Authors: Blake Karrington
"Relax Tashonda." The Woman said gently squeezing her hand.
"Everyone here has been through, if not the same thing, something similar to the crime committed against you Miss Davis."
"Everyone?" She asked surprisingly.
"Yes.... Everyone.... Including me." She said after a slight pause.
"You...? But you're...."
"It can happen to anyone Miss Davis." She said cutting her off.
Tashonda looked at the middle aged lady a moment while gathering her thoughts. She still couldn't believe she was here about to talk about and reveal her story to someone outside her family for the very first time. She then thought of the Woman standing in front of her now, whom she'd met while buying supplies for her Salon.
"Excuse me Miss.... But I just have to ask you.... Who did your hair?" A Woman asked Tee while she loaded her cart with supplies,
"Honey's Hair Salon." Tee answered.
"OH Really....? I wish someone could do something with this mop." She said pulling at her split ends.
"Then maybe my Husband would pay a little more attention to me, if you know what I mean." She said with a wink.
"I think I know what you're trying to say, Mrs. Aah...." "OH.... Please pardon my manners, I'm Mrs. Williams." She said extending her hand.
"Tashonda." Tee said giving her hand a firm shake. "Would you happen to be related to Attorney Kellin Williams?"
"OH God, yes my dear.... Unfortunately that's my workaholic Husband."
"Well, I guess we have something in common." Tee said.
"Your Husband's my private Attorney." She continued.
"Really?"
"Yes, I own Honey's Beauty Salon."
Mrs. Williams’s demeanor suddenly moved to sadness.... At that moment Tee knew she was thinking of her Rape Case, as did everyone else it seemed. These were the moments that always made her feel bitter, ashamed, and humiliated. What hurt the most was, knowing who your attackers were and that they were not somewhere rotting in Jail.
"Miss Davis it's okay."
"I'm fine." Tee said.
"But you're crying." She said, and then took Tee in her arms.
This was over a month ago. After several conversations over brunch, along with two hair appointments Mrs. Williams finally convinced Tee to attend one of her V.V.C. Classes.... Victims of Violent Crime.
"Please.... have a seat." Mrs. Williams said interrupting Tee thoughts.
Once she was seated Mrs. Williams resumed her leadership role of the meeting, moving casually around the room, her Prada Dress waving gracefully with her every move. Minutes later she sat next to Tee as she watched a very young girl stand and walk to the front of the room. She introduced herself without a smile, speaking with a voice full of defiance and strength. Yet as Tee stared at this Beautiful little freckled faced White Girl she couldn't seem to find the innocence that all children her age portrayed. Large Blue Eyes protruding from their sockets, although neatly dressed she couldn't hide the frailness of her tiny frame.
As Tee listened to her, she herself was becoming confused, beginning to question why she was there until this precious little girl began telling the story of how her biological Father would wave out the big Bay Window of their home at her Mother every morning as she left for work, then would turn around and almost rip the cotton panties off of his eight year old Daughter in a lustful rampage.
This went on for over two years. It wasn't until the couple began having marriage problems, that this travesty finally came to an end.
Late one day in the wee hours of the morning little ten year old Amanda had awaken her Mother out of her sleep complaining of severe stomach pains. With her Husband passed out on their Sofa, recovering from one of his weeklong binges of Booze, Drugs, and Sex.
She decided to drive their Daughter to the Hospital on her own. Two hours later the Doctor returned with the devastating news that would change little Amanda's life forever. Not only was she six weeks pregnant, she also had contracted HIV/AIDS from her own Father. Upon being questioned by Child Services and the Police she was immediately taking away from a grief stricken Mom who couldn't understand why her baby was being taken away from her. Yet the nightmare didn't end there, in fact it was only the beginning for this young child. After driving home without her child Amanda's Mother found her Husband of fifteen years still asleep on their Sofa. Without hesitation she walked to their bedroom closet to retrieve the gun they kept there for protection, then walked directly back to her sleeping husband.
"Wake up you Bastard!!!" She screamed. When he finally opened his eyes he was looking down the barrel of his own 357 Magnum.
"Hon.... Honey, what the hell is going on...." –
"She was just a Baby John.... Just a fuckin Baby, and you've killed her!..." She continued shouting out in rage.
"That little Bitch is lying Honey I...." He stopped in midsentence She pointed the gun at his chest.
"This is for my Baby!" Boom.... Boom.... Boom.... Boom.... Boom.
She shot him five times killing him instantly. When the Police arrived, they found both Parents Dead.
Little Amanda's Mother had written her a note saying how sorry she was for letting her precious Baby down. All this happened before jamming the barrel of the gun down the inside of her own mouth, then pulling the trigger.
As little Amanda walked back to her seat Tee couldn't hold back the tears. Her heart was bleeding for the young girl, as was everybody’s inside the small room.
"It's okay Tashonda.... Release it." Mrs. Williams said.
"It will cleanse your Mind, Body, and Soul."
Tee watched as Woman after Woman stood to their feet reliving the barbaric and vicious attacks against them.
An hour later Tee took her seat after sharing her experience with the group of Women. She could hear the sobs coming from each of them as she closed her eyes and silently prayed....
Upon opening them, she looked around the small room.
"Maybe Mrs. Williams was right." Tee began thinking to herself. All at once her spirits seemed lifted, burdens lighter. As she sat there she couldn't believe the sense of freedom she felt. No longer did she feel trapped in her own body.
"Will you come again?" Mrs. Williams asked interrupting Tee thoughts.
"I would love to." Tee answered.
The house was dark when Q pulled his Mercedes into the half circled driveway. He sat there a moment behind the wheel staring at the front door. Then just as he'd been trained to do, Bear silently crept through the small access door connected to the side of the garage. Without making a sound he waited in the shadow of darkness, his nose pointing towards the sky sniffing for any signs of danger. Bear was a trained assassin.... Man eater and a certified Killer!!! But he was also his Masters best friend.
Watching him, Q smiled before stepping out of his car.
"I see you're on your Job, Big Boy." He said patting Bear's massive head. Bear jumped around happily, glad to see his Master.
"I'm glad to see you too, Old Boy." Q said.
Once inside the house Q found Van curled up on the Bed in the guest room. He walked over and sat next to her. Opening her eyes she gave him a sleepish smile.
"Baby I...."
"Sshhhh." He said cutting her off by putting a finger to her soft lips. Then in one smooth motion he picked her up, and began carrying her towards their bedroom. Van, burying her head deeper into his chest as he held her in his powerful arms. After laying her on their bed, Q kissed her on the forehead, and then headed for the shower.
"Ba.... Ba.... Baby." Van whispered. "Ten minutes ma." He turned to her and said.
"Five." She said back to him.
Q raised his arms above his head, smelling both of his armpits He frowned before responding.
"Make that fifteen minutes ma.... Damn."
Van laughed. "Alright, fifteen minutes Quentel."
After showering Q walked back into the bedroom where Van was sitting on the bed Indian style. She watched him as he prepared to rub his naked body down with "Armani Black" Body Lotion.
"Come mere love." She said.
"Van walked over and stood directly in front of him, taking the lotion from his hand, she got down on her knees and began rubbing his body.
"I missed you boy.”
"Not as much as I missed you." Q said, her soft hands Intoxicating as she continued to rub his entire body.
"Hummmm...." Q moaned becoming aroused. After lying on the bed the last thing he remembered was Van climbing on top of him sexing him into a deep sleep.
Early the next morning Q was awakened by Van. It's for you she said handing him the phone.
"Who is it ma?" he asked not wanting to move.
"It's Tim, love.... He says it's important."
"Tim." Q said quickly grabbing the phone.
"Whassup Homie?... What's poppin?"
Tim wasted no time telling him why he was calling. Tech had somehow gotten arrested on D.U.I. Charges and was being held in one of the other blocks down at the County Jail. Another Inmate who was in the same block overheard Tech boasting about how he'd put the fear of God in the entire P.G. Crew.
After the Inmate confronted Tech and called him a liar, they began fighting. When they were finally broken up Tech started screaming about how he violated Tee, raped her and you did nothing.
"Im'a kill that nigga Q.... Just as soon as I can get inside that block. I don't know why we didn't kill both dem nigga's to begin with Q."
As Q sat there holding the phone he could hear the emotion in Tim’s voice. He loved Tee to death. If it wasn't for her he would have never met the love of his life Terri, she was his big Sister. But Q couldn't allow him to ruin his life by killing this no good ass nigga in front of a bunch of fuckin Rats, who would tell just to get off on a Drunk Mans sentence.
"I can't let you do it Tim."
"What?"
"I said, I can't let you do it Homie.... Look, you and the whole Crew will be finished serving your time in a little over three weeks Tim.... Besides Tee would kill me if I allowed you to ruin your life like this Homie. How would I ever be able to look Terri in the face? She loves you Homie.... I love you.... So please Lil Brother, don't put me in a situation like this aight?"
“
Don’t put you in a situation? What about me, you think I’m gonna let this nigga live after what he done to Tee?”
“
Who said that nigga gonna live, his ass is on borrowed time, just trust me"
“
My nigga you know I trust you, but nigga don’t deserve another minute on this earth”
“
You right, but you don’t deserve a life time behind them bars, now just trust your brother.
“
Aiight Q, you have my word, but this nigga got to get it!"
God is my witness.... He will pay for what he done to Tee. But right now, what I need is for you and the rest of the Crew to keep it together for the next three weeks, Aight?"
"Yeah Homie." . "Aight cool.... I'll be out front with Terri to pick everybody up."
"Later." "Later, Homie."
"I liked the way you handled that." Van said as Q hung up the phone.
"Yeah.... But I have to put an end to all this bullshit shawty."
"Not without us." Van answered.
"Us.... What do you mean us?"
"Us, meaning me and my Girls, Q."
"June was right." Q mumbled to himself a little too loudly.
"Right about what?" She asked.
"Y'all Bitches are crazy."