Lady of His Night

Opening Poem: What would you do for love?

Intimacy and love,

            Treasure unseen but felt in our chests

            Gold craved but rarely ever found

            What are you willing to do for it?

Would you scrap for it,

Would face the darkness for it,

Would you search for it?

Would you sacrifice your pride

Or

would let the culture dictate your heart,

would you let what others say reign over your actions

would you let the world bind your chance at dreams

would you let the world blind your heart to another’s heart

Chapter 1: Tobacco and Breakfast

            The family of six sits down for a Saturday morning breakfast. Bianca, an immigrant from the Ukraine, turns down the last burner for the grits. A dish she didn’t know existed until she met Langston—their four kids. Lydia, Odessa, Damien, and Latrell sit around the table, ready to say grace per their mother’s ritual rather than their father’s. When Langston sits down after washing his hands, Bianca looks at Langston to clue him into starting a prayer he only has half effort for. Yet, for Bianca, he dives into full character. He prays not to the god he wonders exists. Instead, he prays, thankful after everything he has been through. He prays in gratefulness, looking around at his four kids and wife, embracing the moment. For a moment, he thanks god or whatever deity allowed him to take in the Saturday morning of peace.

            After grace, the family digs into the required weekly feast in order to feed the number of mouths. When the plates are filled, the mouths are quiet. Bianca looks across the table at Langston. Her grey eyes smile at him, and he smiles back. They are both happy to have the family they’ve dreamed of. The family laughs and jokes while the food disappears in bellies. When Latrell gets up to put his dishes in the sink. Bianca looks at him. He sighs, picks up his unwashed dish, and wipes it halfheartedly. When he is done, he looks up and is greeted by a SWAT team entering their yard.

            “Dad, there is someone in our yard.”

            Langston looks out the window and sees the team securing the parameter.  The other kids move to other windows and see the same thing around their large house. Langston gets up and Bianca follows him to a window. Langston looks at the police surrounding their home. The kids come to the center of the kitchen and hold one another. Bianca glues herself to the side of Langston. He looks out the window and then looks into Bianca’s eyes. She looks back, and curiosity swells. He is calm. Worry dampens her eyes while a sad acceptance of reality flushes over his soul. When they see they are surrounded by the police, they hear from the front lawn,

           “Langston Williams, we have you surrounded. Come out with your hands up.”

   The kids look at their father wondering what the Operation supervisor at a grocery store could warrant such a force. Langston says,

“Baby, it's all caught up with us.”

Bianca looks at him, and tears slowly erupt out of her eyes. The kids look at their parents, confused, Bianca looks up and says,

“I thought it would just disappear….”

He wipes the first of a million tears away and says,

“Darkness is the default. It never just disappears.”

Odessa, the youngest, runs to them and says,

“Daddy, don’t go.”

The voice on the speaker outside asks,

“Langston William, come out with your hands up.”

He releases Bianca and walks to the front of the house. Damien, the oldest, asks,

“Dad, what did you do?”

Langston looks at his family, then the house, and says

“Gave the woman of my dreams the best life she never could dream of.”

Langston opens the door and puts his hands on his head. Bianca having a panic attack from her past as she believes her past has struck its final blow. Langston comes out with his hands up, knowing full well that the kids have no clue what is happening to their untouched life. When he gets down on the nicely manicured lawn, two officers handcuff him and take him to the car. Bianca looks on in wonder, not fully accepting what has happened. The kids are torn on the spectrum of emotions. Crying, sad, angry, and confused. How could their father be a criminal? Bianca, a stay-at-home mom, sees her reason for living in a country far away from her home, driving away in a police car.

            The kids cling to their mom as their father is hauled away to the police station. He looks back with a pensive persona.