Our Perfection

1.

May 6th, 1959

The puddles splash under my feet as I walk along the concrete. I look around me, its dark. It was nearly ten at night when I finished my gig at Diamonds Club. Not the most desirable time to walk home. I would often sing there for money, but tonight was a special event. It was the birthday of the club's owner, Mr. Greggor Adams, to be called by Mr.President by everyone. He is not only a successful business owner, but the leader of Brooklyn's top gang.

The room was completely pitch black with a spotlight centered on the stage. I stepped onto the platform and meekly made my way to the microphone. I couldn't not a soul in sight, but I could tell I had their undivided attention, which unnerved me to the point where the shivers in my spine kept me grounded in my shoes. But none the less, I am a performer, and I will do my job.

"Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday Mr.President,

Happy birthday to you,

Thanks Mr.President for everything you've done,

The battles that you've won,

We thank you so much!"

Applause meets my ears and I exhale, letting out all the worry. Everyone cheers, all but one. The cameras flash and I only see glimpses of him, but I still know. He sits in the front row, right before me with a cigar in his mouth, an unwavering gaze set upon me. Hair as dark as tonight's sky, and his eyes, oh his eyes that can't be described with words. Is he even real?

I know who he is and in this moment can I be glad to say he doesn't know who I am. He worked with the President as a sort of second in command. He has a aura about him, an aura the says power. He take the cigar out, smoke billowing out from his mouth in thick white tendrils. I turn to walk off the stage and push open the door that leads to the backroom. Connor, the manager and bartender, came in with a grin on his face.

"You were amazing just then. Everyone is still clapping for you. I wouldn't be surprised if you found a few extra dollars in tonight's pay."

"Are you serious, Connor?! Thank you so much!" I said.

Connor knows why I need the money so much. Everyone in the neighborhood does. My mother is seriously ill. The doctors don't even know what's wrong with her. My father and I work as hard as we can to pay off the medical bills, but things aren't going so well. I'm always looking for jobs to work. Often times we will have put our whole paycheck towards medical bills, that we can go weeks without food in the fridge. We were in our own kind of depression, but we managed.

I collected my check and went out the front doors where the party was spilling out into. All the while, I felt him staring at me.

I can see the moon reflected in a puddle. As I walked past the gas station I waved at Marge, the cashier. She is a nice old little lady that everyone in the neighborhood adores. Turning around the corner, I stood in front our apartment complex. Walking to my family's small two bedroom apartment, I knocked on the door next ours, where my best friend, Beatrice, lived. I unlocked my door and immediately went to the kitchen. I grabbed the cookie jar off of the top of the fridge and stuck my paycheck in there and placed it back. I hear a door open and soon my father is standing at the entrance.

"How was work?" He asked me.

"It was good. I got paid extra tonight. " I responded.

"That's great, Luci. You work so hard. Maybe you should take a while off and relax."

"Dad, I'm fine, really. Maybe if I work a little harder, nights like this will happen more often." I said.

He gave a dissapproving sigh. In the beginning, he wasn't very happy about having his 13 year old daughter working but now, six years later, he has learned that without my contributions, we'd be on the streets.

"Just don't stay up too late, alright? Goodnight."

I went to my bedroom and waited. Soon enough, Beatrice walked into my room.

"Will you ever knock, Bea?" I teased her.

"Nope. Its not in my nature. I'm intitled to enter wherever I please. Its my right as an american, you know." She rambled on.

"So, how was the President's party?" She asked me.

"Well I didn't stay long, seeing as I wasn't invited," I was hesitant to say what I had to say next and she quickly caught on.

"And? What else happened, I can see you're holding back."

"And when I was done, everyone was clapping but this guy in the front row. He was staring, and I mean staring Bea. I looked in his eyes and I couldn't do a thing. It was like he had a trance over me. It terified and excited me all at the same time. He is like no one I've ever met before. "

Beatrice heaves a sigh and looks at me. "You sound like one of those dopey girls who've found love. Do you know who he was?"

"Zayn Malik."

Bea's eyes widened when I said his name. l guess she's heard of him. l mean, how could you not?

"Luci, you had better stay away from him. He's bad news, you know what everyone says about him and the people he hangs out with. I don't want you getting caught up in gang stuff." She said.

I snuggled my pillow into my chest. I just couldn't grasp that such a man is a tyrant. Actually, I can't think at all. I'm dead tired and I need to sleep.

"Well, this has been a nice chat. I'm gonna go to sleep now and I'll see you tomorrow." Bea walked over to the door while I layed down to sleep. But before she left, Bea turned to and said,

"Promise me you won't get involved with him? I just want you to be safe." she pleaded.

I sighed. I just really wanted to sleep. "I promise you, with everything I have, I will not get 'involved with him'. Later, yeah?" and with that, she left and I fell into my subconscious dreams.

The next morning I wake and sit up right in bed. I stretch my arms above my head. It feels like a usual day. I walked into the family area to see my mother sitting on the couch with a cup of rising steam cradled in her hands. That's not a sight I see everyday.

"Mom, what are you doing out of bed? You should be laying down, getting your rest." I said.

She gave me weary and tired smile. " I needed to get out that room. Fresh air. Maybe we could even go outside today. A family adventure to the park?"

I rested my hand on her shoulder. " Yeah. We could have an afternoon picnic if your up to it. But right now I've got to go. I said to Mr. Walters that I'd watch his kids while he worked this morning." I explained.

'Where's dad?" I asked her.

"He's already left for work. He'll be back in about two hours time."

I kissed her cheek, walked out the apartment, double checked the lock and went on my way to Mr. Walters house.