BOMAW Vol. 10-12 (145 page)

"I know what you saying, baby I do."

"But, so many not doing it. It's scares me Sheila, what's happened to us - I mean, what we gone do?"

"Baby..." Sheila reached over palming his far cheek to turn him to face her. "... you are doing your part. You a good man, a black, glorious version, of what we really are - not what the world, the news, and rap music is trying to brand us all to be. You have never asked anyone, for any thing. You went to school, knew what you were going to do, and you did it. You take care of your home, me and your sons. Setting the best example for them ever. Everything we have, even the happiness in our home, is because of you. Don't get down baby because others out there can't see things the way you do. I'm so proud of you, and so happy for me." She simpered.

He gave a slight smile, chuckled just a bit. Looking at her, he leaned into her neck, kissing it, staying there, turning his face to speak below her ear, "You know, I'ah do anything for you - for my boys. You know that?" He kissed her skin, nipped her earlobe.

Sheila snickered, nodding a, "Em hm, I know you would, 'cause you love me."

"Damn right I do, from the moment I seen you..." He then leaned back into the sofa in a lazy slump, "... in the school corridor, beatin' the shit out'ah some silly ass boy. I thought, damn - look at her."

They both laughed.

"You crazy." Sheila laughed, leaning back next to him.

He reached over, took her hand in his again, "Crazy about you. I had to step in, save the boy from you - everybody else was too busy laughing. Bet you don't remember the first words I said to you?" He challenged her.

"I sure do."

"What - what I say?"

"You stepped in between us - facing me - letting him get away and said, "Girl, why beatin' up on that boy? You got nothing better to do?" and I said, "No! And if you don't move, you gone be next!"

Dennis started laughing, "Yep, that's about right, and I said, "Here I was, thinking 'bout making you my girlfriend - but not if you gone be beatin' up on me."

Sheila smiled, saying, "And you walked away, shaking your head. Leaving me standing there, watching you leave, thinking you were crazy. But I stood there, watching you, until you turned down the hall. And from that moment, I couldn't get you out of my mind, because I never saw anything so fine."

Dennis reached up with a rough knuckle, caressing his wife's cheek, "That's - what I was thinking." He returned.

"And every time I turned around, you were there, watching me - shaking your head, clicking your tongue at me."

"'Cause you was into everything, had everybody scared of you - with your lil'skinny companion."

"Sylvia."

"Yeah."

"Tell me something."

"Em hm." He invited her to ask.

"Why, didn't you fall for her, go for her?"

Dennis stared at her a moment, still stroking her soft skin, "I couldn't really see her - all I saw, was you."

"So you got a thrill out of seeing me beat people up?"

"That you were beating up bullies, thrilled me, knowing just that, told me a lot about you," He started cracking up remembering, "I always knew when you were near, because I'd see these guys, running for their lives, hiding, ducking out of sight, because you were coming through."

"How come you weren't running and hiding?" She teased.

"'Cause I wasn't scared of you and you knew that, didn't you?" He palmed her cheek, pulling her to him to kiss her lips.

After a gentle loving smooch, she pulled away saying, "I didn't want you to be scared of me, and when you came around, I tried so hard to be good. Then one day, I almost got into a big fight, me and Sylvia. This girl was jealous of her, thought she was gonna beat her up, and she outweighed even me. Oh no no no, I wasn't about to let that happen, and to take care of me, she brought two friends, one of them a guy. So it was me and Sylvia, against them. Next thing I know, you stepped up and said that you were going to kick his ass, and if she was still there when you finished, your foot would be up hers too. You - kicked - that - fools - ass! And before you were done with him, Sylvia and I was ready for the other two, but they changed their mind and left their friend behind with you all over him. I had to break that one up."

"I wasn't about to have that shit, I didn't care whose ass you kicked, but no dude was gone just step up on you, no way. I wanted you for me."

"You never even asked me out Dennis, just started telling everyone that I was your woman."

"You found out didn't you, besides, you already knew I wanted you, didn't you? So I ain't need to ask," He chuckled seeing her so clearly back then, "You come up to me, hands on your hips, head moving like it was gone roll off, talkin' about, "Am I your woman or not? You done tol' everybody but me, am I, or not?" He smiled, "You knew damn well the answer to that."

Sheila moved closer to him, couldn't help smiling as she told how it ended, "You grabbed my hand, pulled me outside the school around the building and the whole time, I could barely breathe - couldn't think. You stood me against the wall and said, "We, you and I, gone finish school. I'm gone get a good job, go to school part time, and marry you, have a house full of beautiful, happy, babies. And all I want you to do - is stand by me & fight for us - like you do for those that can't fight for themselves." Sheila finished, getting teary eyed just remembering it. "When you said that to me - I would have followed you - into the fires of hell."

"We did go through some tough times, me working and going to school."

"Yeah, it was tough, and I missed you - but I had Sylvia, and then had Robert not long after she had Crystal. So there was the four of us, me babysitting for her, while she worked. Every time that Armundo acted a fool, she was over. We didn't have much back then, but we had each other, and because of you, she had someplace to go." She paused in thought, reflecting, "Anything happen to you Dennis, I don't think I'd wanna live."

"Anything happen to me, you look after my boys. In fact - anything happen to me - I want you to sell this house - pack up all this stuff, whatever you wanna take with you and move my boys to Wisconsin. Next to Sylvia, Vivian - Shawn and Jake, the McPhersons, you hear me?"

"Ain't nothing gonna happen to you."

"I hope the hell not, I want us to grow old together. But - shit happens, don't it? Promise me."

"Like they gone want me barging in on them."

"Sheila - will you do what I say for once in your life? And anyway, something happen to me, I'm almost certain, they'll be here to get you. I'm a pretty good judge of character, and Shawn McPherson, that's one helluva man. If I'm not around, I want you where he is, with Sylvia, Vivian. Then, I know you'll be fine, my boys will be fine. Okay?"

"Okay. Besides, I think you right, they would be here in a heartbeat."

He rolled his head to look at her, "You gone be okay with Vivian gone?"

"Long as we get to visit regularly, I'll be okay."

"That we will do, I wanna get my boys up there, away from this damn city. Breathe some clean air, show'em something besides glass, bricks and allies." He commented and then slipping back in thought. "I sure hope to God David got his ass some where chillin'! And, that this is all a false alarm. But, where the hell is he?"

"Lucas Jr. was sure that he had been going to see about Sylvia. I mean, at the time - she was only across town, what could have happened to him on the way there?" Sheila repeated what Lydia had filled her in on.

"Anything could have happened, I'm just glad his picture wasn't among those I looked at - at least that was good news to deliver to them. They going in the morning to put him on the missing persons report."

"It's been over three years now."

"Yeah, since Armundo died. If he was all right, you'd think he would have shown up then, if at any time. You know it was him that got David on that heavier shit. I mean, he used to smoke some weed, some wine, speed now and then, but that damn crack - Armundo Payne did that shit. Sheila, I swear - to - God - I hate that sonofabitch! Best thing in the world that ever happened to Sylvia, was him hugging that tree."

"Sylvia thought he was doing so much better, but I knew his ass hadn't changed. He was playing Mr. Repentant with her, but coming on to Vivian behind her back. What I don't understand is, why was he all of a sudden trying to act like he'd turned over a new leaf?" Sheila wondered out loud.

"I know, I wondered about that myself, thing is, who and how, are they going to tell Sylvia?"

"Don't know - let's hope he shows up and then, nothing to tell."

L.A...

With music playing in the background, coming to them from the family-room where the kids were; the adults met in the living-room, Sylvia sat on the arm of the chair her husband occupied, listening, as Jeremiah made suggestions to further secure the families safety as well Angela's. Deidre sat on the love seat next to him, with Charlie outside with her driver Samuel, leaving them to work out the more relevant details. On and off, Deidre's eyes went to Shawn and Sylvia, the way they sat with one another. It could not be missed, how close they were. Shawn was sitting forward in the chair, an arm over one of Sylvia's legs, holding onto her possessively, his hand palming her shin, stroking up and down now and then, while she rested a hand on his shoulder, occasionally, stroking across the back of his broad shoulders, as a wife would, in love and proudly in possession of her husband. Deidre looked on with a longing to know and feel what she saw on display, ironically enough, she felt no jealousy - only a longing, to feel and be secure, as they were with each other.

Sighing, she returned her attention to what was being said, giving her support and input, which did not escape her notice, every time she did so, Shawn's body language said loud and clear, he didn't want any further assistance from her on the matter. She hated that they could hardly ever have a meeting of agreement without him losing patience. She knew that it was because he hated everything about her family, what they represented and how they treated others, but why did she have to be the one to take the brunt of it? At the present, Jeremiah was suggesting that they get a couple of guard dogs, a specialized breed.

"One of my clients has three dogs that he's always going on about. He loves those animals, stating that out of all of his security, if he'd known about them, he would have just gotten them instead of the system he has. Either way, they're a hardy breed - very loyal - workers, family and herd guard instinctive. That's the key, their instincts - which are naturally inherit, to guard those that they feel belonging to them. They are excellent and patient around small children, very intelligent, the kind of animal that actually looks you in the eyes, waiting for your next command. Which makes them different from most other breeds, that won't stare you in the eye, because it means a challenge, or dominance, making them lower their heads, or should. If they don't, that's a sign of aggression. This breed, looks you in the eye waiting to read your body language, your mood, your will - in other words eagerly waiting, as if to say, what would you like me to do next? With them, training is a breeze because of their high intelligence. With your circumstances, two is enough - but so many people love these dogs so much, they end up with three or more. They socialize well, and should be socialized with only family members you wish them to know are welcome within their domain - anyone they have not been socialized with, they will stand on guard with, watching that person or persons like wolves."

Shawn whistled impressed, "What breed is this?"

"Great Pyrenees Mountain dogs. They come from the family of herd dogs and rescue dogs. The St. Bernard, and the largest of sheep dogs, the New Foundland. They can withstand the coldest winters, and their sense of smell penetrates snow and ice. Very little gets by them. They're big as hell, and because of the herding instinct, bred to fight wolves and bears to protect the herd, they're also strong as hell, so they must be well trained, because they will go through anything, to get to any threat they feel about to endanger their herd."

"Wow." Shawn turned to look up at Sylvia, "What do you think?"

"I like what I'm hearing, to be honest, I've always wanted a dog, could never have one though. And I'd contemplated one earlier this year, just never got around to researching one. So, maybe this is why," She looked up from Shawn back to Jeremiah, "So how does this client of yours, have his set up, or trained?"

"Ah, you saying that reminds me of another thing, their barking is not excessive. In fact, they'd rather not bark, because of their size, they bark only when it's absolutely necessary, and then, with correct training, you can have them so they never bark in times of emergency. My clients dogs are trained to guard his land perimeter, and let me tell you, these dogs need lots of space. And they will cover their entire domain, marking it, familiarizing themselves with the scents that should be, any scent out of what should be, puts them on immediate guard. His dogs are trained, not to bark - they come to a certain point, pulls an alarm lever that alerts all from within, as well the police. They then head back to the mansion, go in to doors put in for them that are magnetized to allow entry only to them, to then guard the family until the police arrive. Trained not to bark, they sneak up on the intruder and attack. Trust me, it would not be a pretty scene, because of what they can do. Again, training. Just think, if you got them, plus the panic room, your family would be set."

"You know my only reservation on this, is the fact that we have small children and a baby on the way, the idea of a dog attacking one of them scares the absolute hell out of me."

"In all of those cases Shawn, if you dig into the history of the family where this happened, and how they treated the animal before hand, you'll find that its due to too many people anthropomorphizing the animal, allowing it higher status in the pecking order. Thus, putting it in direct competition with young children. Or, they are dogs bred from fighting stock, and are dangerous to not only the children, but the handler. People who haven't researched the animal, end up with one, we all get to hear about it on the news."