I’m Pink Lady Apple Yeggs and my friend, and brother-in-law, Deviled Yeggs suggested that I record each project that I set up in the hopes of reforming the people who continue to work for Lily the Pink Enterprises. If for no other reason, it would show how God is at work.
I needed an update from Colin and Crystal Lewis. And our three new residents had never had their time in the hot seat. Rev. Joseph has had daily contact with them, but really only counseling as needed, about every third day according to what he tells me.
I had the five in the room, but I also had a series of testimonials. This was not to shame them into action. I wanted them to understand the road ahead. I wanted them to see the faces of people who had been an unwed teenager and pregnant.
Tina came in with Clay Bell. She talked about getting pregnant and having Clay and then due to her substance abuse Clay was taken away from her. Now she is clean. She still handles trash collection throughout the apartments. She mops and vacuums the common areas. She is trained now and certified to do cleaning within the food handling areas, but those ladies like their jobs. Tina only does shift relief when they go on vacation or when they are sick. But Tina talked about those years when Clay was in foster care, and she could not see him. Now, the Evidents are the official foster parents, but she can see Clay as often as possible and they have grown to love each other. Jochebed Evident was also there and she told about having four children in the edge of the jungles of Africa and then having them killed by terrorists. And now she was in charge of the nursery, a registered midwife, and a wet nurse if the new teenaged mothers could not produce enough milk.
We had three generations of MacDougalls. Missy had Menzie and then jumped out a window once Menzie was weaned and Missy ran for her life. She was about to be sold to someone as a slave on the far side of the world. Then, the long gap until they were reunited, barely saving Menzie from being sent overseas as a slave. But Menzie could talk about being a successful mother, who is still a teenager. It takes a village, but they will be able to do it. And Lauren talked about how she loved kindergarten. She was the only girl and she felt special. Sammie said that his group in preschool was huge, but Miss Stasya makes everyone feel special.
I did not think that this was a plug for the nursery and preschool, but that is Lauren and Sammie’s world right now. Crystal, Zinhle and Colleen might feel comfortable with our built-in nursery, daycare, and fledgling school. That is if they stay that long.
Then, Dev, Naomi, and Sophie Yeggs came in with Emmett Dalton. I asked Emmett how Dev welcomed Emmett when Emmett started dating Sophia.
Emmett shrugged, “He reminded me that he was a homicide detective. He knew all the mistakes that people had made over the years. Then he got really close and said, ‘If you defile my daughter before you two get married, I won’t make those mistakes.’”
Dev saw the pained look on everyone’s face. “I was joking, but it does not seem that Colleen’s father was joking. I just wanted Emmett to say that for you to know that most fathers have a protective streak. Some can control it and others act first and think once it’s over. These days, all I have to do is whisper what my daughter and Em are up to and he loses his job at the church. And I think that job is the one he loves the most.”
Em nodded, “Yes, Sir, and Sophie and I have talked about that a lot. A year and a half. And counting. My heart goes out to each of you ladies. Since Sophie and I are engaged, I call our landlady here Aunt Pink. She calls you ladies, and I see ladies. Sure, you are three teenagers, but you are about to become mothers. I know Tina, Jochebed, Missy, and Menzie have come in here to talk. You will have to do some growing up really fast. Josie is across the hall. She will tell you the same thing. Recently, I heard Brenton giving a golf lesson to Gymra. That is the key reason that she is their maid, to learn how to play golf. Brenton said that when you hit a bad shot and you are in a bad situation, you have to convince yourself that – right now – my tournament is starting with this next shot. Learn why you made the mistake, but never dwell on it or that makes the next decision that you make another bad choice.”
Sophie smiled, “Can you tell that Em wants to do some preaching, not just the music minister?”
They snickered a little.
Josie came in with Daniel. “Did I come in too soon?”
Dev and his crew said their goodbyes, but Sophia asked permission to stay. She sat behind everyone and pulled out a notepad. I was wondering if this was an exercise for her course in police procedure, but the others in the room did not mind her staying.
Daniel ran to the play area, and Kanok, Joon, and Sparkle welcomed him. Josie said that she would stay with the children, and she would be available if I needed her.
I turned to Colin once everyone settled down. “Colin, I am not a gossip. I am not very curious about things that involve me, but I am curious about the people that live here. When people call me Mommie Pinkie, they say so with the feeling that I love them as a mother loves her child. I have children. I know there is a difference, but I have to agree to an extent. I want the best for you. I hear that you have been dating. Before you came here, had you ever gone on a date before?”
Colin turned red, “No, Mommie Pinkie, we lived on a modest farm. I always had chores. I always had homework. I graduated from high school, and I only asked a few girls out for the senior prom, and everybody was taken. So, I just focused on the farm and school. I felt I missed out. Then, I came here, and I have nothing to do but make sure my sister is safe, and this whole campus, as you call it, keeps her safe. So, I do my work picking vegetables while up on the catwalks. I do some rough carpentry, and Darrell is teaching me a lot of stuff. I am taking some welding lessons from Mr. Easy.”
I cackled, “I am going to tease Easy. He’s my nephew. No one calls him mister. That is precious. But spill. I want to know about your dating life.”
Colin smiled, “Okay, since I had time to think about it, and Crystal and I have been going to Aunt Jemima’s Sunday school class, I saw the ladies that are not romantically connected to their partners. Tammie is a little older. Rosie is her partner, but Rosie is married and her husband comes in and Tammie is like a third wheel.”
I smiled, “I am glad you saw that. Tammie has Rosie as an AA sponsor, but that is not the same as a romantic connection. Who else?”
Colin said, “I have not asked Tammie out. She seems very busy, but then there is Tina Bell. She is a bit older. But then there is Gymra. We don’t have many blacks in our entire county. I have no hang ups with any skin color, but I thought I would never know how to date unless I started doing it. So, I asked her, and she said that I could caddy for her on a Sunday after church. I don’t know if Brenton and Carla are protective, but since I had never gone on a date before, maybe they could tell. The four of us went to dinner at the club, Brenton’s Dad being a member. Then we played eighteen holes. Well, they played and Gymra let me hit a shot every now and then. So, other than the dinner, it wasn’t much of a date. I asked Gymra if we could go on another date and she nodded and smiled. Then, I felt really good about that.
Colin took in a deep breath, “Then I was down at the Standish Pharmacy. Crystal and I were having a soda that Jessie had made. I just blurted out that Jessie was pretty, and I bet she has a dozen boyfriends. Jessie said that she didn’t date much. She did not like the guys in her neighborhood, and there weren’t many guys around her workplace. I think Crystal got soda up her nose, but I asked Jessie when she got off work. And about that time, Tamara came in to relieve her. Jessie asked her if I could be trusted, and Tamara gave me the green light. It was just the spur of the moment. Anyway, Jessie and I walked down to the road where Grannie Fannie is going to move, and we walked along the lake. Jessie talked about Sophie, Menzie and Brooke and the softball team. She can sure skip rocks across the lake. And I talked about the farm. A couple of times, she held my hand. I guess that was more like a date, but we just walked and talked. Then, Gymra called and we went on a real date the next Sunday afternoon. Again, we walked and talked. Gymra took me through the neighborhood where Brenton grew up. There are some big mansions along that street and the next street over. We even rang the Judge’s doorbell, and they invited us in. Menzie happened to be visiting and Samuel and Menzie walked with us back to Brenton and Carla’s house. Gymra stopped before going inside and she asked if I wanted to end our date with a kiss. I hesitated too long. She said she thought I was new to the dating game. She leaned in and kissed me.”
I softly laughed, “And now you have two girlfriends, and they don’t know about each other… yet.”
Colin reddened, “And now I am two doors down from these three ladies. I keep thinking about Crystal and the baby that is coming. Somebody that dates her is going to have to consider the baby. That makes me feel that I should consider dating Zinhle or Colleen. Having empathy for my sister, I feel the pain that Zinhle and Colleen must be going through, but when is a good grieving period?”
Colleen said, “Hmm. He said Zinhle before me. That means three straight black girls before he ever dates the white girl.”
Zinhle laughed, “Hush, Colleen, he reminds me of Atlas. We may be too fast for him. But we both have to realize that most boys our age would hesitate before dating us.” Colleen merely nodded.
I turned to Zinhle. “Zinhle, tell us your story, a little about your parents, then your experience with boys before this.”
Zinhle snarled, “That seems awfully nosy. But, then, you are volunteering your time to counsel us, and we aren’t paying for our apartment…”
I held up a finger. “You will not be charged for this school year. The university is prorating the room and board that you have already paid for. They will send a check. I will have Tommie Tat deal with that and then I will add that money to my next donation back to the university. Next year, I hope you will want to stay here. You will either pay a small payment for rent, less than what the university charges, with free bus transportation, or you can find a job here on the campus, then the rent is even less, withheld from your paycheck. Tina told you what she does. Emmett tends the exotic plants at the inside peak of the Crystal Mountain. His parents manage everything that is a plant inside the Mountain. They keep a fresh supply of much of our veggies. And Missy is my CSO, Chief Security Officer. Menzie does enough just with her singing with Emmett accompanying her during Vespers. I have noticed that the new ladies here do not attend. It is not necessary, but we would love to have you. Colin, Crystal, you are there most nights. How do you like it?”
Crystal said, “I have told them about that and Stinker’s Sunday school class. I would think even for someone who is not a believer, vespers is a great way to relax and start thinking about bed. And you only talk once every three nights. There are so many speakers and you never know what the subject is going to be. I usually go back to my homework, but I am more relaxed after vespers. My homework is getting hard.”
I smiled, “I apologize, but since you missed a lot and you need to be caught up by Christmas, we have put you through a crash course. What I am told, you are doing an excellent job.”
Crystal sighed, “Part of it is the workload, but Tommie Tat and Missy and Greta tell me that Vitamin Flintheart may be more demanding than our old school. I am doing my best.”
Zinhle nodded, “We are struggling some ourselves since we missed a couple of weeks with all this mess. The professors are understanding, but like Crystal said, demanding. So, my background. My parents are immigrants from South Africa. They are both Zulu. My father has a master’s degree in engineering. He had special skills and knowledge that a company needed in the big city east of here. I was born in this state. My mother has a college degree in hospitality. My parents found no home in their price range across the river in the state where he works, but the houses were cheaper in Westside. The income tax is less. But even so, they had a hard time finding a home until my mother found a rundown hotel in the center of Westside. She bought the hotel, and they lived there while renovating the hotel. It is now fully renovated, and it gets great reviews. I was born during the renovations. I have never lived anywhere other than a hotel room. But my parents are thinking of moving to a house and renovating our apartment into a presidential suite of rooms.”
I smiled, “Now, I want to know why you started your affair with Atlas. You and Colleen must have had experience. That kind of thing does not just happen. I am not finding fault here, but there might have been trauma in your past experience. The more that Rev. Joseph and I know, the better it will be during therapy.”
Zinhle breathed deeply for a moment. “Yes, ma’am, I mean Mommie Pinkie. Mommie Pinkie sounds so strange. But yes, I would characterize my only dating experience as traumatic. Two years ago, school years, so a little over one year, I was the star female athlete in Westside. I was the point guard on our high school’s basketball team. Anyway, this boy, Larry, was the quarterback of the football team and he ran track. He was the star male athlete. At the awards banquet, he asked me out. We started dating. Then, we got in bed together. I was head over heals in love with him. He had colleges begging for him to go there. He was white, handsome, rich, everything you would want. And he poured gifts on me. Then, he said we were invited to an athletic club meeting across the river. I was all for it, but when we arrived, it wasn’t a bunch of old guys. Mostly young adults, almost all male. To make a long story short, they gave me a roofie and had their way with me. When I say they, all of them. Somehow, I was the prize, but Larry got a big deal to play ball in their state. The worst thing, they videoed the whole thing. At first, I didn’t remember anything. Then fuzzy things came into my head. I called Larry, but he was conveniently out of town. Now, it’s all over the internet. I came to T.R.U.S.T. to get away from the wagging tongues. Now, I can just tell people that wasn’t me, just someone that looks like me.”
I asked, “So how did you go from being taken advantage of to taking advantage of Atlas?”
Zinhle started to cry, “It wasn’t like that. I loved Atlas. He was so innocent. Larry knew everything. Atlas knew nothing. It started with teasing Colleen. Then we started upping the ante. Then, I thought, if anyone is going to have the pleasure of being the girl Atlas deserves, it ought to be me. I know that does not make sense, but that is what happened. But once we awakened the hormones inside Atlas, he was hooked. It’s all my fault. I started it. Colleen just liked the challenge, but I think she liked Atlas too.”
I had already distributed the tissues. I nodded, “Okay, let’s move to Colleen. Same questions, if you please.”
Colleen went for the tissues without saying anything. “Okay, okay. My folks were from Doyle County. They went to school together. My Dad dreamed of being a gunfighter in the Wild West. He just missed his chance by more than a hundred years. He was a year ahead of Mom. He spent half of his free time at the gun club, the other half at the stables. Mom loved horses, and she could not afford the fees to ride, so she mucked out stalls. Somewhere along in there, they went to the hayloft for some personal time. Dad worked in carpentry while feeding his desire to be a gunslinger. When Mom graduated, they eloped in an old wreck Dad had rescued from the pound. That was his joke, but the pickup barely made it to the Wild West experience. He showed them his shooting skills, but since he was so young, they wondered if it would work out. But in gunfights, he could beat any of the other actors who played bad guys. So, they wrote him into the script as a Billy the Kid type. They hired Mom to be a dancer at the saloon, but when they found out she was pregnant with me, she worked behind the bar. If you did the math, I was born six months after they eloped.”
I nodded. I had no idea what to say.
Colleen had a sip of non-alcoholic cider and then continued, “When I was old enough, I went to school in a one-room schoolhouse. There was only maybe a dozen kids. Dad was so good with his shooting skills, quickdraw, and riding skills, they ended up making him the lawman. They had a hard time explaining that Dad beat the lawman to the draw, but he always missed, especially when Dad never missed a tin can or a beer bottle. They had always scripted cowboys taking women into rooms that were off limits. Really, they were taking a coffee break. But that way the guide could talk about harlots and such. But then, the owner found out that a live love-making scene was permissible. So, for an additional fee, they could go into a theater and watch Mom and Dad do their business, right in front of everybody. The word got out, and the hotels in the neighboring towns filled to capacity. Dad did not have the stamina to last all day. But other couples filled in. I snuck in when I was about ten and watched. Mom found out and said that taking that role meant we’d have enough to send me to college.”
I took a tissue to wipe my brow, “And how did you first have a boyfriend?”
Colleen said, “The teacher taught us through sixth grade. The wires for electricity in the off-limits area were underground. Our cars, the few that had them, were hidden in a barn. So, we did our school through the internet. There was a boy, Elias, who was a year older than me. We were the only ones in our grades. One day when Mom and Dad were on stage, Elias came over to our apartment. We always helped each other with our homework anyway. I told him what Mom and Dad were doing and if I wanted a good paying job, I needed to follow in her footsteps. We went straight to my bedroom. And no, I knew enough to not get pregnant. I was a checkout clerk at the souvenir shop from the time I was a freshman in high school. When I helped out waiting tables at the saloon, I got great tips. I guess they realized I was too young. That’s about it.”
I asked, “What happened to Elias?”
Colleen shrugged, “He left town when he got his high school diploma in the mail. Believe me, he was not smart enough to go to college. He was just going to see the world, and no one heard a word from him ever since. To be honest, you go through a scripted day six days a week, and you just are not ready for what happens in the real world.”
I shook my head, “And do you agree with Zinhle regarding Atlas?”
Colleen nodded, “Yes, ma’am. Atlas was innocent as innocent could be. He was nothing like Elias, and to be honest, I wanted someone who was not like Elias. The teasing that Zinhle started made me go into protection mode. I wanted Atlas, and I thought I could win him over. The thought that he was not old enough to make his own decisions legally never entered my mind. And when time was of the essence to win his heart, I risked the chance of getting pregnant.”
I nodded, “Thank you, Colleen. Alice, how are you holding up?”
Alice replied, “I really have no idea, Mommie Pinkie. I lost both my parents and then my brother. I don’t blame Zinhle and Colleen. Atlas was like a lovable teddy bear. And to be honest, he knew that what he was doing could make a baby. He wasn’t dumb.”
I turned to Sophia, “Sophia, other than being a caring young child, what do you think?”
Sophie sighed, “Aunt Pink, Dad wanted me to listen in so that he might have ammunition to talk the D.A. out of any charges.”
Zinhle attacked first, verbally. “What charges? We did nothing wrong. We are pregnant. Isn’t that enough?”
Alice shouted, “Don’t take them away! They are pregnant with Atlas’ babies. That’s the only family I have left!”
Sophia put up her hands, “That’s the way Dad feels about it, but when the news gets word that Colleen’s Dad perpetrated a murder-suicide due to his daughter being pregnant with the murder victim’s baby, it won’t take long to find out that the boy was not yet sixteen. Thus, we have ironclad proof that it was a case of rape. Your stories are compelling, but if it went to trial the D.A. might have less than a fifty-fifty shot at guilty. Two pregnant teenagers who have no father to help them with the child can win a sympathy vote. What started as a dare and then two girls fighting over the affection of one boy, that did not start out as rape. I am thinking that we might sweep it under the rug. The D.A. can say that you two were pregnant. The father came to the door and a boy answered. He shot the boy without knowing whether or not the boy had fathered his daughter’s child and then in his remorse, killed himself. That scenario does not label Atlas as the boy who fathered the child.”
Alice asked, “But what about them naming a boy Atlas?”
Sophia said, “They are heart broken for your loss. Now, the legal ramifications come in with the birth certificate. If they put down father unknown, it would require a DNA test later on to prove they have a right to anything of the Chalmers estate. But if it is a busy news day when the babies are born, the media might not notice if you put down Atlas Chalmers as the father. You have about eight months to talk that over.”
Alice said, “All we have is a house and a few acres. Mom and Dad worked and they had a truck farm on weekends. And right now, I miss those fresh tomatoes.”
I asked, “Who is watching over the house?”
Alice said, “The nearest neighbors are watching the place. They say they’ve already tilled the soil. They will ask us for money next year to plant something. Or we, umm, I mean I can decide to sell or let it go fallow. Between scholarships and life insurance policies, I have the money for college. But right now, all three of us have no clue what our major will be. We should all three technically be sophomores after this semester with all the credits from this past summer. I desperately need some help making the business decisions.”
I smiled, “I can help with that. At this point, I would normally have a business plan in my head, but I just pulled favors to get Colin and Crystal’s farm included in the university’s experimental farm program. If you only have a few acres, that might become a home with far too much lawn to mow. I may make a few inquiries to see if renting the home might be an option. You might get your teaching certificate and want to go back home. Let’s not sell yet.”
Sophia said, “This may be too much for Zinhle to handle, but I texted my Cousin Poached, Elroy, and Jethro. Jethro is studying to become a master hacker for the good guys. If we can obtain authorization for him to go on the dark web, he might be able to find out where the money went regarding that embarrassing video. Poached can talk to his Vice counterpart and see if they would want to pursue it. It was two years ago, but this seemed organized to me. They have done it before and they probably have since. There is no guarantee that the video can be completely eliminated, you know downloaded copies and such, but the people making the money off this thing need to be stopped, and I am sure there is money involved. And I am curious, since Colleen’s Mom was getting used to the big bucks of a live love-making routine and the source of your Dad’s income has stopped, what is she doing?”
Colleen burst into tears, “She is doing the act all day long every day with a rotating group of other actors.”
Sophie mumbled, “That’s just sick! She needs time to grieve!”
The door opened and Aunt Jemima came in with two young men that I recognized.
Jemima said, “Hi, everyone. My two little brothers were over here visiting. They say that they are desperate to go on a date. Nobody wants to date the preacher’s kids. So, Paul Andrew is a freshman at the university. Silas Isaiah is a junior at Flintheart. They want to date a girl. No hangups about being pregnant or skin color or past mistakes. They just want arm candy.”
I said, “Arm candy sounds like they are going somewhere that arm candy would be significant, right?”
Jemima shrugged, “I guess. Menzie is singing the old Kilted Duncan hits at the Snazzy Taz, and I have eight backstage passes. But all I see are three boys: Paul, Silas, and Colin. And I see four ladies: Alice, Zinhle, Colleen, and Crystal. What do I do with that last pass?”
Paul suggested, “I think that I am man enough to have two ladies, but which two?”
Colin suggested, “I will take Zinhle, if she accepts. Then Crystal and Silas are near the same age. That leaves you with Alice and Colleen.”
The four ladies looked at each other and started nodding and giggling.
Josie walked over and sighed, “Just my luck. I have never been to the Taz and all I have is Daniel to take care of tonight. Besides, that makes it five girls and three boys.”
Sophia said, “Josie, Jethro would get upset regardless. Upset that you are going out without him and upset that you might consider dating someone else. Wait! I run security. I will call Jethro’s name in as an add-on security guy. He can be the security for people going in and out of the green room and dressing rooms. We have the Pinkettes dancing. Samuel and Menzie dancing. And Menzie singing. More backstage traffic than usual, but we have had more traffic with less people on the security team. It won’t sound strange that I added one more to the crew. I won’t charge them extra. Jethro gets paid out of my profits. And since Menzie is doing so much tonight, Angus and Missy are going to be in the private area nearest the stage. Aunt Pink, grab your three kids over there along with Daniel. You can view from the Angus and Missy private party. Oh, and Missy already invited Amy and Ralph E. They will be disappointed if you didn’t show up with children in tow. This is jazz, not rock, so the music is not earsplitting. The fans screaming, that is a different situation.”
I moaned, “Now I have to explain to Scrammie that he is not going to get his normal sleep tonight. Thank the Lord that I do not have vespers. It’s Father Jerry, excuse me, Father Jerome from the monastery. He is funny. He tells the best monk jokes. And Crystal, we keep the vespers services on the cloud if you want to watch some that you miss.”
Crystal asked, “But Aunt Jemima got the passes and now she isn’t going.”
Jemima laughed, “Menzie dropped them off at our apartment knowing that my brothers were visiting. I have plenty of work to do. I have a mid-term exam to grade. And Aunt Mary wants me to help with some video editing. With that and having a husband that is driving the Turtle, I still have Stormie to watch. The eight passes were a chance for my brothers to have some fun, and having big sis looking out for them spoils the fun, right?”
Credits
William Henry McCarty (at birth), a.k.a. Henry Antrim or William H. Bonney, nicknamed Billy the Kid, (1859-1881) was an outlaw, cattle rustler, killer of nine men (five murders were done with others involved). Billy claimed to have been born in 1861 and some information points toward that year. Some think that Catherine McCarty lied about being a widow of Mr. McCarty, and the father of her two boys was possibly named Bonney, the middle name of Billy’s brother. Billy was orphaned at the age of fifteen, which led to his first arrest – stealing food. Billy killed a Sheriff William J. Brady in the Lincoln County War of New Mexico and was convicted, sentenced to hang, but then he orchestrated his escape, killing two deputies in the process. At the age of 22, he was finally killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett.
Wild West towns like Dodge City, Kansas and Tombstone, Arizona still have attractions for those wanting to experience the Wild West. I have been to Dodge City on numerous occasions, but also Deadwood, South Dakota and Cody, Wyoming. My wife had been to a few, growing up in El Paso, Texas.
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