The Rat’s Tale Part 1

"Damn Di, you know I'm tender headed! Can you chill?”

My weavologist and childhood friend, Diamond Douglass has been doing my hair since we were 14 years old. She knows better than to be snatching and tugging on my poor little scalp, but I doubt she can relate to my pain. I’m convinced she exchanged her soul for the ability to grow lace fronts right out her scalp. Every week it’s something new. It’s been like that since we were kids, except then it was braid styles she was changing. For some reason today though, whatever was on Faux 10 News was more captivating than the condition of my head.

"Girl, shut up. This is the last braid, and you know it. Maybe if your hair wasn't thick as the Sahara we could have been done an hour ago."

"Uhm first of all that's a desert and .."

I couldn't even finish my sentence before she popped me in the head with the rat tail comb.

I was irritated by the pain, but slightly grateful she reminded me that I either needed to locate my own comb or pick up a new one because I was NOT going through a week of patting and slapping my head.

"OW! Bitch!"

I could damn near hear her eyes rolling as she laughed at my pain.

"AND SECOND OF ALL ..." I exaggerated, "my hair has nothing to do with it. You got the room extra tense with this bullshit news station, and that's where the extra pain is coming from. I know you like to stay informed but it's not happening on this channel."

"You are so annoying, Rae. I like to see things from all angles but I guess I can change the channel Ms. Prissy Client.”

“Thank you, Princess Di. Now you can do that, or you can hook me up with one of those million combs you got, so I can get in between these tight ass braids you’re snatching my baby hairs out with. I’ll accept either.”

“Girl, bye. Not my fault y’all always losing shit.” Diamond swept up the remote in a dramatic fashion.

We could go on talking shit for hours. We have a love hate relationship that's often times more hate than love coming from Di. She gets so weird sometimes. The girl is talented as hell, but always seems to rub her clients the wrong way. One time a girl just left mid sew in because she said "The energy Diamond was putting out was making her edges fall out right before her eyes". Obviously a dramatization, because nobody could make a dent in all that hair, but still... Who disrespects their tresses, and leaves an appointment with the infamous Diamond Douglass?

Before I could continue our friendly-ish banter, my eyes almost popped out of my head as a familiar image flashed on the screen.

"While police are not wanting to reveal many details, they can confirm that the body found is that of 25 year old, Breanna Jones. Jones had been missing for almost a week, aligning with the estimated time of death. The students of ASU's Black Student Union are having a candlelight vigil tonight at 730. There are no suspects in question as of now."

The anchorman spoke with such tranquility about the death of a girl I had only met a few times.

"D, we know her."

"Duh, bitch I do her hair. Did. Damn. I did do her hair."

I was shook. I hate thinking about bad things happening to young black women on campus. I can't help but think about how it could just as easily been me.

Diamond finished my head in silence. I paid her and dipped.

"I see you're in a hurry. Must have a date with ya man"

It was lunch time and I did. I was already running late. I shouted my response as I fake jogged to my coupe. "You already know, honey."

~~~~

I was late, but he was later. I looked at my watch to check the time, and check for any sorry I'm keeping you waiting, I'll make it up later

wink wink texts. There were none. I sighed and sipped my water.

"Awh don't look so sad baby, daddy's here." my corny ass boyfriend, Jamar, said in his favorite creep nigga voice. "Stand up and give me a hug now."

It made me sick how he still gave me butterflies this late into things. "It's been a year, Rae, get it together" I coached myself as I stood up to do exactly as daddy asked. I felt safe in his arms after hearing that terrible news about Breanna earlier. I felt like he could protect me from anything. He's big, he's strong, he's so smart. And he has a gun. Why wouldn't I?

"I already ordered your favorite."

"That's why I love you. How are you? I'm sure you heard about Breanna. I know that was your girl, I'm sorry babe." "I mean I wasn't that close to her, but yeah it hurts."

"Oh I thought y'all was besties after that drunk karaoke session at Diamond’s Christmas party."

I'd forgotten about that. That anecdote just made it all hurt worse.

"Fuck. Yeah. What have you heard about it? What are you and your boys gonna do about this?"

"Like I've said a million times, those are not my boys. Those are my coworkers at my temporary job that I won't have for much longer." "Semantics."

“Nah for real. Fuck them.”

He lowered his voice and looked around.

I raised an eyebrow.

“Just .... fuck it.”

I kept the eyebrow raised.

“It's a fucked up case."

I decided to rest my brow bone.

How my straight outta patience ass ended up with a cop for a boyfriend is literally lost on me. Sometimes it was fun, because as disgusting as it is, they do have a little clout around the city. And it is nice to not worry about speeding tickets, and to have a little inside information, when he was willing to share.

Every so often though, he tries to mirror my Black Panther and act like he hates the gig.

"And don't even bother looking at me like that, Rae. For real it's not right what happened to this girl. I don't want to talk about it." We looked at each other.

"Your hair looks beautiful, though."

"Thanks, but it itches."

He left some money on the table as we walked out.

"I'm working overtime, so I'll see you tomorrow night after you get out of class at 7." We kissed goodbye and I drove home.

~~~~

Before I turned on Netflix I braced myself to watch some news to see if there were any more details on Breanna, but I wasn't prepared for

what I saw.

Another body had been found. Another young black girl from around here. I didn't recognize her face, but that didn't make it any easier to stomach. The poor thing was gorgeous. Perfect clear skin, and a poppin Afro. Straight white teeth. In a monotone voice the news anchor informed me she was studying marine biology.

I had to get some information from Jamar. I called him but I didn't get an answer. "I wonder what the hell he's doing." I said aloud.

My next call was to Diamond.

She picked up almost immediately.

“Hey....”

I realized I didn't know what I wanted to say.

"I see you trying to stay informed yourself over there. " "Huh?"

"The news, Rae. I see you're watching the news."

"Oh. Yeah."

"I can hear it in the background. We're watching the same station. It's fucked up,huh?" "Yeah. Two girls. I'm scared."

Diamond didn't say anything.

"I don't recognize the second girl. Do you know her?"

"I did. I did her hair a couple times."

"I’m sorry, Diamond. This is a rough week for you. Two of your clients are dead. That's crazy." "I know, girl. I do damn near every campus head."

"Damn. Do you think they knew each other?"

"I don't know Rae. Maybe. They was probably fucking the same nigga or something."

"So he killed them?" I asked wondering how that would make any sense.

"Like I said. I don't know, Rae. "

"Well, shit. I'm just freaked out and on top of it my scalp itches from these tight ass braids." "Damn you still ain’t find your rat tail comb?"

"Nah, I haven't seen it in at least a week."

"That's too bad. Good luck with that."

The conversation ended abruptly shortly after.

“Be safe, girl.”

“Yeah. You too.”

I had a sick feeling in my stomach. Jamar still hadn't called me back. I decided it was fuck Netflix for tonight and just went to sleep.

~~~~

I woke up after a night of bad dreams, grumpy as hell, to loud knocking on my door.

"Sounds like the fucking police" I mumbled as I walked to my apartment door and looked through the peephole.

"Oh it IS the fucking police."

Jamar stood outside of my door looking like who did it and why?

"Damn, baby, did you not sleep last night? That's your salsa stain from lunch yesterday right under your badge." I almost wanted to laugh.

"Well good morning to you, too. And no I didn't get any sleep, we found another body last night, Rae. This shit is getting crazy. I want you to ride with me today, I know you have class, but I don't want to hear any excuses."

I loved when he was concerned about my safety.

I pressed the start button on my coffee machine and went to give my man a hug.

"Okay, boo. I'll ride with you today for a few hours, but I really do need to finish this project I'm working on."

“I know the world can’t wait on another thesis from Raegan Jordan on the pictorial trope of the house and field Negro, in relation to beauty standards in modern day America, but we need to keep you safe so you can write it”.

I jokingly slapped his arm.

“Man shut the hell up. That actually sounds like my next Ted Talk while you playing”.

We drove around for a couple hours responding to bullshit calls. Loud neighbors. Kids shoplifting. Some lady got her car stolen. I liked watching Jamar in action, I have to admit. He just looked so drained today.

"Baby, how do your breaks work? Can you take a second to get some coffee?"

"You just tryna catch a nigga slipping huh? Good old pig in a donut shop picture for your Instagram huh?”

That made me crack the fuck up.

"I hadn't even thought about that. You just look tired as hell. I was thinking Dutch Bros, but we can go to Bosa now that you mention it.”

We pulled up to our favorite donut shop, ordered, and sat down.

"Are you my babysitter all day?"

"Rae, this is the only way I know how to protect you. I really think you're in danger. You fit the same profile as all these girls. Early twenties. Black. And you go to ASU. They both died the same way."

"What do you think is going on?"

"I don't know. But the shit is sick. Whoever did this shot them point blank in the head, and then went to stab them over and over again with a small weapon we haven't been able to identify yet. Breanna had dozens of stab wounds."

The warmth in my belly from my coffee instantly vanished. I was getting light headed with all this information. I see why Jamar was apprehensive about sharing the details with me.

I started to form a sentence "I'm gonna be ..."

Before I could communicate with him that I needed to go home, his radio beeped. The room started spinning as I heard the dispatch relay to him that yet another body had been discovered. Female victim. 24 years of age. Point blank gun wound. Multiple stab wounds.

"Rae! Rae, can you hear me? We gotta go."

I snapped into consciousness.

"Jay, I can't go with you. I'm gonna just Uber home. I feel sick to my stomach."

"Are you sure? You can come with me to the scene. Or let me drop you off at your parents’ or something."

"I'm sure. I can't handle any more details of this case. You were right, it's disgusting. And I'm good, I heard the address. It’s the opposite direction of me and my parents. Just go, babe. Be careful please!" I urged him.

We kissed goodbye and he ordered my Uber.

~~~~

Overcome with emotion, I must have fallen asleep on the short ride because I opened my eyes to see the driver gently tapping me on the shoulder. I mumbled an embarrassed apology and hopped out the car.

My head was itchy as fuck. I decided I would forfeit my rat tail comb hunt and break down and buy another. Annoyed I didn't just have the Uber take me, I fished for my keys and got in my car. As soon as I pressed start I felt something in the back of my head. I looked in my rear view mirror and made contact with Diamond’s stone cold eyes.

"Drive, Rae. "