Aries ignored him and looked dead into his woman’s eyes.
“Lauren, come on, baby. Let’s leave.” His sweetheart nodded, grabbed her purse from the back of the chair she’d been previously sitting in and joined him. “I’m nobody’s trash and refuse to be put out. I’ll leave on my own accord. Mrs. McKinney, it was sure nice meeting you. You’re not a referee, and I’m sorry you were put in that position on account of me. Thank you in advance for the offer of a homecooked meal. I greatly ’preciate it.” He nodded at her. “Hate to rush outta here, but Lauren and I best be leaving.”
He walked out behind Lauren as she headed up to the hall closet to retrieve her jacket. Behind him, he heard cabinet doors opening and closing in a panic, as if someone was in a hurry to find the right lid or glass. They drifted past Mr. McKinney, whose anger practically burned a hole through his very soul. Regardless, he paid the man no mind. Aries was seething, but for Lauren’s sake, he had to try to keep it together. Just as they were leaving, the doorbell rang. All of a sudden, the banging about in the kitchen stopped cold.
“Oh, Lord. Please don’t let that be Landon Jr. with Claire, too. Please don’t tell me he changed his mind in the midst of all of this!” Mrs. McKinney exclaimed, her voice full of dread. Mr. McKinney grumbled something under his breath and looked out the peephole, then unlocked the door and swung it open. There stood a stocky Black middle-aged man with dark, beady eyes, an upturned nose like a child’s, smooth dark chocolate skin, and large lips that framed a sparkling smile.
“Laaandon! How you doing? Maaaaan, Gina need some damn flour again. Doris gotta help me. Don’t nobody want that shit she ’bout to cook but she insists on doing it anyway. Last time, the fire department came. She had the entire kitchen looking like the firework smoke after the 4th of July.” The guy burst through the door, full of amusement and joy. “Oh! You got company, Landon?” He turned away from Lauren’s father who slowly closed the door and faced them.
“They’re leaving,” Mr. McKinney stated, his tone drier than a desert.
“Hold up now, let me introduce myself. Me being the Mayor of All In Your Businessville. Hey, man. My name is Herschel. I live next doe.” The guy thrust out his beefy hand and Aries promptly shook it. “Look at all dem tattoos on yo’ hand, boy!” The man cackled. “What you got written all over ’em? The lyrics to Achy Breaky Heart?”
Aries tried to resist, but he ended up laughing along with the guy who had unknowingly walked into the lion’s den. Lauren even fought a smile and lost.
“No, just the names of some of my friends who’ve died.”
“Oh, really?” The guy glanced at his hands once again. “That’s all right then… Yeah, that’s all right. You like tattoos, huh?”
“Yeah, I do. I get one or two every couple years or so.”
“Mmm hmm. I got one, but that was over twenty years ago. It was of a ship.”
“Oh. Were you in the Navy?”
“Nah, Marines. I’m a jarhead, man. It was a slave ship.” Everyone drew quiet. “I’m just messin’ with you, man! I like making people uncomfortable!”
More laughter ensued, and Lauren stood there with her arms crossed, shaking her head. If he only knew…
“Lauren! I ain’t seen you in a minute.” He enveloped her in his arms and hugged.
“Hey, Huggie. Yeah, it’s been a little while. Huggie, this is my boyfriend, Aries. Aries, this is my uncle. His real name is Herschel but we all call him Huggie. He’s my mother’s brother.”
“Nice to meet you, Aries.” The man sounded sincere enough.
“Nice to meet you, too.” Suddenly, the lights flashed.
“That’s the damn breaker again,” Mr. McKinney said.
“Are you sure? You probably didn’t pay that electricity bill. EEE-LEK-TRIC-CI-TY! Remember that song, man? Midnight Star. Landon ain’t pay the electric bill, Doris!” he called out. “Let me charge ya body, baby!” The man began to do some strange robot dance, bunching up the carpet with his work shoes. Aries dropped his head to keep from laughing again. It felt good being mad. He wasn’t prepared for this change of events.
“Hey, Landon!” Huggie turned towards Lauren’s father who’d plopped back down in front of the television. “What’s going on with your beard, man? Ol’ Billy Goat Gruff lookin’ mothafucka. Retirement doesn’t mean you just let