Are You Alright Mister Lawrence?

by James Alexander

  Chapter 2

  “Knock knock Mister Lawrence.”

  “It’s unlocked. You can come in Shirley.”

  “Mister Lawrence. Why are you still in bed? We got places to go.”

  “I’m trying to find the table.”

  “What table are you talking about Mister Lawrence? You have never had a table in here.”

  “The table from my dream.”

  “Oh. You had that dream again… Wait. If I remember correctly, you walked into that table. You can’t find it more than that can you?”

  “I know that I walk into it but this time I noticed where the table was before I walked into it.”

  “Okay Mister Lawrence. This did not make any since yesterday and it surely does not make any since today… Hold on now. That does not explain why you’re still in bed.”

  “I have to keep my eyes closed so I can keep noticing the difference from my mom and the darkness.”

  “Keep your eyes closed for what... Did you get your regular medication from the store pharmacy Mister Lawrence?”

  “I know what I’m saying Shirley. My eyes have been closed since I woke up this morning and the dream is repeating in my head like I’m still asleep. I can’t notice where the table is anymore but I can still notice my mom from the darkness. Yesterday I lost her when I opened my eyes and I’m afraid that I will lose her again if I open my eyes this morning.”

  “You can’t stay in here like this forever Mister Lawrence. You have to get up some time. Just keep your eyes closed and get dressed and get ready to go.”

  “I can’t move and still keep this dream going in my head. I won’t be able to concentrate on my surroundings.”

  “Then open your eyes Mister Lawrence.”

  “Oh alright… Shirley! Is that you standing next to my bed?”

  “I have been here this whole time Mister Lawrence. You know I been here.”

  “Shirley! You stand out from the darkness Shirley. Like my mom did. I know where you are.”

  “You know where I am because I been talking to you from here since I came into your room. Now stop playing Mister Lawrence. We really should be heading out.”

  “Shirley. Are you at the door now?”

  “Yes. I just turned the handle.”

  “You was next to my bed and now you’re at the door faster than I can snap.”

  “Are you alright Mister Lawrence? I think we need to reschedule your doctor’s appointment for today.”

  “I am alright Shirley. Let me get dressed and we will be on our way.”

  “Oh. Okay then… Don’t take too long now. We need to get there before all the good stuff is gone.”

  ______

  Later on at their destination…

  “Why do we have to go way out here just to go to a flea market? We could have shopped at two flea markets and made it back to the home in the same time it takes to get here.” Mister Lawrence said.

  “Why Mister Lawrence; this is the best flea market in the state. People come from all over to get here. They even have your favorite barber shop. Let’s just keep making our way there. I’ll be done shopping when you finish.”

  “Done shopping. My barber would have to cut each hair one by one for you to… well, I don’t even think you would be finished shopping after that.”

  “You are the worst Mister Lawrence. Come on now. We almost there.”

  “I know. I can hear that loud mouth Kenneth over the crowd.”

  “Hey everybody it’s Mister Lawrence!” Kenneth shouted.

  “Alright alright” the barbers said as Mister Lawrence approached.

  “I’m good now Shirley. You can go on.”

  “Who are you talking to Mister Lawrence?” Kenneth asked.

  “I’m talking to Shirley.”

  “What! Shirley gone. Man she got you messed up. Come on in so I can take your money, I mean get your hair cut.”

  “Come over here Mister Lawrence. I got you.” Brock said.

  “What you going to Brock for? He can’t cut hair. Why you think he never busy when you get here?” Kenneth said.

  “Man. I hate to say it but he’s right Brock. I may be sitting in the wrong chair.”

  “Alright Mister Lawrence. You want Kenneth to cut your hair. You know he smashes hair between two rocks until it breaks off with his old behind.” Brock said.

  “Don’t you get me started on how long it takes you to cut hair. You walk around your customers more than Picasso did when he sculpted his statues.” Kenneth said.

  “You would know. You was right there with him.” Brock said.

  “You know what. Just wait until I finish cutting this man’s hair. Then I will—”

  “You will do what. Throw your rocks at me. You couldn’t even throw a tantrum. I’ll just dodge the rocks and let them break on the ground. Then you’ll go out of business. What you gonna do then?” Brock said.

  “Will you two knock it off already? Some of us actually trying to do their jobs.” Chuck said.

  “Yeah. What he said.” Tuck said.

  “I know y’all twins but you don’t have to agree with everything he says.” Brock said.

  “I speak for myself.” Tuck said.

  “Exactly what I was thinking.” Chuck said.

  “What am I dealing with you two for anyway? I got my guy Mister Lawrence at my chair today. What’s been going on with you Mister Lawrence?” Brock said.

  “You know how I told you that my mom was sick last time I was here. Well she passed last week.”

  “Sorry for your loss.” Brock said.

  “Sorry to hear that Mister Lawrence.” Kenneth said. “You know, I thought Chuck was going to go last week also because he was sick with some weird monkey nucleus disease.”

  “It was mononucleosis you fool” Chuck said.

  “You know what would have happened if Tuck had mono?” Brock said.

  “No. What would have happened?” Kenneth asked.

  “Both of them would have been stereo.” Brock said.

  “That’s not funny” Chuck said.

  “You must have been working on that joke all week.” Kenneth responded.

  “I took a nap ever now and then.” Brock said. “How did you get mono by the way?”

  “It may have been from that girl I was messing with the week before.” Chuck said.

  “You mean Laquisha. You should be glad mono was all that you got from her.” Tuck said.

  “Did you get her name before or after you was with her?” Brock asked.

  “Laquisha. We had sensible names for children back in my day.” Mister Lawrence said.

  “I shouldn’t be worried about getting a cut from you?” Chuck’s customer said.

  “Say what you want but naming your daughter Laquisha is a good business move.” Kenneth said.

  “What are you talking about? Her mom went through nine months of pregnancy and labor pains; and still named her daughter that.” Brock said.

  “The name Laquisha is similar in sound to a phrase that’s very special in the Korean language. I think the phrase means peace and love or something like that. When she goes to any local shop to get some weave, she gets it for a good discount. In fact, that’s how you know you’re in the hood. The better the discounts on weave the more Laquishas you have in the area. It is a direct coral nation. That’s why you have to pay full price in the white areas for weave. How many white Laquishas do you know?” Kenneth said.

  “Man you need to stop. I almost messed up his cut.” Tuck said.

  “Alright man. That will be twenty dollars.” Kenneth told his customer.

  “Brock had me worried. This cut is not bad. I’ll catch you all later. Ouch.”

  “What’s up?” Kenneth asked his customer.

  “I hit my leg on that table.” The customer said.

  “I don’t know how you hit that. Even Mister Lawrence can see that table there.” Kenneth said.

  “Man that’s cold. Okay, I’ll see you guys later. Again.�
��

  “You see that table there don’t you Mister Lawrence.” Kenneth said.

  “You know I can’t see anything; I’ll make sure I look out for it when I leave.”

  “You need to use your sonic hearing powers to detect the sound waves around the table.” Kenneth said.

  “How many times do I have to tell you that I don’t have superpowers? You watch too many movies. I can hear just as well as the next guy.

  “Now that I think about it, I did have a dream where I noticed a table before feeling it or someone telling me it was there. I don’t notice it in that table but I did in my dream.”

  “See. You do have powers. You’re psychic.” Kenneth said.

  “It was a dream. That doesn’t make me psychic but I’m telling you, there was something strange about that table.”

  “That makes no sense Mister Lawrence” Brock said. “How could you have known that table was there? Did you have that dream before?”

  “Well, yes. Yes I did.”

  “Aww man. I thought that you was psychic. I’m still going to find out what superpower you have.” Kenneth said.

  “You almost made me believe he was psychic” Chuck said.

  “I know” Tuck said.

  “There you two go again. Always agreeing with each other... Well I am done Mister Lawrence. That will be twenty dollars.”

  “Make sure he’s not slipping you a ten or nothing Brock. I could never trust you Mister Lawrence.” Kenneth said.

  “I know which bills are which. I already told you that I fold them differently.”

  “You fold them so we don’t check. I’m on to you.” Kenneth said.

  “He just mad you came to me Mister Lawrence.” Brock said.

  “I know. Well I will make my way to that make-shift sitting area out there.”

  “There is only so much space in this flea market.” Kenneth said.

  “Yeah right. There’s only so much space you wanted to pay for.” Brock said.

  “You may want to step out now Mister Lawrence so you don’t see the whooping that I am about to put on Brock.” Kenneth said.

  “I wouldn’t have to leave to not see it.”

  “Everybody attacking me today. I see how this is going. If I didn’t have another customer about to sit in my chair then you all would have got it.” Kenneth said.

  “See you Mister Lawrence.” Brock said as Mister Lawrence stepped out the barber shop.

  “I’m sorry Mister Lawrence. How long have you been standing out here?” Shirley said as she approached.

  “been waiting forever.”

  “He just walked out there.” Kenneth shouted.

  “Mister Lawrence. You had me worried for a moment. You look good by the way.”

  “Thank you. Wait. Hold on. Are you actually done shopping?”

  “Yes. I could have been looking through a bigger selection if someone didn’t lounge around bed this morning.”

  “I will make it up to you somehow… You know that part of town where almost everyone has a yard sale you tell me about; we can stop there before going to the home.”

  “Really. You never want to stop there when we leave.”

  “I know. You always talk about how all the good stuff is gone after you drop me off so let’s go.”

  “Thank you, thank you Mister Lawrence. Oh I just can’t wait.”