Simple Man

- FIVE -

"Now, Meghan—I didn't let her in. She wouldn't take no for an answer." Kahuna, the house-sized bouncer, said getting up from his tiny stool as soon as he spotted Iyana coming.

"She's nine." Iyana retorted as she slammed the door to the rust bucket that was the El Camino and brushed past him. "She's small enough you could have punted her like a football."

"Yeah but she's hard to catch and you know I don't run." Kahuna said, sounding out of breath at the mere prospect of it.

Iyana rolled her eyes before she surveyed her surroundings. Ozzy's Backwater Dive was a hole in the wall but it sat right up against the bank of the Ouachita River. The only way to it was to go off road on the outskirts of Juniper. It always seemed like it was mid-December walking into this two-story shack of wood and metal. Ozzy had decorated for Christmas about a decade ago but never got around taking anything down, that sounds like a joke but that's exactly what happened.

Iyana knew better than to think Kyra was trying to pass as twenty-one for a brew. She knew Kyra just liked to let off steam playing the old arcade games Ozzy had or since she was now barely tall enough she sometimes could be found shooting pool with the twin bouncers, Vin and Taz. They taught her and she would never admit it to Kyra but she wasn't half bad. That all being said, Ozzy's was still no place for someone Kyra's age. Iyana spotted the girl as she pocketed number six. "Here we go." Iyana heard Kahuna sigh as he walked back to his stool, smart enough to mind his own damn business.

It was only now getting to be five in the evening and Ozzy's already didn't have an empty seat in sight. Every head turned their attention to Iyana and immediately she thought of the danger Kyra put them in. All these eyes made Iyana feel uneasy because for every pair of eyes that was one more witness that could identify them. Iyana preferred to maintain a low profile. Thankfully, none of these people had a mind to interfere in this matter because it wasn't like it the first time. It made Iyana equally uneasy having to all the sudden be a parental figure of sorts to a child. It was a trait that didn't feel like it came naturally to her since she had never actively sought to have children of her own. And Kyra certainly didn't make figuring any of this out any easier. Iyana thought it had to be karma for being such a hellion to her own mama.

"You come here like I don't know where to find you little girl, you aren't slick." Iyana said as she snatched Kyra by the arm, she wanted to snatch her bald-headed but thought it best not to make too much of a scene.

"Aw! Meg! Please, I'm about to win..." Kyra pleaded.

"No, you're done. Say your goodbyes. We're out of here. Move it." Iyana pushed Kyra toward the door, the thunder rolling in the distant punctuating her commands.

"Geez, okay— okay..." Kyra's hands went up in surrender before she turned around, "It's been real but we out— catch you later big man." She said exchanging a fist bump with a Kahuna, he returned it but quickly dropped his large fist when he caught Iyana's glare.

Iyana walked past Kyra and opened up the passenger side door, "Olivia Breault, get in the car, now." She demanded quietly, curtly nodding her head toward the car. She was in no mood to play around.

"Yes Auntie Meg." Kyra said sarcastically as she got in, she knew Iyana hated being called Meg.

Iyana slammed the door before Kyra could say another stupid thing and dig herself in any deeper than she already was.

"I wouldn't want to be her right about now," Kahuna commented from his seat on the porch.

"Next time—punt her." She instructed the bouncer, making a kicking motion as she made her way around the car and got in, Kahuna just laughed.