Chapter 60
“Amateur Night”
Lucas was eyeing the front door of the club all evening. The anticipation of seeing Johnnie had him fidgeting and on the edge of his seat. He had so much to tell her. Lucas had money in his pockets, new clothes on his back and a new job. In his mind, these were the necessary ingredients to get her to leave Earl, who was the only thing in the way of Lucas having Johnnie to himself. Soon, Earl would be out of the way too. Lucas looked at his new watch for about the hundredth time, then at the entrance again. Finally, she arrived. A broad smile flashed across his youthful face. He practically ran over to meet her. She was wearing a low-cut powder blue dress which showed off her hourglass shape, a pair of powder blue shoes with a matching purse and earrings.
“Hi, baby. I thought you’d never get here,” Lucas said.
“I got here as quick as I could,” Johnnie said. “You sure do look nice tonight. Is that a new suit?”
“Yeah. Just got it today.”
“Where’d you get the money?”
“I got a job here. I’m working for Napoleon now.”
“The owner?”
“Yeah. He’s been tryin’ to get me to work for him for awhile. I refused until now.”
“Why now?”
“Because I have you now, Johnnie. I gotta make some money or I’ll lose you.”
“Lucas, you don’t have to ever worry about that. I’m yours. You have all of me.”
“I do?”
“Yes. Don’t you know that?”
“No, I don’t know that. And I won’t know that until Earl is outta yo’ life for good.”
“Now, Lucas, we discussed this already. You said you would trust me.”
“And I do. But I don’t want Earl around no longer than he has to be. You understand, don’t you, baby?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Well, listen, it’s amateur night. I got us seats right up front so you can see everything.”
“Oh, that’s so sweet of you,” Johnnie said and kissed him on the cheek.
The emcee of amateur night was a man called Fort Knox. His real name was Simon Young but nobody called him that. He lost most of his thirty-two teeth in barroom brawls. The rest rotted out.
Lucas grabbed Johnnie by the hand and led her to their table in front of the stage. As they approached their seats, Fort Knox saw Johnnie and nearly lost his mind.
“Oooooooh weeeeeeee,” he said, his mouth glittering with gold. “We sho’ do have a fine black woman comin’ toward the stage tonight!”
Lucas, filled with pride, couldn’t help smiling. Now, when Napoleon heard Fort Knox praising Johnnie, he looked toward the stage to see who the fresh meat was.
“Hey, house man,” Fort Knox continued, “put the spotlight on her so the whole house can see the crown of God’s creation.”
When the light hit her, Johnnie’s bright smile lit up the room. Napoleon took one look at her and lust surged through his mind; his tool hardened and throbbed. He saw Lucas and remembered that he invited his girlfriend, who was only sixteen.
Bubbles, Napoleon’s main enforcer, saw the look in his eyes. He’d seen it a hundred times in the years he’d known him. Bubbles knew that look could only lead to trouble.
“Boss, don’t do this,” Bubbles urged. His voice was like that of a deep bass singer.
“Don’t do what?” Napoleon asked innocently.
“The kid is only seventeen and in love. What’s gonna happen when he finds out you fucked his girl? I’ll tell you what’s gonna happen. He’s gonna feel compelled to get even. Maybe try to kill you. In which case I will certainly have to kill him. If worse comes to worse and Chicago finds out that it was all over some sixteen-year-old kid, they’ll come down here and take everybody out. Either scenario means trouble we don’t need. And for what? Some pussy you can get anytime, anywhere? Besides, I like the kid. I’d hate to have to kill ’im over some stupid shit like this.”
“You’re right, old friend,” Napoleon conceded. “It ain’t worth it. Sho’ would be nice, though.”
“What’s yo’ name, young lady?” Fort Knox asked.
“Johnnie Wise.”
“Well, Johnnie, this is amateur night. Can you sing?”
“Yes, I can.”
“Well, come on up here and sing for us.”
Johnnie was reluctant to go on stage, but Lucas encouraged her. She couldn’t believe that her dream of singing in front of a live crowd was actually coming true.
“Go ahead and try, baby,” Lucas said. “You never know. This could be your big break.”
“You really think so?”
“Yeah, I do.”
Nervously, Johnnie walked up the steps to the stage. It seemed like it was taking forever to get to the spot where Fort Knox was standing.
“Let’s give her a warm Napoleon’s Bayou welcome, y’all,” Fort Knox said. “What are you going to sing for us?”
“Billie Holiday’s ‘God Bless the Child.’ ”
Fort Knox hugged her and whispered, “Knock ’em dead, kid.”
Johnnie was nervous and exhilarated at the same time. There she was standing on stage, about to sing a song that a woman she admired had sung so sweetly. When she looked out into the audience, she saw only darkness. The room was quietly anticipating the sound of her voice. The music began and she opened her mouth to sing.
When Napoleon heard her voice, he knew then that no matter how wise it was to listen to Bubbles, he was going to have Johnnie, whatever the cost.