Episode 16

TRACY

Tracy wakes up in a hospital bed.  He touches his belly, it still feels the same.  The room is
warm and he hears the beeps from the machines and chatter outside of the room.  He sits up and sees cards and flowers in the room and Lauren.  Lauren is passed out in a chair and her attire is a business suit. She must have come from work.  Tracy looks for a clock on the wall and finds it, it reads 8:04 but he is not sure if it is am or pm.

“Lauren.  Lauren.” Tracy tries to speak but his voice is low and extra raspy.

Tracy figures it must be 8:04 am because Lauren didn’t budge to wake up, so she must be really tired. She had to have slept here all night.

A nurse walks in and gets a wooden stick and tells Tracy to open her mouth and say ‘Aghhhhhhh’ Tracy does so.

Once the nurse is done Tracy asks the nurse, ‘how’s the baby?’

“I don’t have children,” the nurse answered.

“No, how is my baby?” Tracy asked.

“I don’t understand. There is no baby,” the nurse answered.

“I was pregnant before I got here, and you telling me there is no baby,” Tracy said getting
angry.

“We did a pregnancy test and found you are not pregnant.  When did you take a test and
it said you were pregnant?” the nurse asked.

“A couple weeks ago I found out I was 6 weeks,” Tracy said.

“Ok, we will do another one just to be on the safe side,” the nurse said and she left the room.

“What did she say? She said you are not pregnant?” Lauren said and Tracy now realizing that
she is woke.

“Yeah, that’s what she said.  But we will see,” Tracy said.

“Yeah, ok.  Now tell me Trace, what were you thinking?  Why would you go looking for trouble?  Now you know me being here puts me in an awkward position.  But you know my brother stays around there and he called the EMS and then he called me,” Lauren said with concern in her medium to high pitch voice.

“Jon got money and apparently he wants to make sure I stay pregnant.  I called so many clinics
today, Lauren and nobody would help me. I’m not ready to be a parent and I don’t wanna carry a baby full term,” Tracy said and didn’t continue because the nurse walked back into the room.

“Miss, can I ask you to step out for a little bit?” The nurse asked Lauren.

“Sure.  Tracy I’m gonna be just outside the door,” Lauren said.

“Have you decided what you want for dinner?  It’s a little late but we can manage,” the nurse asked Tracy.

“Late? What time is it?” Tracy asked.

“Its 8:15,” the nurse answered.

“AM or PM?” Tracy asked.

“PM.”

“I thought I been here over night.  So this happened to me today, right?” Tracy asked.

(The nurse is giving Tracy another pregnancy test)

“Yes, hold still.  Alright I got it.  I will be back with your results,” the nurse said.

Lauren walks back into the room.  “Ok, so now what?”

“She just gave me another test.  I’m waiting on the results,” Tracy said.

“You know that was really dangerous.  You could have been killed, Trace.  I can’t believe that you went to those lengths to lose your baby and I’m shocked at Jon for being such a pig.  He has been such an ass at the office.  I keep my distant.  Have you heard from Janet?” Lauren said.

“No, she’s with her sister. She lost it.  She lost her mind,” Tracy says with a chuckle.  “It’s not how I
picture things would turn out.  I was supposed to work and go to school and become a lawyer.  I can’t have this baby.  I’m so used to being in control and having my life planned.  I wish I never met Jon.  And Janet.” Tracy said

“Well luckily Kenneth found you and you seem to be holding up ok.  You were the first person I met
when I moved here.  You were trying to mack on a sister.  You are the best male friend I have and if something happen to you, I’ma kill you,” Lauren said. 

The nurse walks back into Tracy’s room.

“It’s okay, you can say it in front of her,” Tracy gave the nurse permission to give her the results in front of Lauren.

“Sure, it’s negative. You are not pregnant and we don’t show any signs that you were ever pregnant,” the nurse said.

Tracy looked at Lauren and Lauren is looking at the nurse with an astonishing look on her face.

____________________________________________________

                                        THUNDER

Percy “Thunder” Jenkins (36) was born in the ghettos of Detroit, MI. mainly on the eastside near Mack and Van Dyke.  He was raised like many boys in the inner city, only by his mother.  He never knew who his dad was and didn’t care to know. He had many uncles that his mother introduced to him, but they never stayed around long enough to really know him and be a male figure for him to
look up too.

At the age of 14 Thunder and his mother had an appalling fight regarding one of his so-called uncles. Thunder revealed to his mother, Bertha, that Uncle Frank had touched him unsuitably.  His mother strung out on drugs and always put men before her son, called him a liar and got physically
abusive towards this 125 lb young boy.  He found himself on the streets sleeping from one house to another and turn to prostitution for survivor.  By the age of 16 Percy started to sell drugs and was able to have his own apartment.  He adapted the name Thunder when he started to work out at the age of 17 by one of the community center members.  Percy would lift very heavy weights in the community center gym and had a terrible habit of dropping them.  The weights made an atrocious thunderous
sound, and that’s when a member nicknamed him Thunder and broke him out the habit.  Although he lifted weights it seemed he never got much bigger and he gave up on the lifting and started
having obsessions with the females.  He was a big player in the neighborhood until he hooked up with the wrong girl who just so happens to have a boyfriend that ran Thunder out of town so Percy
“Thunder” Jenkins started new roots in the Bronx, New York. 

He had heard that New York was the town of opportunities and with his slender tone and handsome face he figure maybe he can get into the modeling business.  He hustled up and had head shots taken and managed to meet some industry big leagues. He got a contract with an agency that convinces him that this is a way to start modeling.  The contract was with Male Mayhem a porn agency that specializes in gay porn.  Thunder was impressed with the figures that he would be paid, but not so impressed with the work.  Thunder made very good money in the agency but was not happy.  He started to use drugs as much as he used women to cover that fact that he was ‘gay for pay’.

To be Continued…….

Episode 15

                 ROBERT

Robert and Thunder has been getting a lot of attention every since they’ve offered to do a taping on The Othella Show.  Robert is so excited about
his first time on national television and more excited that he is doing it with
his new found best friend Thunder.

Today is the day that Robert cuts the ribbon and opens ‘What’s the Skinny Pastries and Stuff’.  He interviewed a young lady by the name of
Jackie who seems enthusiastic and has some business sense to run the new bakery.  After discussing it with his partner Thunder, they decided to hire her.

Robert wishes that Carla could be there to share the joy of opening the bakery, but she insisted of staying home with the kids, especially Shy and Itt.  Shy and Itt had to be home schooled this summer since they both had rough senior years. 

With local reporters, cameras, crowds of people, and even the Mayor made the day more exciting for the dual. “5, 4, 3, 2, 1 WHAT’S THE SKINNY!!!! Everyone yelled and counted down the time till the noon hour and Robert
cut the ribbon.  Jackie, a gracious host she was, had plenty of sample trays made up. Everyone seemed to be having a great time, except Thunder.  Robert was looking for Thunder for a photo opt and when he finally spotted the 6 foot 5 inch man through the crowd he appeared to be shouting at someone on his cell phone.

Robert took a few pictures for the newspapers and excused himself. He pursued towards Thunder through the crowd.  He didn’t want to get Thunder anymore upset than he already was so thankfully Thunder was done with the cell phone conversation once Robert approach him.

Robert throws his hand up and says with a lot of enthusiasm. “WHAT’S THE SKINNY!!”

“Oh hey Robert, yeah umm, what’s the skinny,” Thunder said not matching Robert’s enthusiasm but more in a low and sad tone.

“Well, is everything alright, Thunder?” Robert asked concerned.

“BULLY?!!” Jackie asked.

Thunder’s head swiftly turned at Jackie as if she knew something she shouldn’t.  “I will catch up with you later Robert and we will talk then, but right now I have to go.” Thunder said and walked off.

“Did I say something wrong?” Jackie asked Robert.

“No, you didn’t Jackie.  How do you like the Bully-claw?” Robert said
to Jackie while periodically watching Thunder in the distant.

“Well, I didn’t try it?”

“You should, it is a Bear-claw technically but the Bully have 15 grams of protein and all the B vitamins, so it’s not bad to have after a workout or before.  It packs a punch, a sucker punch, so we call it The Bully-claw, yeah Thunder came up with the name,” Robert explained to Jackie.

“I’m really worried about him,” Jackie said.

“Well, little lady you let me handle that.  You just keep making the
customers happy.  Everything will work out”, Robert said.

Robert feels in his pockets for his cell phone only to realize he left it back at the store.  Once inside the store he sees that Carla has been calling him.  He calls her back immediately hoping that everything is ok.

(one sided conversation)

“Hey dear, how are you and the kids?” Robert asked

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Oh my, are you ok?  Do you need me to come home?” Robert said
concerned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Thunder’s WHAT?” Robert said angrily.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Is this some type of set up?  I trusted this guy,” Robert said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Yeah it better be a very good explanation.  I didn’t even know he
had a family, let alone an insecure bully of a son,” Robert said.

Just as Robert is having the conversation Thunder stands there in the door way of Roberts’ office.

“Who are you talking about Robert?” Thunder asked.

“Hold on honey, as a matter of fact let me call you back.” Robert pushes ‘end’ on his cell phone and walks towards Thunder, with his belly touching Thunder and his head just below Thunders’ chin.  “Your son is the one
that has been bullying Shy,” Robert said angrily as he bumps Thunder with his belly.

“WHAT!? I didn’t even know he went to Shy’s school”, Thunder said with anger.

“THUNDER, HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW WHAT SCHOOL YOUR KID ATTENDS? THAT BANANAS!” Robert yelled.

“Robert it’s a long story.  That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.  I’m sorry about the bullying, but I had no idea,” Thunder said.

‘Tenemos gente Buena y ayudamos a la gente y la gente quiere hacer dano por nosotros' Robert turns back towards his desk mumbling to himself in his native language spanish.

(we’re good people and we help people and people want to do harm by us)#in english

“Hello” (knock knock knock) “Hello”

“This area is for employees only ma’am, I’ma have to ask you to go to the lobby,” Thunder said politely.

“I’m looking for my sister.  I think she works here,” Stacy said.

Thunder is staring at Stacy as if they are the only ones on the planet. 

“Hello, does my sister work here?  Her name is Jackie”, Stacy asked again.

“Thunder!” Robert yelled.

Thunder shakes his head and extends his hand to Stacy, “Have we met before?

“Umm, I don’t think so”, Stacy said.

“Are you sure maybe about 12 years ago maybe?” Thunder said.

“Honey, I can’t remember 5 minutes ago and you talking over a decade, I have met a lot of men in 12 years but never one that remembers me.” Stacy said as she stands there with her hands on her hip.

“Well I was a boy back then and I did a lot of people wrong,” Thunder said.

“Why are you telling me this?” Stacy asked.

“Stacy it’s me Percy,” Thunder said.

She takes a good look at Thunder, “well, well, well, Percy Cornroll Jenkins.  Look at you, all buff and stuff.”

Stacy walks over to Thunder looking as to give him a hug but instead deck him in the chin.

“YOU LEFT ME OUT THERE WITH MY SON.  MY LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN SO DIFFERENT.  YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT
HAPPENED TO ME THAT NIGHT, YOU ARE A MONSTER!!”

“Stacy?” Jackie says as she walks in the office.

Stacy walks out the office yelling, “YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE!”

Jackie goes after Stacy.  They stand outside the bakery. Stacy breathing is heavy and tears are rolling down her face. 

“Stacy, what’s going on?” Jackie asked concerned.

“Jackie, Thunder is Percy, he left us on the street and I got tricked into drugs”, Stacy said.

“Thunder is Percy, your ex-boyfriend that left you and Itt on the streets?” Jackie said.

______________________________________________

                CARLA/JANET/KIDS

“I just got off the phone with your dad and told him what happened, he was very upset,” Carla said.

“Mom that was amazing,” Brandy said.

“I wanna gansta bitch with a gansta booty”, Janet raps.

“JANET! The Children!  Look I don’t condone violence, I was protecting my son.  She was a grown lady, she had no right to hit him,” Carla said.

“Who hit who?” Thomas asked.  Thomas is Shy’s 12 year old
brother who is very into music.  He has his own band and they seem serious about their craft to be so young.  Carla and Robert bought Thomas a drum set when he was 6 years old because since he was a toddler he likes to beat things with his hand and it always had a funky beat.

“Mom and I just had a scuffle with Thunders’ girlfriend or wife and his son,” Shy said.

“Mom was amazing,” Brandy repeated.

“Mom you had a actual fight?” Thomas asked.

“Dang, I miss everything,” Ryan said disappointed.

“First of all Thomas, it’s ‘an’ actual fight, and second little Ryan, you didn’t miss anything at all, and third and final, thank you Brandy.  We are not a violent family and we will discuss this with Thunder.  He seems to be the rational one,” Carla said.

“She beat that bitch with a bat, she beat that bitch with a bat”, Janet raps.

Carla runs over to Janet and puts her hand over Janet’s mouth to shut her up.

“What’s important is that we find out what happened to Itt,” Carla said.

“Mom, do you think he left on his own or he was forced?” Shy asked.

“He will be okay, Shy.  We will figure it out.  Don’t worry,” Carla said and walks over and give Shy a hug.

The telephone starts to ring and Brandy answers, “Hey Uncle Jon!”

Janet gets up out the Lazy-Boy chair and stands next to Brandy. She holds her hand out to get the phone but Brandy is the talker of the
family and she is talking to her uncle like he is her best friend.

“Hey, hey little girl.  Give me the phone,” Janet demanded.

“Ok, love you Uncle Jon.  I’ll tell everybody you said ‘hello’.  Bye now. Aunt Janet…….”  Janet grabs the phone from Brandy.

“Hello? Hello? Hello?  Where did he go?  Did he ask to speak to me?” Janet asked.

“No he didn’t.  He said he was calling to check on us”,Brandy said.

Janet SLAPS Brandy.  “DON’T PLAY WITH ME YOU LITTLE SLUT”.

Carla gets off her couch slowly and walks toward Janet.  Janet stands with terror in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry”, Janet fears for her life.

Carla doesn’t say a single word as she steps.  The children mouths
are open and Brandy is in a corner crying holding her cheeks.  Janet turns and darts down the hallway and runs up the stairs.  Janet draws the
curtains back from a window in one of the bedrooms to plan an escape.  She hears Carla heavy steps rapidly coming up the squeaky wood stairs.  The jump from the window is too far for her to escape but she thinks that it probably is a good option since she is gonna die anyway once Carla gets a hold of her.  The door slowly opens and Carla steps inside, she closes the door behind her and locks it. Carla approach Janet and Janet tries to talk her way out.  Carla back slaps Janet and she falls over the nightstand.  Carla grabs Janet up off the floor and tosses her to the wooden closet door. The door shatters into firewood. She pulls Janet out the closet by one leg.  Janet is kicking the other leg and calling for help.  Carla puts her knee in
Janet’s’ back and grabs her hair and bangs her head on the floor.  The kids are knocking on the door and hollering.  Carla hears the kids and it
brings her back.

“I give you two hours,” Carla says to Janet.

To be continued………….

Episode 14

              SHY

Shy walk into his room and locks the door, he goes into his box and pulls out a scrap piece of paper with Thunders number on it.

“Why isn’t he answering?” Shy says to himself.

He thinks about his sister being so brave and his mother actually caring about Itt to go look for him.  He grabs a pair of sneakers and put them on.  When he walks outside of his bedroom door he trips and falls on his face. He looks up and it is his brother Ryan. Ryan is 14 years old and is the
practical joker of the house. 

Shy picks himself up and looks at his brother.  Ryan is laughing
hysterically.  “You know what I really don’t have time to deal with you right now,” Shy said.

“Can I go with you?” Ryan asks.

“No, it might be dangerous,” Shy answered.

“Well, who’s gonna protect you?” Ryan said being a smart ass.

“Agh!” Shy looked at Ryan and continued out the house.

Once outside, Shy sees his mother and sister.  “Hey, wait for me!” Shy yelled.

He runs to catch up with them unto a figure runs right in front of him, facing him head on.  It was the guy that pushed Shy that was on the video that is now is circulating on youtube.

“Wassup, punk?” the guy said while he pushed Shy in the chest.

Shy stumbles backwards, but he doesn’t fall. 

“Don’t you know how to fight?  Or are you one of those flower boys?

Shy tries to walk around the guy but he kept stepping to each side that Shy was trying to pass.

“I don’t want any trouble”, Shy said extremely scared.

PUNCH! The boy punches Shy in the face and Shy stumbles to the cement. Shy jumps up off the ground and put his hand on each of the boys shoulder and knees him in his crouch. The boy bends over in agony “AGHHHHHHH! You pussy!” the boys yells.

“Leave him alone!  Pick on somebody your own size?”

Her arms grab the boy and shook him.  “What’s wrong with you?  You gon let that boy take you like that?”  She turns from the boy and slaps Shy.  “Don’t you ever touch him again.”

Carla from a distant turns and witnesses this average sized strange lady handling her son.  She runs in Shy direction, which was 5 houses down, and grabs the lady by the neck, wraps her arms around her until she surrendered and fell to the ground. Carla puts her left knee on the ladies chest and the weight of Carla pins her to the ground.  “If you touch him again I swear foe God I will kill you!” This is the very first time that Carla has ever had a physical altercation and she felt like a tiger. Brandy is in aw of what she sees what her mother is capable of.

“Call your dad, Thomas!  Call Thunder!” the lady told her son.

“THUNDER?!” CARLA AND SHY said shockingly.

_____________________________________________________

                         TRACY

Tracy hangs the phone up immediately after Jon’s threat.  His heart is racing.  He gets up from his desk and runs to the bathroom.  Inside the bathroom he paces and tries to figure what will he do?  He goes into his pocket to get his cell phone and realize he left it at his desk.  He leaves the bathroom to head back to his desk and sees Beth on his cell phone.

“Who was that?”  Tracy asks.

“It was Jon Capt, the president of the company”, Beth answered.

“Well, what did he say, Beth?”

“It was just ringing so much that’s the only reason I picked it up.”

“What did Jon say, Beth?”

“I really didn’t mean to pick it up”, Beth said.

Tracy knew that Jon must have said some horrible things.  He gets his phone and leaves the building.  He dials an abortion clinic and they are booked for any appointments. He calls information for some other clinics and none of the clinics will service him.  He gets in his car and drives to a clinic outside of town, and once they heard his name Tracy Johnson they told him that they can’t service him. ‘Jon paid these clinics to blacklist me’ he thought to himself.  He starts to pound his fist on the steering wheel in rage. AGHHHHH!!!!!!  I HATE HIM, I HATE HIM, I HATE HIM!!!!!! Tracy breaks down and his face is flooded with tears. 

He drives to a rough part of town and parks his car near a playground.  He walks over to the basketball court and asks to play. 

The guys tell him ‘next game’.

“No, I’m playing in this game”, Tracy demanded.

“Look man, woman, whatever the hell you are, we said next game”, one of the guy said and walked up on Tracy.

Tracy pushed the guy in his chest ‘Nigga, don’t walk up on me like that’.  Another guy walks up behind Tracy, “Dude, what’s your problem?” Tracy turns around and punches the guy in the face.  All of the guys rushed over and jumped Tracy.  He is down on the ground and not defending himself.  Tracy thinks to himself as he lays there getting beat ‘yeah beat this bastard out of me’.

_________________________________________________________________

                          ITT

Let me go!! Who are you?! What do you want from me?!” screamed Itt

Thinking to himself ‘who are these people? Do these people think that I’m Shy? Is this something that his family is rapped up in? Could this be The Bosses doing?’ Let me go!” Itt yells and kicks.

Itt shouts “Where am I?” as he is thrown into a room his head still covered with a black velvet bag. “Let me go! Let me go!”

“Shut up kid” says a deep and unfamiliar voice as the bag is pulled from his head. He can now breathe freely but thinks the bag is still on his head because of the pitch black room.

After yelling and trying to loosen the ropes binding him suddenly the door flies open and Itt sees the outline of a Coca-Cola shaped woman approaching him.

“So this is little Itt?” says the woman’s voice

“Let me go!” yells Itt

The lights flicker on and as Itt’s eyes adjust to his surroundings, he sees that he is in the office of a warehouse. “Who are you? What do you want?”

“Little Itt all grown up, you have grown up to be quiet the trouble maker, haven’t you? Just like your father.” says Francesca

“My who? Father?” says Itt

Yes little Itt, your father, Charles Roman has been a pain in my families side for years and from what I hear the apple didn’t fall to far from the tree,” says Francesca

“My father?  The Boss is my father?”

“You didn’t know?  Wow this is interesting.  He has protected you since you were a baby.  He’s been taking care of you and your mother.  You didn’t know?” Francesca said.

“No.  Why wouldn’t he tell me?  And why did you kidnap me?” Itt asked.

“You don’t question me little boy.” Francesca said and walked closer to Itt. She grabs his cheeks.  “You are a handsome boy too.  I’ll say Charles did
good”.  She took a hard look at Itt. “You’re gay”, she said.

“Wha…what?” Itt said embarrassingly.

“Your daddy doesn’t like homosexuals.  He actually had a cousin killed because he was gay and didn’t want him in his family. So little Itt, the plot thickens,” Francesca Tagliano said and walked out of the room.

To Be Continued……..

Episode 13

                     STACY

Stacy collects her money off the dresser.  It was inside an envelope that was an exact replica of the one Itt had that she stole from him.  She though about her son, Itt, and wondered if she would ever see him again.  She walks out of the hotel room feeling of shame and filth.  Stacy is on her way to her station until she hears a voice from a distant.

“Stacy?!”

Stacy looks around and sees an old station wagon with a lady behind the steering wheel.  The woman looks familiar.  The lady gestures her arms to signal Stacy to
approach her.  Stacy is reluctant to go to the vehicle so the woman gets out of the station wagon.

“It’s me, Stacy.  Jackie!”

Stacy starts to shake and puts her trembling hands to cover her mouth and tears begin to gravitate strongly to the concrete.  She runs over to Jackie. ‘Jackie?’ she says with a low tone. “Jackie, Jackie, JACKIE!” she cries. They wrapped their arms around each other giving the tightest squeeze.  They both put their hands on each other face to see if the flesh is real.  Is the moment real?  They realize this isn’t a dream and they are really joyful to be reunited.  Jackie tells the two small children in the back of the station wagon to get out and meet their aunt.

“I can’t believe it’s you.  I didn’t know what happened after you left the home”, Jackie says.

Stacy looks at her little sister.  “You’re all grown up.  These are your children?” Stacy asks.

Jackie slightly pushes her children in front of her with her hands still placed on their back.  One at a time Jackie puts her hand on each kid and introduces them.

“This is Joey, he is four.  Say hi, Joey”, Jackie tells her son.

“This is Sarah, she is six years old tomorrow.  Isn’t that right Sarah?” Jackie says.

“I’m not six yet mom.  I’ll be six in……” Sarah says and starts to count on her fingers without coming up with the correct math she settles for ‘I’ll be six tomorrow’.

“How cute are they?  It’s nice to meet you Sarah and Joey.  My name is Stacy”

Sarah pulls on Jackie’s shirt to lower her to whisper in her mother’s ear.

“Mom, she smells.”

But Stacy heard Sarah and her feelings were hurt and Jackie can see it on Stacy’s face.  To ease the embarrassment Jackie says, ‘she a firecracker, she reminds me of you when we were little girls’.

“So yeah…” Jackie says and they stare momentarily at each other in awkwardness.

“Well I have to take the kids of their grandmas.  She is babysitting.  I have a job interview for this pastry restaurant that will be opening up. I interviewing for the management position”.

“Oh, that’s great.  What’s the name of the place?” Stacy asked.

“It’s called, ‘What’s The Skinny Pastries and Stuff’, this guy Robert Alejandro is focusing on healthy baked pastries, doughnuts, and things of that nature.  Here let me give you my number so we can talk.  I don’t wanna be late”, Jackies says and starts to write her number on a piece of paper.

“Ok, lil sis, I look forward to talking to you”, Stacy says sadly while holding the paper tightly in her hand.

With tears in her eyes, Stacy watches as her sister gathers her children and gets back in the station wagon and drives off.

Stacy thinks ‘What’s The Skinny Pastries and Stuff’ hmmm, I’m hungry’ she walks to a nearby café to have a light breakfast.

______________________________________________________________

                     CHARLES ROMAN THE THIRD

“Inmate 7563-3289, you have a visitor!” a guard yells.

The cell door unlocks and opens.  Charles Roman the Third walks to the visitor’s room and sits.  He looks up and is not shocked by his visitor that sits before him.  His face is fuming with rage and he doesn’t say a single word.

“So, I have him and he is safe for now.  We will continue to do what we have to, to get what is rightfully ours.  You can’t depend on that trader Tyrone as you have.  He has been working with us from day one.  He is disposable.  You know what your father has done and now it’s time to even the score.  So inform your men to discharge the north and west regions and you can have your boy back.  This is not negotiable,” Ms. Francesca Tagliano demanded.

“Guards!” Francesca Tagliano yelled as she lifted her 5 foot 10 inch, 140lb, curves like Jessica Rabbit body out the chair and walked to the exit.

Charles Roman the Third sat in his chair and punched the thick guarded glass until blood disintegrated from his knuckles.  He goes to the pay phone and places a collected call, ‘if you see Tyrone, execute him.  No questions.  Tagliano has Itt, do what you got to do.’

______________________________________________________________________

                       SHY

“Where is Itt?” Brandy asks.

“Yeah, where is he, Shy? Carla asked.

“He went off with some guy that came from New   York”, Shy responded.

Carla gets out of her chair and walks rapidly to the front door.  She looks outside and don’t see Itt anywhere close. She starts to worry, remembering the stories that Itt has told them while he was in the hospital.  She tries the number they have been trying to reach Stacy on and the phone is still disconnected. 

“Shy, did he say what this person’s name was?” Brandy asks.  Out of all of the siblings Brandy is the closest to Shy.  She is a year younger than Shy but because he is so different she admires him and his bravery.

“No, he just said a friend from back home.  I thought it was okay.  You think something happened to him?” Shy said nervously.

“Don’t panic, just get some shoes on and let’s check the neighborhood. Was he driving?” Carla asked.

“I didn’t see a car or anything, ma,” Shy said.

Brandy and Carla both get their shoes on and Shy went up to his room.  They left thinking that he would catch up. 

Shy walks into his room and locks the door, he goes into his box and……………

TO BE CONTINUED

Episode 12

 

                         ROBERT/THUNDER

Thunder takes the subway to Robert’s Manhattan apartment.  As he stands on the stoop he looks up and sees how tall the building is and is amazed from where he came and that he is on his way up.  He thinks to himself ‘the sky is the limit’ all of his hard work has paid off. SPLASH!!!!  Someone poured a bucket of water on Thunder.  “What the
hell?!” He looks at his blue and white plaid shirt that is now drenched with water.  He looks back up and sees Robert hanging out the window.  “You gon stand there looking dumb, or were you gon ring the bell?  I figured you needed to wake up.  You were daydreaming.  I’ve been calling you for 5 minutes”.  The buzzer sounds and Thunder pushes the door open.  “I’ma kick your ass when I get up there!” Thunder yelled.

 

Thunder walks inside of the building and signs in at security.  While he lugs his bag towards the elevator his cell phone begins to ring. ‘Who could be calling me right now’ he scrabbles to reach in his pocket for his cell phone and just as he retrieves it out his pocket the elevator opens and the phone stops ringing.  He looks at the missed call, it reads ‘anonymous’ “What-eva”, he says and steps into the elevator.  He pushes number 12 and the elevator door closes.  Thunder thinks to himself ‘how blessed he is to have met Robert’.

 

BING! The door opens and Robert is standing right in front of the elevator with a huge grin.  They greet each other with hand shakes and Robert leads Thunder to the apartment.  Once inside Robert orders Thunder out of the wet shirt.  Thunder takes the shirt off and Robert is astounded at the look of Thunders abs. He also notices a fair amount of scars and what looks to be like a healed bullet wound on his chest.  Robert
takes Thunder shirt and throws it in the bathroom.

 

“Hey Thunder we need to get started right away”, Robert says.

 

“I agree”, Thunder responded.

 

Thunder cell phone rings just before they start.  He looks at the caller ID and it read ‘anonymous’ “Who in the hell is calling me ‘anonymous’?” He answers the phone.

 

“Hello?”

 

 

“So you think you just gon leave and not tell nobody, you got a lot of nerves nigga”.

 

“Why are you calling me with this mess?  I told you last week, remember?  I will let you know when I’m on my way back.  I don’t know how long this is gonna take, DAMN!” Thunder yelled.

 

Out of all the talks Robert and Thunder had, Robert had no clue to what was going on and he never seen Thunder so upset.  Robert looks at Thunder with products in his hand; he lifts them as to signal him that he wants to get started.  Robert is so excited
about his first time and hopes that he made the right decision to do it with Thunder.

                        

                              JON

 

“I just wanna know what my rights are?”

 

“I don’t really know how we can help you.  He never told you she was pregnant.  You aren’t married to this person.  And if he is pregnant and wants to abort the child it’s his decision.”

 

Jon hangs up the phone with his lawyer and ponders the thought to call Tracy.

 

“Mr. Capt, they are ready for you in the conference room.” Becky the receptionist says.

 

“Tell them I OWN THE FUCKING COMPANY AND I WILL BE IN THERE WHEN I DAMN WELL PLEASE!!” Jon yelled.

 

Becky slowly closed the door attempting to slam it on Jon.  She or nobody has ever seen Jon so upset.  She hears her phone rings at her desk.

 

“It’s a great day here at Unigrow.  President Jon Capts office, how may I help you?” Becky says pleasantly.

 

“Hi, Becky its Janet, is penis head around?”

 

“I’m sorry?” Becky answered puzzled.

 

“Bitch, Becky, bulimic, blonde, bull-dike; is the fucking penis head around?”

 

“Ma’am I’m not sure I like your tone…..”

 

“I don’t give a FUCK about what you like, where the FUCK is my husband?”

 

Becky hangs the phone up and stares at the slim, multi-lined, and chromed finished, with caller-id and automatic re-dial telephone.  The phone rings again and her hearts starts to race. “I am not having a good day” she says to herself.  “What is that honey?” Becky hears a voice and is broken out of her stance.

 

“Oh, nothing, it’s just a strange day?” Beck says and is happy to see a friendly face.

 

“You can say it twice girl.  I’m Lauren”, Lauren introduces herself while extending her hand to Becky.

 

“Oh yes, Lauren Lockett.  I know exactly who you are.  It’s a pleasure to meet you.  I am Becky Wileshire,” she says while shaking Lauren hand.

 

Jon storms out of his office and pass Lauren and Becky.  Lauren and Becky looks at each other.  “Told you”, Becky says.

 

“I’ll say.  Girl yo phone has been just ringing,” Lauren told Becky.

 

“I’ll get it”, Lauren said and walks behind Becky’s desk.

 

“Hello, Unigrow Corporation.  Lauren Lockett speaking; how may I help you?” Lauren said pleasantly.

 

“So tell me, Lauren the lush, have you been fucking Jon too?  Is that how you got the job?  You’ve been up under the boss’s desk?” Janet says.

 

“Oh hey Janet, It’s so good to hear from you.  I don’t know if you know but I taught him a lot of things since you got served.  Yeah we are doing just fine.  How about you?  Bitter much?” Lauren said.

 

“Where is Jon?” Janet said sounding as if the words were sliding through her teeth.

 

“He’s not available at the moment, hon,” Lauren said.

 

“If I have to come……” Janet said but Lauren cuts her off.

 

“Listen Bay, I won’t have your threats or your intimidation to my staff.  So if you must speak with Mr. Capt leave a message, because he’s not available.” Lauren said and hung up the phone.  Lauren looked at Becky with a smile plastered on her face. “There” Lauren said. “Is your day getting better now?”

 

“I think we are gonna get alone just fine, Ms. Lockett”, Becky said and they both start to laugh.

 

“Opps, off to the meeting.  Nice chatting with you, bye”, Lauren said as she walk her 5 foot voluminous frame to the conference room.

 

Becky sits at her desk and the phone begins to ring and sees that it is Janet again.  She answers, “NO” and hangs up.

 

Lauren comes running out of the conference room and the normally quiet office is now noisy. “BECKY, CALL SECURITY AND THE POLICE, IT”S JON!”

                 

                                TRACY

 

“No, I haven’t told him”.

 

“Well have you decided what you gonna do?  I mean I know you want your career and not only that but I thought you just like women.  Tracy, as your friend I need to tell you, you are so complicated.  Do you wanna be a man or a woman?” Tamia said.

 

“I am a man, Tamia.  But I do think that I want to have a baby.  Jon and I only had sex once in that area, if you know what I mean.  I didn’t think that I would get pregnant because of the hormones I was on.  But now that I am, I don’t know what to do.  I am not in love with Jon and I always figured if I had a child it would be on my terms and not necessarily with someone.  Jon really wants a family and I’m afraid if he finds out he is gonna think that it’s more to him and me,” Tracy said. 

 

Tracy cell phone rings and he sees that it’s Lauren.  He tells the waitress to bring the check so that he can pay for their lunch.

 

“Hey Lauren, what’s up?”

 

“Man, you need to talk to Jon.  He has flipped,” Lauren said.

 

“What?  What do you mean he has flipped?” Tracy said.  Tracy looks at Tamia ‘it’s Jon, something’s wrong.’ Tracy tells Tamia.

 

“Ok, Lauren.  Can you get him on the phone?”

 

“I’ll try.”

 

“Jon, I have Tracy on the phone”, Lauren tells Jon.

 

Jon snatches the phone from
Lauren. “You better not abort my child,” Jon demanded and hangs up.

TO BE CONTINUED……….