Po Six

Leaving the police station Robert was furious. Angry at how the officer treated him and mad as hell at the guy who kidnapped him. The flame inside Robert grew larger and larger until it consumed him. The flame withstood the rain that he was now walking in and continued as the rain became more relentless. Drenched, Robert didn’t try to seek shelter. Instead he just stood there and the flame continued to burn. Slowly the flame was beginning to extinguish and the anger began to subdue. Suddenly an ambulance hurried around the corner, interrupting Robert’s silence, peace, and calm. Intrigued, Robert followed the speeding car as fast as he could. It didn’t go far because once it was out of sight, he saw it parked and the paramedics aboard hurrying to get to the playground. Damnit, I hope no kid has been hurt he thought. To his relief it was only some old lady. Probably just slipped in the rain. She'll be okay. This was quickly dissolved when he said that the woman didn't look at okay at all. She wasn't breathing. She was still, just there. It was so sad to Robert that he quickly left to go home with a morbid outlook on life.

Po Fi

The next day Robert hurried to the police station to report what happened to Ruth – or at least all he could remember. As he walked to the station he tried his best to remember it all but it was like his mind had been erased. All he had was his throbbing head and bruised face. Every now and again tidbits of information would reveal themselves to him. When he passed the bus stop he suddenly remembered that Ruth was at the bus stop when the sound of shattered glass filled her ears and the intolerable pain came over her. Somehow Ruth ended up in a basement, tied to a pole. Next she was naked, revealing herself as a man. The cursing that she heard as a result almost made her embarrassed. After getting a glimpse of the map who had been saying these things to her, she was left on the street.
“This morning I woke up on the side of the street,” Robert exclaimed, exhausted after arriving at the police station.
“In this town, tell me sometime new,” the cop replied.
“This is serious,” Robert yelled.
“I’m being serious too man, lady, whatever you are,” the cop said.
Robert couldn’t believe what was happening in front of him. Here he was reporting what was a crime and all the cop could do was crack jokes.
“I am begging you,” Robert pleaded, “please help.”
“I am trying to but first you have to tell me what happened.”
“I don’t know much. All I remember is that I was hit on the head with a bottle and taken to this strange place and then left alone on the street.”
“Do you know who did this?” The officer asked.
“No,” Robert said, “I but I did see him. I just can’t describe him.”
“Well ma’am, sir, sir,” the cop said, “in order for us to help you, you have to help us help you.”
“I just don’t know. I need help.”
“Well I just told you – ” The officer was interrupted by the door opening abruptly.
Into the station came a woman in handcuffs. She looked so out – of – place. She was crying saying how she didn’t mean to do it and the she was only trying to protect herself. A stern “Ms. Lewis” made her stop it all. Robert could tell he wouldn’t get any attention with “Ms. Lewis” there so he decided he would handle the issue on his own.

Post FO

“Are you scared?” the voice asked from the phone.
“Scared of what?” Robert asked.
“You know that crazy guy escaped from the police,” Katee said.
“Oh I wasn’t aware of that, but I can protect myself,” Robert said.
After a short conversation, Robert went through the store and placed the usual into his cart – Lucky O’s breakfast cereal, skim milk, bread, and lunch meat. While in the check out line, he heard the sound of an indistinguishable voice through a megaphone. Slowly the crowd exited the store. Robert figured whatever was going on wasn’t more important than his food. Once done paying for his food and reaching the door he saw what everyone was breaking their necks to see. Some idiot was on top of the bank, claiming he was Jesus.” If he’s Jesus then we should let him prove it,” Robert thought.
In the crowd outside of the store, Robert saw a familiar face. There, between two tall, lanky men was Loretta Lynn McMurphy.
“Hey Loretta,” Robert said. She didn’t respond. She just stood there. Almost as if she was stuck in her mind. “Loretta, hey Loretta!”She said nothing. He didn’t want to continue this and so shuffled his way home.
Later that night was the time for Ruth. She came out like a bear from hibernation only much more glamorous. Fire red hair and lips to match accented her look. She was ready for her night out on the town. This time she would be out on her own – the first time in a long time. After finishing up her make up and choosing the best clothes for a night out on the town, she opened the door and made her way to the bus stop. While at the bus stop a sharp pain came across her head and the world faded to black.

KATEE!!!

“Are you serious?” Robert sighed to himself. The sirens had been going off all day. They were annoying. They interrupted him when he slept. They interrupted him when he talked. They interrupted him when he thought. Now that the weekend was over, it was time for Robert to get to work and that meant time for suit, button-down, and tie, no signs of Ruth.
BAM! BAM! BAM! The constant sounding startled Robert. “Hey you idiot,” Robert called out, “Do you know what time it is?” The guy down on the street just ignored him and got on his bike a rode away. “Damn fool,” Robert said to himself as he turned from the window, not ready to face the day ahead of him. What if he saw Yung today? What if she told everyone about what she saw? The thoughts consumed him until he saw the time and realized that he would be late if he kept this up.
Upon walking out the door Robert felt that he was undressed for the weather. The weather girl had said it would be cool today but nothing like this. He wanted to go back in a get his big coat but knew that it would be a trade off and he would miss the bus so he decided to brave the cold.
Once he arrived at the office, Robert was greeted by the warm smell of blueberry-banana muffins. It was someone’s birthday. It was Katee’s birthday! How could he forget. She was the only women who in his life who had taken a keen interest in him and he in her. Robert’s mind scrambled for something quick and then he poured out his sack there on the floor in the lobby, searching for anything he could give her. He saw his wallet and remember the ten dollars he- Ruth borrowed from Shoshanna the day before and bolted to the drug store across the street. Within in seconds he was back with a brown and white teddy bear and chocolate candies.
From the lobby, he hurried into area with the cubicles, scanning for the one with the top covered by the leaves of a house plant. There. He saw it and made his way over to deliver his presents.
“Here Katee, I got you a little something for your birthday,” he said.
“Really! You didn’t have to,” she replied.
“Yeah I did because I wanted to show you how much I care for you.”

Number 2

“Ooh girl!” a voice yelled from the bathroom, “Imma be hooked up this summer! Imma be looking fly!”
“Ruth come on out and let me see you girl. You talking like you the Mona Lisa or something” answered a woman lying on the bed.
“BAM!” the bathroom door opened and revealed a tall, muscular, quite mannish looking woman. “Now all I need is for my hair to be on and having them eyes poppin’ and lip bussin’. Dem boys gone be all on me.”
“Yeah, you do look good,” the woman said raising off the bed. “How you get yo butt into that small ass skirt though,” she asked as she moved closer .
“Shoshanna , you know a lady never reveals her secrets.”
“But you aint a lady.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m a Ruth and a Ruth is so much more fierce than a lady could ever be.”
“Girl you crazy.”
Looking in the mirror Ruth plopped an auburn wig on her head and began to style it. A few strokes in this direction, a few stokes in that direction, and she was done, with her hair at least. Next were the lip. Hot pink, a slight but noticeable variation from her pinkish peach blush. With her wig on and lips bussin’, all Ruth needed now was her mascara. It made her eyes pop.
“Girl, I thought you might wanna know this so - -”
At that instant the room went dark, pitch black.
“Aw man, not again,” Ruth sighed, “I guess I’ll use that as a sign for me to leave.” She headed for the door.
Shoshanna could sense Ruth going towards the door and suggested that she change into some clothes that would be more appropriate for the weather. “It’s snowing Ruth.”
Since no one could see anything, Ruth decided to undress and dress right where she stood. She peeled off the shiny, black skirt, the spaghetti strap tank top she didn’t fill out, and the bulky costume jewelry, trading it all for a pair of baggy boot-cut jeans, steel-toe work boots, and a plaid button down which he concealed with his Winter’s Warrior coat.
Once done, a meek voice called from the darkness, “Okay, bye,” as the door creaked open and Shoshanna’s was the only body left in the room.
As Robert emerged into the hallway, he realized how fast he was going to be virtually blinded by the absence of any source of light. Slowing down, Robert eased and felt something on his hand. The same sensation then moving up his wrist before going back to his hand. IT’S A ROACH!!! Instinctively he flicked his arm, hoping to send the roach flying.
Making his way to the bus stop, Robert saw a familiar face standing there. It was Yung Li. “Hi Yung,” Robert said as he approached.
“Robert, is that you?” Yung asked.
“Yeah, Yung.” Why would she think it was anyone else?
Suddenly Robert’s heart sunk into his stomach. Had Ruth forgotten to take off the make up? But how?

First

“So where did you get those from,” Robert asked.
“I used to live in Miami and that’s where I got them done,” the nonchalant voice quickly answered.
“Oh no, not your boobs,” Robert clarified. “I mean your shoes. Where’d you get them from? I think. . . there cute.”
“My shoes? Oh I picked them up from a market downtown,” the voluptuous woman answered. “But that isn’t something you should be worried about now,” she continued as she inched further, pressing her body harder into Robert.
“Um, Shoshanna, Shoshanna,” Robert move himself away from the woman, “I don’t wanna do that. I just want to talk.”
“Okay. You wanna talk, well then talk. You got forty-five minutes left.” The woman seemed relieved by Robert’s statement.
Robert was surprised by her frankness. Almost as surprised that he was actually going through with this. Since he was a young boy he always knew he was different. In high school when friends made lewd comments about attractive female teachers, Robert cared more about what she was wearing and how her hair was styled, wishing he could fit the clothes and have hair as beautiful. He never acted on any of his feelings because he didn’t know how to go about doing it but that would all change with his next question. . .