Thanks Ms. Richmond I really appreciate it. Hey there what’s shaken, Jimmy the janitor asked. Nothing much got to go get my daughter they think she has the pink eye. Ugh I heard that was going around. Then why didn’t I hear about it she thought. Yeah so umm what you are doing later you still need money for your rent Jimmy asked raising his eyebrows and licking his lips. Jimmy I have to go get my daughter, Judith said brushing pass Jimmy. Okay but you know I got it if you needed it, and you know how to get it if you want it. Jimmy was a dirty sixty-seven-year-old man that was collecting his pension and SSA check. Jimmy loved his wife but also loved younger women too. His wife Carolyn was a member down at the Sweet Hope Missionary Baptist Church down on Wabash Ave. Carolyn Spent most of her time either at the church or on the phone gossiping about other church members. Jimmy and Carolyn had been married for forty years, they fell out of love fifteen years ago, but just like older couples they stay together for the hell of it. So needless to say there was no action in the bedroom. Come on Carolyn just put your mouth on it and it will get hard, “ill Jimmy white girls do that, plus I have a headache, Carolyn replied. You always have a headache! He replied angrily. Jimmy often visit the gentlemen club on Pulaski Hwy to see the local strippers and their new routine he often paid a little more to get a lap dance and some special attention.
Thanks for coming Judy. Tiffany is in the nurses office I’ll go get her if you like, and you have to sign her out for an early dismissal, said the school secretary. Okay thanks. Little Tiffany came around the corner with her left eye swollen a running it was definitely the pink eye. Hi, Mom. This is highly contagious so you may want to take her to Patients First to get her some drops for that eye and make sure she washes her hand and throws every piece of tissue she wipes her eye with away, said the nurse. Judy thanked the nurse and guided her precious Tiffany to the car. Aw, Tiff why did you have to get sick, you know Mommy don’t get paid if she don’t work… I’m sorry, Mommy. I didn’t mean to get sick, little Tiffany looked up at her mommy with her red juicy eye, I know baby I know. However you may be able to help mommy out after all, I’ma try and get you a daddy!
Welcome back Judy, Ms. Richmond said as Judy came through the door, how’s Tiffany doing, she okay the medicine took three day to kick in but it cleared up really well. That’s great Ms. Richmond said with a smile, don’t worry about catching up on work, Ashley took care of all that and plus her job. So you can pick up where she left off okay? Yes ma’am…first she trying to get my man, now she trying to get my job. What more do she want, Judy thought… Ms. Richmond is Ashley here yet? I want to thank her. No, she didn’t make it in yet, Ms. Richmond responded looking at the clock. Great that gives me time to go through with my plan. Judy walked past Ashley’s desk, sat down at her computer. Judy reached in her purse and took out a plastic bag that had one of Tiffany’s infected tissues in it; she took it and wiped it all over Ashley’s keyboard and mouse. She then threw the tissue in Ashley’s trash can. Now that will fix her! She thought to herself. Judy heard someone coming so she immediately got up and rush to her desk up front. Good morning Derrick Judy chimed. Good morning Judy…are those flowers for me? Aw, you miss me. Naw Actually they are for Ashley just something to say thank you for training me. Oh Judy said flatly. Speaking of the devil her she comes she said nonchalantly.
8
Hey Mike, Derrick spoke through the phone. How you doing? I haven’t heard from you since you hooked up with Clarissa! Aaaaaw, man Derrick, she’s amazing! I have never been so happy in my life, she’s funny and intelligent. I hear it all in your voice man so you think this is the one? I’m still testing the waters. So what’s up with you and Ms. Ashley Mike inquired, oh she’s good, but she has a wall up like Jericho! Really? Mike asked. Yeah and plus she keeps getting sick. First, it was the pink eye and then she got strep throat, and now she got food poison. Well maybe she just got a low immune system. Maybe I don’t know, but I wish she would hurry up and come back to work I miss her, and plus our receptionist Judy has been hitting on me and coming on pretty strong. I was in the drift room making a sketch, don’t you know she came back there and ask if I wanted a massage because I look tensed. Derrick said. Well is she sexy Derrick? Mike asked, hell no man she has no shape, fat and her arm look too little for her body, Mike burst out laughing. Man the other day she tried to grab my dick in the supply room! She only acts like that when Ashley is out sick. Man my work day is so long without Ash being there, she is like a breath of fresh air. Did you ask her out Derrick? I did but she always decline and say that she’s busy or she don’t think it’s a good idea to date co-workers, but I know I could make her happy. Well don’t give up homie, she’ll come around, but listen I have to go Rissa is coming over I’m cooking dinner for her tonight, she’s been a little stress lately so I told her to come over here and chill with me for a bit. Lucky bastard! Derrick replied. I wish I could go chill with Ash, I’ll just call her and see how she feeling, all right man be EZ, I holla at you later, peace.
Ughhh, I feel like crap, Ashley moaned, I can’t keep nothing down, I wish Malik was here to go to the store for me, I need some ginger ale and crackers. Ashley was so weak she could barely pick her head up. Ring, riiiinng. Oh God it even hurts to hear the phone ring… Hello Ashley whispered through the phone, Ashley? Sweetie, are you okay? Derrick asked in a concerned tone. Hey Derrick, I’m soooo weak… Ash is there anything I can do for you? You need anything? He asked. Yes a rope so I can hang myself I feel awful. Ash do you want me to come over, yes but I don’t want you to get sick, Ms. Richmond can’t have two of her best workers out, I will be okay, text me your address and I’ll be there in a minute, and plus it Friday we don’t have to work tomorrow. Derrick hopped on his bike and made his way to Pikesville by him living in Owings Mills it wasn’t that far. He stopped by the store and picked up some ginger ale, pretzels, gator aid, chicken broth a can of Lysol and some flowers. He placed all of that in his back pack and was on his way. Knock, knock. Ashley heard someone knocking on her door, she got up enough strength to answer the door. Hey Derrick, she replied, hey sweetie, come on lay down, he instructed, just then Ashley took off running to bathroom. Paaaughh, ughhhh, Ashley was puking her brains out Derrick went in behind her placed a cold towel on her neck and got another warm cloth and wiped her face and mouth. Ashley you okay? no she whined like a little kid, Derrick picked her up off of the bathroom floor and carried her to her bedroom he gently placed her on the bed. Ash your heart is racing, sweetie you’re dehydrated, I’ma go in here I bought you some gator aid, you need some electrolytes. Okay she whined. Derrick really felt bad for Ashley but was kinda glad he was in her company, even if he did risk getting sick himself. Come on sweetie drink a little bit of this, and nibble on these cracker to settle your stomach and I’ma go clean your bathroom up okay? Okay, Derrick before you do that can you help get out of these stinky cloths? Derrick stood there in a daze…huh? Oh, oh yeah, I have a night shirt in the bottom drawer. Derrick went to the bottom draw and pulled out a big purple Ravens T shirt, he looked at it and said you lucky I like you, Ashley gave a half smile and lifted her shirt over her head. Derrick being the gentleman that he was turned his back as she switched her shirt. Thanks, Derrick I really appreciate you coming to help me… No problem he responded, I’ll be back. Derrick went to work on that bathroom he mopped and wiped the sink counters down and sprayed Lysol in the bathroom and her kitchen. He came back in the room and noticed that Ashley was fast asleep. He kissed her on her forehead and whispered good night. He went into the living room and fell asleep on the sofa. The next morning Ashley woke up and crawled to the bathroom she was still feeling a little weak and dizzy. As she was coming out Derrick sat up on the sofa and said good morning pretty girl. Ash came over to the sofa and said you know I look a hot mess. Nah, but your breath? Now that’s a hot mess! She giggled and went in the bathroom and brush her teeth, Derrick got up went to the kitchen and heated up the chicken broth and put some crackers in it and sat it on the table. Ashley came out this time with her hair neatly wrapped with a scarf on it, and the crust was out of her eyes and a little Vaseline was on her lips.
Awe you did this for me? Derrick you’re a sweetheart I have to repay you, I thought I was gonna die last night, I don’t know why all of sudden I keep getting sick! Naw sweetie you don’t have to repay me. I just want you to get better so you can come back to work, I miss having you there, and that damn Judy won’t leave me alone! Ashley chuckled, she wants you Derrick! Derrick sat there with his face screwed up, ugh never in a million years. Derrick noticed a picture on Ashley’s book shelf of her and a