Marriage Mayhem (10 page)

Karen actually never looked his way nor spoke to him.

Jewell didn't have too much to say to her sister either, simply because she was fed up with Karen's unnecessary shit. Each time Karen relapsed or went to jail Jewell would get stuck with her kids.

Jermaine and Karen sat with the kids a couple of hours and then dismissed themselves to continue taking care of their unfinished business.

Jermaine then took Karen to see her psychiatrist and to get a refill of medication.

Afterward, Karen led Jermaine back to Pasadena to find the crack dealer that she had pawned his Mustang to. She knew exactly where to find him. The crack dealer told Jermaine that he had fronted Karen four hundred dollars in crack in exchange for two weeks' use of the vehicle.

“Y'all ain't gonna beat me out of my time, aw hell naw. Somebody's gotta come up with some serious cheese or I'm keepin' till I get paid in full. That's it and that's all, homey,” said the drug dealer.

“Why you tryin' to—”

“Be quiet, Karen, and let me handle this,” said Jermaine, interrupting her. He could tell by the tone of her voice that she was about to say something disrespectful that may possibly get him in some shit. He then peeled off eight one-hundred-dollar-bills and handed them to the dealer.

“That's what I'm talkin' about,” replied the dealer, handing Jermaine the keys. The man then walked away.

Jermaine then instructed Karen to follow him in the Beamer. He wanted to make sure his Mustang ran the same.

While following Jermaine back to Lancaster, Karen began thinking,
Damn, he really does love me. I better stay on the right track and treat this man with love and respect before someone else gets him. There are plenty of women out there that would love him, respect him, and appreciate him for who he is and for his position in life, especially when he doesn't mind taking care of their kids. I better check myself before I wreck myself.

Their next stop was a live-in drug program located in Palmdale, California. The reason that Karen had knowledge of the program was because a judge had sentenced her to a year there a year and a half earlier. She completed the program, but after a few days on the streets and being influenced by her crackhead boyfriend she started smoking again.

The program was privately owned and operated by two heavyset African American lesbians named Gina and Pat. When Karen was there previously the State of California owned the place, but seven months earlier the place was up for grabs and fortunately Gina and Pat not only had the money to buy it, but also met the requirements to operate it. The reason Karen had suggested that particular program was because the staff liked her and helped her and even lied for her to get her out of a few jams. She knew that they would show her love, or simply turn their heads if she happened to get herself in any adverse situation.

After Karen and Jermaine completed the paperwork, Gina and Pat began laying down their rules and regulations in a rigid and direct manner.

“During your first thirty days you will not leave the program under any circumstances,” said Pat, decisively, giving Karen a solid look. Then she continued.

“There is absolutely zero tolerance here for drugs, alcohol, or any form of sexual activity. There is no horseplaying or fighting! You cannot receive any visits, under no circumstances, until your thirty days are up. Do your chores and assignments as instructed! Lights out at ten PM and everyone here must be out of bed by seven AM. Once working, that is after your thirty days are up, your rent must be paid on time or late charges will incur. Failure to comply with these rules and regulations will result in an automatic termination of program, and your probation officer will be immediately notified.”

Karen sensed that she was not going to get along with Pat or Gina, but she was willing to try her best.

“Okay, sir, you can go now,” Gina said to Jermaine.

Jermaine then sat down the two duffel bags filled with Karen's belongings at her side, and then kissed her goodbye.

“Jermaine, you can't imagine how much I really love you,” Karen said, as he walked away.

“You're just like the rest of them,” interrupted Gina. “None of y'all don't even know how to love yourselves, so how in the hell can you love someone else?”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard what I said, I didn't stutter. I can already tell that I'm gonna have problems with you. You must have one of those short-people complexes or something. I don't know why most short people have big mouths. And sir, I told you that you can go. Come back in thirty days, that is, if she doesn't get any write-ups that could keep her inside thirty additional days,” Gina said, holding her hands on her hips.

“I love you too, sweetheart,” Jermaine responded before exiting the building.

Pat then escorted Karen to her room.

During his ride home Jermaine entertained the thought of finding a local truck driving job. He figured that might be a major factor in getting his marriage back on the right track. He partially blamed himself for Karen's relapse due to his absence.

The following day Jermaine applied and was hired driving for Albertsons supermarket. Because of his experience and good driving record they started him with $18.50 an hour, which was a little less than he was making driving cross-country, but it was enough to pay his bills and was also enough for him to drop at least a thousand in his savings account each paycheck. He was scheduled to begin work in three days. By then Albertsons would have received the results from his background and drug test.

While sitting on his mother's porch under the influence of alcohol and PCP, Tyrone was contemplating on how to kill Karen for what she had done to him. He refused to put her out of his mind until he dealt with her. He and his homeboys drove to Lancaster twice a week hoping to see Karen, but had not run across her.

“That bitch can run, homey, but she can't hide forever!” Tyrone said to his homeboys.

Boldly, a couple times he had even gone back to Denise's apartment to ask if they had seen her.

“We haven't seen her,” Denise said to him.

“Hey man, no disrespect to you or your crew, but I appreciate if you don't come here anymore. I understand how you feel about what Karen did to you, but on the other hand I feel that you are disrespecting me and my house by coming here. After all, man, you did shoot me. I just can't forget about it the way you think I should,” explained Maurice.

“I feel you, homey,” Tyrone replied. “But one thing I ain't into is kissin' ass, you know what I'm sayin'. I do things gangsta style, cuz, regardless of how the results might turn out, you know what I'm sayin'. Just thank God you living', nigga. Put that shit behind you, cuz, that's all I'm sayin', nigga. But if you see that bitch, holla at me. I gotta keep it gangsta, cuz. I don't care what time of day or night it is, just holla at me. Here's my cell number. Like I said the last time I was here, homey; I apologize for shooting you, and I don't mean any disrespect to your crib or family. I'm just out to get that bitch, cuz.”

Tyrone and his crew then walked away.

Denise or Maurice did not feel good about accepting Tyrone's number, but what the hell; they also wanted revenge on Karen. They felt that Karen had betrayed and deceived them and wanted to see something drastic happen to her.

Tyrone continuously shouted from his mother's porch.

“I'm gonna kill that bitch, cuz! She fucked me up for life, and I guarantee you that bitch gonna get what's comin' to her, in a real way!” Tyrone yelled, feeling a streak of pain in his penis.

“I'm gonna kill that bitch, cuz!”

His penis was so sore that he hadn't had sex since Karen sliced it. The doctors had told him that it would probably take close to six months for his wounds to completely heal. They recommended no sex or masturbation. Killing Karen was definitely on Tyrone's mind.

Just as Karen had anticipated, she did not get along with Gina, Pat, or any of the women in the program. Because Karen only stood four foot two, she felt that people always tried to take advantage of her. Regardless of her height, her favorite saying was, “Dynamite comes in small packages!”

After Jermaine had departed the rehab program that day, Gina entered Karen's room.

“I know you've been out in the streets and haven't been keeping up your hygiene, so first and foremost, I want you to take a shower. And make sure you wash your ass thoroughly,” Gina instructed.

Trying to keep the peace and comply, Karen did what she was asked to do.

Gina followed her to the shower, and then stood there watching Karen undress and shower. Gina instantly got wet between her legs watching Karen lather herself up. Her imagination began running wild as she visualized herself making love to Karen.

“Can I have some privacy, Gina?” Karen asked, noticing the look in Gina's eyes.

“When I'm ready for you to have some privacy, you'll have it. Until then, you little tramp-bitch, this is my world and don't you forget it,” replied Gina, matter-of-factly.

“I feel uncomfortable. I'm strictly dickly, you know. And even if I wasn't, I would never fuck around with a fat, ugly bitch like you.”

“Let me tell you something, you little sawed-off piece of shit; I can make your life a living hell while you're here, or I can make it contented, so you really don't want to get on my bad side.” Gina then walked away.

The following morning after breakfast, Pat instructed Karen to clean up the kitchen, the bathroom, rake the leaves in the backyard, and afterward work with the cooks to begin preparing the evening meal for the residents in the program. Karen was furious. She felt that this was a payback for rejecting Gina. The worse part about it was that she had forgotten to take her medication, which meant that she was momentarily mentally off-balance.

“What kind of shit is this? Is this a form of initiation, payback, or what?” Karen yelled, directing her question toward Gina and Pat.

“Listen,” Pat said. “You do what we instruct you to do while you're here!”

“Unh-unh, y'all got me twisted! Both of y'all overweighted, mongoose-looking lesbian bitches can kiss my yellow ass! I'm outta here,” Karen yelled. Then she stormed to her room and began packing her belongings.

Minutes later, Karen stormed out of the rehab center, toting her bags. Being in the middle of the desert, the nearest telephone booth was close to two miles away, but driven by anger, Karen made it there. Aggravated by the long, hot walk, and by what had taken place at the rehab center, Karen dialed Jermaine's cell number.

“I've left the program, baby.”

“You did what?”

“I refuse to put up with a bunch of bitches hating on me and disrespecting me!”

“What are you talking about, Karen?”

“Just come and get me, okay? I'm hot, frustrated, and feeling dehydrated, and I haven't taken my medication, so please hurry before I fall out,” Karen said.

Luckily Jermaine's shift did not start until four p.m. That gave him three hours.

Karen then phoned her probation officer to inform her of what had taken place at the rehabilitation center. She definitely had to cover her ass. Trying to be of assistance, Mrs. Carter gave Karen telephone numbers to a couple more programs.

“Karen, I know how bad that mouth of yours is, and I know how defensive and feisty you can be at times. Keeping that in mind, I'm about to call and find out exactly what took place. Don't hang yourself, Karen, you're already walking on thin ice,” replied Mrs. Carter.

“I'm not lying, Mrs. Carter, and I wish that people would stop judging me by my past.”

“Until you prove to me that you are a 100 percent changed person, I've got to call it like I see it and call it like your record reflects.”

“Whatever,” Karen answered, and then hung up.

When Jermaine arrived, Karen had already called both of the rehabs and made a decision to check into the rehab in Lancaster. The name of the program was The Straight Way.

After filling out the necessary paperwork and agreeing to the rules and regulations, Karen then went to her assigned room and got settled. So far so good. She sensed no arrogance or superiority in the staff members she had met so far, and the residents she'd met seemed to be cool and down-to-earth. After taking a nice, hot shower, and putting away her belongings, Karen decided to go to the auditorium and listen to a speaker who used to be an addict. He was speaking on his trials and tribulations; how his life was today as opposed to how it was when he was in his addiction.

Practically all the residents attended and were giving the speaker their undivided attention. Already, Karen liked this place.

“I was lost and turned out, my people,” said the speaker. “I was living for a high and nothing more. Everything I did and planned to do was aimed toward getting a hit. In the beginning stages of my addiction it bothered me to associate myself with street people, gang members, and drug dealers, but after awhile I had gotten use to it. I didn't care who I was with, how they looked, or where we got high at. I smoked crack inside of service station restrooms, behind trash cans, in vacant houses, walking down the streets, in dangerous alleys, in cars whether they were parked or moving, and I even took a hit once inside my grandparents' house, who were both Christians. I've had sex with two-dollar whores, with fifty-dollar whores, and with women that only wanted a can of beer for some sex. At that time in my life none of that type of stuff bothered me not one bit. I've stole from my parents and relatives, and from the people who really loved and cared about my well-being. But I didn't care what I did or who got hurt behind my actions as long as I got me a hit. I have disappointed so many people who believed in me, but today, thanks to God and my awakening and my acceptance to repent, I have been clean and sober for six and a half years now. God woke me up one Sunday morning and led me to a church and then straight to the altar. Ever since that day I have been a changed man. Today I appreciate my life and I give all the thanks and glory to God.”

The speech reminded Karen of herself. She related to everything the speaker had said. Afterward, she suddenly wanted to study her Bible, but first she decided to go take her medication.