Page 66 of Citiali: Teach
I don’t look at him but throw chin.
“He doesn’t need an answer, if there even is one, appreciation is his point.”
“Thanks, Chris. I feel it and saw.”
Brekan stops so we all do. “They’re getting freakier, aren’t they?”
I turn my head to where he’s looking, then close my eyes and think about strength. We’re going to need it. A big tiki hut looking stage has Brothers all around it. No one is on the stage but the Brothers are there. I start walking again and see Caelan’s dogs then him.
His smile is cute. “Pres, VPs. VP Pablo came with Pres Zeke.”
“I feel them, Brother.” Sending strength toward him, he smiles then nods.
“Thanks, VP Citiali. Freaky compound.” He points toward the new container pool with a wooden deck built around it. Brothers, kids, dogs are all over it and under the deck on lounge chairs, talking, laughing, running, like this is normal.
I walk on. “Tiki hut is a theme today.” The new shit has thatched roofs.
Brekan laughs. “I can’t get past the entire city in tents. We went by the Alpha-Bit neighborhood. The dogs even have a neighborhood. A Brother from our Club said Prospects have maps from planning. This city even has planning.” He’s amused and perplexed at the same time.
Dyani laughs. “They have good planners. I’ve seen two bathroom huts, a first aid station, water fountains and a tent kitchen since we started walking.”
My feet stop. “Do you want a drink?”
She pulls my hand and I follow. “I’ll get one when we stop.”
We pass two neighborhoods the first of seemingly normal Brothers that turns out not to be so normal. A cow is over a huge pit of rock and whatever the hell they’ve got in there. A pulley is hooked to the running truck with its hood up. Brothers are spraying the cow down with a keg of beer. I look at Dyani. She shakes her head and keeps going. The next smells like a body shop and looks like they’re not done. Every tent is painted or being painted by Brothers doing their best to win the best neighborhood award with spray paint.
“They’re doing a hell of a job and are gifted artists for sure, but I’m not sure planning is giving awards out here.”
Brekan laughs hitting my arm. “It’s Delta. I bet the first tent is going to have a rocket. The rest are planets or sky.”
Dyani makes me laugh. “I thought they just missed spots but the more steps you take it changes. It’s like an illusion. They’re showing their own form of freaky.”
Turning, I see we’re on a bit of a rise. The games grew by at least two times it’s size from yesterday. The place is packed but everyone is calm and orderly. The neighborhoods are clearly identifiable in square block sections. Every section is the samesize but some only have a couple of bigger tents like the old lady compound. The walkways are the size of a two-lane road with tents or food trucks lining the inside. The oval area behind the businesses has a straight line of what has to be coolers powered by solar panels on frames in between the dumpsters. I shake my head. “Where is water?”
A hit to my arm surprises me.
Chris stopped too, I guess. “Look at the grass behind the dumpster. It’s a straight line turning yellow. They trenched it. I bet they have firehose under that sod layer.”
My eyes follow the line. It T’s off at the road grids. “Yeah. They really did plan it. They’re fuckin’ crazy.”
Brekan laughs pulling Chris forward. “It’s better than Coachella and Woodstock. Clean water, bathrooms, housing, security on the main drag, Clubs sponsoring food for those that need it and activities to keep everyone entertained.”
Dyani squeezes my hand. “Every section has a fire pit, the pool, food, games all have seating or viewing. It’s our tribe like at Pow wow. It didn’t matter the tribe, we’d talk to and help everyone.” My girl’s smile touches me, she doesn’t share much of her past but this is a good memory for her.
Brekan smiles. “It is like Pow wow. I’ve been in the crazy so long I’m missing the obvious. Badass is good at reminding us of what’s important in the most unusual ways.”
Dyani nods. “It wasn’t that long ago that I was trying to forget my past. It wasn’t all bad and the good is important to carry on.”
I tighten around her hand. “It is. I like the new view.”
Brekan watches me then nods. I smile seeing the perspective word cross his thoughts. We walk again. I feel a shield and add to it getting closer to the energy that’s radiating all around us. The shield is inside the next compound. That makes me smile. I’m heard here. The tent seems to glow but I’mseeing it with my eyes, it’s a light like a beacon. We step in and I laugh. Presidents and Officers are here from everywhere but the energy inside is toned down.
“Thanks for the help, Brother. Jeremy said you got this.” Christian looks exhausted.
I nod to him and push a little harder. “I do now. Are you okay?” I take his arm and feel my back running like a light switch was flipped.
“Yeah, thanks.” He doesn’t let my arm go for a few seconds. “It’s easier.”
