"A peace above all earthly dignities, a still and quiet conscience" Suzanne smiled and cocked her head at Carol Denning.
Carol gazed through her plastic frames at the kinky haired Aunt Jemima-girl with the wild eyes. She was what Grandpa Denning called a "pickaninny". Most men weren't that into "Gone With the Wind" (the book) but Gramps had been a wee bit closeted.
"I asked you what you wanted." Carol tried again.
"I said, inner peace. As Shakespeare said, again, 'A peace above all earthly-"
"No, no, dumbass. You'll never get that here. What do you WANT?"
It was a fair question. Carol had checked into Warren's commissary, and she had lots of resources, maybe three hundred a month, but she didn't take much out-just bubble gum.
"Gollum wanted his ring, but Bilbo got it. I'd love a ring like that."
Jesus. Shakespeare AND Tolkien. But she looks like she was raised in Harlem in 1934. That hair. And big-ass James Baldwin eyes. Bulgy.
So, repulsive as she seemed, Suzanne Warren was one of those smart black people. Like James Baldwin.
Carol loved "Go Tell It on the Mountain" when she was an ugly little bookworm. The protagonist's parents, like hers, were total assholes.
What could she bribe Warren with? Charm? Ugh.
Carol was not given to niceties.
it was doubtful that Carol had genuinely smiled since before the death of Debbie Denning, a more annoying youth talent than Nancy Kerrigan OR Tonya Harding.
Shit, Carol hadn't laughed since third grade. She and Barbara used to blow Yoo-hoo milk bubbles through their noses at each other while Dad got his lottery ticket.
Before Barb grew tits and became such a bitch.
Carol tried to smile at Warren, who was now babbling about the movie "Beetlejuice." Look at her. Illustrating invisible wall posters with her hands. Was she artistic, like Carol used to be?
"I have lots of old 'Playgirl' magazines. Do you have anything you'd like?" I can't threaten Warren into going back to Florida and killing Frieda. Even if she wasn't protected, this creature is fearless.
"Grandmommie says love is all we need."
"I think Paul McCartney said it first." Carol was smiling in spite of herself.
Carol patted Suzanne Warren on the arm. It wouldn't work. Oh my God, she's hugging me. No one touched Carol Denning.
And now she's dancing away. Carol smiled at Warren again. For some reason she felt light on her feet.
Carol looked over at her minions, her brows narrowing. No one better harass Warren. She was, you know, useless anyway.
Shakespeare, Tolkien, "Beetlejuice" and-the Beatles. What a crazy pickaninny. I wish I could tell Barb about this nutty black girl. But Barb's such a bitch anyway.
There must be someone else in Florida who can solve the Frieda problem. Been waiting a long time. God, that Suzanne Warren is fun-ny. Maybe I can get her the "Beetlejuice" DVD, or at least a VHS cassette, just for the hell of it.
Badison looked at Carol Denning, rubbing her pudgy chin. She's giggling. But Carol never gets high. Maybe that kinky headed spear chucker's gonna go down on her later...oh well.