removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe.
Surah Al-Araf (The Heights) 7:27
النزاهة
“Listen, I gotta bail. I had wayyyyy too much to eat. That animal style was hella good.”
She stretches more.
“Thought you said you gonna lay off the In-N-Out burgers from now on?” Taylor mocks her with a grin.
Kristin laughs.
“Deny myself of the few joys of this world, I’d rather die.” She starts running on one spot.
“How far you gonna go? You really make me feel bad.” Taylor takes a bite of her liquorice wand.
“I’m gonna try and do about two hours. I wanted to check out that roach coach near Polliwog Park.” Kristin squats flat on the rubber mat and stretches more.
“Polliwog Park? Is that your usual route?”
Taylor stares at her confused.
“Not really. I usually head from here to Hermosa and from there to Manhattan, less marine layer. It’s really bad. Hope we don’t end up like China.”
“909 as hell.” Taylor sighs.
Kristin starts doing breathing exercises.
“What have you decided about you know, what we found? Are you gonna publish?” She stares at Taylor.
“Stop with all the intensity. You gonna stare a hole right through me.”
Taylor gets off the bar stool and heads to the balcony.
“I’m not sure what to do.”
She looks at Kristin confused.
“You want answers from me? Again? This one is on you Taylor, you know, dude. Can’t help you with this one.”
Kristin gets off the floor and does a final few lunges, before rolling up her mat and putting it in a small back-pack.
“It’s an integrity thing.”
She sighs hard.
“Doing the right thing, knowin’ that no one is watchin’. Now I really don’t feel like I’m in a state of being whole and undivided.”
Taylor puts her head in her hands.
“I’m so confused, Kris. I have written so many things that I’m so convinced are true, but I’m always left in doubt. What if I am defaming people, writin’ things that are false? You know?”
She looks at Kristin imploringly.
“Taylor, you gotta stop doubtin’ yourself. You are one of the sincerest people I know. You would not be writin’ these things if there wasn’t some part in you that believed it was true.”
Kristin takes a sip of water and joins Taylor on the balcony.
“What’s more, you are a believer. God is your Guide. He is your conscience.”
“But if anything, He wouldn’t want me to be bad mouthing people without proof. Witnesses are a pivotal part in testimony when it comes to God.”
Kristin sighs hard.
“Taylor, you are not bad mouthin’ no one. You’re givin’ a voice to those who have none. I’ve not seen you focussin’ on slanderin’ or writin’ any libel.”
Taylor stares at her.
“This, Tails, it’s huge. You have uncovered somethin’ that is un-American. It goes against our very way of life.”
“I know, but…”
“But nothin’!”
Kristin interrupts her.
“Listen, I might not know much, but one thing I do know, is that you are one of the good guys. Taylor, you have more integrity than anyone I have ever met. And more, you have a different kind of integrity.”
Taylor eyes her with big eyes.
“Integrity is integrity. Doing the right thing, even if no one is watchin’.”
“Yes, that is true, but yours is different.”
“How’d you mean?”
Taylor was more confused than before.
Kristen smiles.
“You don’t know how special you are, Tails.”
She touches Taylor lightly on the shoulder.
“You do the right thing, knowin’ that God is watchin’ and to me, that is true integrity. Tellin’ the truth, knowin’ that He is watchin’. Bein’ whole and undivided in your faith in Him. Your integrity is towards God and that is much more sincere, in my books.”
Kristin puts her back-pack on her back.
She gives Taylor’s shoulder a last squeeze and starts heading to the front door.
“What you goin’ to be doin’?”
Taylor follows her down the passage.
“I have to head to a swap meet to pick up somethin’ to rock my look for Drew’s party. I have to get some cheap electronics too to work on that scrambler, remember?”
Kristin turns.
“So, you have decided to go to Drew’s party? This is news. Thought you two had beef?”
Taylor sighs.
“I’ve decided to love myself and to let it go. He was a douche, but I have forgiven him and have moved on. He deserves a second chance. I wish him only good things. This party is a chance to show him I still care. I do want things to be better for him.”
Kristin smiles.
“I like it, Tails. You deserve it too.”
She heads to the door.
“Hope you get what you lookin’ for.”
She opens the door and goes outside.
Taylor stands in the doorway.
“I hope there’s no sig alert on the 405. I really need to get to Santa Monica too.”
“What’s happening there?”
Kristin stares at Taylor curiously.
“It’s a secret.”
“Secret, hey? Thought we had none.”
Taylor laughs.
“No man, that’s just what they called it.”
Kristin stares at Taylor intrigued.
Taylor laughs shyly.
“The party is called ‘The Secret’. Jennifer invited me.”
As if it all suddenly makes sense, Kristin winks at Taylor.
“You’ve gone soft on those Mahomies, haven’t you?”
Taylor laughs.
“It’s just so touching to me, you know. A bunch of strangers throwin’ a birthday party for someone they have never met. That’s somethin’ special.”
Kristin laughs.
“You’re a real softy, dude.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m investigating.”
“Whadever, dude. Safe me some cake.” Kristin winks and blows Taylor a kiss as she starts jogging down the road.
Taylor smiles and heads into the house.
She heads straight to the living room.
The swallow pops from the clock as she enters the room. Its high pitched shrieking alarm whines and gurgles were slowly becoming soft liquid chirps.
Taylor shakes her head.
“Can it really be that time already,” she says to herself.
“Tell me about it.”
“Jeanne! 909 as crap, dude!” Taylor holds her hand to her heart.
“Désolée,” Jeanne says casually and continues to brood on the sleigh sofa.
“What’s up with you?” Taylor calms down and takes a seat next to her.
Jeanne stares at her with a long frown and starts.
“It’s Daniel. He is on his way over. Qui est la dernière chose que je dois!” Jeanne says annoyed and tightens her grip around the teddy’s neck that was lying on her lap.
“That serious, hu?” says Taylor confused.
“Oui,” says Jeanne unaware of Taylor’s confusion.
“Earth to Jeanne. Dude, it’s me, Taylor. Not Kristin. You know I don’t understand French.” She sighs and gets off the sofa.
“Taylor, I am sorry. Please, désolée. My mind is not here. I am verry, I am not surre. I zon’t want to see Danielle, but…”
“I understand. You have mixed feelings. You don’t know whether you want to hug him or kill him.” Taylor finds the pad she was looking for and grabs a pen and starts scribbling.
“Oui. Yes.”
&nbs
p; She drops the teddy on the sofa and focuses on Taylor.
“What are you doing?” She tries to sound more cheerful.
“Me? Just making a list of things to get at Joe’s; fruit and vegetables. I’m going on a juice cleanse.”
Jeanne rolls her eyes.
“I feel like going on a raw-food diet too. Get me some avocados, if you’ll let me bum a few bucks. I’ll pay you back when…”
“Chill. I know you’re still trying to break into The Industry. It’s a waitress’s life, dude,” she laughs.
Jeanne laughs too.
Taylor finishes her scribbling then stares at her reflection in the mirror. She fixes her hair and turns.
“Well, I’m off. I won’t be gone long. I need to get to Santa Monica around six. That gives me about four hours. Need to get to a swap meet too. Will I have time for it all,” Taylor says to herself as the bell to the front door rings.
Jeanne stiffens up.
Taylor gives her an encouraging look and leaves the room.
Jeanne gets up from the sofa and is short on Taylor’s heels.
“Is it him,” her voice low, almost a whisper.
“Looks like it. I can smell the English leather from here,” she winks at Jeanne and opens the door.
“Alright?” says Daniel nervously.
“Hey,” says Taylor, “please, do come inside. Those smell lovely. Kristin will be sorry she missed you.”
“Blimey. I got the chocolate croissants she’s so barmy about. It really is dog’s bollocks,” his usually crisp British clear, though his voice was low.
“Well, do excuse me,” Taylor makes her way past him.
“Dear, you’re all dressed up like a dog’s dinner,” Daniel removes his Panama hat; he was dressed in a blue suit with tan penny loafers, no socks.
Taylor stares at her clothes confused and then meets his cheerful face. She was dressed in baby pink skinny jeans and a white Mexican peasant blouse with a colorful scroll pattern along the rounded inner corners of the square neckline. She was wearing white, braided, flat sandals.
“I hope that’s a compliment,” Taylor stares at him, still confused.
“Don’t fret, dear. The knee’s bees. Simply brilliant,” he reassures her.
She nods and