by AnDerecco
SALEMAN
Well what’s the occasion?
IAN
I am getting married.
SALEMAN
How old are you son?
IAN
Eighteen.
SALEMAN
Wow, that’s a little young isn’t it?
IAN
I don’t think so. I am very mature for my age. I know that I am making the right choice.
SALEMAN
Well this must be your best man?
IAN
You can say that…that’s my fiancé.
The salesman rose up and looked at them both.
SALEMAN
Can I be real with you for a minute?
IAN
I guess so.
SALEMAN
I don’t service punks in my shop. Get your stuff and go.
This surprised Jeremy and Ian. Jeremy was ready to fight the salesman. Ian stepped down from the stool snatching off the pants and the coat. The salesman started to laugh hard.
JEREMY
What the hell are you laughing at? You are about to get your teeth knocked out.
SALEMAN
I am laughing at you two. My name is Sam. I have been married to my husband for seventeen years.
IAN
Yeah right. You thought about the money for these suits.
Sam pulls out his wallet to show them a picture of him and his husband at Disney World.
JEREMY
Why did you do that to us?
SAM
Are you ready to encounter attitudes like that?
Jeremy and Ian looked at each other.
SAM
Let me tell you something young bucks. The world is changing but there still is prejudice out there. It is not always about race. There is gender, cultural, education, class, sexuality. You name it, it is out there. Sometimes your own family will say that they are happy for you and then talk about you like a dog behind your back. Some people will be jealous of your relationship. Do anything to break you apart. Trust me temptations are out there too. But if you really love each other, I mean truly love each other, you will look but don’t touch. Be careful with who you flirt with. Tom is always waiting, Dick is always ready, and Harry may cut you. Are you ready for all of that?
IAN
I am.
JEREMY
Me too.
SAM
What are your plans for after high school?
JEREMY
I am going into the military and he is going to college.
SAM
Ok you have a plan. What if you have to go overseas or out of state?
JEREMY
We have talked about all of that. I feel that we can be faithful.
SAM
Well Obama repealed “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” but young bucks be careful. I am telling you what I know not what I have heard.
Sam sized both Jeremy and Ian while he was talking. He enjoyed giving sermons to young family members.
SAM
I tell you what, I will charge you for one suit and let you have the other one for free. I like doing things for family. Plus I feel you two really love each other. I think you will make it. But remember to be honest with each other. Even if you think that it may hurt the other – be honest. Communicate – talk things out. Don’t go to bed upset. Don’t ever take that stuff to sleep with you. Be faithful and trust each other.
JEREMY (laughing)
I feel like we have gotten married already.
SAM
You may have you never know. Marriage is not a piece of paper.
IAN
Well Mr. Sam we appreciate the lecture and the suit discount. We will be coming back.
SAM
Well you both come back. Even if it’s just to talk, I will be here. You two have a good afternoon.
JEREMY
Thank you Mr. Sam
After walking out the door towards the car.
IAN
Are you ready?
JEREMY
I would not have proposed if I wasn’t. Question is, are you ready?
IAN
More than you know.
THIRTY-NINE
Aretha, Dennis and I were decorating the house for a multi-purpose party. We decided since Monique, Teddy, Ian, and Jeremy was such good friends we would give them a party together. A fabulous baby/wedding shower.
I could not get in touch with Jeremy’s mother, Nicole. I left her a message telling her about the event.
We sent the kids to the movies thinking that would buy us enough time to get everything together. It wasn’t forty-five minutes later when the boys came crashing in the house. There was freight on their face. Teddy was completely out of breath. Ian and Jeremy were both yelling at the same time.
JACOB
Fellows calm down. Where is Monique?
IAN (crying)
Someone grabbed her.
ARETHA
What?! What happened?
JEREMY
We got our tickets for the movies and were in line for some snacks. Monique said that she was going to the car to get something. She never came back. Teddy went out to the car check on her and found a note that said if we wanted to see her again to come to Hattiesburg with the deed to the condo in New Orleans, $250,000, and something about a contract to a TV station.
ARETHA
What contract to a TV station?
JACOB
I know what that is. Ellis’ mother left him a TV station in Arizona when she died. I own it now.
My phone vibrates on my hip.
VOICE ON THE PHONE
I guess you have received the news by now. Bring me everything I want or you will lose something that money can’t replace.
JACOB
Who is this?
VOICE ON THE PHONE
That’s not important. I want what you and your aunt stole from me.
There was silence on the phone. I was about to throw my phone across the room until Dennis grabbed my arm.
DENNIS
What did they say?
JACOB
For us to bring him what he wants or I will lose something valuable to me. He wants everything me and my aunt stole from him.
ARETHA
What did anyone steal?
JACOB
Come on we have got to go. We can talk in the truck.
ARETHA
How can people be so evil?
The drive from Meridian to Hattiesburg felt like an eternity. Once we got there I asked Teddy for the paper with the directions on it.
IAN
Shouldn’t we call the police?
JEREMY
That would be a terrible mistake. If they see the police there is not telling what they would do.
ARETHA
Both of you are right. I just want everything to be ok. I pray that they haven’t hurt Monique or the baby.
I drove around looking for a warehouse off of Highway 49 behind the old JarHead building. This was unfamiliar territory for me. I had not been to Hattiesburg in such a long time.
This time Aretha’s phone rang.
ARETHA
Hello
VOICE ON THE PHONE
Pull up to the building and get out. Only you and Jacob get out. Everyone else is to stay in the car. No funny business.
Again the silence.
DENNIS
This has to be someone that both of you know in order for them to call Jacob’s phone and now yours.
ARETHA
Yes I figured that out. But he only wants me and Jacob to get out. He said to drive up to the building. You guys stay in.
I drove up with ease. Aunt Aretha got out first. I followed her. A voice called out for us to come up the stairs. It was dark with a glimmer of light coming from the street lights. The spring air was feeling my nose with a fragrance of oil and old boxes.
Aunt Aretha and I walked with ease hand in hand. She was squeezing my hand tighter and tighter with ea
ch step. Suddenly there stood a person in front of us. I squint my eyes to make out the face. It was Monique.
JACOB (calling out)
Monique. Baby.
MONIQUE (crying)
Pop.
ARETHA
Honey are you ok?
THE VOICE
She is fine. Did you bring everything I asked?
ARETHA
We did. Now let’s do the exchange.
Suddenly there was a force in my back.
THE 2nd VOICE
Don’t turn around.
THE VOICE
Did you honestly think that I would meet you alone? Aretha you should know me better than that.
ARETHA
Mattie?
Mattie walked out holding Monique by the neck and a gun pointing at her.
ARETHA
How could you do this? Why?
MATTIE
Come on Aretha. You just knew you had the life. You took Edgar from me.
ARETHA
How in the hell did I take Edgar from you? Edgar and I have been married for years.
MATTIE
I am the woman he was having an affair with. We picked out that condo together.
ARETHA
I thought it was Avis.
Avis walks in from the right side with a gun also.
AVIS
You took my father away from me. You took what was supposed to be mine.
JACOB
Your father?
MATTIE
Yes. Edgar’s and my child. The first time that he and Aretha split I was the one that consoled him. We were building a life together until she called him back.
ARETHA
I knew something was going on. Especially when I found those pictures of you and Edgar. How could you betray me?
MATTIE
I didn’t betray you. Edgar was a good man. Someone that I feel in love with. I had to stay around you to see what he was doing.
ARETHA
You dirty little bitch.
THE 2nd VOICE
I wouldn’t do that if I were you or good ass gets it.
JACOB
Joe?
JOE
In the flesh. I told you I would see you again.
MATTIE
Meet my son.
JACOB
What in the hell is all of this?
MATTIE
Well Joe is my oldest child. He was locked up for a few years. It was just great that you two started to communicate years ago. Now I want you to give him the deeds and the money.
Aretha passed him the envelope with the deeds in it and a check. Joe took a flashlight from his pocket to make sure everything was there.
JOE
It’s all here.
Mattie pushed Monique towards Jacob. Monique tripped over a pipe that was sticking out of the floor. She fell down to the floor. I ran over to help her. It hurt my heart to see her fall the way she did.
Suddenly there were several gun shots. Aretha fell down to the ground. I tried to cover Monique with my body. The firing finally stop.
TEDDY
Pop!!
JACOB
Teddy is that you?
TEDDY
Yeah.
Teddy raced over to where we were. I turned Monique over to see if she was ok. She looked up at me and smile.
JACOB
Baby are you ok?
MONIQUE
Yeah I am good.
JACOB
Auntie?
ARETHA
I’m good. I think I sprung my ankle.
TEDDY (checking on Aretha)
Do you have any other pains?
ARETHA
No I am good.
Aretha stood up and brushed herself off. She spotted Mattie crawling towards the envelope. Aretha quickly hobbled over and kicked Mattie in the mouth. Mattie did a semi-somersault. Aretha picked up the envelope and stuck it in her pocket.
DENNIS
Over here officers!
Dennis ran over to me and Monique.
DENNIS
Is she ok?
JACOB
I think that we should go to the hospital.
The police dispatched for an ambulance. They took their flashlights to look around. Joe and Avis laid on the floor – DEAD. Teddy shot them when he came. I remembered that he said that he was going to kill whomever was causing this. The police put handcuffs on Mattie and took her to the patrol car.
FORTY
This was a big night. Monique, Teddy, Ian, and Jeremy graduated from high school and this was also Ian and Jeremy third month wedding anniversary. Aunt Aretha invited her friend Tony from New Orleans to celebrate with us. Dennis and I was trying to establish a new relationship.
We all were gathered at my house for a small celebration. It was very intimate. Just family and close friends. We all were sadden that Monique lost the baby from the fall that night in Hattiesburg. But as the old saying goes, “Everything happens for a reason.”
JEREMY
I have an announcement to make. Next Friday I will be leaving going to basic training for eight weeks. I will need you all to take care of my boy here. Watch out for him and keep him sane.
TEDDY
Well since you are making an announcement I guess I will make my speech. When I first moved here with my dad I did not know that my life would be like this in a year. I met my wife. I have a wonderful father-in-law and aunt. Two new friends that I love dearly. Hopefully a new father-in-law soon. (Everyone starts laughing looking at Dennis) Of course I miss my dad but we talk on the regular. I will be starting classes at Alcorn State in the fall.
JACOB
YES!!!
ARETHA
Monique do you have something to say.
MONIQUE
Well I do. This year has been wild. I met a man that I love with all my heart, besides my Pop. Unfortunately I lost my baby but I know that he is with my mom and Daddy Ellis. They are watching over her. But I too will be at Alcorn in the fall.
ARETHA
I am happy that the drama is over. I met someone that share the same likes as me. We will take it one day at a time.
JACOB
I am glad that we are all together. I have really enjoyed this evening. But Dennis and I are about to leave you all for tonight. We are going to bed.
ARETHA
Do your thing then!
Dennis and I were in the bedroom with just the lamps on. I told him that I really enjoy this evening. He came over with a hug and he kissed me passionately.
My mouth dropped when he took off his clothes and stood before me butt ass naked. I had seen Dennis naked before but tonight was a little special. The word “damn” slipped out of my mouth. He must have heard me because he cracked the most innocent of smiles and quietly said, “You like this shit?” Watching Dennis stroke his already hard, pre-cum oozing dick I was melting inside. Sucking on his finger he just looked at me, squeezing his nipples he let out loud grunts as his pace quickened. He stopped stroking his dick, threw me on the bed and fell on top of me. I knew what was about to happened next.
Suddenly the lights went out and there was a very loud explosion.
VOICES
AAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH NNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
