A Thousand and One Nights in Atlanta

Part 6 (Beginning of Party)

          The sky is clear and gloomy. The nighttime is peaceful and calm. You can see the city lights glow like fireflies in the night. The Dodge Challenger Hellcat engine whines as Je'Rae speeds on the highway passing slower cars while making his way toward the mansion. On the inside of the Hellcat, the dashboard displays the speed of the car, 100 mph. Fast-paced rap music oozes from the car. Je'Rae grips the steering wheel with his left hand as he checks his GPS with his right hand. The GPS tells him to take the next exit. He slows down so he can take the dimly lit highway exit.

          "The destination is on your right." Says the GPS.

          "Whewww, it's a lot of cars here."

          Je'Rae pulls up to the valet stand and waits for somebody to walk back to the stand. The car growls as it sits stationary. Je'Rae admires the interior of the car. The ambient lighting flows around like a multicolored lava lamp. The lights stretch from the driver-side door, across the glovebox, and to the passenger door. He turns the light to an energetic green color.

          The valet knocks on the window. "Do you have a ticket?" Asked the man.

          Je'Rae lets the window down and hands the man his phone. The man takes the phone and scans the electronic ticket.

          "You want to find a place to park, or you want me to park it?" the man asks as he hands the phone back.

          "That's okay I can find a park. Thank you." Replies Je'Rae.

           Je'Rae revs the car and cruises down the street and parks underneath a streetlight between a Mercedes Benz G-Wagon and a Mercedes Benz GLS. He gets out fixes and straightens the black Brioni suit. He crouches to tie the strings to his black and white Off-white "Out of Office" sneakers. He opens the back seat and grabs his masquerade mask. He locks the car and begins walking down the street as he adjusts the mask.

          He says to himself, "I just hope this goes well."

          He walks towards the mansion and stops in his tracks. He admires the enormous 1990s European-styled mansion. The windows light up like a jack-o-lantern in late October. Je'Rae pulls out his phone and texts Milo. I made it safely twin; I'll keep you updated. He turns his phone off and slides it into his suit coat along with E'Nique's wallet. Early 2000s R&B music spew from the door and windows as he approaches the mansion.

          Je'Rae is greeted at the door by a tall, brunette woman with a soft Swedish accent.

          "Drinks?"

          "No ma'am I'm good." Je'Rae responds softly and smiles, "Do you know by chance where E'Nique is-"

          The woman walks off holding a plate with a champagne bottle and glasses on top and greets other guests.

          Je'Rae walks around and stares at the sparkling raindrop-shaped chandelier. The chandelier twinkles as the lights reflect off the glass.

          "Je'Rae! Je'Rae! Over here!" A group yells out.

          Je'Rae looks around puzzled. Everybody has masks on. How did I get recognized? A group of women and gentlemen waves him over. Je'Rae slowly walks over.

          "Yes?"

          "Je'Rae youn remember us?!" The group takes their masks off.

          Oh crap, it's them. I gotta be nice. What should I say? Je'Rae battles internally within himself.

          "O-M-GEE! Hi Myra! Hi Naomi! What's up, Seamus! What's up, Cedric!" Je'Rae says sarcastically excitedly, "I thought I was going to be alone at this party."