by AnDerecco
I was pacing the hallway when my phone buzzed. I saw that it was Aunt Aretha calling.
JACOB
Hello.
ARETHA
Hey what are you up to?
JACOB
At the doctor with Monique and Teddy. She had an appointment today.
ARETHA
Everything ok?
JACOB
Yes ma’am. Everything is on schedule. What are you doing?
ARETHA
I came down to New Orleans to finish packing Edgar’s things. I don’t think that I am going to have that sell. I think that I am just going to give them to the Salvation Army.
JACOB
That sounds like a good idea. What made you change your mind?
ARETHA
I don’t feel like being bothered with a garage sale. Negotiating prices with people, packing this shit up and unpacking. No I will just give it away.
JACOB
Ok.
ARETHA
Papadopoulos, I got a strange call this morning. It was a deep unknown voice that told me that the fun was about to begin.
JACOB
What?
ARETHA
Yeah. I went out to a concert last night that was great. Then I went dancing with a gentleman that I met at the concert. On my way home is when I received the phone call. They knew every move that I had made.
JACOB
Did you report it?
ARETHA
To who?
JACOB
The police.
ARETHA
No.
JACOB
Ok well be careful while you are there. We had some excitement on yesterday too. Someone burst the windows out of Teddy’s car while he was at school. We don’t know who or have any idea why.
ARETHA
Probably just some stupid behind kids acting foolish.
JACOB
Yeah but I am getting them replaced this week. He was upset.
ARETHA
I know he was. . .hang on my phone beeped.
(clicking over)
Hello.
DENNIS
Mrs. Matthews, I have some great news. Your house sold.
ARETHA
Wonderful, did they pay the asking price?
DENNIS
Yes ma’am. A total of $264,300. They want to sign before Friday. Will you be available?
ARETHA
Of course honey. I am in New Orleans now. I will leave tonight. If they want to we can sign in the morning.
DENNIS
Ok. I will get my guys on the inspections and get the papers ready. I will cut you a check for $237,870. My fee will be ten percent which will come to $26,430.
ARETHA
Ok that is fine. I will see you in the morning.
(clicking back over to me)
Are you there?
JACOB
Yes.
ARETHA
That was Dennis. He told me that the house sold. We are going to close tomorrow.
JACOB
That’s good. Well Auntie I will talk to you later. Monique and Teddy just came out of the room.
ARETHA
Ok well you all be careful.
JACOB
You too.
THIRTY-FIVE
After leaving the doctor’s office Teddy decided that he would cook lunch for us. Monique said that she had the taste for some fried catfish, mashed potatoes, green beans, macaroni and cheese with banana pudding. Teddy wasn’t surprised by the request. He wasn’t a hen-pecked man but he wanted to keep her happy.
Driving to the house my phone began to ring again. It was the security company telling me the alarm was going off. I directed them to dispatch the police and that I would be home in less than twenty minutes.
My mind began to race about who may be in my house. I sped down the highway towards home.
TEDDY
What’s wrong?
JACOB
Someone has broken into the house.
MONIQUE
What is really going on?
JACOB
I wish I knew.
I didn’t tell them about the conversation that Aunt Aretha and I had. I didn’t want to upset Monique.
Upon arriving at the house, there were three police cars. I parked on the side of the street. We all raced out of the car towards the house. An officer stopped us and asked for identification. I told him that we lived here as I showed him my ID.
He escorted us into the house. The glass door on the patio had been broken out. As we walked around we noticed that they turned the couch over, broke the dishes, the bedrooms had been ram-shacked. Monique fell to the floor and started to cry. I told Teddy to take her outside.
I spoke with the police officer about fingerprints. The officer instructed me to make a list of the things that were missing.
I could not fathom why these things were happening. Who is behind this?
I called Dennis to explain to him what just happened. He said that he was on his way back from Waynesboro and that he would stop by.
After the police left Teddy and Monique came back into the house. Monique just looked around confused. She went to her room to see if anything of the baby was taken. Luckily all was there.
I looked around and saw that nothing was missing. Everything was just destroyed.
TEDDY
Pop are you ok?
JACOB
Yeah I am good. I am glad that my family was not touched. Material things can be replaced. But the funny thing is they didn’t take anything.
TEDDY
Then why would someone do this.
JACOB
Your guess is as good as mine. I think that I am going to have some security cameras installed.
TEDDY
That’s a good idea.
JACOB
Walk with me. Let’s look around the house for anything.
As we were looking for anything that was out of the ordinary we heard Monique scream. We both ran to the house to see what was wrong. Monique found two snakes in the bed. Teddy grabbed them both behind the head and carried them outside. I asked her what happened.
MONIQUE
I was laying down on the bed and I felt something moving. I looked and didn’t see anything so I pulled the covers back. There they were. Pop who is this?
JACOB (grabbing her and holding her)
Baby I don’t know.
TEDDY
I killed them. When I find out who is causing all of this I am going to kill them.
JACOB
Don’t talk like that.
__________________
Later that night, Dennis showed up at the house. I explain to him again everything that was going on. I told him about Aunt Aretha’s experience in New Orleans.
DENNIS
I spoke with her earlier today. She didn’t mention anything about it.
JACOB
Maybe she didn’t want you to worry.
DENNIS
Yeah maybe so. She will be back in the morning. We got the house sold.
JACOB
Good. Good. That will be one less thing to worry about.
DENNIS
Are you going to be ok tonight? You know you are more than welcome to stay at my place.
JACOB
I think we will be ok.
DENNIS
Well I don’t. Pack you a bag.
I looked at him at how he was taking control of things. I told Teddy and Monique to get a few things – we were staying at Dennis’ tonight.
THIRTY-SIX
Settling in at Dennis house was very interesting. He told Monique and Teddy to sleep in the guest room upstairs across from his room. I was to take the bedroom downstairs. We were ok with the arrangements. I sat on the bed to gather my thoughts about what would I do tomorrow.
As I was thinking, Dennis came in the room and set beside me. He handed me a cocktail of Cognac and coke.
DENNIS
I felt you m
ight need this.
JACOB
Thanks.
I downed it in three gulps.
DENNIS
Damn. Do you want another one?
JACOB
Well if you don’t mind.
DENNIS
You are going to sleep well tonight.
JACOB
I plan on it.
Dennis told me to come with him to fix my refresher. He explained to me where everything in the house was. I made it a point to tell him that we would only be staying one night. He said that it was ok. He just wanted us to get a good night’s rest from the day’s event.
MONIQUE
Pop I am hungry.
JACOB
Damn we didn’t eat. With all that has happened today I forgot.
DENNIS
I will run out to get something. What do you want?
MONIQUE
It doesn’t matter. Just something.
DENNIS
Jacob, anything special you want?
JACOB
Anything is fine.
Dennis grabbed his keys and walked out of the door. I looked across to Monique. All I could think about was the baby. I didn’t want anything to stress her out right now.
MONIQUE
Pop why are you staring at me?
JACOB
I was just thinking about when I used to hold you as a baby. Ellis and I would take you to the park. You would have so much fun. You used to give him the blues, yet he loved it.
MONIQUE
I feel that I loved him too. I have only one memory of me and Dad. That was at the zoo. We were looking at the gorillas. I think there were two in the cage. He went over to make faces at me. One of the gorillas came up behind him and hit that glass so hard that Dad screamed – loud. I can still remember that. It was some man with us too.
JACOB
A man? Do you remember what he looked like?
MONIQUE
Not really. I remember him being tall, light-skin, slim guy.
JACOB
XAVIER?
MONIQUE
I don’t remember his name.
JACOB
I don’t know.
As we were talking, Teddy came downstairs from his shower. Monique said that she was about to take hers. She gave me a kiss on the jaw and then Teddy.
TEDDY (watching Monique go up the stairs)
I love that girl. She is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Now she is giving me a new gift.
JACOB
I know that feeling of becoming a new dad. Look, if anything ever happen to me I want you to take care of her.
TEDDY
Pop don’t talk like that.
JACOB
I am serious.
My phone starts to vibrate on the counter.
JACOB
Hello.
VOICE ON THE PHONE
You can run but you can’t hide. You sent your boy to go get something to eat. He might not make it back.
Then there was silence on the phone. I ease the phone down.
TEDDY
Who was that?
JACOB
Someone is really playing games. They know that we are here. Whatever you do – don’t tell Monique this call came through. I got to call Dennis.
As I was about to hit Dennis picture he came walking into the house. I was so happy to see him.
JACOB
Dude, thank God you are safe. I got another phone call.
DENNIS
And?
JACOB
They know we are here. They knew you went to get something to eat and said that you might not come back.
DENNIS
Are you serious?
JACOB
Yes.
It wasn’t long before Monique came out of the shower. I quickly changed the subject.
THIRTY-SEVEN
Early the next morning Dennis and Aretha was at his law office. His secretary brought in some coffee and lady fingers. Aretha looked over the final paper work on the house.
Aretha pulled out her phone to call Mattie to see if she would be available later that afternoon. Mattie did not answer her phone. She left a voicemail telling her to call her back.
There was a buzz on Dennis intercom.
DENNIS
Yes.
SECRETARY
Mr. Joseph Taylor is here.
DENNIS
Ok Thanks. (Looking at Aretha) Your buyer is here.
ARETHA
Great.
Dennis went to the door to meet the buyer.
DENNIS (shaking his hand)
Mr. Taylor, do come in.
JOSEPH
Thank you. How are you?
DENNIS
I am fine. This is Mrs. Aretha Matthews. She is the seller of the property.
Aretha stands to shake his hand. Dennis told him to have a seat beside Aretha. He began to pull out the papers for them to sign. After almost fifteen minutes of signing papers Joseph hands Dennis a certified check. Dennis in-turns hand him the keys to the house. Dennis told Joseph to make sure that he put insurance on the house since he did not finance the house. Aretha’s insurance would be canceled after today.
Dennis escorted Joseph out of his office. Aretha ran over to him and gave him a big hug. She told Dennis that she would take him out to lunch.
_______________
Aretha was enjoying her lunch date with Dennis. She asked him about his last relationship. Dennis told her about the relationship he had during his college days. He thought that they would be together forever. He explained to her that he had someone in mind but was not sure if the feeling were mutual. Aretha told him that she thought that maybe he should ask me out. Dennis grinned as he wiped his mouth.
ARETHA
What’s funny?
DENNIS
Nothing.
ARETHA
Oh I get it. You were talking about Jacob. Well ask him. I think that you two would be perfect. You both are great looking men, intelligent, moderately wealthy. Go for it.
DENNIS
I might. You never know. Can you excuse me, I have to go to the restroom.
Dennis left Aretha at the table. She was about to crack into a Cajun Crab Leg when her phone rang.
ARETHA
Heifer I called you earlier. I was going to take you out to lunch.
MATTIE
I don’t know how to tell you this but I just passed by Edgar’s house. Girl it is in flames.
ARETHA (with excitement)
What?! Totally?
MATTIE
Yes, it is gone.
ARETHA
Well I just be damn. I am on my way over there.
MATTIE
I will meet you there.
Dennis came walking from the restroom. He saw Aretha putting the phone down on the table.
ARETHA
We have to go. Edgar’s house is on fire.
DENNIS
You are joking right?
ARETHA
I wished I was.
Aretha beckon for the waiter to come over so that she could pay the check. She gave him cash so that she would not have to wait on the receipt. They hurriedly walked out of the door and to the car.
Aretha burnt rubber leaving the parking lot.
____________________
JACOB
Hello.
JOE
How are you?
JACOB
Who is this?
JOE
I tell you, you give someone some of the best dick in their life and they soon forget you.
JACOB
Well the best dick that I have had so far is no longer on this Earth.
JOE
That ass is good enough to kill a man. This is Joe – your pen pal.
JACOB (sourly)
Oh sup.
JOE
You act like you don’t want to hear from me.
JACOB
Man you drugged me.
&n
bsp; JOE
I didn’t drug you. I told you what was in the drink. You could have put it down.
JACOB
You told me after I took several sips.
JOE
But you have fun right?
JACOB
I don’t remember what I did.
JOE
Well you put on a show for us, you gave some bomb ass head and some tight ass.
JACOB
That’s messed up dude. You have to drug people to have sex with them.
JOE
Let’s get off that. I will be in Meridian next week. I want to see you.
JACOB
I don’t know. Next week is a busy one for me.
JOE
You can’t make time for me or you don’t want to make time for me?
JACOB
The latter.
JOE
Oh ok, it’s like that. Well you will see me. I will make sure of that. I will come up to you and show you this dick print. You will find time.
JACOB
Joe, I have enjoyed this conversation but I have got to go. I was in the middle of preparing a … how did you get my cell number?
JOE
Manny gave it to me. He saw us go into the room together and he figured we were friends. So he gave it to me when I told him I lost it.
JACOB
Ok. Thanks. Well you have a great afternoon.
JOE
I am not finished.
JACOB
I have a big conference coming up and I need to prepare.
JOE
Ok. I understand. Can I call you later?
JACOB
Yeah sure.
JOE
Ok you can count on it. I will be looking forward to talking to you.
JACOB
Yeah same here.
As soon as I pressed “end” on my phone I called my cellular server to change my number.
THIRTY-EIGHT
Ian and Jeremy were getting fitted for their tuxedos. As the older gentleman was sizing them he asked about the upcoming prom. Ian told him that he wasn’t going to the prom.
