Addis arranged his sleeping spot, and she lay down on the couch. He turned off the lamp, and positioned himself on the cushions. An orangish light from outside filled the room. She fixed the quilt so that it covered her and draped over Addis.

“Good night, Nick. Thanks for dinner and …”

He could smell her and felt a trembling within.

“It’s okay.”

Try to sleep. Try.

“I don’t think I’m going to sleep much tonight,” she said.

“Me neither,” he said. “Good night.”

Fifteen minutes later, she was asleep. He could tell from her breathing. He stared across the room at a portrait hanging on the wall. Dwight David Eisenhower was watching them.

She rolled over, and her hand gently dropped upon Addis’s shoulder. It was still there when he drifted off.

36 - Bennington Gardens June 29

36

Bennington Gardens June 29

Starrell banged his fist against the apartment door.

“Open up, fuckin’ Jesus Christ, open up the fuckin’ door,” he shouted.

He pounded again. His heart was racing. His chest hurt. Sweat was stinging his eyes.

“Come on, Willie! Open the god-damn door!”

The locks clicked; then the door opened as far as the chain would allow. Starrell saw his friend’s face in the crack.

“C’mon, man, quick, open up.”

“You fuckin’ nuts, Twayne. What the fuck you doing?”

Starrell grabbed at the chain.

“Willie, open the god-damn, motherfuckin’ door, now. Let me in.”

The door closed. He heard Willie Jameson undo the chain. The door swung open. Starrell bolted in, and Jameson quickly shut the door. Starrell plopped on to a couch covered with a white sheet. Jameson was wearing a T-shirt, white athletic socks pulled up to his calves, and black boxer shorts that revealed his long, skinny legs.

“What’s the fuck’s going on?” Jameson asked.

“Just seen somebody capped. Look at this shit.”

There was a dark splotch on the left side of Starrell’s T-shirt.

“Man, blood and skank right on me … . If anyone comes to the door, don’t let no one in.”

“Don’t be bringing no gangsta shit into my house, Twayne. My momma’s sick like I ain’t ever seen. Coughing up this yellow shit.”

Starrell was breathing hard.

“Okay, okay, you stay your ass there,” Jameson said. “I’ll get you some water.”

When Jameson came back, Starrell chugged the water and handed the glass back to Jameson. He then took a long breath.

“This is what it is,” Starrell said. “Got a call from this dude who used to be a big-dick nigger at the White House. I’m doing some favors for him. He’s paying big, you know.”

Jameson started to ask a question, but Starrell kept talking.