find something to channel this energy. With his eyes closed, he leaned back and looked up at the ceiling. He did something that he hadn’t done in forever. Something that Taryn and his father had done religiously. He prayed.
Strength, patience, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, grace, and protection were amongst the things he asked God for. He begged for the strength he knew he was going to need to get them back. He was all out of options. There was nothing left that he could give, so it was time to put it into the master’s hands. He prayed until the water turned cold. Saying any and everything he could think of.
Once he had said all the things he could think to say, he meditated for a minute. That was something his father had taught him and Adisa growing up. It allowed him the time to calm his mind and put things into perspective. Which was what he needed at the moment. The cold water, mixed with the prayer and meditation, had him feeling better, a lot better.
When he got out the shower and went back into his bedroom, he felt like himself again. He walked around the room naked, allowing himself time to dry off, before sliding on a pair of briefs and walking into the closet. He looked away from Taryn’s clothing and directly at his side instead. He grabbed the black Nike sweat suit and all black Huaraches and closed the closet.
Demoto dressed quickly before tying his dreads back with a rubber band. He filled his backpack with the necessary essentials and grabbed his bag from the bed. As he walked past Ayo’s room, he stopped. He looked around before moving on down the hallway. After he had put the food that Taryn bought, away, he grabbed his cellphone from the sofa and went to the door. He did his best to close it and lock it before taking the stairs two at a time.
He hit the locks to his car and got in. With his bags on the backseat, he backed out of his parking spot in route to Jacko’s crib. He shot him a quick text to let him know he would be pulling up momentarily. By the time he got there, Jacko, too, was dressed and ready to go. He had a small bag filled with what Demoto assumed was clothing, and a backpack as well. His was a little larger than Demoto’s because of his computer.
Jacko was a smart and a very resourceful man. He took his laptop everywhere he went. He put his things in Demoto’s backseat before going back into the house. Demoto followed him, slowly. He was still in a little slump, but he was ready. When he walked into the house, Kia was lying on the sofa asleep.
“Kia tired, ain’t she?”
Jacko looked over at her and smiled. “My lil one be kicking her ass. She always asleep.”
Demoto turned and looked at Jacko. That was his first time hearing anything about Kia being pregnant. “She pregnant?”
Jacko gave away a big smile. “Hell yeah. She’s about fifteen weeks. We ain’t even know. She just assumed she was. When we went to the doctor yesterday, they told her she’s damn near four months pregnant. I don’t how in the hell I let that shit slide by me.”
Demoto smiled, the most he’d done since Taryn had left. He was truly happy for Kia and Jacko. Especially Jack. He loved kids and would be a great father. Demoto stuck his hand out to dap him up. “That’s what’s up, my nigga. I’m happy for your ass.”
“Appreciate that. I just don’t really want to stress her out and shit, but as soon as she calls Tee, and she doesn’t answer, she’s going to know something is wrong.” Jacko watched Kia as she stirred on the sofa. “I kind of think we should tell her before we go. Buck doesn’t want me to, but she needs to know. When everybody from her circle goes missing, she’s going to spazz, and I don’t need her stressing my lil shorty out.”
Demoto understood where he was coming from, so he told Jacko to wake her up. All he hoped was that she took it better than he had because he was doing well right now. Her crying and shit would fuck him right back up. He stood
Mercy Walker, Eva Sloan, Ella Stone
Mary Kay Andrews, Kathy Hogan Trocheck