Trickery & Envy (9 page)

Barbara
tried to muffle her laugh to avoid sharing a chortle at Toni’s expense. “Your friend’s sister should be shame of exposing him like that.”

Barbara
waited some time before asking Toni if it were true he was a hermaphrodite. He confirmed he was and had quickly moved to a different subject. Barbara respected he didn’t want to talk about it further and had let the topic go until now as she look at her friend unhappy.
Man I really feel for him.
She then wanted to learn more about what he was going through.

“Toni
do you mind giving me some insight on what it’s like to be a hermaphrodite? I like to be more educated on the subject.”

“What is it that you want to know?”

“What’s it like? How do you deal with being different, mentally?”

Toni glance
d and saw that Barbara was serious. He clasped his hands behind his head. “Let’s see,” he said, looking up at the ceiling. “If you want to take it back to biology, a hermaphrodite is an organism that has reproductive organs normally associated with both male and female sexes. Well in humans a person can have both X and Y chromosomes, that’s not to be confused with typical XY Chromosome of males. A hermaphrodite has both testicular and ovarian tissue which is somewhat confusing. It’s rare, that’s why most people sort of freak out when they come across someone born this way.”

Toni look
ed at Barbara whose mouth had dropped in total amazement.

“Damn...,”
Barbara said astounded by his knowledge of the subject. “I see why you’re a Clinical Research Associate. You are so medically inclined.”

Toni smile
d. “Well you wanted to know.”

“
Doesn’t the person usually choose their sex then have surgery to eliminate the other?”

Toni
shrugged his shoulders, leaned forward on the bar. “Most do,” he said. “I could have chosen, but choose not to despite I feel more male than female. It’s innate, part of who I am. Like they say, God don’t make any mistakes. I believe there’s a lesson in all His creations that He shaped all of us differently. Some people just have a hard time accepting what isn’t like them. Don’t forget they stoned “I AM” because of who He was. He said I Am the son of God and was rejected. Well, I am the son of I Am.” Toni paused a second then softly said, “Barbara I believe my mother had the same beliefs. Perhaps it’s the reason she didn’t choose what sex she wanted me to be and why she gave me a unisex name. So that it would be conducive to whatever gender I chose. My choice, I’m not going to tamper with what I know is God’s creation.”

Barbara
was hesitant to ask, but did. “Have you ever had penis sex with a woman?”

Toni
grinned and moved his head from side to side.

“I can always count on you being direct. No, I have
n’t had intercourse with a woman.”

“
So which one is on top,” Barbara wanted to know.

Toni
looked confused a moment then drew back from the bar tickled.

“Man, you’re really getting personal
and what you mean which one is on top,” he said as if he didn’t know what she was asking.

“You know...your cookie or your pickle?”

Toni burst into laughter, placing his hand on his stomach he was so tickled.

Barbara
couldn’t help but laugh a little too, though she was serious in wanting to know.

“My cookie or my pickle,
you’re too funny. Has anyone ever told you...?”

Barbara
cuts Toni off. “Yeah, yeah, you should have been a comedian. But what do you expect? It’s freaking me out and I want to know. I want to be empowered with knowledge about hermaphrodites. Who better to learn from than from one?”

“
I hear you, but I’m not going to answer that ridiculous question” and shaking his head at Barbara.

“
Can I see?”

“You
know what; you don’t need anything else to drink. As a matter of fact,” he said and removed Barbara’s cooler sitting in front of her near his drink. “You need to have a bottle of water because the little alcohol in this cooler has gone to your head.”

“
You’re right. I did get a little personal.” Barbara waited about three seconds and said, “Just a peek?”

Toni tilt
ed his head to the side. “You’re not going to quit are you. I know how to end this conversation, I’m leaving,” he said pushing back from the bar and he stood. Toni then moved Barbara’s cooler bottle back near her. “Seriously, I need to be going. I’m meeting Vivian this evening for dinner. I’m falling for her Barbara. I always find myself thinking about her. I can’t count the times she’s crossed my mind while sitting here.”

Barbara
finished her drink then stood and dropped the empty cooler bottle into the wastebasket behind the bar. She then followed Toni up the steps from the basement.

“You’re not mad at me for getting too personal are you?”

“You know we’re cool. I just hope things work out when I tell her. Actually, this is one for the Lord. I need to be talking to Him.”

“
That is a fact,” Barbara responded and as they reached the top step and then adding, “Fruit of the Looms or Hanes?”

T
oni giggled again at her.

“You’re sick,
Barbara, very sick. I would seek help if I were you,” he told her.

***

Vivian sat behind her desk sporting a stylish red silk pantsuit and sensible shoes. It was the end of the day. She was waiting until all of her beauticians had finished their clients before executing a plan. She had decided this morning that she would end her day firing Tracie. Tracie’s tardiness and constant days off had earned her an unpleasant reputation. It was time for her to go. Whatever, or whoever was keeping her from coming to work to take care of her clients would have her full attention now.

What none of the stylist knew was
that at any minute they could be under surveillance. The peek-hole on Vivian’s office door was a hidden camera. All she had to do was switch the computer monitor on her desk over to video to see what was going on outside her office. Though the camera wasn’t recording or connected to an outside monitoring company, Vivian had the capability of spying on her stylist. It was rare that she did that, but occasionally she would.

Shortly after opening her salon expensive shampoo and conditioner she kept in her display counter disappeared.
After Vivian gathered her stylist around her and eyed them all suspiciously the culprit never struck again.

What also deterred the guilty p
erson from striking again was what Vivian said. ‘Ladies, just because your eyes are closed doesn’t mean you still can’t see. Don’t let it happen again,’ she had warned.  Vivian then walked away and back into her office where she searched the internet for surveillance equipment.

Vivian
flipped a switch on her monitor and saw that Tracie along with another beautician was about to leave. She flipped the switch back then rose and went over and opened the door to her office.

“Tracie, can I see you in my office?”
she said.

Tracie nodded in response and told her co-worker she was about to go out the door with that she’ll see her tomorrow.

“Have a seat,” Vivian said ignoring the sadness now displayed on Tracie’s face.
That pitiful look is not going to change my decision.

Tracie laid her
multi-colored shoulder bag in her lap after taking a seat. She seen the help wanted sign in the window when she arrived late this morning, but was uncertain if it was her chair up for rent. There had been talk that Vivian was considering filling another chair with a stylist. Even so, Tracie glanced off and on at the sign while doing her client’s hair. She now had no doubt that the sign was associated with her chair.

“Ms. Fowler, please, I know what you’re about to do. I ask you to please just let me find another job first. You don’t know
my situation. I’m in a stressful and sometimes abusive relationship that I’m trying to get out of. I wish I could share it with you.”

Girl, I’m not interested in your drama
.

Tracie said, “
You know how good of a stylist I am. I’m begging you to please just give me one more chance.”

“Tracie you’ve only been here five months and have taken eight days off. How much longer did you think I was going to put up with your having clients wait
due to you being late or calling off? The other stylists have their own clients to tend to. They don’t have time to be working your clients in.”

“I know
, I know Ms. Fowler, believe me, I’m going to improve. I just need you to give me another chance or at least let me find another job first. My relationship is what’s causing me to be late most of the time.  I’m trying to find a way out of it.”

“I’m sorry but you have grated on
my last nerve coming and going as you please.”

“Ms. Fowler you just don’t know what I
’ve been going through. I’m trying to get out of a bad situation. Please, Ms. Fowler, I need this job. I’m saving to move to L.A. I have relatives down there. I had planned to leave at the end of the year. It’s the only way I feel I can get away from my boyfriend. I know I’ve been taking off.”

“Tracie what would you do in my position. You c
ame to work late today and then informed me that you need next Friday off after missing a day last week.”

“Please Ms. Fowler.
I have a doctor’s appointment next week. You don’t understand the position I’ll be in if you let me go. I’ll be stuck here and I know it will make things worse with my boyfriend. I’m begging you, please let me find another job first.”

Vivian
becoming irked by Tracy’s pleading moved in to her desk to get her point across.

Patricia
was standing on the outside of her office door scrolling though her I-phone just in case it got ugly inside.
I would fire your behind too the way you’ve been coming and going
.

Vivian was then
blown away after Tracie’s cell phone rang and Tracie reached inside her shoulder bag for her phone and began to respond by text.

The incoming text read, WHERE ARE YOU? ARE YOU
ON YOUR WAY HOME?

Vivian
just stared at her.
You’ve got some nerve. If I was sitting here begging for my job, do you think I’m going to have the audacity to respond to a text message.

Tracie as if the call she received was more important than
what was taking place texted, NO, I’M STILL AT WORK TALKING TO MY BOSS.

The next text read,
THAT’S EVEN BETTER. KEEP TALKING TO HER. I TOLD YOU SHE OWES ME.

Tracie respond
ed, KEEP HER TALKING WHAT ARE YOU DOING VERNON. SHE IS ABOUT TO FIRE ME.

The
incoming text said, SO LET HER. AND YOU BETTER NOT TELL HER WE KICKING IT.

Vivian
was totally shocked by Tracie actions. Not only did she respond to the text she was holding a conversation with whomever texted her.

“Look I know you saw the sign in the window and it’s your booth that’s for rent. I’m going to give you an option. You can quit or as of
now, you are fired. Furthermore, you can keep your booth rent for this month and gather your belongings. Goodbye, Tracie,” and Vivian moved back into her seat to observe Tracie’s response to her firing her.

Despite the fact that
Tracie was an excellent stylist and mainly kept to herself, Vivian knew when it came to firing people that the person you thought you knew could become unpredictable. Vernon was evidence of that.

A few tears fell from Tracie’s eyes as she fold
ed up her cell phone and looked up at her boss. Tracie rose from her seat and commenced to walk out of Vivian’s office and over to what used to be her booth. She began gathering her belongings. Now mad about being fired she snatched two curling irons from the outlet and with them still hot, stuck them into her blue cotton bag she lifted from the floor. Patricia watched in silence as Tracie grabbed her styling combs and brushes and shoved them into the bag, too, while Vivian observed her from her office doorway. Tracie anger had her snatch open a drawer with more force than needed causing it to disengage from the base. She sighed loudly at the items, her hair pins, head wraps and rollers that scattered to the floor.

“
I’m not picking this shit up,” Tracie mumbled. “You can have it, firing me.”

Tracie
then looked over at Patricia and slightly rolled her eyes at her. Tracie liked Patricia, but disliked she had witnessed her getting fired.

Patricia kept w
ith her watching.

Tracie
after gathering her things picked up her bag and left.

While Vivian was firing her stylist Vernon was rummaging through her house after
breaking in. Darling approached him and he kicked her violently across the floor. Her backside slammed into one of the cast iron living room chairs. Her cries echoed from the living room walls. The impact was enough to break one of Darling’s back legs. She stuck her tail between her legs and made wailing sounds as she limped helplessly away to seek a hiding place. Vernon then spotted Darren peeking from behind the sofa. “Bring your little ass here,” he said moving over to the sofa. He moved the sofa some, grabbed Darren by the head and then went and threw him hard against the wall. Darren too cried out in pain and was dizzy looking for shelter.