"Get out my vehicle, nigga'! Touchin' stuff!" Mundo grumbled. "It didn't cost that much! It's used! Over ten years old, mama!"
"Never mind that, what Shawn tell you about that word?! And where is Shawn!?" Sylvia asked, walking up to the Blazer, looking inside.
Shawn stood beside the garage nibbling on his thumbnail, trying to get the story straight in his head, dreading having to face Sylvia.
"Sylvia - he's over there. I think I saw him run behind the garage." Angela told on her father, her bit of revenge for being left out.
"Come on, mama - don't start trippin'." Mundo pleaded, like a little boy.
"Don't you worry about me trippin'! You ask him for this?" She demanded.
"Naaaw, see - see mama - I - the other night - 'fore you come home. Like over the weekend, I did two clubs - two sets - I was jamming. I made some money mama."
"You ain't made enough money, to buy this! Where is Shawn!?"
"Shawn? Huh? Wait mama, lemme' explain first. See - I gave Shawn the money-..."
"How much?!" She demanded.
"How much?" Mundo mumbled.
"Yes! How much?!"
"How much money?"
"BOY! Don't play with me! How much money you give Shawn!"
"Uh... Uh... I - I give him, fi'teen hun'd."
"You, gave Shawn fifteen hundred dollars? You, made fifteen hundred dollars? Playing with a turn-table!?"
"Yeah mama, I did! For real! Seriously! Then, Shawn say I need my own wheels, so he - we - Jake was there too. We went looking for something, as cheap as we could find."
"Boy, do you take me for a fool! This is not cheap!"
"It's ten years old, mama - ask Shawn! Papa-Shawn?! Where you at, man?!" Mundo turned, looking around the Blazer, trying to find him. That's when Shanna came from behind the Blazer, wiping at her tears, she was laughing so hard.
Sylvia looked at her, "I'm gone kill your brother! I'm telling you now!" Sylvia went off looking for her husband, walking to the other side of the Blazer, she caught a flash of someone sprinting off to the back of the garage. "SHAWN!!! I SEE YOU!!!" She shouted, walking back there, leaving everyone around the Blazer, as she went looking for her husband.
She walked down the side of the garage, "SHAWN - EVERETT - MCPHERSON!!! YOU HEAR ME CALLING YOU!!!" Sylvia walked towards the end of the garage, and the next thing she knew, she was snatched into his arms.
"SHAWN!" She squealed, as he pulled her into his body.
"I love you, baby." Shawn started right away, kissing at his wife's cheeks, aiming for her lips, but she kept turning away.
"Shawn - don't - don't even try it! Just - turn me loose."
"No... don't want to."
"Shawn, I cannot believe you went and bought that Blazer for him!"
"Baby, I just co-signed for him. He bought it, he had the money to put down on it... I swear."
"Shawn! You gone try and tell me, he's buying that himself?"
"I had to co-sign."
"Just co-sign?"
"Em, hm ... just co-sign."
Sylvia stared with narrowed eyes, into her husband's. He was grinning, and leaned forward, kissing her again. "Shawn... you lying and you know it!" She accused, trying not to laugh at him. "Baby... sweetie, all I did was co-sign. I swear honey... gimme kiss."
Sylvia's right brow went up, as she considered how she might catch him out. Because, there was no way in the world, she believed that he just co-signed for that Blazer. Then, something occurred to her, that maybe he hadn't figured on. "What you lookin' at me like that for, woman?" Shawn asked, he could see her wheels turning. She wiggled out of his arms and stepped back a step, and held her hand out.
"Let me see your wallet."
"Huh?" Shawn's face flushed red. The money was in his wallet. He'd meant to go by the bank and put it in, but after Jake - he ended up going to find Mundo, while he made his purchases and coming straight home.
"Wal-let. You know, that little leather thing you fold your credit cards, driver's license and the little money that you carry in. Wallet... let me see."
Shawn stood with his mouth agape. She got him. He grinned, all his teeth now showing. "Now, see baby, let me explain-..." He leaned forward, and pulled his wallet free. "See... what I thought was, if he just gave me the money-... and I just - ummm - well." He looked up, turned red and grinned. Caught red-handed.
Sylvia busted out laughing. "You pitiful! You - are - pitiful! Do you hear me? Give me that money!" She demanded.
Shawn stood from the garage wall, opened the wallet and pulled out the thick stack. "We not done yet, Sylvia." He explained, passing it to her.
She took it and started counting it. "What you mean, ya'll not done?"
Shawn never saw anyone who could talk, and count money at the same time; his wife could.
"Well, he needs insurance on the Blazer."
"He'll have to park it, 'til he makes some more money." She returned, straightening up the fifties to make them all the same direction and face up, as she counted. Doing the same for the twenties, tens, and fives. Placing each bill type between her fingers to get them separated.
"It needs to go on the diagnostic."
"Park it, 'til he makes more money."
"Sylvia! He just got the car. Don't be like that baby, he wants to drive it."
"He can drive it, when he makes some more money. No no, no free rides around here! How much did you pay for that Blazer, and how much of a payment will he be making to us?"
"We haven't discussed that yet, sweetie. I told him, let's get the car right first, get insurance on it and see how much it will use in gas-..."
"I can tell you that now - NONE! 'Cause it's gone be parked!"
"Sylvia!"
"Shawn?!"
"Sylvia-a-a!"
"Don't, Sylvia me! That's what's wrong with these kids today! They don't work for anyhing! They want everything handed to them the easy way! Life is not easy! If we make things easy for them - when life gets tough for them, they won't be able to endure anything! Why?! Because everything has been made so easy!"
"Babieee!"
"No, no, Shawn! He has the Blazer! If he can't be inspired by that - to make some more money, to first put insurance on it, then maintenance, then gas... he don't wanna drive! That's how I see it! You are not going to start handing these kids everything they see and want, just because you feel you have the means to give it to them! Let them work for it."
"You gonna be like this with Jesse James!?" He demanded, petulantly.
"Yes - I am! Sure, am!"
"Sylvia, what's wrong with parents seeing to the needs of their children?!"
"Nothing, Shawn! I saw to the NEEDS of my kids! But there comes a certain point, when they NEED to learn to wait! They NEED to learn to build towards a goal! They NEED to learn to save, and master the economy of choices! If you give them everything they NEED - what will they NEED to work towards!? Nothing!"
Shawn sank back against the garage, deflated. "Please, let me just take care of this for him, Sylvia? Please... once it's all straight, we won't accept any excuses, if he doesn't make his car note. Then, if then - he can't make his payment, he don't drive."
"Shawn!" Sylvia stomped her foot.
"Please, baby... I can't be like that. Please?"
Sylvia sighed. "Okay Shawn - he must make his insurance, keep gas in it himself and that car note - all - will be on him after this. He got no gas money, he don't ride. No insurance, he don't ride. No payment - no ride. And - I want you to draw up a contract for him to sign!"
"SYLVIA!"
"You can Sylvia all you want to! What's it gonna be?"
"Aaah, shit."
"Well?"
"Okay... I'll talk to him later and-..."
"Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, - you too soft, Shawn. We - you and I, are going to talk to him. That way, he knows the way its gonna be!"
Shawn sighed, "You're not like this with Crystal." He pointed out, grumpily.
"Hellooo - Crystal bough
t her own car! Crystal pays her own insurance! My daughter has never asked me for a dime! If my girl needs it, she's got it! For those reasons! If the lord helps those that helps themselves, then that's all I ask as well... make an effort yourself - first!"
Shawn didn't say anything more, because he knew she was right; however, in defense of Mundo, he stated, "The thing is, Crystal had you as her role model. What did Mundo have for his? He needs someone to be there for him, too."
Sylvia stood stunned, as tears came to Shawn's eyes. "Shawn... you are such a softy! I love my son! Don't you realize that? Sweetheart, the fact about him is, that he must grow up, to be a man! A black man at that! No one in this world is going to give him anything, the easy way. You and I aren't going to be around for him in every area of his life, nor should we be. He will have to work ten times harder, than any other man - to get what he needs! Even if its out of love Shawn, I'm asking you, not to cripple my son."
Shawn leaned back, covering his face and ruffling his hair. "He reminds me of Jesse, you know. I think about all the shit that Jesse went through growing up. All the crap his father put him through. He was one hell of a man, Sylvia. He loved me. Took care of me. I can never pay that back to him."
"Shawn, you can't pay it back to him, through Mundo. Nor will you be able to, through the baby I'm carrying. You have to keep them separate. Jesse was your best friend-..."
"He was my brother! The one who really and truly loved me! Who held nothing against me. Not like these here."
Sylvia stood a moment, staring at him. "What are you talking about Shawn?" She asked, gently.
He sniffed. "Nothing." He stood from the garage, his eyes filled with tears. "It just that, nothing - nothing I ever do - will be right ... good enough - nothing."
"Shawn... baby... what's wrong? What's going on?" Sylvia asked, her manner immediately switching gears in the face of his pain, feeling a tightening in her stomach to see her husband this way, she reached up to stroke the tears rolling down his cheeks.
"I'm all right. Look - we'll do it your way, okay? I'm sorry. You're right."
Sylvia stepped up to him, looking at the money in her hand. "Here... finish what you started, okay?" She folded it, and placed it in his hands. "I love you, my husband. You are - the best thing that's ever happened in my life. The best thing..." She reached up on tip-toes, to pull him down for a kiss. Shawn gathered her close against him, turning, he put her back to the garage and kissed her with all the frustrating love and passion he felt.
"Oooooh grandpa-Shawn - you kissin' my grandma!" Isaac laughed, and ran back to tell everyone what they were doing.
Sylvia and Shawn laughed, their lips still touching.
Later on that evening, after everyone enjoyed that incredible dinner, Shanna was talked into staying the night. No sense in her going back to her parent's place, with her mobile home due to be delivered the next morning. Shawn and Sylvia had the talk together, with Mundo; he sat through it with little choice. The title to the Blazer would remain with Sylvia, and would be registered, so he could get his tags and plates. As a united front, they also presented him with a contract. Entailing all that would be expected, and if he was unable to meet either of the three important financial obligations, it would mean he was parked. Shawn gave a bit on the gas - Sylvia let him, it was one of those compromises that had to be made. Everyone had their moment, when they needed a little help.
It was at 9:45pm, when the phone rang for Shawn. It was Jake.
"Hello? Jake?"
"Can - uh - can't drive."
"Jake? You been drinking?"
"Yeah... come get me?" He slurred.
Shawn had been in his office working. Shanna and Sylvia were upstairs on the internet, Angela was in bed; she had school tomorrow.
"Where are you?"
"Fuckin' bar."
"Where?"
"Fuck, if I know... fuckin' sleep'nah truck - leave me."
"I'm not gonna leave you out there, man. Where are you?"
"Tell me - t'ta'fuck off - you shud'Shawn... I fuckin'...I don'know."
"I'll tell you to fuck off in the morning okay? But for now, where are you?"
"Nowhere, man! I - fuckin' no where! Nothin'."
"You in the bar, or in your truck?"
"Bar."
"Give the phone to the barkeeper, Jake."
"Fuck'im - son'bitch won't give me mo'ta drink! Basta'd!"
"Pass him the phone, Jake!" Shawn ordered.
Jake stared at the barkeeper, who was standing before him, refusing him another drink. Insisting he call for a ride, or he would call the police. Jake passed him the phone. He took it, spoke to Shawn, told him where he was, and then passed it back to Jake.
"Hello?" Jake said in the phone.
"Mundo and I will be there shortly to get you. Don't go wondering off, stay put."
"Yep... bye." Jake clicked the button off. Gave the bar tender a dirty look. Then stood from the bar, and made his way to the men's room, staggering as he went. He walked into one of the stalls. Slammed the door on it and locked it. Fumbled for five minutes, trying to put his phone back in his pocket, as he swayed standing there. The sixteenth attempt, he got it in. Next, he stood trying to get his jeans open, so he could empty his bladder. That took another five minutes to coordinate. Closing them back up, he turned and sat on the toilet. Staring at the scribbling messages on each side of him.
His head fell backwards, making him rock back, and then he rolled forward. Resting his elbows on his knees, he fumbled at his pocket again, trying to get his phone out. It took him a while, he succeeded. Trying to get his bleary eyes to focus, he clicked on the down arrow buttons through all the names, until he saw the one he wanted.
Vivian.
He clicked the call button to dial her number. It rang three times.
"Jake?" Vivian answered. He was in her caller ID.
She was in bed, she'd had a rough day at work. Laek Chan had showed up at her job. She did everything she could to avoid him. She ended up staying later than usual, so that he would give up waiting for her outside. Finally, someone gave her a ride home, so she wouldn't have to go out alone.
"Jake..." She called his name again, when there was no answer from the first time.
"I'm drunk - drunk as hell... know that?" He slurred.
"Why?"
"'Cause..."
She waited for him to say more. He was quiet. "Jake?" She called his name softly, worried about him. So in love with him, hearing him on her phone worked her insides like nothing ever before. She waited and then... suddenly, "You - are - sooo - beau - ti - ful... to me..." He started singing, then chuckled. "... you - are - so - beau - ti- ful... to me... can you see... you are - ever - thin'..." and he stopped. He sniffed. He took a long, deep cleansing breath. "Fuck it. I got shit... know that? You - you too damn - good for me... too damn ........ good.... Lil' girl .... you - just - a lil - girl..."
Vivian's heart was beating like crazy, snatching the very breath from her lungs. She stroked the tears from her cheeks. Waiting to hear more from him. There was nothing... and the phone went dead. "Jake?" She called. She waited and waited... nothing. She sat in bed, fighting the need to phone him back. Finally giving in, she did. His answering service came on. She clicked it off. She laid in bed, preparing for a restless night.
When Shawn and Mundo made it to the bar, they found Jake in the men's room stall - out cold, his mobile phone dropped in the toilet.
Chapter 144
Chicago...
Vivian was suffering from a miserable night. In fact, she was suffering from a miserable weekend. It began Saturday after Jake left, things seemed to slide downhill from there.
At the present, she stood in her bathroom at the sink, trying to wash her face to wake up. It was Tuesday morning and she needed to get moving for work. Thinking about last night, she had tried three more times to reach Jake. Her heart beating madly at the thought of him somewhere, that drunk. The sound of his voice played over and over in
her mind. He was becoming a complication in her life. While she - all by herself, due to her own self-doubts, was a complication. For the first time since working at the bank, Vivian was tempted to call in. Her mind was a jumble of too much coming at once.
Jake heavy on her mind!
Laek Chan heavy on her mind!
Her mother, heavy on her mind.
Sunday, she'd spent the day at her parent's home. Doing so clarified things in her head and heart, which had been long overdue. Now she wondered why it took so many years for her to understand? Why hadn't she been able to see? Mothers had a way of cutting right to the quick of certain matters, no messing around, especially hers. No beating around a bush. Regardless of how old you were, mama could still whip your butt without touching you. Just her manner, her words, her tone, and the fact - that your mother knew you in a way that no one else did. Vivian loved her mother, even though she had spent years resenting her. The past Sunday, she'd for once, gotten to know a bit more about her mother, due to being stupid enough to divulge the activities going on in her life. Why she'd done so, she wasn't sure. Maybe because she still sought for approval - and yes, even disapproval from her parents. Fact was, the deed was done, which in turn caused Vivian to question her own logic and reasoning. This while disturbing her personal motives for the direction she'd taken in her life. She called herself a ton of fools for opening her big mouth to her parents. With all that was down the road for what she wanted... that being, Jake - she didn't want any mysteries or surprises when it came to her family, her parents. So - spending her Sunday home with them, she'd once again, found herself put into check by her mother.
Back to Sunday at the Cooke's...
The day hadn't been too bad at first. For the sake of peace, all had come together enjoying each others company. All of the girls were home, with their men and children. Ella was married with 2 kids. Lacy was a single mom of one. Candace, the surprise problem sibling. No one said anything about it Sunday, but enough had circulated, that it was a strong possibility Candace was into drugs, possibly even doing crack cocaine. By the looks of her, Vivian figured it might be true. Candace didn't eat much. She was outside smoking all the time. Rife with the jitters, a nervous hyper manner, looking like she wanted to be anywhere but there. Food was not a priority on her list, nor was sitting at the table idly chit-chatting about what was going on with everyone else in the family. Candace was not interested in the kids, because like Vivian, she had none of her own and wasn't looking to have any - ever. Candace was a mystery to her parents, because she'd not been much trouble as a child. She'd pretty much done as she was told growing up; didn't fight much with the other girls, Vivian included. Was almost known to be the quiet type, with only the occasional outburst of displeasure. With that history, for her life to be what it was now - was a mystery. Perhaps, that was the reason she turned out as she had. She'd always kept what was going on in her head, heart, and life outside the house a secret. Because the Cooke's never received any phone calls from school about Candace, never had to yell at Candace, never had to put Candace on punishment, hardly ever whipped Candace - like all the whippings Vivian got, she kind of faded into the background. All had assumed, with Candace - everything was okay. Now that everything was not okay, no one knew how to deal with Candace, because no one knew her. Even to Betty Cooke, her one daughter was a mystery - one that she was almost afraid to delve too deeply into. Too afraid of what might be found lurking in the mind of Candace, so Candace, as in the past, was overlooked. All the signs of her life and the activities that may be going on in it, skirted around, because no one wished to deal with it. Besides that, she was grown.
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