Excerpts from: N E M E S I S
Too tired to ask the gas-attendant for directions. She walked over to the side of the building. Sat down on top of her suitcase and took off her shoes. As she began rubbing her
feet, someone approached from behind. "Is everything alright, child?" When she looked up, an old woman with a bible in her hand stood over her. Vicki smiled politely, and proceeded to explain to the woman that she was lost.
"I've just arrived in town and have been having trouble trying to find my sister's house."
"Well my son is dropping me off at my church. He'll be happy to drop you off. Do you have the address to your sister's house?" The old woman's offer was like music to Vicki's ears.
Quickly slipping her shoes back on. She immediately handed the old woman the slip of paper with her sister's address on it. The old woman took her time going through her handbag before placing a pair of reading glasses on her face. She then looked the address over. "This ain't but two or three blocks away, baby."
"At least I was heading in the right direction," Vicki tried to smile but didn't quite pull it off.
"Get your things, child. I'll have my son drop you off at your sister's door."
Relieved to finally meet someone with genuine concern Vicki grabbed her suits-case and followed the old woman to the gas pump where a light-skinned teenager waited behind the wheel of a black Honda Accord.
Shortly after pulling off. The old woman introduced herself as, Reverend Matty Dixson. The young man driving was her son, Londell. Vicki introduced herself and made small conversation about how she had come to New Jersey to live with her sister.
"How long has it been since you've seen your sister?" asked the old woman . Vicki was about to answer when she noticed the Reverend's son eyes watching her through the rear-view mirror. There was something very familiar about his eyes, but she could not quite put her finger on it. She never did get a good look at his face. A brief glance, maybe, but that was all. He was young, she thought. About eighteen, or nineteen.
"It's been seven years since I last saw my sister. I'm not sure how long she's been living in Paterson, though. I ran into a friend of hers who gave me her address."
"Baby don't tell me you came all this way without knowing for sure whether your sister actually lives at that address you showed me? It would be a shame you came all this way for nothing." the Reverend concluded just before her son parked on the corner of 12th and Gram Avenue.
Without replying to the old woman's question. Vicki thanked them both and exited the back seat of the car. The old woman leaned out of the car window and whispered, "Listen, sweetheart, this is a very bad area. We gonna' wait right here 'til we sure everything is alright, you hear?"
"Thank you, but I don't want to hold you up any longer than I already have. I'll be fine, really. You go on, I took up enough of your time."
The old woman studied Vicki's face for the slightest bit of uncertainty. Satisfied Vicki was confident in her decision, she smiled and was about to speak when her son quickly spoke
for the very first time.
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