BOMAW 7-9

by Mercedes Keyes

  "Wait a minute Meri - this is not what you think! I swear to God! You know me Meri! I had nothing to do with this!" He quickly informed his wife, turning to Margaret, he bit out, "You tell her - tell her I had nothing to do with you being here!" He demanded.

  Resentful, with her nose in the air, Margaret answered, "Sure, if that's what you want me to say - it was all me; he hadn't a clue. Now if you will excuse me."

  For the first time, Derrick wanted to strangle a woman. The way she said it, made him look anything but innocent.

  "Excuse me - my ass! You think you gone pull this then walk out like nothing?" Meribel spat, "You fuckin' with my husband or not?!"

  "Or - not!" Margaret answered nastily. It was too much, Meribel attacked, slapping her face and shoving her back into the room, forcing her to drop her bag, to defend herself, as Meribel grabbed hold of a hand full of hair.

  "MERI - MERI STOP IT!!!" Derrick shouted grabbing his wife to pull her off of the other woman. Meribel had her hair tight and was yanking it, growling with gnashed teeth, all she could see was red, kicking out at her, clawing at her face as Margaret struggled to get away from her, screaming, "GET HER OFF OF ME!"

  Derrick had to squeeze his wife's wrist to loosen her grip on the other women's hair.

  "HOW DARE YOU ATTACK ME!!!" Margaret huffed, her face red, hair standing messed and straggled around her face, bleeding from her cheek where Meribel had scratched her.

  "GET OUT OF HERE, NO-O-OW!" Derrick shouted at the other woman, trying to get control of his swinging wife, who had turned on him, slapping him across the face, screaming and crying. He had to wrestle with her to get her arms, forcing them behind her back, with the front of her body pressed up against his as they wrestled. "MERI! Calm down! Listen to me!" He yelled at her.

  "NO NO! How could you do this to me! How could you humil-..." She cried, struggling against his strong arms, against his body as he backed her up against a side table, knocking some of the equipment there off in their struggling, he set her on it; forcing himself between her legs and pressed her against him to gain control of her kicking and fighting.

  "LET ME GO! YOU SON'VA'BITCH!!"

  "NO! Now calm down and listen to me!"

  "How could you - you think I'm stupid! I knew there was something going on with you! I just knew it!"

  "You know nothing! You're wrong! All wrong, now calm down!"

  She struggled more to get out of his arms, when his office phone rang. "Dammit!" He bit out. Not knowing what to do, his mind reeling with fears that Margaret would get the main office in on what had taken place. And now, his phone was ringing. "Let go of me!" His wife, puffed and blew, trying to free herself from him. "No chance." He returned. Holding both of her wrist in his one hand, he pulled her with him across the room, keeping her body snug against his ignoring her rapid Spanish, cursing him out and trying to break free of him.

  He squeezed her against him with a strong arm, shaking her and adding pressure to her back, biting out, "Stop it! Right now! I mean it!" He barked low in her face. He'd never spoken to her that way, not ever. Crying, hurt and with little choice, Meribel stopped struggling. He answered his phone after blowing out and taking a deep breath.

  "Coach!" He answered.

  "Mr. McPherson?"

  "Yes? Who is this?"

  "Principle Rustin at East middle school. I ah, need to speak with you. I tried to call your wife at home, she wasn't there. I have your son, Shawn in my office. I think you need to get here, we have a problem - again."

  Derrick couldn't believe it! When it rained, it poured. "I'll be there as quickly as I can." He hung up, and then looked down into his wife's tear streaked, hostile face.

  "That was the principle at Shawn's school. He's in the office again."

  "What?! What has he done now?"

  "Who knows. Have you calmed down now?"

  "Are you going to let go of me?"

  "Answer my question, have you calmed down now?"

  "For now! I just want you to know, this isn't finished yet!" She threatened, sniffing.

  "You better believe it isn't! Right now, we're going to be the perfect happy couple, and we're going to go and see what the heck is going on with our son. When we get him home, and I deal with him, I will then deal with you."

  "Are you threatening me?! Deal with me!? When you've been cheating on me!?"

  "I have not been cheating on you! I have never cheated on you!"

  "Let me go! You must think me the dumbest Puerto Rican you know! She as well! But I'm no fool! I tell you that right now! Let me go! I have to see about my son!"

  "I'll let you go, when you promise me, that we will settle this misunderstanding later?"

  "Oh you better believe we will!"

  "Are you threatening me now?"

  Meribel said not another word, she only glared up at him.

  "We'll go in your van, leave the truck here." He instructed.

  "You go in your truck, I'll go in my van!" She fired back.

  "What did I say?!" He asked her firmly.

  Meribel's went huge and then narrowed, "Fine - have it your way - for now. Now let me go!" She struggled for emphasis.

  Against his better judgment, and having little choice, Derrick let her go and stepped back just in case she attacked him again. She only gave him evil looks, straightening her dress, fixing her hair, she marched passed him and grabbed her purse. Leaving the lunch she bought them on the table by the door. Derrick dialed the office, making them aware that he had to leave the school about an important and personal matter. Hanging up the phone, he strode towards the door, grabbing his lunch on the way, rushing he caught up with her. She wore a dress that was perfect to show off her shapely legs. She'd always had the most amazing legs, which were now speed walking her with such force, the skirt of the dress she wore, swished in a way that had to catch ones eye, making him wonder did she have panties on? Then had to berate himself for such thoughts, after all - they were fighting. Albeit, no fault of his, oh but she was a pistol when pissed. Following his wife out of the school and to her van that was parked mid-lot, he wondered about Margaret, where'd she go? Also, why had no one come to see what happened yet? He couldn't believe the audacity of the woman. After her last fiasco, he had been certain that she'd left off trying to get a response from him. He wasn't interested. Wouldn't be interested. Question was, what would it take to convince her of that fact? His wife made it to the van before him, unlocked it and jumped in the passenger side.

  He made it to the drivers, and tried to open the door, it was locked. He tapped on the window looking in at his burning spouse. She hit the door auto door lock with him opening the door, reached down and adjusted the seat all the way back, and climbed in. He pulled his keys out, there was one to the van on it, and started it up.

  Meribel was peering out of her window, deliberately ignoring his presence.

  "Meri - I'm telling you, I've done nothing wrong!" He tried to defend himself again.

  "I don't wanna talk about it now, the school is waiting on us!"

  With little choice, Derrick checked the mirrors, adjusted them and backed out, his stomach growled. He reached for the chicken she bought, about to take a piece out of the bag, when Meribel opened her window as he was driving through the lot, grabbed the bag that his hand was in, snatching it before he could get into the box, and tossed it out of the window.

  He put on the breaks, mouth opened stunned, staring at her. "Dammit Meri! You go too far! That was uncalled for! I'm hungry!" He barked. She ignored him. Scowling and in a fowl mood, he carried on - heading for the school, his mind on food.

  As for Margaret, humiliated once again, she had rushed into the teachers lounge and then the ladies room to fix her appearance, glad that no one had heard or seen what had taken place. She was boiling inside, and decided to leave and call the office saying that she'd suddenly gotten sick and was forced to go home. Her mind on Meribel McPherson. Before this event, she had simply not given the woman a thought,
other than to compare herself to her, and now - it was something more. Her thinking went off into a direction that would have been better off left un-ventured. Hispanics were a group of people that irritated her. In her estimation, she found them distasteful, low and regarded them as she did roaches. She was a strong advocate in feeling that they should stay in their own country. She was sick of them coming in disrupting the balance in what she saw as 'her' society. This was the problem that she had with the US and its policies on illegal immigrants. Things were tough enough with all the African Americans, that she tolerated - forced to accept them. Thing is, she accepted that they were here, thanks to her ancestors; that was one error that could not be undone. But Mexicans and Puerto Ricans; she shivered in distaste. Breeding like roaches. They were slick, calculating, deceitful, pretending they didn't understand English, and every where she looked, there they were. She hated their music, hated the Spanish language; hated the way the women were; hated the slang they used if they did speak English. Hated the fact that most of their needs were catered to, such as, dual languages in the stores, Spanish and English - she felt they should learn to speak English, or go back to their own land. She was boiling with her thoughts set; flaming high because of the Puerto Rican Derrick had married. She couldn't believe that she had actually attacked her; that she'd put her hands on her!

  "Damn them! If it were left up to me, the border would be closed - and all their asses would be out of here. I see another taco restaurant I'll puke!" She steamed, her mind running through all the reasons she thought so little of the Spanish community. She thought them all despicable. Thought them all capable of heinous crimes. She saw them all the same, as low beings that were best watched at every hour, the lot of them. Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Mexicans and yes, even Italians. She saw them all the same and had zero tolerance for them. Which made her question her own attraction to Derrick. How could she want a man that would even consider marrying a Puerto Rican, having children by her? What did that say about him? His tastes. She was trying once again to wash her mind, her system of him. Trying to gain way in this insane driven need to have him before it led her to doing something really stupid. Margaret hated the way she felt, because despite the events just passed, she was back to day dreaming about him again. In her mind, he was the perfect male. She also knew, by the pants he sometimes wore, his trainers, that he was a man well packaged. No matter what he wore, there was a bulge on him and not a slight one. It was hell trying to keep her eyes above his waist. She would give anything to be able to touch him just once, to feel him. To get him to wrap those strong arms around her. She had to figure out a way to slip in on him and show him, that they were better suited to each other than that wife of his. She didn't know what that was all about. Why white men, turned from them, white women, whom she felt were the most beautiful women on the face of the earth, to Hispanics or - heaven forbid - black. What was frightening is that it was happening more and more each day. It was all over Madison, interracial couples. They were almost everywhere she looked. She was getting sick of it. More sick of it because the man she wanted, desired above all others, was married to one from the one race she despised above all others. She arrived home, walked into her apartment and went straight to the bathroom to check herself again more thoroughly. Her cheek was red, the two scratches looked ugly, marring her perfectly smooth skin and she could see slight bruising under her left eye along the cheek from Meribel getting hit.

  "You little bitch! How dare you! I should make you pay for this." She knew she dare not, the last thing she wanted, was to have Derrick more upset with her. She would have to pull back once again, take it slow and find a way to get close to him. The usual ways of getting a man didn't work with this one, she would have to change her tactics. One thing for certain, slowly and gradually, first thing that needed to be seen to, was assisting in dissolving that marriage. "You don't need her. She's nothing but an uneducated roach factory. Breeder!" She thought, feeling nasty and went about trying to fix her face.

  "He did what?!" Meribel blasted, then twisted around in her seat to look back at her son, who was sitting on the bench behind them in the principles office; her eyes shooting daggers at him. Shawn2 shrunk back from the look in his mother's eyes.

  Derrick ran his hand over his face, wondering was this just the beginning, of one hell of a road for this son. They sat in the principles office at East Middle School where Shawn2 and Sasha attended.

  "I'm sure you both can appreciate that we cannot tolerate such acts, not here - not of that nature. I'm hoping that you will see to the matter. In the meantime, if he is going to be allowed to attend this school again next year, changes will have to be made in this young man. Kimberly Stockton's parents were not happy - and he-..."

  "Hold up just a moment here, where my son is indeed wrong, she still allowed the act; did she not?" Derrick defended. "So you're not going to pin the entire blame on him, he is a young man that will do what young men do if given the opportunity. I sure hope that while her parents were upset, they knew she welcomed his actions."

  "Mr. McPherson are you condoning his behavior?"

  "Of course not! And you can believe it when I say, that I will be dealing with him - when I get him home! However before I depart, we need to make it clear, that what he's done - many young men have done and will do - if a girl allows or encourages it. She was not forced, was she?"

  The principle had to shake his head that she was not. Truth of the matter was, she already had a reputation for doing things with boys and allowing them certain liberties no young girl should. Shawn McPherson's misfortune was due to the fact that he'd gotten caught with her, thanks to her going into what appeared to be an epileptic seizure.

  "If you will excuse us now, we'll take our son home and deal with this matter there."

  The principle stood. Meribel and Derrick stood, as well a nervously gulping Shawn2. Unable to resist, already in a fowl mood, Meribel came up behind him and smacked him over the head twice.

  "OW!" He cried out.

  "Shet up! There's no end to you embarrassing me! Get to the van, don't you stop and look at anyone!" She hissed, pushing him forward. Derrick sighed, "Meri, leave him until we get home."

  "And I'm telling you now, when we get home, I'm kicking his ass!"

  "No - you're not! I'll handle it." Derrick corrected her as they made their way out of the school, and then back into the van.

  "You'll handle it - you'll handle it! He's doomed! Cursed to be, another McPherson male whore! Tom cat!" She spat, still angry at her husband and now this with her son, only stirred her up more. The more thought she gave it, the angrier she became. She reminded her husband that it was time to get Joseph from school, and so they swung by to pick him up. Because Derrick was hungry he went by KFC and bought more food for himself and his family. The whole time, his wife stewed, and Shawn2 dared not say a word, as Joseph chattered on and on about what he did at school that day.

  "Mami miho - my baby, I'm gonna save you miho, some how - I know I can." Meribel murmured kissing her 5 year old baby boy's sweet face and plump cheek, who looked at her strange, then at his older brother, next his father. He turned back to Shawn2, saying as grown-up as could be, "What you do now?"

  Shawn2 made a face at him and turned away to look out of his window.

  Driving, Derrick could only run his hand over his face. He had to get back to the school, there were things that must be seen to. Plus he needed time to think about how to deal with his son. He'd spoken to him about sex before; his uncle had spoken to him, rather frankly, and yet - here he was, in trouble again, this time, for foundling an older girl from the eighth grade, whom he'd brought to climax, which must have sent her into a seizure. It was embarrassing, because he was a teacher himself after all, this should not be something that a teacher should hear concerning their own child. At least this hadn't happened with his others so much as with Shawn2; he figured that to be a blessing. Question was, how to handle it. If that wasn't enough, his wife was m
ad at him, he had her to deal with as well. When they arrived at the house, and everyone was out of the van and going inside, he said first to his wife. "I'm going to eat, and then go back to the school to take care of some things that can't wait."

  "Yes, I'm sure you will!" She insinuated hotly.

  "You - are - wrong! I've done nothing! You hear? Nothing!"

  Meribel looked away from him to Shawn2, "What are you going to do about him?!" She asked not wanting to hear his denials right then. He was sitting at the kitchen table eating with his little brother. "He's going to his room once he's done, where he'll stay until I get home. And while you're there, I want you to think about what you've done? What could have happened. And what we can do to help you curb these tendencies of yours."

  Meribel half laughed - half smirked. "Oh he's gonna think about it all right! As well what could have happened if he hadn't got caught! To fix it, we need to send him to school with boxing gloves on, and attached his willie to the inside of his leg with needle and thread!"

  Father and son let out a loud, "UGH!" Grabbing at their delicate body part.

  "Meri don't say things like that! That hurt!"

  "You know what? There is no hope for him! And you-..."

  "ACH! Don't you dare - leave it for when I get home. Not in front of the boys!" Derrick warned.

  Meribel bit her lip, simmering with narrowed eyes, Shawn2 had finished his food and was trying to remain quiet to slip off into the basement, but his father was right on him, "Oh no you don't, to your room!"

  "Dad come on, please! Can't I wait in the basement?"

  "No! You're going into your room!" He ordered, just as his son, Marcus came into the house with Luis and Sasha in tow. Now that Derrick Jr. was paid so handsomely at his draft, he gave his car to his younger brother, buying himself a newer model. Right away the noise level in the house was through the roof.