THE NIKEL chapter 11

Life saw Obrey and Amad as they walked up to the entrance to The Nikel together. Amad was fashionably dressed in an oversized dark brown sweater with a pair of tan slacks and dark brown leather shoes. Obrey had her head wrapped in a multicolored fabric. She had a pair of faded jeans on with white frayed strands on the legs, a dress and a pair of platform shoes. Music came from the club as Life and Rock stood outside and checked out the women who passed by in short skirts and dresses.

Obrey and Amad walked past Life and Rock. Life saw Obrey and was attracted to her in a way he didn't remember being when they first met months ago at the video shoot. Their eyes met. Amad stopped to shake Life's hand.

"Hey, what's up, Life? Amad."

"Hey." Life responded and tried not to look over at Obrey too soon.

"Hey, Life, how you been? It's been a long time." Obrey said as she extended her hand to shake his.

"Yeah, yeah, I've been good. Um, good seeing you. Take care."

Life stared at Obrey as she and Amad walked away. She turned around and saw that he was still staring at her and made sure that Life saw her take Amad's hand. Rock looked at Obrey and shook his head. Life laughed with him, but when Rock looked away, he stopped laughing and continued to stare.

Rock and Life went into The Nikel and greeted many people as they walked back to The Say. They tried to break through the crowd to get past the bar. Life saw Hannibal with four beautiful women coming out of The Say as they were going in.

"Hey, what's up, Ball?"

Those around Hannibal moved in close to him while he spoke. Hannibal responded as he held up a full glass. "You can laugh, or you can work, but you aint really livin' till you doin' both at the same time, see?" There were a few seconds of silence. The silence was broken with everyone around him laughing.

Rock stared at the beautiful women who were with Hannibal. He looked at them, then back at Hannibal, then back at the women. Hannibal was Inglewood's modern day sage. People laughed at joked about the old West Indian who was always surrounded by beautiful women but they respected him. However crazy they thought he was they knew that he was the man responsible for bringing jobs into the community for many people. He was the one who elevated the careers of a lot of the comedians and rappers who hung around the club. He was the one who helped many of the rapers get their hustle on. Hannibal was the one who taught them how to fish and eat forever.

They went into The Say and Life looked on the stage. He asked Rock who the comedian was who was on. Rock told him that he was a comic from the Bay. "New cat, makin' a little noise. Gotta little style." The comedian's name was Lion. He was doing more than making a little noise with a little style. Life had seen him on television a few times and was impressed when he saw him. He was young, fresh, hip and reminded him of himself when he was new in the game. Hungry. They watched as Lion performed. The packed crowd laughed very hard. There was a group of comedians who were bad talking Lion. Bits of their conversations were heard up to the front of the room. They began to talk really loud and disturb Lion's set. But Lion was young, new and not from the area and knew enough to know not to direct any comments to them. He kept his focus and rocked the show. He knew that the only people he needed to impress were Willow and the crowd. He knew that he could do that if he kept the crowd laughing and respected the light, which was the comedian's universal cue to wrap it up. He played the game and Willow was impressed, through though she wouldn't say.

Willow approached Life and told him that he was up next. "And watch the light because I wanna put more people up." She quickly walked away because she saw another comedian talking to a group of women. When she approached him he kept talking to the women and didn't even acknowledge Willow. "Ok, give me a minute." He said. Willow walked away frustrated. "I'll be at the bar." She rolled her eyes as she walked away.

Life walked in the restroom nervous about following Lion. He looked at himself in the mirror and started pumping himself up. "You trippin'! Stop trippin'!" He rapped lyrics from his last hit. Two men came in talking about Lion and laughing very hard. One of the men repeated Lion's jokes and they started laughing again. Neither of the men noticed Life right in front of them. Life walked past the two men and they seemed not to notice he was there. Saundra was right. He did like it.

Outside of the men's restroom, Life leaned against a wall for a moment. He walked back to The Say. Essence was back on stage about to bring him up. He looked at the crowd from the side of the stage and noticed Obrey sitting a at a table with Amad. He saw her look back at him. Life smiled and waved at her. When Obrey looked over at Amad she noticed he was staring at her with a scowl on his face.

"Yeah! Keep it going for Lion!" Essence said. The crowd cheered. "He is blowing up on the comedy scene. And to all y'all insecure hater comics in the back makin' all the noise during his set, who don't have half his talent or creativity, it would do you all some good to come up to the front row while he's up!" The crowd clapped and the hater comics stared at them with smirks. "The is a room for artists to work out and try to grow. If y'all can't handle that, step! Now, having said that, let me keep the show goin' and the energy flowin'. This next brotha ripped it up last week, and he's back to do it again. Put your hands together for your friend and mine...Life!" The crowd cheered.

Amad leaned into Obrey and whispered in her ear. She looked disappointed. Life ran on stage. During his set he heard Amad call for the waitress really loud and look at Life. He easily got into his rhythm but still saw Obrey go back and interrupt Willow talking to another comic and give her a hug as if she was about to leave.

As she walked away, Willow shook her head. Life got off stage and the crowd cheered. Life walked into the men's room and wiped his face and exhaled. He exited the restroom to go into the hallway. He looked around to see if he could catch Obrey beore she left. Just then Saundra tapped him on the shoulder. "You lookin' for me?"

He nervously responded, "Hey, baby." As he gave Saundra a hug, he saw Obrey outside talking to Willow. Amad was next to her talking to a friend of his. "Excuse me for just a moment." He said to her.

"Where are you going so fast?"

"I'll be right back."

A woman stopped Life to talk to him. Bec saw him and came up to them. She stood directly in front of the woman with her (Rebecca's) back to her and began to speak to him. The other woman gave Rececca a dirty look and walked away.

"Ok. Ok. That was a great set. I talked to the people over at The Link and they were very excited about your read through the other day."

Life wasn't in the mood to speak with Bec. Recbecca was a thrity-six year old white woman who often used outdated black slang. "A new spot has just opened up on Melrose and it's really cracking. It's the bomb and we need to get down there and represent..."

She continued to speak but he only heard muffled sounds coming from her. After a brief period, he siad, "Bec, I need to catch soeone outside. Give me a sec."

"I'm talking!"

Life saw Amad and Obrey in the street about to drive off. Amad was in the driver's seat saying goodbye to his friend and Obrey was in the passenger's seat, facing The Nikel, speaking to Willow. Life heard Amad pull off as Willow yelled to her, "Call me, girl!"

Willow walked back into The Nikel.

"Neb, you doin' alright? You ridin' with me tonight?"

"I'm good, girl."

"Good? Who you ridin' with?"

"Brian."

"Neb."

"It's a ride, Auntie Mom. A ride."

"Call me when you get home." She continued to walk through the club. She walked past Life.

"Willow Tree!"

Willow nonchallantly responded. "Hey, Life. Good set. Call me and let me know when you're in town again." Willow looked at her clipboard and walked to the bar. Life followed her to her seat as she ordered a merlot from the bartender.

"So ummm...how you been, Willow?" She received her drink and said fine.

"Good...goood." There were a few moments of silence.

"Look, she saw you checking her out." Willow turned and walked away into The Say. Life tried to follow her but Rock came up to him and pulled him away. Life spoke with him for a minute and then went back in The Say where he saw Willow go.

Two beautiful women were talking to Hannibal at his table as Willow approached. She tapped him on the shoulder and held up one finger as if to say excuse me. One of the women gave her a crazy look and Willow looked right back at her with an even crazier look. The woman stared at the poet on stage. Willow whispered something to Hannibal and then went to her seat. Life sat behind her and began to whisper.

"And?" Life asked.

"And what?"

"And what did she say?"

"I told her that she wasn't your type."

Life was annoyed and asked, "How do you know what my type is?" The Say entrace doors swung open in class dramitic style and Sandra was in the doorway looking for Life. She had on expensive jewels and fancy clothes. The ony element missing was the fog machine. Willow looked at Saundra and then back at him.

Amad and Obrey were in the car going home as she pulled out her phone and called Davis. "Hello."

"Hello woman. Sorry to call so late. Whatchu doin'?"

"Sitting up talking to Jewel, what's up?"

"What is she still doing up?"

"She doesn't have school tomorrow, what's wrong?"

"No. I know about that. I just thought she'd be sleepy. I took her to the movies and to the park today."

"Sleepy? Are you kidding? This woman is talking to me about her being he president of the world someday. I'm waiting for her to tell me about the birds and the bees next."

"She is something else, I know. Listen, since she's up, I may have her hop in the truck with Amad when he drops me off. Just put her slippers by the door."

"Alright. You ok?"

"Yeah, I have a lot of work to get done tonight. I'll see you in a minute, girl."

"So what was that about?"

"I have a lot of work to get done tonight." Obrey repeated to Amad.

"Whatever." Amad was about to say something else when Malik called. She knew it was him because she could tell by the coded conversation. He stayed on the phone the whole way to the house. He parked the car in front of the house, looked at Obrey and motioned for her to get Jewel.

"It's late. She's staying here." Obrey whispered. He leaned in to kiss her while he was still talking to Malik. She took her hand from his, turned her face away and got out of the car. He never got off the phone. (Was gonna sneak a fucking good night kiss to me while he was on the phone with him.)

It was about 2:00 am and Obrey was tired as she worked at her design table. Her table sat under a window just off the dining room. She could look out of that window and see the lights out to Venice Beach from the hill of the house where she sat. Obrey loved to look out of that window with a glass of merlot and work, think, meditate, pray, talk. The phone rang.

"Hello."

"So, shouldn't you be all cuddled up with your man by now?"

"How do you know I'm not?" Obrey asked.

"Are you?"

"Anyway, shouldn't you be hanging out at Solomon's about this time?"

"Hell no. I don't hang out with club folks after the club. So...whatever looks you and Mr. Funnyman exchanged were more than just looks to him. He was kinda sweatin' me over him some Obrey."

"Girl, please."

"Oh, yeah, once he could pry Ms. Saundra off of him. He wanted to know all about you... How serious you and Amad are, how long y'all been together...you know, the classic boy is interested in questions."

"And I'm sure you told him everything."

"I told him very little as a matter of fact. You know I've been trying to get you to meet my boy Sage. It's not a hook up, I just think the two of you would get along well as friends. Friends! That's it. And if something more develops down the line, weeeelll... you can pay me my ten percent finder's fee later." They both laughed. "But really...before you settle down for the rest of your life, you should have a little fun. But I won't bring him up again. It's your life. Anyway, I thought you and Life met before."

"We did. Months ago at a shoot. We talked for a minute. But didn't talk much about each other. There wasn't a connection or anything like that. Just two folks on a quick break on a busy set that's all."

"Ummm hummm. Whatever. Anyway Obrey, I just miss you girl. We gotta catch up. We haven't hung out in so long. What's up with that?" Willow was sure Obrey was going to come up with a good one.

"I don't know. I'm working...you're working."

"I've always worked. You've always worked, and we managed to stay connected. Are you hiding something? Or someone maybe?"

"Please..."

"I just wanted to call and touch down with my friend. Without club shit. Without Amad dragging you off. And I know you don't want me to go down that path, but..."

Obrey was annoyed. "Willow."

"Ok, I'm cool. Don't want no trouble."

"I'm not sure Amad is making me happy."

"Well, I've learned that nobody can make you happy. So if you're not happy, you issues may not have to do with Amad. Why is Obrey unhappy with herself?"

Obrey's phone beeped. "Hold on, that's me." She clicked over.

"Hello."

"Why don't you come over?" Amad asked. "I miss you. I should have stayed with you."

"I need to be at home tonight. Can we talk later? I'm on the other line."

"With who?"

"I'm on the phone. I'll talk to you later."

"With who?"

"Willow, ok?"

"Whatever."

Obrey clicked over. "Sorry, girl."

"That's ok. Look, I hate to cut this short, but I have something I need to get to before I go to sleep. But it sounds like we need to talk 'cause the world via new Style Magazine knows something about Miss Obrey I thought I was the only one that knew. Can we hook up for lunch toorrow?"

"It'll have to be more like a late dinner if that's cool. And yeah, we do need to talk. Can you believe that shit? I told her that off the record and she printed it anyway."

"Sounds good I need to make a quick appearance at this little shindig. Maybe you can come with me and we can go somewhere from there."

"Ok."

"Ummm...Obrey..."

"Yes?"

"I did give Sage your voicemail number. Don't be mad. If you don't want to call him back then don't."

"No worries."