BOMAW 1-3 (109 page)

"How you figure you seen him before? You don't know no white folks!" Sheila argued.

"How you know what I know?! Who I know! Ya'll ain't the only people I circulate with! You know I do have other acquaintances!"

"I don't care who you know - you don't know nothing about him!" Sheila went on.

"Will ya'll hush for a minute - I'm on the phone! I can't hear nothing he saying!" Ellen barked at them with her cell phone to her ear.

"Get off the phone then! Tell that Mexican, call you later! You can't take a shit without him checking to see what's in it!"

"Don't worry 'bout what my man checkin' on me! Hm baby?..." She argued with Sheila then went back to talking to Jose. "... you know how Sheila get... don't mind her. Naw, I ain't gone say that now-..."

"What he say?! What he say?!" Sheila asked looking in her rear view mirror at Ellen, "... tell'im I got something for his lil'Mexican ass! Gimme the phone - I'ah set his ass straight right now!" She fussed.

"Baby look... don't worry about it - we'll be back tonight-..."

"Tell'em you be back when we get back! Goddammit! Who he think he is - he'on run shit!"

"We better be gettin' back tonight! You know I gotta' work in the morning - don't be messing around, Sheila!"

"Look, you just sit there and chill out. All ya'll gettin' on my nerve! That's what I get for bringin' ya'll asses! Next time - get yo'own goddamn ride - messin' with me!"

"Next time I am... every time we ride with you, we gotta be put through some shit! Now come on Sheila... I don't wanna go straight there! I gotta step off in there last, so they can see me... shit - I wore this red dress for a reason! I can't be showing up with everybody at the same time... looking all anxious and shit!"

Sheila shook her head laughing, "Yo' lil'young ass ain't learned nothin'! Showing off! That red dress gone fool around and snag you something yo'ass ain't gone be able to handle! You ought'ah learn that from Hocki Socki!"

Ellen and Edwina cracked up in the back seat, "HOCKI SOCKI!!!" They laughed until tears were in their eyes.

"His name is Laek Chan!" Vivian corrected her, then turned to them in the back seat, "Ya'll need to shet up! Ain't nothin' funny!"

"I'on care what his name is! You got
his
ass with that red dress! You need to retire that goddamn thing! It don't do nothing but get you in trouble!"

"Hey - lil'trouble don't scare me! Bring'it on! Shit - ain't nobody crazy as me! Whoever it snag... he best be ready! I'm the goddamn trouble here!" Vivian bragged grinning.

"Em hm... that's what yo' black ass say now, but yo'ass was cryin' a few months back over Jackie Chan ass!"

"Can we get out of the past please!? I'on wanna hear about that - that's over and done with - let's go to that Kwik Trip back there! I need some gum and breath mints!"

"I passed it now!"

"You got breaks?! Steering wheel! Turn this son'va'bitch 'round!" Vivian instructed in her bossy way.

"Lil'girl! You better learn to respect yo'elders!" Sheila fussed and waited until she got to a junction in a street and turned down it to circle back, going on as she did so, "Yep... I'm done cartin' ya'll asses around. You should'ah got all this shit before we left... million and two goddamn stores in Chicago - and you wait till now to get that shit... and hurry yo'ass up in there too! 'Cause I will leave you!" She warned pulling into the busy Kwik Trip parking lot, pulling up to park.

Vivian turned and stepped out of the van, smoothing her dress down her body and stepped up to the sidewalk, swinging, swaying her hips with each step she took.

"Look at her ass in that red dress! I can't stand her ass!" Edwina grumbled watching her walk that walk that snatched the eyes of anything male in the area, female as well for that matter. Sheila laughed, "You just jealous cause you can't flaunt yo' shit like that! If I had her figure - I'd do the same goddamn thing - and so would yo'ass! But she better hurry up, 'cause she'll be needin' it to get a ride!"

"Leave her ass Sheila, that shit would be too funny!" Ellen suggested, off the phone now, laughing at the thought.

"Hell naw - not yet I won't... but she better get a move on and leave that hip swinging for later."

"Look at'em ya'll!" Edwina started cracking up laughing, "He gonna blow up the goddamn gas pump! White boy got gas pouring all out the pump!" They were watching as three men stood pumping gas at their cars and truck, all of them suddenly craned their necks, eyes popping out of their heads to see Vivian walk toward the Kwik Trip doors, she pulled it open giving them a view of her from the rear. Sheila was laughing slapping Ellen and Edwina's hands, because they knew there wasn't a man alive who could resist ogling Vivian - especially in that dress.

Jake had made up his mind to go to the reception. He'd almost talked himself out of going. He knew he would miss the dinner and the toasts because he had to run by the lumber company to speak to his boss about something before he left town for the next two weeks, and it couldn't wait - considering that he'd just gotten back himself from the big delivery to Minnesota. The plan had been to go in, speak with him - and then return home and get ready for the reception. He stood in Kwik Trip at the counter holding a Pepsi and a pack of beef Jerky, waiting for his turn to purchase a pack of cigarettes as well when the man standing in front of him made an exclamation of, "Holy Jesus - fiery hell what is that... Jesus, Mary and Joseph!" He muttered low.

Lost in thought, having his head down, Jake looked up to see what all the men in the convenience store eyes were locked on, to catch sight of a red dress and red high heeled shoes!

One man who had been out at the pumps rushed into the store and stood staring with the door open. Behind the counter, the store clerk was frozen with his hand taking money from one in line paying him. Both held onto the ten dollar bill as their eyes followed the smooth sway of a creature neither had ever seen before in these parts of Wisconsin.

"Must be from Milwaukee..." One of them whispered.

"Or Chicago... yeah... that looks like something out of Chicago... whoooeee! I ain't never seen no dress like that before." The man behind the counter said low to the others.

"Didn't know they made'em quite that way... them dresses..." One muttered swallowing the moisture in his mouth.

The man at the door was pushed in by two who wanted to come in and see as well. All white... all staring in disbelief.

Vivian pretended not to notice as she strolled slowly along the candy and gum aisle, she wasn't sure how many stood with their eyes locked on her, but there was enough. She loved her red dress. Loved the way it fit her and then turned dead center of the aisle so they could see the back. From the choke ban of the dress around her neck down her back, was bare skin to see. The back was scooped out all the way down to just the top of her rear, barely an inch before the crack of her rump. The opening was also wide to the sides of her tiny waist. Leaving all that smooth, stunning, black skin of her back open. As the rest of her, she had a tone, well sculpted back; the kind that provoked a touch from a man's hand. Fully aware that her back, was just as sexy as the rest of her, Vivian flaunted it, she paused deliberately in thought, then turned to look at the man behind the counter.

"Excuse me... but... there are no tic-tac mints here? Do you carry those?"

"Um um um, ri - right here - at - at this counter!" The store worker answered.

"They're here! They're here - right by me ma'am!" One of the men in line stated, swallowing he moved aside so she could see them.

Vivian smiled, showing sparkling, straight white teeth. She was a knock out, wearing red lipstick that seemed to be made just for her; her large, amazing light brown eyes, close to gold, smiled back at those speaking up to assist her.

"Oh ... okay... thank you. A couple of packs of gum..." She murmured, picking up two packs she made her way to the front of the store to get her tic-tacs. "Excuse me, I just want a couple of packs and move to the back of the line." She informed them, smiling all the time, stepping between two of the men and reached by them, arching her back, angled her legs, balancing enough to show an incredible side angle of her slender body and amazing derriere. The imagination of every man standing, wondered what delights were hidden within that red dress, beautiful delights they were sure, if her back and legs were anything to go by.

Jake's eyes travelled down her body to her legs, shapely, slender legs that worked with that dress, and then back up slowly, he shook his head thinking,
'God help the man she belongs to... he's a damn fool for letting her out with that red dress on.'

She stood straight again to turn and walk to the end of the line, behind
him andspotted him.

He looked straight into her eyes - she was absolutely stunning. He'd never seen a woman so black and so beautiful. She was head to toe perfection. Jake looked from her face, straight to her left hand. No ring.
'Ah hell! Don't do it Jake! You know that's nothing but trouble! That ain't nothing but a devil with a red dress on! You can kiss a peaceful life goodbye if you even consider it! Although... it can't hurt to play with it a bit... imagine that red dress on the floor, and what's inside lying in your bed? Oh yeah... now that... that would be worth passing a few hours in the night... Em hm.'

"Here ma'am, young lady... you can go before me!" The man invited whom Vivian stood before. With a catch in her throat, caught there by the sight of the tall man she'd locked eyes with she realized she was blowing her game. Glad for the distraction, Vivian smiled and turned to the one standing before her.

"Oh thank you... I am in a bit of a hurry. You sure you don't mind?" She responded appreciatively, using her banking voice. Polite, soft and lady like.

"Not at all, go right ahead." He wanted that back turned to him, to see her skin close up.

"Thank you so much," To the one waiting for her to turn. Turning, she offered money for her items, "Here you go." She smiled at the man behind the counter as he hurried and finished the order before her, closing the drawer and ringing up her gum and mints. He took her money and then asked, "You not from around here are you?"

"No, I'm not." She answered simply.

"Aaah, further South?" He asked again.

"Yep." She replied again with an engaging smile, accepting her change. "Thank you." She repeated, heading for the door.

"You have a nice day now... come again!" He called.

Vivian waved with her fingers and made her way out the door. Jake couldn't help but think the movement of her ass looked like a baby chewing a taffy - a nice ass at that.

Everyone of the men standing there were craning their necks to get one last look at her back. When she was out of sight, with the door closed, all starting talking at once. "You see that red dress!?" One asked.

"You should have seen her from outside walking in! Holy mackerel!" Another one spoke up.

"She must be black as jet!" The man behind the counter said.

"Something like that'll tempt any man!" The one who let her go before him said.

"I've never been with one... but lord... that one will make you consider it!" Another commented.

Jake stood silent wondering where she came from. Running through his mind was all the persons he knew in the area. Having lived there all of his life, he knew just about everyone.

"Look at Jake - look at Jake!" One of the men said noticing his thoughtful contemplation. They all knew him, knew the McPherson clan. More than anything, they knew Jake and his reputation with the women.

"So... what you think Jake?" One asked, they all stood watching him, waiting for him to answer.

"I think I got too much to do to stand here waiting in line. Can I pay and get going please?" He answered instead. He never shared his thoughts or business with anyone. He had no best friends that he shared anything with. Most of the time if he needed to talk about something, it was to Kathy Ann... she was his confidante. Most men didn't really want him for a best friend anyway, especially if they were married or serious about their girl. Jake knew that many of them didn't trust him, that was fine with him, they would be stupid to.

Vivian climbed into the van shaking. "Oh shit. Oh my God."

"What?" Sheila asked.

"Oh shit."

"What?" Edwina asked leaning forward in her seat.

"Oh my God, oh my God, oh shit." She repeated for the third time.

All three shouted, "WHAT?!!"

"Oh shit - I can't breathe!"

"Would you tell us what the hell is going on?!" Sheila demanded.

"Oh shit I gotta calm down!" Vivian sat back with her hands shaking, trying to control her breathing.

"Gurl you better share some shit! What!? What what what?!" Ellen demanded.

"I just saw, the finest thing I have ever seen in my whole goddamn life!" Vivian gasped.

"Where?" Edwina asked.

"Where the hell you think!?" Sheila turned in her seat to ask.

"Is he white? Is he as fine as Sylvia's?"

"Oh hell yeah! Gurl... oh my god! I almost lost my game! You know ain't no man ever tripped up my shit! But his ass almost made me stumble! Oh, what am I gonna do?! What if I never see him again?!"