can’t get it up. (Laughing)
MATTIE
Jeffery takes good care of all of this.
Aretha looked at the clock on the wall. She was getting concerned about Monique being late. She decided that she would call Monique to see what time she would be coming home.
The phone rang three times and it went to voicemail. Aretha dialed her number again and it did not ring, it went straight to voicemail.
Aretha really began to fret. She knew that something must have been wrong because Monique always answer her phone. The conversation that she and Monique had this morning came to her about not going to Nashville. Aretha thought, “ I bet that little hussy went to Nashville anyway. ” By this time, Aretha was getting upset. One, because she told her that she didn’t think that she should go because her dad would be so far away. Two, she was deliberately not answering her phone.
Aretha turned her attention to call me and tell me what was going on. She pressed my picture on her phone and the phone began to rings.
JACOB
Hey Auntie.
ARETHA
Jacob, it is close to 7 o’clock and Monique is not here. I tried calling her twice and I am getting her voicemail.
JACOB
I am sure everything is alright. She might be at Chucky’s with her friends.
Just as Aretha was about to start her next words, her phone beeped.
ARETHA
Hang on Jacob this is her calling me back
She clicked over to talk to Monique.
ARETHA
Hello.
MONIQUE
Hey Auntie, you called.
ARETHA (frustrated)
Didn’t you see my number on your phone? Where the hell are you?
MONIQUE
Auntie, why are you hollering? I am with some friends hanging out.
ARETHA
You didn’t think to call me and tell me that you were going to be late.
There was a loud crash in the background of Monique’s phone. She hinted for everyone to be quiet and then she walked into the bathroom of the hotel room so that Aunt Aretha could not hear anything.
ARETHA
What was that?
MONIQUE
Nothing.
ARETHA
Lil’ girl don’t you lie to me. I hear some boys in the background. Are you in Nashville?
Monique was hesitant to answer her Aunt Aretha. Aretha stated that she was waiting on an answer. Monique told her that she was indeed in Nashville. Aretha was upset about that. She told Monique that her dad was on call waiting. Monique said that she was going to be careful and would be home by Sunday. Then there was silence on the phone. Aretha had clicked over to Jacob.
ARETHA
That girl is in Nashville. Now I told her that I didn’t think that it was a good idea for her to go up there with you being in New York.
JACOB
Aunt Ree , I forgot to tell you that I told her to go. You are right I should have told her to reschedule.
ARETHA
I have cooked dinner and everything. This girl is five hours away in drive time. You are two hours in flight time away.
JACOB
Why are you so technical? Auntie I apologize for saying anything. I should have known something was up when you call me “Jacob”.
ARETHA
I’m just saying. You are spoiling that girl. You need to….
I stopped her in mid-sentence. I could not take listening to hear rant and rave about how I am raising my child.
MATTIE
Is everything ok?
ARETHA
That hussy got her ass in Nashville. When I tried to explain to Papadopoulos how I felt he cut me off.
MATTIE
Well just a few minutes ago you said that you don’t get involved in his personal life.
ARETHA
That is his love life.
MATTIE
Same difference.
ARETHA
Fix you a plate and leave me alone right now.
TEN
Tyson and two of his fraternity brothers came over to the hotel where Jeremy and his friends are staying. Tyson introduced Jeremy, Monique, Ian, and Teddy to “Expression Punch” . It was a famous punch that his fraternity only knew the ingredients to.
After having a few six ounce cups of the punch, everyone
Learning to Kill: Stories