Page 2 of Draco

After being hunched over, holding a small magnifying glass up to the eclipse shaped charm, Mr. Lex’s frail chest swelled with an inhale.

“Frankie. I’m sorry, but I can’t give you anything for this.” He dropped it into my palm. “It’s not trash. I just can’t take it. Keep it close. I believe it’s worth more than anything on this planet.”

“Come on!” I whined, no longer concerned with who could hear us. “I heard that too many times from Ms. Green. You can’t tell me it’s not real. She had the stones tested years ago.”

Mr. Lex chuckled as he linked his arms over his chest. “All right, Frankie. I will give you five hundred for the necklace if you’re willing to sell it, but I’m not taking the charm. I can’t.”

“You’ve got a deal!”

Once Mr. Lex scanned my driver’s license and handed me a receipt with my cash, I pulled my hood over my loc ponytail and power walked out of the shop.

I made it halfway down the block before my phone vibrated against my thigh. There were only so many people who called me, and right now, I didn’t want to speak to either of them. Still, I put my attitude to the side and picked up the phone.

“Sammi! What’s up, birthday girl?” I addressed my friend in a jovial cadence, trying to mask the heaviness consuming me. “Are you ready for tonight?”

“Hell yeah! A girl only turns twenty-five once.”

“Ha! In your world, it happened the last two years. You know your secrets are safe with me though.”

“Exactly! You’re loyal. That’s only one of the many reasons I love you.” She giggled. “Where are you right now? I have a nail appointment on Spencer Ave in an hour. Let’s meet up. My treat!”

“Hmm, I have a two-piece set I need to finish crocheting before your dinner. Raincheck on the nails?”

The line went silent, and I prayed Sammi would keep her thoughts to herself. Today was about her, and I didn’t want to ruin that with my drama. If I told her my struggles stemmed from trying to save the house, she would go on a rant about my mom’s birth children.

When Ms. Green became my foster mother, Sammi was already living with her. She was a few years older than me, but anytime she wanted to go out, Ms. Green made Sammi take me with her. I couldn’t recall a time when the ginger-haired rebel ever complained about it. Even after another family adopted her, we stayed close.

“Frankie, I want to call you out for dismissing my offer, but I don’t want to fight on my birthday.”

“Aww. You’re so considerate, pumpkin. Without people like you, where would we be in the world?”

“Probably trapped in one of those scary ass comic books you like to read. I’m not judging you. I’m just happy you learnedhowto read. Bye, party popper!”

Even though Sammi assumed I was being dishonest about having to workthistime, I wasn’t. Out of everything I learned from the woman who took me in, working with my hands was something I turned into a profit. I only put my business on the back burner to take care of my favorite person. Ms. Green’s sickness triggered a possessive spirit in me that preferred to care for her rather than myself.

By the time I made it home, it was close to four. I had a few hours to add straps to the halter top and purse I had been working on, so I got comfortable and got to work. Yarn wasn’t the most difficult material to work with, but it could be tricky. If you moved too fast, you could create a mess. If you moved too slowly, you could lose your rhythm. I used every minute I had to perfect the pieces, and by the grace of God, I added the final touches on the set right as my alarm clock sounded off.

With an hour to get ready, I soaked my bones in hot water then saturated my vitiligo-riddled skin in enough oil to make me resemble a glazed honey bun. Thanks to the warm nights we experienced in Blackstone, I picked a knee-length, backless dress made of yarn to wear. An updo complemented the fit, so I gathered my sister locs into a high ponytail that reached the nape of my neck. I hated I didn’t feel comfortable leaving the house without makeup, yet I was grateful I knew what to do with foundation and a good palate.

The restaurant was about ten minutes from my house, which sealed my decision to walk instead of calling an Uber. I knew Sammi would have a fit, but for safety reasons, I sent her my location as I started down the backstreet on my platform heels.

Most people from my hood avoided Kruger Lane at night since it was wedged between a view of the city and the entrance to the woods, but I preferred the serene atmosphere and its piney aroma. Too many times, I traveled through my neighborhood and had to deal with egotistical men who couldn’t take no for an answer. Despite the scary stories people created, I had been taking the alternate route for ten years and never ran into trouble.

With a tight grip on Sammi’s birthday bag, I hummed, trying to block out the wind’s whispers and the rustle of leaves. Every few seconds, my eyes would glide from the glow of the restaurant less than a mile away then down to my shoes. The idea of a skunkor coyote running up on me wasn’t enough to ruin my night, but the thought of a busted ankle was.

Only a few steps away from the main street, I pulled out my phone to call Sammi, but I froze, stunned by the change in texture beneath my heels.

“What is...”

I slowly reached for the black wallet like I hadn’t heard of the horror stories attached to these types of scenarios. From corner to corner, I traced my finger over the leather material, weighing the options of what to do with it. Scenes from my favorite movies invaded my thoughts, urging my feet to move toward my destination. I may have made an amateur move by grabbing the billfold, but I wouldn’t stand in one spot like a sitting duck.

As I expected,Sways Italian Cuisinehad just as many people inside as those that littered the sidewalk. I checked in with the host, and then she escorted me to Sammi’s table in a private room in the back of the building. Weary that someone may have followed me, I checked over my shoulder a few times before plastering on a phony smile.

“Frankie! Finally, you made it! I was seconds from sending a search party through the woods!”

The birthday girl leaped from her seat and rushed over to me with open arms. We exchanged a host of compliments before she led me to a chair next to hers.

There were three ladies at the table aside from Sammi. Troi and Shanice, whom I hung out with previously, but there was an unfamiliar face among the group.

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