Chapter 4: Is That Right?

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"What about that child?" Chasity sighs.

"Your verbal, physical, and emotional abuse ends here."

"So, me disciplining her is abuse?"

"Don't play victim, it doesn't suit you." Darwin scolds leaning back.

"What do you plan on doing about it?" Chasity rebuts leaning forward.

"I can have you prosecuted but I won't. Deena is the victim I'll let this be her call. She's old enough to know when enough is enough."

"Where did you go this morning?"

"To see my sister-in-law," Darwin says leaning forward.

"You mean your ex-girlfriend," Chasity says tearfully.

"As I said I went to see my sister-in-law. It was you who sabotaged our relationship remember? You leaked photos of us having sex during our freshmen year of college. We were too embarrassed to continue our relationship because of it. Maybe things would have been different if married I Victoria."

Chasity grabs her purse and stands up.

"Maybe you should have. My time with you has been utterly wasted. I'll see you at home sweetheart."

After Chasity leaves Darwin discards his salad plate. When he returns he looks at a picture of Deena. It depicts Deena hugging him and smiling happily. She is wearing a white dress with a white headband on her combed-back hair. On her feet are flat white dress shoes. He is wearing a black suit with a black tie and gray and black snakeskin dress shoes.

"Why do you continue to subject yourself to this type of torment bookworm?"

Darwin returns the picture to its rightful place and opens a manila folder.

It's ten minutes after school dismissal and Kimberly, Alvin, and Deena meet up outside the school.

"He's the one who wanted to go to Kingthorn Pier and he's not even here." Kimberly sighs folding her arms.

"There he is," Alvin says.

When the trio turns around they see Danny and Lucille embracing each other. Lucille leans forward pressing her lips to Danny's. This makes Kimberly roll her eyes, Alvin smiles proudly and Deena blushes. When they part company Danny walks over to the group.

"Are you ready to go?" Kimberly asks placing her hands in her pockets.

"Yes."

The quartet starts their journey to Kingthorn Port. Thirty minutes later they arrive at Kingthorn Pier. The sea-green ocean matches the hue of Alvin's eyes.

"So what song are we going to use to hone our harmony?" Danny asks.

"How about I'm A Daily Fool," Alvin suggests.

"That'll work. We'll start off by singing the chorus in four-part harmony. Then Alvin and I will sing the first line of the first verse. Then Kimberly and Deena will sing the second line of the verse. Then we'll split the chorus lines before coming back together and singing the last line in unison. But before we do I want to see how high each of our ranges are individually," Danny says.

They all nod their head in agreement.

"Oooo-ahhh-ahhhh-ahhhhh." Alvin sings ascending to the top of his range.

"Your tone and color are very smooth," Danny says.

"Thanks, man," Alvin says flashing a grin.

"Kimberly let's see what you have," Danny says folding his arms.

"Here I gooooooo." Kimberly sings soaring to the top of her head voice.

"Your voice is really full and rotund."

"Thank you?"

Danny finally sets his eyes on Deena.

"Deena, go ahead."

"Ooooh yeah." Deena croons.

"You have a very strong chest voice. Your head voice is weak. It's almost as if you feel most comfortable in your lower range." Danny says placing his hands at his sides.

"Whyyyyyyyyyyy." Danny sings in a smooth manly baritone.

The others look at him shocked.

"That's what you're working with? That would make me not want to leave." Alvin jokes.

"My voice isn't all that but thanks. Now let's start from the top."

"I'm a daily fool. I'm naive to a lot of things. Girls, rules, and how to pump fuel. But one thing I do know is how to swim in the deep end of a swimming pool." the foursome harmonizes.

"Stop! Deena, you sound hesitant. I need you to really sing!" Danny says sharply looking at Deena.

"Danny, take it easy. She's nervous." Kimberly defends.

"She sang confidently in front of us yesterday. Trust me that's not nervousness."

"No Kimberly's right I am nervous. Even though I sang in front of you all my nervousness still remains. It's something I'm still acclimating to." Deena confesses.

"That wasn't something I was expecting," Alvin says shocked.

"Me either but I'm glad I did. It means that you're slowly coming out of your clam." Kimberly says happily making Deena smile.

"Can we please get back to harmonizing? Deena remember your reason for singing." Danny says before looking back out at the ocean.

"Girls ah man where do I start. They make me feel dumb and when they reject me my heart becomes numb." Danny and Alvin sing in harmony.

Underneath the confidence and flirtation lies bravado.

"Then they turn around and tell me I don't have a heart. Well, I'm raising my glass and saying that you're a simple tart." Kimberly and Deena sing in unison.

Kimberly sings with joyfulness while Deena contrasts her with a gut-wrenching fierceness.

"I'm a daily fool. I'm naive to a lot of things." Alvin and Danny sing in harmony.

"Girls, rules and how to pump fuel." Kimberly and Deena sing in blissful harmony.

"But one thing I do know is how to swim in the deep end of a swimming pool." the foursome sings together.

Alvin sings with a velvet smoothness, Danny sings with bravado, Kimberly keeps her joyfulness ashore and Deena adds a heavy soar with the lyric pool.

"That was really good. All we need to do is write some fun and uplifting material. I know we all have issues but we can put them into the music later. Our main focus right now is landing a record deal." Danny says coolly.

"That makes sense. I don't want to be a buzz kill. I'm all about optimism and a groovy time." Kimberly says.

"So am I," Alvin says.

The two then fist-bump one another.

"When we become famous our fans will love us but the public is going to try and divide us. We've all seen it with past and current acts. For now, let's go home. This will be our rehearsal spot every day until we land a record deal." Danny says sliding his hands in his pockets.

The quartet turns and heads back towards the city.

"How about we all go to Jade Monopoly this weekend. We can look at other undiscovered acts and rehearse." Alvin says.

"I can't I have plans," Danny says.

Realizing what he's said he looks at a now grinning Alvin.

"It won't be fun without you." Alvin pouts looking at the ground.

"I thought I made it clear that we weren't friends," Danny says sternly.

"That's what your tongue says but your eyes say differently." Deena chimes in.

"I don't need any damn friends!"

Danny runs off leaving the others confused.

"I swear that boy is puzzling. First, he compliments our voices now he says he doesn't need friends? I don't know if us being a vocal band will work." Kimberly says shaking her head.

"I hope he comes to Jade Monopoly this weekend. It wouldn't feel right without him." Alvin says.

They resume walking.

Deena closes her eyes to keep tears from forming.

When Danny goes inside his house, he runs to his bedroom and falls back onto his bed. Without realizing tears are streaming down his face.

"Alvin almost tricked me into spending time with them. I don't need friends. I'm perfectly fine alone."

He closes his eyes and before long the slumber ship arrives and takes him to dreamland.

The trio arrives in the neighborhood. The three hug each other and part company.

Kimberly arrives home goes to the kitchen and makes herself a ham and cheese sandwich with mayonnaise. She grabs a lemon-lime soda from the refrigerator and a bag of potato chips from the pantry. She heads upstairs to her bedroom and begins working on her homework.

When Alvin arrives home he goes to the living room where his mother is watching television.

"Good afternoon Mother," Alvin says going to sit beside her.

"Hey darling, how was your day?" Ingrid asks warmly looking him in his eyes.

"It was awesome! My new friends and I harmonized again and it was really groovy."

"That's wonderful sweetheart, I'm glad you're making friends," Ingrid says before kissing his temple.

"How was your day?" Alvin asks shifting in her direction.

Ingrid's smile dissolves and she exhales heavily.

"It was fine until Jason's father came to my job."

"What did he say?"

"It doesn't matter. What's important to me are you and your brother." Ingrid says ruffling Alvin's hair and smiling again.

"I know exactly why he was at your job," Jason says angrily getting their attention.

Jason is leaning against the arch of the living room entrance.

"How long have you speaking to him, son?"

"For a little while now. But I haven't seen him since I was seven years old." Jason says tearfully.

"Your father is a bad man, Jason. You must cease communication."

"Cease communication with the only person who cares about me?! I don't think so."

"He doesn't care about you. He's only using you to glean information" Ingrid says disgusted clenching her fists.

"He's not the bad guy you are," Jason says as his voice cracks.

"What are you talking about?"

"December 23, 1960. We were living in Katie Springs, New York. Somehow the house caught on fire and I screamed for you. I kept screaming for you and y-you never came." Jason sobs as tears stream down his face.

"Your main concern was that mulatto product sitting next to you. It was because of him that you left me to nearly burn alive in that house." Jason says angrily staring Alvin down.

"That's not what happened. I did try to save you but the fire was too great and Alvin's bedroom was more accessible. And don't you dare use that term to describe your brother! Besides you should be praising God for sending that firefighter in to save you."

Ingrid then stands up and walks over to Jason.

"All you're doing is trying to make up for lost time with me with him!"

"Jason that's enough!"

Tears then begin filling Ingrid's eyes.

"I will always hate you for breaking up my father and my mom."

"And I will always hate you for tossing him away for that nigger and leaving me to nearly burn."

This earns him a punch from Ingrid. Jason looks at her as tears continue running down his face.

Ingrid looks at him softly and reaches out to cup his face but he backs away.

"Don't you dare touch me!" Jason hisses before running off upstairs.

Ingrid coves her mouth as her tears finally escape. Alvin gets up and goes and hugs her.

"Don't cry, Mother. That fire wasn't your fault and you did what you could."

Deena arrives home and heads to the kitchen. She makes a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She pours a glass of milk and grabs a granola bar from the pantry. She goes to the dining room and sits down at the table. She places a silk napkin from the dining table in her lap. As she indulges herself Chasity comes into the dining room.

"Look at you. You aren't doing nothing but giving yourself away to obesity. Maybe that will suit you just fine. You are destined for failure. No good fortune will ever befall you. Remember that and ingrain it in your mind." Chasity says harshly before walking over to the table.

She looks Deena over in disgust before slapping her. Deena holds her stinging right cheek while looking at her mother tearfully.

"I don't why that ridiculous father of yours has faith in you. You should do us all a favor and kill yourself. I would personally be filled with joy." Chasity says before walking away.

Deena cries softly and continues eating. When she finishes, she goes to the piano room and sits down at the piano. She takes out her notebook and sets it on the mantle. She clears her throat and begins to press the key in F major.

"I don't know what I ever did to make you hate me. I don't know if it's because of how I look or how I sound. But one thing I'm dying to know is when will God give me my moment to be strong and profound." Deena sings as tears roll down her face.

"Strike, strike, strike. Strike one you stab me in my heart with your words. If I could I would fly away like a white-winged bird. Strike two you grab a knife and you force me to fight for my life. Strike three before you can finish me I push you off and go for a hike. But through it all God knows I'm destined for better and now I'm standing behind a gray mike." Deena wails as tears hit the piano keys.

"I don't know if I will ever attain the strength to take a physical stand, but I will damn sure make my vocal demand. I can't believe you would subject me to this type of abuse. I'm slowly starting to realize I don't have much left of my long fuse. But even though you treat me the way you do you are without a doubt my greatest muse." Deena chuckles as she presses the piano keys.

She closes the lid grabs her notebook and places it in her backpack. She goes to Darwin's study and starts her homework.

Kimberly finishes her homework goes downstairs to the kitchen and washes her plate. As she places the plate on the rack Carol comes into the kitchen and kisses Kimberly's forehead.

"Hey Kim how was school?" Carol asks going to the refrigerator and grabbing cola soda.

Kimberly dries her hands with the gray dish rag on the oven handle.

"It was really refreshing. Alvin, Deena, and I harmonized during our free period. After school, we went to Kingthorn Pier and resumed harmonizing. It was really beautiful. With that being said Danny is really confusing to me and here's why. Before we harmonized together, he wanted to know how high each of our ranges was. He in his own rude way complimented us. Then as we were heading home Alvin suggested we go to Jade Monopoly this weekend. I was all for it but Danny said he had plans and that bummed out Alvin. After he expressed his sadness Danny yelled that he didn't need any damn friends and ran off. I don't know what's going on with him. He has people who are slowly starting to care for him and he keeps creating distance." Kimberly explains leaning against the counter.

"It sounds like he doesn't know how to let his guard down," Carol says opening her soda.

"I don't know but it's starting to irritate me. One minute he's complimenting us the next he's being a jerk. I can't deal with a two-sided coin."

"You shouldn't be so quick to discard. He's probably going through a rough time. When he's ready he'll open up."

"I hope you're right. Hey, do you know what happened to my father?" Kimberly asks looking her mother in her eyes.

"He wasn't the family type. After I became pregnant with you he left."

"I see, well I won't ask about him again."

"No, it's fine. Why are you so interested so suddenly?"

"It's just I haven't seen him since he kidnapped me when I was five. He never apologized for"

Kimberly then shakes her head.

"What were you going to say, Kimberly?"

"Kidnapping me."

"He did that?!"

"Yes ma'am."

Carol walks over and embraces her.

"I'm so sorry Kimberly. As soon as I knew you were gone I rushed to Maryland. I'm just relieved there was no abuse inflicted." Carol sniffles placing her head on Kimberly's.

"I want to thank you for two things." Kimberly sniffles looking up at her mother.

"And what would that be?"

"For rescuing me and not withholding any secrets," Kimberly says as they separate.

"I'm your mother it's in my job. As for not withholding secrets I have no reason to. You're the reason I get up and do what I do."

Carol then kisses Kimberly's forehead.

"I know I just never said thank you. Although I love you falls from my mouth like diarrhea." Kimberly says making Carol chuckle.

"I love you too sweetheart," Carol says before separating.

Kimberly leaves the kitchen and heads to her bedroom.

Carol looks in her direction and purses her lips tearfully.

Darwin pulls into the driveway and puts the car in park. He turns off the engine and removes the key. He grabs his briefcase and opens the door. He locks the doors and shuts the door. He walks up to the front door and inserts his house key in the silver lock. After turning the key to the left he sighs heavily opens the door and goes inside. He shuts the door and locks it. He places his briefcase in a corner near the front door.

"Ladybug I'm home," Darwin says happily.

He goes to the parlor room and sees it's empty. After finding them deserted he goes upstairs to Deena's bedroom and knocks on the door lightly. He peeks into the room and sees it vacant. He then smirks to himself and goes downstairs to his study. When he gets there he sees Deena sitting at his desk with her head resting on top of her arms. Her head is facing the right wall. She's snoring softly. Darwin smiles relieved and walks over to the desk. He shakes her awake. Instantly she gets up and puts up her fists in a defensive fashion.

"Bookworm it's your father."

He sees the faint red mark on his daughter's face and his face becomes scrunched.

"This has gone far enough!" Darwin says before storming out of the study.

Deena follows after him and grabs his arm.

"Father I'm begging you please don't do anything, it's okay."

Darwin looks back at his daughter. He sees her tears and exhales heavily.

"Princess, why are you constantly defending her?"

"I found a therapeutic way of releasing my anger."

"How?"

"Come with me," Deena says taking him by the hand and leading him to the piano room.

When they get there Deena sits down at the piano while Darwin sits down on the chaise lounge. Deena then begins playing the piano in a harsh yet melancholic fashion.

"I thought I knew what it meant to be a daughter. It turns out I haven't done anything but make things hotter. From the moment I laid eyes on you I thought we would be an inseparable force. But instead, I feel like a wild black horse. From that day on I've been belittled and cast aside like a stone. But God up above blessed me with a father who loves me to the bone. You are not worthy to allow the title of mother to fall from your lips. Looking at me with disdain while your hands rest arrogantly on your hips. You always turned the knife in deeper with your sassy hair flips. My excuses for you should end here but I'm unfortunately ruled by goddess fear." Deena sings gazing up at the ceiling.

Darwin sits there speechless as tears brim his lower eyes

"When I'm alone I sometimes wonder why I was born. Being a mother, you're supposed to make me feel loved and wanted. Instead, you left me depressed and forlorn. Every dog has their day and when yours comes I hope God permits you to voice your say. I thought my life was destined for disaster because I was your daughter. For years I thought I was such a painful bother. But ooh I thank God for my loving father" Deena smiles tearfully looking back at Darwin.

"Now here I am at the young age of fifteen. I thought after years of neglect I'd turn to a life of mean but God keeps my heart warm. I hope hearing this song gives you alarm and you find your old buried charm." Deena sings wistfully as tears continue streaming.

"I don't know what I did to deserve a mother like you. But I hope there aren't any children who are enduring the emotional and verbal pain you're putting me through." Deena sings softly with her eyes closed.

"When I'm alone I sometimes wonder why I was born. Being a mother, you're supposed to make me feel loved and wanted. Instead, you left me depressed and forlorn. Every dog has their day and when yours comes I hope God permits you to voice your say. I thought my life was destined for disaster because I was your daughter. For years I thought I was such a painful bother. But ooh I-I thank God for my loving father." Deena wails with an underlying raspiness.

When she finishes she turns around and stands on her feet sniffling.

Darwin reduced to tears gets up and walks over to her and embraces her tightly.

"I had no idea you felt this way. I promise I will protect you from her."

Unbeknownst to them Chasity is standing in the entryway leaning against the wall with her arms folded. She is wearing a light gray silk robe, black slippers, and a black bandanna. Her face is scrunched in disgust.

Danny awakens and goes into the bathroom to wash his face and brush his teeth. When he finishes he takes a shower. An hour later he steps out of the shower and wraps himself in a white towel. He puts on deodorant and goes into his bedroom. The cold breeze slaps his face and pink nipples hard. But he welcomes it nonetheless. After drying himself off he goes to his dresser and pulls out some underwear, white socks, a white t-shirt, and some black jeans.

He goes back into the bathroom and puts on some baby oil. Afterwards, he goes to the closet and puts on a pair of black and white tennis shoes. He finishes off his ensemble with a ripped and faded black jean jacket. He goes and grabs his key from his backpack and heads out the front door. After locking it he goes downstairs and heads to the corner. He leans against the stop sign folding his arms.