by Aliyah Burke
“It doesn’t,” Olivia quickly replied.
“Heffa, don’t you have some green beans to eat?” Paityn snapped back.
“Oh! No!” Olivia said. “Did she come for me?”
“She came and arrived,” Kyleigh said snapping her fingers.
Chapter Five
“So, when are you gonna ask her out?” Jesse Sr. asked his son walking up behind him.
“Uh? What? Hey, dad,” Jesse replied snapping out of his trance of thinking about Kyleigh which seemed to be all the time now these days. “Ask who what?”
“Boy, I’m old, and I may need a blue pill once a month to remind myself my privates still work, but I’m nowhere near dumb. You like that girl,” his father replied.
“DAD!” Jesse said covering his ears. “For the love of God, can you please stop telling me the tales of you and the little blue pills? It's a lot.”
“Oh, put your hands down, you pussy!” his father jeered slapping his hands down from his ears “So…?”
“So what? DAD! No, No! I’m not talking about this with you. Besides you and mom were so rude to her after what Karson did to her home. She is PAYING US, and she saved Karson from certain imprisonment and you still haven’t apologized. I’m pretty sure she would say 'no' even if I did ask,” Jesse replied.
He’d been working in the barn on a gift he was making for Kyleigh. He was going to present it to her when they were done with her house.
As he looked around the barn, he thought of all the years he’d spent in here tinkering around with his brother when they were kids. It was almost like his second home, but Tony had always hated it. It's the smell that hits you first. As you lug open the unwieldy, russet-painted door adorned with its tired hinges that creak like the moaning of cantankerous old men, a puff of the sweet, musty odor of last summer's straw presses from your first, slow breath into your nose. Then you detect the undertones: the stuffy musk of animal fur and the stank of old, dried-out dung and droppings, and maybe the sharp smell of old, oily metal and machinery. Soon after the smell, your eyes compensate for the dim pallor of light, and you begin to make out the shapes of dusty frames of wooden stalls and poles, and the heavy bosom of the loft that hangs from the ceiling just as its brown bat companions cling to the rafters.
It may be country but it was home, and he loved it. He’d been thinking of what life was like in Kyleigh’s world, all glitz and glamour. One room of her home was two of his parents' home in size.
He’d been surprised over these past weeks getting to know her. She’d taken Karson on a hike in the woods at the back of her home, showed him some leaves and berries that helped people who were ill with food digestion. She had thrown a football around with him when she was bored and couldn’t help the crew. Speaking of the crew, she cooked them a homemade lunch two times a week and had them into her house to eat it. One of the crew had gotten some oil on one of her decorative pillows and when he asked how much it was to replace, she told him $2,000. Apparently the fabric had been made in Ghana. But Kyleigh would never make anyone feel less than her. She made sure they all felt at home. They all loved her Southern fried chicken and pecan pie. He couldn't think about her curves without getting a hard on, so he tried very hard not to look at her for long when he was in her presence. But how could he be a part of her world? He was a small town country boy with bigoted parents.
“I haven’t apologized to her because I don’t need to,” Jesse Sr. mumbled pretending to look at a tool he’d used a hundred times before. “It’s implied. Besides you heard her, she’s not one of them Muslims; she’s just a regular old colored girl.”
“Let me ask you a question. Do you really think ignorant statements like that are ok?” Jesse countered.
“You better watch who you are talking to, boy!” his father seethed.
“Why?” Jesse yelled. “Because you deserve so much respect? Do you realize that we almost lost Karson because of all the hate you have been spouting out of your mouth since Tony died? I was over there, Pop. I saw it. Most of the Muslims are peaceful people who want be able to worship their way! And what is so wrong with that? WE went to THEIR home and started dropping bombs and shooting up the place, and some radicals, who were angry, crazy, confused, hell-broken men, came here to return the favor. We went back to their home guns blazing and condemned a hundreds of years old religion. I’m not saying the lives lost aren’t a tragedy, including my baby brother. I’m saying the definition of Muslim is NOT killer.”
His father was silent for a long time. Jesse had never been disrespectful or even aggressive toward his father. But his time in the Middle East had taught him so much about himself and about other people. He’d developed a love and respect for those that weren’t like him in that time.
But he had come home to listen to and see the ignorance he’d left behind. He was tired of kidding himself into thinking as long as it wasn’t him, it wasn’t his place to stop it.
“I’m sorry, son,” his father finally moaned. “I always hated that my pappi was so closed minded. I remember in the third grade, I had friend, Shep Dollard. Shep was black so we could only be friends in the woods where no one else could see. But, boy, the adventures we had. Shep is the one that taught me how to fish, swim, hunt, carve weapons, aim a sling-shot and never miss. He was a true friend to me. Every morning, I would race to eat breakfast and do my morning chores so that I could get out there to play with Shep. Then one day my daddy came looking for me cause my momma was sick. He saw us together. He slapped me so hard I lost the hearing in my left ear for three weeks. But Shep, well…. he punched poor Shep in the face so many times that he broke his eye socket. When he let him go, Shep ran away so quick, screaming in pain. I will never forget the way Shep looked at me, because I didn’t make any effort to help him. I just stood there in terror. Shep never came to the woods to play with me again. Then after a few months, I built up the nerve to go all the way to his house looking for him and he attacked me. Whipped my butt but good. Told me if I ever came near him again, he would kill me and take the hanging.”
“Pop!” Jesse comforted “Why didn’t you ever tell us about this?"
He shrugged his shoulders, “I guess I was just too ashamed, too stupid. I don’t know. But I do know that I lost the best friend I was ever gonna have that day. I never looked at my daddy the same way. I mean, I should have been strong enough to at least defend Shep. I blocked it out as best I could over the years. I guess while I was blocking that out the words of my father seeped into my hick brain.”
His father was wearing the shame of that loss all over him like a trench coat. Jesse felt bad for him, to be that age and have to decide to stand up to your parent, or let it go and lose someone important to him.
“Dad, it wasn’t your fault,” he declared. “You were just a kid.”
“Yeah I was, but it took years for me to forgive myself,” his father concluded. “But you're not, so don’t make the mistakes I made. Ask the woman out. I will apologize to her on behalf of your mother and me, and then it’s all up to you. So untuck, boy, and show her what the Patton’s are made of.”
Slapping his son's rear, he walked out of the barn.
Jesse stayed in the barn another two hours trying to come up with something, anything that could make him like Kyleigh less so that he could convince himself he didn’t want to ask her out. His efforts were wasted. He was headed to the main house when he finally admitted to himself; he was going to ask her out the next day.
*******
It was six o’clock in the morning the following day when Kyleigh’s doorbell rang. She’d been on a conference call with Olivia who was in Tokyo for an hour, so it wasn’t like she was sleeping. But having someone knock on her door that early was cause for concern.
“Liv, someone is at my door,” she said.
“WHAT?” Liv shouted. “Isn't it like 6 a.m. there?”
“Yeah,” Kyleigh said uneasily.
“Well, don’t answer it. They might go away,” Oli
via suggested just as whoever it was rang her doorbell again.
“I don’t think they're going away,” she told her as she made her way down the steps. Kyleigh had hoped there wouldn’t be any trouble while her alarm system was disabled for the remodel. 'I should have prayed harder' she thought to herself as she looked out the window that was next to her front door. ”Oh! It’s Jesse,” she exclaimed instantly relieved.
“Oh, shoot!” Olivia jeered. “You better not hang up on me! I’ve got to hear this.”
Rolling her eyes, Kyleigh opened the door.
“Good Morning, Jesse! Is everything ok?” she asked him. Her vagina was doing that weird little quiver thing it did every time she was anywhere near him. He was wearing a white Stetson with what looked like his black snakeskin dress boots with slim hip-hugging jeans and a nice button-down royal blue shirt, which was a departure from his normal work boots, paint-stained jeans and a flannel shirt. His muscles were rippling.
“What? Oh yeah! I mean, no!” he stammered. Taking a deep breath, he dove in. “I was wondering if you would go out on a date with me tomorrow evening?”
Bringing his arm from behind his back, he shoved a bouquet of daisies at her.
Kyleigh stood there, her mouth agape as she stared at him in shock. 'Were the Gods kidding with this, really? '
“KYLEIGH, KYLEIGH!” Olivia was shouting into the phone. “Did he say what I think he just said?”
Still staring at him in shock, Kyleigh whispered. “Yes.”
“Kyleigh, did you hear what I said?” Jesse asked.
She was staring at him like Big Foot was behind him and he needed to take cover.
“Girrrl, you better slam that door in Green Acres' face and run,” Olivia was yelling into the phone.
Kyleigh had no idea what she was going to say until she said, “I would love to.”
“Awww.. Lord!” Olivia chimed in “Fix it, mullato Jesus!”
TO BE CONTINUED……
Find out what happens between Kyleigh and Jesse in the follow up to the story.
Something to Build On
BROKEN SOUL
Raven Starr
This is the beginning of Immokalee’s journey of pain and loss while trying to survive, Immokalee, Tumbling Water, must learn path to truly find herself
Chapter One
Oukonunaka sat in front of a blazing fire with his eyes were closed and his breath was shallow. A cold wind whipped through his long white hair and threatened to creep into his old bones, even so he did not move. Nothing could interrupt his prayers to the Great Spirit for guidance and wisdom. “Ho wa tsu, Please Great Spirit, tell me I have enough time? The one is not yet ready? Please tell me I have more time.” Oukonunaka inhaled deeply. As if in reply the wind died down around him making everything silent. Suddenly the old man laughed, it was a hearty, joyful release. “I know you are there. Come out. You must be cold by now.” The old man waited patiently, his eyes remained closed. “Come child. I grow tired as you grow cold. Share the warmth with me.”
Out of the darkness appeared a short, dark skinned woman Her long onyx hair as pitch as the dense darkness around her. Slowly, he opened his eyes to stare at her, they spoke without words for several moments then the man gestured, “Sit, you know there is no harm here from me. But if one of the men find you here spying on an ancient rite for star-walkers only, well then maybe some harm may come. But not now so come join me.” Oukununaka flashed a toothless grin.
“How did you know I was there? I was silent as the wind.” As the young woman approached the dim fire light the flames dance as if they greeted the young woman as she sat across from him. For years she followed him always trying to learn the ways of the Star walkers. Star walkers lived in this flesh world and in the realm of the Great Beyond. Their healings and wisdom was sought out by many, but never had he encountered a soul like Immokalee. Her mother, Rosedust was acclaimed leader of the tribe until her timely death many seasons ago. Immokalee had always had a wild soul, something burned deeply inside this child and with time…there is never enough time.
“Are you dead?” she whispered.
“The question you should be asking is why are you here in the middle of the night, in a sacred place without someone to protect you.”
Immokalee scoffed. “I need no one to protect me, Oukonunaka. And since you know so much do tell me why am I here?”
Oukonunaka grunted his disapproval of her tone.
She averted her eyes then he asked, “Don’t you know?”
“If I knew why I wouldn’t ask.” she thought.
“You didn’t ask the question out loud, did you?” Oukonunaka furrowed his brow.
Immokalee nibbled her lip. “Don’t do that, grandfather I don’t like it.”
“Like what?” He shrugged. “What have I done that you don’t like? Tell me.”
Immokalee’s shoulders slumped forward. “You get inside my head.”
The old man chuckled again. “You cannot continue to fight who you are inside.”
“And what is that? The village stray, the one with no home? I hear what people mumbled behind my back.”
“And that bothers you, doesn’t it?”
She snorted.
“Conflict, my child, there is a true conflict.”
She leaned forward, close to the flames where the red glow of the fiery coals reflected in her dark orbs. “What conflict do you speak of? Why is it always riddles with you?”
Again he laughed, “Because you know the answers to my riddles. But what you must come to realize is in this life many will pass through the land of the dead without hearing the voice that travels on the wind, or groan of the earth when it is tired. Many have too much pride to think of anything besides the next heartbeat of time. Then there are a the few, the story-makers, the searchers, the ones who wander they,” he held up one finger. “They hear everything, they feel everything and experience.”
“Pain,” Immokalee chimed in. “Pain is what they experience.”
“No we experience so much love that our hearts and souls are so full that we must share a part of our souls with others in order to grow.”
“I am not what you think?” She shrank back like a scolded child.
“It is not my thoughts that should concern you. And what is it that you think I know about you that you don’t already know yourself.”
Immokalee remained silent.
“You are no longer a child, Immokalee. There is life beyond this village and to experience life you must understand there will always be conflict.”
“Do not speak to me about life, old one. I feel like I have lived a thousand lifetimes, always wandering feeling nothing but pain and despair. I have no family, no title, no right to really even be here. My heart is not filled with overflowing joy that I must spread. No. I am not like you.”
He turned to stare at her clearly. “You are right, sweet Immokalee you are not like me but to deny the power I see inside would be like denying air to fill my lungs. I know about your sense to be free, to fade away like mist in the bright dawn. For everything taken away there is purpose.”
“Purpose?” The fires swayed and twisted, rising high into the night sky. “There is no purpose in knowing that everything I love dies. No purpose for an orphaned miscreant. They would rather turn to stone than show any kindness towards me. They are supposed to family, but I feel no connection to them.”
“To any of them? Surely I have you look at certain way at a man.”
Immokalee sprung to her feet as a log in the raging send a shower of floating ash around her. “Do not,” she said through clenched teeth.
Her grandfather shook his head then with a quick gesture of his hand the flames split in two. “Do you still deny the power inside you? A power given to special women, like your mother.”
“Who is no longer here.”
“Not in body but a part of all them still reside in your heart, fight it if you must but when you come to realize your purpose, you will exp
erience nothing but pain. Release what you have and listen.”
Immokalee exhaled then sat back in your place across from him. “I have no teacher. If this power given to me has a purpose then it ends with me. There are no female star walkers here.”
“Not here, there are others.”
“Really?”
Oukunuaka did not answer.
“Why won’t you tell me?” She spat.
“Is that pain in your voice right now or hatred?”
“What is the difference?”
“Oh my dear there is such a vast difference between the two, both very powerful, but one consumes you and the other well, sometimes may help shape ones own future. For each person the meaning are different. Do you remember the first question you asked me tonight?”
She nodded.
“You wanted to know how I knew you were there hiding in the shadows. Help me to my feet and shall speak along the way.”
Obediently, she rose to help him to his feet. He wrapped his arm around hers as they hobbled down the path. “Speak what is in your heart.”
“I can’t, grandfather I do not know where to begin.”
The old man stopped. “I made that fire and sat here in the cold and do you know why I would do such a thing.”
“Eh because you may be a tad bit odd.”
He grunted. “I was waiting for you. I know you feel alone but do not let consume and cloud your thoughts. Sooner or later you will come to surrender to what I already know.”
“So tell me what do I do with all of this pain. What use it?”
“It is fear that hinders you. It is that same fear you must defeat if you are to heal others.”
“Heal others?” She whirled around to glare at him. Even in the light of the moon her dark eyes glowed fiercely. “I don’t want to heal anyone. I can’t even heal myself.”
“I grow tired of this self-pity. You are so much more than some lonesome little girl lost in the trees. You are Immokalee second born to Rosedust and granddaughter of the great Oukonuaka himself. If you waste all of your time in the past you are blind to your present. You are connected to each living soul. You feel, you grieve and you move on. You are much more than you give yourself credit for. You hunt to feed us like a man, in fact I am sure you could beat most men in the village especially with your bow. And even though you may not see you have a purpose. I see you, Immokalee. Your name means Tumbling Water and even though on the surface it looks serene and peacefully it can also be one of the deadliest thing to the living. Control it, harness it and let the power surge through your veins like your blood. I know what’s like to be chosen. To have a different path and like you I hated it until I learned control, to surrender. In order to walk the path of a higher being you must shed all of pain. Sacrifices will be made but it depends on you how you allow them to change your course. Do you understand?”
