Page 64

A Hole in One, and That Rings True

K age puttered along in his cousin’s big black truck. Poor Phoenix… Sorry, man. All of his musical performance shit was in there: amplifier, keyboard, microphones… He ended up doing a no-show due to Kage’s undesirable callers, and that made him feel a tad guilty.

Kage pulled up to Poet’s house, noticing his motorcycle parked alongside the greenhouse.

Only a couple of lights were on. From the cameras he’d installed around her home, everything appeared normal.

He turned off the radio, and things drew instantly quiet, with the exception of the crickets.

He looked around, ensuring he didn’t see anything strange or out of place one last time, then tossed his cigarette butt out of the open window, grabbed his gun, and headed to the front door.

Before he could knock or ring the bell, the door swung open and Poet fell into his arms. Her heart was beating a mile a minute as she squeezed him tight.

He could feel it even through his shirt.

“Thank God you’re alive!”

He hugged her back, looking over her shoulder at Phoenix sitting at her kitchen table drinking a bottle of beer. The guy slowly rose to his feet and made his way over while he kicked the door closed with his foot.

“Heeeey, man.” Phoenix got in on the hug, still gripping his beer, then winked at him.

“Phoenix, sorry about your show tonight. I didn’t—”

“Oh man, fuck them. They weren’t hardly payin’ shit no way.” He smirked, then polished off his drink. Kage knew he was downplaying it to make him feel better. They exchanged keys. “I’m gonna head on out now. Poet, I enjoyed our conversation, ’nd gettin’ to know you. You be good now.”

“Same. Uh, Phoenix, before you go, thank you so much for bein’ here, and keeping me calm.” Poet released Kage, wrapped her arms around Phoenix, then kissed his cheek. “With my aunt asleep, the last thing I wanted to do was accidentally wake her up with my cryin’, or angry outbursts.”

“Well, ma’am, there was no other way for me to be.

” He shrugged. “Known Kage my whole life. When he says he’s gonna do somethin’, he does it, and he promised he’d be over here, so I believed him.

Regardless, he wanted to make sure you got back home in one piece, and I wasn’t ’bout to let him down.

” He kissed her cheek, looked at Kage as he opened the door to leave, and added, “That’s a mighty fine woman you got there, Kage.

Take care of her. I’ll see y’all later.” And off he went.

Kage wrapped his arms around her, kissed her lips, then trudged to the couch and sat down. He sighed, his muscles and brain tired. Outside, Phoenix got into his truck and headed off.

“Kage, I—”

“Baby, not to cut you off, but when you get a moment, can I get some whiskey, peroxide, a couple clean towels, some hot water—boiled would be best—antibacterial soap, tweezers and a knife, some needle and thread, ice, a lil’ gauze, and somethin’ to bite down on so I don’t pass out as I tend to myself, please? ”

Poet’s eyes seemed to triple in size. “Oh my God! You son of a bitch! You’ve been shot?!”

“Mmm hmmm… looks that way. I’m thirsty, too. A glass of water would be nice.”

“JESUS!” The woman was downright gob-smacked. “WHY IN THE HELL DIDN’T YOU SAY SOMETHIN’ SOON AS YOU GOT HERE?!” She raced out of the living room.

“I didn’t feel it at first. Was pretty much oblivious ’til I got ready to leave the house and drive this way yonder.

It must’ve been the adrenaline and all.” He shrugged.

“When I was cleanin’ up at the house ’fore I come this way, I saw some blood, then reality set in.

All I had time to do was place a bandage over it, ’fore I come here. ”

“You should have gone straight to the ER, Kage. This don’t make no damn sense! We’ve got to call you an ambulance, or I can take you myself!”

“NO! NO… Can’t do that, baby.” He vehemently shook his head. “Once the law gets involved, they’ll find out about how I defended myself ’nd whatnot. The little details that could get me in a world of trouble. It had to be this way though, and I’m sure Phoenix already explained the particulars.”

“He told me some of what was happening, not all.” She returned with a glass of water for him to drink, and a bowl of ice.

“Again. Why in the hell did you just stand there and not tell us you’d been shot?

” She looked more worried than angry now.

Her complexion had deepened, and a grim sorrow rested in her eyes.

“Because I didn’t want Phoenix to know,” he winced as he slid off his pants, inching them down past his knees, then jerked his underwear half off his ass and beyond, revealing the entry point of the bullet that hit his lower thigh. It was red and angry. Pulsing and painful.

“…Kage… Precious Lord!” She pressed her palms together in front of her face, as if praying. “God help us…” Her voice trembled as she studied the wound, then her eyes watered before turning and walking away.

“It’s okay, honey. It ain’t my first time bein’ shot at.

” He laughed. “But it’s the first time I got more than a graze.

Was a lot of them motherfuckers there tonight.

All them folks for lil’ ol’ me. The odds were against me.

They gave me a weeks’ worth of home repairs; I tell you that!

My house looks a fuckin’ mess. Whew!” He peered down and swallowed a wave of discomfort as he assessed the damages.

“I had some work on my hands with those boys. I got ’em, though.

” He grinned proudly. “I showed them linguini’s in pasta sauce, how us biscuits, grits, and gravy get down,” he joked in a faux Italian accent.

“Ain’t shit funny about this, Kage!” she yelled from a distance away. “I’m goin’ upstairs to get the rest of the things you need for this makeshift surgery you insist on having.”

He heard her racing up the steps. As he sat there evaluating the injury, he heard a door in the house slowly creak open.

He grabbed his gun as his eyes strained in the dimly lit house, searching around.

Then, soft, uneven footsteps drew closer and closer.

He sighed with relief before he saw her.

He’d know that gait from anywhere. Aunt Huni.

She appeared in the living room doorway with her pink housecoat on, matching satin slippers, and an oversized floral bonnet on her head.

Wisps of pearl white and black hair peeked from beneath it.

“Did I wake you?” he whispered, as if there was a chance the woman was still asleep. I might be delirious from blood loss.

“I heard you, Mr. Wild West.” She placed her hand on her bony hip. “Got a hole in you, you say?”

“Had a little disagreement with some bad guys, Huni, that’s all.” He forced a smile as the pain increased.

“You stay right there.” She turned away. “Poooooet! I got dis!” Huni scurried away, and moments later she was at his side, wearing bifocals and holding a magnifying glass while barking orders to the both of them as she tended to him.

Old Asian style music played as Huni sat on a tufted foot stool, her forehead wrinkled in concentration.

“No flinching, boy! Keep leg still, and elevated!” Kage looked away, half of his ass resting on a thick towel now, soaking up blood.

He focused back out the window while Poet appeared both cantankerous and concerned.

“Take these ibuprofens.” Poet placed four on his tongue, then he swallowed them down with a gulp of cool water. A box fan blew on his face as sweat beads formed on his skin. Huni went to the kitchen, then returned a few moments later.

“Okay, they’re ready.” She’d boiled the tools she was going to use.

“Poet, come here. Press this towel ’gainst it.” Poet did as asked. “You lucky young man. I can see the bullet. No need to widen hole. Now, bite down on rag.” Poet placed the thick, ratty washcloth in his mouth.

“…I used that same rag to wipe a dead mouse’s ass with,” Poet shared as she looked down at him with gritted teeth.

He spit it out. “Now that was a mean-spirited thing to say, baby. What in the hell are you mad at me for? I’m the victim here!”

“You should be at the hospital! You could die, Kage. Do you see this?! Do you understand how bad this is?”

“Was it roadkill or a donation from a child whose pet had gone to the great beyond? Did it work at Disney World and have a girlfriend named Minnie?”

She rolled her eyes. “Got my poor Aunt Huni sittin’ here sweatin’ and carryin’ on because you decided to play cowboys and Indians with folks!”

“Actually, it was only one Indian, and the rest were Italian cowboys. Did you really wash a rodent’s ass with this?” He shook the rag about.

“Maybe.” She crossed her arms. “Does it taste like cheese and turds, motherfucker?”

“Lady, if I find out you really used this rag to wipe a motherfuckin’ rat’s rear end with, I’m gonna—”

“You’ll do what ?! Not a damn thing!”

“Shhh! You two can have a lovers’ quarrel later,” Huni teased. “Now listen, Kage. I’m gonna take it out. One swoop.” He jammed the washcloth back into his mouth. “Gonna hurt, but be fast… 1… 2… 3!”

“Ahhhh… aaahhh…” He gnashed his teeth and groaned against the fabric wedged between his teeth.

“Clean! Got it out in one shot. Very good!” Huni said proudly as she turned the bullet to and fro with the pliers, showing it off like a prize.

A bloody, metal mess. “Poet, hand me saline.” She pointed to a bucket of medical items she was working with.

Kage gripped the edge of the couch arm as the old woman rinsed the wound.

It stung something awful, but he was grateful the bullet was out, and he didn’t have to do it all by his lonesome.

“Okay, Poet. Press the other clean cloth on it to stop bleeding.” Poet once again did what was asked.

“Now, Kage, I’m going to sew dis closed.

” He nodded in understanding. As Huni finished up, his mind began to drift…