’m just scared. I don’t want him to turn out like me.”

  “Look, don’t do start badgering yourself. You’re a great person.” Envy’s cell phone rang. “Look, I gotta go. We’ll talk,” she said, and walked away while she pushed the green button on her phone. “Hello.”