Phase One

Chapter Two

Tom was pleased with his stay at  Mrs Greenwood's , he woke up to  the smell of fresh air, his position ensured he got a fresh dose of every bit of passing  air. He sang along to the  song that played on the radio in his head, he couldn't remember emptying his pocket and taking off his jacket but on the table laid items that were all his.

He cold hear movements  from outside the building, the police siren was the loudest, it was still early, all he could hear were a bunch of kids laughing loudly, he could tell they in groups by the different noises they made. The window louvers were all tinted and were kept closed, so he could see from within the apartment but could be seen. He hadn't had a nice sleep in weeks, his once sweet apartment was now stinking, unpleasant and it brought back memories he didn't want to remember. He stretched to pick up his wallet from the table, the radio went mute suddenly, Tom looked in the direction and looked in that of the Maurice, his stare seemed to want to communicate to the cat that there was an issue that needed rectifying. He stared into the ceiling with empty thoughts, everything seemed  perfect, the weather was perfect, it was all perfect. 

A door opened from the inner part of the apartment, Tom suddenly realized that he wasn't alone in the apartment.

"Good morning boys" Mrs Greenwood said loudly as she arranged the chairs in the dinning table.

"You looked to tired, I didn't feel it was nice to wake you up, I stored your meal" she said as she picked Maurice. 

"That was nice of you' Tom said as he struggled to speak. 

He cleared his throat .

"I've been busy this few weeks" He continued.

"You wouldn't happen to know where my cigarette pack is, would you?" He asked, looking around the room,he was up sitting now.

"Not at all, son, that's all yours" she said pointing to the table.

He somehow believed her, maybe he it  dropped somewhere outside the block, he noticed Mrs Greenwood's  ring finger still had a ring on it, this he noticed when she pointed to his things that were nicely arranged on the table..

"Where is your family?" He asked almost spontaneously.

Mrs Greenwood poured coffee into two cups, she handed one to Tom and walked  towards the window to adjust the curtains.

"Life doesn't always give us what we ask you know" she said in what Tom confused for a smile or the expression one has on his face when he is checking his teeth in a mirror.

Tom took a slow sip from his mug, it was also perfect.

"I forgot to ask if you wanted sugar or honey" she said as she picked her cup amd she dropped it without taking sip.

"Its perfect Mrs Greenwood" he said, trying to avoid sneezing.

"You have a cold" Mrs Greenwood said.

He let out a heavy sneeze that shook his whole frame. She handed him a tissue, it smelled like roses, it reminded him something, of someone, who was it? He couldn't tell.

The tissue fell from his grasp, Maurice attacked it like a prey, he tore it into pieces ruthlessly, Tom was sincerely scared of that cat, his fear was understandable though.

"We were once a happy family" Mrs Greenwood continued.

Tom placed his bare feet on the floor, the floor felt cold and comforting, he moved his feet slightly, he scratched his toe on the floor, it made no sound, he then placed his feet together.

"I was just out of college, it was beginning to happen for me you know" she said as she walked towards a cupboard that had trophies, medal and photos of Mrs Greenwood, they all looked new and  arranged, Mrs Greenwood's apartment made Tom a little ashamed, he hasn't cleaned his in weeks, to think that a woman her age could fix her  place up without help was a challenge to him.

Mrs Greenwood was struggling to open one of the compartments of the cupboard, he stoop up and aided in the opening, it was stiff as a result of not being consulted for a while.

"Thank you darling" she said calmly, her voice had since taken this tune since she commenced her story, this made Tom a felt a little guilt, why did he bring up the topic in the first place? 

She handed him a framed photo of her family, it was taken when Mrs Greenwood was in her late thirties, a lot had changed save the pretty smile she was wearing in the photo. It was taken in a golf landscape, the camera made it hard to make out the faces of those behind them but a man could be seen lacing his shoe just next to a little girl.

"You look really happy" Tom said handing the photo to her.

"I was, I was son" she said as she bent to return the photo, she suddenly change her mind and headed for the table where the radio and the stereo was, she places in nicely on the table, and looked at Tom, he was confused on weather she wanted his opinion on the positioning.

"It perfect" he said sharply with a smile.

His face felt strange as it lost the smile. When last did he smile? That was a strange question that needed answers.

"I lost them to an accident Thomas" Mrs Greenwood said as she turned the tunning knob on the radio, she settled when a classic song played through the speakers.

"I'm sorry" Tom said in a sincere sad tune

Tom loved the song that played on the radio, he smacked his thigh in unison to the tempo of the song, Mrs Greenwood smiled  and sang along to the Rich Boys classic " she knows." 

Tom reached out an grabbed Mrs Greenwood's hands, she laughed loudly, Tom screamed and it echoed through the room, the atmosphere was gay it wasn't going to end anytime soon, a knock filled the room. The song was on it last verse on it last verse and it was their favorite, they both ignored the knock from the door, they were tap dancing now. The song ended.

"You're a gentleman" Mrs Greenwood said as she approached the door with a chuckle.

Two men stood in uniform, they had a smile on which was fine given the time they had being at the door, they were meant to be nice and satisfied the situation regardless. She let them in.

"What brings you around dear officers?" Mrs Greenwood said as she stayed behind to shut the door.

"Sorry ma'am, we got a report about drug movement in the neighborhood, and protocol requires that we search every department."

"Yes,do your job, its your responsibility to keep the state safe" she said as she swept her fist across the air.

"Thanks for understanding" the officer said said as he signalled his partner to search around.

Tom sat suspiciously starring into his mug, he wondered why the cops were always coming to where he was, not for him though, they just had to be there, first it was The Gambling Hole, now here, what could the want at a Grannie's home, ridiculous, he thought to himself, he taught of escaping while they went in the kitchen, he somehow could recognize one of the officer's voice, where exactly had he picked that voice, yes, it was one of the officers that came to the Gambling Hole, yes, that was it, but what did  he have to hide. So why run? 

"That your son ma'am?" One of the officers asked.

"You could say that" Mrs Greenwood replied sharply.

Why was he asking those question? He was tempted to go close for a better listen but he heard them approaching, they appeared from within the apartment, Tom was still holding his mug, and starring in the direction of the window, he looked like an artist that was paying attention to a beautiful landscape. He nodded at he cops and avoided eye contact.

"It was nice of you to allow us check you apartment,please do not hesitate to alert the authorities about any potential threat to the neighborhood" he said writing a few things on his notepad.

"That's okay"Mrs Greenwood said as she trailed the officer to shut the door behind them.

""They're the best in town, I'm telling you this man, trust me on this one" the other cop was telling his partner in what appeared to be a continuation from their last conversation 

"Alright,we'll try them out" the older cop said as they descended the flights.

Tom had his shoes  on now, they felt different, they looked different, a little new, polished in fact, a thought collided with the shoe mystery, he had to get to the bank, his account must be emptied today, he had to fix his apartment, no, that could wait. He had to catch the game, he has a voucher, yeah, he wouldn't miss that.

He stood in the front of the mirror, a chunk of air blew across the room, his hair vibrated in response, a thought replaced the schedule and doubt catastrophe, it was his time on the tracks, glory days he mused silently, he remembered how he used to be a dirt bike racer, nothing could beat that feeling, the invincibility, the freedom, he was unstoppable, how comes he never got a tattoo like Michael. Maurice walked past him silently and headed for the window, it as just the right time to escape. He had to go.

"I'm on my way out Mrs Greenwood" he shouted to signal his exit.

"Oh,what a shame, I was just about to prepare breakfast,stay a little while honey"  came the reply

"I'll be back" would he? He thought.

He picked his items from the table, checked his watch, no, it was wrongly placed, he adjusted it, it was barely nine, he felt a gush if excitement, his eyes were a little sore, a little red almost yellow, he felt the need to blow some smoke, no that would also wait. He got outside the apartment, he found a single glove laying unbalanced on the stair anchors. A man with a bowl of paint walk past him and turned back to talk to him.

"Say brother, which one's Mr Phillips' apartment?" said the man, with a serious look.

"Its room 1x , take the next turn to the left" Tom replied with an arm in the pocket of his jacket.

"Thanks man" the man replied with a more serious look.

Tom walked past his apartment like he wasn't his,he headed straight for the exist to the building. He was welcome by the heat of the sun his eye saw a huge light sentence, he felt a little pain, it only lasted for five seconds, he walked very fast with a single arm in his pocket. He felt like heading back to his apartment to get his sun glasses.Every step was coated with regrets, the burns were intensifying.

He stepped into a street and was greeted with a loud sound, a band was playing on stage, it was a young girl's  birthday, and the place was filled with lots  of kids dressed in all kinds of costumes, almost an Halloween party. He rushed a little more, the bank was around the corner, he could smell roasted meat and vanilla, that should be the ice cream, he could pick the smell of groundnut. That one was odd, he had two hands in his pocket. He suddenly remembered that he had a dagger, those weren't allowed in the bank.

He had to rush to Jim's place, it was around the block, five minutes from where he was, he concealed it, and corked its blade avoiding putting it in view of those around, a man ran past him. He had a black jacket on, and that was matched with a dark Gucci, what was a a good looking man like him doing running around?  Well that his problem for now.

Tom soon found himself standing in front of a building, " Show what you gat!!!" Was boldly written on the wall in rainbow colored paint. He climbed the stairs, the entrance was littered with used cigarettes, it smelled like a tobacco farm, it made Tom a little excited in a strange way, he wanted a cigar.

He knocked lightly on the door, there was no response. He intensified his hit and called out.

"Rick is that you?" came the answer from within, he seemed to be approaching the door.

"Its Tom, open up" Tom replied impatiently.

"Yo' Tom, where you been mate, you've chosen not to show your face here sine our last fight" Jim said as he let Tom in.

He had shorts on,  an old television was hanging on the wall, next to it was guitar and a speaker with one of its loop broken.

"Can't stay man, gat some serious business to deal with" Tom said as he picked the pack of cigarette that was  lying in the table, Jim pulled out a lighter, lighted Tom's stick and fired one for himself. He blew his in balls and circles, he loved to play with his smoke. 

"Keep this somewhere safe" Tom flashed the dagger at him, as he looked round the room.

"You going to the Feds mate?"

"Nope,just some simple business, its  simple man, trust me" Tom said amidst a mouthful of smoke.

"Its safe with me" Jim said as he received the dagger from Tom.

"I'll be out if town by Tuesday, pops wants some hands on the farm, milking the cows and all those old people stuff" Jim continued.

"Why does he want you, can't he have Julie?" Tom said as he examines his stick

"No, she's busy, estate stuff, you know how it can get with them"

Tom nodded, he was on his way out. 

"Mannie sends his greeting, he says... Jim sneezes, the smoke was too much. He says his got some green flakes in town that needs distributing, some big cash is in line bro, we've got to get involved.

"I'll think about it" Tom said with a foot out he door.

"I'm not scared of no cops, I'm a big man now bro, I can handle it" Jim say with so much confidence.

Tom gave him a thumbs up and shut the door behind him. Tom took a long drag and threw the cigar on the floor, he walked a few steps towards and went back to quench the little reddish fire that was masked in ashes.