Episode 34

SHH, ITT

Shy and Itt takes Robert advice and retreat to the apartment upstairs from 'What's The Skinny' pastry and bakery store.  As soon as they entered the apartment, they flopped down on the sofa.  They were tired from the days events and don't know what else is to come.  Shy told Itt that Robert would be calling in 10 minutes.  "I guess once my dad calls we can sort things out," Shy said.

"What type of things?" Itt asked.

"Well with the shooting, how long will they keep the store closed and stuff?  And I haven't spoken with Jordan since I got here," Shy said.

"Oh, yea Jordan," Itt said rolling his eyes.

Shy ignores Itt and changes the subject, "have you thought about contacting Stacy?"

"I thought about it, but I really wouldn't know what to say to her."

"She's at your aunts' house Itt, in addition, she is getting her life together.  I think you should call her."

Shy picks up the phone and dials a number.  "Hey, how are you?"

"I'm good.  I just arrived in New York for some business and I was gonna try to hook up with you.  I got a surprise for you, but you have to wait.  You and your friend will like it very much.  I'll give you a hint, 'I was paying attention'."

"So not fair," Shy said.

"Well, such as life.  How are you doing?" Jordan asked.

"Well…it hasn't been a great day…"

"Shy, you didn't cu…"

"No, I didn’t cut myself.  It's a long story.  When I see you, I will fill you in.  When you said 'friend' did you mean Itt?" Shy asked.

"Yup, I did.  But I will talk to you and you tell me how you feel about it, okay?  No more questions; tomorrow, we get together and catch up.  Tell Itt, I said hello.  Bye Shy."

"That was Jordan, huh?  What did he have to say about me?" Itt asked.

"He said hello to begin with, and he said he has a surprise for us," Shy answered.

"Us?" Itt asked surprisingly.

"Yes, us.  He said it’s a surprise so I have no clue to what it is," Shy replied.

"Hmpt…yeah okay," Itt said with irritation in his tone.

Shy walks over to Itt, grabs his chin and looks him dead in the eye, "don’t be that way okay?"

"Alright Shy, with all that happened today, I will give you that.  But he better not be pulling a fast one," Itt said.

"Shut up," Shy said and gave Itt a kiss on his lips.

The lock on the entry door started to unlocked, Shy, and Itt rushed away from each other.  The door opened and there stood Percy.  Percy walked in and looked at the boys.  "What are you guys up too?"

"Nothing!" they both yelled.

"It's okay guys, I already know.  I'm okay with it.  You both are grown young men.  Just be careful.  I'm gonna go to my room and rest.  Shy let me know when your dad calls, okay?" Percy said.

Percy walks inside the bright room and dive face down on his bed.  He is confused about the days events and don't know what to make of anything anymore.  Even though Layla betrayed him, he was willing to listen to her side of the story.  He knows that she had information that could harm Robert and himself.  He just wanted her to suffer a little for the betrayal but now she's gone and he is afraid that more trouble is brewing.

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A limo pulls up in front of 'What's The Skinny' bakery. The back door on the passenger side opens and there steps a pair of black Gucci loafers.  "I'm already out!" he told the chauffer so that he didn't come around to open the door.  "Just wait on me and I don't know how long I will be," Jordan informed his chauffer.  He looks up at the building and is impressed.  The building has character, that old New York character is what he thought to himself.  He rings the door bell.

"Who is it?" blasted through the speaker box.

"It's Jordan McQueen, Shy's friend!"

There was a bit of a long pause.

(INSIDE THE APARTMENT)

"Did he just say Jordan?" Shy asked Itt who is standing at the intercom.

"What is he doing here?  I thought you said he wouldn't be here till tomorrow," Itt said aggravated.

"Chill with the jealousy, it don't look cute on you.  Well I guess he decided to surprise us.  Well don’t have him waiting, buzz him in," Shy said as he watched Itt walk away from the intercom.  Shy walks to the intercom and pushes the speak button, "Sorry, Jordan, come on up…first door on your right."

"Itt, don't be rude," Shy warned.

Shy is sprucing up the apartment while Itt sits with his arms folded.  They can hear the footsteps coming up the stairs.  Shy opens the door and sees Jordan's figure through the glass-frosted door that separates the staircase.  The door opens and Shy couldn't contain his happiness as Jordan's face appears.  He runs up to Jordan and gives him a tight hug.

"Surprise!" Jordan said with a big grin on his face.

"You said tomorrow?"

"Well, this is big and I couldn't wait.  It seemed as if you could use some good news, so hear I am."

"Well come in.  You remember Itt?" Shy asked.

Itt walks over to Jordan and extends his hand, "Hi, Jordan."

"How are you Itt?  Good seeing you again.  Well listen guys I have great news for the both of you," Jordan said.

"Both of us?" Itt asked surprised.

"If you both have a moment and ride with me someplace and we can discuss," Jordan said.

"Who is at the door!?" Percy yelled from the bedroom.

Shy told Jordan, "That's my dad's partner…I mean his business partner."

"It's Jordan.  Percy, a friend of mine!" Shy yelled from the living room.

Percy raised himself up off the bed because he knew that the voice sounded familiar.  Percy stands in the doorway of his bedroom and sees Jordan from the back.  "Jordan, Jordan PB?" Percy asked with laughter.

Jordan turns around to look at Percy, "Thunder? Thunder is that you?  Man look at you, you are swole!"

Jordan and Percy embraced each other with hugs and stared at each other for a moment.

"Umm hmmm," Shy clears his throat.

Jordan and Percy breaks their stare, "Oh yeah, Shy, he is a friend of mine from way back," Percy says.

"Apparently." Itt said sarcastically.

"Yeah, we go way back (he grins at Percy).  You go by Percy, huh?" Jordan asked.

"Yup, Thunder retired long time ago.  So just call me Percy, my govna name, hahaha."

"You got it.  So, what's going on?  There is a lot of commotion outside," Jordan asked.

"A friend of mine was killed today in front of the store, well somebody I thought was a friend," Percy answered.

"Aw man, I so sorry to hear that, that's serious.  Are you guys okay? I mean is there anything I could do to help?" Jordan asked and was truly concerned.

"Well apparently she was a real bitch and had some shady shit going on and we believe that it's not over, so we don't know what to expect from here on out," Itt answered.

"Itt!" Shy said shocked at the way Itt was speaking.

"Sorry man, but that's the truth.  It could have been either one of us and you acting all jolly because Grandpa is here.  Yeah, I think I will call Stacy," Itt said annoyed and walked into Roberts' room.

"Sorry Jordan…" Shy said.

"No need.  Maybe I should come by in a couple of days when things have calmed down a little bit.  I am truly sorry about what's going on Percy.  Shy, can I talk with you in the hall for a minute?  You don't mind Percy?" Jordan said.

Jordan walks out to the hall with Shy following, "Shy, are you truly okay?  I know you don't need this type of stress with your condition."

"Honestly Jordan, I'm not okay.  It just has been one thing after another and I just want normal, I want things just to be normal.  I can't lie and say I haven't thought about cutting, but I didn't.  It's times when I just want to be by myself but I feel that Itt needs me.  He seems strong but I think it's all a front.  He needs to speak to his mom and patch things up…"

"Look, here's the thing, in order for you take care of others you have to take care of yourself first, your mental health is very important.  People don't realize how serious cutting can be and how dangerous it is.  I know you want to help but just steer them a little.  Don't try to take on other people problems, cause no one is going to take on yours.  I want you to be careful.  Come here."

Shy moves closer to Jordan and Jordan give him a big hug and whispers in his ear, "I will take care of all your needs but I need you to take care of yourself first."

The floor squeaked and they turned around only to see the back of Itt walking back into the apartment.

As Jordan cuts the visit with Shy, he realized that the actions Itt displayed leaves him in a awkward position.  He is now rethinking the surprise for them both and only want to include Shy alone.  But is Shy ready for something this big? 

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As Jordan's limo driver dodge in and out of the busy New York traffic they finally arrive at a building.  The building has a 'Under construction' sign on the door.  There is construction trucks parked in the lot next to the building, and it is obviously in progress of renovation.  The lead contractor and designer inside the building escort Jordan from one room to the next.  This project has been planned for several months and Jordan is more than pleased with the progress.

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Percy and Itt is in the kitchen having small talk when Shy walks back into the apartment.  "You need to call your mom," Shy said.

"My what?" Itt replied upset.

"Your mom! Your mom! Your mom! Cause that is what she is.  You should learn to accept that.  You have an anger problem and you have to work it out.  It's not okay…point, blank, period!" Shy said annoyed.

"I told you…" Itt said. 

"You told me what?  It don’t matter Itt.  You are going to let this anger ruin your life and think you gonna take me with you, I don't think so.  You call her or you leave, today," Shy said.

With a chewed apple in his mouth trying to speak, "Shy that was kinda harsh." Percy managed to say.

Percy and Shy watches as Itt leaves the room, not muttering a word.  "What?" Shy shrugs his shoulders to Percy, feeling a bit guilty that he may have hurt Itt's feelings.  Percy shakes his head but don't say a word.

10 minutes later

"My aunt is on her way to pick me up.  I'll wait outside," Itt said as he walks out the apartment with a duffle bag.

Shy gestured to stop Itt but Percy grabbed Shy's arm and told him to 'let him go'.

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Tom and Jackie pulls up in front of the Robert's building.  Jackie jumps out the car and gives Itt a tight hug, "Look at you, I missed you so much.  This is my husband Tom.  Stacy is at the house cooking your favorite meal.  C'mon get in," Jackie said excited to see her only nephew.

"It's good to meet you Itt," Tom says as he drives off.

"It's good to meet you too.  Jackie, how is my mom doing?" Itt asked.

"Itt, ahhh she is doing very good.  She is always talking about you, how much she misses you.  She can't wait to see her baby," Jackie said.

"Hmpt," Itt said.

The trio arrives at Tom and Jackie's.  Itt's heart is racing rapidly.  He don't know if he should be upset, mad, angry, happy, or whatever.  He stands on the porch watching Tom and Stacy enter the house.  He hears in the distant, 'where's my baby?  Where's Itt, did he come?'  Itt knows that the familiar voice is the lady that once betrayed him, stole from him, and made him inherit the anger that boils in his blood.

Itt stands on one side of the screened door and he sees a lady with an apron on the other side.  He barely recognized the healthy woman.  Tears raced down her face as the creek of the door opened.  It all seemed to happen in slow motion.  She drops the kitchen towel from her hand and grab the baby boy to whom she gave birth to 20 years ago.

In a broken whisper, "momma, momma, momma," the two embraced which seemed like forever.

"My baby, I'm so sorry.  I think that’s the first time you every called me momma," Stacy cried.

They pull away from each other and stare.  "Happy Mother's day, mom," Itt managed to say and he felt a rush of happiness with a mix of forgiveness in his heart.

The Next Day…

Jordan driver is blowing the horn of the limo, "Shy come down!" Jordan yells.

It is 8 am and Shy haven't even been up to brush his teeth nor wash his face, "What's going on out there?"

"SHHYYY, your gran-pa is down stair making a bunch of ratchet!" Percy said while still waking up annoyed.

"He's not my gran-pa.  Oh shut up man," Shy said as he ran to the front window.

"Jordan, what are you doing?  It's 8 o'clock in the morning!"

"Well, you need to make a move on it Mr. CEO of your own company of what ever you want to name it," Jordan said in excitement.

"My WHAT?!" Shy yelled.

"I told you Shy, I was paying attention.  You earned it," Jordan said.

Percy rolls out of the bed, "own company?" he says under his breath and runs to the window in disbelief.

To Be Continued…….