Heart of Porcelain

By DaveTheWordsmith

Disclaimer: Boondocks is owned by Sony Pictures Digital Inc. and Aaron McGruder. All the copyrights associated with Boondocks belong to them. Only the ideas contained within this story are the property of the author. No profit is being earned by the writer of this story.

Note: Thanks to IceLegatus and KODfreak for their reviews of chapter one. The feedback was great and I absolutely appreciate it.


Chapter Two

The black BMW Five Series Gran Turismo's alarm chirped twice. Parked in the Dubois home's driveway, the bright evening sun helped it shimmer and sparkle like it came brand new from the factory. Footsteps mixed with loose rocks and pavement grew louder as they approached the vehicle. The thin, pin-shaped locks in the top interior of the doors shot up with a loud, audible click. Two men, the source of the footsteps, opened the front doors. The younger of the two men jumped in the driver's seat, eager to start his lesson, not only earn a bit of freedom but to impress a certain girl he had in mind. The older man on the passenger side carefully sat down. He made sure both feet were inside before he closed the door. The teenager closed his door, full of neglect to obey the traffic law of wearing a seatbelt. A smug look came upon his face. The brand new car smell and the multiple, expensive gadgets on the dash and front panels of the car overwhelmed his senses.

"Damn Mr. Dubois, you ballin. You got da latest GPS, bangin' stereo. You even got dem HDTVs in da headrests."

Tom glanced at the boy while he put on his seatbelt. Nervousness seeped from his little laugh. He smiled as he handed the young man his car keys. "Now Riley, before we start, remember what Robert and I told you."

Riley rolled his eyes. He looked at the seatbelt to his left. A few seconds passed before he yanked it out and down and pushed the tongue into the buckle. He frowned. "Yeah yeah, I remember. Put on mah seat belt, drive carefully 'n try not ta kill nobody."

Tom nodded. "Good. Have your learner's permit?"

Riley stared at Tom in disbelief. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the pink sheet of paper with his information on it. "Is Gangstalicious gay?"

"Just checking," Tom said. He looked out his window, gazing in the side mirror at the cars that passed behind them. Riley put his permit away. He slipped the keys into the ignition before he released the emergency brake. Tom jumped when the engine started up and revved without any notice. "Now, before we back out, as a precaution, make sure you check your rear-AHHH!"

Riley shifted the car into reverse. His foot slammed into the gas pedal. The tires squealed with Tom's own yells, his eyes squeezed shut, his face fixed into an uncomfortable grimace. One hand on the wheel, Riley made a sharp right turn. The car flew backward into the empty street and turned one-eighty degrees while in reverse. Now on the other side of the road facing the right direction, Riley revved the engine some more. He laughed as he zoomed down the street, his grin as big as his confidence. The BMW ran through a yellow light that turned red a split second later. Riley switched into the left lane, bored by the slower drivers in the right lane.

Tom turned to look at Riley. He whimpered. His hands pushed down on the center console and the passenger door handle. "Riley, slow down!"

Riley's muscles grew tight. He frowned. His eyes focused on the road ahead, he turned the radio on. Thugnificent's Stomp Em in the Nuts blared from the speakers. The rumbles from the heavy bass made Tom's body vibrate.

"Relax Mr. Dubois. I got dis. I been drivin since I was eight."

"Wha?"

Riley nodded twice. "Yeah. I done borrowed Dorothy plenty'a times. Granddad ain't even notice. Don't tell him I told'chu doe."

Tom shook his head. "God, please let me survive this. I'll go to more of Jazmine's cheerleading events. I'll cook more dinners after work. I'll let Sarah and Jazmine go to an Usher concert. Please, just let me live through this!"

Riley guffawed. He laughed some more when he heard Tom squeal as they squeezed between two cars in the right hand lane. "Stop actin' like a bitch. We gone be awight."

A tear fell from Tom's eye. Snot dripped from his nose. He stuttered, "Don't you realize we may get in a serious car accident, and possibly kill someone? And we'll be given time in prison, making it quite possible that we may get-"

Tom's lips quivered. "-Anally raped."

"Pause," Riley's grin grew in size. He continued to drive around other cars going too slow. "Prison? Shee-it, now dat you mention it, dat ain't a bad idea."

"Riley!"

"Sides, I thought you was ova dat rape shit."

Tom looked away from Riley. "I had no choice. I had to fight for my life. I still have nightmares about that incident. I thought I was a goner."

Riley blew air through his teeth. "Nigga, get over it. We ain't gettin' in no accident, okay? You ridin wit da best. I know Granddad's told'chu my drivin's wack. I been gettin' better doe. Watch dis."

Tom chuckled, his laughs filled with sadness. "Oh boy."

At the next traffic light, Riley turned right to get on the onramp of Interstate I-70 north. Tom shuddered. His body shook as Riley increased his speed to catch up with the other cars in the far right lane. Once on the highway, Riley jumped from 65 to 80 mph. He barely swerved around a car going slow in the left lane and jumped ahead of them. Riley laughed at the rush from the impending danger.

Tom gulped. He undid the top button of his shirt under his black dress coat. Riley passed by three exits each a mile apart before he got off the freeway on the fourth exit. Riley stopped the car on a dime at the stoplight. He checked left. The road was clear. He checked one more time before he made a brisk, sharp right turn onto the street.

Tom said, with hysteria in his voice, "I'm alive. I'm alive!"

Riley shook his head. "You too much, Mr. Dubois."

Ten minutes passed by. The radio station played song after song from Thugnificent's catalogue. Quiet for the rest of the trip, the two men arrived at the Dubois residence. The sun finished setting, the sky now a dark blue-black. Riley turned the car to the right, away from the driveway instead of toward it. Tom screamed as the car swung in a circle twice. It screeched to a stop, the front of the car facing the driveway in the middle of the street. Riley looked out his window and spotted the long, black tire marks forming two circle shaped tire tracks in the road.

He smiled. "I'm dat nigga so nice dey named me twice."

Tom sighed. "Just park the car."

Riley steered the BMW into the driveway and put it in park. He grabbed the keys, the rush of the drive still running through his system. He switched off the ignition. He could feel the spark of excitement leave his eyes. Tom leaned forward in his seat, head in his hands, his breathing heavy. His seatbelt stretched over his waist and shoulder.

Riley glanced at Tom, confidence in his eyes. He tossed Tom his keys. "See? Told ya I was good."

Tom faced Riley, eyes so wide they could rip right out from their sockets. Sweat dripped from his face. "Now you tell me."

Before Riley stepped out of the car, he said, "Props for da lil drivin lesson."

Riley turned toward the front door of Tom's house and stopped in his tracks. Jazmine ran out the front door, her mouth curled up into a giant smile.

Riley rubbed his chest. He swore his heart wanted to take the rest of the day off. Time slowed down whenever that young woman came into the picture. Riley gasped when Jazmine didn't run to her father. No, she came to him.

He blinked once, twice, three times. I ain't dreamin, am I? he thought.

She jumped into Riley's arms, her hand on his cheek. Riley looked down in her green, star struck eyes. Jazmine pulled him into a warm embrace. Riley's eyes rolled into the back of his head for a split second the way her body made contact with his.

She whispered in his ear, "I missed you."

He whispered into hers, "You didn't have ta. I wouldn't leave ya hangin."

Hands on her shoulders, he pulled back. One more look into her eyes made him lose it. As if she could read his mind, Jazmine placed her arms around his neck and brought him in for a warm, passionate kiss.

Riley winced upon the touch of someone's finger on his shoulder. "Riley. Riley. Riley?"

Before he turned around, he shook his head to shake out the cobwebs that clouded his thinking. Jazmine stood a few feet away, one arm resting on the roof of the BMW.

She smiled. "You okay?"

"Uh, yeah, I'm good," Riley said. He couldn't look at her. He rubbed the back of his neck. Embarrassment took over once again. He could hear Tom head into the house, closing the door behind him. "What's up?"

"Huey asked me to come get you."

"Wait, y'all are back at da crib?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

Jazmine giggled. "Shame on you."

Riley raised one eyebrow. "Huh?"

"Don't you remember what today is?"

"Today's Friday."

Jazmine shook her head sideways, a smile still on her face. "Well, yeah. But it's also Cindy's birthday. Mr. Freeman and I wanted to throw a little get-together for her."

Riley blinked once, twice, three times. He smacked his forehead. "Aw man! She gone kill me. I ain't get her nuttin. I gotta go. I'll be back at da crib later."

As Riley ran off, Jazmine followed him. "Wait!"

Riley dashed down the driveway and to the right down the sidewalk. He heard Jazmine's heavy breathing behind him fade away with each step further down the road. Jazmine had to sit in the back seat of his mind for now. He felt like beating himself to death. The last date Riley needed to forget was Cindy's birthday. Through all the times they shared together, there was one thing he learned: there's nothing worse than a scorned Cindy.

...