The Yin Yang Effect

by Dana Littlejohn

  Doug put his glass on the table and sat back. “I gotta say I’m with Rakim, not as loud, but I agree.”

  Rakim sat down and sighed. “Look Debbie, I can’t speak for Doug but, I feel like you’ve been playing me the whole time.”

  She moved closer to him. “No, Rakim, it’s not like that,” she spoke softly touching his hand.

  He pulled his hand back. “Is it true that you were fucking this Roy for about a year?”

  Debbie looked at Opal, her eyes swelling with tears.

  “Yes, it’s true,” she said just above a whisper.

  He chuckled disbelievingly. “So, all this time it’s you that’s the player, huh?”

  “No, Rakim it wasn’t like that.”

  “Why is it always ok for a man to have a booty call and not a woman?”

  “What?” the guys said together.

  “You heard me. That’s all Roy was, a booty call.” She sighed and leaned on her knees. “Look, we met him at a wedding Debbie was in last year. Neither of us had a man, so we were like, ok. He propositioned us, and we excepted. We put the rules in place and he followed them. Only we could call him, he couldn’t call us, and when we called, he came. No strings attached.”

  She finished her drink, poured another and continued her explanation. “He was our threesome guy, that was his only purpose, until recently, you know, before all this went down. We invited him over and broke it off with him. We thought it would be common courtesy after kicking it with him for so long.”

  “We hadn’t even called him for weeks before we called him over to end it,” Debbie added.

  “Why?” Rakim asked.

  “Because we wanted to be with you. Well, she wanted to be with Doug and I want to be with you, but you know what I mean. You can’t keep a booty call going and have a man at the same time.”

  “The only reason we kicked it with Roy in the first place was because we didn’t have a man at the time.”

  Debbie sat back. “Right, except Roy apparently forgot about the no strings clause.”

  Rakim gave her a quizzical look. “What does that mean? What happened?”

  “Well, the night we invited him over to end it, he flipped out. Started yelling, trippin’ and grabbing on us.”

  The guys gasped and looked at each other.

  “Yup, he slapped me a couple times and tried to rape Debbie. He didn’t, but pinched her hard enough to leave bruises all over and he choked her, too.”

  Rakim looked at Debbie, relaxing closer and let out a sigh.

  “When I saw him holding Deb on the couch by the neck I went to the kitchen, grabbed the cast iron pan and cracked his ass.”

  “Damn.” Doug looked at Deb who shook her head in agreement.

  “And being buzzed like we were, we, umm, dragged him to the car and dumped him down south in a winery.”

  “You dropped him off in a winery?” Doug asked confused. “Was he bleeding?”

  She nodded taking a sip.

  “So you didn’t know if the dude was dead or alive?”

  She shrugged. “We figured if he was bleeding he had to be alive. Dead people don’t bleed.”

  “Hold up.” Rakim picked up his drink and leaned back with a chuckle. “So, you guys dropped this dude off at some winery, bleeding, in the middle of the night, not knowing if he was really alive or not? You just went with a drunken hunch?”

  “Mmm, hmm.”

  He looked at Doug, who was struggling to hold back his laughter. “How was he supposed to get back to the city?”

  Opal shrugged. “That wasn’t our problem. He was in violation and he got what he deserved. And there you have it, the short, but not so sweet tale of Roy Benson.”

  Rakim and Doug sat quietly looking between each other and the girls, sipping their drinks, taking in the story. After a few moments, Doug’s sigh broke the eerie silence and his voice followed.

  “I still think you should have told us.”

  “Yeah, man. Debbie, come on, your biggest problem with me was trust. You wanted to make sure you could trust me. I didn’t lie to you and I didn’t keep secrets from you either.”

  “I know, you’re right, but he was just a booty call. Have you told me about all the booty calls you’ve ever had?”

  “Yup.”

  She twisted her lips. “Rakim, I said all.”

  “Oh, well then no, I haven’t.”

  “Why is this booty call sticking to you guys so hard?”

  “I don’t know. I guess I’m just stuck on booty calls being a guy thing,” Doug answered with a shrug.

  Opal giggled. “Well, if you’re going to be thinking like that you might want to second guess being with me. You already know I do whatever I want, be it a guy thing or what you may consider a female thing.” She did quotations symbols in the air.

  Shock raised his eyebrows as he looked at her.

  She jumped up and sat on his lap. “Listen, Doug, I want to be with you for as long as it will work. I trust you and you said you trusted me. Since we’ve been kicking it, I haven’t touched anyone but you and you’re the only one that’s touched me.”

  He slipped his arms around her and nodded. “What about before we actually had sex? Were you doing him when you wouldn’t let me do you?”

  She smiled, held his face and touched her nose to his. “No, Sweetie. It really was weeks of nobody. Why do you think I attacked you the way I did when we first hooked up?” She kissed him.

  “Damn I thought it was ‘cause I was the irresistible type.”

  She giggled. “Oh you were all that, too.”

  Rakim sipped his drink slowly, staring at Debbie. “I’m still mad, man.”

  “I know. So, how can I make it up to you?” She smiled, elbowing him softly.

  He stared at her over his glass and smiled. “Well, I can think of a few things, but don’t think you’re going to get off that easy.” He sat up, putting his glass on the table and sighed. “Are you ok? I mean, he didn’t hurt you bad, did he?”

  “No, just a few bruises, they hurt, but they didn’t last long. Chica bashed him pretty good with that frying pan.” She giggled.

  “And you guys really dropped him all the way out south, huh?”

  “Yeah, but we didn‘t mean to break his foot, it just got caught in the door when I slammed it.”

  “Damn, you broke the man’s foot, too? That’s not the usual way you break up with someone, is it?”

  She giggled, again. “No, but you’re not going to have that problem. I plan on keeping you as long as you want to be kept.”

  “Is that a fact?” He smiled and leaned close to her.

  “Yes, a known fact, too.” She leaned in and kissed him.

  “Yeah, well, we need to get some ground rules working. No lies, no secrets and I don’t ever want to hear anything else about you off the grapevine, Capeesh?”

  She nodded and kissed him, again. “Capeesh. So, are you still really mad?”

  “Yes, and it might take me a minute to get over it, too.”

  She slid into his lap. “Oh, come on. Doug forgave Opal.”

  He turned at them. Opal and Doug smiled into each others eyes as they rubbed noses.

  He shrugged. “He’s in love.”

  “So you’re not in love?

  “I don’t know yet, and get off me, woman. I said I’m still mad.”

  She kissed his neck. “Yeah, I heard you, but are you going to mad forever?” She continued kissing.

  “Mmm, that’s not going to work either. Mmm, I, you, mmm, yes.” He cleared his throat. “Yes, yes, long time mad,” he said breathlessly.

  “Come on, Poppie, you know I’m sorry. How can I make it up to you? I’m open to suggestions.”

  “Really?”

  “Uh-huh, very open.”

  “Well, hmm, how about…”

  He whispered in her ear and she giggled.

  “I could see that happening.”

  “Really? Hmm, I’m feeling more forgiving already.” He
laughed, hugging her.

  “Well, that’s a welcome scene. I guess you guys have made up, huh?” Pearl said coming down the stairs.

  “Well, we’re still working on them.” Opal looked over at Debbie and Rakim.

  “But I think we’re winning them over.” She chuckled.

  “Well that’s good.” She sat in the chair. “So, how are you guys doing? You look good right now.”

  “We’re fine, Pearl. How are you feeling?” Doug asked.

  “I’m fine, guys. Sore, but ok. How are you guys, I mean, the four of you?”

  Doug looked at Opal. “A few lumps to smooth out, but nothing major. Right, baby?”

  She kissed him. “Right.”

  “And you two?”

  “I’m waiting for her to make it up to me.”

  Debbie giggled. “Later,” she whispered to him.

  “Good. I’m glad you got it all worked out. I haven’t spoken to Jake today, have you?”

  Doug and Rakim looked at each other. “Well, you know he’s still not suppose to be driving. He’s still getting those headaches,” Doug said.

  “So you guys aren’t going to get him so I can see him, now that I’m home?”

  “Yeah, Pearl, we can do that,” Doug said quickly and looked at Rakim. “We, umm, just wanted to put things right with our girls first.”

  “Oh, I understand. I was just--” She stopped, interrupted by a knocking on the door and sighed. “Someone’s at the door.”

  “I got it.” Opal hopped up. “Hey, Dennis, what’s up? Come to check on my sister?” She kissed his cheek and opened the door wider to let him pass.

  “Not today, Opal, I’ll give her a few days to rest before I drop in on her. I’m just dropping off right now.” He stepped to the side showing Jake exiting his car.

  She gave Jake a hug and closed the door behind him. “Pearl, you’ve got a visitor,” she sang.

  She smiled and jumped up, holding her arm. “Jake!”

  He hugged her tightly, lifting her off the floor. “Oh, man. I missed you so much, baby.”

  “Jake, wait,” she gasped, her eyes filling with tears. “Honey, please let go,” she whispered.

  He stepped back. “Oh my God. Baby, I’m so sorry.” He sat her down. “I didn’t mean--”

  “I know.” She caressed his face and kissed him. “I know, it’s ok.” She rubbed her arm, swallowing her pain. “I’m fine.”

  He sat on the floor next to her and put his head in her lap.

  She rubbed his head. “How do you feel?”

  “I’m fine, baby.” He shrugged. “You know, it’s nothing but a nasty bump, about forty stitches and this premature bald spot that they gave me on the back of my head.”

  He shrugged. “Nothing major. My boys saved my life.” He chuckled and winked at them.

  “Dude, you know the problems we would have had if you were dead? Opal would be all upset because her sister would be upset.”

  “Yup and Debbie would be upset because her girls were upset. That’s some drama we decided we could really live without, man,” Rakim added with a laugh.

  “Yeah right. Ya’ll thought all that in that one millisecond, huh?”

  Doug and Rakim looked at each other and smiled and Rakim answered him.

  “Yeah man, we can think fast under pressure. You ain’t know?”

  They all laughed together.

  “Whatever, man. Anyway, baby, I couldn’t wait another minute to see you. I gotta ask you something.”

  Still laughing she continued to rub his head. “What’s that, Boo?”

  “You hear that, Doug? You know you’ve arrived when you’re somebody’s boo.”

  “I know, man. I’m a Boo, too. It’s a beautiful thing, ain’t it?” He laughed with him.

  “What does that mean?” Opal asked.

  “Nothing, really. It’s just that only people who are really in love give each other really cheesy nicknames. Boo is my favorite one.” He laughed and kissed her. "Now I‘m somebody's boo and I like it.”

  “Whatever,” Pearl said chuckling. “Oh, Jake, I never got the chance to give you your birthday gift. Opal can you--”

  “I'm on my way.” She hopped off Doug's lap and ran upstairs, quickly returning with a long black velvet box.

  Jake opened the box to find two necklaces.

  Opal put one around his neck and returned to Doug’s lap.

  The pendant rested high on his chest. It was a charm, made of smooth black onyx shaped like a leaning tear drop with a tiny pearl circle just off its center. He lifted the other necklace. It was exactly like the one he wore except it was its opposite, smooth pearl with a black onyx circle. He held them neck to each other and together they formed a perfect circle. He smiled and put it over Pearl’s head.

  “I picked them up in Chinatown when we were in New York. It’s a genuine Chinese pendant, a yin yang symbol. They represent two souls coming together as one, but still work separately. They are the opposites that balance each other.”

  He looked up from his pendent confused.

  “You know, like good and evil, hot and cold, black and white, balance.”

  She could almost see the light bulb come on over his head as he nodded and chuckled. She chuckled with him.

  “Do you like it?”

  “I love it, thank you.” He gave her a quick kiss then dug in his pocket, smiling. “Let me give you an American symbol that means kinda the same thing.”

  She took the box and jumped up holding her arm, knocking his jaw with her knee, making him bite his tongue.

  “Ouch!” He grabbed his head with one hand and held his mouth with the other.

  “Oh, Boo, I’m sorry,” she said as she stepped over him going to the couch where Debbie and Opal pushed Rakim and Doug off making room for her.

  “Ohmigosh, ohmigosh, ohmigosh! Open it Opal!” she told her sister excitedly.

  She opened the black velvet box and the three of them gasped in unison. Inside, gleaming back at them, was an 18K gold ring with a large sparkling square diamond in its center, two smaller begets on either side and three even smaller ones going all the way around the rest of the ring. They looked at each other, nodding and smiling.

  “Ok, Jake, I’m sure some words are supposed to go along with this ring, right?” Opal asked offering the box to him.

  “Well, yeah, but now that half my tongue is gone I might not be about to talk.” He touched his tongue. “Am I bleeding?”

  She chuckled and pushed the box in his hand. “Stop being such a baby.”

  “I’m sorry, Jake.” Pearl leaned on Doug who was pushed into the corner. “Let me kiss the boo-boo.” She sat in the chair and kissed him. “Ok, I’m ready.”

  He laughed, and pulled her slowly to her feet with him. “Pearl Jefferson, I love you so much and I don’t want to lose you again. Will you marry me?”

  “Yes, we will!” Debbie and Opal yelled together tripping over Doug and Rakim as they ran to him.

  “Whoa! What have I gotten myself into?” He laughed hugging them as Pearl stepped out of the way laughing.

  “Man, I have no idea,” Rakim said, laughing with him.

  “Me either, dude, but we’re going to hang around as long as we can to help you find out.”

  Doug laughed as he and Rakim pulled their girls out of the way, giving Pearl room to hug her man.

  THE END