Both Sides Of The Fence 3: Loose Ends

by Pope, M. T.

  “I know. I’m just a little drained that’s all.” I shrugged a little. “So what have you been up to while you’ve been away?” I never really got to ask him why he left. One minute he was there the next minute I was watching him and his bags disappear down the street.

  “Well, little of this and a little of that. Some ups, some downs ... you know ... life.” He rubbed his hands through his hair letting me know he was just as uncomfortable about his past as I was.

  “So you married, divorced…got any kids?” I was hoping I had some nephews or nieces I could spoil since I didn’t have any children, but then again I didn’t need that to be hung over my head as a constant reminder of my shortcomings.

  “Not married ... widowed.” He looked down at the table real quick like he was hurt by what he just said. It must have been recent.

  “Sorry about that. She was a good woman. I’m sure.”

  “A good man,” he corrected me. I stammered a little.

  “You’re gay?” I asked. I almost smiled. Not because he was gay, but because I didn’t want to be the only one at the table in that condition.... If that makes sense. It also makes me wonder how he got that way too. Did Dad and John tamper with him as well?

  “Yes, I am.” He said it like he was proud. “Been that way all my life.” Everything in me was screaming to ask him if we had everything in common. I held off not wanting to give up my secrets in the first few minutes of us being reunited. I still didn’t know if he had a motive or if he was here to genuinely rejoin the family.

  “So I hear you’re happily married.”

  “Yes, my wife works here with me.” I smiled.

  “Cool. Any kids?” he asked.

  “No we don’t have any kids.” I said sadly. “We both have been too busy working on our careers to have any.”

  I knew that was a lie, but I went with it hoping he believed it.

  “Well, it is what it is.” He smiled. “I can’t wait to meet her.”

  “Sure. We’ll exchange numbers before I have to get back to work.” He looked at his watch real quick. My eyes darted around the room real quick again. I saw Alex cleaning up and emptying some trash.

  “So when was the last time you went by to check on Mom and Dad?

  “I’ve been meaning stop by the house to check up on Mom and um... . Dad, but I‘ve been so busy this semester. How are they doing?”

  “Well, Mom is going strong. It is Dad that I don’t think is going to make it much longer.” He frowned a little.

  “I’ll have to plan a trip for me and my wife to go visit her real soon.” I intentionally left my dad out, because he could rot in hell for all I care.

  “Oh ... okay.” He nodded.

  “Hey, Professor Andrews. What are you doing in here? You almost never eat in here.” Alex walked over and smiled.

  “I know. I wanted a quick snack and I didn’t want to go off campus. Traffic is usually a mess around lunchtime.”

  He then turned his attention toward Wallace. “Hey, Wallace, how do you know the professor?”

  “We’re brothers,” I spoke up before Wallace could.

  “Woooow... . Small world, ain’t it.”

  “Sure is,” Wallace and I both agreed.

  “So how long have you known my brother?” I asked.

  “We were friends of a friend from back in Baltimore, where I was before I came back here,” Wallace interjected before Alex could say anything.

  “Oh ... okay.” I nodded. I wonder if they were fucking too. I knew asking that question was out of the question. I didn’t need to bring attention toward myself.

  “Well, I have to get back to my office.” I pulled out my wallet and gave Wallace my card. “I’m sure you two need to get back to work as well.”

  “Yeah, you sure are right about that.” Wallace agreed. “Give me a hug again before you leave.” We briefly hugged again and I made my way toward the cafeteria doors.

  Chapter 18

  Ashley

  Warnings

  May 4th 10:50 A.M.

  I sat in the congregation in my church waiting to be called for my solo. I looked around at all of the people in my church. We had about 150 members easily. It was testimony service and I watched person after person pop up and give their thanks for what God had done for them. It was nearing the end and one of the mothers of the church stood up. She was always so quiet and she hardly said a word. She decided that it was her turn before it was time for praise and worship to begin.

  “I wanna thank the lawd fo’ one mo day in the land of the livin’. He don’ brought me a mighty long ways now. As I look around this here church, I can say I am truly blessed of God. I got’s me most of my facilities that still functioning properly in this here body of mine. The Lawd been good to me, hear me!” A few people clapped and a few ‘praise God’s’ rang out in the sanctuary.

  “The Lawd has never left my side. He was with me when my husband left me. He was with me when my son moved away. He was with me when the doctor they ... they diagnosed me with that lung cancer. He was with me when my son was murdered. He was with me when I prayed and prayed to him for a healing in my body.” By this time she was shaking side to side. And a couple of people in the congregation started to raise hands and wave them.

  “God ain’t never left my side. I stand before ya today five years healed. I’m not talking remission people, I’m talking bout cancer-free. I went back to them doctors and they couldn’t find a cell in my body that was infected wit’ that there cancer. I’m here to tell you that God is a healer and a keeper.”

  By this time the organist was playing to her testimony and a couple of people were standing and trembling and speaking in tongues.

  She continued, “When you think that you done lost everything and there is nobody around remember my testimony today. God ain’t ever gon’ leave ya nor forsake ya. Praise the Lawd! Praise the Lawd! Praaaise the Lawdddd!”

  By this time the whole church was up praising God. I stood up and clapped my hands and praised God too. It was no denying that the service today would be a spirit-filled one.

  At the end of service, everyone was socializing with one another and talking and hugging the pastor for a few seconds. I was talking to a couple of the choir members before I made my way outside to head on home.

  “Baby.” I felt a tap on the shoulder. I turned to see the mother who got everybody riled up this morning.

  “Yes, ma’am?” I asked, wondering what she wanted with me.

  “Can have a word with you in private for a second?” She was so sweet-looking. But curiosity was getting the best of me, but I knew it had to be something about my solo I did today. I got personal accolades all the time. I walked away with her at ease.

  She pulled me into the bathroom and locked the door.

  “Baby, I got’s a message from the Lawd for you in a dream.” Her eyes were as stern as a cat on a mouse getting ready to pounce.

  “Huh?” I got a little nervous.

  “Me?” I pointed to myself.

  “Yes, Ashley, baby. God don’t make mistakes.”

  “Okay,” I said, folding my arms and waited for her to fill me in.

  “Baby, I know you may not know me well and I have never said as many as two words to you, but pay attention to everything that I say to you and listen good.”

  “Okay,” I assured her.

  “I had a dream that you was getting yourself into some heavy mischief and the outcome was not pretty. Ashley, baby, listen to me when I tell ya. The same thing happened to my son and I regret it to this day. I had a dream about my baby and I didn’t pay God no mind and he ended up dead over some foolishness that I could have prevented if I only heeded to God’s warning and told him what God had told me.” Tears spilled from her eyes and down her cheeks. “I thought my baby was innocent and that God must have had the wrong child on his mind. I was such a fool.”

  I stood there and pondered all that she was saying to me. I had to admit she was scaring me real
good right about now.

  “Ya hear me, baby.” She shook me with her hand on both of my arms. “Take heed to the warning. Take heed! God chastises those he loves. Whatever you’re going through let God know all about. Don’t end up like my son and lose ya life, Ashley.”

  She hugged me real tight and exited the bathroom. I stood there scared out of my mind. After few more seconds of me washing my face with water, I exited the bathroom. And walked out the church and jumped into my car.

  I had to admit the whole ride home I was speechless and confused. I tried my best to shake it off by sleeping, but I woke up to the same uneasiness that I fell asleep with.

  “Who is this lady?” I asked myself as I got up and walked over to the computer and logged onto the church’s Web site. It had a list of all of the members of the church and their numbers. This was a volunteer kind of things, so if you on the list you signed a waiver giving permission to have your info on the site.

  “Mother Bella Jones,” I read out loud as I wrote the number down. I wasn’t going to use it just yet, but eventually I planned on it. I went back to my bed and laid down. I had a big decision to make.

  Chapter 19

  Alex

  Some Things in Common

  May 4th 11:30 A.M.

  “So where are we headed?” I inquired as I hopped into Wallace’s Maybach. It was Sunday and I was in the house for a little while after I came home from the gym. I was supposed to be in church, but I skipped this Sunday. Wallace had called me asking me if I wanted to hang out.

  I was a little hesitant about it at first since he had a criminal record and a brother didn’t want to mess up anything I had going for myself with school, work and all. I had spoken to my baby girl for a minute before I left letting her know I was going to be hanging out with a coworker. I looked pass his past and I knew from working with him and talking to him that he could not be a bad guy, so I agree to hang out for a bit.

  “Well, I kind of need some company while I track down some info on a lead to my dead lover’s family. I just don’t feel like going alone.”

  “Okay.” I nodded my head unsurely as he pulled off and merged into traffic. His lover? Was he talking about a man or a woman? It must be a woman because he doesn’t look gay. Then again, you never know.

  “You don’t have a problem with that do you? I’m sorry for springing this on you. But, as old as I am, I am still leery of certain situations and people. I am not trying to put you in harm’s way. I just need someone with me and I can’t trust anyone right now but you.”

  I felt honored and confused at the same time since we weren’t family and we weren’t that close. I wondered why he didn’t choose one of his brothers. “Why didn’t you ask Professor Andrews?”

  “Well, we’re just getting to know each other again and frankly I trust you more with my info and life, than him. You could have easily asked me about when I said ‘lover’, if I was talking about a man or a woman, but you didn‘t and I noted that as a trustworthy friend’s trait.”

  “Wow,” was all I could get out. I was a very easygoing person to get along with I had to say. If you told me something or I saw something and you wanted me to keep it hush, than it would be that way unto you gave me permission to release it or I died. Yes, I was nosy and extremely curious, but I had mental storage like a camel and I loved keeping secrets. At times, I would want to tell people, other people’s situations, but I didn’t because I knew what comes around goes around. I like my secrets being kept as well.

  “Your secrets are safe with me.” He smiled and turned on some jazz as we hit the highway to where we were going. I paid attention to all turns, exits and landmarks just in case something went down and I had to backtrack or come this way again.

  Twenty-five minutes or so we were pulling up in front of a house that looked like it was in some type of ungated retirement community.

  He put the car in park and pulled out a piece of paper with some things scribbled on it. “You ready?” he said looking at me like he was afraid to go in. I knew then that even grown men have fears. It’s like they just never wanted to talk about them.

  “Whenever you are,” I assured him.

  “Let’s go.” We both exited the car and made our way to the front door.

  I watched Wallace hesitantly stand in front of the door he was here visiting. Finally he knocked and after few seconds an older guy opened the door.

  “Can I help you?” He was dressed in a brown terry cloth robe and some slippers. He was noticeably muscular and fit.

  “Yes, are you John Parks?” Wallace asked.

  “Who wants to know?” He looked defensive and took a step back. I looked at Wallace’s waist and saw what looked like the butt of a gun. Something I didn’t notice before. Then all of a sudden being here felt like a bad idea. I didn’t know either of these men well and if anything happened to me no one would know but them. I could kick myself. With my nosy ass.

  “My name is Wallace. I just needed to know if you are the father of Jerry Parks?” My mouth hit the floor when he used my biological father’s name. What in the hell is going on? This nigga is gay? And so was my father? It explains why Ashley is the way she is genetically. But damn, did I have that shit and didn’t know it? I liked pussy for sure. I know this, but was something in me lurking to come out and I don’t know about yet? Was I bisexual and didn’t know it? What the fuck is going on? Then it clicked in my head old dude was on my list to call, but he had no address listed, just his phone number. I found that to be odd. I’m kind of glad that I came now. I was getting info without letting Wallace in my business.

  The old guy looked Wallace up and down for a few seconds and steps back out the doorway and invited us in. “Yeah, he my son. Come in.” I knew for sure I had to keep my mouth shut about him being my father until I knew what Wallace’s motive was.

  We walked into the apartment and he instructed us to take off our shoes and then he let us sit down inside his living room. He sat in front of us in a recliner while me and Wallace sat on a nice leather love seat and waited for the old guy to speak. The old head did look like my father, but he had beady eyes and looked to be nervous about something.

  “What you wanna know about my seed?” He looked at Wallace.

  “Well ... uh. I need to know what he was like growing up and as a teenager.”

  “Why can’t you ask him all of that?”

  “Well, sir he was ... uh ... murdered five years ago. You didn’t know?” Wallace smirked with a puzzled look on his face. It was a look that said “damn you are his father and you don’t know your son is dead.”

  “I haven’t seen him since he was a little boy. He and I parted ways a long time ago.” His left eye twitched a little and he shifted in his seat as well. He seemed nervous about something.

  “Oh,” Wallace breathed out dejectedly. “You never talked to him or anything like that since?”

  “Nope, sure haven’t.” It was like he didn’t even care. He didn’t even know his grandson was sitting in front of him and I wasn’t sure if I was going to tell him just yet. I need to be careful, because dude looks crazy.

  “You want see a picture of him when he was little?”

  “Yes, sir.” Wallace brightened up and beamed a radiant smile. He must have really loved my biological father. My grandfather got up out of his chair and walked over to his fireplace and grabbed a picture off of the mantle and handed it to Wallace. Wallace smiled as he held the picture in his hand of my father as a boy. I smiled too because I favored him a little as a child too.

  “Here you go,” Wallace said as he handed the picture back to him.

  “Naw ... you can keep it.” he said pushing the picture away. “Seems like he meant a lot to you.”

  “Yeah he did,” Wallace solemnly spoke. “Do you know if his mom is still alive? Did he have any brothers and sisters?”

  “I don’t know if that bitch is still alive. We were only married for a little bit and I only fucked her ass once, so unle
ss she married someone else he ain‘t got no siblings.”

  “So who was fuckin’ who?” the old man asked out of nowhere. My eyes were as big as saucers. I know old dude didn’t just ask what I thought he did.

  “What?” Wallace asked, offended. “That’s all you got to ask me about your son?”

  “No ... did he take dick good?”

  Before I knew it, Wallace had rushed the old dude and put the gun to his head. “Muthafucka, your ass is pushing me to kill you. Ask me another question like that and I will put your thoughts and memories all over this chair, carpet and walls. You hear me?”

  I watched in terror as the old dude just sat there and smiled.

  “Wallace ... man don’t do it ... he’s not worth it.” I said as I cautiously walked up behind him. I didn’t touch him for fear that his reflex might make him shoot him by accident or something. I didn’t want to be a part of any of that. Wallace’s hand was trembling as he still had the gun to my grandfather’s head. After a few seconds Wallace pulled off of him and backed away breathing really hard.

  The old dude just starts laughing out of nowhere and laughing hard too.

  “What hell is wrong with you?” Wallace asked him as the old man continued to laugh hysterically now.

  “Come on, Wallace, let’s get out of here, this dude is insane.” I pulled at his arm, hoping he would listen. He looked pissed. I thought of Ashley. That shit must run in the family!

  “You right.” He tucked the gun back in his waist. Then all of a sudden he rushes old dude and slaps him unconscious with the butt of the gun. We grab our shoes and exit the apartment.

  “What the fuck was that?” Wallace asked me as I got in the car and buckled my seat belt. I shrugged my shoulders, because I didn’t know either. I was confused. I had more questions then I started out with. We pulled off and headed toward home. I crossed old dude off the list and moved to the next person on the list. So both my fathers are gay. Ain’t that some mess!