Daddy Dearest (2 page)

“I love you so much, baby.”, “It’s over, bitch, I hate you!”

His boyish looks, his menacing glare –

his luscious lips, his ice grill stare.

The things that he bought me, the clothes that he slashed –

the way that he protects, me my three-inch head gash.

Love doesn’t hurt.

From the book of Sweet Nothings

By: Kevin Bullock

 BOOK I: SUMMONED

 –—Chapter One–—

“It feels good out here,” Cataya said, to Ching as they walked through her neighborhood. “I wished it felt like this all year round.”

“You say that now. Wait when snow come. You say same thing.”

“You kill me thinking that you know me.”

“I know you good enough.”

She unintentionally changed the subject when she noticed something. “I thought you said that you was going to get a haircut today?”

Ching tucked his long black silky hair behind his ears and shrugged.

“I was until father pissed me off. Now I keep one more year.”

They laughed. Ching was infamous for being rebellious. His father, who was a well-known businessman, had difficulties accepting the Chinese-American that his son had become.

“He shit chopsticks when he saw shirt this morning.”

The black T-shirt that Ching sported had ‘Got It 4 Cheap’ printed in large white letters on the front.

“Maybe he’s not comfortable with the way that you’ve embraced the urban culture.”

“It’s not that. He thinks I soliciting sex. He think I gay.”

Cataya doubled over in laughter until her stomach started aching. “I’m…I’m sorry. That was just too funny. Does he really thinks that?”

“No lie.”

“But why? Because of your long hair?”

“That, and the poster of 50 Cent with shirt off hanging on my wall.”

“That’s crazy!” she exclaimed, as they turned into her yard. “All kids hang those kind of posters on their walls. Mine are full of female rappers.”

“He crazy. I wished I lived with cool grandmother like yours.”

Cataya cupped her hands to her mouth to the screen door.

“I’m out on the porch, Granny!”

Then they sat on the swing chair.

“No you don’t. Granny is cool and all, but I’ll give anything to be in your situation.”

“Only thing you missing is two different sets of rules. Don’t do this, don’t do that.”

Mrs. Billups came out of the house holding a cordless phone. “Thanks goodness that you’re finally here! Your daddy has been driving me crazy calling here every hour on the hour.” She noticed Ching. “Good evening, Ching.”

“Hi, Mrs. Billups.”

“He said something about he told you to come straight home after school, Taya.”

Cataya moaned loudly. “Maa-aann!”

“I know, Sweetie. Just accept the call when he calls back. And be nice.”

“I will.”

“I just baked some cookies; y’all want some?”

“No, thank you,” they said in unison.

She disappeared back in the house, and Cataya turned to Ching.

“My dad ain’t even free and he’s stricter than both of your parents put together. He always trying to run my life. Sometimes I just want to…” She trailed off when a blue Gran Turismo pulled up to the curb.

“Shit.” She had a strong urge to run in the house an lock the door.

“Who’s that?”

“My dad’s flunkie. I should’ve known that his stupid self was coming.”

Ron got out of the car urgently. He was dressed in black linen, alligator sandals, and a pair of black leather gloves. The look that he displayed on his face let Cataya know that he was in his usual pissed off mood.

“Where have you been, young lady?!”

“I’ve been at the mall,” she replied, timidly.

“Didn’t your daddy tell you to come h…” His attention suddenly shifted to Ching. “Who are you?”

“That’s Ch-“

“He has a mouth!” he yelled, cutting her off. “Let him tell me.”

She looked to Ching, silently praying that he stayed on his best behavior.

“I’m Ching.”

Ron looked him over thoroughly before he spoke again to his priority. “I know Hammer doesn’t know that you are hanging out with faggots now. Wait until I – “

“I’m not faggot!”

Cataya grabbed Ching’s arm. “Don’t!”

“Nah,” Ron insisted. Let her say what she has to say, Cataya.”

Ching was breathing heavily now. “I not faggot! And I not a ‘her’!”

“Well, if you’re not a faggot, then stand up and prove it. Do what a man does when he feels disrespected. Swing on me, pretty lips.”

Ching stood up for the challenge, but Cataya wedged herself between them.

“No! No! Y’all stop!”

Mrs. Billups appeared at the screen door. “What in the heavens is going on out here?”

“Nothing, mama,” Ron responded. He walked to the screen door to kiss her cheek. “How have you been doing?”

“I’ve been okay. What about yourself?”

Cataya seized the opportunity to warn her friend.

“Look, I’m really sorry about that. I need for you to leave right now. Call me when you get home, okay?” The urgency in her voice was unmistakable.

“Okay.”

Ron surreptitiously watched Ching ease off the porch. He was itching to finish what they had started.

The phone started ringing.

“Hello?” Cataya answered. Ten seconds later, she accepted the call.

“Hello?”

“You finally decided to come home, huh?”

“Yes, daddy. I just got here about fifteen minutes ago.”

“I thought I asked you to come straight home so you could watch the program that I was telling you about.”

“Dad! I got the point when you was explaining it to me. I didn’t need to watch that program.”

“Why do you insist on giving me a hard time?”

“Why do you insist on treating me like I’m a child? I’m seventeen for crying out loud!”

“Can’t you see that I’m only trying to do my part while I’m away?”

“Sometimes you be trying to do too much. I get sick of you giving me orders like you know I’m not doing right.”

“I love you, Taya. And deep down inside, I know you’re bitter with me because I’ve been away for most of your life.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Every time that I look in the mirror,” he continued, “I’m reminded of how much time has passed. I’m missing out on so much of your life that I actually feel like I’m a stranger to you. Do you feel like that?”

“I don’t know.”

“What is it going to take for us to be on better communicating terms? Name it and consider it done. Anything! That’s how much I love you, Taya.”

She thought about the one thing that he couldn’t give her and instantly felt sad. She handed her grandmother the phone and ran in the house. It was the only thing that kept her from blowing on him.

“Hello? Taya?”

Mrs. Billups answered her son instead. “She ran in the house, baby.

“I’m losing her, ma.”

“No you’re not. She just nervous because you’ll be home soon.”

“You think?”

“I know so. Now don’t worry yourself none, I’ll talk to her.”

“Okay. Don’t forget to tell her how much I love her, and how I just want the best for her.”

“She already knows that.”

“Sometimes I think otherwise.”

“I use to think the same thing about you when you was young.”

“I just don’t want her to end up like her mama.”

Mrs. Billups didn’t like that kind of talk. “You don’t ever have to worry about that. Cataya is too smart. Now quit worrying yourself. Ronny’s here. Do you want to speak to him?”

“Yeah, put him on the phone.”

She handed the phone to Ron and made her way back inside of the house. “Put it back on the charger when you’re finish.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Open this door, girl. Don’t be locking no doors around here like you pay some bills.”

Seconds passed before the door opened. Mrs. Billups walked in just as Cataya flopped back on the bed.

“Child, why are you making all that fuss?”

“I’m tired of him, Granny!”

“That’s your father, so you might as well get un-tired of him!”

“Not daddy,” she said turning over to face her. “I’m talking about Ron. I hate him!”

“Hate is a strong word. You shouldn’t use it loosely.”

“I do. He’s always looming over me and starting stuff with my friends. He was just outside trying to fight Ching. He chilled out when he heard your voice.”

“I don’t believe that for one second.” She was shaking her head in denial.

“I was right there, Granny. He called Ching a faggot.”

“No, he didn’t!”

“I’m telling you, Granny! He…,” she paused when she saw Ron standing at the door.

“…okay, I’m about to do it as soon as I leave here…you know that your problem is my problem…I will…Okay, later.”

He ended the call. “Hammer told me to tell y’all that he loves y’all, and he’s going to call tomorrow.”

Mrs. Billups faced him. “Did you call that boy a name, Ronny?”

“No ma’am.”

“Yes, you did!” Cataya screamed. “You’re sitting there lying in Granny’s face!”

“Momma, that boy had a booger on is nose and I called it a ‘maggot’. No wonder he got all loud and hyper.”

“You’re a liar!” Cataya accused.

Mrs. Billups warned her with a finger. “Respect your elders.” She then turned back to Ron. “I don’t need no mess out of you.”

“And I promise not to give you none either. Oh, I almost forgot.” He pulled out a small wad of money. “Happy Belated Birthday!”

She accepted it and gave him a hug. “Why, thank you, Ronny!”

He mouthed snitch to Cataya. “You’re welcome. It was my intentions to bring it to you yesterday, but Hammer had me ripping and running.”

“It’s okay. Better late than never.”

“I’ll see y’all later. Call me if y’all need anything.”

“We will.”

Mrs. Billups waited until he was gone before she peeled two of the hundred dollar bills off and handed them to Cataya. “Here, girl. And wipe them tears from your face. You can go get those shoes that you wanted after school tomorrow.”

“No, Granny. He gave you that for your birthday.”

“And it’s mine to do what I want with it. So, here.”

She accepted it. “Thanks, Granny. I love you.”

“I love you, too. I want you to stop taking everything so personal. Some people feed on other’s misery. That’s what it means when it says misery loves company. If you hear or see something that upsets you, grieve in the privacy of your own company. Then people won’t be able to figure out which buttons to push. Understand me?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Now give me a hug.”

Ching walked thought the night, still agitated about the incident at Cataya’s house. He knew that his chances of winning the fight against Ron had been slim to none, but he had been willing to go against those odds.

It wasn’t the fact that Ron had called him a name. He could care less what people thought of him. What bothered him was the way that Ron bullied Cataya. He held her close at heart, and wasn’t going to let anyone harm her in his presence.

He suddenly felt like hearing the soundtrack of his inner thoughts, so he pulled out his I-POD from his book bag and started to sing along.

“They say I walk around like I got a S on my chest, nah that’s a semi auto and vest on my chest. I try to say nothing, the D.A. might want to play in court…”

Ching sang halfway through the next two tracks when he just so happened to glance back. The same Maserati that pulled up at Cataya’s house was coasting a few yards behind him.

He almost stopped to throw his hands up, but his good sense didn’t allow his idol to boost him up and neither 50 Cent or none of his security was around to give him assistance.

It suddenly dawned on him how deserted the streets were, and he began to wonder what Ron’s intentions were. 50 Cent was now rapping about being in the club, but Ching pressed the power button. His current situation outweighed his passion. He switched to survival mode and began to scan his surrounding for an escape route.

All of his planning was forgotten about when Ching heard the car accelerate.

He never looked back, never slowed down, and had never run so fast in his entire seventeen years of living…

 –—Chapter Two–—