"Sho' nuff, sho' nuff! Hol' your hand back here." Mundo invited.
Grinning, Shawn put his hand back over his shoulder for him. Mundo - with much satisfaction, slapped a stack onto his palm, with a resounding, "Boo-yowl! That's what I'm talkin' 'bout! $1500.00! Count it out, papa-Shawn!" He sat back, with a fat grin.
Shawn made a big to-do about counting up the money. "That's my boy! Look'ah dare, look'ah dare! I'll be damn! Son - you've done well!"
"That's right! Now, who dah man?! Who dah man?"
"You dah man sho' nuff - sho' nuff!" Shawn said, pretty much the way he remembered Jesse speak and gesture, making Mundo and Jake laugh. "In fact - now that you've laid this one on me, we going to Menard's, get this deck ordered to be delivered, and from there - find you your own wheels! Got the down payment right here." Shawn announced.
"Naaaw, now papa-Shawn! That's yours man! Money I wanted to pay you back, for my equipment!" Mundo protested.
"Look Mundo, you need wheels. If you made this amount of money in two nights working, I can just imagine what's to come down the road, when you finish school. For right now, you need a vehicle. That's, that." And so it was. They went, and ordered the deck kit. Then spent the next two hours after that, searching from one car lot to the next, for a used vehicle for Mundo. They finally found something that he flipped over. A '95 Chevy Blazer LT, purple, and clean as could be.
When the salesperson saw them looking at it, he didn't hesitate, was right there on the scene. "Good afternoon, gentlemen. Let's not waste anytime! This baby here, mint! One owner, cradled and cared for every mile of the way."
"How many miles?" Shawn asked.
"85,000 - one owner. Woman bought it special-ordered for her son when he graduated. A few years later, he took off to Europe, parking it in the garage where it sat, until he finally told her he would be living there. He met some chick there. She sold it to us, after she couldn't sell it from her curb. Like I said, one owner."
"It's almost ten years old! How long did it sit in the garage?
"A few years." The man answered.
"More than a few; even so, $6,000.00 is a bit much, don't you think?" Shawn asked.
"Fully loaded?! Look inside, at that interior - clean as the day she was rolled off the original lot! Black leather interior, and we're talking power to the max."
Shawn looked from the salesmen to Mundo. "Wanna take it for a test drive?"
"Yes, please!" Mundo answered, right away.
Shawn looked back at the dealer. "We'll give it a test drive, but we're not paying $6K for it, regardless of what my son thinks. If it checks all of the boxes, I know you can give us a better deal, if we pay for it outright. Think about that, while we're gone."
They left the truck behind and took the blazer out, with Mundo driving at first. He was so excited, he couldn't sit still. "Ah, papa-Shawn - come on, man - I want this! Oh, this baby is sweet!" Mundo praised it as he drove.
"Never mind that. Head out to that road that takes us out of Lacrosse with that steep climb. When we get to it, I want you to gun it, and see how it takes that immediate 1 in 3 incline. I mean, gun it!" Shawn instructed.
"Ah, man papa-Shawn I don't wanna hurt it." Mundo whined.
"That's okay, pull your ass over. I'll do it - pull over." Shawn ordered. Jake started laughing, "Mundo, he's gonna kill this thing before you get it."
Mundo's bottom lip was rolled out and under, as he pulled over and let Shawn take the wheel. Once he was in place, with Mundo moved to the passenger side, and Jake in the back, he instructed, "While I'm driving, you turn everything on. Turn the air on, the radio - everything. Main thing, the air! Get it on." This order, as he pointed the Blazer towards the road perfectly made for testing the power and strength in a vehicle. Mundo reached over and switched everything on, as he was told. When they reached the road with the incline in sight, Shawn gunned it. Forcing it to do 65mph, right before they reached the base of the 2 mile steep climb, the Blazer shot forward, the transmission engaged and it took the hill switching gears to increase the power and speed with no problem; this with the air conditioner going.
"YEAH BABY!!! That's what I'm talkin' about! WHOOOOOO!" Mundo yelled, as it flew up the hill. Midway up, Shawn gave it more gas and it speeded up in the climb, hitting speeds of 75mph and climbing. Mundo was so excited, he pumped the air with his fist, as it took what Shawn gave it and then some. The Blazer made it to the top of the road that curved off and dipped, and it hung on, flying. Shawn gave it the nod of approval, slowing it down from reaching 95mph. No shaking front-end, no tapping on the motor, no smoking from the exhaust, transmission quiet as a dream. "Let's go back and deal!" He announced, making Mundo laugh out loud, so excited he was dancing in his seat.
"Remember, when you buy used, take it on a hill to test drive it, never on a straight road. Gun the shit out of it! If it can take a climb like that without smoking, knocking, hesitating and stalling, and continues to accelerate, its worth considering - get it!" Shawn leaned toward Mundo, tapping on the dash where the gauges are. "See that, that's your temperature gauge. Keep your eyes on that, to see if your gunning and pushing the motor causes it to overheat; this one only a bit, which is normal."
Mundo nodded, paying close attention as Shawn went on, "Another thing, you have to take it up to, at the very least, 95mph - if that front ends not right, it'll be shaking all over the place. You remember that - understand? When we return, we'll check under the hood, look for signs of previous oil burning and to hear the motor with the hood up, after that drive." Shawn furthered, as he leaned comfortably, driving it back as he gave Mundo his first lesson in used car buying.
"You dah man papa-Shawn - you dah man!"
"When we get back to the dealer, I'll do all the talking... understand?"
"I ain't saying shit! Nothin'!" Mundo swore.
Jake sighed, watching his older brother... while he loved him, there was that nagging bit of jealousy rearing its ugly head again. He fought it back, prepared to carry on, watching his brother in action with Mundo.
Back at the dealer.
"$3,500.00!!! No, no, no, no, no! I can't let it go for that." The dealer shook his head.
"Look - first of all - you should have gone on the test drive with us! Not my fault there's only two of you on the lot! Had you done so, you would have noticed something about this vehicle. As it is, when we take it off the lot, its going to need a tune up right away-..."
"We'll do that here-..."
"Sorry - I'm taking it to our mechanic - so I know what's done to it. My son's going to be driving that! It needs a front-end alignment - goddamn thing was all over the road! It's over 10 years old-..."
"Not quite!"
"...-close enough! Sitting in the garage all that time has caused more damage to the transmission than good! That too, will have to be seen to. We'll have to take it in, and have it put on the sun machine - have a complete diagnostic run on it - that will cost! Doesn't matter how clean it looks, its how dependable it is on the road, and how many miles are left before it needs an engine or transmission! I foresee having to put some money into it, and the only way I will is for you to come down some on that price! The only reason we're even talking, is because he wants it! What's it gonna be? You gonna make an immediate cash sale today, or not?"
"$4,000.00 I can't go any lower!"
"Deal!"
The three sat in Culver's restaurant eating. Mundo sat next to the window, right in front of where his new Blazer was parked. Ever since getting it, Shawn and Jake could see, and count, every one of his white teeth. He was acting silly, flirting with every other young girl they passed. Calling them from his Blazer window as he drove by, "Hey fine and tenda'! Pretty, young thang! Gimme' that number girl - lemme swing on by yo' crib - talk to yah a lil' bit!" Shawn sat next to him, laughing as they followed Jake to Culvers. Mundo was tickled, animated, and now it was his treat to feed them, stating, "It's the least that I can do, is feed you two nice young gentlemen." His infectious an
tics kept a smile on the brother's faces, as they entered the restaurant to fill their growling stomachs.
As they sat eating, Shawn listed all the things Mundo had to do first, like full coverage insurance. He also insisted they take it in for diagnostic testing, he had meant that at the lot, having the full run on it to see what it might need. He also expected Mundo to give it an immediate oil change, tune-up and the trani serviced. Because Mundo had nowhere near the amount of money needed to do all of that, Shawn knew he'd been dead on at the dealership - it was going to cost a bit more to assure that the blazer was running at its optimum. Which, he also explained to Mundo.
"I want that vehicle taken care of, you hear me? Oil changes on time, fluids checked and kept up with. The tires look okay, you have a bit of time on them."
"I hear you papa-Shawn, I'mo keep it straight. Now, the thing is, what we gone do about mama when we get home? 'Cause I'm tellin' you now, she gone clown!"
Shawn sat back and covered his eyes, rubbing them and then interlaced his hands on top of his head. "You just had to remind me, didn't you?"
Again, Jake smiled and observed, taking it all in.
"I'm trying to keep it real for you; papa-Shawn... she gone be trippin'! See the color of that blazer? When she find out you paid cash for it, that's the color she gone be. I love you and ever'thang - but 'uh - I'on know papa-Shawn - you ever hear the saying, 'Shit gone hit the fan?!'"
"Oh, hell. Look, this is what we're gonna say. You earned that money from the two nights work you did at the club - which is the truth. Because you need a vehicle, I took you around and we found that Blazer, you made your down payment, I co-signed - but you have your monthly to pay it off."
"She still gonna trip! You know what she gone say!" Mundo went into mimicking his mother, copying her high voice, "He ain't gone pay for that Blazer! We gone end up footing that bill - you just wait and see!" - "I'm telling you now, that's what she gone say!"
"Well, I can handle that a bit more, than how she'd go off if she knew I paid outright for it."
"Aye papa-Shawn - I'm gone make that note to you, man - how much?"
"Look - let's get everything else done on it first, then see how much it's going to cost you in gas and insurance, then we'll see what's left to pay on the monthly note."
Jake shook his head. "Just tell her you paid cash for it."
"Fuck you, Jake!" Shawn blasted him, making him bark out in laughter.
"You're scared of her! Aren't you! Admit it!" Jake teased.
Mundo was shaking his head, "Leave it alone now, Uncle Jake! Shit! Hell nah! You 'on know my mama, how she can get going man! Don't do no crazy shit like that when I'm there papa-Shawn! If you tell her that, tell me first! Let a brother know - give me some time to get on out the way! Don't have me walkin' up into that man! See, Uncle Jake - you wrong man! You wanna see some shit happen - don't you!? Yo' scandulous ass! You got somewhere to go! Where we gone go?! Cause I'm tellin' you now, mama find out about you paying for that Blazer - its gone take Oprah Winfrey, to calm her ass down."
Jake sat laughing, as Shawn sat groaning. "Shit."
"That's right papa-Shawn, ain't gone be no end to the shit she gone be talkin'! We'ah do it your way."
"I cannot believe my ears! My big, bad - knock the shit out of everybody brother, scared of his wife."
"Forget you, Jake! She just came home! It's not that I'm scared, I just wanna keep the peace. Between Benjamin, the new house, money-..."
"What about Benjamin?" Jake stopped him, asking.
"Aye, papa-Shawn, lemme' run over there to Shop-Ko right quick, get some stuff for my ride while ya'll chit-chatting. I won't be long." Mundo asked, before they got going on Jake's question. Mundo had one thing on his mind, decking out his ride with accessories. They were in the mini strip mall of Shop-Ko, so all he had to do was run over on foot to shop for what he wanted.
"Yeah, go on. You got enough?" Shawn asked.
Mundo reached in his pocket and pulled out all he had left, that was $15.00, with a cheesy grin - the expression on his face said it all. Shawn pulled his wallet from his back pocket, and peeled off two fifties from the stack he'd given him earlier and passed it to him. Happy and smiling, Mundo made his way out to trot across the parking lot to the store.
Turning back to his brother, who was sitting across from him, Jake repeated. "So, what is this about Benjamin now?"
Shawn chuckled. "She's got this ridiculous notion that Benjamin - get this - is my son." He smiled, shaking his head and took a sip from his ice tea.
With pursed lips, Jake slowly nodded his head back and forth, as if to say, 'I see.' stating as he too sipped from his tea, "Women, can't get much by them, keen creatures that they are."
Shawn sat back in the booth and stared across the table at his brother. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Just that - women are keen. Perceptive. Instinctive - you know - observant."
"I see. So, uh - how does that translate into what she believes about Benjamin?"
"Big brother, trust me - it's not an issue. I was simply commenting on how well they spot things, and try to decipher them."
"Yeah, but you said, women are keen. Instinctive, observant on the tail of me mentioning Benjamin - and her pressing me about him being mine. Why aren't you laughing that off? Why doesn't it sound ridiculous to you?"
"Because, he just might be... well, biologically anyway. There's always that possibility - considering we both slept with his mother. No matter - regardless if it was your sperm or mine, fact is - he's my son. Has been from the moment I had to claim him. I for one, am glad that I did, he's made me nothing but proud." Jake smiled, taking another sip from his tea. Something in him derived a bit of pleasure out of throwing that before his brother. While he had enjoyed being with him and Mundo, he couldn't fight down that touch of jealousy when it came to Shawn. Still, to that day, it irked him a bit that Shawn could just pull money from his pockets to spoil Mundo, Crystal and Sylvia with it. Indulging his family and being their hero, ever dependable, wealthy and free to help all those who needed it. Including himself. He hated the fact that his son, Benjamin, had had to loan him money to make the purchase he had wanted for Vivian. Everything in his life, for all of his life, he'd had to work his ass off for. Which, included a child that was his brother's. Now, his brother had returned, swooping in and being the hero to everyone, again - including himself. Now that he no longer had a home of his own, or transportation. Well, he now owned Shawn's truck, and yes he had wanted it because it was part of Shawn. Jake wondered would he forever be in this love/hate tug of war with his feelings for his older sibling? Because of his screwed up life, he now was dependent upon Shawn. Having to work to pay him for the truck. It seemed that everything his brother touched, turned to gold. Somehow, he always had money coming to him - along with the good life. Therefore, impulsive as he was, Jake couldn't resist dangling something before Shawn that he didn't have, couldn't buy - Benjamin. Jake knew Benjamin to the extent, that he would always be loyal to him. Even if he wasn't, didn't matter - because come hell or high water, Benjamin was his. His name was on his birth certificate - Jacob Patrick McPherson.
"Are you sitting here telling me, that Benjamin is my son?"
"No... that's not what I'm saying at all. Everyone knows, that he's mine. I simply am not foolish enough to laugh off Sylvia's suspicion. She may, or may-not be right - you know, about the biological aspects of it. Who knows?"
"Don't you know?"
"Of course I do - I repeat, he's my son. He's a McPherson - no ifs, ands, or buts about it. He's a McPherson, because on his birth certificate, he bares my name." Jake stared right into Shawn's eyes, announcing that fact. At that moment, his mobile phone started ringing. He reached into his top pocket, pulling it free and clicked it on. "Hello?"
Shawn sat across from his brother, with his mind in a whirl. He wasn't sure what he was feeling at that particular moment, but certainly one thing was clear, Benjamin's face now appeared before h
im in his mind's eye. Next, Christine and the few times they'd made love.
Automatically, he recalled way back, when they'd been parked at a Big Boy's drive-up hamburger joint, he and Christine. One of the guys, in a group of five loitering down from them, had called out, "Shawn's turn tonight - huh Christine?! When you get done with the McPherson's, can we get our turn too!"
Quick-tempered and needing any excuse to fight, Shawn had gotten out of his Chevy Nova, ignoring Christine's pleading him to get back in and ignore them. Only to have it thrown into his face that his little brother had screwed his girl - again! Following that humiliating taunt - he'd driven with Christine sobbing, trying to lie her way out of the truth. He'd driven her home, stopped the car, gotten out, walked around to her door, opened it and without a word to her - waited for her to get out of his car. Once she had, he'd closed the door, walked back around to the driver's side, gotten in, and peeled off, burning rubber - never looking back.
Two days later - he was gone.
Jake was rising from the booth capturing, his attention.
"That was Kathy Ann. Look - I'll catch you guys later; I'm going to swing by her place. See you later." He announced, about to leave the restaurant, knowing that Shawn need only walk over to Shop-Ko to find Mundo.
"Hey - you're leaving just like that? What about the discussion we were having?"
"Look, Shawn. You have a wife, kids, and another on the way. Your life's full, okay. Leave it alone."
Shawn stood, "Just like that - leave it alone!? You're gonna drop a bomb like that on me - and then just walk away, and expect me to - leave it alone?!"
Jake leaned close into his older brother's face and enunciated clearly, "Benjamin - Caesar - McPherson - is my son. Mine. That's all there is to it. Remember that, Shawn. Remember that. I gotta go." He turned, and walked out of the restaurant, leaving his brother standing there with his heart pounding.
Chapter 143
Jake sat in his sister's yard outside of her three bedroom, small wood-frame house. She and Dwight had a decent size lot, with about 20 yards between each neighbor. The two of them sat at the picnic table outside, sipping on a beer - Oldstyle.
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