Family Values (10 page)

BRIAN

From the sound of your conversation you miss him.

DWIGHT

Patrick…I mean, Brian, I am happy with you.

BRIAN

So now you are calling me the nigga’s name.

DWIGHT
Stop saying nigga!

BRIAN

Stop disrespecting me. Watch what the fuck you say.

DWIGHT
It was an honest mistake.

BRIAN

What if I called you someone I have fucked?

DWIGHT

Will you please just take me to the hospital?

Brian
was so angry that it looked as though steam was coming off the top of his head. I had tears forming in my eyes because I was shocked. Riding to the hospital I sat in silence like my soul wasn’t there. Like it had just left my body and I didn’t feel anything. Then I thought to myself this man is really acting out. I know in myself that I love Brian.

As we pulled into the parking area of the hospital I wanted to apologize to
Brian.

DWIGHT

Brian, baby…if you feel that I disrespected you then I apologize.

             
Brian looked at me with contentment. Before I knew it he backhand slapped me.

DWIGHT

Why the fuck you hit me?

BRIAN

I didn’t mean to on the real. You know I love you but you disrespected me. I have told you about that shit, mind the things you say and do in front of me.

DWIGHT

Respect you huh.

I
took my hand and tried to tear his face off. I know it hurt because he held his face. He then looked at me with blood in his eyes like he was ready to kill.

DWIGHT

I don’t care how fucking mad you get - don’t you ever fucking hit me bitch.

He just looked at me
as I exited the car and walked into the hospital. As I stepped into the elevator I heard Brian yell out my name. I held the door and waited on him even though I didn’t want to. When Brian stepped on the elevator he pulled the “stop” button so that the elevator didn’t move.

BRIAN

Let’s talk.

DWIGHT

About what?

BRIAN

I don’t like this space we are in. We are stronger than this. I didn’t mean to hit you. I will never do it again.

DWIGHT

Brian, I don’t want to talk about this right now. I just want to go see my brother.

BRIAN

Listen to me. I am sorry.

DWIGHT

Okay. You are sorry.

             
I pressed the button for the fifth floor. On the ride up I thought how I love this man with all my heart. He is the one that is my security. When I had no one to talk to he was there. Just to see him walk by a room, into a room, made my heart smile.

BRIAN

Your head is so hard. I am so much in love with you. The love I have for you is choking me. But I guess you want some hoodrat street nigga. You want me to be that nigga. You want me to be that big, black, buck that will knock your head in.

DWIGHT

Brian, what has gotten into you since you been here. You have never talked to me like this before.

BRIAN
(grabbing Dwight by the throat)

I just see a change in you since you are around your family.

DWIGHT

I haven’t changed. Y
ou looking for a child or a boyfriend because at this moment you about to have none in a minute if you don’t let me fucking go.

H
e was looking at me with this killer look in his eyes and he didn’t want to let me go at all. I started to push him off me and that’s when he came back stronger. I punch him in the stomach. What did I do that for? He turned around and punched me in my mouth and I delivered a punch to his head. We were literally fighting in the elevator. I know that I am about to get my ass beat but I wasn’t standing for this shit. He was punching and I was punching. I started to feel a bump coming out on the side of my head. I bust my lip on my teeth and that just angered me. I delivered the hardest blow I could to his eye and I made sure that shit blackened.

              I walked into the waiting area where Gran was sitting. I stopped in the doorway and watched her search inside of her purse. I was in no mood to really talk about anything. I took a deep breath and began to walk. When I stepped in front of her she stood and gave me a deep hug. I was shocked by her action.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Have a seat.

DWIGHT

Have you been up to see Landon?

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Yes. They are moving him into a room.

DWIGHT

He’s awake?!

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Yes. He woke up about an hour ago. He is talking a little but not much.

DWIGHT
I have got to go see him.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Not now. They are moving him. I wanted to talk to you anyway.

DWIGHT

Okay.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

I want you to move back and run the oil company. I feel that you can oversee the wells and make sure that everything is running right.

DWIGHT

Why me? What about Maddie?

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Maddie will continue to be over finance. I want you to be over operations.

DWIGHT

Gran…what brought this on?

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Since your grandfather’s death I have done a lot of thinking. I treated you poorly growing up. I made mistakes and I want to right as many wrongs as possible.

DWIGHT

By letting me run the company?

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

What other way can I make things right?

DWIGHT

I don’t know.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Do me a favor…take those shades off so that I can talk to you.

DWIGHT

I prefer to keep them on.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Please for me. I want to look you in your eyes.

             
I turned my face as I took the shades off. I was too embarrassed to show the bruises on my face.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

What happened to you?

DWIGHT

Brian and I got into a fight.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Aww Dwight. I am sorry. Where is he?

DWIGHT

I don’t know. I left him on the elevator.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

He is still here. This is the more reason you need to move back here. You don’t need someone hitting on you. You need to meet a nice young lady and start a family.

DWIGHT

Please don’t do this right now.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

I am just saying. I know a prefect young lady. Do you remember the young lady that was your grandfather’s nurse? Her name is Robin.

DWIGHT

Gran, I accept your offer to run the company.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

One thing though.

DWIGHT

What’s that?

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

I don’t want you dating men.

DWIGHT

You can’t control my life.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

If you want to be over a multi-million dollar company I can. It will not look good you being gay and making deals for this company. Other CEOs and oil companies will frown upon it.

             
I thought about the fight that Brian and I just had. Never before had we ever been in that type of situation. I felt the tears forming in my eyes. I could not bear the thought of being without him. I excused myself from the waiting area with my grandmother.

             
As I was walking down the hall towards the restroom I saw Maddie walking up. I stopped and waited to speak to her. She passed me as though I was a ghost.

DWIGHT

Maddie! Aren’t you going to speak?

MADISON
(with disgust on her face)

What do you want?

DWIGHT
What’s going on with you?

MADISON

You fags make me sick. I hate to call you my brother. Why don’t you all just fall off the face of this earth.

DWIGHT
(calling out her name as she storms off)

Madison
!

MADISON

But Gran, I walked in on him fucking a guy. I think that I could deal with him cheat
ing but not this way. I can never trust him again.

Dadie is best friends with Ella.

DADIE (who was sitting next to Gran)

How long have you known him?
If my mind serves me correctly you married this man over five years ago.

MADISON

Mrs. Dadie…

DADIE

You should have known something. When was the last time you two were intimate? Not just sex but intimate.

MADISON

About three months ago.

DADIE

There is your answer right there. I know that I have flirted with him on several occasions and he never once acknowledged it. That was my first sign that he was gay.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Dadie, just because a man doesn’t flirt back with you makes him gay?

DADIE

Yes!

MADISON

But I can’t trust him ever again.

DADIE

There are reasons not to fully trust a person, mostly those reasons come from what you are getting or not getting from him.  I see that you are searching for something more.  You want to be happy and trusting in your relationship.  Personally from hearing your story, you are with the wrong person.  You are there holding on to a dream that you want for yourself.  I gather you have no idea what your Trenity really want from this relationship. 

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

You will go back to your husband and you two talk. Fix it.

DADIE

Fix it!? Fix it!? Fix what?  Ella, I wonder do you stop at stop signs? I ain't seen it all but I sure as hell seen a lot of it.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Please learn to look past your feelings Maddie....My ex was my best friend and he betrayed me on every end....Why? Because I choose to look past the real person he was.

DADIE

Who were you with besides Jefferson?

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

You remember when I was dating Garrett in high school.

DADIE

Ella…come on now. Garrett Mitchell? (turning towards Madison) Remember when a person show you who they are…believe them! (propping her hand under her chin and looking at Ella) Garrett Mitchell. That was a laugh.

MADISON

I don’t know what to do. I am pissed and confused at the same time.

DADIE

You already know the answer. The question is how long you will continue to fool yourself. I’ve been there, witnessed all of the small signs and tried to reason them away, confronted my so–called husband with my concerns and got called every name under the sun. It also turns out everything I was called and accused of simply described what he was about and doing. Yes men will be men, and people will make mistakes, but along with that should come remorse and genuine desire to improve the situation. No matter how much you hope or trust, you won’t change this guy. Rather than be pissed and confused, be happy you’ve learned before you are more emotionally and financially committed.

MADISON

Gran, did you tell Grandfather everything?

DADIE (interjecting)

She didn’t.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

My granddaughter asked me. No, I didn’t but I believe that if you are trying to build something strong with someone…yes.  I say this because when I was dating Garrett, someone who did not tell me the truth, I had no idea that he had been raped twice in high school.

DADIE (mumbling under her breath)

You can’t rape the willing.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

This was a problem because it affected our relationship.  It ruined his self-esteem, changed him as a person, and sex was extremely difficult.  The relationship was so bad that he couldn't do anything. But to make matters worse, my mother got sick and I started to look for some help.  My God-sister stepped in to help me.  When she did that, Garrett cheated. I found out after we had a terrible argument.  I was destroyed at that point. That is when I met your grandfather. I tried to love again but it is very difficult. So it is important to discuss things that can ruin the relationship and the self-esteem of the other person.

MADISON

Should your lover be your best friend?

DADIE

This question has to be answered with another question. What is your definition of a best friend?

MADISON

A best friend to me is someone who can keep your secrets and not hold them against you. Even though you keep doing the same dumb thing over and over and over again they still come to your aid. They love you no matter what.

DADIE

So to answer this question you need to talk to Trenity and see if that is what a best friend is to him.  Communication is the key to success in a relationship.  That means having a similar mind set.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Okay Dadie, since you are the guru of relationships, when you are upset and have a concern, should you keep it to yourself, talk with another close friend, or talk with your husband?

DADIE

I am going to charge you both for my advice. This question can be answered after that other question. If you have a best friend that loves you no matter what then you can talk to them.  But make sure that they have no feelings for you. You know, wanting a relationship with you themselves.  Sometimes that friend will do anything for you but make sure that they keep your happiness in mind.  But you must, no matter what the issue, always talk to your husband.  I have a habit of always using interrogation tactics. You know, meaning to ask questions until they actually tell the truth or I get tired.  When a person is not telling the truth, they say things that do not make sense or add up.  If it doesn't fit logically then I need to keep asking questions.

MADISON

What about leaving the house at 8, 9, or 10 o'clock at night saying that he is going to the store? He knew that he would be out of cigarettes before night fall-shouldn't he have gone earlier that day?

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Well it would make sense to go earlier... but sometimes he may have forgotten. 

MADSION

I just feel pathetic. I had seen signs before but I wanted to keep my marriage. I want to stay with him and make it work. But another part of me is saying that I can’t satisfy him.

DADIE

Don't feel that you are being pathetic.  You have genuine feelings. But you also have to realize that in a relationship you agree to commit to your spouse. He should be everything you need.  If you have freaky desires or if he does, then talk about them.  If you can treat each other with respect before and after you make your fantasies come true, then it may be worth doing.  When was the last time you surprised him with an all night fuck session or at least for however long you could stand it? When was the last time y’all shared an intimate moment?  My definition of intimate is going out to dinner or a movie, a long walk in the park, writing poetry, or cooking in the nude.  If he seem uninterested then try doing those things that got him interested in the beginning again.  You seem like a very compassionate person young lady.  Love is not hard to find…but it is hard to keep.  There is always someone offering something different...that will never change.  You have to find someone that will love you...grow in love with you...and stay with you forever.  That's not impossible to achieve it's just a real struggle sometimes.  I know what I want and I know what to do.  But I can't seem to find someone that wants me.  But like me...be patient and love will find a home in you.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Dadie?

DADIE

Humm?

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Hush. Let me go check to see if they have finished moving Landon.

NOAH

You tripped me out last night on the phone saying that I fucked your brains out.

TRENITY

Yeah you did. Even though we got caught, it is crucial that we keep to ourselves in this relationship. Temptations are going to come, but it takes just one slip to cause misery for a lifetime. I’m not sexually active with anyone but you. That’s why I say if you feel you must step out tell me and I will do the same courtesy.

NOAH

So are you saying that we have a relationship? What about you and your wife Madison?

TRENITY

At this point you keep me satisfied and treat me like a man should be treated. I won’t risk that. We’ve been in a relationship for a while. I just have an addendum I’m dealing with.

NOAH

Be honest…you know that you are not going to leave you wife for me.

TRENITY

I don’t take us lightly. We both stated that our last HIV tests were negative, or to use their term, non-reactive. I want to keep it that way. Any outside interference can mess that up. Or should we start using condoms, finger cots and dental dams.

NOAH
You never answered me about Madison.

TRENITY

I’ve been blind and jealousy stricken. I know you are going to meet others because you’ve already met someone who interests you and you are going to want to see where it goes. When that time comes, I will move out of the way. Plus you know that Madison is still in the picture.

NOAH

Can we just be friends and hang out?

TRENITY (sternly)

We will talk and iron this out later tonight!

NOAH

I work tonight.

TRENITY

Are you going to sleep at the hospital?

NOAH

Yes when I can.

TRENITY
You said that you love me. It’s the way you said it too. Was it because you were getting dick down?

NOAH
I do love you…and that’s what scares me. I am giving you me.

TRENITY

I know baby. I know. I can tell you love me too.

NOAH
So how can you love two people at one time? How can you say that you love me?