by AnDerecco
Teddy answered on the first ring. I asked him had he seen Monique. He told me that she was asleep on the couch. I felt better knowing that she was safe.
After I ended the conversation with Teddy my doorbell rung. I was not in the mood for company. The doorbell rung again. I took the remote control and turned the volume up on the system.
I heard the alarm chime meaning that someone had entered the house. I heard a voice under my music calling my name. I did not care as to who it was.
Aunt Aretha entered my room. She came over to my chair and kicked my foot.
ARETHA
What is wrong with you?
JACOB
I don’t feel like talking Auntie.
ARETHA
Well you are going to. Monique called me crying and then she hung up. I tried calling her back but she didn’t answer. I called you and you didn’t answer. I didn’t know what to think.
JACOB
Auntie, please just leave.
ARETHA
Not until I get some answers. Have you drank this whole bottle? What is going on Jacob?
JACOB
Monique is pregnant.
ARETHA
Huh!
JACOB
Three months.
Aretha is stunned. She sat down on the edge of my bed. The look on her face could not be explained.
ARETHA
Is it Teddy’s?
JACOB
She says that it is.
ARETHA
I can’t believe that this baby is having a baby. Wait a minute…if she is three months, I bet you anything she got pregnant in Nashville.
JACOB
Not now Auntie.
ARETHA
I knew that trip was a bad idea. I knew it. See if you would start listening to me…no I said that I wouldn’t do that.
JACOB
She asked me about Ellis’ death.
ARETHA
What did she ask?
JACOB
Why did he kill himself? How would she know that he killed himself? She was only three when that happened. I never talked to her about that.
I begin to cry when I was thinking about it. Ellis and I spent some great years together and I truly missed him.
I got up and pulled my shirt off. I looked at the scar from when I was accidentally shot by Ellis. As I rubbed the scar tears begin to flow from my eyes. The shot of the gun was still ringing in my head.
Aretha came over to console me.
JACOB
I don’t know what to do. I feel like I am losing my mind.
ARETHA
Papadopoulos everything is going to be ok. She will have a healthy baby, finish school, go to college, and continue to have a great life. She has a supportive and understanding father. You both have a gorgeous, intelligent aunt that is here.
JACOB (still sobbing)
I need to find love. I want someone that will be there for me, someone to love me, hold me. I want to be there for them. I want someone to grow old with.
SEVENTEEN
Ian was putting his books in his locker when he felt someone pop him on his neck. He turned to see who it was. There stood Jeremy with a big smile on his face.
JEREMY
What are you up to?
IAN
About to knock the hell out of you if you hit me like that again.
JEREMY
You would rather tongue kiss a rattle snake than hit me.
IAN
Whatever dude. I am about to leave for work.
JEREMY
Can u help me a brother out?
IAN
How? What are you talking about?
JEREMY
Help me get on at Eco-Tech. I am good with computers. I need the extra money. I didn’t know that being a senior was so expensive.
IAN
I know man. We got the Winter Ball coming up, senior portraits, senior trip, senior skip day, cap and gown, and all that other shit to pay for.
JEREMY
My pockets are dusty. I know my mom is going to pay for it but I want to do it on my own. Especially since we are not seeing eye to eye right now.
IAN
Everything is going to be ok. I will ask and see if there is any other part-time work available.
JEREMY
Thanks man. Will I see you tonight?
IAN
Yeah.
JEREMY (smiling shyly)
You gonna let me hit?
IAN
Man, whatever.
JEREMY
You know you love me tapping that ass.
IAN
If you say so. I don’t have time to sit here and play with you. I have got to get to work.
JEREMY
Aight, well I will see you tonight. I am spending the night.
IAN
Bet.
Jeremy spent many nights at Ian’s house. Lately, Jeremy was trying to stay away from home as much as possible. He could not take his mother asking him questions about the military. It was a decision that he had made for himself. Jeremy knew deep down that she was not happy about it.
__________________
It had been three days since I had seen Monique since we had that fight. I called her cell phone to ask if she would like to meet me at Stamps for lunch. She told me that she would. I was happy that she agreed. I could not take not talking to her. I spoke with Dennis and Aunt Aretha about the situation. They both told me that I need to sit down with her and talk it out.
I was sitting at a table by the window when I noticed both Monique and Teddy walk in. My emotions were mixed about Teddy right now. I was not sure if I wanted to talk to him. Sooner or later I was going to have to.
I motioned for them to come to the table. I stood up and gave her a strong, tight hug when she reached me. I did not want to let her go. That night of the fight replayed in my mind. I never thought that I could be that upset with my only child.
I released her and gave Teddy a firm handshake. I told them to have a seat.
JACOB
First things first, I want to apologize for the other night. I should have never put my hands on you. For that I am sorry.
MONIQUE
Pop I want to apologize also. I didn’t mean to curse at you. I am sorry for bringing that up about Dad. I was out of line.
JACOB
So Teddy how are you?
TEDDY
I am good sir, and you?
JACOB
I am better. Especially since my little girl is talking to me again. So let’s talk about this baby.
TEDDY (shocked)
What baby?
JACOB (looking at Monique)
He don’t know.
MONIQUE
I was going to tell him today. We were sitting in the car talking when you called.
TEDDY (turning to Monique)
Are you pregnant?
MONIQUE (putting her hand on his leg)
Yeah.
TEDDY
Oh shit. Excuse me Mr. Gibson. How many months are you?
MONIQUE
Three. I just found out a few days ago.
TEDDY
That is why you had that fight with your dad. Oh my stomach hurts.
JACOB
Why does your stomach hurt?
TEDDY
My dad is going to kill me.
JACOB
You both knew what you were doing. Now is the time to start planning. Money, school, work, money, college, baby-sitters, money. I need to know your plans.
MONIQUE
Pop, well we are going to need help.
TEDDY
I need to call my dad.
MONIQUE
For?
TEDDY
I need him here. You have just dropped this on me. I am lost right now. I am about to become a father at nineteen.
JACOB
Yes you are.
Teddy pulled out his phone to call his father. He did not give him any specifics, just
that he needed to get off work and come to Stamps, ASAP.
While waiting on Teddy’s dad we ordered hamburgers, fries, and sodas. About the time that the waitress brought our food, Teddy’s dad walked in the door.
He was an attractive older man. He stood about 5’11” with a narrow face. His salt and pepper hair made him more distinguished. Teddy beckoned for him to come to the table where we sat. We exchanged handshakes as Teddy did the introductions.
MARCUS (Teddy’s father)
So what was the emergency for me to come so quickly?
Teddy and Monique looked at each other. I took another bite of my jalapeno double meat cheeseburger. Monique looked at me as if she wanted me to tell him.
TEDDY (nervously)
Well dad, you know that I love you. I would never do anything to hurt you. I have always did everything that you have asked of me…
MARCUS
When is the baby due?
MONIQUE & TEDDY
Huh!?!
MARCUS
Do you think that I am that naive? Your girlfriend has been sleeping in our guest bedroom for the last few nights, she won’t talk about why she and her dad got into a fight, and she would not answer her phone. Son I was waiting on you both to tell me.
JACOB
I will admit that I was hurt when she first told me. She is my only child. You feel me? But it’s conceived now. So like I was just asking them, what is their plan?
MARCUS
I am with you there.
TEDDY
Dad, I don’t know what to do.
MARCUS
Well you knew how to make it and prevent from making it.
MONIQUE
I am going to finish high school. I still want to go to college and major in journalism. I will just have to change my plans about where I am going to college.
JACOB
True. What about while you are in going to college? Babysitters, tuition, gas money, baby food, diapers, and all of that stuff.
MONIQUE
Pop you talk like you are not going to help me.
JACOB
I will be there for my grandbaby.
MARCUS
Same here. Teddy what are your plans – what is going on in your thick head?
TEDDY
I don’t know. I am going to finish school. I was thinking about a career in the military. Now since Osama Bin Laden is dead maybe there can be a little peace in the Middle East.
MARCUS
You still got Gadhafi.
TEDDY (turning to Monique)
Let’s get married!
JACOB
Oh hell no. What will that solve?
MONIQUE
Pop, why not?
JACOB
You know what, I am out of it. Y’all want to play house, go for it. I have a friend that is judge. You can be married by the end of the week.
MARCUS (staring Jacob down)
Are you serious?
JACOB
Yes. They can go get the blood test, apply for the license, and be married by the end of the week.
MONIQUE
Where will we stay?
TEDDY
With your dad or mine.
I could not help but laugh. Marcus gazed at me if I had lost my mind.
MARCUS
You can’t get married.
TEDDY
Why not?
MARCUS
We won’t be here long. I was thinking about moving back to Colorado.
JACOB
Are you making this decision now because of the baby, because they are talking about getting married? You can’t run away from this.
MARCUS
No, that is not it. I will support whatever decision my son wants to make.
JACOB
Well they want to get married.
MARCUS
If they decide to stay with me then she would be moving to Colorado.
JACOB
That won’t be happening.
By this time I was beginning to get a little perturbed. There was no way that I was going to let Monique move to Colorado with someone that I don’t know.
Monique expressed that she was serious about the proposal. I was not going let her make any decision this serious without really thinking about it. This was a lifelong decision that they are talking about. Bringing a new life into the equation did not simplify anything.
I told them that we need to weigh the pros and cons of this matter. There is no reason to make a hasty decision. I wanted the best for my daughter. There is nothing in this world that I would not do for her. She knew this.
The waitress bought over the check. I gave her my credit card to pay for everything. I suggested to everyone that we go to my house to really talk things out.
EIGHTEEN
I was at my office late Wednesday evening getting ready for a presentation on tomorrow. I told my assistant, Sonya, that she could leave early. I was in crunch time mode.
Sonya took some pictures of a skyline that I wanted to use as a backdrop for this particular workshop. I could not find those pictures in the office. I searched the computer for file, I checked my email. I just could not find those pictures. I was getting tense. I could not take it anymore. I finally just took some papers off of my desk and threw them in the air.
Sitting back in my chair pondering where those pictures might be when my office phone rang. To my surprise it was Joe Williams. Joe was one of my prison pen-pal.
I had not talked to him in over two years. He told me that he still had number from when he was in prison.
My mind forgot about the pictures that I was looking for. Joe told me that he was out on parole and had moved back to Mississippi. He was in the process of looking for employment.
We talked for almost two hours. I told him that I had to get off of the phone to finish my project for tomorrow. He was very understanding. I asked if he would give me a call on tomorrow evening.
As I placed the phone on the base I was smiling like a chest-cat. I never expected to hear from him once he got out of prison.
I decided to straighten the papers on my desk and call it a night. I picked up the papers from the floor that I had thrown in the air. In doing so I saw something shining from under my printer. I picked up the printer…PICTURES!!! I started to laugh. Should I stay and finish my presentation or go home? I decided to go home. I would come in early in the morning.
I thought about the letters that I had received from Joe while he was in prison. Once I got home I was going to take my shower, fix me a little something to eat and crawl in the bed to reread those letters.
NINETEEN
Jacob,
How are you doing? I know you probably wondering who I am. Well, my name is Joe. I am 26 years old about to turn 27 on 9-7. The reason for me writing you is because you say you are from Mississippi. Well that is where I was born and reared until I was 21 when I moved to Lexington, Kentucky. I lived in Yazoo City, Mississippi. Do you know where that is?
But as you know I’m locked up right now for 21 more months. I will have served eight years when I am released. I am just looking for someone I can hold a good conversation with and who knows maybe build a nice friendship.
I am a black male, 5’11”, 175 pounds, nicely built, love to workout, brown eyes, and black hair. I have one son that I love to death. I am bi-sexual but whether I’m with a man or woman, I am with that one person. I am basically saying if we build a friendship, I would love to kick it with you when I am free.
So I’m sending you this picture of me and the girl I have my son by just to show you what I look like. The only reason I am sending this picture is because this is the only one I have of me. If I don’t fit up to your standards could you please send my picture back to me. If we start to write each other I will take another picture and send to you. My dude Dalton gave me your address because he said that he was already in a relationship. He doesn’t want to get into a relationship with no one else. I can say this; you ar
e very sexy on your picture. So I thought that I would at least take a chance by writing you.
Your friend
Joe
Jacob,
What’s up with you? For me, trying to maintain and stay focus. So you are in your second year of grad school. That is real good shit. I know you are going to make a good principal when your chance comes. I must admit that I was kinda fuck up when I received your letter yesterday. I thought you had forgotten about me or I didn’t fit you standard. But I guess I was wrong about you.
To be fa’real, I wouldn’t mind being your friend. Me, myself, I am looking for a little more but I can accept what you have to offer a nigga. I see you said in your letter that you don’t have a sexuality. I’m cool with that. Who knows maybe when I get out me and you could hook up and I could show you what type of nigga I am for real.
If you ever seen me on the street, you would swear I wasn’t bi cause I’m something like a street nigga when I am out there. You said in your letter that as we keep writing there is another side to you. Well I want to try to see that other side.
You said that you have giving dick as well as taken dick. You sound like an animal in the bed. I am not a slouch. I have an eight inch penis that is four inches thick. I don’t know if you are man enough to take that from a person that has been locked up for six years. That could cause damage if use right and I never had any complaints yet. You know what they say about a Virgo. We are very good in love making.
Yes, I am 26 years old. My birthday is 9-7-80. I will be 27 next month. But this is something I must ask you. I’m saying this, if we continue to write one another for a minute and say if we happen to lose touch is there anywhere possible that I could come see you when I touch them street. I am moving back to Mississippi once I am released.
Every sense I saw your picture, it is like it did something to me. I have to get up with once I am out. I know you think something might be wrong with me but what could be wrong with a nigga that just need to see you. If anything, a nigga crazy for not wanting to fuck with you.
So to let you know I have 21 more months to go before I am free. Plus to let you know, I am doing a 18 year sentence for trafficking drugs and robbery. I have been lock down for 6 years. I had to do 43 months on 18 years but they gave me a 36 month flop. So the next time I see the parole board they are going to let me go I’m not mad at them doe cause you have to pay for what you do so that’s what I’m doing. It all comes with the life you live. You just took the right turn in life. Not saying that you’re not hip but my life was rough. I had to get it how I live and don’t anyone wants to go without. You feel me?
