Hood Ornaments

From the middle of the block down, it looked like a fair took over. There were colorful canopies, umbrellas, tables with festive tablecloths and coolers. Not to mention in each yard, front or back, a BBQ was fired up.

For the preparation of everything.

Hot dogs.

Hamburgers.

Chicken.

Ribs.

At first Dell thought his eyes were playin tricks on him when he saw Mann pull up in a truck similar to his uncle’s, the truck and doors opened on their own and four dudes came out and put city stamped blockades up. The crew then went back into the jeep and carried bushel upon bushel of crabs to the backyards Sticks pointed to.

The final set up was the DJ equipment, which was driven to the end of the block and set up accordingly.

Dell raised a brow at his uncle as they both started to take the groceries into the Watt’s home.

Sticks smirked and raised a sarcastic brow back, “yes youngin?”

“Not that it’s any of my business, but did you pay for all this?”

“She is my goddaughter; but I am merely the facilitator of the revenue.”

Dell knew exactly what he meant. He also knew not to ask shit else.

He was finally using his discernment.

And his muscle as well.

How many watermelons did we buy? Dell thought to himself.

Damn.

It was a planned party, but no one knew it was gonna be like that. Trudy was methodical when she made her infamous potato salad. Everyone wanted to know her secret ingredient giving it that kick no one else’s had. Trudy was proud humming to herself while chopping to the rhythm of the song on the radio on the windowsill.

For the first time in years.

Tori was in her room trying to figure out which sundress she wanted to wear. Since the attack, she was dressing very conservative. She mostly wore jeans, t-shirts and sneakers at times borrowing Dell’s clothes

But this was her party. It was her day. She wanted to look pretty. She decided on a black and white maxi dress. She also decided to wear a white floppy hat because she didn’t feel like doing her hair. When she pushed her other clothes aside, the hangers screeched on the bar.

She didn’t hear the music initially. What she did hear was masculine, booming laughter. Far too deep to be any of the boys.

Tori paused before walking down her small hallway to the top of her steps. That’s when she heard the music.

It was Marvin Gaye’s -Got to Give it Up

She heard her grandmother laugh and say “Boy what chu know about this. You was way too young to know about this.”

Tori heard the booming, laughter reply, and her stomach dropped. For a split second she imagined her father dancing with her grandmother like they did when she was little.

But no, it couldn’t be.

She crept down the steps slowly, tiptoed through the small living room and peeked into the kitchen. Anxious and petrified of what she might see.

Who she might see.

The voice responded with, “Oh c’mon Ms. Trudy. You know I’ve got some moves in me. Some new ones too. Hope you can keep up nah.”

It wasn’t her father.

She knew it now.

He would have called her Mama.

For some reason that upset Tori.

And the tears starting rolling down her cheeks.

Until she saw who it was.

Then she sighed.

Half out of relief.

Half out of anger.

The only thing that stopped Tori from making an entrance and a scene was her grandmother’s laughter as Sticks twirled her around the kitchen. She reached over and grabbed a dish towel off of the sink to playfully slap him. Sticks tried to grab it from her and that’s when the pair got turned around and saw Tori standing in the doorway.

Tori expected shock or maybe even embarrassment from the pair but neither emotion was displayed. Instead Sticks let out a loud, “Heeeeeeeeeeey there she is. My god baby. Ms. College Bound.” With that he slid on the kitchen floor, danced his way over to Tori, grabbed her hand and began dancing with her. Tori was confused and raised her eyebrow at her grandmother who just took her other hand and began dancing with the both of them.

What the hell is this about?

Why was Trudy so nice to Sticks all of a sudden?

Was it the block party?

She wondered if she could get Sticks alone so she could ask him about her father.

She wondered if Trudy knew what she was thinking.

Just then the song on the radio ended and the radio personality announced they would be back. The commercial was immediately drowned out by the music from the street. Sticks waved Tori to the side door.

“Baby, come out to the backyard for a minute, I got a little something for you.”

Tori looked over to Trudy who just smiled warmly and shooed her away.

“Gwon now, you have to get to the party.”

Tori followed Sticks outside and to the backyard, which was starting to fill up with neighbors tending to the grill and coolers filled with ice. Sticks took Tori’s hand and playfully bopped his head to Summertime by the Fresh Prince making Tori giggle. He reached into his jacket pocket and handed her a thick envelope and a bank book.

“This is for you. I am so proud of you,” he took a deep breath, “and your father would be proud of you too.” With that, he kissed Tori on her forehead and Tori kissed him on the cheek.

“Speaking of my father…” She began to say, but she was cut off by one of the neighbors yelling from across the yard.

“Aye yo, Sticks man! We need your help out here. We need another cooler for the beer for the…well I ain’t gonna yell it across the block.”

“The alcohol?” Tori yelled back to Mr. Pete.

This made Sticks and the neighbor laugh and Sticks replied, “Yeah, I got you Pete. I’ll be right there.” Then he lovingly grabbed Tori by her elbow and mimicked threatening her, “If I see you go anywhere near the yellow cooler I will whoop your tail. Now go inside and go put that envelope up before you drop it out here and never see it again.”

“Okay Uncle Sticks, I don’t like the taste of alcohol anyway.”

“Good.”

Damn that was close. Sticks thought.

Damn I was this close. Tori thought.

What Tori didn’t know was that in a few weeks she was going to be closer to her father than she ever would have imagined.

No one could have imagined the series of events that would reunite them.

She danced away from her god father and sashayed back into the house where Trudy was still smiling and chopping. The colorful Tupperware bowls were huge, and that made Tori smile and wonder what was going to happen with all of the left overs. Well besides the ones she and the boys were going to take to the beach the next day.

But she didn’t want to worry about anything right now. She ran up the stairs, put the envelope and bank book in the dresser drawer and was determined to make the next two days the happiest two days of her life.

The music instantly became louder when Tori opened the side door to her house. She could do nothing but smile as she looked up and down the street. It was still early, but Tori saw neighbors rushing about carrying bags and/or Tupperware containers of food. A few of the matriarchs and patriarchs of the neighborhood waved her over to their yards. A few of them reached into their pockets to hand Tori either and envelope or a bill of some sort.

Out of respect, Tori tried to refuse them, but they were insistent.

Little girl, I watched you grow up on this block.

Trudy would never forgive me if I didn’t give you my best.

I am so proud of you. You are going to be an amazing artist. I can’t wait to say, I knew her when.

Isn’t she the perfect blend of Dre and Dee?

Your father would be so proud of you.

He loved you to death.

To death.

Those last three sentiments echoed in Tori’s mind. She could have kicked herself for letting Sticks get away by changing the subject about her father. The irony was, Sticks didn’t look uncomfortable when she asked. It looked almost natural that he entertained Mr. Pete’s question rather than getting into a discussion with her about her father Maybe she could get Sticks alone later on after he had a few drinks in him and get him to open up. She didn’t know why she was so adamant about knowing. She was well cared for, had everything she needed, family and friends who loved her. But, she still felt like pieces of her were missing.

And she wanted to be whole.

But was today the day for it?

As if someone was reading her thoughts, her little black and white purse that was slung around her started vibrating because her cell phone was ringing. She looked at the display and saw it was Dell.

“Hello.”

“Where are you girl?”

Dell was yelling because he was at the end of the block where the DJ was set up.

“Stay there!” Tori yelled into the phone while waving.

Dell finally saw her and a huge smile came across his face as she pushed her way down the crowded block. The aromas from the different meats mingled with the shouts and laughter from the neighbors and other partiers. Every once in a while, Tori’s trek towards Dell was halted by another neighbor with another story, card or envelope. Tori tiptoed to find Dell who just shook his head and smiled at her while he attempted to meet her in the middle of the street.

Just then Tori felt hands wrap across her waist and instantly she jumped and started flailing as if she were going to fight someone or run.

Then Tony, realizing what he had done, starting rubbing her arms and spoke softly into her ear, “It’s me Tor, I’m sorry, I was just trying to hug you.”

Tori swung around and looked at Tony with tears in her eyes. It was at that point, Dell approached them and cocked his head at Tony.

“The fuck man?”

“I didn’t mean…I forgot…”

Dell frowned and his voice became instantly angry, “How the fuck can you…”

He stopped himself when he looked at Tori and saw the tears flowing down her face and he instantly hugged her.

“This is her day,” he said as he held the back of her head and spoke to Tony, “We gotta take care of her, ya heard?”

Tony nodded and walked off defeated.

Dell wiped the tears off of Tori’s face with his thumb.

“You hungry?”

Tori nodded and forced a smile.

“Let’s get some of my uncle’s chicken and Trudy’s potato salad.”

“And a hot link,” Her smile a little less forced.

“Oh!! Somebody’s hungry?” Dell said jokingly which made Tori giggle .Sticks saw them and nodded his head in approval. Dell responded with a nod and then started searching the block for the hot links.