DINF FLESRUOY

“Look Officer I understand it sounds made up, but I told you everything I know.”

“I’ll tell you what it sounds like.” The officer stood up toward Brodie moving in close as he continued. “It sounds like you made up a story to cover up you snapping. It sounds like you know more than your telling us.”

Brodie did know more, but he would not give out names, because he would take care of them himself if Deon died. He wanted to say more, tell them more, but did not think they would believe him. Did not think they would do anything about a financially lower class Black American getting harassed, tortured, and spies upon daily by unknown people for unknown reasons.

“Look your friend may not make it, and we need everything you know if you want us to catch the people who did this.” The female officer played good cop sincerely.

“I told you they attacked us.”

“You told us know one was drunk or high, no one was robbed, so there has to be a fucking reason why a 17 year old male guts are missing and he is fighting for his life in ICU!”

“Because a fucking peckerwood stabbed him.”

“Right because the victim no longer wanted to party. The ‘attacker’.” Officer Johns made air quotations. “Was not a drug dealer, but just hellbound on making sure the victim ingested drugs.”

“Yes the wannabe Nazi attacked us for not doing drugs.”

“Now there are Nazis. No a wanna-be Obama gut a kid. A wanna-be ‘I have a dream’ liberal fucking snapped!”

“No a wannabe Detective Reagan simply doesn’t want to do his job. A wanna-be tea partying Ted can’t handle the truth. A wanna-be ‘just grab em by the crouch’ conservative doesn’t want to save any black lives!”

The officer lunged at Brodie knocking him out of the chair and onto floor. Brodie blocked the second of the oncoming barrage of punches and dropped his legs flat while raising hips to flip cop over. Now Brodie was on top and he started to throw a punch before the female officer yelled.

“Do not hit him Brodie, do not.” Officer Anthony barked while Brodie’s fist lay suspended in air inches from The Officer’s nose. Her gun firmly pointed at Brodie’s head.

“ Because we are strong black men.” Brodie whispered as he got off of the cop and sat with his head down in the corner.

“What was that?” Officer Anthony asked.

“ I think they targeted us because we could be strong black leaders and actually make a difference. I don’t know how long they have been spying on me. I don’t know how they know where I will be before I am there, but they are always there. I don’t know how they know what I am thinking, but they know.”

“What do you remember about your attack Deon?” Officer Kilgore asked.

“Everything.”

“D you got to try this shit man.” Greg tempted.

“I think I’m good man, banging up isn’t my thing.”

Deon couldn’t believe his friends Greg and Murray were really shooting up meth. Smoking was a huge part of the appeal for Deon. He loved the clouds and the great feeling that came as he watched the smoke dissipating. What they were doing was extreme though. Something Deon would never do.

“Okay smoke it man.” Greg put some shards on a piece of foil, then cut a straw. He lit the flame underneath then chased the smoke with the straw. “Here man.”

“Nah I think I’m going pass.”

“What the fuck Deon?” Greg blurted out.

“I thought there were going to be girls, snow bunnies in your words exactly invoking your inner blackness.”

Greg threw his hands up and shook his head.

“What did I tell you about using big words. Who do you think you are Carlton? This ain’t Bel-air homeboy, look around we in the sticks of East Texas.”

“Dude help me out.” Murray asked near the fire. He had been trying to find his vein but kept missing. Murray’s dark hair blended in with night, but his skin was pale as snow.

“Don’t worry I got you!” A voice yelled out from the darkness.

Two men emerged from the shadows coming toward them. One was shirtless, short, and stocky. The other was skinny wearing a white tee with a black fitted cap. Both were completely covered in tattoos. The skinny one’s face was completely tattooed and his dark stare made him look even more intimidating.

“Jimbo!” Greg yelled cheerfully as he went to greet the men.

“What do we have here?” Jimbo questioned while staring at Deon. “Coop bang up Murray while I get know our friend over here.”

“ I’m Deon.” Deon held out his hand.

“This nigger don’t look high to me. So what yal doing out here Greg.” Jimbo demanded.

“Where’s a nigger?” Deon looked around pretending to search. The stocky Jimbo laughed and shook his hand.

“I don’t know why he doesn’t want to party Jimbo.” Greg replied. Coop now had the syringe in his hand and was inserting it into Murray’s skin.

“It’s not in, it’s not in.” Murray complained as he wiggled around in agony.

“Stay still.” Coop spoke without showing any emotion, his dark eyes making Murray freeze. Blood filled the syringe then coop removed it. Deon didn’t like this, he didn’t like it all.

“Let me guess they told some pussy would be waiting out here for you.” Jimbo smiled at Deon. Deon looked at Greg then back to Jimbo.

“Nah man just chilling with friends.” Deon looked for the exit. “But if it’s all the same I’m going head out.”

“It isn’t all the same. I need to see you get high. We all are high, but your not. That makes us paranoid.” Jimbo spoke strong then blocked the exit path. “Greg come here now!”

The two men started arguing low and tensions started to rise. “Hands behind your back.” Jimbo ordered. Greg’s arms moved behind his back then he interlocked his palms standing still.

“Don’t talk to me like a bitch Jimbo.”

“Shut the fuck up worm and put your hands back behind your back.” Jimbo commanded and Greg once again assumed the position. “ You fucked up Greg, now I got to finish your job. Go call Red.”

“Go!” Jimbo barked causing Greg to run off.

“Now you can go but first your trying this.” Jimbo patted Deon on the back then held out a crack pipe. “I know you would love this.”

“The kid said no.” Brodie’s voice sprang from the darkness. To Deon the night seemed to illuminate in that moment.

“Motherfucking Brodie Wolfe.” Jimbo spoke aloud.

“Wussup wood.” Brodie greeted Jimbo with a handshake.

“ You here what he called me Coop?” Jimbo laughed while Coop just stared at Brodie. Murray was too high to even realize what was going.

“Wussup Cooper”. Brodie acknowledged the tattooed man presence. Brodie had never felt comfortable around Cooper. Brodie’s old best friend was Coopers cousin and as soon as Cooper was released from prison after serving time on a murder charge his best friend changed. Cooper rode them often, and although he acted like he liked Brodie, there was something else he sensed.

“These have got to be the two weirdest black folk in the view. Their good ones though.” Jimbo started to speak. “I remember this one time we were hanging out in a trailer packed full of rednecks. Huge rebel flag right by the door. Everyone was tense because we had brought a nigger in, but Brodie never flinched, never gave a fuck that these people hated him and he was alone. A song starts playing, a country song, and Brodie starts singing the song, everyone claps their hands then starts singing along with him.”

“ We had fun that night huh.” Jimbo asked retortically.

“What was the name of the song?” Cooper asked emotionlessly while moving closer to the trio.

“Turnip Greens.” Brodie replied.

“You should leave Brodie.”

“ Can’t do that without Deon, Cooper.”

“Hey man I’m just going to hit the pipe, so we can go.” Deon tried to pacify the men and reached for the pipe. Brodie blocked Jimbos hand before Deon could grab it.

“Don’t fucking touch me” Jimbo growled. Brodie looked Jimbo in his eyes fiercely then back to Deon.

“ If you hit that, you will always come back. Your not hitting it.” Brodie ordered as Deon reached for the pipe again yeilding the same reaction. This time the pipe fell from Jimbos hand who responded by lunging forward at Brodie.

Murray oblivious to the situation turned up some music loud. It wasn’t country music, but head banging death metal rock music.

Cooper punched Deon in the face, then tried to tackle him, but Deon caught his head and used his knees to stop their descent to the pine coned ground. Cooper tried to break free but Deon was not letting go of the headlock.

Brodie and Jimbo had rolled around on the ground for numerous tumbles with Brodie finally ending up on top. He started to pound Jimbo in the face, but Greg speared him off.

“Yeah you bum” Greg started to cheer as he went to punch Brodie on the ground. The first punch didn’t do much, while the second one drew blood, bringing a smike to Brodie’s face. The third punch was intercepted by a boot to his face,when Greg tried a fourth punch Brodie wrapped his legs around his neck then arrested his left arm leaving Greg to not only fight for air, but fight for his arm before Brodie snapped it.

“Should had fucking just let him hit it.” Jimbo roared before stomping and kicking wildly at Brodie’s head.

“Fuck!” Greg screamed in agony as the bone in his arm crunched as Jimbos strong kicks hit his forced his humerus out of place. Brodie released him and the tall boy started rolling around crying on the ground.

Brodie managed to roll away backwards out of Jimbos kicks, then jumped back onto his feet into a boxing stance. Jimbo put his fists up as well and Brodie moved closer. The two were about to throw blows before they heard a horrific shrill come from Deon.

They ran back up the hill and saw Cooper slashing at Deon with a knife. They ran over and Brodie ceased Cooper by the neck and threw the now bald headed man off of Deon. Jimbo grabbed Cooper and pulled him away.

“Greg let’s go now!” Jimbo screamed

Greg ran up the hill clutching his arm, and dramatically stopped when he saw the bloody Deon laying on the ground. Greg thought he saw Deon extend his hand toward him.

“Hey! Fucking help us.” Brodie demanded. Greg looked one more time at his dying black friend, then ran off with the assailants.

“So he was telling the truth.” Officer Johns spoke to Officer Anthony. “Fuck”

“You did good Deon. Real good.” Officer Anthony rubbed his shoulder before the pair got up.

“Oh Deon one more thing.” Officer Johns started while intentionally not looking at his partner before she could disapprove. “Do you know any Karen’s?”

“Karen? No not really.” Deon replied before innocently rolling over.

Officer Anthony shot her partner a mean look before the two walked out.