Gabrielleâs table and they spoke briefly. Psalms and Suzie Q put plans together for the security of the Paramount Theaterâs private concert video shoot. They also covered how to protect Tylowe. The family man was not a warrior like them. The job ahead: to protect Tylowe the best they could from what could be a high dose of potent uglinessâthe bloodshed brought on by the forces of good and evil.
CHAPTER 7
Happy Hour
E vita waited impatiently to make a left turn. The after-work traffic made her turn up the volume of her music with the hopes of it having a calming effect. She wanted to be inside Fridayâs happy hour at Jayâs Lounge, a live and jumping place for good drinks and to mix cologne and perfume with the so-called known, hip folks. It was her every Friday, after-work pit stop.
She revved her engine as if that would signal to the oncoming traffic to let her throughâno such luck. âSweeeeeeeeeet, sweet sticky thing,â the Ohio Players sang crystal glass-breaking, high-pitched harmonies through the car stereo. Evita bopped her head as traffic kept her stuck in the turn lane. Sitting behind the wheel of a nice car like the Audi R8, a rare expensive sports car, the common peopleânormally with lessâwill act as if they donât see you. When youâre unusually noticeable and possibly made so by high income, some will admire what you have, but most simply want out of the Northwest gridlock. A rare vehicle can be despised by the have-nots without any consideration given to how one might have achieved his or her gains. Cars may have full gas tanks, but the people were most likely running on empty, in need of a coffee refill.
If anyone knew the life and times of Evita Quinn Rivers, they would run and jump in the cold water off a Seattle pier, as if tryingto wake from a bad dream. Finally, a break in traffic allowed Evita to wheel her two-toned black and red car into the parking lot and stop at the valet. She revved the motor, loving the manly feeling of power it gave her.
The car was a gift from Psalms. She lived in his house. She had made her own money, but even that came with Psalmsâ help. Evita arose from the cold, cold world of a hard life some ten years ago, and Psalms always took care of her. Since their days as teenagers he had protected or saved her.
Evita wanted to give instead of taking, and chose to work with kids. While she lived the fast life on the streets, she encountered many troubled youth. They lived troubled lives after they had become emancipated from their parents or guardians and struggled. Evita wanted to help that segment of society.
With Psalmsâ money and her direction, they started a foundation: True Essence Humanity, helping kids get on the right path and stay the course of independence. Gabrielle Brandywine was the foundationâs spokesperson. The two women each had troubles of their ownâa good man they shared, but in different ways, and a good cause. They didnât deal with each other, but each knew of the other.
With a high-profile person, such as the former Secretary of State, at the forefront, the foundation brought in major sponsorships. Even nationally known coffee and software corporations joined in. Many of the children who transition through the program lived alternative lifestyles and dealt with sexuality issues as they tried to figure out how they fit into society.
The valet, a masculine-looking girl, sported short-spiked, dark-burgundy hair and wore a parking valet tux. The valetâs back was turned to the entering cars, as she texted and stuffed her face witha huge hamburger. She had a fast-food bag around the burger, but sloppily bent forward to avoid the extras in the burger from falling on the uniform. Evita revved the motor and got the attention of a former, almost graduate of her program. The girl ran over and opened Evitaâs door while licking her greasy fingers. Evita immediately thought a car
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