Jailbird
Episode 22
EYRAM’S RESIDENCE – MORNING
Eyram knocks on the door and hears his deep
voice from inside.
She turns the handle and goes in.
She is dressed for the office, and she walks
briskly into the kitchen.
He is sitting at the plastic table with a mug of
black coffee in front of him. She smells and
notices the toasts on a plate on the table.
She pulls out a chair and sits down, and then
she reaches for a toast and bites into it.
She chews with her eyes closed, and when she
opens her eyes she looks at the toast with mild
surprise on her face.
EYRAM
What did you make the filling with, CB? This
is too good!
He takes a sip of his coffee and puts the mug
down.
ChRIS
I thought you would like it. I packed some
breakfast for you. There, on the cabinet.
EYRAM
(smiling)
It has the same toast, the same filling?
He laughs gently at that.
CHRIS
Same.
She gets up and takes the pack from the
cabinet. She stops by his side, and her hips are
quite near his face.
EYRAM
Listen, Chris. This Saturday is the GojuFist
match between Mike Crankson and his former
trainer and promoter, Wailer Vroom. I have
three tickets. Would you want to go?
CHRIS
Yes, I would like that very much. Thank you.
EYRAM
Done then. Now I need to run. See you later,
CB. And thanks for the breakfast.
She moves past him. He reaches out and catches
her wrist.
She stops and looks down at him, moving closer
to him.
CHRIS
Thank you, Eyram, for everything.
He lets go of her wrist. She stays there a
moment longer, still looking at him.
Quite suddenly she reaches out and rubs his right
cheek gently, and then she turns and hurriedly
leaves the kitchen.
He sighs deeply, and reaches for his coffee.
EFFE’S RESIDENCE – MORNING
Effe sighs and looks at Junior as she tries to
hold down her impatience.
Junior is dressed in sneakers, jeans and T-shirt.
He has a blue Ben 10 cap on his head.
Effe is holding his bag and his lunch pack.
EFFE
(striving to be calm)
My prince, you told me you would go to
Granddad’s place. You promised them, and
they’re expecting you!
Junior does not look at her. His shoulders are
slumped, and he looks very unhappy indeed.
JUNIOR
(in a tiny voice)
I know, Mama. I’m sorry. I just want to be
with Daddy.
EFFE
(with a huge sigh)
But Daddy does not know you want to be with
him today. Maybe he has other plans. Grandma
wanted take your measurements and knit a nice
pullover for you. They would be heartbroken.
Junior looks up at her then, and she sees tears
glittering in his eyes, and his lips tremble.
JUNIOR
But Mama, I’ve been with Grandparents for a
long time. Daddy just came home. Ireally really
really want to be with him, please, just for a
teeny weeny bitty time, please?
Effe is getting impatient.
She has a court case that morning, but she
would also be going around with Steve to look at
a house he has been wanting to purchase for
some time now.
She has therefore asked Steve to come and pick
her up and send her to court.
She would submit her summaries and go with him
to look at the house.
Now Steve is waiting outside. If she goes and
drop Junior at his father’s place Chris will see
her with Steve, and somehow Effe isn’t too
keen on that.
She shakes her head.
What is happening to her now?
She has kept the fact that Chris has signed the
divorce papers from Steve. Of course she is
going to marry Steve, and Chris knows it, so
why is she now getting cold feet about Chris
seeing her with Steve?
EFFE
Okay, Iron Boy, call your Daddy. If he wants
to be with you, I’ll take you over.
She leaves the living-room and waits anxiously
outside, and a moment later he comes bundling
out, his air of gloom gone, his face brilliant and
full of unbridled joy …and she knows that she
has lost.
JUNIOR
Yippity yappity yoooo! Daddy is home! We’re
going to the beach on his motorbike!
Effe scowls with frustration.
When they go outside they see Steve leaning
against his amazing red Buick four-runner.
He comes forward, hugs Effe, and brushes his
lips on hers.
Effe looks at him earnestly.
EFFE
Sorry, honey, but Junior wants to be with
Chris. Is it okay with you if we drop him off at
Eyram’s?
Steve looks startled.
STEVE
(frowning)
Chris is staying with Eyram? Since when?
EFFE
Oh, I thought I told you. He’s been there for
about four days now. She offered him her Boys
Quarters.
STEVE
(chuckling)
I’ll be damned! Eyram? Wow. Guy’s a lucky
man. Always being handed out freebies. Eyram
better watch out, though. That boy is slick.
Effe stiffens and frowns.
EFFE
Please. That’s a gross thought, and a most
distasteful remark. I was married to Chris,
remember? Eyram wouldn’t ever dream of a
thing like that.
STEVE
(laughing softly)
Maybe she wouldn’t. But Chris would. You
forget he has a history? With him, until he
met you, there was nothing too taboo for him.
Did I ever mention to you that when we were in
school he was dating a mother and her
daughter?
Steve laughs again and opens the back door for
Junior.
Effe gets into the front passenger seat, and she
is quiet as they drive the short distance to
Eyram’s place.
She is remembering that hug she has seen Eyram
and Chris share at the police station.
She shakes herself out of her thoughts. She tell
herself she is being just silly. Neither Chris nor
Eyram would ever dream of doing that.
At least she trusts her sister. Chris has raped
Elaine, Effe’s best friend and bridesmaid, yes,
but can he ever make a pass at her own sister?
Certainly not!
When they arrive at Eyram’s place Chris is
already outside, sitting astride the motorbike.
He is wearing black three-quarter shorts and a
red polo shirt. His feet are encased in white Air
Jordan’s.
Steve parks near him, and in a flash Junior is
out, running to his father and embracing him
tightly.
Chris lifts Junior unto the bike and puts a
helmet on his head.
Both Steve and Effe get out.
EFFE
Chris. I’ll come and pick him up around four
o’clock. Hope it’s okay with you.
She notices that his smile dies as he looks up at
her, and that on his face is that look again,
that look of sheer fury, almost loathing.
This is about the second or third time he has
looked at her like that, and it is beginning to
worry her.
It is as if he hates her, almost as if he detests
her.
But that is crazy, she thinks. If anything, she
rather should hate and detest him for all the
pains and humiliation he has given her.
Why then is she feeling so disconcerted? Why
is his evident dislike beginning to affect her so?
CHRIS
It’s okay.
Steve walks towards them and extends his hand.
STEVE
Howdy, Chris? Sorry, old boy, our first
meeting was sick. Guess I jumped the gun a
little. How’re you, buddy?
Chris ignores Steve’s hand.
CHRIS
Surviving, Steve.
Steve drops his hand, and the laughter
disappears from his face, and his jaw works
tightly.
STEVE
I see. So it’s like that, huh?
CHRIS
It’s like that, man.
Steve chuckles.
STEVE
Jeez, man! You going to do this to Effe? You
had your chance with her, and you f—-d it up!
Surely you understand that? Why-
EFFE
(sharply)
Steve! Please! It’s okay.
Steve glares angrily at Chris for a moment
longer, and then he turns and walks angrily back
to his car.
Effe hesitates a moment. Chris has tightened the
helmet on Junior’s head, and he kicks the
stand of the bike free.
JUNIOR
(waving)
Bye, Mama. See you later.
EFFE
(smiling wanly)
You guys have fun.
Chris does not speak. He turns the ignition and
the engine kicks into life.
Much against her will Effe steps forward abruptly
and places her hand on his wrist.
She notices his instant cringe, and she sees the
fury in the depths of his eyes. Junior is looking
up at his father, and quickly he reaches up and
puts a small hand on his father’s arm.
Chris looks at his son, and slowly the harsh
lines of his face relaxes.
JUNIOR
Daddy, don’t hate Mommy, okay?
His little voice startles them, and they look into
each other’s eyes.
EFFE
(softly)
I didn’t mean it to be like this, Chris. You’re
not making it easy for me. Please, don’t let us
pull Junior in different directions, please.
For a moment she sees a vulnerability in the
chink of his armour.
She sees the glimpse of the little boy in there
fighting against the pain, and she feels a sudden
uncontrollable urge to put her arms around him.
But the feeling passes quickly as he turns the
motorbike around and speeds away.
JAILBIRD continues
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