Free Animus by S. W. Frank Page A

right across if you want to say hello.”
    The words hadn’t hung in the air for longer than a minute when Alfonzo entered accompanied by an IV pole. “What’s up Tyree?”
    Tyree stood immediately. “How are you Mr. Diaz?”
    “Asi-asi.” The inquisitive eyes went from his wife to the tall young man who wore a nervous expression. He put Tyree at ease. “It’s nice you’d travel here to check on my wife doctor, but she’s in excellent hands.”
    “I…I…um had to see for myself. The news was that a lot of people were killed and…”
    “They usually exaggerate, you know that.”
    “Yeah, but…”
    “But, you wanted to see for yourself.” Alfonzo completed the sentence. He’d dropped his guard once and twice wasn’t happening. He believed in Selange, damn straight but he had to put every motherfucker on notice, step out of line and I won’t care who you are, I’ll slice your goddamn neck!
    Selange gave him one of her looks instructing him to play nice. Nah, Tyree wasn’t a kid anymore, he was an adult and he had a dick. “Come walk with me Doc,” Alfonzo ordered.
    Tyree followed Alfonzo out the door and Selange shook her head. She hoped Alfonzo didn’t intimidate Tyree. Poor guy! Anyway, she didn’t have time to worry about it, because another set of visitors streamed in with flowers and lipstick smiles. Her girls were here. Amelda, Lucia, Crystalia and Renalda, whose husband was wounded but survived with nothing more than a broken leg from a fall down the stairs converged upon her bed and began their fussing, pulling out brushes and commenting on how they came to cheer her up and fix her hair.
    Selange accepted their trivialities, aware this was their coping mechanism to bring normalcy after the chaos, yet her mind wandered to the dead and she prayed for Giuseppe and her confused friend.
     
     
    ~ ~
     
     
     
    “So, how’s the medical field treating you Tyree?” Alfonzo asked as they rode the elevator up one floor.
    Tyree concealed his nervousness. Alfonzo was a tall strapping dude, and imposing. It didn’t help he was flanked by equally fearsome men who could snap a man’s neck with little effort. “It’s good, sir.”
    “Sir .” Alfonzo gave a sneer type grin. “Shit am I that old?”
    “No, sir…I mean Mr. Diaz.”
    A cling signaled the door’s opening. “Relax; I’m not going to kick your ass or anything unless you behave inappropriately toward my wife.”
    Tyree stayed in step as Mr. Diaz exited, maneuvering the rolling IV poll with out getting the tubing tangled or twisted. The hospital tag with his name was a plastic bracelet on his thick wrist. The white stood out against the gold hued skin. He held himself stiffly, which Tyree suspected was due to his wounds, possibly a fracture. The bandage on his neck probably covered the site of a penetrating wound. The way he held his arm, he’d gotten hurt there as well. “No…no…way. I’m engaged. I’d never disrespect you or her, sir.”
    “Good to know you have scruples. A lot of guys don’t.”
    They passed nurses and doctors with anxious expressions. “Buongiorno Signore Diaz.”
    Alfonzo gave curt tilts. His mannerisms were respectful although Tyree had a feeling he hated hospitals and being confined as a patient irritated him even more.  He was a man accustomed to freedom and idleness even out of necessity stirred a volatile temper hidden beneath civility. They entered a patient’s room who quickly sat forward. The swaddles of bandages on his head and the cast on his leg did not deter him from greeting Alfonzo with deference. “Benvenuto, è un onore Don Giacanti.”
    “Buongiorno Don Tomasina, cómo stai?”
    “Buono. Grazie,” the patient answered.
    Alfonzo ambled to the patient’s bedside, placed his hand upon the rail. A subtle action, certainly many visitor’s had done, except how many had their ring kissed?
    Tyree paid careful attention to their interaction. Finding aside from the ceremonial greeting