One would think that after having a beer bottle hurled toward your head, you would want to get as far away as possible, but not Adela Stitch. Adela was as stubborn as the lid on a brand new spaghetti jar, and she was going to get her money from James Stitch. She pushed Jason gently aside and brushed the dirt from her blue jeans. This time she marched to the door. James was still there propped in the door frame, wiping frantically at his bloody nose with his blue paisley handkerchief that he got at a garage sale. Jimmy's blow had caused the bleeding to drip all the way down James' white tank top and onto his yellow nylon shorts.
"So James. How much are ya gonna give me?"
"I told you lady, I ain't got nothing"
"Well that be the case I will just take your keys to the Harley."
Adela walked over to the beautiful red 1957 Panhead chopper that was parked in his covered spot #204, which James paid an extra rental fee each month, to help keep the Harley in near mint condition. James Stitch had hardly anything of any value, but he had this. He didn't ride it and never did. He washed it, waxed it and stared at it from his plastic .99 cent Walmart chair from his tiny apartment porch.
"Not the Harley." James squealed like a little girl. "I may have some money in the sock drawer."
The "sock drawer" was James'private alcohol stash that he surreptitiously hid from his current wife Melody. It was a small black metal cash box that he kept under his bed among his yearbooks and boring motorcycle magazines. James offered the prized box to Adela. Once opened, it revealed only $250 in small bills. Adela laughed. "Seriously James? That Harley is worth at least $20,000 and you want me to settle for this, not even enough for one month's rent, never mind the four months I owe, nor the ten years of child support you owe me."
Meanwhile Jedidiah was tossing and turning on the couch. Usually after saving lives and souls, he had no problem sleeping midday. God had different plans for Jedidiah today, however. Jed slept for approximately 20 minutes, just enough time to dream. This time, he saw a girl. She was not much older than he with long black hair and a beautiful delicate face. Her hair was flowing as if she was a mermaid. Though her delicate face soon turned an awfuil shade of pale blue. She was not swimming nor struggling to do so, she was simply floating.
Jedidiah had never learned to swim, never even went to a public pool, lake or beach. This was odd for a child who grew up on the California coast, but Jedidiah was an odd child. He wasn't sure how, but he knew that he needed to dive in and save this drowning girl.
Jed got off the couch and looked in his backpack. He didn't think he would need the remaining items, but God had a funny way of surprising him so he left the contents alone. He found a pair of shorts that would have to serve as a bathing suit and put them on and then found a small worn towel to add to the backpack. Then he kneeled to pray.
Mai Lin is actually 2 months shy of 13. Her family moved to San Francisco 3 years ago from Nanjin, a large city in Eastern China. Mai's family owned a business and was very hard working, but Mai had a rebellious streak in her.
Mai did not know how to swim, but Troy Winters did. Troy was her parent's worst nightmare and part of the reason why Mai was so attracted to him. He was in the 8th grade and on the basketball team and most importantly, he was white. Mai was in the 7th grade and absolutely forbidden to date and especially not allowed to fraternize with white boys. Mai thought Troy was inviting her on a date to the community pool. Troy had other plans. Troy pretended to like Mai, but he secretly loathed her and all the chinks. He overhead Mai telling her friend Gloria that she couldn't swim and he created a plan.
Mai glided gracefully past the Budda statues that glared from each room. She silently slithered to the front door. Her mama was out on the porch tending to their tiny herb garden. Her baba was at the family's dry cleaning business so neither parent heard her leave.
Mai skipped the 4 blocks to the community pool towel swinging wildly in hand. Troy, however, was hiding behind the stairwell just inside the door. He was equally excited.
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