Page 94 of The Prodigy

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Jakari

Ihavetogetmy daddy help. I can’t lose him. I can’t.

I can’t.

God, please don’t let my daddy die.

My mother’s screams pierce my ears and my heart. She’s pissed, but I know it’s pain talking.

I touch my daddy’s wound. His eyes roll and it scares me. I snatch my hand back. My heart is pounding. My blood runs cold.

But I know what I have to do.

I kiss my daddy’s forehead. The salt from his sweat stings my dry lips. And then I turn away to do what must be done.

I have a body to bury.

I was soaked with sweat when I woke up out that nightmare. Malika didn’t wake up, but she was moving around like she was about to. I laid still until she stopped, then I got up and walked down the hall to the bathroom.

After I took a leak, I stared at myself in the mirror. I could see dark circles starting to form under my eyes. My reward for coming back here and trying to do the right thing for my family.

Back in my bed, I got to thinking hard about my future. I was torn between two options. I could get the fuck out of Midling and settle down in Atlanta for good, maybe set up shop there like everybody thought I was gonna do when I left the first time. Or I could say fuck it and bend this fucking town to my will. The second option would be harder. Blood would probably have to be shed. But at least I wouldn’t be a coward.

I turned my head and looked at my wife’s back. She was naked. Her soft skin was calling me, begging to be touched. But I just stared at her and wondered how she fit into all this.

I wasn’t sure. Didn’t really wanna think about it, to be honest. I couldn’t see staying married to her, but the scary part was that I couldn’t see myself leaving her behind, either. I didn’t love her—I don’t think—but I was getting used to her. Her presence was cool. She didn’t add stress to my life. If anything, she took some of that shit away.

Yeah, I didn’t wanna think about it. I pushed that out of my mind.

I checked the clock. 5:43 am.

Might as well get a jump start on the day. I had a lot to do.

Igotahero’swelcome when I walked into The Block. It was the first legit business my grandfather opened. A barbershop that catered to the black clientele, only it was somewhat upscale, unlike the dusty-ass corner shops that had sprung up since.

My Uncle Prez ran it now, and he was doing a good job of it, too. After my shower this morning, I looked at the numbers. Everything looked good. But Prez was solid like that. My pops told me that a long time ago.

I popped Jaz in the head on my way past the reception desk before I made the rounds, catching up with old friends and encouraging the employees.

Then I took a seat in Tay’s chair. Me and that nigga went way back, and he’d been cutting my hair since I was like 12.

If I had to guess Tay’s age, I’d probably say he was a year or two older than me, but I don’t think he ever graduated. It wasn’t something we ever talked about. We only ever talked business and hair. Still, I would say we were close. I trusted him.

“How long you here for, man? And who been lining you up? Them Atlanta niggas ain’t nice with the clippers, huh? That’s a damn shame.”

“Aw, here you go,” I laughed. “I’m home for now. That’s all I can say. And while a nigga did find a new barber out there, it’s always been you, Tay. You complete me.”

“Nigga, fuck you,” he laughed. “What we doin’?”

After I reminded him how I wanted my shit done, we caught up on what he’d been up to, and what was happening around the shop. I kept my ears open for any kinda hint of shadiness or bullshit, but I didn’t hear anything.

Didn’t mean there wasn’t any, though.

After Tay got me right, I took a look around the back office. Prez wasn’t in today, so it was empty, but everything looked like it was in order.

I said my goodbyes and headed for the exit. I stepped out and looked up at the sky. Bright blue, wispy white clouds. I was always happiest when the sky looked like that. Maybe I was one of those people whose mood changes with the weather, I don’t know. Either way, a nigga was feeling good today.

I heard a loud pop at the exact same time somebody pushed me hard. I looked around to see who did it, but there was nobody there. I was confused for a minute before I heard another pop, and then the glass behind me shattered. That’s when I realized what had actually happened.

I heard voices, then somebody was pulling me. The world spun around me, and then I was lying on the floor and Jaz was standing over me, crying and yelling for somebody to call an ambulance.

I tried to sit up, but Tay’s voice was in my ear telling me to chill. I wasn’t in pain, but I was tired as hell, like I’d been up for five nights straight. I was sleepy.

Jaz told me to stay with her, but I was too sleepy. The last thing I heard before I fell asleep was the sound of sirens.

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