BOMAW Vol. 10-12 (16 page)

"Not quite." He answered calmly, took his mobile from his top jacket pocket, dialed a number, all the while standing as he was, he gazed at his son admirably. He was wearing his overalls hanging from his hips instead of all over as they should be, because his son was showing off his magnificent body. Wearing a muscle t-shirt. Once more, Oscar T. smiled,
'Yes, my boy is made of the good stuff, stocky, strong, solid and brave... very brave.'
He thought right before someone answered on the other end for him. "Ah yes, Oscar T. here, my vehicle has just been taken." He informed whomever.

Max stood watching him, looking the old man over. He wasn't your typical older, white man. He had a dress, a stance and look about him that was definitely on the side of a con artist, a swindler. He was in shape, dressed to the 9's. While his features were those of someone who looked ever suspicious, calculating, he smiled at him, and that smile, completely transformed his features. His eyes widened, his brows lifted, and his face was one of a totally different person for that period of time that he stood gazing at him. He walked back towards him to hear him give his location. That was it, he clicked his phone off.

"Now what?" Max asked.

"The matter will be seen to. Tell me Maxwell, why do you do this kind of work, you're better equipped mentally, surely you are?"

"Man that ain't none of yo'business! Don't worry about why I do what I do, why the hell you keep coming back here fuckin' wit' me?!"

"I hardly consider this, as you put it, fucking with you. I have a right to be here, I'm your father."

"Man quit saying that shit out loud! I'on want nobody knowin' that shit! How the hell you gone just step up now, start talkin' that shit? I'm damn near 33 years old, I'on need no goddamn father, specially yo' no account, white ass! Take a hint motha'fucka', have a clue ... ain't shit happenin', I ain't interested. So give it up. Gone 'bout your corporate way, you get me?"

"I'm your father Maxwell Franklin - Wherrington. Its something neither of us can deny. This difficult time you're giving me, is only fair, is only right young man. However, I will persevere. You'll give over in time, because well, I'm rich. I have millions. And when I leave the surface of this dreadful, pathetic, ill corrupted place we call home, I will have done one something good to show beside all of the rest. Ah, do you see? My car has arrived. This my son, is what it means to be me. To be rich and powerful. Before my time is done, I will have given you, equipped you ... with all there is needed, to be like me." He stated smug as the car pulled up beside him, the driver jumping out to rush to his side to open the door for him.

"Oh yeah, well guess what old man. I ain't interested in being like you. I rather continue on bein' a po'ass, no account nigga, than what you are."

"We shall see." Oscar T. returned from inside the limo, rolling the window down as his driver closed the door and ran back to the front seat. "Your mother, would have wanted better things for you young man. Better things. I'll be damned if that brother of yours will be more successful than my own flesh and blood. You will ... come around, you will." He promised closing his window as the car drove off.

Maxwell stood there gazing after it and turned to see everyone he worked with, standing in the big picture window, gazing at him surprised. They were waiting for him to come in and tell them what was going on. It was none of their business. Redirecting his steps, he went back through the gate instead, steadying himself to tell the first who asked, to mind their business.

*

Shawn was more excited than ever. That morning, when all had been up, he'd called the James' to inform them that he would be in the next morning to bring in the finished work he had for them. Hearing that he also had his family with him, they'd been invited to dinner the next evening which of course had been gladly accepted. Following that call, he contacted Mama-JoJo. He wanted to give her time to get up, ready herself for bringing his family to meet her. The call, had made her day. They were on their way there now, all piled into the Hummer. Mundo working on his mother.

"Mama, ain't this nice? Is this a bad ride or what? Safe! Ain't it safe Ben?"

"Huh?" He responded from the other side of the seat.

Shawn, Sylvia and Angela were in the front. Crystal, Darren and Isaac in the middle, Ben and Mundo in the rear.

"The Hummer, it's the safest vehicle on the road, right?" He hinted towards Ben, who realized what he was doing and laughing, nodded saying. "Ah yeah, that's what I hear. Nothing in the world safer than being on the road in a Hummer." He announced from the back, leaning forward to help Mundo out. Who of course, nodded his head, winking his eye at him.

Shawn sat laughing, shaking his head as he drove, of course, knew what he was up to. He laughed even deeper when his wife asked.

"Mundo, what are you getting at?"

"I'm just saying mama, if I were you. And I had that little bitty red mustang, which ... really ain't all that safe, I would - I'on know, I would trade it in, on something like, well ... something safe, like for instance, the safest vehicle on the road."

"A Hummer?" Sylvia asked, now fully understanding.

"Yep, the safest vehicle on the road." He commented from the back. Crystal looked back at him, then at Ben, smiling she shook her head talking low to Mundo, "You can just forget that, 'cause ain't no way in the world, our mama gone come up off the duckies to buy no Hummer."

"You'on know, shet up and turn around." He grumbled at her. She smiled, nodding her head, pointed at him, "You should have never said that." She turned back in her seat, "Mama you know how much a Hummer cost? He must be out of his mind! We talkin' about more than half of what you paid for that house."

"What? I ain' paying that much for nothin' I use just to get me from point A to B!"

"But mama, its the safest vehicle, on the road!" He argued his point.

"Boy you startin' to sound like a parrot! We gettin' a mini van, ain't we baby?" She asked her husband.

"Well, there is something to that, I mean - he's right. It is, one of the safest vehicles out here." Shawn had to agree.

"See, see, see! What I tell you! And I think, we need to go on and get one, before the baby come."

"I think that driving safely and buckling up will serve to keep us all, nice and safe. As for the baby, he will have a very expensive, shiny new, safety tested car seat."

Crystal turned around, sticking her tongue out at him, grinning her victory.

Ben shook his head laughing at her, he loved watching her. Sitting in audience to her antics with Mundo. Last night, had been incredible. They'd all been sitting around the table, playing cards, eating pizza, drinking beer and just talking. It had been great. Shawn had been telling them stories about his time there in L.A. when his friend Jesse had still been a live. They'd been almost rolling on the floor with some of the stories he told. Especially when he slipped into black slang and mannerisms. He could emulate his friend Jesse, or the way that some black men commanded attention by the way they spoke, joked or played. He could tell, that Shawn, really loved having been in the midst of the them for so many years. He was also anxious for them to meet Mama-JoJo, he'd kept saying the night before.

"I just want you all to know, if it were left up to me, she would be with me now. With us. She's one heck of a lady, and when we get there to meet her. I want you all on your best behavior. You will not use any bad language whatsoever in front of her, do I make myself clear in that?"

"Hey, we know better dad." Mundo assured him.

"Are you kidding me, my mother would knock us all out." Crystal added.

"I just want to make that clear. She's like my grandmother and I would do anything in the world for her." He'd said last night.

Now, they were on their way there, in fact, pulling up in front of her home.

They all looked toward the porch to see a somewhat, heavy set, black woman, standing to come to her screen door. She opened it, smiling looking out at them. Shawn was the first to get out of the car and announce, "We're here!"

"Well sho'nuff now. Come on in this house. I cook you somethin' to eat too. You givin' me all that notice, I had some catfish I bought the other day, some greens. Lawd, lawd, lawd, would you look at all these fine chillin's comin' up here to meet me. Hey baby, come give Mama-JoJo some suggah." She smiled to all, greeting them, watching them get out of the vehicle and then, seeing Angela, the young face she knew, leaned down to give her a kiss and hug.

"Hi Mama-JoJo, how you been?" Angela returned squeezing her in return.

"I do just fine. I swear you don' growd since the last time I seen yah. Who the rest of these here? You gone have to introduce me." Mama-JoJo instructed moving back from the door to let everyone pile onto her front porch.

Angela was on top of the world as she turned, with her arm around Mama-JoJo's back; who stood with an arm over her shoulder.

"Mama-JoJo, this is Crystal Bella, my older sister!" She proudly announced.

Crystal came in with her boys in front of her, "Crystal Bella, huh? And who these two youngin's?"

"My sons ma'am. This one's the oldest, his name is Isaac, say hello Isaac." Crystal coaxed him.

"Hi you doin'?" He greeted brightly, making Mama-JoJo laugh out. "Lawd'ah'mercy! Ain't he somethin'? And this one here?" She pointed at Darren. Who was drawing back into his mother's leg, shy. "This is the baby, Darren. Say hi Darren." Crystal asked.

"No!" He grumbled, moving further away.

"Fine then! Mama-JoJo don't mind young man! You don't wanna speak to me, I ain't gone speak to you!" She turned her nose up at him, smiling at Crystal with a wink. "Come on the rest of yah'll in here, who these fine young men?" She asked, squinting trying to see them, the bright sun was shinning in on them and all she could see, was one dark face and a white face. "Hey there you? This they daddy, yo'husband?" She pointed at Ben, assuming that he was.

He and Mundo stepped out of the sun all the way onto the porch as Crystal, a bit embarrassed, quickly corrected her, while Angela thought her mistake funny, laughing out.

"No ma'am, he's not ... he's uh, well-..."

"Hush chile, I see my mistake. Come here boy." She called to Ben, now seeing him clearly that he was in the shadow of her porch. "Yes ma'am?" He answered walking towards her. She looked up into his face, giving it a good look over, "Lawd chile, how old is you?"

"Ah, 22 ma'am." He answered, then smiled at her.

"Woooeee! Shawn?! Young man where you at? Get in here right now, 'cause I know you done did this!" She laughed looking up at Ben.

"Here I am Mama-JoJo, I have my wife with me." He announced, the last to come onto the porch, his hand to Sylvia's back.

"I'm sho'wantin' to meet her, you best believe I do, but fo'I do ... who dis chile?" She asked speaking of Ben. "'Cause I swear'fo God, you had this'on here yo'self!"

All Shawn could do was blush, grin, scratch his head nervously as all stood looking at him, waiting. For once, tongue tied, the sight of him made Sylvia laugh out as she decided to step forward, "Mama-JoJo, I'm his wife, Sylvia. And that child there, is his son. His name is Benjamin and just like you, I knew it the moment I gave him a good lookin' over, don't he look just like'em?"

"Chile, if Ray Charles was the judge in court, he couldn't deny him! Blind as that man is, he could see this boy was his! Come here sugah, let Mama-JoJo look at you now. I hear you havin' a baby?"

"Yes ma'am, I am, its so nice to meet you." Sylvia walked up to her, hugged her, placed a kiss to her cheek.

"Precious lawd, look at you. And who that?" She nodded looking at Mundo.

"That's my son, Armundo. We call him Mundo."

"Come on baby, give Mama-JoJo a kiss and hug now, don't be shy. Lawd, lawd, lawd, everyone just as handsome as can be. Beautiful girls." She looked up at Shawn, who stayed back, standing tall, shoulders squared, proud as ever.

"You sho'done made your Mama-JoJo proud of you. Look at yo'family. You ain't no young man no more, is ya'? You sho'nuff a man now."

"I had to bring'em, so you could meet'em. I told you I would Mama-JoJo. I couldn't wait to get them here, so they could meet you." He had tears in his eyes, so moved with emotion, to have her proud of him.

"Come here chile, what you got tears in your eyes for? It mean that much to you, fo'me to see yo' family?"

Shawn stepped forward right up close to her, he was quite the height above her, so she had to reach up to cup his cheeks. He however, bent low, hugging her to him. "Yes ma'am, it means everything to me. You know I love you Mama-JoJo, you and I - we're all that's left for Jesse."

Sylvia stood back in disbelief; who was this man?

Everyday, in every way, she learned something new about him. Something deep, stirring, incredible. And to think, that God had led him to her ... or ... had he led her to him? Either way, no matter, they were together. As incredible as it may have seemed, Sylvia realized that she loved him more today, than yesterday.

Amazing.

*

When Jake pulled into the yard of the property that he set his heart on, his parents were there waiting for him. His sister was there. He pulled up and parked next to his father's truck. Un-straddling the bike, he walked towards them as they were coming from one of the out buildings. Shanna was bringing up the rear, smiling at him. He looked from her, to them, "Well, what'a'yah think?" He asked right away.