Hood Ornaments

Tori was exhausted She was working on several pieces at the same time. She was so consumed with her work she didn’t hear Michael enter the studio. So when he snuck up behind her and playfully picked her up, she screamed while kicking her legs. He yelled her name several times, and she finally stopped.

But then the tears started.

Michael looked at Tori with love and concern.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…there is something I need to tell you and I don’t know if I can…”

“I just want to help.”

“I’m not sure that you can, “Tori replied getting choked up.

“You can talk to me about it. Tell me how you feel. What you are thinking. Anything, Victoria. I am here for you.”

Then the back door came banging open and in walked the professor. He was a short flamboyant man with a dark Caesar haircut. As a matter of fact, he was always wearing black from head to toe. It made him look like a miniature Frankenstein. He whisked past the couple and immediately started uncovering canvasses.

“Victoria, I know this is your work. It just screams you. But the detail is incredible. The other one,” he said pointing to the rape scene, “Is that yours?”

Tori nodded, “Yes Professor Holmes.”

“Good. Great use of mixed media. I want these both and whatever else you can create in the next week for a gallery opening. Michael I am assuming you have about a half dozen completed works for me as well. Can I get you to sculpt something?”

When Michael didn’t answer quickly enough for Professor Holmes, he just waved his hand. “Good. You both have less than a week.” With that, he whisked back out as quickly as he whisked in. Tori hung her head; Michael just sighed as he took the crocheted hat off of his head. As Tori began to walk away, he gently grabbed her elbow.

“We have a lot of work to do you know?”

She nodded, “I know, but I have to go back to the room, get changed, and head to the library so I can get some books for this research paper.”

“You want me to come with you? The work I was speaking about had nothing to do with school.” He said as delicately as he knew how to.

Tori’s reply was less delicate. “And I really do not have time to remember, rehash, and retell that to you right now.” She turned around expecting to see Michael frowning, but instead his face wore an expression of concern and sadness.

“Okay”, he said. “I’ll see you later. Dinner maybe?

Her face softened, “Maybe.”

Dell walked to Trudy’s side door, knocked on it and let himself in. To his surprise, Trudy and Sticks were drinking a cup of coffee as well as eating bagel sandwiches. As if she knew she needed to ease Dell’s mind, Trudy came over to him, kissed him on his cheek, and took the folder from him.

“Thanks Rondell, this will make things a lot easier.” She put the folder on top of the refrigerator and sat back down across from Sticks.

“You don’t have to thank me for that Ms. Trudy. How you holdin up? And hey Unc, I’m surprised to see you here.” Dell went to shake Sticks’ hand, but Sticks hesitated a little bit before firmly shaking his nephews’ hand then standing up to hug him. Dell was trying to settle the nervousness in his stomach so he swallowed.

“You shouldn’t be Dell.” Sticks said as he sat back down. “In times of mourning, the family bond is strengthened. You would think that would be the case in other times as well.” The look Sticks gave him over his coffee cup sent chills down Dell’s spine. Nonchalantly he added, “I called you.”

Dell’s answer was surprisingly nonchalant as well, “Yeah I know. I was running that errand for Ms. Trudy.”

“Mmmm, okay,” Sticks replied as he was chewing his bagel. He then turned his attention towards Trudy. “So you will let me know when the arrangements will be. I’d like to send flowers or something.”

“Ain’t nobody to send flowers to,” Trudy sighed as she answered. “Besides Tony, there ain’t no family left that I know of. So if you want to do somethin, just make sure that boy is taken care of.” Sticks finished his coffee in one last gulp, stood up, and held his arms out to hug Trudy. As she embraced him, he replied looking straight at Dell, “Oh that’s already in the works. You just let me know when he gets here.”

Trudy rubbed his back, “I will; now git. I’m surprised those detectives hadn’t come while you were here. I don’t ever wanna see another one of them no time soon.”

Sticks laughed and kissed Trudy on her cheek, “I hear you. C’mon youngin, you ready?”

Dell felt his stomach churn, but he figured he may as well get this ass chewing over with. “Yeah Unc. Sure.”

Sticks held the door open for him as they left. Dell was confused because Sticks’ truck wasn’t in the driveway and he hadn’t noticed it anywhere on Trudy’s block. He turned around to his uncle with a confused look on his face. Sticks pounded his nephew on his back and his face took on a look of compassion. “In these days and times, one can never be too careful. I am almost a hundred percent sure that my truck is wired, so it is out getting swept. The hotel has been swept numerous times. Trudy’s place has been clean for quite some time, and ion think those dicks were in there long enough to drop nothing nowhere. But I still don’t trust it, Luke’s place is damn near a church, but we obviously can’t talk business there. Besides y’all are citizens now. Leek is the only soldier I trust but his peoples…eh”

“Not to be disrespectful Unc, but why you tellin me all this?” Dell asked.

If there were any onlookers in the neighborhood, it would have looked like Sticks was playfully wrapping his arm around his neck. Only he and Dell, knew the grip was hard, angry, and serious. He pulled Dell’s head closer to his sinister smiling mouth.

“Because you didn’t fuckin listen the first time nephew. The fuck you always have to go behind my back and do some shit?” He let Dell go, but he still looked petrified.

“So with that bein said, you and I are gonna go to Ms. Violet’s crib, let her soul rest in peace and chill out until I get the call about my truck. And I’m going to explain what is next on your list of things to do. Dell didn’t like the way that sounded one bit. But it wasn’t as if he had a choice.