BOMAW 7-9

by Mercedes Keyes

  "Sylvia stop it! Calm down, I didn't mean it like that!" Shawn was struggling with her in the bathroom door. She wanted to shut the door, and him out. He wouldn't let her, she was pushing at him, punching him hard on his arm and chest to move him. He kept his arm up, blocking his face, but he wouldn't let her close him out. When mad, she was stronger than she looked, and shoved him hard enough that he stumbled against the bathroom door, knocked it against the outer wall, making a loud banging sound. She didn't care, she tried to dart past him, when he grabbed her, and sent her into the bed, and laid on her, wrestling with her to get hold her wrist, she was quick in trying to keep him from grabbing them; he was faster, stronger, and won out getting his leg over hers to pin her down. "Calm down and listen to me." He bit out close to her face. He could hear someone coming up the basement stairs. A slow creeping, as if listening carefully and then at their door, "Ya'll ah'ight in there?" It was Mundo.

  "Yeah - we're fine Mundo." Shawn answered, glaring down at Sylvia, who was breathing hard, glaring up at him angrily.

  "Mama? You okay?"

  "Yes! Shawn just tripped against the door."

  "Oh... okay." He stood there a moment more, than finally walked away and back down the stairs.

  They were both breathing hard, but Shawn wasn't about to let her go. He kept his heavy leg over her thighs, and his other one hooked into her lower legs, her wrist over her head in his one hand, the other on her stomach. "Let - me - go." She bit out low.

  "No - chance - in - hell." He bit back. "Until you calm down. I didn't mean it, the way it sounded. I'm sorry that it did. The things he's done, blows me away, and yet - you didn't leave him."

  "Because I had no where else to go!" She bit out, crying again. "I had brothers, but they weren't like you! There was no one to buy me a lot of land! There was no one - no one - that I could - could depend on. I'd worn, Sheila and Dennis - out - with my shit!" She was crying, trying not to get loud. "You think I wanted what he did to me? You think I wanted what he did to them, my kids? I did the best that I could! But there was - no - nobody to stand up for me. Fight for me - I - I..." She was struggling to speak low, her throat clogged with a lump filled with pain.

  "Shhh baby, aaah, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to do this. God I didn't mean to do this. Come on, calm down. Calm down... shhh - don't cry."

  "I tried - tried to leave him, but I couldn't get rid of him!" She sobbed, "He just kept coming back! Until I just - g-gave up."

  "Where were your brother's?"

  "I don't know Shawn. They left home, and once - once they were - gone - I was - on my own. I never left them alone with - with him. And I never - never let him bother them, and if he did - I made him pay. I fought him with everything I had..." She sucked in trying to breath and talk at the same time that she was crying.

  Shawn wiped at her tears, kissing her cheek, the side of her mouth, at her soaking eyes, all over her face. "I'm so sorry baby. Please, calm down. I love you. I'm not trying to judge you honey. I guess I just - I learned things tonight, that have just - blown me away." He admitted looking into her eyes. "If I had been around, I would have fought for you. I swear before God above, had I been there, I would have taken you, kids and all - and dared that bastard to show up for you... look at me."

  She opened her eyes, to look at him; tears were still rolling.

  "I know I've said this before, and I'm saying it again. You - Sylvia - were always meant to be mine. I don't judge you, honey. I just hate what he's done to you, to them. Tonight, I was frustrated, a bit - angry that that beautiful young woman, has gone through things, no little girl should. And - I came home and said all the wrong things - the wrong way. Forgive me?"

  She nodded - her mind going nuts, wondering, what had her daughter said? Was it possible, that she said things that maybe, she didn't know? Sylvia sniffed, swallowing back the moisture in her mouth, staring up at her husband. Yes, she knew it without a doubt, had Shawn been around back then, he would have fought for them, and maybe, just maybe - to save her children, she would have gone to him.

  "I'm sorry for hitting you."

  "I deserved it. And - I saw that look in your eyes, when you did it. Don't ever be afraid of me Sylvia, I will never do you harm. But I do think, you should kiss it and make it better."

  Sylvia smiled, "You do, do you?" She sniffed, trying to calm down.

  "Yep, you hit me, here." He pointed to his cheek. She kissed it gently, "And you hit me here too, right there." Smiling she gently pushed him to his back, reversing the positions, leaned over and kissed there. "Yep, right there, right there, here, yeah, right here too and, and I think you did a rope-a-dope on me, so no doubt there are some I'm missing." Grinning, he moved upward on the bed, shifting them into a better position so she could get comfortable kissing him in all the places he pointed out.

  "How's that? Any better?" Sylvia asked.

  "I suppose, of course, if there is any bruising, tomorrow, I will expect kisses in all places until its all gone."

  Sylvia laughed, "I suppose if that's the price that I must pay, then I will pay. I - I love you Shawn."

  "I love you baby, God knows I do."

  * * *

  The next morning...

  Victor came into his parents home, exhausted from working third shift. The time off made it hard for him to go right back to work without the late hours getting to him. He needed to get his own place for one. He was back and forth on that because, it would be a waste of time and money, if he was going to get his family back. The more time away from them, the more he realized, that he wasn't ready to give up on that dream entirely. His problem was, that no matter how many women he looked at, none could replace her. None could compare to her. They just didn't do for him, what she did. On the other hand, he couldn't just go running back to her. If he did, she would fall right back into the habit of lashing out at him. Attacking him for any little thing he said to her. He had to give her time to really get into her anger management, and he needed to figure out how he was going to keep them together, once he decided to go back to her. If he talked to her, told her he wanted her back, she might back off of getting help. He didn't know what to do. His seeing Jeanine hadn't helped matters any. He was embarrassed to be guilty of that. He kept seeing the hurt in Crystal's eyes the night he brought the boys back to her. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know what to say. He didn't know how to fix it. All he knew for sure, is that he could not love anyone else, because he still loved her.

  He was in the kitchen, at the table - fixing himself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, his Isaac's favorite. Coating the second slice with jam, he broke into tears. He missed his boys, their little voices calling him daddy. They were something else to regret. Looking back, there may be fault to pick on Crystal as to how she was with him, but there was nothing he could hold against her for being a amazing mother to their sons. In fact, a better mother to them, than he was a father. He wished he'd been a better father, taken more time with them. Being more patient with them, and growing as close to them, as their Uncle Mundo was to them. It was a shameful thing to admit to himself, but fact was, Mundo was closer to his sons, than he was. He wiped his eyes, they felt coated with grit. He was tired, that's all. He put everything away, ate the sandwich, just something to break the bit of hunger he was feeling. He wondered where his mother was? She was usually back by now, after taking his brother and sisters to school. He went into the bathroom, took a shower.

  Natalie was in her room, sitting on her bed, listening to her son prepare for bed. Laying before her, the divorce forms Crystal sent for Victor to sign. Natalie knew that she needed to be careful about this. She took the paperwork surrounding his new vehicle purchase, the warranty agreement, and interlaced it with the divorce papers, placing red sticker markings on the divorce forms for him to sign where his signature was required. She remained quiet, her bedroom door closed, knowing that he would not come to it. All of their children knew, if their door was closed, that meant stay out. If opened,
come on in.

  She sat waiting patiently.

  He showered, went into his room, and all became quiet. She went about her room, getting all that she needed for going out. An hour passed, she knew that he would be sleeping hard by now. She came out, went to his room, seeing him laying in his bed, snoring. She got the papers ready and sat on the side of the bed next to him, ink pen in hand, forms clipped onto a clip board.

  "Victor..." She shook him. "Victor... wake up son. I forgot to tell you, something to do with the warranties on your car have to be signed and mailed off today. I'm on my way to the post office now, here son, I need you to sign them."

  "Hmmm?" He mumbled, too deep into sleep to even understand.

  "Victor, come on son... you can go back to sleep after you sign these warranty forms. Victor... come on, lean up and sign these."

  "What..." He grumbled.

  "I need you to sign these, come on so I can mail it off."

  "Can't it wait?" He moaned.

  "No... they have to be in, there's a deadline. Won't take you but a second, just sign in four places, come on."

  He laid still for a moment, almost drifting back off to sleep. "Victor! Come on! Sign!" Natalie shook him impatiently.

  He leaned up on his elbow couldn't see, eyes could barely open. She gave him the pen. "Where?" He asked, trying to blink to see.

  "Right next to the red markers, just sign."

  He worked to focus his eyes, rubbing them, and then, squinting, he signed the first. She flipped the pages, for him to sign each one.

  "Good boy, now go back to sleep. Mother will take care of everything." She stood from the bed smiling and wasting no more time, gathered everything needed and headed out of the door to deliver the paperwork to the court house.

  At the county clerk window, where she turned them in, she asked. "How soon can they expect a divorce date, now that all the paperwork is in?" She asked.

  The clerk brought up on her computer screen the available slots for quick uncontested divorces. "We have openings for next month-..."

  "None sooner? Its just a quick no frills divorce." Natalie pointed out.

  "The first date is only two weeks away." The clerk mentioned.

  "Okay, make it for that date then?"

  "A Crystal Bella Prescott filed, she is the one who must choose the date. Now that we have the paperwork in full, they'll send out a letter with the available dates. All she needs to do is call in with her filing number, using the telephone number that will be on the letter, select the date, and show up in court when its up. It will be over and done with that day."

  "When will she receive the letter from here?"

  "It'll go out today, she'll get it by tomorrow. The sooner she calls in, the quicker she can choose a date. Of course, there's no guarantee that date will be available tomorrow."

  "I see." Natalie wanted to assure she placed that date. "What date is that again?" The clerk gave her a print out.

  "What if she were to call in today for that day, does she have to wait for the letter?"

  "No, if she calls in, we'll set it up."

  "Thank you." She left the building, went to her car. She sat there, thinking of how to get this done. Saying a quick prayer, she dialed Crystal on her mobile.

  Crystal was driving back from taking her boys to day care for the morning, when her mobile rang.

  "Hello?"

  "Its Natalie. Your paperwork came. Victor saw it, he wasn't happy - took me a while to calm him down over what you've done. He said, fine - if that's the way you want it - you got it! He signed them, but he wants to see the boys when we ask for them. He wanted me to make that clear to you. You try to keep the boys from him, and he, with the help of our lawyers, will bring before a judge the fact that you falsified the paperwork and will fight you to take them. As for the rest, we took them in together, he signed them there, and if you wish this over and done with quickly, you should call for the first available date. There's one for two weeks from now. The rest is up to you. He's dead tired from work, and was too angry to speak to you himself. You have really wrecked my son! Just a small favor, leave him alone for a while, he needs to recover from this! I hope you're happy!" She hung up. Crossed her fingers and prayed that it worked.

  Crystal jumped out of her car, ran to the side and threw up her breakfast. Shaking, she leaned against her car, hands covering her mouth. "Mamaa-a-a, he did it! He didn't even - try to - talk to me!" She wailed in despair. "Oh God...noooo." She sobbed. She stumbled back into her car, laid on the front seat, bawling until her head hurt.

  Chapter 198

  In Chicago...

  Vivian ended up having to rise extra early to get back to her place. She and Jake rushed about in order for her to get ready for work and there on time. While she was in the shower again at home, where all of her beauty products were, this time to wash her hair, Jake occupied himself in the kitchen. He decided he would cook breakfast for her, one of the things he could actually make. Frying eggs and baking sausage, with toast in a toaster…no problem. He actually enjoyed it while she rushed getting ready. He walked to the bathroom door.

  "I have breakfast ready for you, hurry up before it gets cold," he called, standing outside the door.

  "I thought you couldn't cook?" she asked from the other side.

  "I can do a halfway decent breakfast. Come and eat."

  When she opened the door, she had an afro. He stared at it. "How did you do that with your hair?" he asked, curious.

  "Just washed it," she stated simply, wearing only a bra and panties. She took her robe hanging behind the bathroom door, putting it on. Jake reached to touch her hair; there was a slightly oily-creamy substance on it.

  "What's this?" he asked, following her into the kitchen, rubbing the cream between his fingertips.

  "It's a hairdress conditioner I always put on my hair right after I wash it. My hair will absorb it as it dries."

  "Why? What's it for?"

  "It keeps my hair from getting dry and brittle, makes it more manageable even though I wear an afro."

  "So your hair is going to stay wet all day?"

  "No, it'll dry."

  "But you said that stuff on it is going to keep it from drying," he stated.

  She sat at the table, surprised at how nicely done her eggs and sausage were. The toast, perfectly brown. "Baby, I mean my hair will dry from me washing it, but the conditioning hairdress keeps the hair itself from drying out. It will keep it soft and manageable, so I can pick it again later. And tonight before I go to bed, I'll braid it. When you see me this afternoon, my afro will be much shorter."

  "Don't get it cut!" he quickly ordered.

  Vivian laughed. "I'm not going to get it cut; as it dries, it'll tighten up, appearing shorter."

  "What do you mean, tighten up?" he asked, reaching over to touch it again.

  "There are various types of black hair. You can pretty much gauge black hair types by the way it draws up after a wash. Does it retain its true color or does it get light and ashy-looking, dry and beady? My hair is in the middle; meaning, I have the type that will draw up, however, it doesn't bead up...it gets to a certain retraction and stays there. That's why I can wear such a nice afro…once I pick it, pat it, shape it, it stays. It wears better during the week and starts to look longer or like a bigger afro because I braid it at night, which takes a lot of the curls from it, but doesn't make it so straight it won't stand up into an afro."

  Jake straddled the chair adjacent to her, staring at it, trying to digest all of that information as she ate. He was thinking of the time he met her at the wedding. "It wasn't that long at the wedding."

  "Because I shaped it closer to my head for a certain look, after braiding and rodding it. That made it into a tighter afro, closer to my head…with curls, so didn't look as long."

  He sat leaning on the back of the chair, his elbow propped up, his chin resting on his hand thinking about it all. He sat back smiling explaining, "I like it when you have the afro this
big." He held his hands up around his head to show the size. "You look fuckin' awesome, reminds me of Pam Grier and Cleopatra Jones…‘she's a bad mother—shet'yo mouth’!" He pitched his voice and shook his head, trying to imitate that black high-pitched sound of the ‘70's black movie era. Vivian exploded, laughing so hard, tears were rolling from her eyes. "Oh my god, you are so crazy!"

  Jake was laughing with her yet ordered, "You can call me crazy anytime you want, just don't ever get rid of that afro, baby. Because shit like that turns my white ass on! And I mean, on and on and on!" he sang as she stood from the table, dropping her plate in the sink. He came up behind her, his arms around her, kissing her neck. Vivian giggled. "Would you stop? I gotta get dressed, not undressed." She grinned. "So how did you straighten it?" he asked. She explained that to him as well, while taking a glass filling it with water, drank it and then filled it again, taking her supplements that she kept up in the cabinet there. With the glass in hand, from the kitchen she headed to her bedroom with him behind her. She had a routine and completely forgot their discussion the night before. As she talked to him about all that a black woman did to keep her hair right, she opened her top Chest of drawers, took out her little birth control compact and pushed a pill through, about to pop it into her mouth. When it dawned on him what she was doing; all laughter left his eyes.

  "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa…what's that?" He grabbed her wrist, indicating the pill in her hand that was about to be tossed into her mouth.

  Vivian looked down at it, finally remembering, realizing what she was doing. "Jake, come on, let's give it a little while longer. At least let's set a date to get married…make those plans, then I'll stop."

  "You're fuckin' stopping now!" Releasing her wrist, he flipped his palm up. "Hand it over now!"

  "I can't believe this! Jake, please! Come o-o-on…don't do this yet!"

  "Give me the pill now!" he snapped through clenched teeth, his hand out and waiting.