That person was Ming Li herself; of course she was older now. Yet she looked the same. Riley walked up to her.
"Yo! I know you! You that Asian girl we beat! What was yo name, min, no Ming!"
"Yes, I remember. You were the one who fell down all the time." Ming answered.
"Yeah well, how are you doin?" asked Riley.
"I'm doing fine. After we lost the kickball game, I was kind of laughing stock back at my homeland. I moved here because it felt safer. By the way, how is your brother?" Ming asked.
"Well, there was a crazy period where Huey went berserk, and he ended up dying." Riley said sadly.
"Oh how horrible!" Ming said.
"Yeah. Well it was nice talking to ya, but I kind of have to lay low fo awhile." Riley told her.
"Wait! Would you like to get a cup of coffee one day or something?" she asked.
"I don't know. My wife would call that a date, and she gets mad."
"Well, it wouldn't be like that." Ming explained. "It would be really quick. We're just friends."
"We are?" asked Riley.
"Well we are, aren't we?" Ming asked. Riley thought about. He didn't know if he was or not, besides, they were basically rivals.
"I guess. So would you like to go now?" Riley asked.
"Oh, not now, I have a date."
"With who?" asked Riley.
"His name is Butch." Ming said. Riley shivered in fright.
"You don't mean… Butch Magnus?" asked Riley.
"Yes, he is my boyfriend. Have you heard of him?"
"uh sort of."
"Ah! I got to go Riley! If I'm late I'll… you know meet me here tomorrow then we'll go get coffee, okay?"
"Alright." Riley agreed. Ming left the area. Riley decided to walk back to the house. On his walk home he looked up at the tree. It wasn't moving. He remembered how scary it was when it attacked him and Cindy. He decided then to run home. He went inside and shut the door. Cindy walked up to him.
"hey babe. Something wrong? Is it safe to go out?" she asked.
"Not yet." Riley said. "We need to wait awhile. Where are the kids?"
"Upstairs." Cindy told him. Riley quietly walked up the stairs and into the room. Both boys were sleeping in their cribs. Chuck, had dark skin, and a small patch of black hair. He was always energetic, much like Jazmine was. He also had big blue eyes.
Chuck, wasn't a mulatto like Jazmine, but was white. He also had blonde hair and blue eyes. He was shy and quiet, unlike Chuck.
Riley slowly walked out of the room.
Late that afternoon…
After finishing dinner, Riley walked to the door.
"You know Cindy, I'm going out really quick to get fresh air."
"Alright baby. Don't be too long." She said as Riley left. Riley went on a short walk and thought about Ming. How awful it must be that she's dating Butch. Riley walked up the large hill and went up to the tree.
"Oh, so now you're not moving." Riley told the tree. "Well, you must be here to kill everyone. Well, black people as Leevil said. I don't know, maybe you are just a misundastood plant tryin to survive. Whateva it may be. Well, I'm going home." Riley said. But as Riley was walking, he heard a faint voice.
"Feed me." Someone said.
"Who said dat?" Riley asked turning around.
"Feed me!"
Riley walked up to the tree.
"Naw, it couldn't be."
"FEED ME!"
"You! Tree! You talked! I can't believe it!"
The whole top half of the tree, branches and all, leaned down to Riley. The branches spread apart, revealing its thin lips, and its pale, sharp, dagger like teeth.
"Feed me Freeman, Feed me now!"
"I aint do that!"
"I'm starving!"
"I can't feed ya, I aint got no people to feed you!"
"I'm hungry, so feed me now!"
"What am I supposed to do, kill people?" asked Riley.
"I'll make it worth yo while."
"What?"
"You think this is all coincidence baby? All the news coverage?"
"Look, yous a plant. An inanimate object." Riley said.
"DOES THIS LOOK INANIMATE TO YOU, PUNK!" the tree yelled waving its branches. "If I can talk, and I can move, who's to say I can't do anything I want?"
"Like what?" Riley asked.
"Like deliver pal! Like see you get everything yo sacred, pleasing, heart desires! I know you want money, how about a nice car? How about a big mansion? Yo gonna git it!"
"Really?" asked Riley.
"Yeah! You can do it! You know, a lot of folks deserve to die!"
"Wait! That's not a very nice thing to say!" Riley yelled.
"But it's true, aint it?"
"No! I aint know anyone who deserves to be chopped up and fed to a hungry plant!"
"Mmm, sho you do." The tree said putting one of its tentacle like branches around Riley's shoulder, and leaning him down so he could see the bottom of the hill. Butch was down there next to his car.
" Stupid Bitch! Get over here!" Butch yelled. Ming came running down the side walk.
"I'm sorry, Butch! I'm sorry, Butch!"
"Get in the car you little skank!" Butch said. He grabbed her and slapped her befpre shoving her in the car. Riley was horrified by the sight.
"That guy sure looks like plant food to me." Riley said in anger. "You need blood,… and he has much more than enough so… so…"
"So go git it!" The tree yelled slapping Riley on the back. He was now going to attempt to commit murder.