Outcast by Lewis Ericson Page A

know what I’m doin’ every hour of the day and night!”
    â€œYou were ready to jump all over some guy at the movies just ’cause he wanted to help me carry popcorn. And you come up in here after bein’ out all night and you don’t expect me to have somethin’ to say about it. If we’re supposed to be together I got a right—”
    â€œWhoa, hold up . . . You ain’t got a right to a damn thing. I’m a grown-ass man, not no little boy. You don’t have to chase after me. Poppin’ up over here all the time. Tryin’ to get in good with my grandmother and goin’ to church like you all holy. Ain’t no ring on your finger, and even if it was you ain’t got to keep tabs on me!”
    Their collective anger governed their tones. The commotion brought Betty to the door. Tasha turned away to keep her from seeing the tears welling up in her eyes. Realizing he may have gone too far, Tirrell leaned against the railing with his head down.
    â€œY’all all right out here?”
    â€œYeah, Noonie. We’re good.”
    â€œTasha?”
    â€œI’m fine, Miss Betty.”
    â€œWe’re gonna have cobbler soon. I got some vanilla ice cream to go with it. Y’all wanna come back inside?”
    Tasha turned to face her. “I think I’m gonna pass on dessert. I need to go.”
    â€œAre you sure?”
    She glanced over at Tirrell, who hadn’t looked up. “Yeah, I just need to get my purse.”
    Betty cleared the doorway and Tasha went in to retrieve her purse and say good-bye to the others. She hugged Betty and thanked her for inviting her to dinner. She said nothing to Tirrell as she jumped in her car and sped off.
    â€œTirrell?”
    â€œI’ll be in soon, Noonie.”
    Betty hesitated before stepping back inside the house.
    Tirrell’s cell phone rang; it was Bobby. He would have to call him back. He slipped the phone back into the pocket of his jeans and removed the plastic pouch of cocaine.
    Before he could go back into the house, Kevin came out. Tirrell rightfully assumed it wasn’t his decision. He quickly stuffed the pouch back inside his pocket. They stood staring out over the neighborhood with no particular focus, or interest in the residents who waved in recognition.
    â€œWhat was that?” Kevin inquired.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œWhat you just put in your pocket.”
    â€œNothin’ for you to worry about, Kev.” Tirrell opened his arms and smiled a big, toothy grin. “You wanna give your li’l brother some love?”
    Kevin gave him the once-over and snarled.
    â€œC’mon, man. How long we gonna do this?” Tirrell grabbed and heartily embraced him.
    Kevin’s body tensed and jerked loose. “Man, you have lost your raggedy-ass mind. Don’t you ever do that again.”
    â€œI was just showin’ you how glad I was to be home.”
    â€œYeah, I can smell your happiness, and everybody else can too.”
    Tirrell caught a whiff of himself and realized he should have tried to clean up better.
    Kevin stared off in the distance. “You never said how long your leave was.”
    â€œAwhile.”
    â€œHow long’s awhile?”
    â€œA month,” Tirrell snapped. “Is that a’ight with you?”
    â€œYour girl took off in a hurry. She didn’t even finish eating.”
    â€œSo?”
    â€œSo, I’m guessing that’s not her scent all over you. You just don’t have any class about yourself, do you? It’s obvious that Tasha likes you, and you want to treat her like she’s just another piece of ass. ”
    â€œWhy is this your business exactly?”
    â€œLook, I don’t really care whether you two work it out. I do care about Noonie, and I thought you did too.”
    â€œI do.”
    â€œSo, this is how you show it?” Kevin turned to face him. “Let me make something clear to you. However long