Not My Mother's Footsteps

by Cherish Amore

  Feeling nervous for an unknown reason Phoenix tip toed downstairs, she couldn’t stay upstairs all day so she went in search of Terrell. Reaching the living room she could see the TV on but the volume was on mute, but she didn’t see Terrell. Still hearing him talking she followed his voice and found him an another older gentleman sitting in what she assumed to be a game room or man cave. As soon as she reached the door both men stopped talking, and Terrell looked up at her smiled “You sleep well?” he asked politely.

  “Yes, and I’m sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt” she said unconsciously tucking her hair behind her ear.

  “You good, you didn’t interrupt anything” Terrell said as he lit the blunt he had been rolling. “Phoenix Old School, Old School Phoenix” he said introducing them as he blew out the smoke.

  “My names Sherman, sweetheart” Old School said as he shook Phoenix hand like the gentleman he was. Phoenix smiled ‘he seems like a very nice man’ she thought. “Imma go ahead and slide out, holler at me later Terrell” Old School said as he fist bumped Terrell. “And it was nice to meet you young lady” he said to Phoenix as he nodded his head towards her and headed out the door.

  “Hang on” Terrell told Phoenix as he followed Old School out the room. She could hear them whispering when they reached the front door, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying so she just sat on the sectional and waited for Terrell to come back. “You hungry? Terrell asked as soon as he came back in the room. Phoenix wanted to say no, but he didn’t give her a chance “Come on now, you gotta eat. We don’t have to go out, we can order whatever you want, I can go pick something up or hell if it’s a desperate need I will even try to cook something. But I’m telling you, pick one of the first two because I’m not much of a cook” Terrell said seriously as he laughed.

  Phoenix couldn’t help but laugh “umm whatever you want is fine” Phoenix said not really sure what to eat.

  “Come on now, you decide” Terrell said sitting next to her, a little closer then she expected.

  Phoenix was not use to people allowing her to make up her own mind because since she was 10 everyone told her what and how to do things. “Waffle House?” she said with more of a question.

  “You want Waffle House? If so we can go there, or have it delivered, it’s up to you.” He said looking at her.

  Phoenix wasn’t even sure if she really wanted Waffle House, but she knew whatever they ate, they were eating it at his house, she was not in the mood to be in public. “Yea Waffle House is fine, and we can eat it here, since I don’t have any clothes, can’t be out in public looking crazy” she said with a nervous chuckle.

  “You look fine to me either way” Terrell said looking at her which caused Phoenix to blush. They just stare at each other for a while, and something happen in that moment that Phoenix couldn’t explain.

  “Umm thanks” was all she could say. Terrell stare at her a few seconds longer before getting up and going to find the menu. Phoenix was happy when he finally got up, Terrell made her feel a certain way and she couldn’t explain it.

  ~

  Geno slowly opened his eyes, he wasn’t sure where he was and when he tried to move he was in a lot of pain. When he went to speak he realized he couldn’t because something was down his throat preventing him from doing so. Just as he was about to try to move his hand a young white lady dressed in scrubs came rushing over. “Mr. Eugenio, please don’t try to move” she said gently touching his shoulder. “I am Katie and am your nurse” Geno looked up at her with pleading eyes as if to say what happened. “You were shot 3 times, we thought we were going to lose you, but luckily the doctor was able to stop the bleeding and it looks like you will make a full recovery” she said with a smile.

  Geno lay there staring up at the ceiling recalling what happened; he remembered being bum rushed back into the trap house. ‘Wait my girls’ he thought as he recalled them being there too. Geno could remember two guys came in demanding money, he couldn’t see one of their faces because he wore a mask but he recognized Pac man’s face; he was mask less. ‘I am going to fucking kill him’ he thought to himself. The nurse began administering medicine through Geno’s IV and before he knew it he was dosing back off to sleep.

  Chapter 18

  Renz was once again greeted by Terrell’s voicemail “Fuck is this nigga doing that he can’t answer?” Renz asked he threw his phone on the passenger seat. He was calling to tell Terrell that he was on the stores side of town and could pick up the weeks profit. “Fuck it” he thought as he headed in direction of the store, he was gonna just go by and pick it up then take it to Terrell’s house.

  Ten minutes later Renz pulled into the Tiny Giant parking lot and parked his car. After popping a molly and taking a sip of the bottle water he threw his shades on and hopped out the car. Walking casually into the store, Renz was a little thrown off when he saw Polo in the spot and not Old School stupid ass. “What’s up?” Renz said with a head nod to Polo.

  “Can’t call it, what’s going on?” Polo said. Polo never really liked Renz he always thought it was something about him that just won’t right; he only tolerated him because of Terrell.

  “Hell you doing up in here, where Old School?” He asked grabbing a bottle of water, the thing with molly’s they made your ass sweat and thirsty as hell.

  “Nigga you aight?” Polo asked ignoring the fact he asked where Old School was.

  “Yea I’m cool” Renz said downing the water and reaching for another one. “So what you doing up in here?” Renz asked trying to take a different approach.

  Polo knew what was up with Renz he had seen it all before in the hood plus he use to sell the product so he knew he was high. “Ion know where he at, I was just asked to come so I did that no questions asked” he said as he watched Renz down another bottle of water.

  “I hear that, well where the money for this week?” Renz asked as if he was the one always picking it up.

  “Shit ion know anything about that, hell you know my ass aint never up in here, that’s Old School Job” Polo said lying through his teeth.

  Renz was pissed, he wasn’t sure why Polo was there and not Old School and the fact that Terrell wasn’t answering his phone won’t sitting with him. “Aight man” Renz said grabbing two more bottles of water, and dropping a $20.00 bill on the counter before walking out the store.

  ~

  Terrell and Phoenix had just finished eating breakfast and were relaxing in the living room watching TV when his phone began to ring. “Yo?” he answered. Phoenix couldn’t hear what was being said, but she could see out the corner of her eye that he was pissed; his jaw was flexing. After disconnecting the phone Terrell relit the blunt that he didn’t finish earlier.

  “You okay?” Phoenix found herself asking before realizing it.

  “Yea, yea I’m cool” Terrell said as he blew out the smoke roughly. “Look, I gotta make a run, you are more than welcome to stay here if you want, or I can take you home, or wherever you need to go” Terrell said turning and looking at her.

  Phoenix really didn’t want to go home, she actually didn’t want to be alone, she was tired of being alone. She hung her head “Umm” she started.

  “Hold on I think you getting it wrong, I am not telling you that you have to leave or nothing, I just have to make a run” Terrell said cutting her off.

  “Okay, I don’t want to leave then” Phoenix said truthfully. “But I don’t have any clothes” she said looking down remembering she was wearing his clothes.

  “What you don’t like my clothes?” He said with a smile which caused Phoenix to smile. “Nah, I’m just fucking with you, when I get back we can go to ya crib and get you some clothes aight?” he said as he stood up from the couch.

  “Yes” was Phoenix simple reply

  “Aight I’ll be back” Terrell said impersonating Arnold Schwarzenegger “you got free range through the house, make yourself more comfortable he said” as he headed to the garage. Terrell never left anyone at hous
e, hell he very rarely let people come over, but it was something about Phoenix he felt he could trust.

  “Okay” she replied right before he closed the garage door behind him. Phoenix sat there and took a deep breath, even after everything she had been through in the last couple of months, hell years and especially the last couple of days this is actually the last time she felt at peace. She decided since he was gone, she should catch up on sleep, so she headed upstairs to get some sleep.

  As soon as she walked in the room her phone began ringing. “Hello?”

  “Phoenix!” Mariah screamed through the phone

  “What girl?” Phoenix asked pulling the phone from her ear because she was being loud.

  “Girl are you okay, I got your message last night and I didn’t understand a thing you were saying, I could only hear you crying and shit” Mariah said without taking a breath.

  “I am fine now” Phoenix said as last night’s images invaded her mind.

  “Well what happen, and wait where are you because I went by your house this morning because I was worried” Mariah said switching subjects.

  “Mariah first off calm your dramatic ass down” Phoenix said as she climbed on the bed. “But anyway I’m at Terrell’s house, he came and pi-”

  “You are where?” Mariah asked screaming once again.

  “Mariah!” Phoenix shouted herself, tired of Mariah yelling in her ear.

  “My bad Phoenix, but where you say you at?” Mariah asked lowering her voice.

  “I said I am at Terrell’s house” Phoenix said with a smile. Even though Terrell had been nothing but respectful and helpful towards her, she couldn’t help but to think about how sexy he was, and she thought he was even more sexier when he got mad.

  “Shut your mouth, are you serious?” Mariah asked in disbelief

  “Yup serious as ever” Phoenix said still smiling

  “I don’t believe you, where he live I’m coming over to see” Mariah said serious as hell.

  “Girl bye” Phoenix said laughing hard. “I am not inviting someone over this man home when he not home, not only that I am in the bed about to go to sleep” she said while yawning.

  “That’s cause your ass lying, but whatever I’m about to go in class anyway” Mariah said pulling into HU’s parking lot.

  “What time you get out?” Phoenix asked sounding sad; she really missed school.

  “Four, so I am going to call you then” Mariah said as she headed inside the building.

  “Okay talk to you later” Phoenix said before hanging up the phone.

  Chapter 19

  Terrell casually walked into Riverside hospital in Newport News, he had gotten a call that his cousin Geno was in the hospital and he was in critical but stable condition. Even though Geno and Terrell hadn’t spoken in ages they still would always be there for each other. “May I help you?” the front receptionist asked Terrell once he made it to the ICU information desk.

  “Yea uh, I got a call that my cousin was here” Terrell said stepping to the desk.

  The receptionist looked at him as if he was stupid ‘I aint got time for this shit today’ Terrell thought as he was about to get smart. “Your cousins name sir” the nurse said firmly as she rolled her eyes.

  “Oh my fault” Terrell said feeling stupid for not already saying his name. “Gen- ” he began but then remembered where he was “I mean Eugenio Loveland” he said as he cleared his throat.

  The nurse began clacking away at the keys on the computer as she popped her gum loudly. “He’s in room 237” she said without looking up as she continued chewing her gum.

  Terrell just shook his head and started walking in search of the room Geno was in.

  “Scooter wake up” 14 year old Terrell heard his mother said.

  “Hmm?” He asked as he stretched, it was Saturday morning and he wanted to sleep in, he couldn’t understand why his mom was even waking him up so early.

  “I got some bad news” his mother said on the verge of tears as she sat down on the edge of his bed.

  Still half asleep Terrell sat up in his bed and rubbed his eyes “what’s wrong momma?” he asked.

  “Baby your aunt Roberta was killed last night” she said as she could no longer hold back the tears.

  Terrell felt like he had seriously took a blow to the heart, it felt like the air in the room was quickly being sucked away from him. “What?” he asked in disbelief. His Aunt Roberta was his favorite and her son Eugenio was his favorite cousin. He and Aunt Susan didn’t get along much; she was the youngest of the sisters and instead of trying to be an aunt she was trying to act his age.

  “Yeah she’s gone, she was shot in the head” his mom said as she sobbed. She was truly going to miss her sister. Terrell was in total shock, how could his aunt Roberta be dead. “You gone be alright?” His mom asked him when she looked up and saw he was crying.

  “Yea” Terrell said scooting down in the bed placing the covers over his head, he hated crying, and he didn’t want anyone seeing him like that.

  Terrell reached room 237 and took a deep breath from the memory he just had, he also remembered that ever since his aunt was killed, so was a part of Geno; he was never right since. Pushing the door open slowly Terrell walked into the room to find Geno laying with different tubes coming from different parts of his body. “Hello” the nurse said as she was removing the tube from Geno’s throat.

  “Hey, I can come back” Terrell said as he turned to walk back out of the room; he hated hospitals, and he really hated seeing anything being done to someone.

  “I am all done” the nurse said as she threw away the tubes and then washed her hands. “He is in and out of sleep because he’s highly sedated, but he is doing well” she said as she headed for the door. “Oh and you can talk to him, he just may answer you back, now that he’s got the tube out.” She said with a smile before leaving the room.

  Terrell looked around the room, he was never one to be scared but what he was feeling won’t too far from it. As he walked to the bed, he watched as Geno’s chest rose and fell as he lightly snored. There were bandages covering where he had been shot. Terrell looked up at the monitor that was monitoring his blood pressure and heart, when he looked down Geno was staring at him. “Shit Geno, what the fuck!” Terrell shouted causing the nurse to rush back in the room.

  “Is everything okay, in here?” she asked as she rushed to Geno’s side. “Oh you’re woke,” she said with a smile as she looked down at Geno.

  “It’s cool” Terrell said with a chuckle feeling like a little bitch for the way he yelled out. The nurse slowly walked out the room and when she did Terrell turned and looked back down at Geno. “Damn fam who did this shit to you?” Terrell asked.

  Geno tried to speak, but only found himself moving his lips but nothing coming out and in a lot of pain. Taking a deep breath Geno once again tried to speak “Pa-” he whispered but Terrell couldn’t hear nor understand him.

  “It’s aight man, don’t even worry about it” Terrell said trying to get him to stop trying to talk since it was causing him so much pain.

  Geno could feel himself drifting off to sleep, the medicine was getting the best of him but he knew he needed to tell Terrell who had done this to him. Once again taking a deep breath Geno, tried with his entire mite to get the name out “P-” he started but stopped “P. Pac man” he finally got out.

  “Pac man?” Terrell said making sure he heard him correctly. Geno’s eyes widen and seconds later, he drifted off to sleep. Terrell stood there for a little while longer, before turning and headed out the room. It was time for him to find Pac man, and figure out what the hell he knew.

  Chapter 20

  Terrell walked up the stairs in his house, for a second he had forgot Phoenix was even there until he heard the TV playing. Reaching the doorway he could see her sleeping peacefully, she was wrapped tightly in the covers. ‘Damn she’s beautiful’ Terrell thought as continued you looking at her, she didn’t have to try and she was e
verything. Terrell walked into the room, he was going to wake her so they could go get her clothes, but he didn’t have the time because she woke up in a frantic “No please don’t hurt me” she said as she backed up towards the head of the bed.

  ‘This is the second time she woke up all crazy acting and shit’ Terrell thought as he just watched her with a raised brow. “Aye, you good?” he asked confused.

  Phoenix felt stupid, she had been hurt her entire life, and had seen some crazy shit lately, that she was afraid everyone was after her. “I’m sorry” she said as she pushed her hair behind her ear.

  “You aint gotta apologize, but I do want to make sure you good. You want to talk about what happen the other night; it seems to really be bothering you.” Terrell said as he sat down on the edge of the bed.

  Phoenix did want to tell Terrell what happened the other night, hell she wanted to tell anyone who would listen, but for some reason she felt now was just not the time. “Um eventually I do want to talk about it, but not right now” she said truthfully.

  “Cool, well you want to go get your clothes right now?” Terrell asked standing from the bed.

  ‘Wow, he’s really not going to pressure me into telling him’ Phoenix thought. She really wasn’t use to someone being as nonchalant as Terrell was. “Ok” was her simple reply as she stood from the bed. Neither spoke another word they just headed downstairs so they could leave.

  ~

  Renz had been still trying to get ahold of Terrell but each call he was greeted by his answering machine. “Fuck this shit, imma carry my ass over there” Renz said sounding dramatic. He knew Terrell hated for people to just pop up, but he felt like he didn’t have a choice, he wasn’t answering and he needed to follow through on his plan. “Let me call Old School ass” Renz said out loud as he leaned back into the seat.

  “Hello?” Old School answered on the third ring. Renz wasn’t expecting him to answer and he was so zoned out that he didn’t even say hello. “Hello?” Old School said again.