Romeo

As per usual, all names and places are changed to cover identities but all of these are real stories.  Moments of a young man who probably has countless stories to be told about all the fun shenanigans, work times, and family sharings, but these are just a few on my behalf.

It was my second day of work at One Eye and particularly slow.  I'd just moved here across the States and was tipped to come in here by a coworker at my other job.  Said this bar was totally cool and hip and had delicious food.  I was lookin for more work to pass time and quickly catch up with bills so I'd applied the week before. I trained with someone the previous day, but I'd done this a million times and it wasn't rocket science so they put me the next day on my own shift. The bartender had a crowd but I had no tables and so I went to the back to assemble silverware in napkins- the only busy work I could think to get out of the way without just standing around very awkwardly.

Walking to the back storage area for a pack of napkins, I looked up to see who the cook was- a tall, lanky, dark fellow with concentration in his eyes, preparing all the food orders that were in front of him. Feeling my glace, he looked up, and smiled that smile I would become familiar with every day I worked there.

"Hey, what's up?" He greeted without hesitation. I walked around the service counter and two steps up stairs into the side of the kitchen to be eye level with him. Well. As eye level as I could be. He really was tall! "Nothin, second day at work."
He removed his glove and reached out a hand, "Oh that's what's up. Romeo."
"Thibs." A quick hand shake and a head nod.
"You the new server?"
"Yeah, or whatever shifts they want to give me.  This is my second job and I bartend over at my other one."
"That's cool that's cool," He nods his head, putting a clean glove back on, "This is it for me," he chuckles, puttin his hands up in a wide gesture and lookin up around the kitchen.
"Hey, if it pays the bills that's all you need, " I smile back at him and walk away to start my side work.

Days go by like this, always smiling always having something to say, mostly big ideas.  He came off to me as one of those Dreamer types.  Planning different recipes, talkin about opening up his own place and being his own chef.  So optimistic in such a big city and I always found it fascinating to listen to him.

One day toward the end of work, my boyfriend came in to eat with me.  I sat him in my section and went to go retrieve Romeo. "Come here, I want you to meet someone." I walk him to the table Superman was sat at, "This is Superman; this is my cook, Romeo." Superman stood to greet him, with a handshake-turned-half-back-slap like the brothers always do. "What's up man?" "Cookin and chillin, cookin and chillin, you hungry? You tryin to eat?"
"Yeah man, what's good?"
"The wings are pretty good. Got a nice buffalo sauce on em."
"Alright, let's do that."
"Cool, man, I got you."
I just shook my head, going to the computer to put in his order,  He was always so welcoming to everyone he encountered.
After our shift, Romeo and I sat with Superman and they got better acquainted. Superman liked Romeo, got good vibes all around and was jealous I got to work with all around good company at that job.

A few more weeks went by and my schedule between both jobs evened out. "Between both jobs, I have Tuesdays off."
"No shit, me too. I don't work Tuesdays and Wednesdays,"
"Dude," I looked at him with raised eyebrows, "you busy tomorrow?"
Shaking his head,"Nah, I don't think so. Gotta take baby boy to the dentist but that's about it."
"You wanna do lunch or somethin?"
"Yeah, alright that'd be cool. Shoot me a text so I got your number."

The next day I text him to meet me at a bar that one of my coworkers at my primary job worked at.  This was also her second job.  I chatted with her and got a drink while waiting.  About an hour later, Romeo walked in and greeted me with a hug, "Sorry about that, took a little longer than I thought. Then parking is ridiculous around here. You know how that goes."  I nodded my head.  "What you drinkin?"
"Tom Collins, always."
He shook his head, " Man, I don't fuck with gin like that," then laughed a little. Hennessy. That was his cup of tea. I winced the same face at his drink as he did mine.  The next while at the bar was just shootin the shit, talkin about our significant others. about his 'little man', his mum, where I came from.  Finally I felt like I had a friend in this big ass city. Someone to hang out with that actually gave a damn about a new person in this new world.

"Hey, my friend Kiddo has the day off too, wants to know if we wanna join him for pool up on Capitol Hill," I suggest, looking at my text I'd just gotten. He looked down at my phone, "That thing is tiny! It's old as shit!" Laughing, and completely disregarding my comment.  I started laughing too, "Dude. This thing never breaks, I can text, and make calls. Go ahead and make fun of my Dino phone next time yours fucks up and you gotta update."

Our friendship was like that.  Jesting with each other, crackin jokes, making light of everything.

"Yeah whatever, where does he want to meet us?"

We got in his car and drove it up the hill.  I walked everywhere and didn't think it was that far, he insisted we drive because he was 'way too lazy for that'.  I always laughed at these comments, wondering how the hell he was so skinny but ate like a champ and refused to walk up hills.

We parked the car where it was convenient and still had to walk about six blocks up, him dreading it every step of the way.  We met up with Kiddo and played pool with him and his friend that he also brought.  Romeo bought the first round, I'd gotten the second.  Just a nice warm day at the end of summer, in a bar, playin pool with the guys.  You couldn't ask for a nicer way to be adjusted into the city.

One evening, I was particularly angry.  Romeo saw it when I walked in.  His eyes widened and his mouth dropped. "Uh oh!, " he said, "I've never seen that face, Watch out people!" I walked up to the kitchen. "Hey Romeo." I forced a small smirk of acknowledgment. "What's wrong?" He gave me a half hug. "That man is pissin me off today, I tell you what." "Well damn why didn't you say so! Invite him in tonight to eat and I'll jack up his wings!"  He started laughing and it made me smile a genuine smile, "Oh my lord child, you are so ridiculous."
"Well, you're smiling now so I guess that's okay."
And I was smiling.  Work that day turned out not to be so bad.  I even got an unexpected phone call sayin that I got the job at this nice hotel.  It was going to replace my other job that was full time,  "Congrats!" He said, "Yeah, and tonight I'm gonna celebrate." "Well shit, if you start here, I can join you." So that's what I did. I had my shift drink at the bar after work and he joined once he had the kitchen all cleaned and clocked out.

Once he downed his shift drink, he had somewhere to stop by so we continued our journey a couple blocks up.  It was a dispensary. I'd never been in one before. I don't smoke so I didn't have a reason to.  He played it real cool, and left me in a seat at the front while he went to handle his business.  He came back to me to see if I was ready to go.  As we were walkin, he offered me a drink from his Pepsi bottle he'd been carrying with him. "I think it's got some brandy in there from last night."
I took a swig of it, and my face tensed up immediately. "DAMN SON, YOU THINK?" He burst out laughing and slightly confused. He then took a sip for himself. "Hoooooooo!" He let our a hoot with his breath, "Yeah, I didn't realize it was like that." I took it from him and got another swig, "I think we'll be alright."

I walked him to the bus stop, a nearby gentleman laughing at us drinking the Clearly-not-Pepsi. "Where you headed to?" He asked.  I pointed up the hill, "About a 45 minute walk that way."  His eyes got big, "Do you know how late it is? By yourself?" He looked at his phone, "Come on."
"But wait isn't the bus coming?"
"I can always catch another one, they run all night. I can at least walk you halfway." And he made bank on that.  He walked me across downtown, up the bridge over I 5 and into the outskirts of Capitol Hill.  "Text me when you get home so I know you made it alright? It's gettin cold out here." I told him I would and we exchanged a quick hug before we went opposite ways.

Work was always fun, I looked forward to Tuesdays, and I had a friend.  I might have only worked there once a week in the end with schedules getting cut, but I kept that job because they really were like a little family, lookin out for each other and supporting one another.

One day he came in, determined he was gonna open a place with a friend and started brain storming ideas for a menu.  I got out a piece of paper and started writing his ideas and threw in some and jotting down what he wanted the place to be.  A Dreamer.

In a rush emergency, I'd text Romeo and told him Monday would be my last day at work, that I was headed back home across the states. He asked what days I was free.  That Friday after, I went in for my paycheck.  Romeo was there, cookin up a storm, and gave me a stern look, "Nope." He said, "Not leavin. You can't." I gave him a hug, "I got to man. It'll be alright. I'll see you again and maybe you'll come see me in Mississippi!"

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. What you gettin into tonight?"
"Just work. Then going out after work I think, My last Friday in town and all."
"That's what's up! Shoot me a text!"
"Okay, you closing tonight?"
He just shook his head, rollin his eyes.
"Alright, well how about you text me when you get off? Is that better?"
"Yeah yeah, I got you. I'll see you later."
I gave him another half hug, then walked out with my last paycheck.



Are you back home yet? I have news......

I'll never forget that message.  I didn't understand. I got to One Eye as quickly as I could.  
I stood there, staring at Flo, one of my favourite bartenders to work with.  "Is it true?" I asked, almost in a whisper.
He nodded, pulled me to the side and explained what had happened that night.  I just stood there. Staring at him.  "But. I I don't get it." My face perplexed. Moments of silence, and our other cook came over. By the look on my face, he knew I'd just found out.  Both of them, eyes stinging red, trying to be strong.

"Y'all want a shot?" Flo asked, getting out the glasses already. "I'd do Boubon, but Romeo knows I don't like that shit.  So we'll do tequila."  We smiled a little. It was so true. The owner came around the corner as Flo was doing this, "Just don't look, I'm about to do something illegal. Look away," The owner stat at the bar, "Pour me one too."

"We lifted our glasses together, "To Romeo," and drank together.  The owners wife came out shortly, eyes not holding back anything.  Little shoulder pats, hugs, and arm rubs were exchanged with all of us for comfort.  All agreeing what a great guy.  All smiling about what a goofy coworker and friend he was.  A few more moments and the group dispersed, talking of setting up a fund for the family.  I walked out, having to start my last shift at my other job.  My head low and my thoughts in the air.

For as long as my memory goes on, I won't ever forget the friend I made in Seattle.  Where everyone was in such a hustle and bustle with their busy city lives, I'll always remember the one who took time for me.  


Cheers to you Jerome, may God be with all your loved ones as we grieve and cherish the memories we all have of you. 

Before Comedy is Calamity Pt. 1

WARNING: the following material is explicit and contains words that are naughty and some of them rude or offensive.  Just telling the story as it actually HAPPENED. These aren't in my words, these are just the facts of what happened.  Enjoy yet another true story of Story Time with Thibodeaux. I know it's been way too long.

We got outta the car after parking it at our friend's place.  Because fuck paying for parking downtown.  Luckily we both love walking and it was only a thirty or forty minute walk to the venue.  We both shut our door and he reaches his hand for me so we can cross the street and head up the hill.  We both hear some obnoxious mumble of words and turn around to see who it was coming from.

Just some tall, black gent talking on the phone or something, makin his way loudly down the sidewalk.  We look both ways before crossing and the words are a little louder and prominent behind us, "Yeah you don't belong here. Go back home where you came from, you damn foreigners,"

Both of us thinkin the same thing. Eh, some crackhead readin license plates, because ours are Mississippi plates still.  We start to cross the street and a little louder into his phone and obviously directed for us to hear, the guy goes a little further with it, "Yeah some fuckin Uncle Tom. Motha fuckin nigga and his raggedy bitch..."

It was like slow motion. I already felt the small hairs on the back of my neck raise up as I tried to reach for his arm to calm him but he was already marching back across the road to the man, "EXCUSE ME! EXCUSE ME SIR!"

Oh fuck. Here we go.

"Please! It's not that big of a deal! He's a crackhead!" I yelled after him, cars buzzing between us as I'm waiting to safely cross the road and watch mortified at what storm is already brewin on the other side.

"Excuse me! You will not call her a bitch again!"
"Well you a bitch too."
"That's fine, you can call me whatever you want but you will not disrespect her"
"You girl is a raggedy bit-"

and right as I was getting over there, before the man got the last word out completely, fists were already flying. "STOP IT! STOP IT!" I was yelling.  I had no idea what to do.  This was by far the dumbest thing ever.  But it comes with the territory, dating a hot head. I'm not even talking about myself.  Superman's glasses and watch go flying and before the men could step on his accessories, I go walking around the fight picking them up before they get ruined. Wallet goes flying, and I grab that too.

"Fucking stop it! You look like morons! Fuck, we got shit to do tonight!" I have no idea what to do, given Superman's background, I'm not keen on calling the police.  In the past I've broken up stupid fist fights but they were between guys I knew. I didn't know this old ratchet from Adam's housecat, and if he didn't hesitate to beef with a man, I knew sure as hell he wouldn't have any problem layin hands on me.  I look across the street at my friend's house and call him.  No answer. Probably wasn't off work yet. Fuck fuck fuck.

"I'm calling the police!" I bluff. At this point, Superman had gotten this man in a choke hold.

Let's back the fuck up. Superman is all but about 5'6" and 160 lbs on a good day when he's had his Wheaties.  This crackhead is easily about 6'2" and 240 lbs after a good healthy shit.  How the hell you gonna get this Jolly Giant in a damn choke hold? 

Damn ninja status, that's how.  While pacing and watching this little piffy spat, I think back to the Mortal Combat games and how they would duck left and right then strike with ease. This was like a real life video game.  Little ninja had skills.

"That's enough," Superman says to him, still holding from behind.  Behind the both of them was a big concrete wall. It was about a six foot tall wall that stood at the front of all the residential houses on that street and concrete steps up to the doors at the top of each grass hill behind said wall. The boozy crackhead then slammed Superman into the concrete wall. This is when I was getting really pissed.

See. In an hour I had my first comedy performance in Seattle.  Of course this would happen on said day.  I'd been worried all day about what story I'd tell, what would be considered "too much" for this crowd, and now I had no worries at all. At this point I gave up on the idea of going.  Police would take forever filing this shit. 

In the mens' tussle, Ol' Man Butternuts had gotten Superman on the steps using dead weight against him.  I was still screaming at them, "Fucking stop it! God for fucking bid! FUCK!"

Then that moment came, ladies.  That ride-or-die moment.  It's like I was seeing American History X all over again. I saw that man try to force Superman's head between the steps, Superman putting up a strong fight, but the man had all his weight into it.  I felt it rise up inside of me. That moment where the lioness eats a hyena to protect her cubs.  That moment where the goose plucks your fuckin eyes out for fuckin with her gaggle.  That moment when a big summbitch is about to stomp out your man. 

I had to do something. I had to.

Kick.

All that pent up anger and frustration from the year bundled into one foot.  As if God lay all his strength is my big toe and the light shone down upon the glory hole of whence my foot shalt land. 

WHAM. And as if he were an eight year old boy that just got told there was no Easter bunny, his puppy had cancer, and he was adopted all in one sentence, the man looked up at me with sheer pain, emptiness, and horror in his eyes. With no mercy, I began screaming scripture at him,

"I HAVE A CLEAR SHOT TO YOUR BALLS MOTHERFUCKER AND I'LL DO IT AGAIN! GET THE FUCK OFF HIM! YOU'RE DONE! YOU'RE FUCKING DONE YOU ASSHOLE!"
With the same blank stare and emptiness in his eyes, he nodded slightly, "okay, okay," and he eased off Superman, who lifted his head and held the man up with his arms.  No sooner than stepping back and thinking the moment was over, Ol' Man Sugartits thought he could fake out Superman and went to swing with a right hook. He missed and punched concrete and Superman lunged forward again, getting the man off him. 

By this time I'd already called the police, the gal asking me what was happening.

Do you know either of the men?
"Yes! One is my fucking boyfriend! We just moved here!"
What's the address?
I give her the address as I'm looking at the house number above.
Ma'am that's an invalid address.
"I'M FUCKING STARING AT THE HOUSE NUMBER WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"
Ma'am please try to stay calm.
"Yes ma'am, I realize, but I'd really like this to FUCKING STOP!" Half screaming at the guys again.

We're sending responders. Do either of the men have weapons?
"No, just their," and I start laughing a little, "just their fucking fists."





This is all just so ridiculous.  I hang up the phone and a moment later Superman is standing again with the man in the same choke hold, this time he pushes the man away and he stumbles forward.  The man turns to run after Superman again and I stand between them.  "Fucking stop it you asshole! Enough! You hear that? the police are coming! Back the fuck off!"

Sure enough there were the sirens. It was at that moment, we notice all the people standing around and a couple cars that had pulled over.  I start laughing, thinking I'll be on Worldstar Hip Hop as the crazy white bitch kickin balls and shit.  We walk toward our car at the end of the block and Crackhead McGruff takes off in the opposite direction. 

I look at Superman and he has blood on his sleeve, "Baby," I point, and as if this man hadn't just been in a brawl, shrieks like a little punk, "Ewwwwwahhh!!" and Strips off his argyle sweater.  I check his head and his arms.  Other than some concrete scrapes on his elbows, he's pretty clean.  There was a cut on his head but not big enough to make the blood that was on his sleeve. I look back at Jonny Crackpipe hobbling down the sidewalk and just shake my head with a smile.

One vehicle pulls up and already I feel it in my gut. See, I don't exactly have the greatest track record with police either.  I don't have a record. But I've definitely had more than my fair share of run ins with police.  We don't really get along.  "You the one that made the call in?"

*POOF! INSTANT WHITE GIRL, I CHOOSE YOU!*

"Yes sir, I'm sorry about yelling at your dispatcher, I wasn't mad at her, just upset at the situation."
"I understand, are you one of thee guys that was in the fight?"
"Yes, officer, he took off that way," he pointed down the block behind him, "we were on our way to Capitol Hill tonight and he was talkin all kinds of crazy.  Luckily I know how to defend myself, I have no idea what could have happened if it were someone else." He and I exchanged glances as the officer took notes.  "So this guy is on foot?" He talks into his radio, and the other responder that pulled up behind him races down the block. 

"Are you alright? We have an ambulance that can get you checked out.  It's free."  The officer looked at Superman with a caring look in his eye. "No, no really I'm fine."  "What are you to doin out tonight?" Superman was the first to speak up. "She has a performance tonight, actually.  We were on our way there."
"Oh that's cool. I could give you a ride if you wanted."
We exchange looks at each other again and I'm smiling ear to ear, "No way."
"Sure thing." He looks to Superman, who nods and insist he get a shirt and jeans from his car to change into.
The cop asks my name and I give it to him and asks for Superman's as well. We load up into the vehicle and the cop keeps talkin, "So once we catch this guy, did you wanna press charges or anything?"
Superman shakes his head, "No that won't be necessary, he didn't really get good hits on me, he was just heavy and reeked of alcohol." "I'm glad you folks are okay." And all the while I'm laughin my ass off.  The cop smiles at me in the rearview mirror, "Hysteria, call it hysteria. I'll be okay."  This guy just has no idea who he picked up.

He takes us straight to the bar I'd be performing at. We thank him and shake his hand, both of us impressed that we actually dealt with a cool cop.

"Man you know that's some bullshit though," he smiled at me.
"You think so?"
"Hell yeah! You know damn good and well if it was just me and him, we'd both be sittin in jail right now.  Throw some helpless little white girl in the mix and they respond within seconds and offer to take you to where you're going!" He side hugs me tight as we walk up to the bar, I mock, "Help me, help me, I'm defenseless and my boyfriend's gone bad! Help! Help!"

To be continued. It was just really nice to finally write this all out.