Bloody Fast Car

Houston

The weather was warm at that time, light rain had fallen in the early hours of the morning so when I looked out the window I saw the plants peppered with droplets of water that reflected the gray walls of our small house. Across the short fence, Mrs Brent was knee deep in the soil with her gardening gloves. The light rain must have made her greenery ovaries pop that morning as she was enthusiastically digging into the soft soil.

The doorbell rang and I dropped the tray of cookies I had been holding on the table to get it. Outside was one blond head and one dark head bobbing around, probably arguing about something. I opened the door and in came the only two youngsters in my life.

“Good Morning Mr You” they chorused the name they had both made up for me when they were little (although Sally swore it was her idea).

“Good morning peanuts” I countered, and they both laughed. Drew’s laugh so manly, it reminded me of his father who I hadn’t seen in years.

They both sat down on the table and reached for a cookie with one hand and open their books with another hand. My wife Annabel came out to greet them and received kisses on both cheeks.

“What should I get for you lovely lady and gentleman?” She asked

“Nothing Annabel, your presence is pleasure enough” Drew replied. I chuckled quietly behind my newspaper and Sally pretended to gag on her cookie.

Our tiny book club of thirteen years, although still as tiny as when it started, was getting more exciting everyday. We had started right here in this living room. I was a much younger man of forty lording over a blonde spoilt brat and an inquisitive brown girl who I had taken into my care on account of their parents’ negligence.

“Sally! Stop staring outside the window. You have to do your sum sometime you know?” I said. Sally looked at me with those liquid brown eyes and I almost felt bad for scolding her.

“Drew! What are you doing!?” The small boy was bent over his note and when I took it from him I saw that he was drawing small cartoon characters on his math notebook. Thirteen years later and the only problem I had with them was that they made me so proud I wanted to cry.

“Who knows what today’s date is?” I asked

“Friday 24th March 1993” Sally replied, not looking up from her book.

“1993 already! A few years ago it was 1973” I said

“Those days when men wooed their women with songs and flowers and their women actually enjoyed it,” Drew said.

“I still want to be wooed with songs and flowers,” Sally said.

“Oh right “I still want to be wooed with songs and flowers” says the Black lady” Drew sneered

“What’s being Black got to do with it?” Sally asked, her eyes glistened.

“I heard from reliable sources that your men don’t woo. They just take you into the bush for a fast romp” Drew said nastily. I dropped my newspaper.

“You should be mindful of what you hear,” Sally said in a low voice.

“Reliable sources remember?”

“Darn reliable sources! I’ve heard stuff about YOUR family!” Sally shouted.

It took everyone a moment to understand and in that moment there was silence. Drew’s face was red and I didn’t know if it was from embarrassment or anger.

“That’s enough,” I said quietly, snapping them out of their staring contest. They both returned to their books.

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Sally

My mother was lounging beside the pool when I got home. Her straw hat was pulled so low over her eyes she didn’t even see me approach and the bottle of vodka beside her was half empty.

“Mom, Mom!” I called.

“Woah! What?” Her hand came up involuntarily and knocked off her straw hat.

“I’m back, Mom,” I said.

“Yeah, you’re welcome” She said. We looked at each other, her eyes were telling me to leave already. “Miss Fletcher would have made dinner for you”

“I know” I said. I didn’t budge.

“Go have dinner,” she said. Her hand said Shoo! I stood there for a moment but she didn’t change her mind. I walked into the house.

***

“Good evening Miss Fletcher” I greeted when I reached the kitchen.

“Aww, my baby is back!” Miss fletcher wrapped her slim arms around me and squeezed tight. “Met your mom outside?

“Yeah” I said.

“She’s been there since morning” My nanny said. She and I shared a look and began to laugh.

“I’m sorry baby.” She said after we were done. “I know all of this is not funny to you.”

I dipped my fork into the plate of noodles that was my dinner and said nothing. When I realized she was still staring at me and waiting for an answer. I waved my fork and lowered my eyes so the tears wouldn’t fall.

“How was work?” She asked.

“Fun!” I said smiling. “I love working surrounded by all those books.”

“I’m so proud of you baby” Miss Fletcher said. “Even though no one expects a senator’s daughter to work.”

“I am Sally” I said

“I know baby. Still… You’re so inspiring” She said wiping her eyes with the edge of a rag. I waved my fork at her in warning.

“No tears around me, remember?” I asked

“Yes. Umm. Sorry. Eat your food” she said.

I was about to begin actually eating the food when she said “Your dad stopped by today,.”

“Yeah?” I replied.

“He asked about you.” She said.

“Really?” I said testily “Did he go out to her?” I asked. Miss Fletcher looked towards the pool.

“Yes. I even saw them kissing” she answered. I rolled my eyes.

“Next time he comes, tell him not to bother asking, I’m doing just fine without him,” I said.

“Sally!”

“What!?” I whined.

“Eat your food!” She commanded. I turned my eyes away from the judgement in her eyes. She couldn’t possibly understand how I felt.

Drew

“Don’t hit it like that” my dad said. I looked up at him. He was standing on top of the marble counter we just put together. He was naked from the waist up and wearing only his favorite khaki trousers. He came down and walked up to me.

“You know you have to hold it like a man” his hand slid over my own and he held my wrist like a vice. With every motion of the hammer hitting nails, his crotch moved against mine in the most obscene way and I was once again powerless to stop him. He moved three more times and got up, there was perspiration on his forehead.

“That’s how to do it, Son” he said, giving me a firm rub on the back. When he had gone back to his work, I got up and went over to the drinking jug. Two months ago at Mr Houston’s house when Sally had said she knew stuff about my family, I was not surprised. Everyone in the neighborhood knew the story of the Marcon family. After the first son ran away from home, rumors that Mr Macron had molested him filtered through the neighborhood.

Although no one came outright to tell any member of the family, they were still aware of the sordid information going around. The person that was hurt most by the knowledge was their mother. The sweet sad woman could not believe her husband would be capable of such horrific acts.

Only Drew knew the things their father used to do to Felix, only him knew the things father wanted to do to him now that his brother was gone. Then there was the guilt he felt anytime the man came close to him in that manner. He felt like he owed his mother an apology by default for all the love she showered on the ungrateful man.

“Come on Son. Let’s be off.” His father said. Drew bent to pick up the hammer and his father’s hand met his flesh again.

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Houston

“It’s a pity sir. We need every man we can get but some like you are just a little bit too old” the soldier said. I looked at his gloating smile and for the first time in 20 years I was grateful for my childless marriage. The war had come upon us suddenly and it had brought with it animals like this man.

“Is that all, Sir?” I asked when I saw him lighting another cigarette

“Oh! Yes. I must be on my way” He beckoned to his men and they picked their feet off the floor and left my house.

When they had left, Annabel came out of the house and wrapped me in a warm hug.

“What they’re going to do with those young men, Sweetie” I said

“Shhhh… I know”

“This war is unnecessary. What about Drew!?” I cried.

“Shhh baby! Don’t make me cry!” My wife gulped. I held her and kissed her forehead.

Drew

When I heard about the war, I fled my house and hid in the abandoned buildings. I knew they would eventually come back for me but I needed more time. The first place I went to was Mr Houston’s house. The door was firmly locked when I got there and I had to go around the back to bang on the back door. Annabel was frightened for a moment and Mr Houston came out with his double barreled gun but when they saw it was me, they quickly let me in.

“My poor boy!” Annabel said ruffling my hair and kissing me head. I felt like bawling in her arms but I knew I did not have time for that.

“I’ve got questions Sir, I need answers” I told Mr Houston.

“Come with me.”

We both walked to his study and we sat surrounded by all those leather backed books. The place smelled of paper, ink and tender loving care.

“How did you get away?” He asked.

“I’ve been hiding in those incomplete data buildings at the edge of town” I said. His eyes said he was impressed but he shook his head.

“It won’t be a good hiding place for long.” He replied

“I know. I just want to have some insider idea about this war before they take me. You more than everyone knows being in the war is different from being around it.” I said. He nodded his agreement.

“I know it is going to be bloody. I fear for your life,” when he said this, he looked at me and his eyes were so sad I wanted to cry. “I want you to stick to the south though. Whatever you do try to make sure you’re not posted up North. Men die there like flies.

“Yes sir” I said. He smiled at me.

“Look at you! Already talking like a soldier!” He exclaimed.

“Thank you Mr You. For everything.” I said. His eyes filled with tears.

“You’re my son. Don’t listen to what anybody says. Fight this war and come back to your Papa. You hear me!?”

“Yes Sir” I said through my tears.

“Come here!”

***

“Is there anywhere else you want to go?” Mr Houston said as though he was reading my mind. I wanted to go see Sally one last time but I couldn’t go at that time. I needed to wait until the following evening. When I neared Sally’s mansion of a house I heard her playing a sad tune on the guitar. I went up the steps and her Nanny opened the door. When she saw me she quickly pulled me into the house.

“Did anybody see you come here?” She asked.

“No ma’am. Not that it matters, I’ll be turning myself in tomorrow. I just want to see Sally.” I said.

“She’s Upstairs”

I met Sally sitting cross legged on the floor of her balcony. She was singing about war and she looked so beautiful I felt like putting her inside myself and carrying her with me.

“Sally” I called. She jumped and turned around when she heard her name.

“Drew!!!” Sooner than I thought I was peppered with hot wet kisses delivered so fast I had to laugh despite the situation.

“I’m here Sally” I said when she started weeping in my arms.

“But for how long!?” She cried.

“I’ll be leaving tomorrow morning,” I said. She burst into fresh sobs that racked her body. I realized I was terrible at consoling women so I lifted her up and carried her into the room in my arms.

“Shhhh” I begged her.

“I can’t believe you’re leaving me.”

“It is the war” I pleaded.

“We do everything together!”

“I know. I’m sorry. Forgive me Sally”

The next morning I woke up with my hands around her bare shoulders. In the course of the night our grief had taken advantage of us and we had chosen to give ourselves the best goodbye we could think of. I pried myself from under her and left her there sleeping on her Snow White sheets looking like a pretty flower wet with dew.

Sally

We had all believed that the war would last only for a short while but it didn’t stop. My belly grew larger and larger and every night I would stand in front of the window overlooking my balcony and imagine Drew standing behind me with his hands on my belly. Sometimes my imaginations were so vivid I could feel his breath on my neck.

I was convinced I was insane but Annabel reassured me that I wasn’t. I was just pregnant. At that time I spent more hours in their house than I spent in mine. Sitting in the living room with Annabel and Houston reading with me like Drew would have done. We talked about how the war was affecting us. Mr Houston had not been able to retrieve his money from the bank. Annabel’s family were urging her to come home.

My own mother was convinced this city was no longer safe for the Senator’s family and wanted us to live. I told her I was going to have my baby in this place I loved so much and she was just patiently waiting for me to be due. Sometimes when she looked at me, I saw her glance at my belly in a way that I did not like. It was as if she cared nothing about her grandchild or worse still desired to tear it out of me. I told The Houstons about this and they told me not to worry.

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Houston

The war does a lot of things to you. One of the changes it wrought on us was that we began to see we could do things we earlier thought were impossible. Like having a baby. When Sally’s water broke we were all transfixed for a moment. Three amateurs who knew very little about birthing but were willing to go through with it with all the love in our hearts.

Few hours after it was all done we heard a knock at the door. My wife Annabel was crying near the dining table. I walked up to the door and opened it. Sally’s mother stood outside looking so shiny I had to blink. She was wearing a white dress that flattered her brown skin, her hair had been bleached to be as white as her teeth. I stepped to the side so she could enter. I feared what this woman would do when she knew what we had done.

“I got your call. Where is my daughter?” She asked.

“She’s fine” I said weakly.

“What about the ermm baby” she asked. I turned away from her.

“Yes?” She queried.

“I’m sorry Ma’am. She didn’t make it. Was too weak.” I said. She searched my face for a moment to see if I was telling the truth. When she was done, she looked at my wife who was still weeping.

“That’s alright. Take me to my daughter. We leave now” she said.

“To where?” I asked.

“Paris” she said. Sally was gone by morning.

***

I bought the book store two years later after the war and one morning a young woman walked into the place. The place was not as busy as it usually was so I quickly noticed her.

“How can I help you miss?” I asked.

“Take me to Mr You” she said.

“What?” I asked confused.

“Take me to Mr You” she repeated.

“Sally!” I cried.

“Mr You!” She cried hugging me. I held her to me for a while, she smelled like roses.

“How did you get here so fast? I only sent that letter two days ago” I asked as I watched her nurse her cup of coffee. She smiled happily at me

“I drive a bloody fast car nowadays, Mr You.”

“I see” I replied.

“When do I meet my daughter?” She asked.

I picked up my car keys. “Now” I said.

***

Two months later I stood in front of the mirror in a gray tuxedo Sally got specially for me. Annabel primped behind me in a sleek black dress I told her was way too tight. I stared at my face in the mirror. Now a growing mass of wrinkles, I was really looking like a grandfather these days. Annabel teased me daily about my getting too old for social activities and I teased her right back.

It was two years after all our lives went to shit. We were all resurrecting like the lilies in our backyard. I would have said everything was back to normal, but we all know how extraordinary a wedding is just after the war.

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