Too Salty: Ain't a Damn Thang Changed (Part 6) (8 page)

"I did."
Within the next five minutes, Michael's began to yawn.
It's working
, Pam thought. She'd put sleeping pills in his drink and a dab of Visine.

"Excuse me. Find another movie
, this is boring. I need to use the restroom."

“Ok
.”
Has he gotten the bubble guts?
Pam read somewhere that the Visine made you have boo boo.  

It took Michael’s a few min
utes to come out the restroom. When he did, he sat next to her and laid his head back on the couch. Pam slowly eased next to him and lay on his chest. She was low key seeing how his heart was beating while acting romantic. Michaels began to feel really tired.

“I told you about me, tell me about you.” Pam
made small talk.

“I thought we were going to watch a movie?” Michaels looked at Pam and smiled.

“Oh, oh yeah.” She grabbed the remote from the table. She flipped through the channels on the television until she found a movie. Pam sat there impatiently waiting for the first sign of Michaels to be asleep so she could make a dash for it.

“I need to use the restroom. I’ll be right back.
” She quickly got up and made her way to the restroom. She took a minute to gather her thoughts before she left out and went into the room. She took off her shirt and put on another one. It was already a little chilly so she knew by the time she made it to Mrs. Brown’s, the weather would be cooler. Pam slid on her Uggs and walked back into the living room.

“Would you like some more coco
a?” She stood over Michaels.

“No, I’m good.”  He stood up.

“Where are you going?” Pam asked, alarmed.

“My stomach is bothering me.” He walked to the restroom.

He’ll be in there a long time
. She was sure that the Visine must’ve kicked in. “Ok.” She went to the kitchen, looking behind her in the process. In the kitchen, she took out a cup and sat it on the counter. She turned on the faucet and allowed the water to run on full blast. Pam tip toed back to the living room to see if Michaels had returned, he hadn’t. Pam ran back to the kitchen, lifted up the window over the sink, and pushed out the screen. Her heart thumped hard because she was so scared of the consequences of being caught, but she had to do what she had to do. Her daughter needed her.
Maybe I should wait
. She paced back and forth.
Maybe I should take Calvin down first.
She put her hands on her hips. She looked up at the clock and thought she’d better make a decision and fast. Officer F would be showing up within the next hour or less. Pam rested her head on the sink.
I don’t know what to do. I am sure when they realize I’m gone, they will be coming after me. Where would I hide? Where would I go? How can I protect Jazz if I am on the run?
She shook her head.
I can’t I can’t do this, I have to do this the right way
. She turned the water off and walked back into the living room.

With tears in her eyes and a heavy heart
, she flopped down on the sofa. She stared at the television, not paying attention to what was going on. That was, until she saw the movie came back from commercial.
The Color Purple
was on. They were at the part where Whoopi Goldberg was fighting for her sister to stay with her, ‘
Ain’t no ocean, ain’t no sea… my tee ta ta, keep my sister ‘way from me.’
The sisters sang as Mr. chased her up the road, throwing rocks at her.
‘There’s nothing that will keep my sister away from me. Nothing!’
Nettie yelled as she ran into the woods and out of her sister’s life to leave her fighting the devil alone.

I gotta save my baby
.
Pam got up. I have to make sure that she is ok
.

She looked to her right and Michaels still hadn’t come from the restroom. She made a dash to the kitchen. She placed her right knee on the counter
, and then her left. She used both of her arms to pull herself up on the sink and went through the window, knocking the ceramic mugs onto the floor in the process.

Michaels sat on the toilet with heavy eyes, feeling drowsy. It felt like he had to use the restroom, but the urge went away. He stood up from the toilet and felt light headed.
She put something in my drink
. Just as the thought left his mind, he heard a crash. Michaels hurriedly fixed his clothes. He ran into the living room and Pam wasn’t there.
Dammit
. He ran to the front door and looked down the road, but still didn’t see her. Michaels ran out the door to the back on the house. He ran to the back gate and was able to get a glimpse of her red sweater. He made a dash over the gate and took off running full force down the hill. “Pam, come back!” he yelled, still running after her. Fuck, his knees began ache. He stopped for a second and watched as she continued to run down the path that led to the road that took you into the city. Seeing that she was getting too far away, he began running again.

Pam was tired and out of breath
, but she wouldn’t give up, she had to make it to the road. It was her only chance to save Jazz. If she was caught, F would lock her up. Pam looked behind her. It looked like Michaels had gained his speed and was catching up with her. She ran left and froze. There was a coyote staring at her. Pam’s eyes got big. She could no longer feel her rapid heart beating. She eased back slowly and he howled.

“
Oh, shit. Oh, shit!” Pam panicked. The coyote flashed his razor sharp teeth. Still walking backwards, she picked her pace. “Oh, Lord, he’s following me.” The coyote looked as if he had a grin on his face. He never broke eye contact with Pam. Every step she took, he took four. He continued to howl. Pam thought he was calling his friends to join in on the feast. She regretted her move. How could she help Jazz when she would be eaten up? Pam looked to her right. She thought of diving into one of the trees, but knew the coyote could climb up there as well.
If I make it to the road, maybe someone would help me.
She looked up at the houses that sat on the hill and thought there was no way would she make it up there.

She counted to three and took off running. Within seconds, she was tackled to the ground. She closed her eyes and prepared for the pain that was sure to come once the coyote sunk his teeth into her. POW, POW. Two shots fired and then she felt the weight of the coyote’s body on her back. Not really knowing what was going on, she laid there.

“Damn you
, Pam.” She heard his voice. She realized that Michaels must have shot the wild animal and its dead body was on top of her.

“Help
, help, help!” she screamed. “Get it off of me.” It didn’t take Michaels that long to pull the coyote off Pam. He then pulled her up from the ground with a disappointing look, and he asked her why. Pam didn’t respond, she only cried. Michaels grabbed her by the arm and walked her back toward the house.

“Pam
, Detective F would be very upset…” He stopped in midsentence as he stared at the blood on the back of her shirt. “Do you have another shirt under that? You have blood all over you.” Pam looked at him, still walking. She removed her top shirt and tossed it on the ground.

“Pam
.” He grabbed her by the arm.

“What, what the hell do you want
?” She was sobbing.

“You could have got
ten yourself killed or locked up in jail for killing me. What the fuck did you give me?”  Pam put her head down.

“Sleeping pills. The
y’re over the counter.” She failed to mention the Visine.

“Pam
, I’m sure I don’t have all the details.”

“Y
ou’re damn right! All I want to do is be there for my daughter!” Pam ran in his arms and cried on his chest.

“Pam
, I’m going to help you.”

She looked at him.
“Really?” Michaels nodded his head. He then leaned down and kissed Pam. They fell to the ground. Michaels was on top and they continued to share a long, passionate kiss. Michaels lifted Pam’s shirt and sucked on her breast. “Mmmmm,” Pam moaned as she rubbed his head. She pulled his shirt from of his pants, and rubbed her hand up and down his back.

“I promise
, I will help you. I promise,” Michael’s confessed.

“I believe you.” 

Michaels sucked on her neck. He pulled at her pants until they were down. He stood on his knees and looked into her eyes. “I’m a man of my word, I’m not going anywhere.” He reached in pocket and pulled out a rubber.

Pam
’s heart beat rapidly. She looked into the sky, wondering if she was doing the right thing. She was almost scared to go through with it, but she thought about how it may be her last chance to escape. When she heard the package of the condom open, she closed her eyes and turned her head to the side.

“Are y
ou ok?” Michaels slid on the rubber.

Pa
m nodded her head yes. She felt Michaels lay on top of her and nibble on her neck. When she felt him search for the entrance of her love box, tears streamed down her face. She didn’t want it. 

“Oh yeah
, baby.” Michael’s entered her and began to pump in and out. Pam’s eyes popped open. “You like this? You like the way I make love to you?” He kissed on her neck. 

She didn’t feel anything
. He was straight an itty bitty. Pam moved her body and talked dirty to him while he had his head buried in her neck. Looking around the hills making sure no one was coming or any other coyotes, she spotted a rock. It was as if it magically appeared next to her head. She turned her head a little more just to make sure of what it was. “Let’s do it doggy style, baby,” she ordered.

“You wanna get freaky
? I like that.” He raised up and Pam turned on all fours. She moaned out as Michael hit it from the back. Pam stared at the rock and without further thought, she grabbed it, turned over, and hit Michaels in the head until he passed out. Blood was all over her hands. She prayed that she didn’t kill him, but she had no time to check. She sat the rock down and slid on her paints. She went to reach for Michaels’ gun but she thought she saw him move, so she grabbed the rock again, hit him, and took off running with the rock still in her hand. 

Ken paced the eighty man cell as he waited for a free phone. They had been on lock down for the last couple of days and hadn’t got in contact with anyone. As he waited, he hopped that someone had updated information on Jazz. The last he heard from Mrs. Brown was that Jazz called and she had no idea what hospital she was in. She also informed him that the phone hung up before she could try to get more information. That confirmed that Calvin was behind her secret disappearance.

“Listen up,” the CO
announced. “When I call your name, line up against the wall for visit.” Hearing the word visit got a few inmates ready. They knew for a fact that their chicks had come to visit them. There were a lot others that didn’t even acknowledge the CO.  They had no one coming to see them. The CO called two of the three that were on the phone. Ken hurried over before someone beat him to it. He snatched the phone off the receiver, cleaned it with his shirt, and checked for the dial tone before making his call. His first call was to Pastor G. “Cox, line up,” the CO ordered just as the phone rang. Ken quickly hung up the phone and got in line to be escorted to the visiting area.

Colisa sat in front of the glass window waiting for Ken to walk out. She had been calling the jail day and night checking to see if they were off lock down. When she got the news that morning that she was free to visit, she booked both days. She couldn’t wait to see and talk to Ken. Colisa rubbed her hands through her bone straight hair. She mushed her lips together to make sure she still had on lip gloss. Her tummy did butterflies, and her smile was big as the ocean and bright as the sun when she noticed the inmates making their way into the visiting area. 
Damn, there sure aren’t that many blacks
, she thought as she watched mostly Latinos and a few Asians take a set at their designated window.
There goes my baby
. She smiled harder when she saw Ken. Even with no haircut and a grown out beard, he was still sexy to her. For some reason, the jail uniform turned her on. He looked thuggish and that was what she liked. Ken wasn’t happy to see Colisa. He really didn’t fell like being bothered with her. She was starting to be a problem that he didn’t need. Just the day before he received five letters from her. After reading the first two with her confessing her love, he tore the rest of them up.

Ken picked up the phone and wiped it with his shirt. Co
lisa already had her phone to her ear.

“Hello Sweetie, it’s good to see you.” She smiled.

“What’s up, Colisa?” 

Colisa ignored his dry tone. “Armando sends his love. He is doing well. He’s on house arrest and hasn’t violated not once.”

“That’s a good look.”

“Oh
, and I got two interviews lined up. I know I will get an offer.”

“That’s good. Good luck.”

Colisa cleared her throat. “Did you get the letters I sent?”

“Nope,” Ken lied. He didn’t feel like talking about it. He really wished the t
hirty minute visit would hurry the fuck up and be over with.

“Baby
, we can’t wait until you come home. I have a surprise for you.”

“Colisa, first of all
, I’m not your baby. Don’t call me that.” She looked shocked.

“Ken
, I know you’re stressing about being in here. I’ve been praying, I know you’ll be out soon. And, when you do, I’ll be right here to pick you up and take you home.” She placed her hand on her tummy. “I miss you so much.”

“Colisa
, what the fuck are you talking about? You ain’t coming to pick me up. I ain’t going to your house or none of that. I ain’t your man. I am your friend, but you keep on with that bullshit, I won’t be that.” Ken’s mind flashed back to the night they had sex. He knew he shouldn’t have done it. He regretted that he didn’t find another way to relive stress.

“Ken
, stop it, just stop acting like that. I haven’t done anything to you but love you.”

With a frown on his face
, he looked at Colisa like she was crazy. “You been drinking or something?”

Colisa laughed. “No
, silly, why would you say that?”

“Because you act like you ain’t in your right mind.”

“Why, because I love you and I am waiting on you to come home to us?”

“Colisa, let me explain something to you.” Ken took a deep breath. He licked his lips and continued, “I don’t like you and you are not my girl. You will never be my girl. I love Jazz
, she is going to be my wife. When I get out of here, I am going to get her and we ain’t looking back. I. Love. Jazz.”

Colisa
’s eyes bulged out of her head. She jumped up from her seat. “How dare you throw that young, stupid, ghetto bitch name in my face. She is a ho, she fucked your friends. Yay told me how her mother slept with men for money. She is using you. She only wants your money. I love you. I fucking love you!” People in the visiting area stared at her like she was crazy. She’d even got the attention of the CO that was monitoring the row she was on.

Ken
wanted to jump up, throw the phone, and strangle the crazy bitch, but he knew that was impossible, so he put the phone down and turned his back on her.

“Ken
, Ken!” Colisa screamed as she took the phone and banged on the bulletproof glass.

By
then, the CO had made his way to where she was. She tapped Colisa on the shoulder and she turned around a little too quick. The CO thought her life was in danger, and her reaction was to grab Colisa and toss her on the ground. Another inmate told Ken what was going on. When he turned around, Colisa was on the floor and the CO was on top of her with her knee in her back. Two more COs rushed over, and Colisa was going wild. She screamed all kinds of profanity while trying to break away from the cops’ grip. Finally, after several minutes, Colisa was hogged tied and carried out. Ken shook his head. That incident right there, he knew Colisa could be a problem. He was going to have to nip it in the bud and quick. He wasn’t losing Jazz again for anybody.

"Baby
, you're going home today," the elder, African American nurse said to Jazz. She looked like big momma from
Soul Food
and even had a heart just like her. That was why Jazz allowed her in her space.

"That's not my home." Jazz wiped the tears from her eyes. Nurse James gave Jazz a warm smile.

"God will make it right. You're going to get your heart’s desire," she assured her patient. She thought Jazz was a beautiful young lady who had gone through a lot; being shot, pregnant, and having a grandmother like Mrs. Lewis. She knew that Jazz was only steps away from her blessing. She just hoped that she didn’t give up before it came.

"All I want is my mother and my child's father. I miss them both." Mrs. James slid on Jazz
’s socks.

"Your mother is your angel. She's here and you don't even know it. Your child's father
, I'll be praying with you that God gives him another chance." She walked over to the side of the bed. "I have a gift for you."

"Thanks," was Jazz
’s reply. She appreciated the kind gesture, but you couldn’t give her the ones that was dear to her heart, then she didn’t want anyone at all. "I was wondering if you can place a call for me, Nurse James.”

"I can't
, baby. I can't." She helped Jazz out of the bed into her wheelchair.

"I had a dream
you were walking down the aisle, hand and hand, with the man you love and your baby…" Nurse James began to tell Jazz her dream, but was cut off.

"Is it your job to lie?" Jazz and Mrs. James look
ed up at Mrs. Lewis. She was dressed up in a long dress and red trench coat. She even had on costume jewelry and lipstick. "What y'all stating at me for?" She frowned her nose. "Let's get this show on the road. I have things to do and places to be." Mrs. Lewis rolled her eyes and grabbed some of Jazz thing.

*
****
 

Hummi
ng her favorite gospel tune, Nurse James rolled Jazz out of the hospital. Mrs. Lewis had Jazz’s things and walked in front of them. Nurse James wondered where was it that she was trying to get to in such a hurry.
She needs to be taking of her granddaughter with her old, ugly self. Maybe her leaving is best for Jazz
. They made it to the car and Mrs. Lewis wasted no time putting the bags in the trunk while Nurse James helped Jazz into the car. Nurse James put the wheelchair into the trunk and rushed to Jazz’s side of the car. "Your gift is in here." She handed Jazz a bear. "Keep this bear near." She winked at Jazz. "I'll be praying for your speedy recovery."

"Thank you." Jazz eyes
watered and she shut the door.

"Jazz
, I promise, one day you'll dance again and I know for a fact that my dream wasn't a lie. You're going to walk down the aisle.” Mrs. Lewis started the car and without any notice, she pulled off.

“I receive that in the name of Jesus
." She hugged the bear and cried silently.

*****

     When Mrs. Lewis pulled into her driveway, she parked, turn off the car, and looked at Jazz. “Your damn daddy was supposed to me meet me here. He knows I can’t lift up this wheelchair.” She picked up the phone and called Calvin’s number, but he didn’t answer. “He done got him an old woman, honey, he forget stuff. I heard she’s rich, too.”

Jazz crossed her arms over her chest. Tears rolled down her eyes freely.  She didn’t want to be there
. “Why can’t I just go home?” Jazz pouted.

“Jazz
, enough with all that pouting.” Mrs. Lewis looked at her and saw she was crying. She sighed. “Jazz, it’s going to be alright. I love you, your daddy love you, and we are going to take care of you. When you start back walking, the doctors said soon, you can go home.” Jazz turned her head and looked out the window. Mrs. Lewis started to tell her how she needed to be appreciative, but she decided to bite her tongue. She was in a good mood about her dinner date with the deacon from her church and she wasn’t trying to get in a bad mood. So, instead of snapping at Jazz, she called her son back.  His voicemail picked up. “Look you knew your daughter was coming home today. I can’t pick up this wheelchair.” She looked through her rearview mirror and saw the deacon’s truck pulling up behind her. “My new man friend is here, so I guess I can have him help me with the chair. Now, I’m going to get Jazz settled in and I am leaving. I’ll be back in a few years, so you come and check on your daughter.” She ended the message with, “I love you and bye!” Mrs. Lewis got out of the car. She met Deacon Debose halfway down the driveway and greeted him with a hug. “Can you help me with getting my grandbaby’s chair out?”

“Oh
, she’s home? Of course.” He walked over to the trunk and pulled out the chair. He then walked over to Jazz’s side and greeted her. Jazz gave a faint smile as she prepared herself to get out the car with the Deacon’s help.

It had been an hour since her grandmother left and Jazz was still sitting in the same spot in her room. Mrs. Lewis didn’t have a house phone, so she couldn’t call anyone to cone pick her up. She didn’t have cable, so there was nothing to watch. Mrs. Lewis did leave her a Marie Calendar meal, but Jazz didn’t have an appetite. She rolled her wheelchair over to her bed and climb out onto the bed. It took her more than a few minutes to get in the right position to be able to lie down. “Mommy, I need you. I need you, mommy. This isn’t fair. This isn’t fair.” She sobbed as she grabbed the bear and squeezed it in her arms. “This isn’t fair.” Her heart ached so much she tried crying herself to sleep.