6
Umbrella Girl
Reuben placed both hands on his head and turned around, “Are you sure about this? We’ve been at this for hours,” he said in annoyance.
James shrugged, “It’s got to be around here somewhere,” he sighed, “I’m telling you Reuben, if we find this place you’ll never have to worry about props again.”
Reuben nodded, “yeah, yeah that’s what you keep saying, but you can’t find it and it looks like it’s about to rain,” he looked up at the sky, now hidden behind a thick clump of darkened clouds, ready to burst.
James chuckled, “patience is a virtue and…” he paused as his gaze locked onto someone stepping out of a boutique right in front of them, and a smile slowly eased its way onto his face.
Reuben looked at him, “what? Do you see it?”
James shook his head and pointed to the girl about to cross the street, frowning up at the sky, her large umbrella held out in her hand.
“But am sure she knows where to find it.”
Reuben followed his gaze and found himself looking at a girl, with sun streaked hair, frazzled at the tips and a scowl that was sure to chase devils. She was noticeably attractive, but was clearly troubled, like all the rain clouds in the sky had settled over her brows, making her appear way older than he knew she was – she was wearing her uniform; pleated skirt, white shirt and tie – and he found himself frowning at her.
“What makes you think that?” he asked absently, his eyes still trained in the girl’s direction, but James didn’t respond. In fact he was nowhere to be seen and when he turned back to the girl, she was gone too.
“Oh come on,” he groaned as a shower burst from the skies, with rain drops hard like pebbles; drenching him.
“Want to shelter with me?”
The girl from the other side of the road was looking at him, not even a hint of a smile to go with her generous offer but she had the most captivating eyes he’d ever seen; searching steely grey eyes.
“Please,” he replied.
She edged closer to him and lifted her large umbrella over his head. She was tall and slender and if she was ever awkward because of it he couldn’t see it now. He was already quite wet, but something told him that if he passed up this opportunity he would hear about it later when he knelt down to pray. He’d learned the hard way in several ways that in everyday moments we come upon people that we are meant to leave impressions on but fail to.
“I’m looking for a place, maybe you could help me,” he said.
She smiled politely, “well you’ll need to be more specific than that.”
He chuckled, he liked her voice. It was husky and honey smooth at the same time, he wondered if she was a singer.
“I’m supposed to be looking for a certain store but I can’t really find it,” he grinned broadly, amused at himself.
“It’s a store that sells costumes, body paint, props that kind of stuff. There’s a particular one that’s supposed to be on this street, or at least I think so...” he shrugged and threw up his hands in resignation.
The girl furrowed her brows thoughtfully, “I know a place like that. I’ve been there with my brother a couple times when he was looking for things for carnival, but I don’t know the name”
“That’s fine, just give me directions. Any place will do right now, I’ve been out here all day,” he explained.
They started walking now, slowly though, as huddling under an umbrella together made it difficult to go any faster without getting wet.
“You’re stocking up early,” she said with a smirk.
He looked confused, “Excuse me?”
“For the carnival” she explained, “it’s next year you know.”
He laughed, throwing his head back, “Oh it’s not for carnival. It’s actually for a church play, we always do one or two for Christmas,” he graced her with a wide grin.
“Oh,” she looked surprised, “like the whole manger scene?”
“Naw, not yet, this one’s more of a life depiction. We like to dramatize everyday situations that Christians always have to deal with and kind of show ways out of them. This one is about faith, as a foundation, as a refuge, as a weapon.
“Faith? As a weapon?”
He couldn’t help hearing the scepticism in her voice, “yes faith, the foundation of Christianity.”
She chuckled drily, “Can you lay your hand on it? Cause a foundation is usually something solid. So is faith a weapon?”
He smiled and turned to face her so that their faces almost touched, an awkward moment for any two strangers, yet neither of them felt it.
“It can be, you use it when you refuse to believe the lies and trust that what God says about you is truth regardless of what anyone says. You can’t touch it, or see it, it’s abstract, just like love, or peace or hate, until it manifests itself in the things we do or say,” he smiled that handsome charming smile of his and she looked away, her scowl returning.
“There it is,” she said pointing to a small store wedged between two others, with only a small sign on the door.
Reuben looked at her ruefully, wondering what her story might be.
“I must’ve passed that block three times today,” he said with a chuckle.
“It is easy to miss,” she agreed, her expression unreadable.
He extended his hand, “thank you,” he said as she took it.
“You could come you know, next month the eighteen, at the Valley auditorium in Grand Anse. Tell me what you think.”
“I’ll think about it,” she replied, with a noncommittal shrug.
“I’m Reuben by the way. If you decide to come, ask for me,” he said trying his best to look more chipper than he felt.
“Oh and remember, you only need a grain as tiny as a mustard seed and you’ll move mountains.”
It took a lot to turn away from her and dash up the steps to the door, but when he turned back she was still looking up at him, a thoughtful look in her intriguing eyes. He smiled back at her, lifting a hand in farewell. As she turned and scurried away, he knew he’d planted something there today, and he wished God would give him a chance to see it grow and bear fruit, for her sake.
When he turned around, James was leaning on the frame of the open door, grinning goofily.
Reuben shot him an aggravated look, “and now you find it!”
James chuckled and shrugged, “come on in,” he said, sweeping his hands before him.
Reuben hurried in after him, “did you know where this was all the time or did you just find it?” he persisted.
James turned and gave him a bored look, “please don’t ask so much questions man, cause I not gonna lie to you. I not gonna give any answer to your question as a matter of fact,” he replied as he lifted a mask from one of the shelves and placed it against his face.
Reuben looked at him and rolled his eyes, then turned to peruse the range of props lined up on the shelves behind him.
“Who was that girl you was talking to?” James asked after a long moment of silence.
Reuben didn’t turn around, “Someone who cared whether I got soaked in the rain and offered me a shelter.”
“Does she have a name?” James persisted.
Reuben turned to look at him now, “please don’t tell me you’re interested...”
“Me? No. Hell no. She’s twelve,” he spat.
“I’m pretty sure she’s not twelve, why would you even...” he trailed off and walked over to another shelf in the store, shaking his head at his friend’s ridiculousness.
James came up behind him and looked at him with those disarming eyes. Reuben imagined he always got his way with that look, it was so dark and threatening even though he wasn’t trying to be. It was like he could see all your deepest darkest secrets and thoughts.
“I didn’t get her name,” he said, staring at a spot on the far side of the store thoughtfully,
“but she looks so troubled, I just get the feeling that she just needs...” he shrugged, “I don t know.”
The hard look in James eyes quickly shifted, turning from cold persistence to eagerness, they were bright with interest. Reuben thought his sudden interest in the strange girl was weird, but he didn’t want to jump to any conclusions. He was still trying to understand him, and from what he’d learnt so far, maybe he needs a little of what the strange girl needs too.
“Say it man, what do you think she needs?
Reuben sighed, “I guess friendship, she just looks so...”
“Alone and scared,” James finished.
“You saw it too then?” he frowned, “how did you though?”
James shrugged, “I guess. She reminds me of someone,” he said sombrely, and with a thoughtful frown turned toward the cashier.
Reuben frowned at his retreating back, who does she remind you of James?
He pulled his black hood over his head and wrapped his arms around his chest. It was a cold windy night, the streets were empty, except for a few lone couples. He glanced down at his watch and swore. He didn’t plan to be so late; it was risky walking home this hour.
He hurried across the street and dashed through an alley, covering his nose and mouth with his shirt against the ghastly smells of urine and alcohol. As he walked, he constantly reminded himself that he was a man; that he was brave, that he wasn’t afraid, besides he lived here he grew up with many of the guys that terrorized the neighbourhood at night.
He could see the end of the alley now; he would be out in the light of the street light soon, and closer to home, and that relaxed him a bit.
“Aye Moore!” He paused; he could feel the loud thumping of his heart against his chest as he slowly turned around.
One man stepped out from the group of men, all of whom had smoke rising from their heads like resting dragons.
The light revealed the face of the man who had called him, and he exhaled deeply, “Hey man what’s up?” he reached out and took his offered hand and they embraced.
“I say you forget us,” the guy said.
“Naw man, just been real busy but I ain’t forget you.”
The man laughed and took a swig of his beer, and then he stretched his hand out, “Put it here.”
He removed the wad of cash from his pocket, it was wet with the sweat from his palms, and his fingers trembled slightly as he placed it in the waiting hand.
“Good job man,” the man said as he flicked through the bills, “this is your share.”
“Thanks man,” he said and made a move to leave.
“Hold up. We have another job for you, one that suit you best.”
“See I don’t know guys, I’m trying to get my life together, you know the whole music scene. I’ve got to focus on that,” he protested.
The man chuckled and the others joined in, “What happen yuh fraid?”
“Nah man…”
“Then no problem. I gonna call you later and we go meet up and talk. Cool?”
“Yeah, cool,” he said and lifted his eyes to the starry sky with a defeated sigh.
He watched as the group walked past him, each respectfully tapped his fist as they went by. His gaze lingered on the brown bandannas hanging from the back of their jeans swishing rhythmically to their perfected gaits like tails. He sighed, what exactly did he just agree to? Of course he already knew the answer to that.
Looking about him furtively, he pulled the hood over his locks and turned down the narrow dirt road to his house, it seemed he would have a harder time getting out of this than he had thought.