Hard White

India and her son, Zach, were finishing dinner at home. They had been having a great time, but it was almost time for Zach to go to bed. She expected Zach to resist, instead he was cooperative. She was so pleased and allowed him an extra half hour to play videogames.

“Mom, dinner sure was good,” he smiled, putting his empty plate in the sink. Zach hurried off to his room.

“I’ll come in and see you, when it’s time for bed,” India called after him.

Melquan would be home soon. She started cleaning up, a chore she wasn’t fond of, but it gave India her time to think. She was in the kitchen packing dishes away when her cellphone rang.

India picked it up expecting Melquan’s number, saw the caller ID blocked. She thought about not answering and was about to put the phone away. The phone rang until she couldn’t ignore it anymore. It was the same blocked number. This time she answered.

“I don’t know you, but I seen you. Precious is my name… I’m da bitch who was sitting between Melquan’s legs in the drive over in Edenwald. Member that day when you rolled up on him…? Yeah, that was me. I don’t know what he’s been sayin to you about me, but we sleepin together too. Whenever he’s not with you then we together. Melquan my part time boo.”

The revelation dropped like a building on top of India. Wanting to nullify the caller’s claim, she steadied herself from the blow.

“Melquan is doing what? Who is this calling me with this nonsense? I mean you could just be calling me to get me mad. You might just be playing with my mind. He’s always home with me. That incident was at least a couple months ago. Anyway, how did you get my number?”

“One of the many nights your so-call man spent at my house. It was one night when I put his ass to bed, you kept calling, annoying us, and I copied your number from his cellphone.”

India’s anger was boiling so hot, her skin itched. She felt her stomach rapidly twisting into a knot. Frozen to ground, she suddenly felt like urinating, but her feet felt heavy, and perspiration broke out all over body.

“How long have you known Melquan, and how long have this been going on?” India asked, wanting badly to hear the full story.

“Since way back in high school me and Melquan been on and off. You see, he always have a lot of chicks and I just couldn’t be bothered chasing his fine ass around. Then we got back together on some business tip, and all our feelings started coming back. On and off, I’d say we’ve been in each other’s lives about four to five years now. So I’d say that’s a very, very long time…”

“Alright thanks. I don’t want to hear no more, please!” India quickly said.

“Well I figure that I would just call you and let you know, he dogged me. And he’s gonna dog ya ass too!”

“Really now…? Listen up little girl, whatever Melquan did to you, you allowed it to happen. You never called my number when everything was all good. So please don’t call with the bullshit now!”

India was about to end the call, but even with the phone some distance from her ear, she could hear Precious’ ranting. India put the cellphone back to her ear and listened.

“Bitch, you don’t have to be all nasty about it. Ain’t nothin’ personal. I was just callin’ to let you know, the man you claimin’ is a damn, two-timin’ ho!”

India was way past any further conversation with the caller. Precious was still screaming when India pressed end call. She wanted to see Melquan in the worse way, and hear his version.

India was an emotional wreck and threw down the phone so hard, the battery case fell apart. She paced around the kitchen, wandering into the living room. India walked back and bent down, picking up the pieces of her cellphone.

She attempted to put the battery back into the instrument, but a task she had performed before, seemed almost impossible for the first time. She stared at the cellphone, struggling to put it back together. The heavy tears clouding her eyes wouldn’t let her.

It was late when Melquan entered the darkened apartment. He shuffled through the place without pausing to turn on any of the lights. There was enough illumination provided by the city lights shining through the large living room window. Melquan walked directly to bedroom expecting to find India asleep. He was surprised when he got there, and didn’t see her.

Melquan checked in on Zach. He was still up playing videogames. The boy turned around and devilishly smiled, knowing he wasn’t supposed to be up at this time.

“What you doin’ up? It’s way past your bedtime… You better get some sleep. Where’s your mother?”

Melquan walked back to the living room and stood over India, studying her beautiful face for a couple beats. A smile creased his lips. Their lovelife was finally coming together. He stared out at the city’s skyline, now he had attained a kingdom, Melquan wanted to build a palace for India, Zach, and himself. Melquan was thinking how much he was going to miss this view when he heard India stirring.

“Hey baby, get up. C’mon, let’s take a shower together and go to bed,” Melquan suggested with a smile.

“No, I’m very good just right where I am, Melquan. I don’t want to sleep in the same bed with you anymore.”

Melquan was taken aback by India’s curt response. He looked at her seeking the humor of it all. Something had to be there to laugh about.

“Hmm, maybe we should ask your lil’ project ho, name Precious,” India deadpanned.

“Precious…? Who da fuck is a Precious. This some kinda joke or sumthin…? I don’t know no Precious!”

“Really now…? Playing dumb ain’t getting you out of this one, Melquan. So for once come clean, and please don’t start lying again.”

“India, you trippin’ right now! Lemme find out somebody been feedin’ you some bullshit ‘bout me!”

“Really now…? Melquan, please don’t try my patience. You’re such a liar! Precious is the bitch who was sitting between your legs on the bench that day. You lied about then and you still lying now. Who was she to you then? Please don’t try that shit again.”

“India, I don’t know where you be gettin’ your insane ideas from. But you, you’re buggin’ for real!”

“So are you denying even knowing a girl named Precious, let alone sleeping with her, huh?”

“What? you ain’t heard da first time? I told you, I don’t know no Precious, a’ight?”

Melquan couldn’t get a word in, and he let India get whatever she had off her chest. He stared at her and waited for what was coming.

“Don’t even try that my-poor-little-ghetto-story bullshit, on me. No, Melquan amnesia will not get you off this time.”

“Precious called my cellphone this evening. She told me she got the number that night when I kicked you out and you were at her place. She said and I quote, she had put you to bed,” India said, raising both index fingers. “I remember very well, calling and calling and you asleep. So my calls disturbed your project princess, and she said she wrote my number down…”

Melquan stared at her in disbelief. She returned his stare, studying his reaction. Melquan was ice cold and never gave anything away.

“Oh, you’re really buggin’ now. First of all, I don’t know no Precious, and now I’m beginnin’ to think that you’re makin’ this whole thing up to start a fight. You just want a fight cuz you fuckin’ insecure, India.”

She stared at him with a smirk like she was looking for sympathy. Her eyes were clouded with dark sorrow of knowing when he was lying. This was leading her in a state of total confusion. She still loved Melquan that was the reason this incident hurt so much. India started crying, wallowing in her self pity.

India had feared the street life would come knocking on her door. She didn’t know what would be next. First, someone called her cellphone and told her a story that was threatening to ruin her love relationship. The thing that bothered India was that she was now ready to believe the caller’s story. She realized that there was some truth to it.

“Melquan, you’ve lied to me so many times. I don’t really know whether I’m capable of believing you anymore. You’ve cheated before on me…”

“C’mon India, now whenever sumthin happens you gonna have to bring up the past, right? Let what happened stay in the past. We fuckin’ arguin’ ’bout some unknown broad… Some broad I don’t even fuckin’ know…”

She listened carefully hoping Melquan would slip, but he never changed his story. His denial unequivocal, he claimed not to know this person. India kept wondering why she couldn’t believe what he was saying.

“I’ve been putting up with your shit for a long time now, Melquan. If it ain’t one thing then it’s another. If I knew you were going to shit on me the way you have, I would never let you in my life.”

She wiggled free and they were apart again. He could tell by her stance that she was fed up. He tried to hug her again.

“Get off, please, Melquan…” she cried. “Please, please, Melquan do not touch me, right now.”

“Melquan, if you want to leave then fine. I didn’t say anything about that.”

“Yeah, but you were actin’ all crazy and shit. And when you ain’t sayin’ too much that means you gettin’ ready to blow your top off on a muthafucka…”

“It isn’t always about you, Melquan. I’m having a moment right now. I just need my space… So please, you’re welcome to stay if want to. Nobody is forcing you…”

India turned her back and walk away leaving Melquan with his thoughts. Precious, Precious, Precious, she kept running through his mind.

Justice hugged and kissed his mother before leaving her apartment. She walked him to the door. Placing her hand on his unshaven cheek, she smiled.

“Boy your face is rough. You need to shave before you go to look for work,” she said.

“Boy don’t be no stranger. Stop by and see me more often. You know I’m getting older and tomorrow ain’t promised.”

“Ma, don’t talk like that. You know I don’t like it when you do that… That’s crazy talk. You ain’t goin’ nowhere.”

“Yeah boy, I wish. But when the Lord calls me I gots to go… Just like everybody else. What makes me so special?”

“There you go, ma… Do me one favor. If the Lord calls when I leave, promise me that you won’t pick up the phone, okay?” Justice said, kissing his mother goodbye.

He waved and left the building. Outside, he jumped into a waiting car and they peeled off.

“It’s the old-earth, man. I had to show respect. I couldn’t just eat and run. Just drive, and let’s go pick up them guns,” Justice said.