Chapter 8

Tony arrives at Chioke's school in order to pick him up. Tony walks into the building and immediately toward the classroom where Chioke and his teacher, Mrs. Calvin, are already waiting. As Tony approaches, Chioke runs to him and wraps his arms around Tony's waist.

"Sorry I'm late." Tony apologized to both Chioke and the teacher. "I got caught-up at work."

"That's perfect alright. It happens." Mrs. Calvin said. "I spoke with our child psychologist. She's available from one to five in the afternoon on Friday." She hands Tony a business card. "Just give her a call."

"Thank you."

"I should get going." Mrs. Calvin said hands Chioke's backpack to Tony. "You two have a good night."

"You too."

Mrs. Calvin walks away in order to leave. Tony holds his hand out. Chioke places his hand into Tony's. The two of them walk out of the building and to the car.

When they get to the apartment, Chioke immediately runs to his bed in the living room. He grabs his Curious George stuffed animal and sits at the end of the couch looking at his pet lobster, Simba.

Tony walks into the bedroom where Jamie is lying on the bed. He walks to the other side of the bed because Jamie's back is facing the door. Tony sits on the bed, right next to Jamie. He realizes she's sleeping. Tony places his hand on Jamie's shoulder and begins to gently caress along her entire arm.

After a couple minutes, Tony sees Chioke is standing in the doorway to the bedroom. He notices the sad facial expression on Chioke's face. Tony waves for him to come over. Chioke looks down sadly and walks away.

Tony gets off the bed. He walks to the door, steps out of the room and closes the door slightly. He walks into the living room where Chioke is sitting on the couch, holding his Curious George stuffed animal. Tony sits on the couch next to him. He places his arm around Chioke and gently pulls him closer.

"Since after the bank incident, you've been distant from Jamie." Tony stated. "Will you let me know, why?"

Chioke stands up and walks to the DVD shelf. He takes out the movie, The Lion King. He walks back to the couch with the movie in hand. Chioke holds the movie up to Tony.

"Chioke please…" Tony pleaded. "Why are you distant from Jamie?"

With not wanting to talk about it, Chioke waves the DVD movie in Tony's face.

"I guess you don't wanna let me know right now." Tony said. "Will you let me know when you're ready to?"

'Yes.' Chioke signed with his hands while he nods. 'I hungry.'

"I'll order us a pizza."

Chioke jumps up and down in excitement.

'Can have…' Chioke tries to sign but is clueless as to how to sign the last word. 'Not know word. But want it on pizza.'

"You got it." Tony knows what he's trying to ask. "One pepperoni pizza coming up."

Chioke jumps up and down with the biggest smile on his face.

"Once our pizza arrives, then we'll watch the movie." Tony stated. "For now, get us some paper and crayons."

As Tony makes the phone-call to order the pepperoni pizza, Chioke gets the paper and crayons. He places the paper and crayons on the coffee table. Chioke then grabs the DVD movie. Tony finally hangs up the phone. Chioke points to the DVD player.

'I learn how use. I know how do it.' Chioke signed. 'Want me show you?'

"Go ahead." Tony said. "Show me what you learned."

Chioke grabs the remote TV remote control. He turns the TV on and changes it to the proper channel. Then he grabs the DVD player remote and presses the button to turn it on. Next, he presses the button to open the slide part where the DVD goes. He opens the DVD box and carefully takes the DVD out. He walks to the DVD player and places the DVD on the slide. Lastly, Chioke presses the button in order to close it.

As the DVD begins to load, Chioke walks back to the couch where Tony is sitting.

"I'm impressed." Tony said with a smile.

'You teach me how use. I learn from you.' Chioke signed. 'I do good?'

"You worked the DVD player, perfectly." Tony said. "I'm proud of you."

Chioke smiles as Tony pats the area of the couch right next to him. Chioke climbs onto the couch, next to Tony and sits down. Tony pulls the coffee table closer. They each lean down a bit, grab a sheet of paper and some crayons. Chioke grabs Tony's sheet of paper and pushes it to the side.

"What am I supposed to draw on?" Tony wondered.

'We draw.' Chioke signed. Then he pushes his sheet of paper in the middle, between where they're seated.

"You want us to make a picture together?"

Chioke nods his head. Finally, the two of them begin drawing and coloring a picture together. As the two of them work on their picture, the DVD is left on the main menu.

Eventually, the pepperoni pizza arrives. After paying and tipping the delivery man, Tony brings the pizza into the living room. He places the pizza on the coffee table and sits down. Chioke runs into the kitchen to get a soda for Tony and chocolate milk for himself. Chioke runs back into the living room and sits down.

Tony and Chioke begin eating their pepperoni pizza as they watch the movie, The Lion King.

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Meanwhile, back in West Virginia, Kenneth McCloud and his cousin Derek are walking down the main street in their town. The street is filled with small business shops. As they're walking, they notice a lot of people looking in their direction. Kenneth realizes the reason they're all staring at him is because they all think he's a killer.

"Don't mind them, Kenny." Derek said. "If those navy cops thought you were guilty, then they wouldn't have released you."

"You're probably right." Kenneth agreed.

As Kenneth and Derek continue walking toward Mrs. Hendricks' diner, Lance and his other brother Emmet are standing just outside.

"This isn't a surprise." Emmet said. "A white guy kills our brother and they don't charge him for it."

"What did you expect…? White cops don't give a shit about a dead black man." Lance stated.

"Look what we have here. When did Mrs. Hendricks get valet parking attendants?" Derek wondered.

"Valet parking is a nice idea, but I'm not tossing my keys to a nigger." Kenneth said. "Cuz I know I'd never see my truck again."

"I see how it is, all black guys are thieves." Emmet said.

"How else are you gonna pay the rent, other then welfare." Kenneth stated.

"Yo Kenny, you and your bitch make a great couple." Lance stated.

"You niggers are the only bitches around here." Derek said.

The boys now stand in each other's faces. Lance and Kenneth are standing face to face, while Emmet and Derek are standing face to face.

"We're sick of you calling us niggers." Lance said in a strong voice.

"What you gonna do about it, you black ass mother-fuckin Nigger." Kenneth said.

Lance swings his hand. He punches Kenneth in the face.

With the first punching thrown, Derek charges at Emmet. Derek knocks Emmet to the ground and the two of them begin whaling on each other.

After the punch to the face, Lance punches Kenneth in the back. Kenneth counters by kicking Lance in the stomach. He then thrusts his fist into Lance's jaw. Kenneth takes another swing, but Lance blocks it. Lance punches Kenneth in the face again. Kenneth stumbles backward a bit, toward the large window of Mrs. Hendricks' diner. Lance then charges at Kenneth. Lance spears him in the stomach and both of them go crashing through the large window of Mrs. Hendricks diner. The glass shatters as it hits the floor of the diner. After crashing through the window, they continue fighting, even with having a couple cuts from the glass.

As Mrs. Hendricks calls the Sheriff, a group of people inside and outside of the diner, hurry to stop the fight by getting the boys away from each other and detaining them until the Sheriff arrives.