Any Way the Wind Blows - E. Lynn Harris [47]
“Yeah, that’s the faggot mutherfucker,” he said.
“Come with me,” the white guy demanded.
“Come with you for what?” I asked.
“Sir. Either come with me or else I will lock your fruity ass up in this steam room until the police come,” he said. He looked at my accuser and said, “Sir, why don’t you get dressed. I’ll meet you up in the office so you can file a complaint.”
To make a sad story short, I ended up being harassed, threatened and forced to sign a form that I would never enter a Run-N-Shot anywhere in the country. Those country mutherfuckers actually called the police, who warned me that sodomy was against local law and it was strictly enforced.
Basil, who gave the name John Henderson, wasn’t around for the interrogation, but he told the manager and the policeman that I had made unwanted advances toward them. Nico Benson was the name and the face I couldn’t forget because he stared at me in the tiny office like he wanted to spit in my face. He was the one who had tried to leave a footprint on my face. The Dukes of Hazzard police took down my driver’s license number and offered it to Nico and Basil in case they decided to sue. They instructed me to make sure I had my ass on the first plane out of town the next morning or else.
Now that I’d figured out how I knew Basil, he’d better watch out. He didn’t know who he was messing with. That gym incident had been the most humiliating experience of my adult life.
Fuck love, it’s payback time.
Side B
Basil’s Pride and Joy
I was looking over some scouting reports when Kendra buzzed me. I’d told her I didn’t want to be disturbed, so I figured it was important.
“Yeah, Kendra,” I said.
“I have your father on the line. I haven’t told him you’re in the office. Would you like for me to take a message?”
“No, put him through,” I said as a huge smile crossed my face, and I laid the thick reports face-down on my desk. I picked up the phone and said, “I was thinking about you this morning. Whatsup, Pops?”
“I’m doing. How you doing?”
“Just trying to stay out of trouble. You know how the ladies can’t leave yo boy alone.” I teased.
“You always had your way with the ladies. I see you guys got a lot of snow. I keep telling you to move back down here full time,” Pops said.
“I just might do that sooner or later. Some of the big muckety-mucks at PMK are trying to buy us, and it will make your son a very rich man,” I said.
“Oh yeah? You already do pretty well. If you sell it to them, don’t let it go for cheap. When you gonna get me my autographs?”
“What autographs?” I asked, trying to remember which one of my clients my Pops was a big fan of.
“Don’t tell me you done forgot.”
“Pops, come on, now. You know I’m getting up in age,” I said, and laughed.
“Venus and Serena, the Williams sisters. You said you were gonna see what you could do,” my father said.
“Oh yeah, but you know they’re not my clients. I said I would check with one of their advisers.” My Pops had been acting like a horny schoolboy ever since I took him to see Venus and Serena play in a tournament outside of Miami. He had complained the entire drive about not wanting to see no white folks hit no ball that dogs chased. That was until he saw Venus and Serena in tennis attire. The man hadn’t been the same since.
“You do that, and make sure you have them put love and kisses,” Pops said.
“So you going after the young now? Don’t tell me I got to compete with you and all the other clowns,” I said.
“Aw, it ain’t gonna be no competition when they meet me. You better map out another plan,” Pops teased.
“So you got it like that?”
“Yes, sir.”
“How is everything else?”
“I can’t complain. Life is good. I could stand another trip with my son, but I understand you busy with yo business and keeping track of the ladies.”
“Where do you want to go?” I asked.
“How ’bout Vegas? Are there any fights coming up? I like that guy Sugar Shane Mosley. See if he’s fighting. Or Roy Jones. I like him too,” Pops said.
“Let me do some checking, and I’ll get back with