BOMAW Vol. 10-12 (61 page)

He laughed a bit worried, "Yeah, that's all I need, women screaming my name," He shook his head, chuckling, sobering a bit, he asked, "You don't think it's too late?"

"No - way! You're still handsome beyond words, may be better looking, I think your voice is better than its ever been now that you're older. And, well - you no longer have daddy over you, keeping you down, making you feel that - it's a sin to be singing the way you did. You have to do this Jake, it's what you were meant to do, meant to be!"

"I needed to hear that lil'sister. I want to do this,
now
- before its too late."

"Can I hear one of the songs? What made you decide to do it, after all this time?"

He smiled, "Vivian."

Shanna smiled, "Vivian huh, why Vivian?"

"She's special. She's not like the other women I've been with - I see her and I want to show her - I'm not some - no account, white trash, red-neck going no where. She's set herself up because of things in her past, to overcome what people thought of her. Her ah, mother - she doesn't care for me much - I've met her, the whole family. But her mother, oh the looks she gives me and there are other's like her, who always had that low opinion of me, you know? Partly deserving I admit." He went on contemplating it all. Shanna smiled nodding, she did know. "For once, since Vivian - I feel like, I wanna show them, show them all - you don't know me - you don't know me at all. I wanna - I wanna come out on top for once Shanna - for once, I wanna say, look at me now - look at me now!"

"Wow. You know what, I can see it already big brother - I can see it already. Tell me about one of the songs, do you have one that you think might be a hit?"

"Who knows, but I have one that's special to me."

"What's it called?"

"Vivian."

"You wrote a song for Vivian?"

"Yeah, two in fact. One is called
"Vivian"
, the other - is called,
"Here we come." -
They're both about us. The second one, will be risky, because of its racial undertones, and - because of the song being a remake using a sampling from the first song, The Monkey's - Here we come - remember it, by the Monkey's - Davey Jones?"

"Of course, I do."

"Well, I deliberated over it a long time, almost scrapped the idea because of the way some will twist it and manipulate it racially. More than likely using it against me, or us - but - it kept coming back to mind, so I'm gonna go ahead with it anyway."

"You do what you have to do, can I hear one of them?"

"I don't have my guitar here, plus I want to get done, but tonight - promise - let me get a bit more done here and then when I get back tonight, I'll sing one of them."

"Yes! Well, come on - up off of this floor, I'll help - because I wanna hear this song! This is so exciting!"

Together, they went through the bathroom, and stripped it clear, they stripped the kitchen and the bedroom filling the skit. Because of Shanna's constant animated chatter, it took his mind off of Ben and what he knew would be. Yet, the nagging in his stomach was still there even though he worked around it. While he knew it was ridiculous to feel that way, it was as if one of his sons had died. The outlook might have been extreme, but the pain is what fed the feeling.

Soon, they were done. They left together. He went to Shawn's and Sylvia's and took a shower because when they returned, he noticed that Royce was back again. Deciding to give them a few moments alone, he showered at his brother's house.

By the time he made it back to his sister's, she'd set the stage, sort of speak. She'd filled Royce in on it, and it appeared, that he'd been forced into accepting certain matters or else. For now, Shanna had won the small battle, because he was sticking to her like glue for the remainder of the evening. Shanna had his guitar on the kitchen table and a chair turned towards them where they were sitting waiting for him to perform.

"We're all ready to hear your song, I've told Royce about it - and he's excited as well, aren't you?!" She turned to him asking. His arm was around the back of her waist as they sat, "Sure, but I'm gonna be honest!" He warned her and Jake.

"That's exactly the kind of thing I need." Jake agreed taking the song sheets from his pocket, unfolding them. He read them over a moment and laid them on the table and then picked up his guitar, strumming it, warming up and started picking towards the tune, once he had it, he let himself go a bit, just playing, no singing.

First reaction, a good one. Royce hadn't known that he could play so well and let it be known, "Wow, that sounds good. Didn't know you played, obviously you've had lessons."

Jake nodded, "In school, I took music, learned then to play the guitar, learned a bit about writing songs, never did anything with it until now." He continued to play as he spoke and then after a few more practice notes, he stated, "Now this is a rough draft - it may change here and there - but ah, this is it, let me know if it works or not, it's an upbeat number - country-western - kind'ah - sounds the way I feel when I know, I'm going to see her, it's called, Vivian." He did the instrumental intro and then leading to the first verse...

First time I saw her - she was in a sexy red dress...

Shimmy'-n-'shakin' - Lord she cause me some stress...

Nooo, I didn't know her - didn't even kno-o-ow her name...

But I felt the heat - the heat from her - burnin' flame...

She blew - my - mind to - swe-e-e-et o-bli-via-a-an

I lost big time - to that - black Vi-vi-a-a-an

Lord, ple-e-ease, she's on my mind,

Vivi-a-a-an

Mama said son - she is - one of a kind

An-n-nd my mama was right - 'cause ain't no way I can fight - this

Vivian...

Out on the highway - you had me flyin'

No sense in me - of you - dee-ny-in'

I tried and tried girl - to leave you alone...

Yet, day in and out - I was on the phone...

Ohhh oh oh oh - damn you makin' me groan

Sweet - sweet sweet - Vivia-a-an

Lord, ple-e-e-ease, she's on my mind,

Vivi-a-a-an

Mama said son - she is - one of a kind

An-n-nd my mama was right - ain't no way I can fight - this

Vivian...

You see, I knew - I had to - have her,

Oh yeah, I knew it right away...

Man when that afro queen set eyes on me,

she pegged me good that day...

if she - didn't - stop - me - in my tracks

pushin' me back...the words - all o'nothin',

came with'a'kiss - and I was dismissed...

God that... Vivi-a-a-an

Lord, ple-e-e-ease, she's on my mind,

Vivi-a-a-an

Mama said son - she is - one of a kind

An-n-nd my mama was right - 'cause ain't no way I can fight - this

Vivian...

That lil'girl, prettiest woman a'round

she lifts me up - man she lays me down

no greater jo-o-oy have I found

She to-o-ok my heart

right - from the start

My Vi-vian

Mama was right - I say it again

Lord she's my lover an' my best friend

got me shoutin' out - crazy as can be

a feelin' so deep - it'll never free me

Ohhh-I'ah never recover

I just gotta love her,

ain't no way to get o-o-over

My Vivian...

No No No-o-o - not - Vivian

Vi - vi - a-a-an

Vi -vi - a-a-an

(Talkin' it out, slow and low)

Yeah man, I'm tellin' you ... mama was right,

calls her - Black Velvet

But me, she's just my - sweet black

(sang very softly)

Viv - viv - viv - viv - Vivi-a-a-an

Shanna leapt to her feet, eyes filled with tears clapping madly. "Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! Jake! Jake that was absolutely incredible! Oh my God! I have chills, look at my arms! I have goose bumps! That's your hit Jake! That's your hit! Oh my god!"

Jake exhaled and looked at Royce, "Well, she's my sister and a bit hyper, what do you think?"

Royce shook his head, "Can I be your bodyguard? I'm telling you now, with your voice and that song, you're gonna need one. Named your album yet?"

Jake nodded, "Yeah, it'll be called, "Here we come..."

*

L. A...

Upstairs, in the room, Darren and Isaac were sleeping when the three entered whispering, Crystal asking, "What happened? You guys been fighting?" She looked from Mundo to Ben, waiting for one of them to answer. "Well, one of you say something?"

Ben was sitting on his bed, Mundo on his as Crystal stood between them. She could tell that Ben was upset, breathing hard, looking towards the floor, not wanting to face her, she finally turned from him to Mundo, "Well! Tell me?"

"Look, it's one of them situations, you know - things got a little out of control." He whispered.

"One of them situations? What kind of situation, out of control in what way? Why does Papah-Shawn have his hand bandaged up?"

"The dj set was cancelled." Benjamin finally spoke up behind her, she turned to him, "We ah, just wanted to do something while we were out, went to this pool hall that Shawn had taken us to and well - we ended up getting hustled, I tried to get Mundo to leave because I could see it-..."

"What?" She whispered heatedly, and turned to her brother, "What is wrong with you? Why are you trippin' like that? You mean to tell me you don't have sense enough not to get into no mess like that?!"

"Look, I messed up okay? I know I did, and I don't need you standing over me trying to be my mama! My mama name Sylvia Lucinda McPherson, I can go to her and get this."

"Maybe so, but you know me! Why is Papah-Shawn hurt? Huh? Answer me fool!" She nudged him upside the head. Mundo rolled back on the bed, "Gone leave me alone now."

"Why is he hurt?!"

"Because, when Mundo realized that he was being hustled and tried to back out of the game, the guys wouldn't let him, he wanted the money that was wagered. Shawn showed up, gave the guy the money, but he threatened Mundo and he just jumped him, beat the hell out of the guy, we had to jump in to keep his guys off of Shawn."

Crystal stood looking down at Ben and then turned back to Mundo, "Mundo!" She called his name in disbelief.

"I know - I know." He defended back.

She sighed, concerned, "You okay?"

"Yeah."

Shaking her head she looked next at Ben, "You okay?" She asked softly.

He didn't answer right away, then looked at Mundo and up at Crystal, "Um, I've been thinking about, going on back."

Crystal stood a moment not sure what he meant, Mundo sat up straight again, "Come on man, don't take off because of this. I'm sorry dude, it was my fault."

"This is not about you, if I leave, okay? Has nothing to do with you."

"You talking about leaving California? Going back to Wisconsin, that what you mean?"

"Yeah, maybe."

"Why?" Crystal asked.

Ben shook his head, "Look, we all need to chill before we wake the boys up." He whispered.

"Fine, let us take this to my room then." She invited them both, looking from one to the other. She walked to the door, holding it open and stood there as if she'd given an order. With a deep sigh, both stood and followed her from one room to the other she shared with Angela who was staying at her mother's house. Inside, she closed the door, flipped on the light and turned, staring at Ben, "Okay, now... why? Why are you talking about leaving? Going back to Wisconsin."

He sat on the wide bed, Mundo sitting adjacent to him there.

With his head hanging, he had many things running through his mind, finally he looked up at the expectantly waiting Crystal. "I have a feeling, I made a mistake."

"What kind of mistake?" She asked in return without hesitation.

"Shawn - digging to find out, if - he was my father."

"Why would you say that, why would you think that was a mistake?" She asked puzzled by his statement.

"Because - let's face it - it's not something he was eager to know, or find out. I mean, when he knew it might be possible, he made no effort to dig to the truth. What I've done, wanting a test to know for sure ... he should have cared enough to want, request, demand. He's not the tiniest bit moved by the fact that I am."

"I totally disagree with you." Crystal crossed her arms below her breasts in a defense move.

"Man, you wrong dude, you wrong about him." Mundo sided with Crystal.