Page 34 of Monkey Business

“Can’t see anything except heads,” said Code. “There are dozens of monkeys, and they all are clasping someone’s hand.”

“Shit!”

They wandered around the tent as far as security would let them, then walked toward the monkey cages but saw nothing. The woman and the monkeys were nowhere to be found.

The two women went back to where they’d left Rose and Lissa. They were deep in conversation with the children, laughing with them as they animatedly spoke about the monkeys dancing. Rose had purchased two lemonades for them.

“Thank you, ma’am,” said the little boy. “Mama said we didn’t have money for lemonade today. We brought water.”

“Water is very good for you,” smiled Rose. “It’s very hot, so water was a smart choice. But sometimes lemonade is a great treat as well.”

The children both had caramel skin and beautiful ringlets of hair. Their Mulato and Creole heritage was shining through. They hadn’t gotten a good look at the mother, but her hair was identical to that of her children.

“Where is Mama?” asked the little girl.

“You know, I think she might have gone to get some food for you,” said Erin with a smile.

“Oh, good. Cuz we’re hungry.”

“Sheila!”

“What, Devon? I’m hungry.”

“It’s alright, Devon. Would you two like a hot dog?” asked Ani. They both smiled, nodding at the women. “Let’s go sit in the shade. We’ll be close when your mom comes back.”

The children ate three hot dogs each, a plate of nachos, a churro each, and two more lemonades. When Ani and Erin were unable to find a trace of the woman, they had to call in fairgrounds security and the police.

As it turned out, the children and their mother lived with their grandmother. They lived in low-income housing, and today was a day that the mother had saved for weeks to give the children. When the grandmother appeared, the children ran to her, sobbing.

“It’s alrigh’,” she cooed, hugging them. “I’m here. Granny is here.”

“We’re so sorry to call you,” said Erin.

“Are you the police?” she asked.

“No, ma’am. We just saw your daughter walk off with the monkeys and noticed the children were alone. We’re all mothers, so we couldn’t leave them.”

“I appreciate you so much,” she said with tears in her eyes. “They got no one ‘cept their mama and me.”

“Granny, the pretty ladies bought us hot dogs and lemonade and churros!” said little Sheila.

“Oh, that’s fine,” smiled the older woman. “That was real nice of y’all.”

“Would your daughter have walked away like that?” asked Ani. The old woman looked down at the children and then away from them. Rose smiled at them and took their hands.

“If your Granny says it’s okay, why don’t we go and get one of those cups of fruit,” she smiled. Their granny gave them a nod, and the children happily went with Rose.

“My Shondra is a good girl. A bit lost sometimes, but she’s a good mama. She was workin’ at the grocery and got laid off, which is why she was stayin’ with me. Her no-good husband left her about two years ago. Doesn’t give her a damn dime for them babies.”

“We’re so sorry,” said Erin.

“No. No, don’t be sorry. He was worthless. She was lookin’ for another job, and I told her to take the babies to the circus today. They all deserved a day off. She didn’t have much, but together we got enough for tickets. They packed a sack lunch and water bottles. Broke my heart she couldn’t afford even a sno-cone.”

“Would she have left her children?” asked Ani.

“Never. Never in a million years. Them babies are her everything. She’d do anything for them. I don’t know what happened to her, but my daughter ain’t no deadbeat mama.”

“We didn’t think she was,” said Erin. “We think something strange is happening here as well.”

---