Short Story – Trouble Marker: The Ignition By: Eric Blair

I was thinking to myself; wow, this is his mother, Emma Bigglesworth? She’s a beautiful Black woman, curvy, mocha toned brown skin, looks soft, smooth, dark brown eyes, accompanied by long eye lashes, long sandy brown hair, high cheek bones, full lips, and she’s like an angel. She looks as if she’s about forty-five, very young to have a son so old.  How am I going to get through this interview without staring at her breast…Dammit!

Emma says, “Mr. Briar? ‘Ello?”

Eli says, “Apologies, Ms. Bigglesworth.”

Emma says, “Call me Emma, please. What would you like ta know ‘bout Trevor?”

Eli says, “The beginning.”

I reach into my bag and take out my tape recorder and place it on the table between us. I can’t believe this is his mother, how can something so lovely birth something like Trevor Eames Bigglesworth? I hit the record button on the tape recorder and then says, “Emma Bigglesworth interview, take one. Go.”

The last moment with him was Cory telling ‘im, “I’m going ta the store for cigarettes, go play, child.” He walks away from ‘im and then yells up the block at ‘im, “Just remember, wraith will make you dig two graves!” That was the last time Trevor saw his father. I totally understand why he left; I didn’t condone it but the wanker wasn’t built for a family. His mind was still stuck in ‘Nam. Don’t get me wrong, he was a beautiful man. He was funny, smart, charming, silly, caring, loving, and he loved Trevor like no other. I loved Cory for that but Cory wasn’t a people person. Imaging being at war for over a decade it can really mess wit’ your mind. Hm, look at me reminiscing ‘bout my ex-husband. Trevor changed the day after, after he realized his father wasn’t coming back. We lived in a two bedroom apartment in Bristol, the year was nineteen ninety-two. I woke up ta my little man crying at the bottom of my bed. I jumped up and gave ‘im a bug hug, I knew exactly what was wrong. He looked up at me with his big, puffy red eyes as tear falls down his face like waterfalls, he says, “He not comin’ back, mum, is he?” My eyes begun ta water but I was strong ‘nough not ta cry in front of ‘im. I said ta ‘im as my voice begun ta crack, “Na, daddy isn’t cumming back, Emey but I am here for you and I will try my best ta make you happy, baby.” He looked up at me wit’ a look of disappointment and lightly uttered, “Okay mum.” He buried his face inta my chest and cried for an hour. It pained me ta hear my baby cry in pain. He loved his father like he was God. I hated Cory for year for hurting our son like that. Cory thought leaving millions of dollar behind that would make up for his absence.

“Wait!” says, Eli…“Millions?” says, Eli.

Emma says, “Yes, millions. He was a simple man, he just wanted the basics in his life; food, shelter, you know, things like that.”

Eli says, “But, Emma, where did he get the money from?

Emma says, “All I know is he go on secret missions for the States for like a month or two and comes back with a few million. He never talked ‘bout his trips, he just came ‘ome. He just slept for days after he’s well rested he’ll play with Trevor for days.”

Eli says, “What were they “trips” about?”

Emma says, “Actually, Eli, I am not comfortable talking ‘bout his trips. Let’s stay on Trevor.”

Eli says, “Fair enough, continue.”

Trevor wasn’t always strong and good looking; kids bullied him daily. I was always up at his school in conferences. Kids didn’t like ‘im ‘cause his father was American. Anytime people talked ‘bout his father he would snap but Trevor was this skinny, big ‘ead kid. He tried his busy ta fight back but his father didn’t teach ‘im ta fight before left. Cory didn’t want his son growing up like ‘im, a fighter. Trevor use ta cum ‘ome wit’ black eyes, busted lips, broken nose, you name it they broke it. I never understand why he was lashing out so badly ‘cause he was a gifted student. At the age of ten he was already in the seventh grade. Can you believe that?! My baby is a genius! Trevor finally calmed down at the age of fourteen; he was a senior in high school. Years of hoping Cory comes back I grew horny. Excuse my language therefore I met an attractive mate named Wilson. Wilson was a tall, ‘andsome, White man, beautiful smile, kind eyes, and he was a police officer. I figured he would be a good role model for Trevor. We dated for a year and half before he moved in wit’ us. Trevor really didn’t care for ‘im. He felt as if I was betraying his father, I wasn’t. I still love Cory dearly but I was lonely, I still am very lonely. I just wanted to feel the touch of a strong man again. Trevor was on summer break from Oxford University. Did I say my baby is a genius? Wilson become really over pretective of me. I was going out wit’ my friend and stopped me frum going out. He claimed I was “fucking the nigger down stairs.” I slapped him a crossed his face. He then bea me ta a bloody pulp. When Trevor came ‘ome with Asia and Thomas he found me under the kitchen table crying for his father. No matter ‘ow many argument Cory and I got in he always kissed me on the cheek and told me he love me. Cory would ‘ave killed Wilson for ‘urting me. An enrage Trevor rushed down ta Wilson’s police pub while Asia, Trevor’s girlfriend stay wit’ me and cleaned me up. Thomas told me Trevor rushed inta the pub and bashed a bottle over Wilson head. Wilson beat Trevor and Thomas pretty bad. He broken two of Trevor’s ribs, he gave my little solider a good hiding. I called the police, since they were his chums they refused ta help me. Wilson returned ‘ome enraged. Asia tried ta protect me but he broke her nose. He called Trevor all types of names as he beat me with his belt as if I was a child. With each stinging whip of his belt all I could think ‘bout was Cory. I needed ‘im ‘ere ta save me, love me, and nurse me back to ‘ealth. He ‘it me so hard his beat snapped in ‘alf. Asia ‘it ‘im wit’ a chair, he kicked her in the stomach. What a spotty Herbert ta kick a sixteen year old girl in the stomach. He kicked her once more while she was down, Asia release a loud scream of agony. I am in the kitchen trying ta stand but I was so scared and ‘urting that my leg kept giving out frum under me. He stands over me with an evil, enraged look on his face, his eyes were fire, and his fist was so tight that his palm was bleeding. He punched me so ‘ard in the fore’ead that he broken his knuckles. At this point, I’ve blacked out ta wake up a few moments late wit’ ‘im standing over me stomping me. Asia is screaming in the living room in pain. I was helpless; I didn’t understand why this man I love is trying ta kill me. As he rises his right foot ta stomp my face I hear Trevor’s voice in the background, he says, “Oi! Wilson!” Wilson turns ‘round wit’ rage in his eye preparing ta charge Trevor. I peeked over at Trevor standing at the down wit’ Thomas stand behind ‘im. Wilson begins ta charge Trevor, Trevor smirks with a blood cumming out of his nose and mouth. He says, “Catch.” He pulls out a gun and shoots Wilson in the fore’ead.

Blood splatters on the walls and Trevor’s face. Wilson falls dead ta Trevor’s feed, twitching. Trevor shoots ‘im three more times in the back of the skull. At this point, I am in total awe wit’ Trevor but happy Wilson is dead. At that point I looked inta Trevor’s eyes and notice something different. All his fear, insecurities, pains, and rage are all gone. He is used it to make ‘im stronger and fearless; just like his father. Let carried me and Asia ta my bed and he kissed my fore’ead and uttered, “I luv you, mum. Ah’ll be back, Ah’ll take care o’ the body. Don’t fret, Ah’ll ‘andle it.” He walked out of the room and closed the door behind ‘im. I turned over ta Asia and held her tightly as she cried herself ta sleep. I quietly sobbed in rejoice that that bastard is in ‘ell were he belongs. Sum how Trevor covered it all up and I never asked him ‘bout Wilson never again.

Emma pauses as she stares off into space. I slow reaches for the tape recorder and pushes stop. I can’t believe the story I just heard. I looked up at Emma with a hint of nervousness and uttered, “Thank you, Emma. That was…That was good. Thank you for your courage.” Emma looked up at me with a blank look on her face giving me a light smirk. I wasn’t sure if that smirk was real or fake, I am not going to question it. She says to me, “Would you like ta stay for sum tea, Eli?” I give her a huge smile and said, “I would love to, Emma.” She gets up from the dinning room table and walks towards the kitchen. She turns around and asks, “Milk or honey?” I say, “Honey, please.”

This was how I met the angel who made a devil…

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