Gallagher had just mounted his Halley Davidson bike and turned on the ignition. Durban who had left the hall latter than Marilyn was already on his own bike in wait for Marilyn to arrive the minute walk which skepticism had made her take forever to conclude.
” Move it woman. Don’t keep the boss waiting.” ” What the hell do you work so slow for ?” Durban called out. He was really having a bad day just by existing near such a woman. She eventually got the better of her doubts and stood near the bike of Gallagher.
” Well mam. The bike don’t come to sweep you away some magical wand. You will have to spread your legs over my behind here. Hahahaha.” He Cackled out, giving Durban an avenue to ease his raging anger. She waved her head in disgust of his vague language and placed her semi idle palms on the center of her flay gown, grabbed it’s edged and lifted it upwards, till the lower portion of her lips were visible for all who cared to see. She quickly raised her right leg and transported across the carrier of the bike before stomping her palm against the shoulder of Gallagher to successfully balance her self on the seat. She pulled down the gown as much as it could go to cover up her fair thighs. Durban didn’t look away even for a second. As far as he was concerned, it was the only worthy thing she had exhibited all day and he had to make the best out of her positivity.
” Are you set?” Gallagher asked In a sotto voce.
” Yes. Thank you.” She said and had to give him an invisible thumb up for his tolerance and patience. Even her didn’t know why she was acting like a jerk. Again, Durban’s face was quick to fall in a scowl. He couldn’t tell why Gallagher was moving at such a slow pace. They owned the road flew on it when ever they were on it. It disgusted him so much that his boss was moving at a very slow rate all because of the good for nothing lady on his back. The journey took a good number of minutes and eventually they came to halt at an alley which was situated in the dregs of Beer Creek. The sordid graffiti of boobs and dick’s scattered over the whole walls made the gaze of Marilyn widen in shock. The roofs of the houses had all turned gray and the paintings of the walls when not brandished by a caricature boob or dick, was faded and worn out. The kids look tattered and only a few had shirts on them. Still on that street, were teenagers of all genders who looked dazed from smoking too much crack and ingesting drugs in dosage that was even too much a stallion . She watched in marvel how the more little kids happily played soccer with empty tins of milk, and to think they kicked the metal ware so hard without wearing any shoes, it made her cringe in horror.
” Get off my yards you little bastards what must a lady do to get some sleep here? Kill you all?” Said a deep Baritone voice, that was seconded by the hard bashing of an old metal door, sending it flying to the sides of it’s fulcrum till it slammed against the wall with an explosive sound. That Made Erica clutch to her mother in fright. A tall studded lady with red hairs and very black lips rushed out with a baseballs bat in her hand. The skimpy pyjamas she was wearing caused her very fleshy thighs to be exposed, leaving nothing left for the imagination. The mad manner by which she had rushed out, had caused her the children to scream and scamper away and almost convincing Marilyn to flee along with them. They all had a defiant grin on their faces as they ran away and it said much about her stubborn they were and how mild they took danger. Marilyn clutched Erica tighter to her as she gazed at the strange woman in fear. It did not add up to her years on earth, how a woman was in possession of a baritone male voice.
” Go get them tigress! That’s my girl. Huuhhhh.” Shouted Gallagher and applied the stander to his of his bike, causing to remain still. Marilyn still sat still, as she stared at the height and rigor of the strange lady.
” Gallagher! Shut up. They are just kids. It’s not their fault that I work in the night and sleep at day.” Said Dakota and surprisingly smiled as she walked out of her Verandah and met with the hug of Gallagher, before administering a rough and passionate kiss on the lips of the big man. It was filled with so much noises of Euphoria which Marilyn saw as excessive to such a public kiss. Since Erica face was resting on her bosom, it meant the file couldn’t see what was happening but could hear every decibel of their unwarranted moans. Marilyn tried to place her palms over the ears of her child but was compelled by an instinctive thought that the little girl who might not have been paying attention, would end up subconsciously deciphering that something sordid was being said. She sighed in sadness to how low, things had compelled her to stoop. The whole kissing charade came to an end with a high sounding spank on the very fleshy buttocks of the studded lady whose height was almost catching up with that of Gallagher. Durban was so pleased with the ending of the kiss, that he nodded his head vigorously with a smile and fought hard not to give his boss a standing ovation.
” Not so hard you looser.” She said and eventually turned her attention to Marilyn, while her hands were still locked over the neck of her man. Marilyn looked away in fright finding comfort in one of those extra terrible drawings of dicks that filled the whole alley.
” Who are they?” The studded lady asked as she gazed at both mother and child with much indifference.
” Well my love. That’s Marilyn. A new staff at my brothel. She travelled down to work and as you know she would be needing a roof …”
” She can stay for as long as she like. If she won’t give me trouble.” Said the studded lady and didn’t take her multi colored eyes off Marilyn who was shocked at the speed of acceptance.
” Damn you Dakota. No one and I say no one is as kind as you. I know you were not going to turn down a mother and her baby. Hey Marilyn don’t just sit there like some Buddha priests. Come over and say hi to your new friend and roommate.” …
” Roommate, yes. Friend? Never!” Said Dakota whose eyes were still locked on Marilyn and her baby.
” Good afternoon madam. I’m….”
” Madam!?” ” Gallagher what the fuck Is this. Did you bring a Church Urchin all the way to my villa to call me Old.” She asked in with a smile of humor. Her gesture gave Durban so much that eye again, he nodded his head as he smiled.
” Oh you riot. It’s just her off manners. Marilyn don’t call Dakota here Mam. It pieces her off. My sugar plum is young, sweet and full of life.” Said Gallagher and applied yet another lengthy kiss on the pigmented lips of Dakota.
” Okay Miss Dakota..”
” Better. But Dakota is just Fine or call me Abigail. Abigail Sawyer.” Said Dakota and turned her gaze to Marilyn.
” Okay thank you for having us. Dakota.” Said Marilyn.
” Good. Sooner or later you will have to ditch that name and choose a code name. You see all my crew with names of states aren’t given those delicious names at birth. I give it to them to mark a new ending. Durban!” Gallagher Called out.
” Remind me of that shitty name of yours.” He added.
” Galloway Philips worth sir!” Replied Durban.
” Yuck. What an ear sore, it makes me want to puke. And what did I want to name you at first?”
” Philadelphia sir!” He bellowed.
” Yes exactly. So why did I change my mind.”. Gallagher asked with his gaze still on Dakota and not on the man he was taking to.
” Because it sounded so much like my Father name.” Said Durban.
” Oh you young lion of Uriel. And was that name going to give you a new beginning.” Gallagher silvered more than too much majesty.
” Hell no boss. I hated it!” Durban echoed as he breathed in fury just by hating his past name.
” Exactly. And I named you Durban and your life became brown you all over again.” Said Gallagher and sighed from feeling pleased with his self.
” Thank you. Master.” Said Durban and dropped a knee to the floor in fresh appreciation for the favors of the past.
” And you Dakota. Tell Marilyn your real names.” He said as he smiled like a god. His hands thrown around her waist.
” Abigail Sawyer. I still like it.” She spoke in her manly tenor and turned to Marilyn with a smile.
” More than Dakota you mean?” Gallagher asked with a smile.
” Never!” She whispered and pecked his lips.
” You see Marilyn. With new problems come new names and with new names comes a new beginning. I am Alexandria, the Great city of the Greek warlord. It’s my real name. Gallagher is my new beginning, what Is yours?” He asked and turned to Marilyn without a line of smile in his face.
A minute later and Marilyn couldn’t wrap her head over any particular state in mind. Far from the states and their suburbs, it was the intrinsic notion of what getting a new name entailed, that scared her the most. ” To what lifestyle was she starting a new life, the life of a whore ? No” it’s didn’t go down well with her and she was going to make it clear.
” Can I choose a name for her. It seems she’s been thinking for too Long.” Said Dakota with a smile on her face.
” No. Let her be. Her beginning, her words.” Said Gallagher as he gazed at her eyeballs for eyeballs.
” Marilyn is just fine for now. We would see how it goes in the coming day.” She said and staged a smile.
” Why so calm my dear. Why so less aggressive with a life so difficult. We should call her Siberia. Shes so cold.” Said Dakota In a bid to cement her stance.
” My name is Marilyn and we shall see how it goes in the coming days Miss Dakota.” She reiterated in defiance and for the first time went eye to eye with Dakota.
” She’s brave.” Dakota whispered and smile.
” Fine. Fine Marilyn. Let’s see how the days go.” Said Gallagher and smiled at her Bravery. You can go inside. It’s a small living room, I believe it should serve as your new home for now.” Said Dakota and signalled the mother to go inside.
” Thank you.” She said cutting it across the duo with her body language before jacking up her tensed schoolbag and walked away.
” Have a good rest while you still can, Dakota drop you at work, when the darkness finally comes.” Said Gallagher as he gazed at the mother walking soberly into the house. She said nothing and went in.
” Where did you get this one from. She could actually look me into the eyes. That’s alluring.” She said and turned back to gaze at Marilyn again.
” Yes. She’s a hard one. It’s why I’m helping her. Soon she will have to embrace her new beginning. It’s the best option for her.” Said Gallagher and took his hands off Dakota. He had to be somewhere else.
” I see.” She said and kissed his lips.”
” She’s broke and without much sustenance. I won’t say you will leave her baby without a morsel. I won’t say, my little sugar plum.” Said Gallagher in a subconscious plea for the welfare of the single mother.
” Definitely sir. We would look into that. You don’t need say.” She simulated in some real English accent and left.
” Great. Durban!”
” Yes Boss.”
” Put that knee to good use. We have some tax to collect.” Said Gallagher and he swaggered majestically, mounted his bike and zoomed off while Durban Followed suit after getting up.
Marilyn sat on the sofa like it was a stool. She didn’t feel comfortable at all and it wasn’t because of the gothic coloration of the walls and sofas. It was rather because of the eerie gloom the room eluded which made to make time look as if it wasn’t moving. ” But why?” She thought, trying to figure out what it was in particular that made her feel that way about the room.
” I hope you like you like antiques. I can’t stand all those modern gaskets that people love to hang around. My television was fashioned in the eighties. It’s old but still works better than all the televisions in this whole alley. By the way. Welcome to Brutus Alley. Feel free to feel at home. Help your self to the kitchen but don’t touch my fridge.” She said and headed straight into her room even before Marilyn could say a word.
” Thank you.” She said and quickly remembered she had to administer the last dosage of pills to Erica .
” Come here my baby how are you feeling?” Said Marilyn and gently lifted Erica to sit on her lap. She noticed the gloominess on the girls face and blamed it on the stressful journey. ” Here you are. Take this little sausage over her. You will love it.” Said Marilyn and quickly tore of the foil of the sausage and gave it to Erica who surprisingly didn’t want to take it in her hand. ” Baby eat up. And have your last dosage of the pill.” She said and placed the back of her palm on the body neck of the little girl.
” My god. Why so hot.” She whispered as her heart leapt in fright. It was a new temperature all over again just to think she had sold her phone to get things on track.
” I don’t want to eat mum. I’m full.” Erica cried out.
” How can you be full when you have haven’t eaten all day my dear. Does your body ache?” She said in with quite a fury in her tone. It was a fury at nature and not her inner innocent daughter.
” My chest and my knees. I feel weak.” Erica said and lay her head back on her mom’s bosom. ” Oh darling. I think we took the drug quite late the last time. Let’s ge it right now. You have to eat please.” She said in a plea as her voice soon turned teary. She could bare to go through all the shades of hell but she couldn’t bare to watch her baby suffer.
” Eat.” She stuttered and placed the sausage in the mouth of Erica. Little in years and with the empathy of an adult, Erica decided to eat and hoped that all was to end well.
” Mum, I’m full ” she cried out and took her mouth away from the sausage. ” You should have another bite my dear. The last one.” She said and tried induce the child to eat. Soon it seems only the mind of the little girl had been trying to please her mum as her system could no longer hold in. With one gulf, she puked out all over her mother’s body and over the sofa. Marilyn went numb for a few seconds and I’m as much as she had tried to be strong, everything happening to her at that Loci of time overwhelmed her and caused her to break down in tears.
” Baby this isn’t our home. Dakota is going to be mad.” She cried, feeling pity for her daughter, herself and for the poor sofa that had to be puked on. She didn’t even know how to start cleaning. She knew not where the bathroom was and she knew not where to get the rags. She was heart broken and confused as sobbed and got her bag to pick a napkin. Erica was wistful in remorse. She didn’t wish for this to happen. It happened all so quickly.
” Mommy I’m sorry.” She said and subconsciously brought her head to rest on the wet body of her mother. She was too weak to care.
” Is she sick?” Dakota said in a flat tone as she stood gazing at the messy duo. Even Marilyn didn’t know when she had arrived.
” Oh Dear!” She stuttered in fright and sprang up on her feet. ” She’s been having pneumonia for the past days. I never knew she was going to puke. Please forgive us. I will clean it all up I just need some water.”
“Shhhhh…” Hushed Dakota with her index held against her black lips.
” What are you being so tensed for. Do I look so much like a beast? Or sound like one?” She said and signaled the scared mother to follow her. She soon heard the splatters from the running tap and was compelled to quickly walk after her to make up for the lost seconds spent on contemplating an escape.
” Wash up here.” Said Dakota whose bathroom was tilled red and had a cobalt lightning in it. She got a hold of a bucket and napkin and walked past the scared duo without gazing at the sick child.
” Thank you.” Marilyn whispered after Dakota had passed.
” Baby let’s wash ourselves a little. The water is cold but we .. wait what.” She said and dipped her hands into the sides of the running water.
” My God it’s hot. It’s so hot. The water is hot baby. We can bath to this. ” She said and quickly walked to the parlor to take the school bag that had contained all their clothes they now had to wear.
” Good gracious. Please don’t! I will ” Marilyn exclaimed as she stumbled upon the sight of Dakota wiping the chair with a wet napkin while a soapy bucket of water stood by her side.
” It’s my home. Do you now tell me what to do.” She paused and enquired.
” No no . It’s just that I was going to quickly clean Erica and return to..”
” Tend to your daughter. Go.” She said in a commanding tenor and resumed to swipe the chairs.
” Okay. T.. thank you. Thank you very much.” She stuttered and picked the bag that was lying just by the sofa. She took one more gaze at Dakota who kept cleaning the chairs, and rushed back to the bathroom.
” Was she mad at you mommy?” Erica asked with a fallen face.
” Oh not at all. Aunt Dakota. She’s actually…” ” Baby I think she’s a really nice person.” Said Marilyn and quickly took off her clothes before taking off those of her daughter. A hot bath was going to do both of them so much good.
” Let’s have a warm tub bath like the good old days.” Said Marilyn and got into the hut tub while an Excited Erica followed suit. They bathed innocently and the warmth of the water felt so healing to their soul.
Perhaps just perhaps, the hard times were over and the good times were kicking in_ she thought as flowed with the water, choosing to think of nothing else but a new beginning.
” Siberia!” Dakota called out and there was rage in her tone.