Free Love To Luv by AnDerecco Page A

Dad kill himself? Huh?
    JACOB
    Monique, get the hell out of my face.
    MONIQUE
    Is it because he caught you fucking your ex. See Pop, we all make mistakes.
     
    Before I knew it my hands were around my own child’s neck. Something in me snapped. It was not until I saw tears coming from her eyes that I pulled away.
                  Monique ran out the door, got in her car and sped off. I grabbed a bottle of Conjure Cognac, a Sprite and went into my bedroom. I sat in the chair that was beside the closet. I popped a Gladys Knight CD into the player.
                  I was half way finished with the fifth when I heard Gladys singing, “Neither One of Us”.
    I called Monique’s cell phone several times but she did not answer. I left several voicemails. I called Ian but he said that he had not seen her. My last try was Teddy. Although I did not want to talk to him I knew that I had to locate my daughter.
    Teddy answered on the first ring. I asked him had he seen Monique. He told me that she was asleep on the couch. I felt better knowing that she was safe.
    After I ended the conversation with Teddy my doorbell rung. I was not in the mood for company. The doorbell rung again. I took the remote control and turned the volume up on the system.
    I heard the alarm chime meaning that someone had entered the house. I heard a voice under my music calling my name. I did not care as to who it was.
    Aunt Aretha entered my room. She came over to my chair and kicked my foot.
     
    ARETHA
    What is wrong with you?
    JACOB
    I don’t feel like talking Auntie.
    ARETHA
    Well you are going to. Monique called me crying and then she hung up. I tried calling her back but she didn’t answer. I called you and you didn’t answer. I didn’t know what to think.
    JACOB
    Auntie, please just leave.
    ARETHA
    Not until I get some answers. Have you drank this whole bottle? What is going on Jacob?
    JACOB
    Monique is pregnant.
    ARETHA
    Huh!
    JACOB
    Three months.
     
    Aretha is stunned. She sat down on the edge of my bed. The look on her face could not be explained.
     
    ARETHA
    Is it Teddy’s?
    JACOB
    She says that it is.
    ARETHA
    I can’t believe that this baby is having a baby. Wait a minute…if she is three months, I bet you anything she got pregnant in Nashville.
    JACOB
    Not now Auntie.
    ARETHA
    I knew that trip was a bad idea. I knew it. See if you would start listening to me…no I said that I wouldn’t do that.
    JACOB
    She asked me about Ellis’ death.
    ARETHA
    What did she ask?
    JACOB
    Why did he kill himself? How would she know that he killed himself? She was only three when that happened. I never talked to her about that.
     
    I begin to cry when I was thinking about it. Ellis and I spent some great years together and I truly missed him.
                  I got up and pulled my shirt off. I looked at the scar from when I was accidentally shot by Ellis. As I rubbed the scar tears begin to flow from my eyes. The shot of the gun was still ringing in my head.
                  Aretha came over to console me.
     
    JACOB
    I don’t know what to do. I feel like I am losing my mind.
    ARETHA
    Papadopoulos everything is going to be ok. She will have a healthy baby, finish school, go to college, and continue to have a great life. She has a supportive and understanding father. You both have a gorgeous, intelligent aunt that is here.
    JACOB (still sobbing)
    I need to find love. I want someone that will be there for me, someone to love me, hold me. I want to be there for them. I want someone to grow old with.

SEVENTEEN
                  Ian was putting his books in his locker when he felt someone pop him on his neck. He turned to see who it was. There stood Jeremy with a big smile on his face.
                 
    JEREMY
    What are you up to?
    IAN
    About to knock the hell out of you if you hit me like that again.
    JEREMY
    You would rather tongue kiss a rattle snake than hit me.
    IAN
    Whatever dude. I am