11. Ajay
ajay
. . .
T here are so many stories about famous people coming back to their home towns. You even hear about soldiers coming back from war and the whole town, as they should, comes out and celebrates. We’re shown stories of politicians being honored in parades, activists being given the keys to their cities, and statues being erected in honor of a celebrity because their town is proud of them. Not the Town of Bailey. No, the Town of Bailey arrests you on trumped up charges that shouldn’t even make it past an assistant district attorney. This, according to Saul, is what he plans to say to Judge Harvey today. I don’t know if this is a smart tactic or not. Someone like Harvey, who is holding a grudge, may not take too kindly to the comparison. I don’t deserve to have the red carpet rolled out for me. I certainly haven’t given back to the community and I probably should. I could donate to the music department at school, help them buy new instruments. I could volunteer to teach a music class or tutor a student — all things I do in California. The reason I don’t, or haven’t, are simple — I never wanted to come back and interrupt Whiskey’s life. Even a donation would draw attention, word would spread, and I didn’t want that for her. Yet, I think my lack of community involvement here will end up biting me in the ass.
Saul paces my room as he talks to himself while I stand on the balcony watching traffic move at a snail’s pace down Main Street. I’ve spent many hours standing here, taking in life around me. It’s so different here versus Los Angeles. Everyone is in a rush out there, moving at the speed of light, and here, they seem to slow down. People in Bailey stop to talk to you on the street, they care about what’s going on around them. Not that I’ve spoken to anyone but Mrs. B. She grew concerned when she hadn’t seen me leave my room and started bringing food to me. For that, I’m thankful because just the thought of running into Whiskey physically hurts. Seeing her from afar is doing enough damage to last me another lifetime. I wish Mrs. B hadn’t told me her schedule, yet I’m thankful that she did. Even the smallest glimpse reminds me why I left… so she could have a better life. For years, I struggled, barely making enough money to put a roof over my head and eat one meal a day. Everything changed when I took what I had left and entered the Battle of the Drums contest. Winning the competition and subsequently meeting Harrison James changed my life.
Down on the street, a black Escalade pulls up to the curb and the doors open. I recognize Katelyn first, followed by Elle. I’m assuming Harrison has gotten out of the driver’s side. I step back inside of my room where Saul is still talking to himself. “I’ll be right back,” I tell him as I leave. The entrance isn’t far from my room, but still down a flight of stairs, which I head down as fast as I can and come to a halt when I see my band family in the entryway. As soon as Katelyn sees me, I’m in her arms and she’s telling me that everything will be okay. I wish I had her confidence, but I don’t. Harrison and I hug quickly, and Elle doesn’t say much. Not uncommon as our relationship is a bit different from what I have with her parents. She’s my boss and I respect that.
“Saul’s upstairs, talking to himself.”
Harrison laughs. “He’s good like that. His father could carry on conversations with himself and never miss a beat.”
“Good to know,” I sigh. I motion for them to follow me, but Saul appears on the steps before we can head to my room.
“Perfect. I’m glad you’re all here,” he says as he comes into our fold.
“Did you arrange this?” I ask.
He looks at me oddly.
“Mom wanted to be here,” Elle says. “I would’ve been here regardless. Dad followed because I took his plane.” She acts like it’s no big deal, commandeering a jet.
Katelyn comes to my side and wraps her arm around mine. “We’re family, and family always supports family.”
“Thank you,” I tell her and the rest of them. Saul claps his hands and tells us all it’s time to leave. As I walk by Mrs. B, I let her know that I’ll be back later. Hopefully, it’s only to get my stuff, but with Harvey, I can’t be so sure.
Harrison and Saul sit up front while Katelyn, Elle and I pile into the back. There’s third row seating, but none of us care to use it. Katelyn sits in the middle and holds both mine and Elle’s hands. I’m in complete awe of the relationship she has with her daughters. Sure, they’re adult women with one already married and the other traveling the country with a band, and yet they still hold hands with their mom. I wish I had a relationship like that… or one at all with my mother… although I don’t know what I’d say to her after all this time. She left me when I was six to fend for myself.
It doesn’t take us long to get to the courthouse. During the short ride there, Saul continued to talk to himself, practicing his summations on Harrison, who deemed this trial business nothing but bullshit. I happen to agree with him but saying as much in court won’t get me very far, especially with the likes of Judge Harvey.
After Harrison parks, the five of us walk up the courthouse steps and go through the metal detector. One of the guards asks for Harrison’s autograph, to which he replies, “Depends on my mood after this trial.” I think the guard was taken aback, but the man is one pissed off dude right now. With his hand on my shoulder and Katelyn’s arm wrapped in mine, we follow Saul down the somewhat busy hall. I think everyone is here to bear witness to the fact that I’m here, and not really conducting any actual business.
When I see Whiskey standing at the counter, I freeze. I would know her anywhere by the shape of her neck when her hair is pulled up. I spent many hours memorizing every inch of her skin there. “What’s wrong?” Katelyn asks.
“Nothing, I just need a minute.” I walk away and toward the love of my life. She sees me coming and quickly wipes at her cheeks. “Why are you crying?” I ask her, as if I have a right to know. Without hesitation, I reach out and touch her arm, as if there isn’t a huge divide between us.
She looks from me to her arm and adjusts the way she’s standing so I have no choice but to let her go. “Go away, Ajay.” She steps to the side to get away from me.
“Whiskey?”
She stops, turns, and looks at me with tear-streaked eyes. Whiskey opens her mouth to say something, but then thinks twice. She walks away while shaking her head, disappearing into the women’s rest room. If we weren’t in a courthouse filled with people, I’d follow her in. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve done something like that with her.
“Ajay, we need to go,” Elle’s behind me and unfortunately reminding me of what I have to do now. I glance at the door one more time before following Elle into the courtroom. Harrison and Katelyn are already sitting in the front and Elle joins them while I take the seat next to Saul.
Fletcher Oakes is the next to arrive. He’s followed by Sheriff Foster. I’m slightly upset that I haven’t been able to take a jab or two at him in the last few days. I fully expected him to stop by my room a few times to try and arrest me for drinking a beer. Sadly, he’s disappointed me there.
The bailiff tells us to rise, which we do, waiting for Judge Harvey to take his seat. He reads his script, reminding the people — all my people — that we’re here to hear the case of the State of North Carolina versus Ajay Ballard on the charge of vandalism. “Mr. Oakes, please present your case.” As Fletcher stands, I stare out the frosted glass window, not needing to hear any of this.
“Whiskey, this is a bad idea. What if he wakes up?”
She giggles. I kiss her to keep her quiet.
“Come on, Whiskey, let’s go home.”
She pushes away from me. “Don’t be such a stick in the mud, Ajay. Come on, it’ll be fun. It’s like a rite of passage to teepee Harvey’s house.” Whiskey goes to the truck and fills her arms with toilet paper. She’s spent months collecting and hiding them where her parents wouldn’t find them, all for this moment.
Whiskey throws roll after roll, laughing as she does. I refuse to help her. I don’t want to get caught up in this mess. If she gets busted, her parents will do whatever they can to help her. The only person I’ve got is her.
Roll after roll is thrown over the shrubs, trees, the car parked in the driveway, and the house. Once she runs out, she runs back to the truck and grabs more, all while I stand there, pleading with her. “Whiskey, that’s enough, come on.”
“No,” she snaps. “Harvey deserves this.”
I step back and put my hands up in the air. “Have at it, sunshine!” She takes my words to heart and continues to decorate the good Judge’s house. And just when I think she’s finished; she goes back to her truck and pulls out a carton of eggs.
“Seriously, Whiskey?”
“What, I can’t make it easy for him.”
“What’d he ever do to you, huh?”
She starts hurling eggs at his house, ignoring my question. They crack and splat down the wood siding. This man is going to have to get up at the crack of dawn and clean this up before the sun heats up.
“Whiskey?”
“What, Ajay? You want to know what this bastard did?”
“Yeah, I do, because if we’re going to get busted, I at least need a reason.”
“He won’t touch us because if he does, I’ll tell his pretty little wife that he fancies my mama and told my mama that if she wants to keep her job, she’ll fancy him back.”
“Does your dad know?”
“Yeah, he does, but Harvey is a piece of shit and my daddy doesn’t want to lose his job, so I’m going to take care of it for him.”
I shut up and let her get her aggression out on the house. I know Mrs. Foster loves the Sheriff, so I’m not worried about her cheating on him. But the Sheriff, he might not appreciate the Judge if he were to find out.
When the sprinklers come on, she screams and runs toward the truck. I hop in just as she slams the door.
“Drive, Ajay!”
I do as she’s ordered, burning rubber as I try to get away from the house. I look over at my girl; her hair is wild, but there’s a damn smile on her face and that’s all that matters.
“Mr. Ballard, you’ve entered a plea of not guilty. Do you still stand by your plea?”
“Jameson Foster did this,” I blurt out, forgetting where I am. There’s a gasp in the galley, and I turn to find Whiskey sitting in the back, turning red. Fuck, my life.
“Order in the court,” Harvey slams his gavel down.
Saul stands. “Your Honor, if we could take a short recess?—”
“Proceedings just started and now you want to take a short recess. What kind of fool do you take me for?”
“Your Honor, the State requests a recess to go over this new information.”
“Fine, fifteen minutes.” He slams the gavel down again and heads to his chamber. As soon as he’s up, I rush to the back of the room and drop to my knees.
“Whiskey, I’m sorry. I was thinking about that night and your name… it just came out. I remember what you said about Harvey. I need you to tell him the truth.”
“Why should I?” her glare burns a hole right through me.
“You shouldn’t,” I tell her honestly. “I don’t deserve anything from you.”
“Fletcher, am I allowed to testify?”
I glance over my shoulder at the attorney. “Yeah, Jamie, you can unless Mr. Ballard’s attorney has any objections.”
“None from us,” Saul says.
“Thank you,” I say to her.
She stands and I follow, still loving that I’m a head and shoulder taller than her. “Aren’t you worried about me lying on the stand?” She smirks as she steps past me.
I inwardly groan. I wasn’t, but I am now.