Chapter Twenty
“Miss Minnie, you do not have to go to any fuss for us,” Semaj said protesting. “I live alone in Atlanta, and I know how to cook.”
“Hush up now,” Miss Minnie answered. She swatted him lightly with her dishcloth. “I promised you that I’d take care of this property when you are not here, and I promised your grandma Nettie that I’d take care of you when she wasn’t here. It’s my pleasure.”
Semaj and Rip had barely had time to get inside the house and put their suitcases down before Miss Minnie was knocking on the back door with a tray full of chicken salad sandwiches, homemade potato salad, almond drop cookies, and pink lemon tea. After the drive from Atlanta they both were very hungry and dug into the lunch she’d prepared for them.
As soon as they sat down at the kitchen table and began eating she told them she was on her way to the grocery store to pick up the items she needed to cook their dinner.
“I’m planning to make a chicken pot pie with a Ritz cracker crumb crust, pear salad, and for dessert, my blue ribbon–winning coconut brownies,”
The meal sounded delicious, and Semaj knew from experience that Miss Minnie was one of the best cooks in the state, but he didn’t want to impose on her hospitality. He made a weak attempt to refuse, but she wasn’t listening.
Rip tried his hand at dissuading her. “Miss Minnie, you know that I can cook. My aunt started teaching me when I was nine years old. How do you think I got so fat?” he laughed.
Miss Minnie laughed too. “Well, young’in, who do you think taught your aunt to cook? Now I’ve told you boys that I’m cooking tonight and every night that you are here.” She paused for a moment. “You got any idea how long that’s gonna be?”
“No, Miss Minnie, I really don’t know. Things are kind of up in the air right now,” Rip answered. He took a bite of his sandwich and chewed it slowly.
“What about your wedding?” Miss Minnie asked Semaj. “I’ve been looking forward to coming to Atlanta to see you jump the broom. Nettie would be so proud, God rest her soul.”
Semaj looked at her strangely for several seconds without answering, and then Rip spoke up. “That’s on hold too, for now. Miss Minnie, I know you are used to having the place to yourself. We promise not to be too much trouble,” he said.
“He’s right, Miss Minnie. Since you insist on cooking, we’ll help out in other ways. Tomorrow, I’m gonna cut the grass and probably clean the gutters,” Semaj said.
“Don’t worry about doing yard work, man. I’ll take care of that. Why don’t you stay in the house and relax,” Rip said.
Semaj put his sandwich down. “This is my house. You’re a guest. How about you stay in the house and relax?”
Miss Minnie laughed at them, and they stared at her wondering what could possibly be so funny. “You boys have always been as tight as Dick’s hatband. No matter what the situation, you have always stuck together and defended each other.”
Before they could stop her, Miss Minnie began reminiscing about an incident from their childhood.
Rip and Semaj had been playing baseball in the field behind Minnie’s father’s house. At one time it had been a thriving garden, but as he got older he stopped planting things and grass and weeds overtook it. Because he no longer needed it, he allowed the neighborhood kids to use it as a playground. At the time he was getting on in years, and Minnie was living with him to take care of him.
“My daddy was lying in his bed watching his stories,” Miss Minnie said. “He loved him some As the World Turns and Another World. When he was watching his stories he wanted everyone in the house to sit down and shut up. You boys was out in the back field hooping and laughing and playing baseball. Y’all remember that?”
They looked back and forth between each other, and then back at Miss Minnie. “No, ma’am, we don’t remember,” they both said.
“Well, I do. Anyway, I was just about to bring Daddy his lunch and just as I walked in the room, a baseball came crashing through the window. It bounced off the floor and smashed into Daddy’s TV. The screen cracked, and everything went black.”
Miss Minnie laughed hysterically and slapped her knee as she continued her trip down memory lane.
“I had never seen my daddy look so mad in my whole life. As sick as he was, I really thought he was gonna get out of that bed and beat the black off you two.”
Rip began laughing along with her. He didn’t remember the incident at all, but Miss Minnie told it with such enthusiasm that he was thoroughly enjoying it.
“So I walked out back and saw you two standing in the middle of the field arguing back and forth. I hollered for you to come inside and talk to Daddy ’cus he was mad as a wet hen. I watched y’all walking toward me still going back and forth arguing with each other and all I could do was shake my head ’cus I just knew y’all was arguing over what lie you was gonna tell. Well, I gots to say that when you got into that room, both me and Daddy were surprised by what we heard.”
Semaj looked at her eagerly like a child hearing his favorite fairy tale. “What did we say, Miss Minnie?” he asked.
“Well, Rip spoke up first,” she said.
“I’m sorry I broke your window, Mr. Shaw. It was all my fault. I don’t have much money, but I’ll find a way to pay for it somehow,” Rip said.
“No, he didn’t break it. I did,” Semaj said interrupting him. “I broke your window and I’ll pay for it.”
Rip turned to face Semaj. “Don’t lie for me, man. I broke the window. I pitched the ball, and that’s why the window got broken. I’m gonna pay for it.”
Staring him straight in the face, Semaj responded, “I hit the ball through the window, so it’s all my fault, and I’m gonna be the one to pay for it.”
“It’s my ball. That makes it my fault,” Rip said.
“It’s my bat, so it’s my fault,” Semaj countered.
“Daddy had never seen anything like that in his whole eighty-one years of life, and neither had I. Instead of blaming each other, the both of you was trying to take the blame and protect the other one. Daddy was so impressed he had tears in his eyes. I gotta admit I got a little misty myself. He finally told y’all two to go on home ’cus he’d decided to fix the window and the TV himself.”
Semaj leaned back in his chair and smiled. “I don’t remember that, Miss Minnie, but you’re probably right. We’ve always stuck by each other.” He looked over at his cousin and smiled.
“Yes, you have, and no matter what happens, y’all need to always stick by each other’s sides. Marion, you didn’t have a father most of your life, and Semaj, your granddaddy passed when you was young. But you boys always have each other. Don’t forget that.”
Rip looked at her strangely. “Miss Minnie, are you trying to say that I was Semaj’s dad and he was mine? We are the same age.”
“That’s not exactly what I’m saying, but in a way it’s true. You made different choices in life, but God always brought you boys back to each other. That’s no accident. Now I don’t know all the details of what you two have done, and frankly, I’m too old to care. But I’m gonna say this, and then I’m going to Piggly Wiggly to get my groceries. Nettie used to have a saying that I still live by. Whatever is going on may not be a good thing, but you can best believe it’s a God thing.”
Miss Minnie kissed them both on the cheek, and then went out the back door.
“What do you think she meant by that?” Semaj asked.
Rip stood up and took his empty plate to the sink. He glanced out the back window that overlooked the driveway before answering “What did she mean by what?” he asked.
Semaj stared down at his plate, and he slowly shook his head. “What have we done, man?”
“Dang, this sink is clogged,” Rip said suddenly. “You got a plunger?” he asked.
“Oh yeah, I’ll get it from the utility closet.”
As he walked down the hallway toward the other side of the house, Rip continued staring out of the window at a blue Cadillac Escalade pulling into the driveway. It pulled up to the edge of the cement driveway and parked right under the basketball goal where Rip and Semaj used to play.
“I’ll be right back,” Rip yelled to Semaj.
Quickly he went out the back door and walked up to the door of the Escalade just as Wayne was attempting to get out. Forcibly he pushed it closed again, and with his arms outstretched, he leaned on the door preventing Wayne from opening the door.
Slowly the window rolled down. “Who are you?” Wayne asked.
“Who I am doesn’t matter. I need you to leave. You shouldn’t be here.” Rip looked anxiously over his shoulder.
As he did, Wayne suddenly remembered seeing his photo on the news along with Semaj’s the night the two were arrested. “Look, I know that you and Semaj were arrested, and that’s why I’m here. I need to see him.”
Rip shook his head. “No, you don’t. I mean, now is not a good time. Trust me on this, Old School. Just stay in your car, back out of the driveway, and go home.”
Wayne had a flashback as Rip called him Old School. “It was you. You’re the one who brought me my food every day.”
A look of panic washed over Rip’s face. He looked over his shoulder again. “Just get out of here, man. I’m sure the police would not want the victim visiting with his alleged abductors. Just go, all right?”
“I just came from the police department, and I really don’t care what they want. Now, move and let me out of the car.” Wayne took a long deep breath. “I came to see my son.”
From deep within, Rip reached down for a look that he had not used in a long time. It was the look he gave his drug runners if they dared to shortchange him. It was the look he gave his rivals if they were stupid enough to step onto his turf. It was the look that meant “I am not playing with you, and if you value your life you will do as I say.” It had put the fear of God into dozens of men, and Rip was now staring down Wayne James with it.
“This is your last warning, Old School. Back this piece of junk up and get out of here,” he ordered.
The look worked its magic, and Wayne was terrified. He started up the engine and began backing out of the driveway. About halfway down he stopped. His conscience screamed loudly at him.
“The last time you were at this house to see your son you allowed an angry man to chase you away. He wouldn’t even let you hold your infant son. Like a coward you walked away then, and now like a coward, you are walking away again. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
Wayne quickly stopped the car and jumped out before Rip realized what he was doing. He faked to the left, then moved to his right and ran past Rip and bolted to the back door. He opened it and rushed inside with Rip closely on his heels. Semaj was standing at the sink with the plunger trying to figure out why Rip had believed it was clogged. The water was running freely for him. He heard the back door open, and he spoke without looking up.
“Rip, this sink is fine. Maybe you just needed to flip the switch for the disposal.”
When Rip did not answer he stopped staring down the drain and looked up into the face of Wayne James.
“Hi, Semaj,” Wayne said. He smiled broadly.
Semaj’s face filled with shock and awe. “Wayne James? Oh my God, what are you doing here?” He reached out and enthusiastically shook Wayne’s hand. “I’ve been a fan of yours for as long as I can remember. I never dreamed that one day you’d be standing in my kitchen. Wow, this is definitely a pleasure.”
Puzzled, Wayne looked at Rip for an explanation.
“I tried to tell you that it wasn’t a good time,” Rip said.
Semaj was beaming like a kid at the circus. He turned to Rip. “Cuz, you never told me that you knew Wayne James. Wow, this is mind-boggling.”
For the first time since he’d entered the kitchen, Wayne noticed a small bandage above Semaj’s right eyebrow. He also noticed that his cheek appeared to be bruised and his left arm was in a cast.
“What happened to you?” Wayne asked.
“I was driving along minding my own business and a big oak tree jumped out in front of me,” Semaj laughed loudly. “So I took some time off work, and Rip brought me here to recuperate. As the saying goes, there’s no place like home. This was my grandparents’ house, but they are deceased now. I’m so sorry, excuse my manners. Would you like to have a seat?”
Still feeling confused, Wayne looked at Rip for help.
“Yeah, take a seat in the living room,” Rip said. “Can I get you a diet soda?” He winked at Wayne to signal him to answer yes.
“That sounds good,” Wayne answered. He looked back and forth at the two of them for a moment, then went into the living room and sat down.
“Semaj, I drank the last Diet Coke,” Rip lied. “Can you run up to Miss Minnie’s trailer and get one for . . . um . . . for my guest?”
Semaj happily agreed and went out the back door. Rip walked into the living room to explain everything to Wayne.
In the living room, Wayne sat quietly on the sofa and looked around the room amazed at how strong he could feel Allison’s presence in the space. It was almost as if she was walking around in front of him or sitting beside him. There was an ashtray on the coffee table that she’d once told him she made when she was four years old. He remembered how she talked about her mother’s hand knitted blankets, and he admired the intricate detail of the one draped over the back of the sofa. There was an old-fashioned upright piano sitting in the corner, and he imagined how Allison would have looked playing it. He looked on the wall at the family portrait hanging directly over the television. In the photograph was a very young Alvin and Nettie dressed in their finest Sunday clothes. Allison was seated in Alvin’s lap wearing a lavender dress with white bows in her hair. Wayne imagined that she was no more than ten years old when the portrait was taken. Lovingly he stared at it.
“That’s his mom,” Rip said. He walked in and sat across from Wayne.
Wayne nodded his head. “I know. Allison was a beautiful woman, and I loved her very much.”
“Why are you here?” Rip asked suspiciously. He was well aware that Wayne was Semaj’s father, but the last he had heard, Wayne was denying that fact. He stared at him closely trying to figure out what he wanted.
“I told you outside. I came to see my son. I’m through denying him, and I just wanted to talk to him. He acts as if we’ve never met before. What’s going on?”
Rip sighed heavily. “He doesn’t remember meeting you. The fact is, he doesn’t remember a lot of the last year. Some things are clear, and other things are fuzzy. He remembers his fiancée Ellen, but he doesn’t remember proposing or making wedding plans. It’s complicated.”
“When did this car accident happen? It’s only been a few days since you were released from jail,” Wayne said.
Rip glanced toward the kitchen to make sure that Semaj had not returned. “He didn’t have a car accident. That’s just what he thinks, and I’m just not ready to tell him the complete truth yet.”
“Then what happened to him? How did he break his arm?”
Instead of answering immediately, Rip went to the kitchen window to see if Semaj was returning. Miss Minnie had just gotten back from the store, and he was helping her carry in her groceries. With his one arm Rip imagined that it would take him awhile. He returned to Wayne in the living room.
“He was beat up in jail,” Rip said as soon as he sat down.
Astonishment and anger covered Wayne’s face. “Are you saying he was a victim of police brutality?”
“No, but the police are responsible for what happened to him. I’ve already contacted a lawyer to file suit. They are going to pay for this.”
Wayne was getting impatient waiting to hear the rest. “Please just tell me the whole story,” he begged.
“Well, after we were arrested and booked, the Atlanta police department had the stupid notion that they would not give Semaj any star treatment. The public was really angry with him as they felt they’d been tricked. People were protesting outside with signs calling him a fraud and a lot of worse things. So the police decided that they would show the public that they were on their side. Instead of putting him in solitary confinement, they released him into general population.”
“That’s crazy. They should have known better than that. He’s a local celebrity. They should have known he would be harassed by other inmates.”
Rip nodded his head. “I can handle myself. I spent most of my teenage years in juvenile detention. If they had not separated us, I could have protected him. Instead, they put him in a cell with Eric Sims. That dude is shelled.”
“What does ‘shelled’ mean?” Wayne asked.
“Keep up with the times, Old School. It means crazy, out of his mind, shell-shocked.” Rip took his index finger and made circles around his ear. “Anyway, he’s a crazy person, and he hates Semaj. That was a lethal combination.”
The more Rip talked, it seemed that Wayne felt more confused. “Because of the whole kidnapping thing he hated him?”
“No, that didn’t have anything to do with it. Awhile ago Semaj rescued a little girl named Cyndi from a crack house where she was being held by Eric Sims. He’d snatched her from the playground in her neighborhood and was planning to do God knows what with her. I knew Semaj was looking for the girl, and I heard through some connections of mine where she was, and I told him.”
They heard the back door opening, and Semaj rushed through the kitchen and into the living room dragging Miss Minnie by the arm. “See, I told you Wayne James was here,” he said with pride.
Rip introduced everyone and managed to monopolize the conversation as best he could to keep Miss Minnie or Semaj from asking too many questions. After several minutes he convinced them to return to Miss Minnie’s trailer to begin chopping vegetables for the chicken pot pie.
Just as they were about to leave, Miss Minnie asked Wayne if he’d like a slice of her famous Strawberry Supreme Cake.
“I put real strawberries in the batter and the icing. Then I top it off with fresh strawberries dipped in white chocolate,” Miss Minnie said proudly.
“Oh, it sounds delicious, but I’m allergic to strawberries,” Wayne said.
“I’m allergic to strawberries too,” Semaj said. “What a coincidence.”
As soon as Miss Minnie and Semaj were gone, Wayne turned back to Rip. “That cut on his head is so small. I don’t understand how that could have caused him to lose his memory. None of this makes sense.”
“The beating is not what caused him to forget you. That was just the last straw that finally broke the camel’s back. You probably don’t know it, but when you rejected him that day in the hotel room, my cousin flipped out.”
Wayne shook his head. “No, he didn’t. I mean, he was upset, but he didn’t turn over any tables or act a fool.”
“Well, you don’t know him like I do. After that day, he turned into another person. It was a gradual progression that just got worse and worse. First, he disappeared without talking to anyone, and I had to drive here to find him. When he got back to Atlanta, he was lying to his fiancée. Semaj is the most honest man I know, but he was lying without a second thought. I admit it was my idea to kidnap you, but Semaj took it to a whole other level where he would just go into fits of anger out of nowhere. I was ready to let you go after one day, but he wouldn’t let me. He went into a fit of rage because he was really out to get you. He wanted to publically embarrass you and make you pay for abandoning him as a child, and then rejecting him as an adult.”
Wayne stared at the floor feeling ashamed for the way he’d treated Semaj. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it had affected him in that way,” he said quietly.
“Well, like I said, it was gradual at first and after you were freed I honestly thought that Semaj was finding his way back to his old self. He changed his mind about confronting you, and he and Ellen were back to making wedding plans. I thought things were all good, but I was wrong. He felt remorse, but he was still freaking out inside. Being arrested and beaten up in jail was more than he could take, I suppose. When I made bail, I found out that Semaj had been taken to Piedmont Hospital. Ellen and her family were with him when I got there. It was strange. He started talking, and the things he was saying just were not making complete sense. We still don’t know why he thinks he had a car accident. We were worried, so me and Ellen went to talk to the doctor to find out what was going on with him.”
Rip suddenly stopped talking, and Wayne looked up from the spot he’d been staring at on the floor. “Well, what did the doctor say?”
Sighing loudly, Rip continued. “In a nutshell, he says that because of the trauma and stress of this whole ordeal that Semaj has something called situational amnesia. The doctor assumed it was being arrested and the beating, but Ellen and I realized it started right after he was rejected by you. It began with the depression, then the lying, the agitation, the arrest, and finally, he just couldn’t deal with it so he forgot it.”
Wayne buried his face in hands. “It’s my fault. That’s what I came to tell him. Being abducted was the most frightening experience of my life. While I was being held I missed my other children terribly, and some days I wondered if I’d ever see them again. I also had a chance to think, and I realized that being locked in that warehouse was also the most eye-opening experience of my life. I never should have left my son years ago, and I never should have denied him.”
Rip looked at Wayne James sitting in front of him filled with tears, grief, and remorse. He thought for a few moments; then he spoke.
“Look, I’m not a genie or a fairy godmother. Lord know I ain’t no angel. But I think I just may have been given the ability to grant you one wish. There’s just one catch. You have to wish for the right thing.”
“The only thing I wish is that I could go back in time to the day Semaj found me and admit to being his father.”
“Wish granted,” Rip said. He smiled broadly feeling especially proud of himself.
Wiping his tears away, Wayne stared at him. “I don’t understand.”
“He doesn’t remember that day, so you have the chance to do it all over again. I’ll go get him from Miss Minnie’s. All you have to do is tell him that you are his father. I don’t know, but maybe that will help him get over the trauma he’s experiencing.”
Intrigued by the idea, Wayne suddenly began to perk up. “That won’t solve everything. What about the kidnapping charges?”
“My lawyer has assured me that after the way they treated Semaj, the Atlanta police department will have a hard time moving forward with any charges, because they are going to be busy fighting the lawsuit we are gonna file on Semaj’s behalf. In order to push it, they would need your cooperation, and I don’t think you plan on helping them. Now do you?”
Wayne’s face lit up with a mixture of anticipation and fear. “What am I going to say to him? What should I tell him?”
“Tell him everything you wished you’d said that day. Tell him about his mother, Allison. She’s a mystery to him. It’s real simple, Old School. Tell him the truth.”
Rip stood up to leave, and Wayne grabbed his arm to stop him.
“I don’t know if just starting over and pretending the last few months never happened is a good thing.”
“I don’t know if it’s a good thing either. But I’m convinced that it’s a God thing.”
Without another word, Rip quickly went out the back door.