Silent Society

By Hosea Ivan Pelham

Despite growing up in a rough neighborhood, Nick Watkins Jr. succeeds in everything he tries. In his youth, his intelligence and athletic prowess provide him with popularity and respect, inspiring Nick to escape the gritty urban setting of his childhood. He joins the military, where he achieves great things. Now home from another tour, Nicks life is about to change in a way he never saw coming.

Reunited with two of his best friends, Nick begins to recognize that things have changed at the old neighborhood. His neighbors, once a close-knitalbeit impoverishedcrowd, have developed into something Nick cant understand. It would seem that a secret group is getting rid of all the undesirables in the near vicinity. Nick, being the upright citizen he is, cant help but be drawn into this society of so-called do-gooders.

Even so, even do-gooders make mistakes now and then. Th e further Nick falls into involvement, the more he begins to question the righteousness of his actions. He sought normalcy upon his return from the service, but now there is nothing but danger and chaos. When Nick meets a young woman that might save him, he may be too close to the edge already; he might pull her down with him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Sep 17, 2012
• ISBN: 9781475948639

Hosea Ivan Pelham

Hosea Ivan Pelham is a US Navy veteran of twenty years. He is currently an employee for a transit organization in Dallas, Texas. He has one son and has been a resident of Texas since 2006, having moved there from South Florida.

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Copyright © 2012 Hosea Ivan Pelham

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-4759-4862-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-4864-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-4863-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012916335

iUniverse rev. date: 9/10/2012

Contents

1 Back Home, You Never Meet A Stranger

2 Nickie Boy

3 The Three Of Us - The Past

4 Moms Kitchen

5 Grape Soda

6 Visiting JB

7 Open Your Eyes Nick

8 The Interview

9 The Network

10 The Kiss

11 JB is Dead

12 Bitter Sweet

13 The Night Is Young

14 Shhhhhh

Hosea Ivan Pelham to his fiance Vada;

…for having patience and faith in me.

1

Back Home,

You Never Meet A Stranger

Hey guy, what are you doing in here? You guys can’t go everywhere, right? Last I heard, this place was off limits to Gi’s.

I’m looking for somebody; she’s tall, about five foot nine, approximately a hundred and thirty pounds. Her long streaming black hair compliments her hour glass physique Her eyes are light brown, maybe hazel.

You forgot the stilettos that made her number one in everybody’s black book. No one could wear them like she did. Her name is Rachel, one of the fortunate ones that made it out of this pit. Why here? She’ll never come back here.

She told me to meet her here for drinks. As a matter of fact, she’s sitting at that table over there looking at us now.

…My timid, yet informative new acquaintance did look in the direction that I mentioned, but only saw the company that she was keeping. Slowly he removed himself from the stool at the bar, turned around and began to walk out. Before he left, he said that if I’d known any better that I should leave too. Apparently, I wasn’t frightened by his soon to be accurate advise because I found myself walking toward the same table that Rachel occupied along with six guys that sat to the left and right of her. I gave a blanket greeting, then targeted Rachel with eye contact only. The one closest to Rachel looked to his left then to his right saying…

Soldier boy, I see you woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. I care less about the fact that you guys can’t go anywhere. I mean if somebody tells me where and where not to go, I wouldn’t like it either. What you just did is straight up disrespectful and that just don’t happen out here.

…Apparently, my seemingly to be verbose new acquaintance was making mention of the fact that I didn’t give he and his boys their proper respect when I approached their table. I’m sure my visual concentration I had on Rachel didn’t rub him right either. In the time it takes to blink, the talkative one reached underneath the left side of his jacket and pulled out a pretty polished 9mm striking me on the right cheekbone with the barrel of the weapon. Falling to the floor, I rolled over once settling upright. From my seated position I witnessed three guys leap across the table onto me and began to land left and right straight jabs as if I’d stolen their birthdays. Screaming, yelling, moaning was to no avail…

Sir, sir, are you alright? Sir.

huh! (sniff) (sigh) What is it? What’s going on?

Here, here’s a towel. You were dreaming, The stewardess quietly informs me, "You’re sweating, do you need more towels?

…Leaning back in my aisle coach seat, I’m finally focusing on the kind person that is concerning about me making noises…

No, I said. "This one will do. I apologize for the commotion. Was I loud?

With a smile, she said, Someone summoned us, yes. Here, drink this cola to calm you. In a few minutes you’ll hear announcements regarding your seat and food tray. Mr. Watkins, you’re almost home.

…For some reason, I didn’t feel embarrassed. It’s probably because for the past two years I’ve been having that same dream with a different backdrop. This time the setting involved an off limits bar. Where? I haven’t a clue. The dream always ends with me getting beaten. I don’t know whether I’m rendered unconscious or if I’d died; it just ends with me getting beaten. Research tells me that when people have negative or morbid dreams such as this, that their past and present personal activities are the foundation for such delusions. This doesn’t make sense seeing that my entire life has been on easy street. I wasn’t too alarmed by them, I’ll just deal with them as I’d been doing. Halfway through my four years of active duty, I began having this ridiculous nightmare. I didn’t go to sick call out of embarrassment along with the fact that this would have been an entry in my medical record, probably under a category of a mental nature. I wasn’t about going to give anybody a reason to take me off the line so they could give me multiple test. I’ve seen others not make it back. Thinking that the military environment, in which I’d really enjoyed, might have been the root of my dreams,I just gaffed it off since it didn’t take me out of my normal activities. Within my last year I noticed that these figments of my imagination had been tapering off…

Mr. Watkins, thank you for flying with us and we do appreciate your military service. Have a great day.

"Thanks and thank you for bringing me back to reality. I promise that I’ll keep my thoughts to myself in the future.

It was nothing, Said the still concerned stewardess. I’ve seen worst; your session seemed to be short lived. I suggest that you sit yourself down and gather all your unconstructive thoughts and be done with them.

Easier said than done?, I asked.

You never know if you don’t try. Again welcome back home Mr. Watkins and thank you for all that you’ve done.

I appreciate your thoughts and words. Ya’ll take care now."

…I guess being a seasoned stewardess allows one to give useful applications in making life better. Like I always said, experience is a virtue.

…Boom!

…the backfire of an automobile penetrates the already hectic ground transportation scene at the international airport. A skycap approached me with concern in his eyes: obviously he noticed that I was somewhat shaken upon hearing it…

Hey young man, you alright? looked like you just saw a ghost.

Naw, the sound of that car took me by surprise, that’s all, I answered as I lifted my head up showing confidence. "Trying to figure out which cabbie is the cheapest."

The cheapest? Son! You’re at the airport, Bubble gum out here cost an arm and a leg.

So which one would you suggest, I asked, apparently he forgot what he really came to me for.

Ugh (sigh), Don’t go near the cabbie’s from International, you’ll be eating hot dogs for the rest of the month; those guys will take you for all you got, Wilson cab is my choice. Where do you live?"

Out east, I answered waiting for his remark.

Out East! He answered with a chuckle. Good luck, most cabbies out here will flip on the out to lunch sign when they here that.

Thanks for the advice, I said as I smiled.

…Out east isn’t a pleasant memory for most cab drivers. Some have business as usual, but most either get stiffed or just out right robbed. As I tried to walk off, the skycap had something else to say…

Are you from there? You don’t sound like you’re from out east?

…My conversation and diction didn’t resemble that of a guy from my area. My parents preached correct diction more than anything else. Granted, the classroom was priority one, but the way I carried on a conversation was met with scrutiny if I didn’t pronounce my words according to their wishes. I’ll have to admit, it was a challenge since the verbiage of my immediate surroundings is that of street language and the majority of my friends did not have the same up-bringing that I did…

Born and raised, I proudly said. I went to Liberty.

Liberty? That school beat everybody on and off the field.

Yeah we had our moments. I said with a grin.

Moments?, At this point the skycap is in full laughter mode. When I did go to a football game, I was so busy either rubber necking to see whose getting their butts kicked in the stands or just trying not to get hit myself. You look like, like, ugh, did you play ball?

Yeah, I was there, I’m Nick Watkins.

Ooooooh, all world! Boy you did everything at that school. Son, where you coming from?"

Honolulu, I answered. Just got out of the Navy.

Military? Get outta here! Outstanding choice son. Folks don’t congratulate you guys enough; thanks for all you did over there.

It was nothing, it’s just like out here; you like the job, it’s gravy, you don’t, you’re miserable because you’re stuck with it for four years.

…The skycap began to scratch the salt and pepper hair on his head or what’s left of it and said…

Well, you don’t look like you retired, why did you get out?

I planned on staying for one hit. I have a skill that transfers good out here.

What do you do?

I’m a welder. I said proudly.

"Oh, yes, you won’t have a problem getting a job doing that," Shaking his head up and down, he continued. Can you weld underwater?

Sure I can, that was one of the programs I volunteered for since it wasn’t a prerequisite.

"Prerec, Wha? What you talking about?,"The skycap back in full laughter mode again.

It’s something that’s gonna happen whether you like it or not.

…The skycap answered as he dried his eyes from laughing…"Oh, ok, well you did good to make that call cause this area is right on the water. Let me tell ya son, I have a brother and he’s blind as a bat from doing that job. He only did it on land though. Anyway, times have changed and they got supplements that you can take to help your eyes stay healthy, so you better start taking em now cause if you don’t , you’ll be blind as he is. I’m serious, Nicolas, my brother is out there bad, but he’s got plenty of money from doing it. You hear me!

…at this point, I’m laughing and I noticed that he is too, yet I can see the seriousness beneath his candid humor. Finally, I gathered myself and said…Alright man, I’ll make sure I get them.

…Actually, I take multiples, but there are supplements specifically for maintaining the health of the eyes. the skycap made a great point…

…As the ground transportation doors of the airport open and a bunch of folks began approaching our area, the skycap lastly added…I’m Charlie, check out Wilson cab number 54;Big Jim McNamara, an ex-marine drives this one. He’ll take you where you need to go; even out east.

Alright Charles, I’ll check him out, thanks for everything.

The name’s Charlie, got it!, He said smiling.

Got it Charlie, thanks again. I figured since he did call me Nicolas, it was only fair that I return the favor. As our conversation progressed, I got a feeling that he knew me. Only my friends call me Nick. In such a short period of time, I can actually say that this guy Charlie can be considered as a friend. The guy came across genuinely with old school respect. I walked further along the ground transportation walkway where most of the cabbies parked as they wait their turn and saw a green and white Wilson number 54 cab. It was the fifth cab in line. Sticking my head near the front passenger window, I saw a massive, well built older gentleman about the size of a modern day defensive lineman. To myself, I said, this guy will drive anywhere, nobody’s gonna mess with him. He’s probably packing a concealed weapon, legally of course. I remember Charles saying that he was ex-Marine. If they talked at all, they probably had words about that since Marines that are no longer attached to their units don’t consider themselves as being ex.

…As my eyes were fixed on the massiveness of Big Jim, I didn’t notice that the window was down. In a deep scratchy voice, I heard…You gotta go up front kid, lead cab is next in line.

A skycap said that you’d be the one to take me out east since the others are scared.

…The massive cabbie burst into laughter; even the tone of his laugh was deep…

"You