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“I don’t think your mother would approve of you begging a nigga for a couple hunnid dollars when there are a hunnid ways to get that money.”
“She’s dead!” I belted, pulling open the glove compartment to find something to clean my face.
A black handgun fell from the glove compartment onto the floor in front of me. With both hands in the air, I pressed my back against the seat, closing my eyes and waiting to hear the loud bang before my lights went out. A titter pulled me back into reality as I peeked through one eyelid. Realizing I was still alive, I opened my eyes completely, patting my chest and abdomen.
“You good, Mommas. Here, if that’s what you’re looking for.”
“Thanks.” I accepted the tissue as he dropped my phone in my lap.
“And stay out my shit.”
“Maybe you should lock it,” I suggested, dabbing the tears from my face.
“So that I can struggle when it’s time to use it? Nah. I’m good.”
Locking eyes with the identical weapon resting on his lap with his hand clutching the handle, I wondered if I was the only one in the truck who’d noticed it.
“That’s backup.”
Finding humor in his revelation, my eyes widened.
“Oh.”
“Now, use one of the napkins in here to grab it and put it back where you found it.”
Stunned by his instructions, I shook my head in protest. “I can’t do that.”
“Figured.” He chuckled, slamming the armrest down.
Gazing into the distance, I began to recognize the route we were taking, but still didn’t know where we were headed. The MAPs application revealed his shop was only a mile away, but we’d been traveling for some time now.
“Where are we headed?”
“To the one place they hold graduations for folk your age.”
“My age?”
“Yeah. You got somewhere else you need to be or something?”
“No. I don’t.”
“Good, then sit back and be quiet.”
“Thank you,” I responded instead of getting all in my chest about his remark. I’d learned very quickly that he meant little harm and was simply one who didn’t hold his tongue.
“Umm hmm.” He shrugged.
“I don’t have any money to have my car towed,” I blurted.
“Good thing I ain’t ask if you did, then, huh?” he scoffed, hiking up the music on his stereo to silence me.
Melting against the seat, I pushed the hundreds of words I wanted to share down my throat. The vomiting of my vocabulary felt much more productive than the silence he’d confined me to, but I settled, regardless. It was my nerves that wanted to lower the levees and allow my mouth to flood, nothing more or less. Somehow, he understood that.
Okay. I’ll shut up, I thought, folding the napkin in my hand far too many times.
Because, when a man that fine is willing to help a stranger tells you to, you just do, I reasoned, admitting that his perfectly sculpted face was partially the reason I swallowed my words and chose to retire my vocal cords momentarily.
His side profile was striking. The hole in his nose that allowed the jewelry to hook through his nose and rest in his right nostril was the final blow. With curiosity soaring through my veins, I tried reasoning with God’s intention when creating such a hunk of perfection.
