Bruised but Not Broken

Candy wondered why Derrick was trying to help her. She hadn’t asked for any help and couldn’t understand why he would give her money. She contemplated seeing him on Saturday and really wanted to know what his motive was. She had given him her number and he called on Saturday morning and asked if she was ready. He said meet me at the bus stop by the High School on 10th street. When she got to the school, he was sitting at the bus stop waiting. She said, where are we going? He said, down south, I have something to show you. He acted as if he was excited about something, so, curiosity had Candy wanting to find out what it was. They got down south and got off the bus at a convenience store. There was a park across the street. It was very clean and had plants and bird feeders and benches to sit on, and a little pond that seemed so calm, the water just swayed, like you could take a bath in it. Derrick sat down on the bench in front of the pond and said; “this is my most favorite place in the world”. He looked very relaxed as if he was a little boy. Then, he grabbed Candy’s hand and said let’s go for a walk. They walked back towards the convenience store. Then went behind it and crossed a railroad track. There were houses across the street. Candy said where are you going? He said, right there, pointing to one of the houses. Who lives there, Candy asked? He said; “my Mom”! They went into the house and it was quiet and nothing was stirring. Then a voice came from the kitchen and said; “Derrick is that you?” He replied, “yeah Momma it’s me”! She said where you been, I haven’t seen you in a while. I been around, he said. I brought someone with me to meet you. Bring them in his mother said, and I need you to help me with my medicine. Derrick grabbed Candy’s arm gently and guided her into the kitchen. His Mother was “White”, Candy didn’t know why she hadn’t figured that out, with his nice, long, pretty, soft, curly hair. She said come on in baby and have a seat. Derrick guided Candy to a chair and she sat down. He said, I’ll go get your medicine Mom, I’ll be right back. She said what’s your name honey? Candy, she replied, looking around at her surroundings. Derrick’s Mom yelled “did you find it?” He said; “Yeah Mom” as he came around the corner. He was holding an injection needle in his hand and Candy jumped because she didn’t know what he was doing with a needle and she was scared as hell of needles. Derrick’s Mother said don’t worry honey, I’m a diabetic and I have to take insulin shots. She said, Derrick can you give it to me. I’m tired of shooting myself in the stomach, will you give it to me in my leg? He said o.k. Mom, hold still. He injected her with the needle and she said Thank you baby! She said “you gonna come and see me more often, now that you got a new girlfriend?” Derrick said “Mom, I always come and see you” she said yeah but now you can come more often, she’s cute. Candy thought “me, cute, I’m a tomboy” what do they see that I don’t see? Derrick said Mom do you need anything, she said no, I already went to the store. He said, you want me to do anything before I go. No, she said, just don’t take so long coming back! He said, o.k. Mom, I love you, see you later. She said o.k., and it was nice meeting you sweetie. Candy replied, it was nice meeting you too. When they got outside on the sidewalk, Candy asked Derrick, why he gave her that money? Stating, I have it right here, I didn’t spend it. Do you need to give it to your Mother? He said; No, I got money and my Momma don’t need anything. I give her everything she wants and I take care of her. He said, I gave you that money because I wanted to. He said, I knew you probably wouldn’t save your money and I see promise in you. He said, you could use the money I gave you to buy stupid things but, the money you get paid from work, put it away to help you get on your own feet and start a business or something. Candy said why are you trying to help me, do I look needy or something? He said No, I told you, you look promising to me. He gave her money a couple of more times and she kept giving hers to her Mother. Candy started to wonder why he hadn’t asked to sleep with or kiss her or something. She braided his hair a few times at her mom’s house. Her Mother met him and liked him, she guessed. She never said much when he was at the house. He would always kiss Candy on the forehead and even then, she felt like he was the best friend in the world. All of a sudden, she didn’t see Derrick as much and would be at work looking for him to come around but, he stopped coming. One of Candy’s friend’s brother had just been released from prison, and they talked about what was going on while he was away. Candy told him about the scholarship, and that she had taken the aptitude test to get into the military. She waited until last to tell him about Derrick, that was a touchy subject being he wasn’t one of the fellows. “Derrick” he said, as if he knew exactly who she was talking about. He said girl, Derrick is a pimp, and lucky for you he's in prison right now.