Saint And Sinners (87 page)

“Mrs. Dorris,” Hassani nervously spoke up, his voice cracking, embarrassing him so.
“I didn’t do nothin’, I mean, anything. I was sitting at my desk writing down my work
and he came and pushed me, told me he didn’t like me. I don’t even know Kyle, Mrs.
Dorris. All I know is that he is in my computer graphics class and sits two seats
down. Mrs. Dorris, I don’t like to fight.”

“Well, Hassani, that may be true, but there have been a lot of potential fights around
you since you’ve been here. I also heard about one that occurred right outside the
school front doors, after school hours. Now, the other little boy involved confirmed
you two were the ones being harassed, but it does not negate the fact that trouble
seems to follow you. I’m not certain if you are verbally inciting these other students,
but if you are, it needs to stop.”

“No, Mrs. Dorris!” Panic began to set in. “I promise you I ain’t, I mean, I’m
not
saying anything to anyone. I just want to come to school, get my work done and go
home. I don’t want to get in trouble! Please don’t call my daddy!” He was now gripping
the damn jacket even tighter, surely about to tear a hole in it.

Daddy had got back from his trip to L.A. and immediately taken him in the backyard
after his fight with Mr. Moon and Mr. Cookie. He confessed he understood he had to
defend himself against the jerks, but fighting should be avoided at all costs, only
used as a last resort. He warned him to keep his nose clean, and so he’d promised
Daddy he would, but now this happened…

“Well.” She sighed and nodded in his direction, a sweet smile on her face. “I like
you a lot Hassani, but you really need to watch who you hang with. I was told that
Angel was with you, yet once again. He’d gotten out of class multiple times, and came
down to your room. Now…” She pointed at him as she gave her warning. “You need to
understand that I don’t believe in bad children. I believe in children who sometimes
do the wrong thing, and Angel is one of those children. He is a very bright boy, but
he is not a good role model for you, Hassani. You may look up to him, because well,
he is older than you, has taken some sort of liking to you, and a lot of the kids
around here look up to him—but if you follow in his footsteps, all of these fights
and everything, you will end up in his same shoes. Now you don’t want that, do you?”

Hassani hesitated, then shook his head. “No Mrs. Dorris.”

Neither Mrs. Dorris nor anyone else in that school would understand, so there was
no need in trying any further to plead his case, make her see.

“Now.” She shuffled some papers on her desk. “I was going to ask Angel to come in
here and give his side of the story, for what it was worth.” She rolled her eyes,
but since he has once again smarted off at Mrs. Mickels, I’ll just have to take your
word for this and let it go…but don’t let me find out you’ve had another altercation,
Hassani. I want you to excel, to succeed. You are truly one of the brightest young
men I’ve met and your parents care a great deal about you. They are heavily involved
in your progression. Your mother practically calls your teachers every week now for
a progress report.”

Mama been calling up here?! Oh no!

He was certain he was turning all shades of red…

“And your father and I speak every now and again as well. He has made it clear that,
should you get into
any
trouble, I am to call him immediately.” She shook her head, clasped her hands together,
and looked into his eyes. “However, I am going to let this one go, Hassani. But if
it happens
again
, I’ll make good on your father’s request. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

After a few moments, Hassani was released into the now empty school halls with a pink
piece of paper in his hand. He made his way slowly back to class. As if carried by
a puff of smoke, Angel mysteriously arrived at his side, a crooked grin on his face.

“See…I knew they’d let you off.”

Hassani paused, balled the paper tightly in his quaking palm and looked at Angel up
close and personal.

“You knew that boy was gonna try me, Angel. How do you know when I’m in trouble? This
tha third time you’ve done that. I want to know,” he asked. Angel tapped around a
bit, as if not wanting to answer. He looked here, there and everywhere. The limestone
water fountain couldn’t possibly be that interesting.

“It’s like your father said.” He finally steadied himself. “We’re in tune. We chose
each other. I just know…”

“Yeah.” Hassani started to walk again. “Well, I need you, so
please
stop mouthin’ off at people before you get expelled.” He lowered his head as if drowning
in sorrow, for in a way, he was.

“I knew what I was doin’.”

“What are you talking about? How is gettin’ smart with Ms. Mickels helping?”

“If I hadda gone in there
with
you, to talk to Mrs. Dorris, she woulda called your house, told your father. I know
her, man. Anyone hemmed up with me is guilty by association, but like most folks,
the visual is what makes the shit pop. With me not sitting there, you’d look more
innocent. Which you were, but with me,” Angel said, pointing to himself. “They’d have
had you down for detention. That was all an act. I didn’t care about that woman. She
ain’t get to me like that, Hassani. She always mouthin’ off, and I ignore her. I just
realized as I was sitting there that we needed to somehow get separated. I couldn’t
have you taking the fall like that. Oh, and keep your nose clean little fucka ’cause
I’m suspended.” He laughed mirthlessly.

“Suspended?!” Hassani screamed. “Angel! No!”

“Oh, calm down.” The boy grinned and rolled his eyes as he patted Hassani’s back.
It’s only for two days. That means the rest of today, and Monday, so you cool. Mondays
are easy for you, ’cause you are in art class for three periods in a row. And besides,
some of those dumb mothafuckas saw how you socked Kyle. They don’t want none of that.”
He cackled. “See? Our little fight lesson helped I see.”

Angel had hemmed him up in the bathroom a couple of days earlier and struck him all
about the body as if he were some punching bag. Hassani pleaded for his life, gasping
for air, confused as to why his Guardian would do such a thing, but Angel kept right
on, shouting all the while,

‘Imma make a man outta you! You better learn how to fight!’

“Nah,” Hassani grinned as he paused in front of his homeroom door. “My Daddy taught
me that.”

“Saint?” Angel’s brow rose in astonishment. “I thought he was Mista Peaceful.”

“He is, but even Daddy has told me sometimes your peace has to be obtained by this
piece.” Hassani raised his fist in the air and shook it, causing both of them to erupt
in giggles. And it was true.

While in that backyard, as soon as the coast was clear and Mommy was out of the kitchen,
Saint made the boy put his fists up. He gave him a lesson on self-defense, and whispered
in his ear, ‘Should you have to fight again, this is how you do it…’

It was their little secret.

“True that!” Angel gave him a pound and began to walk backwards as Hassani gripped
the knob of the classroom door to enter.

“Keep outta trouble!” he warned again. “I’ll give you a call this weekend, son!” He
winked and raced up the hall towards the exit.

Hassani stood there for a while looking at nothing, then couldn’t help but crack a
smile. Yeah, things weren’t so bad after all…

*

“A
re you sure
about this, baby?” Saint glared at the woman as he stepped out the shower. He caught
his reflection, taking note of the iridescent water beads all along his torso as he
pushed his fingers through his saturated hair, removing the longer strands from in
the front of his eyes. His cock immediately thickened from the sight of her in the
plum, see-through negligee. It had been almost a month since they last made love,
and though he didn’t admit it to her, he was deteriorating. He didn’t know when the
misery would end, thus, anxiety built inside of him like a stack of blocks. Because
of it, he poured himself like a cup of hot tea into his work. He dived nose deep in
it, for without the distraction, he’d lose his fucking mind. Occasionally, she did
allow a hug, though he knew it took all of her resolve. This was one of the worst
things that could ever happen to them, a thing she was close mouthed about, refusing
to let him in. He appreciated how she was trying to protect him, didn’t want to make
his ass feel worse than he already did after the failed remedy.

They’d tried an exercise together a couple weeks earlier. She came to him, admitting
the problem wasn’t going away, lessening or getting better. She wouldn’t give too
many details, only that she was at a loss—and she wanted their marriage back on track.
He decided they should go on a romantic rendezvous. It began with a walk in the park,
and that was where it ended…

The woman could barely hold his hand. It was the first time in their marriage that
an invisible entity had come in and stole their peace of mind, destroyed their happy
home. He brought up Koki once again, unable to shake the notion that he’d had something
to do with this, especially after another dream grabbed him like a rag doll and shook
him in its tight grip. But Xenia knew nothing of that, and he drowned in the realization
that this may be nothing of the sort. It could truly just be that he was one of the
unluckiest bastards in the world.

Moving back into the moment, the woman led him out of their master suite bathroom
into the bedroom. He was astonished to see rows of lit white candles and soft, romantic
music playing. LSG crooned, ‘My Body.’

“Damn, you did
all
of
this
?” He nodded in approval, grinning like a silly kid in a candy store.

“Yes, I did. And yes, I’m sure. I want to try, Saint. I want us to get past this.”
She smiled at him before she turned away and crawled onto the bed, her small soft
feet moving about until she found a spot she liked, and lifted the cream colored covers.
She disappeared beneath them, now protected from the chill in the room. New York had
thrust itself under the cloak of a snowstorm. L.A. Dreams had officially been blown
the fuck away with a kiss from the East coast, and she simply didn’t give a fuck as
she puffed her cool air cigarette and blew snow in the face of all that opposed her.
Saint tore his thick, black bath towel from around his waist, exposing himself to
her. She immediately zoned in on his dick, as if she’d never seen it before. After
running the towel along his hair, he set it to the side, slowly gliding himself under
the covers beside her. He couldn’t help but notice how she swallowed nervously, how
her fingers gripped the comforter so tight.

“Relax,” he cooed, not yet touching her. “I’m not going to do anything you don’t want
me to do. You tell me what you want, and I’ll comply.” His cock saluted, causing the
damn sheets to tent as he stared hungrily at her breasts, the nipples slightly erect
and pushing into the thin, purple fabric of her gown.

She nodded, unleashed her grip on the sheets and slowly ran her hand along the bed
towards him, until their fingertips met. Then, as if magic had come upon her, she
smiled a bit, and then a little bit more. He hadn’t seen her smile in quite a while,
and it aided in his sexual attraction right at that moment.

“I’m okay,” she said softly. “No strange or bad feelings… This is nice.” She then
wrapped her hand around his and gave a gentle squeeze. She nodded as she rediscovered
him. “Yes, this is good.”

Saint remained quiet, letting her take the lead. He didn’t want to do or say a damn
thing that would mess up the positive progression. Despite all of his pent up sexual
frustration, and how he wanted to tear that damn gown off her glorious body, expose
her and have his way, he knew better… No, he had to be slow and steady, letting her
lead him as if he were on a leash.