Throwback: My Apple Tree (pt 10)

 I waited by the Bakery for about forty minutes. When he finally came out it was dark and he was alone. To be honest, I didn't know what I was going to do. Was I going to yell at him? Fight him? Try to make him explain himself? Try to get an apology? Suddenly it all seemed like a bad idea but my feet kept moving. They kept following him. I guess what I wanted was him to feel sorry, to feel the hurt that I was feeling.

  There was a club and bar coming up. He turned into the alley between the two establishments. He was going into the side door. I sped up. When he turned into the alley, I came behind him. " Hey," I said my voice came out like smoke. He turned around. His eyes scanned me and a wide smile spread across his face.

  "Well, hey there Cutie Pie." His words and eyes were full of lust. I could nearly see thoughts of me in his head. He'd want to undress me quickly....no not even undress me, just pull down the pants for a quickie and the leave me by the street like yesterday's trash. He fiddled with his fingers but his eyes never left my body. He was like an animal.

 "Now, what can I do for ya? A fine young thing like you, walking all around here alone. I'm sure ya boyfriend wouldn't like that." He stepped closer.

  I stepped back," You're a drug dealer,right?"
 His eyes widened with surprise, "That's what you want, Baby. Well, damn! I didn't think you was  that type of gal! You come up here in ya nice looking clothes speaking all proper and shit. You look more like a white gal to me, but hey I guess you all want a little bit of the good stuff."

 I could feel my stomach churn, "I don't want any of your 'good stuff.' I want my mother back." Before I could think the words had already spilled out of my mouth. I immediately wish I had been more careful. This was a delicate situation, I had to be subtle especially when  I didn't even have a game plan.

  "What?" he jerked his eyebrows and laughed. "What you talking about, Cutie Pie?"
I took a deep breath, " You made my mother a crack head. You sold her right into the grave."
He sighed and then he chuckled, "Man, not another one. I get ones like you all the time. Their family get a taste of the powder and then they can't get enough. They like it  a little too much and then yall wanna come and blame me. Get revenge. Let me tell you one thing, Cutie Pie, what ever happened to your mother ain't my fault. She shouldn't have got hooked!"

  "Do you even remember her name? Her face?" The last part was strained. I was holding back tears thinking of my mother spending all her time with this stranger instead of me.
" Look,"he said," I sell to a lot of hos-"
 "My mother was not a prostitute,a whore,a hooker a slut or any other demeaning term."
He smirked, "Really? Well, I ain't met one crack head dat aint! I bet you're mother did a lot of things for me. Oh, yeah."
 "Shut up, " I gritted my teeth.
"Oh, yeah, all down on-"
"Shut up!"
"Bitch, you shut up. Don't you know who you talking to! I aint no average man for real. I get what I want all the time. And if no one ain't willing to give it to me, I take it!" He licked his lips," Just like right now. I want you. I want that sweet ass, I bet you a virgin. Uh-huh, never been touched. I want to stick you girly. You want me to be ya first, Cutie Pie?"
I gagged . The toast from breakfast came up and I had to chug it back down. I was part nerves and part disgust. Finally, I found my words, " I would never even let you touch me. You are a murderer. You are disgusting!"
He shrugged, "I've been called worst. But like I said, I get what I want. You ain't gonna give me some so I'll take it!" He smiled again,to reveal four gold teeth. Then he approached me at a a quick speed. I could feel myself stepping back. What was I going to do? We were alone. I hadn't seen another person while I was following him. Plus, this was the worst part of town. No one would help me.

  I saw him reach for me before I closed my eyes. I had never been in a fight in my life. I had never even dreamed of being in one. This had to be it. He was going to rape and kill me and leave me in this alley and my whole life would be a waste. I was never meant to amount to anything I guessed. I waited for him to pull me to the ground and turn me into scum, but his fists never touched me. He didn't even get close enough to hurt me. I opened my eyes.

 JD was on the ground and some one, another man, was on top of him. I was frozen as I watched the man on top punch JD's face repeatedly. I was unsure if I should scream, run or.... I don't know. All I could do was stare.
  Soon I could see blood coming from the dealers face but the man didn't stop punching. His fists were like anvils,full of power and able to break through any material.  My voice was meek, but I finally found it, " Please....stop. That's...that's..please stop." He turned to me. His eyes were gentle. He stood and walked towards me. The light from the street lamp shined on him. His hands were covered in blood and some was on his face.

  "I'm sorry," he said, " I got a little out of control. When I get angry I just...sorry, he was going to hurt you. I couldn't let him hurt you, Ginger Bread." He pulled my hair behind my ears with his bloody hands. I was shaking. He called me Ginger Bread...how did he....only one person had ever........

"Thomas!" The name erupted from my shaky lips.
The man smiled. His teeth were pearly white and straight, " In the flesh."

Throwback: My Apple Tree (pt9)

I didn't find JD  that day or the next day or the next week. I would hear little bits of information about him. The kids by the playground said they saw him at the liquor store. Old Mr. Jones said he saw him by the Welfare Building. Some of the teenagers by the building said they saw him at the high school and......well I was just on a wild goose chase. After a few days of searching I took a break but I wasn't giving up. I would never give up on my mother though somehow I felt like she had given up on me.

It was Saturday morning in the summer and the shop was closed which meant I had plenty of time to search for JD. As I walked to the down stairs floor my Father mumbled a " Good morning," to me over his cup of coffee. I didn't respond and he didn't expect me to. I was still mad at him for lying to me, for not telling me that my mother was dead. I walked past with out so much as a sideways glance towards the kitchen. There I ate two slices of toast before leaving my house.
 " Now where will I start my search today?" I said to myself walking down the street. I had been coming to my Dad's shop for a couple of summers now so I knew the neighbor hood fairly well. I walked down on 33rd street and made a left, from there I headed towards Madison Avenue. After that I was just walking, no longer looking at the street signs. My feet guided me where ever they felt was  right. My eyes were cloudy and distant as I thought abut my mom. Our last memories together flooded my mind.
 We were sitting on a bench by the train station. I kept pestering her about why we were here. She was mostly quiet and gave one word answers to my question. I loved my Mom's dark thick hair and braided it as we waited for the train. After a good thirty minutes wait there was a loud tooting. I looked at my Mom and asked her what was making all the noise. She took in a breath and then exhaled.
 It was winter so her breath became misty. Then, she stood as the train just came into sight. I looked at her. She picked me up from the seat and placed me on the floor. She straightened my collar and pulled at my sleeves. "Mommy?" No answer. The train sped into the station and then came to a halt.  There was a call for all passengers. My mother bent down so that we were at eye level. Her eyes were watery. "Mommy, don't cry. Whats wrong?"
After a few deep breaths she could speak. "Baby Cakes, I'm going to go away for awhile."
 " Where you going Momma?"
"Well, I'm not really going anywhere. You are, Baby. You gonna go visit Grandma for awhile. Do you remember her?"
I shook my head.
 "Course, you don't. You was too young last you saw her. That don't matter though. I'm sure you will get along fine with her when ya meet again."
" But I want to stay with you. Mommy."
" I know. I know but Mommy can't take care of you anymore."
"Why?"
"I just can't." a tear fell down her cheek, " I just can't."
" But why?"
She began to shake as tears burst from her eyes. " I want to take care of you, I do , but theres somethings, Mommy's gotta handle before she can take care of you. You understand don't you?"
I nodded, "I guess."
"Good." She handed me my ticket and suite case and shooed me onto the train as its doors opened. She waved at me as the train started up its engine. I smashed my face against the window and waved back. I kept waving until I couldn't see her anymore. If I had only known that that would be the last time I saw her there would have been so much I would have said. So much.
" Hey JD!"
 The name broke into my memory. I looked up and saw the man who had sold my mother death walk into the bakery shop. What was the special that day? Cinnamon cookies and hazel doughnuts. Ironic, huh?