Hood Ornaments

The truck finally came to a stop in front of a modest colonial home with a wraparound porch, small but immaculately manicured lawn complete with tiny rose bushes under windows with periwinkle shutters.

And was that a gate?

The only thing missing was a picket fence.

Mann was actually the one who noticed Dell’s confusion and chuckled slightly. He turned around and for the first time made actual eye contact with him. “We ain’t in the city no mo.”

All Dell could muster up the energy to say was, “No shit.”

All he was thinking about, however, as he met his uncle on the pristine sidewalk was what kinda connect lives here?

The truck’s alarm punctuated his thought and caused him to jump a little bit. The scene was just odd. Like they didn’t belong. Dell hung back and watched Mann open the gate. Sticks walked through it like he was the president, leaving it open for Man to shut. Dell just followed the two of them walk down the sidewalk leading the wraparound porch. As the trio reached the backyard, Dell saw a large BBQ pit, an in ground pool with a Jacuzzi, and the back of the house had rather large screened in balconies all supplied with different amenities.

His mouth was hanging open and didn’t even notice Sticks rolling his eyes. But Dell did notice the petite caramel female with the short, spiky auburn hair puttering down the porch. She raised her eyebrow at Sticks with a pouty mouth full of contempt.

“He know you were comin?” The female asked with as much disdain as the short question would allow.

In predictable Sticks fashion he didn’t even make eye contact with her but looked up at the top balcony of the house motioning with his head, “He up there?”

Dell didn’t think it was possible to see a female’s face look so full of disgust until that moment.

“Where the fuck else he gonna be Samuel?”

Dell could not recall anyone ever calling Sticks by his government name.

Who the fuck is she?

“No need to be hostile, Jasmine!” Sticks spat back mocking her tone. Jasmine rolled her eyes, lifted the cover up off of her petite body and let it fall on the ground as she hopped and then dove into the deep end of the pool.

Well apparently, that is Jasmine, thought Dell with a satisfied smirk on his face.

Mann was still watching Sticks who was still was watching the top balcony as if waiting for something or someone to appear.

Dell decided to keep on watching Jasmine as she began doing laps back and forth in the pool. It was a beautiful sight to see. She swam like an expert. After the final lap, she pushed herself into a perch on the wall between the pool and Jacuzzi and flipped a few buttons so the jets turned on. She sighed heavily, and closed her eyes.

“She kinda makes you wish you knew how to swim huh youngin?” A deep voiced bellowed from above Dell’s head. Startled, he looked up, and saw this massive, chiseled, bald man whose beaming smile was a striking contrast to his menacing stature.

“Huh, well yeah or I mean no, shit dude, I’m sorry.”

Mann, Sticks and the Voice erupted in laughter leaving Dell a little unsure of how to respond. They started walking towards the other side of the house to staircase with access to each balcony. Dell has no choice but to follow. The Voice called out,

“Damn Sticks, what did you do to youngin that has him stumbling over his answers and what not?”

He held his arms out wide and Sticks embraced him. They chuckled and pounded on each other’s backs like they had known each other their whole lives.

Like only family does.

Dell knew at that moment, this wasn’t a connect.

The Voice walked up to Mann and extended his hand for a handshake,

“Emmanuel, good to see you dude. It’s been a minute.”

Another manly hug was exchanged, “You too Andre, too damn long.”

At this point Dell felt as though his mouth had been gaping open for hours. It was good thing too because at the realization of who was on the balcony, he needed to keep his mouth open to keep breathing.

But when Andre Watts came down the steps and put his hand on Dell’s shoulder, his world immediately went black.