playdead

Chapter Twenty

Henry woke up and smelled burning wood.

It's amazing how many Ku Klutz Klan members lived in their community. Everyday it seemed like they would show up at their house and burn crosses and shout racial slurs, hoping to scare the Washington family away from Nevada.

Henry's dad worked at the NVPD, case and point he arrested every one of them dirty, pointy idiots.

Henry was scared the one or two times they did this. Now it's the thirty-second time. He guessed that token black folks scared them and therefore, wanted them to leave.

Henry showered, dressed in usual fashion, and went to the front window where his dad stood. He was wearing baggy Nike training pants and a tank top. He sipped on a coffee mug and sighed, looking at the burning cross and the chanting weirdos.

"There they go again," Henry's dad said. "Like they always do. Ain't nothing gonna make them just leave us alone!"

"For sure, dad." Henry replied.

Henry knew his dad lost his temper. He put down his coffee mug and went to his room. He heard his dad rummage around for a bit, and come out holding a gun. A black L-shaped gun.

Henry's heart dropped. And his dad could tell.

"Hen, it's just a BB gun. I'mma just scare 'em a bit." Henry's dad smiled. Henry sighed, relieved.

He yanked the door open, and aimed the BB gun at the folks.

"GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE BEFORE A BUST A CAP IN YALL! GET!" Henry's dad shouted.

The cult members screamed and ran away.

Henry laughed hard. He laughed until he laid on the ground, crying, heaving air, trying to breathe because of his laughter.

Henry's dad laughed too, closing the door and locking it. He tossed the gun aside and shook his head.

"You have a weird sense o' humor, Hen." Henry's dad told him, chuckling.

The yellow poka-dotted phone rang on the wall. Henry's dad went over and answered it.

"Washington house. ...Yeah. ...No, he's with me right now. ...Hm. I'll tell him that. ...Thanks. Bye." Henry's dad said, putting the phone back.

"Who was it?" Henry asked.

"Some kid. Tellin' me if you can hang out today, at Michaels Park." Henry's dad said.

"Can I go?" Henry asked.

"Of course! I'll drop you of there," Henry's dad said. "Let me get a shirt and my keys, though."

Henry waited outside for his dad to come out, with a Malcolm X shirt and his keys. He nodded his head to a Chevy and got in. So did Henry.

Henry's dad drove out of the drive way and rode to the park, that was fairly nearby.

"Aye, wanna go get some ice creams next Friday?" Henry's dad asked. "I get paid that day."

"Sure dad. Or, a movie." Henry said.

"We're not seeing Die Hard." Henry's dad said, smiling.

"Oh cmon!" Henry said.

Henry made it to the park. At 10 o'clock in the morning, the park wasn't very populated. There was the occasional joggers and people walking their dogs. Henry steppes out and looked back inside the car before shutting the door.

"You're gonna have to walk back later Hen, sorry." Henry's dad said.

"Nah it's fine. I got fists of steel if any low life wanna try and run up on me." Henry said.