FACADE

22| NYE Part 02

PAECYN

Even though we waited for Kemp to calm down and join us before we left, he didn't. So now it's just one car of myself, Jacen, Bailey, Neem and Kyan.

"Why you never say a Portmore?" Kyan and Neem are still going at it.

"You have man a Portmore? Why you so concerned 'bout where if you mother deh home?"

"Me nahv no man a no Portmore," Kyan mumbles her voice slightly high pitched.

Me wah help her but my mind is stuck on the HIV pill bottle. The way his mother sounded and the fact that she needs a nurse, I'm starting to think she might have AIDS.

Two completely different stages of the virus. HIV is much, mucchhhh more manageable but nevertheless, a still HIV.

*Especially to Jamaicans*

I start recalling all the times Kemp has been angry, sad, snappy, drunk, depressed, secluded and even embarrassed by simple things.

*That one time in first form when me ask him weh him go doctor fah*

I cringe at the memory, remembering me ask the people dem pikny if a AIDS him have. I doubt he even knew at that point, 'cause he was never this sad. Those days he was funny, happy and high off life.

I remember when Jacen would use his allowance to buy him groceries, way before his mother suddenly got all that money.

*You really never know with people*

Even if you're close to them.

My eyes follow the moving trees out the window. Jacen's speeding, while trying to get Paw I think, on the phone.

"Man just nah pick up him phone," he hisses. "Him ago mek Dadz tell me turn back."

"Well if it no safe, we might as well no gah no Portmore," Kyan sneaks in her suggestion.

Neem hisses.

Kyan has it in her head that Vermon deh every weh a Portmore one time. I'm sure he won't be at no damn bonfire on New Year's Eve though. Big people must go sleep and rest fi Sandz or supm.

"Nah, me good. The shadow dem deh yah same way," he reminds her.

"Pae?" he glimpses at me.

I look to him.

"Open the glove compartment..." he speaks, with his eyes on the road— one hand on the wheel and another on his second cellphone.

I smile... watching him like this a do supm to me.

*Love man so?*

Only this one...

"The compartment Pae," he glances at me, smiling.

I snap out of it before pressing the down-arrow for it to fly open.

I–

*Wah this pah me?*

"Just take it out. No clip no in deh," he coaches me.

"Clippppp?" Kyan sounds more excited than shocked.

"Dat me hear him say too," Bailey whispers.

I reach in, and my fingers brush the metal before I attempt to lift it out– carefully avoiding the trigger.

*Heavy!*

Right? Me nuh know why but I never thought it would be this heavy. Heavy yes, but not so.