Chapter 7: Tail Fin & Chrome

"Who the hell did this?" Linda asks terrified.

 On the mirror is a message written in blood. The message reads in due time with an exclamation point. Both girls then scurry out of the restroom and go to the administration office.

 "How can I help you students?" the receptionist asks looking between them.

 "We need to report something," Galleria says frantically

 "What is it?"

 "Someone wrote a message on the girl's restroom mirror in blood," Linda says squeezing Galleria's left hand.

 "My goodness, let me alert Principal Sumpter. Please have a seat."

Galleria and Linda sit down in the waiting area while the receptionist picks up the telephone and dials Principal Sumpter.

 "This is Principal Sumpter."

 "Yes, sir you have two female students in the waiting area. They have some disturbing news to share with you." the receptionist says looking at the girls.

 "Send them back."

 "Principal Sumpter will see you now."

Both adolescents get up and walk back to his office.

 The receptionist watches them in worry before giving his attention back to his work.

 Letha knocks on Fletcher's office door.

 "Come in."

 Letha heads inside.

Fletcher's office walls are brown with black baseboards. On the walls are two college degrees and several certificates. In the left corner is a brown file cabinet. In the middle of the office is a small table with four black legs. Resting on top is a wide curvaceous glass surface. On top of the glass is a black desk lamp, a utensil cup, and his nameplate. Fletcher is sitting in a black executive chair.

Behind his desk is a large window overlooking the downtown area. When Fletcher sees Letha, he smiles happily.  

 "My most trusted and loyal executive member," Fletcher says happily as Letha walks to his desk.

 "That is me. I have the invoices." Letha says lifting a blue folder in her right hand.

She places it on his desk and he opens it and checks it over. Upon finishing, he looks at her grinning.

"This is why I hired you. All of our artists will be paid soon enough. I think our new artist is very promising." Fletcher says before looking at the folder and closing it.

"I do too. Although he's been spending a lot of time in the studio. Don't you think it's time he's shown us what he's been working on?" Letha says crossing her arms.

"Whoa there little lady that's my area of expertise. I will check on him in due time. All you have to do is make sure our documents in every department are above board and that our invoices are accurate. Leave the heavy lifting to me."

Fletcher gets up and walks to the front of his desk and leans against it. He folds his arms and looks Letha in her eyes.

"You've been here for seven years in this position. Don't you think it's time for you to move up to something greater?"

"Well, I've thought about it but I've just always thought you liked running things alone. Having that right-hand man or woman could cause some ego problems or unwanted opposition."

Fletcher nods his head.

"That's true. I want the opposition without the ego being involved. You are the only one here that can bring something new and fresh. I'm not asking you to decide right now but please think about it."

 Fletcher removes himself from his desk and goes and stands behind Letha. He rests his chin on her left shoulder.

 "It's lonely at the top," Fletcher whispers before returning to his desk.

 "I will think about it," Letha says before leaving

 Fletcher leans back in his chair smiling before turning around to peer out of the window.

 Principal Sumpter is looking in between the two girls curiously.

"Would either of you mind explaining to me what you saw in the restroom?" Principal Sumpter asks concerned looking between them.

 "We saw a message written in blood that said in due time with an exclamation point. I don't know exactly what that means but it's very disturbing to me." Linda says in a hitched tone.

 "Do either of you know who wrote it?"

 "My sister Natalee. She ran into us before we went into the restroom." Galleria says.

 Linda shoots her eyes in her direction.

 "Galleria you don't know that for sure." Linda scolds.

Principal Sumpter looks Galleria in her eyes.

 "Yes, I do. You can bring her in and question her. I'm positive you'll get the truth out of her."

 "I will and I'll do it right now." Principal Sumpter says picking up his telephone.

 "This is administration reception."

 "Can you have Natalee St. James come to my office please?" Principal Sumpter asks looking between Galleria and Linda.

 "Yes sir."

 Natalee is in the cafeteria sitting at a table alone. She has a corndog, peaches, and a carton of white milk on her tray. As she finishes her food the P.A. comes on.

 "Natalee St. James please report to Principal Sumpter's office immediately. Again, Natalee St. James please report to Principal Sumpter's office immediately."

 Natalee exhales getting up and throwing her tray in the trash. She then leaves the cafeteria and heads down to the administration office. When she arrives the receptionist picks up his telephone while looking at Natalee.

"This is Principal Sumpter."

"Natalee St. James has arrived."

"Alright, send her back please."

"You can go on back he's ready for you."

Natalee goes down the hallway. When she gets to Principal Sumpter's office she knocks on the door.

"Come on in."

 Natalee goes inside and when she sees Galleria and Linda she folds her arms suspiciously.

"Please close the door."

Natalee closes the door.

 "Natalee Galleria has informed me that you smeared a message that said in due time in your own blood one of the first-floor girls' restroom mirrors. Is that true?"

"No sir. I didn't even go to the bathroom. I always use the restrooms on the second and third floors. I would never do something so disgusting and unbecoming." Natalee says offended looking over at Galleria.

 "She has strong reason to believe it was you and you have shown some very unsavory and peculiar behavior in the past. Your random irascible outbursts and your maniacal laughter among other things make me believe that it was you. Until this matter is taken care of, I'm going to have to suspend you until further notice."

 Natalee looks over at Galleria tearfully.

 "I didn't do it, she's lying!" Natalee shouts pointing at her sister

 "My decision is final now please leave!"

Natalee looks at Principal Sumpter before leaving with a slam of the door.

 "I am so sorry this happened to the two of you. Do you need to leave for the rest of the day?"

 "No sir we'll be okay. But thank you for your concern."

 "Alright, well you two are dismissed. Enjoy the rest of your day."

The two females leave his office.

 "Galleria you should have made sure it was her before you went and told Principal Sumpter." Linda scolds.

Galleria rolls her eyes.

 "I know it was her. No other girl here is as off and freakish as her."

They see Natalee walking down the hallway and Galleria runs up grabbing her right shoulder and yanking her around.

"Get your hands off me!" Natalee hisses looking down at Galleria's hand.

"Why did Mother give birth to something as disgusting as you? You wrote that horrible message. Just take ownership and take your punishment like a good little girl." Galleria says harshly before Natalee shoves her hand off her shoulder.

 Galleria enters her personal space.

"I didn't do it. But what's even more horrible is the fact that you lied and said I did and that showed me who you really are."

 Galleria pulls her fist back and connects it to Natalee's nose. Natalee falls to the ground and covers her nose before entering the fetal position. She looks up at Galleria trembling fearfully. Soon a crowd starts forming around them. Kathy and company come out of the cafeteria sees the crowd and rushes over. Kathy sees Galleria standing over Natalee. She instantly goes to cradle Natalee in her arms.

"Tiffany, Algier!" Kathy shouts and they appear at their side.

"I need you two to take Natalee to the nurse's office right now," Kathy says urgently while helping Natalee to her feet.

"Don't worry Natalee I'm going to take care of this, I promise," Kathy says seriously.

Galleria meanwhile chuckles crossing her arms.

Once Natalee is gone Kathy looks Galleria fiercely in her eyes.

"You had no right to do that to her. She's your sister Galleria! You need to learn to have compassion for someone other than yourself." Kathy says harshly,

The crowd's chatter immediately falls silent.

"Bitch, please. You have no idea what it's like to be me. A black girl is being judged constantly just for existing. Until you've walked a mile in my shoes you keep your mulatto trap shut."

 Kathy slowly walks up and enters Galleria's personal space.

"And you have no idea what it's like to be me. Being the bane of your very own mother's existence. If you ever put your hands on any of my sisters again you will be in a death wagon going to the morgue. Do you understand me?" Kathy asks icily with clenched fists.

"Your threats are as empty as that head of yours."  

"You know I am capable. Touch them again and you will see a side of me that you've never seen before." Kathy hisses before walking away.

Natalee is sitting in the nurse's office on a dark gray cabinet-style exam table with a teal leather backrest. The walls are teal with white baseboards. Up against the opposite wall is a white cabinet with a sink. Above the sink is a glass medicine cabinet. A few feet away is a mahogany desk with a wood wheelchair with a forest green cushion. A few feet from the sink is a bathroom. The bathroom door is closed.

"What happened out there, Natalee?" Tiffany asks getting the teen's attention.

"Galleria told Principal Sumpter that I wrote a message in my own blood on a sink mirror earlier. So, because of that, I was suspended for the next two days." Natalee explains as the bathroom door opens.

Nurse Charlotte Loux walks over to Natalee. Charlotte is in her mid-forties with brown skin with a heart-shaped face. Her brown eyes are filled with concern. The only makeup accessory she's wearing is burgundy lipstick. She is wearing a white short-sleeve dress with white stockings and white shoes. On her head is a white nurse's hat with a red cross in the center. On her left wrist is a gold watch. She pulls her desk chair and wheels it over to Natalee and sits down in front of her.

"Good afternoon, Natalee do you mind explaining what happened?" Charlotte asks softly in a northeast North Carolina accent clasping her hands together.

"My older sister Galleria punched me in my nose," Natalee says looking at the floor.

"That's not nice of a sister to do."

"Trust me when I say she's not a sister at all." Tiffany comments.

 Nurse Loux looks back at the ravenette.

"You've had a run-in with her too?"

"We've only had verbal exchanges," Tiffany says folding her arms and crossing her right leg.

"I see." Nurse Loux warns.

A few moments later Kathy enters the room.

"Is everything okay Nurse Loux?" Kathy asks with her hands in her pockets.

"I haven't examined her nose yet but it should be."

She goes to the medicine cabinet and grabs a pair of yellow latex gloves and four packets of alcohol pads. When she returns, she sets the pads beside Natalee and touches her nose. Natalee winces and Nurse Loux carefully sighs heavily with a smile.

"Nothing's broken. She'll just have to let it heal naturally." Nurse Loux says grabbing an alcohol pad and opening it.

"Thank God," Kathy says relieved with her right hand resting on her chest.

After Nurse Loux finishes cleaning Natalee's nose, she throws her gloves and used alcohol pads and packets in the white trash can next to the sink cabinet. She turns on the faucet and wash her hands. Upon finishing she grabs some paper towels from the white metal dispenser under the cabinet.

"You're free to go Natalee. Make sure you talk to your sister."

"I did and she's hardheaded. She's our older sister." Kathy says.

 Nurse Loux looks at her shocked.

"I had no idea. Sooner or later she'll have to receive the message."

"Hopefully so." Kathy agrees.

Natalee grabs her backpack puts it on and leaves the office.

Kathy sighs heavily before Tiffany and Algier join her. Soon the trio leaves the office and Nurse Loux returns her chair to her desk.

"So, what are you going to do about Galleria?" Algier asks as they walk down the hallway.

"The only way she will understand."

Bossier and Tron are sitting in class listening to their teacher read a passage from their science textbook. Tron passes her a piece of paper. She opens it and reads it. Her eyes widen and she looks over at Tron who has a smile on his face. She writes a response and returns the paper to him. Afterward, he writes another question and passes it to her. She opens it and smiles before writing another response before returning it.

"We're going to talk after school," Bossier says softly.

 Tron nods his head.

Kathy and Tiffany are in their last period of the day and Mr. Lancaster is walking down the aisle and stops near Tiffany.

"Pop quiz everyone. I want you to write three paragraphs about what it means to be you. I just want to see where your minds are creatively. You have until the end of class to complete it. You may begin." Mr. Lancaster says before walking back to his desk.

Twenty-five minutes later Kathy walks up to his desk and hands him her paper.

 "I'll grade it right now." Mr. Lancaster says before looking down at her paper.

 When he finishes, he looks up at her with tears streaming down his face.

"This is so tragic and unexpected of someone your age. I know this is an appropriate time to say this but you really should pursue a writing career."

"No, I don't think it's inappropriate. You asked us to write about what it means to be me and that's what I did. As for a writing career, I don't think my writing is all that good." Kathy says embarrassed placing her hand on her neck.

"Well, you definitely have a God-given gift and you should dive into its depths. Outstanding!" Mr. Lancaster says writing a one hundred at the top of her paper in red ink.

"Thank you, Mr. Lancaster."

"You're welcome." Mr. Lancaster says before handing Kathy her paper

Kathy then returns to her desk in high spirits.

At two-thirty Kathy, Tiffany, Natalee, and Algier are standing out in the parking lot on the sidewalk.

"Hey Algier, you don't have to worry about taking me to the car dealership. I'll go by myself."

"I don't mind taking you. I have the rest of the day to complete my homework." Algier rebuts and Kathy cups his face and presses her forehead against his.

"I appreciate that I really do, but I want to do this on my own. Besides I don't want to spoil meeting your parents before it's time." Kathy says softly before pecking him on his lips which he returns.

"Okay, Sunflower I understand. So, I take it when you get it, you'll start driving to school?" Algier asks as they separate.

"No. I'm still going to walk. I'll drive when it rains or when I want to get away." Kathy says.

This saddens Algier further.

"That's what I'm here for. To be that mental and emotional rock you need. I don't want you to carry your burdens alone."

Tears then fill Algier's gray eyes.

"You are that plus more. It's just sometimes I need some personal emotional alone time. Once I get it you will know."

Kathy then pecks him one final time.

"Okay, sweetheart I'll give you what you need. I'll see you tomorrow. I love you." Algier says as his luxury sedan pulls alongside him.

"I love you too." Algier croaks as the chauffeur opens the rear right passenger door.

Once it pulls off Kathy is left standing there speechless as her hair blows in the wind.

"You alright Kat?" Tiffany asks walking over to her.

"I think I may be on the verge of losing my gentleman caller," Kathy says tearfully.

"Don't be ridiculous. If Al knows what's good for him, he'll stay right where he is." Tiffany says encouragingly as they start walking.  

Tron, Bossier, and Lynn are walking down the sidewalk.

 "So Bossier do you still want to go down to the lake with me on Saturday?" Tron asks happily.

Bossier looks over at him smiling.

"Yes, I do," Bossier says boldly shocking him.

"Groovy. I'll pick you up at three o'clock." Tron says as they approach the stop sign.

"Alright, I'll see you later," Bossier says as Tron crosses the street.

Bossier and Lynn cross the street. Lynn looks at Bossier knowingly with a smirk.

"So did you just agree on a date with Tron?" Lynn asks getting Bossier's attention.

"It's not a date it's an outing. We're best friends. I don't expect anything more to happen between us."

 Lynn chuckles in response.

"Well, we'll see if you feel the same way come Saturday."

The rest of their walk is riddled with silence.

When they reunite with Kathy, Tiffany, and Natalee the walk is uncomfortably quiet. When they get home Kathy hugs Tiffany and Tiffany resumes walking. The four sisters head upstairs and inside. Kathy goes downstairs to her bedroom and goes to a cabinet where she grabs a jar. It is filled with lots of one-hundred-dollar bills. She takes them out and counts them. She then pulls out a yellow snakeskin clutch and puts the money inside and puts the clutch inside her backpack. She then heads back upstairs and out the door.

After locking it she heads downstairs where she sees Galleria and Yorkshire. Galleria glares at her while Yorkshire looks between them confused.

"What the hell is going on here?" Yorkshire asks worriedly.

"This byproduct called herself trying to check me in front of everyone today. Well, now that we're behind closed doors I'm going to show her who the real queen is." Galleria says smugly.

Kathy just looks at her emptily.

"Kathy, aren't you going to say anything?" Yorkshire asks looking at her.

"You guys are on your own for dinner tonight. I'm going out." Kathy says and Galleria chuckles.

"You aren't allowed to go anywhere. You're only exception is school. Now get your ass back inside and start making us dinner!" Galleria hisses pointing at the house.

"I'll deal with you when I return," Kathy says before leaving.

"That bitch. You know what I'm going to let Mother deal with her." Galleria says before she and Yorkshire head inside.

Kathy walks eight blocks before she comes to a car lot. The lot is filled with sedans, coupes, and pickups. Soon a man comes out of the gray building. He has pale skin, ginger hair, and blue eyes. He is six feet tall with a lanky build. He is wearing a plaid suit with orange leather dress shoes.

"Hello and welcome to Coupe Kings what can I get you?" the car salesman asks elated with his hands in his pockets.

"Something with a tail fin and chrome trim," Kathy says smoothly.