Summer Of Love

Part 10

July 3, 1967

"My babies."  Tina hugged Darren and Jackie.  "How are y'all doing?"  They were at the airport.

"We're doing good, Mama."  Jackie told her.

"And Darren, what about you, sweetheart?"  Tina asked.  "You doing good?"

"Just fine, Mama."  Darren told her.  "But did you really have to come all the way from Indiana just to check up on us?"

"I sure did."

Rico grabbed Tina's luggage.  "Tina, how was your flight?"

"Turbulent.  But I'm just glad to be here to see my babies."

"Well come on."  Rico told her.  "Let's go."

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"Nigga, can you believe Dorothy Mae finally wants to get it on with me?"  Chris's friend Greg told him.

"About damn time, nigga."  Chris said.  "You've been going with her for what -- five, six months now?"

"Seven, nigga.  And I can't wait to get up in that snappy nappy."

Chris then sees a familiar homeless man on the street, drinking liquor from a paper bag.  "Look, Greg.  I'm about to go holler at Grady for a second.  I'll talk to you later.  Alright?"

"Alright."  Greg shook Chris's hand, as he walked away.

"Ayo, Grady."  Chris approached the homeless man.  "What's happening, man?  I ain't seen you around here for a while."

"You know how it is, man."  Grady told Chris.  "Got to move around places, so the government won't find me."

"The government?"  Chris was surprised to hear.

"Yeah, man.  They got spies everywhere.  And they'll kill you.  Just like they did your daddy."

"Wait.  What?  Are you saying the government killed my pops?"

"Do you really think a good man like Darryl would just end his life like that?  No.  He was on to something.  And when them spies found out, they killed him right in his car.  And made it look like a suicide."

"Who killed him?  What were their names?"

"Now if I tell you them spies might come for you, too.  And Chris, I don't think I can handle your death on my conscience."

"Man, fuck."  A mad Chris said.  "Why ain't nobody telling me nothing about my father's death?"

"It's for your safety, nigga."

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"You and your sister got nice rooms."  Tina said to Darren, as she went into his bedroom.

"Thanks, Mama."  Darren said.

"Look, I didn't come in here to talk about your room."

"I figured as much."

"Look, I'ma level with you, Darren.  I'm worried about you."

"But you don't have to be."

"Your sister tells me you're still hanging around with that Ricky character who got you high as a kite a couple weeks back."

"I am."

"Well didn't your father forbid you to never see him again?"

"Well yes.  But I'm almost grown, Mama.  I can hang around who I want to hang around."

"You're barely seventeen, boy.  You're not grown.  And furthermore, I ought to slap your mouth for sassing me."

"Sorry, Mama."