All That Drama (25 page)

“’Cause her ass lied to me.”

“Well, did you ever think that the little bit of money that you pay in support is not enough to take care of a child? Do you know how hard it is to raise a child on one salary? Do you?”

“I give her plenty of money.”

“Do you pay her health insurance? What about day care?”

“I give her enough but she probably is spending it on herself instead of Allison.”

“When is it enough when you have children? You have got some nerve. OK, I’ll give you credit because at least you claim to be paying child support and you do keep your daughter every other weekend. But how could you twist your lips to ask me for one of my dependents? You know that I am doing this all by myself and I’m the bad guy for saying no?”

“Look,” he said. “Just think about it. You don’t have to answer me until you have had a chance to think about it.”

“There is nothing to think about, you fucking moron. You have not done a damn thing for my kids and you want me to risk going to jail for tax fraud for you? Get a fucking grip!” Norman interrupted my tirade.

“You fucking bitch! My mother told me not to get involved with you. She said you would suck me dry and she was right. You will get yours, bitch!” he said and hung up the phone.

I was so upset I was trembling. Did he just threaten me? I hung up the phone and called Sammie at work. She would be just getting off so I was not worried about calling her so late. She answered right away and said she would come by the house on her way home. Over coffee, we discussed filing a restraining order against Norman. I was spooked and didn’t mind admitting it. Even in my darkest hour, I had never had a man go off on me like that.

Now not only did we have to contend with Jessie’s stupid ass, Norman was nutting up! Of the two, Jessie scared me more ’cause Norman never displayed any violent outbursts that I knew of. I wanted to call his sister Val to see if I could feel her out but Norman was such a good manipulator, he probably had already turned her against me. Needless to say, I would not be going into work in the morning.

Sammie stayed with me while I slept off and on. I woke up shortly before 8:00 and got dressed to go to the police department to file the order. I called into work since Sammie had agreed to watch the kids. I needed to have them near me ’cause I was feeling so bad. I fed them breakfast and kissed each of them on the forehead. I thanked Sammie for coming to my rescue the night before and I grabbed my stuff and headed for the door.

I
don’t recall the moments just before the bullet pierced my lung. I only remember a slight burn as it entered my body, and the feeling of my legs giving way as I crumbled onto the steps. Everything that they say in the movies is true. My whole life flashed before my very eyes. I could not turn away from the bitter moments nor could I rejoice in the happy ones. I was powerless. I could feel my body react to the lack of air but I was helpless to do anything about it.

I fought to hold on. I knew that I was mortally wounded but I had so much to do. Sammie ran out of the house and cupped my head in her lap. She was crying but I could not say or do anything. I hoped my eyes expressed what I was feeling. I wanted her to let my children know that I loved them. I wanted her to be there and let them know who I was and to tell them that I would always be around looking out for them. I willed her to tell them that they could achieve anything and that I would always be there right behind them pushing them on.

Norman walked up the steps with the gun still pointed at me. Sammie scooted back against the porch rail allowing my head to hit the concrete floor. It didn’t hurt since my main focus was on trying to breathe. He was smiling as he approached me.

“What, bitch? Ain’t talking now, are you? Cat got your tongue?” He leered at me with this demented look on his face. I could not believe that Norman was going to actually kill me on the front porch of my house in the presence of my kids. How could I have possibly misjudged him like that?

I could hear the children inside the house screaming and I prayed that they would not come out to see what was going on. Sammie was wailing as if she had been shot her damn self. I heard the second shot but my vision had failed. I was still aware of my surroundings but I could not see the players anymore. I prayed that Norman would not shoot Sammie, too, since she was a witness to the crime. Luckily for me, I did not feel the bullet that entered my head and it did not stop my mind from working. I was unable to move but my thoughts were still clear. I was yelling at Norman and for Sammie to call the police but neither responded since they could not hear me.

I did not hear the third and final shot. I was already dead but I could still see what was going on around me. Norman administered that bullet to his own head on the front steps of my house. He fell right on top of me. I wanted so badly to push his ass off but I could not move.

I stayed with Sammie as long as I could. I saw the white light but refused to run toward it. I was so afraid. Not of dying ’cause that was done already, but of living in the hereafter without my kids. I think I would have tried to stay longer, that is if I didn’t see Norman reaching out a hand to me from the depths of hell. It was time to go.

THE END