Brian and Police Chief Everett slapped at the blue jay attacking Trevor. Angelina screamed like a girl. After a whirl of wings, the men’s hands slicing like blades, the blue jay flew high, traced a distant, tight circle and then swooped low, cawing and flapping just inches from Brian and Everett. Both men jumped, arms covering their heads.
Trevor laughed; the bird hadn’t hurt him at all. “Blue jays have attacked me since I was little. Remember, Brian? How they’d go at me on my bike? Peck my head open.”
“Let me ask Jacob what he thinks.” Brian registered mild surprise that he now believed Jacob recognized omens. And more: Jacob could ward away evil spirits with a mix of protective herbs.
[Click here to read the first episode, or here to read the previous one.]
“Jacob and I see it the same way, Bri. Blue jays need to hurt me.”
“Trevor, let me drive you to the doctor.”
“No need for that; I’m fine.” Angelina held Trevor’s head of countless, tight, shiny braids. She peered into his eyes and scanned his face for injuries. “You’re sure, darling?”
A week ago Trevor had received a series of shots for rabies and tetanus. And a cherry-size bump still topped his head where a brick had fallen on him. Otherwise, he was strong and fast, human quicksilver.
Angelina resumed telling Everett about the need for dormitories and a main college building. “We’re good through August. Two weeks left to this session, which, ask anyone, has succeeded beyond expectations, barring the scene with Carla. But incidents like that occur at UNC, too.”
“Even if you start in early October,” Everett said, “which is the absolute earliest we can get the permits through, you’ll need to quit come winter.” Everett casually draped an arm over Angelina as she watched her sandaled feet.
Brian, who was so anxious to talk privately with Trevor that he intended to lead him up the mountain at the next trail marker, hurried forward, pushing his head close behind Everett and Angelina. “I had an idea for the winter semester,” he said. “I’m still researching it, but at the original Black Mountain College, they developed the geodesic dome. Remember those?”
Angelina did. “Buckminster Fuller, of course. If we take fifteen students again, they and the faculty can stay in the new, improved cabins. And, if necessary, I can always house people at my place. But a big dome with space heaters and extra light would work well for classrooms. Brian, that’s brilliant.”
“I haven’t nailed down the details. But I talked to Royce, and strange but true, he’s built domes before, in Florida.”
Everett was holding Angelina’s hand. “Make sure everyone honors you for this, baby. The Arts Consortium is gonna be a long term contribution.”
Angelina blushed and glanced back at Brian and Trevor, who either had not heard the police chief call her “baby,” or else thought nothing of it.
The trail forked and Brian asked his brother, “Little hike, a little while?”
Angelina frowned, still not convinced the bird hadn’t harmed him. But Trevor grinned and swung his head, braids flying. “We’ll see you at dinner.”
Brian hurried uphill and resisted the impulse to pull Trevor along. But within a few feet, Trevor was flowing slightly ahead of his brother along the narrow path, and easily answering all the questions Brian had dreaded asking.
“Hailey was interested you from the beginning, Brian. Brian the Lion, she said. So I always knew. I love her same as I love all mi girls. Sweethearts turn into friends and friends turn into lovers. Hailey and me are friends. Practically brother and sister. You make your feelings clear to her and I’ll embrace my beautiful sister, my brother’s royal bride.”
“That’s presuming a lot, Trevor. Did you choose her for me?”
“Chose her or do you mean try her out first? I wouldn’t do that, Brian. I met her and well, of course I wanted her for awhile. That’s how I am. She knew it faster than most. I love lots of girls. She saw that. So we linked a while, circling this way and that, going from loop to loop to parallel paths.”
“Why would you move away from someone like Hailey, though?”
“You see her as the one and only, Brian. Because that’s you. You and Hailey are one love. We talked about this before.”
“My one love, you call her, was your girlfriend for months. It makes me uneasy, Trevor. And, how’s she supposed to feel? Passed from you to me?”
“She feels no way about that. Hailey’s waiting for you. Everybody sees it.”
“You keep saying that.” Since when did everybody feel what Brian felt? When? Because the way he saw it, no one had felt what he felt. And, no one had ever cared how he felt. Ever. That was how Brian felt. That was how he always felt.
Trevor said, “Our daddy’s never gonna hurt you again. Our mommy’s gone forever. Go forward and you’ll see—Hailey’s waiting for you. Unless you’re a craven choke puppy.”
“A what?”
“A craven choke puppy wants something desperate. But when he gets it, he can’t handle it. Big up and don’t choke, Brian. Hailey’s the one.”
“If you’re wrong, Trevor, if Hailey feels like I’m taking advantage of her, I’m gonna kill you.”
“If I’m wrong, do that. Kill me dead.”
Brian stuffed his hands in his jeans—no trembling fingers in sight. “What about you, Trev? If Hailey’s not your girl, who is?”
“Ah, Jazmine. Crescent sometimes. And I might check on Carla. Make her happy. You notice how fatty she’s gotten living with Marc?”
“Don’t tell her that, Trevor. I’m sure she knows. And don’t make her feel worse. Doesn’t that ever happen to you? You try to make a woman happy and it back-fires?”
“I’ve got a sense about women, Brian. And, if I can’t help Carla, I’ll see that and step back. But just for fun, guess one more girl for me.”
“You’re gonna get caught, Trevor. And when you do, it’s gonna be bad.”
“Maybe.” Trevor grinned, light bouncing around his face. “Lauren Clay. Police chief’s daughter. She’s ready for me. Very ready.”
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