BOMAW 1-3

by Mercedes Keyes

  "Mama don't nobody wanna come hear no homemade mix music... I'm gone turn it out for you - its gone be straight ... now go on shopping like - papah-Shawn say!" He grinned broadly doing a little dance showing off.

  "Did he say papah-Shawn? Oh no... um em... Shawn... baby... listen to me."

  "Bye Sylvia... go... we'll be fine."

  They waited for them to pull out of the driveway in the SUV, Sylvia drove it while Crystal drove her borrowed car back home so they could all pool into the one vehicle in LaCrosse. When they pulled off Shawn turned and said, "Okay... listen up. I'm going to invest in what you're trying to do under one condition."

  Mundo stood and got serious. "For real? Cool, okay - straight, let's hear it."

  "You finish school for radio broadcasting and communications... you finish the entire course from start to finish - and walk out of there with a degree... no excuses... no delays... no set backs. If you do this now Mundo - and finish it - you have all the years to come to pursue what you will... while being able to flash something substantial, like proof of your dedication. A degree talks... bullshit walks. Put yourself ahead of the game now. Who knows, later on - you may wish to build on that degree... but that's what I want. If you don't intend to commit yourself to building your own self worth... tell me now. We'll just go lease everything you need. I'll lease it all up to a month for you. That way you can work your ass off and mix what you need to sell, and make enough money if you're as good as you say you are, to buy your own equipment. Is that fair?"

  "Yeah... that's fair."

  "So what's it gonna be... buy or lease... buy... for your future... or lease to play for a month and hope it all turns out worth it."

  Mundo leaned back against the sink sighing and shaking his head. "Man I can't go back, I blew my school loan. I fooled around and got dropped from so many classes that they cancelled it. Now I have to pay back what I used, and it disqualifies me for another one." He admitted crestfallen.

  "I see... so you screwed yourself."

  "Basically... yeah... I wanted to ask mama for help, but she would'ah just said no. She tight man... my mama tight wit' some money holmes... ma-a-an... I ain't kiddin'yah... you got to go through all these preliminaries with her to get some help."

  "Is it possible she has good reason for being that way?"

  "Well... yeah... she do... but... hey... I'm her son you know - she could give me a lil'bit of a break... man!"

  "Mundo... not only must you build good credit with the world, you must build it first... with your parents... or parent in this case. Meaning... put your money where your mouth is. If you've demonstrated yourself to be a 'Gonna' instead of a, 'Doer' that may have a great deal to do with it."

  "Well... at this rate... don't matter. Guess we gone lease."

  "So that's your choice... to lease?"

  "Man didn't you hear what I said... I can't get no more school loans... I owe shit."

  "Mundo... pay attention, I'm going to ask you again... buy.......... or lease?"

  "I - I wanna buy... for my future."

  "Thank you... so you're saying you're gonna commit to finishing school this time... no bullshit... no messing around!"

  "Dude... I screwed up big time! I know where I went wrong... aye, I ain't playin' - give me another chance... I'm all the way for it."

  "I want your word as a man - a clean slate - building of your credit with us - starts here - starts now."

  "Aye man... you do this for me... I'll sign my name on the dotted line! Anything to get me up out of this shit and back on it... I'll do it."

  "Good enough... let's go."

  They hit La Crosse as well in Shawn's truck, stopping at one Disc Jockey amp house after another. Shawn nodded yea or nay after hearing from Mundo and the sales person the benefits of the turn tables he chose. He bought him top of the line everything... by the time they were done, he was set up. They also invested in him a computer and a laptop with high quality mixing software to make his CD's merge and blend smooth as can be.

  "Man... my mama gone divorce you before you get to the alter man... all the money you done spent... god-dai'am! Aye... but I ain't complainin'... i's all good!"

  "You just let me worry about your mother. Now... I'm gonna tell you something, you need to move out of your sisters house and into your own place."

  "I know! She get on my nerve! She sca'ed to let a nigga breath - oops... sorry...my bad!"

  "You know... you're right... your mother is going to kill me if she knew what I was thinking of doing."

  "What?"

  "I don't know... let me think-..."

  "Whoa shit!" Mundo ducked down in the truck real quick, dodging someone he saw.

  "Don't tell me you're dodging somebody?"

  "Hell yeah... dude been looking for me."

  "Let me guess... you owe him money."

  "See... its not like that... what happen was, I borrowed his shit... and it got stolen off me, I told him I'd pay'em for it... but I ain't really have the money."

  "And you were going to borrow again!" Shawn scolded mildly.

  "Yeah! From a different dude though!"

  "Mundo... Mundo sit up!"

  "Is he gone?"

  "No... I want you to go out there and talk to him, how much do you owe him?"

  "Man you don't even wanna know."

  "Just tell me."

  "Twelve hun'erd."

  "Holy cow." Shawn muttered.

  "Man start the truck!"

  "No... we gonna pay him. Anyone else you owe?"

  "Just my sista'... I owe her three hun'erd for my cell phone."

  "You do know that yo' ass belongs to me after all this."

  "Man... you pay all this shit off... you can have my ass anyway you want it. You ain't gay or in the closet or nothing is you? I'd have to resend on that shit... 'cause aye bo-ay - I'on play that!"

  "Get out the truck so you can take care of your business!"

  "Yessim massah Shawn - you knows I'sah yo'boy!"

  "HEY! None of that bullshit!" Shawn yelled at him as Mundo took off laughing at a lop. Shawn sighed deep and shook his head. "Your mother's going kill me." He was doing the numbers in his head, what he spent so far didn't bother him. What he would have to spend to pay off his loan and pay for his course, didn't bother him. What did worry him was the cost of helping him get his own place. Knowing that he was helping Shanna as well. That lot next to him was going for five thousand, and a double wide for her while just giving her the down payment because she said she could make the payments herself, would cost a pretty penny - but not as much as he first figured since she only needed help getting the land and down payment. After all that was done... she could float on from there. Mundo was a different story. He would be in school for almost two years, or eighteen months, so wherever he lived, would have to be low maintenance and located there in La Crosse.

  His mind was ticking over as they took care of his other debt to the guy and went to, 'Famous Daves' for something to eat. They locked the topper on his truck and made sure to sit by the window were they could see it. Shawn wasn't worried with his topper having tinted windows, no one could see what was in it anyway.

  "I've got an idea..." He started after they ordered.

  "Shoot."

  "I think... the best solution... is to buy a used mobile home for you. And all you'll have to pay is lot rent. How much do you pay Crystal to stay with her?"

  "I give her fifty a week."

  "Doing what?"

  "I work at one of the bars downtown, tips are sweet. I bring home 'bout... oooh, fi'ty-five - si'ty a night... that ain't bad."

  "That's pretty damn good... in tips?"

  "Yep."

  "Shit I may have to get a job there myself once your mother finds out what I've spent."

  Mundo laughed and coming down said, "Man... La Crosse full of college students drinking they nights away... the money be flowing. Now that I got this equipment, I'mo start making some serious cash."

  "Wha
t about school?"

  "Aye... a deals a deal. You watch an' see, I'mo take care'o'bidness! If you can get me a used mobile home... I'm all for it, long as it's mine, I'on care if I have to staple the walls closed on it."

  "Its not gonna be that bad. I've seen some used ones that are going for pretty cheap... they're just from the eighties is all, but in excellent condition. I'm thinking about twenty thousand will get you one free and clear."

  "WHAT?! Man naaaw, I can't let you spend that kind of money on me... you done did enough already... know what I'm sayin'? My mother'll never speak to me again. I know I be up to some no good shit man... but I love my mama... I can't have my mama mad at me... not over no shit like that.... em em... nope... I'll work out my own living arrangements... you done did all you gone do for me. If you can make it so I can get back to school... I can do the rest... hey... I'll register for a dorm or something... I'll work it out."

  Shawn sat back and smiled. Mundo was trying not to look him in the eyes, because he was tearing up.

  "Okay... but know this... I'm going to leave the option open for you if you need it... I want you to finish school, I don't want your needing a place to stay interfering in that."

  "Like I said... you got my word... and you man... you... I'm there for you... serious... I ain't talkin' shit right now... serious... you've done more for me... in one day... than my ol'man did my whole... " Mundo turned away, then pushed his chair back and stood walking to the men's room clearing his throat.

  Shawn gulped and widened his own eyes, this was a good day.

  Mundo returned a few moments later, together... and finally able to look Shawn in the eyes.

  "You okay?" Shawn asked calmly. There food had come while he was in the bathroom.

  "I'm straight... you know... ain't nothin' but a thang... I just... I'on know... why you doing this? You don't owe me shit."

  "Mundo... I'm in love with your mother. I love that woman... your mother, like I've never loved before. You belong to her... you are her son. She loves you. What's mine is hers, what's hers... is mine. Simple as that. Now let's eat... I'm starving."

  "So how much did you spend?" Sylvia asked her future husband who'd just gotten home an hour ago, it was eleven thirty. She had been sitting up in bed, waiting for him to come home as she flipped through channels. She let Angela sleep over in La Crosse with Crystal, and told him so. He nodded un-fazed heading for their bathroom where he used the toilet, washed up, striped down and came and flopped face down on his side of the bed, which was closest to their bedroom door, as he lay there, she asked her question.

  "Trust me... you don't wanna know." He muttered sleepily.

  "Honey get under the covers." Sylvia coaxed.

  He shifted about as she helped him under. "You look exhausted, that much hm?" She asked, determined not to freak out over it.

  "Mundo is a trip... that's all I have to say. Oh and one more thing... I don't wanna hear you... talking down at him again... understand? No more comparing him to Crystal, they are two totally different people. Granted... she has herself together... but then look who her mother is. Anyway... as I said... lay off of him from now on... okay?"

  Sylvia sat stunned, not sure where that came from or why... but she smiled and nodded her head.

  "Now click that off... and come here. And no sex tonight... I'm plum tuckered out... that son of yours... funny as hell, crazy as hell... I love him already."

  Sylvia obeyed, realizing he still hadn't given her an amount... and right now... to hear him defend her child was worth any price he might have paid. He wrapped his arm around her pulling her against him to spoon.

  "Goodnight my wife."

  "Goodnight... my husband."

  Chapter 64

  Shawn was up before Sylvia and so was quiet to leave her sleeping. In the wee early hours when all was silent was the best time for him. His habit was to rise, make himself a cup of coffee, sipping it as he put on his work out clothing. In the basement, he did moderate reps, using his Bo-Flex, surprised at how well he felt using it, and pushed himself to increase the weights by adding more bars. Forty-five minutes later, when his upper body was burning from him pushing himself, he put on his jacket and headed out the door. It was 5:20 of the am and there was plenty on his mind. He was glad the kids were coming back today because he really needed to sit down and talk to them about the gun he'd already registered for weeks ago. While registering he hadn't been certain they would allow him one with his past record, but he'd received notification in the mail that his gun permit had gone through. Starting to run at a lop, he wondered if he could get Sylvia to go and get lessons handling one. She'd put up such a fuss about not wanting him to get one that he knew she'd no doubt need some convincing. He'd have to figure a way of running it by her and see how she responded to that. His mind was also on Mundo; he wished there was some way he could talk him into coming back home and living with them while he went to school. Travel time might be a bit long, forty-five minutes there and then home, but if he was too tired to travel back, Shawn figured he could crash with his sister on those days. He enjoyed his time with him the previous day... it brought back to him all that he missed about being with Jesse. He wondered if there was ever a day that went by, that he didn't long for Jesse. Shawn had been close to no as he had been to Jesse, not even Derrick. How he would love to be able to call him and tell him what he was doing, let him know... that he'd met the one and guess what, she's black! Shawn chuckled to himself just imagining his reaction. No doubt in his mind, Jesse would threaten to take her off of him, but it would all be in jesting.

  Shawn jogged on accepting that the hands of time, could not be reversed. He ran and wondered about himself, his thinking, the way he was... sometimes, it was as if Jesse was living out his dream through him. After all, here he was, crazy in love with the exact type of woman Jesse had spoken so often about wanting, all the way down to the race of her. Shawn reflected on something about himself and his life, while he had been negatively affected by all men, the ones that were the most positive affect on him all came from black people he'd encountered throughout his L.A. years. Jesse, regardless of their porn past, had opened up a world of support for him through his own family. Shawn smiled thinking about mama Jo-Jo... Jesse's grandmother, who was still very much alive and kicking. He would take Sylvia to meet her. He'd been absent from visiting her for several months, he hadn't even gone by when he visited Angela last and met with the James'. He would correct that once he and Sylvia were married. He shook his head at himself, certainly it would stand to reason that he would find the center of his calm in the arms of a black woman. Since Jesse and his family were all he had so many years ago before Merriam Styles and Deidre. Even after Jesse's death, mama Jo-Jo embraced him. Every time he'd been down and out, he'd gone to her. Just as Jesse had gone to her, and had taken him to her. Right now, he would love to see them all again, talk to them ... to be in the company of people where he had nothing at all to hide.

  He smiled then... because at least he had Sylvia. There was nothing to hide between the two of them, they were for each other a place safe and secure, knowing that no one could enter into the bond they shared.

  Forty minutes later and pouring with sweat, he turned back into their driveway. Quietly entering the house, he peeped in on Sylvia to see that she was still sleeping peacefully. He took a shower in the basement bathroom to keep from waking her up and put on his around the house lounging wear. Feeling refreshed and ready to get a little work done, he went into the kitchen over to the refrigerator, grabbing a banana off the bunch, next poured himself a medium size mixing bowl of muesli cereal and added corn pops cereal to it and chopped up the banana, chuckling at himself. "Good God, one would think I'm the one pregnant!" He laughed at himself then poured on the milk, grabbed a big spoon and went into the basement and got to work. He set up his backgrounds area, tossing over it his huge drop cloth and then set up his lights, and placed the layout of book one and two up on the stands. Next he set hi
s camera up on its tripod and adjusted the lighting in the room just right. Finishing his cereal, he set his empty bowl aside and then prepared the paintings for the book cover layout, snapping one photograph after another with his digital camera. From there he would load them up into his computer and then open Photoshop where he would do the layering and enhancements, getting them ready for the brochures and covers. Because he was able to go from creating the original oils to the layout to doing the actual set up of the covers, this made him a valuable asset to the James'. He took care of all of their book covers, brochures, and galleries. Every new author they took on, he set up the covers for their novel once the idea and plan had been discussed with him. They paid him handsomely because all that they needed was rolled up into one... him. A few hours rolled by with him working, so caught up into what he was doing, it wasn't until he caught the scent of her presence that he knew she was near. Looking towards the door, he saw her leaning there quietly watching him, still wearing her mid-thigh night shirt, holding in her hand, a cup of coffee for him.

  "Thought you'd like a cup of coffee..." Sylvia started, smiling.

  He stared at her a moment and then pushed his chair away from the desk where he was working and stood up behind his camera. "Don't move!" He ordered.

  "Shawn...no! I don't have any makeup on... oh Shawn!"

  "You don't need any make up... you baby... are a natural. Don't move! Smile... come on... that's a girl, turn your head ever so slightly to the left, that's it... now seduce me..."

  Sylvia giggled, shaking her head, "Shawn!"

  "Come on... you can do it... please... turn it on for me... yeah... yep... that's it... that's it..." He coached snapping a series of shots, "Turn against the door jab, that's right, now raise that right arm up on the jab over your head... higher... that's it! That's it! Sip the coffee Sylvie - keep your eyes on me... alluring - seductive - inviting... oh yeah... that's it... yep... now... lick your lips... very softly... emmm.... yeah." He chuckled, "There you go, can you be a pussy cat? Hmmm? Set down that coffee, now slide slowly ... slowly to the floor, and crawl towards the canvas, slow... you're a sexy, sleek, black cat... ooooh yeah... seductive, keep your eyes here... here - here - here... yep, now crawl... do that body the way I know you can." He instructed snapping the pictures. "Now ease back onto your heels, kneeling... yep, pull your hands towards your body across the top of your thighs, bring that shirt back with them. You know what I want ... that's it... now stretch baby - a slow stretch, hands going up, back arching.... oooooh yeah... nice stretch - hands up beside your face, graceful, eyes on me... emmmm yep. That's it." Shawn took the camera from the tripod and got down on the floor still snapping as Sylvia moved.