The Seven Page 2

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  THE SEVEN REVISTED

  "How is she?" Nia asked as she entered the hospital's small cafeteria, her features etched with worry. The instrumental holiday carols echoing from speakers in the water-stained ceiling, interrupted by an occasional page, did nothing to lighten the atmosphere. Dinner hours ended over an hour ago, and only the vending area offered refreshment through the night. The desolate emptiness only fueled her feelings of despair.

  Ujamaa stared into a cup of coffee long since gone cold and shrugged. "She is concerned for the baby, of course, but the doctor says everything will be fine. Kuumba hasn't left her side."

  "But the council meeting's in less than an hour! He can't miss that vote."

  "Yes, I know. He will go. At the last possible minute, he will go." Ujamaa shook his head, "To think I doubted he'd be a good husband to my sister."

  Nia nodded, "Kuumba's a good man—and he will make a wonderful father."

  "He blames himself, you know, for the injuries. Lord only knows why. And Kuji?" he asked in a whisper. "Will he survive?"

  "It's too soon," she croaked, fighting back tears. "The doctors say it could go either way. Imani wanted to be alone, so I came here. Where's Umoja?"

  "He went back to the shelter," Ujamaa replied. "Said he felt useless here. I suspect he didn't want anyone to see him cry, and I can't say as I blame him. I'm gonna to join 'im soon. There's not much I can do here, after all, and he'll need help serving dinner. People will still come, y'know. Our guests aren't likely to have seen the news."

  "Excuse me," a young man interrupted. "I'm from the Gazette. May I ask you a few questions?"

  Ujamaa snorted as he rose, the metal legs of the chair scraping the brittle linoleum. "You've got a lotta nerve," he growled.

  Nia placed her hand on Ujamaa's arm to calm him. Hostility would not help their cause, and their adversaries would be eager to portray them as violent. She turned to the reporter and gestured to an open chair. "My name is Nia. I'm from the Nguzo Saba Shelter. What would you like to know?"

  He glanced nervously at Ujamaa, coughed into his fist, and stammered, "Well, for starters, could you give me your take on what happened downtown a few hours ago?"

  Ujamaa, rather than sit back down, took his leave. "I'll be back later if Umoja doesn't need me. My father is a stubborn man. He'll beg on behalf of others but won't ask for help for himself."

  "I'll be here through the night. Get some rest. You can relieve me in the morning. Hopefully, we'll have some good news by then – on several fronts." She handed Ujamaa his coat and stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek before turning back to the reporter.

  "Okay," Nia forced a wan smile. She replayed the scene in her mind and tried to remove the emotion from her voice as she recounted the tumultuous events. "A group of about fifty people were demonstrating against the city's proposed seizure of properties along Washington Street, including our shelter, to make way for a shopping center.

  "We – Ujima and Kuji and I – arrived around noon. I think you know Kuji, don't you? Aren't you the one who wrote the story about his volunteerism award last summer?" Seeing the alarm in his eyes as the reporter put two and two together, Nia softened her tone somewhat. "Anyway ... we joined those who were chanting. We had a permit. I mean, all the proper procedures were followed. Kuumba insists on it. When the council members began to arrive for the meeting, our chanting grew louder. Someone must've felt threatened, or perhaps just inconvenienced, and called the police.

  "When they got there, they just made us back away from the doors a bit. It was all quite civilized up 'til that point. One of the protesters, a blind man – a Vietnam vet who I've seen at our shelter many times – tapped an officer's leg with his cane. It certainly seemed accidental to me, but the officer, apparently thinking the cane a weapon, whirled around and disarmed him. This angered the man's dog, and that's when all hell broke loose."

  Nia took a deep breath, willing herself to remain calm. "The cop used his pepper spray on the dog. It caught Kuji, whose wheelchair was right behind the dog, square in the face and he began to choke.

  "I tried to get to Kuji, but the cops were pushing people away. The blind man was now without both his cane and his dog, and Ujima rushed to help him. She bumped into another of the police officers who knocked her roughly to the sidewalk without even looking in her direction. That was when her water broke and she screamed.

  "Things could've gotten really out of hand, but Kuumba arrived just then. He knelt alongside Ujima and shouted for someone to call an ambulance. It's their first child, you know.

  "By the time I pushed my way through to Kuji, he was having a seizure. Another man – I don't know who. It's a blur. – helped me get him out of his chair and lay him down on the sidewalk. I put my coat under his head.

  "I've seen seizures before, but nothing like that. It went on and on and on. Kuji can't speak, as you know, but he was making these horrible noises – gasping and gurgling. There was blood coming from one of his ears. And then, he just stopped. I was so relieved that the seizure was over that I didn't even notice he wasn't breathing until he started turning blue." Nia shuddered with the memory. "I yelled for help, and one of the EMTs came over. They'd just finished loading Ujima into the ambulance and were ready to pull out."

  The reporter scribbled as fast as he could, but he held up a hand for her to pause while he caught up.

  "He's only twelve, you know. Just twelve." Nia shook her head. "Life has dealt him some really nasty cards, and yet he spends all of his time helping others. Anyway ... since he still had a pulse, they just used that mask and bag thingy on him. When the second ambulance showed up, the first took off. By then, Ujima was having contractions."

  "How are they doing?" the reporter interrupted.

  "Ujima will have the baby tonight. There is risk involved, of course, because it's early, but the doctors are optimistic. Kuumba plans to leave her just long enough to attend the council meeting and vote. Kuji ..." Nia couldn't stop the tears this time. "Kuji clings to life. He is on a ventilator, and they ... they just don't know yet."

  She dried her eyes on a napkin and continued, "Anyway ... out of respect for those injured, especially since one of them is the wife of a council member, the meeting was postponed until this evening. And now," Nia finished, "you know as much as I do."

  Kuumba poked his head into the cafeteria, but quickly withdrew when he saw the reporter sitting at the table with Nia. Kuumba rarely avoided the press, but Nia understood why he wished to do so now. Media attention could no longer influence tonight's vote.

  "Would you please excuse me now?" Nia dashed out of the cafeteria before the reporter could reply.

  "Kuumba!" she called down the corridor.

  He stopped and turned. "Hey. I'm on my way to the meeting. Where's Imani? I wanted to touch base with her before I left."

  "She's in the chapel. They'll only let her see Kuji for ten minutes of each hour, so she spends the rest of the time praying."

  "It's that bad?" he asked, his eyes begging to be told otherwise.

  Nia took both his hands. "Yes. It's that bad. He stopped breathing and was without oxygen for quite a while. She shooed me away. Wanted to be alone, she said, so I left. I'll go up and stay with Ujima while you're gone."

  "Thanks. She's scared, but won't say so. Hell, I'm scared, too. Thirty-six weeks is still early enough to be risky, but ..." he trailed off.

  "You'd better get going," Nia said, realizing that he procrastinated. "It'll be hours and hours before the baby comes. Tell Imani I'll be with Ujima if she needs me."

  "Will do," he promised. "I'll be back as quickly as I can."

  Nia watched the proud man's back as he hurried toward the chapel. The vicious attacks which peppered Kuumba's campaign for city council only served to strengthen his resolve. He never stooped to his opponents' level. He stuck to the issues and won in spi
te of the fact that most of his staunchest supporters were not even registered to vote. Voting required something the homeless lacked: an address. Kuumba's election to the council gave Nia, and many others, hope.

  The battle over Washington Street polarized the community, and Kuumba's relentless opposition to the development scored him both friends and enemies. On the council, he represented the minority position, although a few still sat the fence– playing the political odds. The inadequate compensation being planned comprised only one part of the problem. Those old row houses that had been handed down from generation to generation for over a hundred years, and the historical society considered them worthy of preservation. Tenants of the rent-controlled apartments would receive nothing; only the landlords stood to benefit. Those who squatted in the abandoned warehouse had no options at all. In a nutshell, those most affected were completely disenfranchised.

  And, of course, there was Nguzo Saba. They began keeping records when Kuumba first informed them of the city's plans. The figures–the sheer number of people served, day in and day out–still amazed Nia. How could anyone, when confronted with the hard data, even consider destroying such a place? she wondered. The answer, of course: greed.

  Nia moved briskly toward the elevators. She would watch the council meeting on the television in Ujima's room. They would cheer for Kuumba when he spoke and hold hands as the council members each voted, praying for a reprieve. She would rub Ujima's shoulders and coach her through the contractions. They would try to pretend that their lives did not teeter on the brink of disaster.

  Nia dreaded Ujima's first words. "How's Kuji?"

  "He is alive," she responded, truthfully if somewhat evasively. "Not out of danger, but alive."

  "Nia ..."

  "Let's focus on happier thoughts, shall we? Your baby is coming tonight! How close are your contractions?"

  "Still over twenty minutes apart," she smiled. "Kuumba should be back in plenty of time for the birth. Turn on the TV, would you? The meeting starts in a couple minutes."

  All three local stations broadcasted the council meeting live. Nia selected the one which was typically more sympathetic to their cause. They normally watched the more conservative channels in order to get a better idea of the challenges they'd face when seeking support. Tonight, however, she preferred not to stir the ire such broadcasts often evoked. Ujima cocked an eyebrow at Nia's choice, but said nothing.

  The screen showed the council bench, a semi-circular affair with a podium at the midpoint of the arc. Ten members of the council were seated, and the chairperson leaned on the polished wood podium.

  "I don't see Kuumba," Ujima fretted. "He should be there by now."

  Nia shushed her. "They're starting."

  "Ladies and gentlemen," the chair began, adjusting the microphone, "members of the media, and citizens watching at home, welcome. As you are no doubt already aware, this special meeting was supposed to have taken place this afternoon. However, a series of events made it necessary to reschedule. The council extends its sincerest well wishes to those injured in this afternoon's ... um, scuffle. We can delay consideration of this pressing matter no further. Each member of the council will have ten minutes to speak, and then we will vote. The issue on the table this evening is the seizure of properties along Washington Street for economic development. I'll cede the microphone now to the council member from the First District."

  A contraction diverted their attention. "They're getting closer," Ujima noted through clenched teeth. "Just sixteen minutes this time."

  A nurse bounced in, recorded Ujima's vitals, and bounced out. By the time they were again able to attend to the broadcast, the Second District council member spoke. She was one of the undecided, along with the representative from the Sixth District. Kuumba spent long hours trying to convince them to vote against the measure. Her remarks sounded nice, but had no substance. Typical political double talk.

  Third, Fourth, and Fifth District council members strongly favored the proposal. Ujima'd endured four more contractions by the time the member from the Sixth District began to speak.

  "Did Kuumba show up yet?" she asked as her most recent contraction ended.

  Nia shook her head. "He's still got a little time, though."

  They missed the speakers from the Seventh and Eighth Districts when the doctor came in to check Ujima's progress. "One hundred percent effaced," he told the nurse, "and seven centimeters. Call me when she gets to nine." He disappeared without even acknowledging Ujima. The nurse shrugged apologetically and then disappeared herself.

  Kuumba, representing the Ninth District, should have been next. The chair announced that, given the extraordinary circumstances, Kuumba would be allowed to speak when – if – he arrived.

  Ujima's contractions picked up steam, and she barely enjoyed six minutes of rest between each. The nurses peeked in and out more frequently, too. Checking this and tweaking that.

  "There!" Nia pointed as the member from the Eleventh District stepped away from the microphone. "There's Kuumba!"

  Ujima, in the throes of another contraction–hard on the heels of the last, merely grunted in response. "Nia, I want to push. I need to push."

  "I'll get the nurse," she said, heading for the door. Kuumba's voice, barely recognizable, stopped her in her tracks. She turned to stare at the television.

  "Today," he began, "my dear friend Kujichagulia left this world."

  "No! Oh, Lord, please no." Ujima was wailing and pounding her fists on the mattress.

  "Kuji died doing what he loved and what he believed in. He died trying to save Washington Street. I would have gladly taken his place if given the chance."

  Kuumba continued speaking, but his words just floated in the air. Nia stood frozen in disbelief. "Kuji," she whispered and half expected to hear a tinny "Yo, foxy babe!" from his voice synthesizer.

  Two nurses pushed her aside, jarring her from her trance. "You'll have to step outside, ma'am," one called over her shoulder.

  Nia forced her legs to move. They felt heavy, as if all her insides had dropped into them, leaving the rest of her hollow. She could hear Ujima's continuous cries echoing through the dark tunnel of her mind. Aimlessly, she shuffled into the hallway – not sure where to go or what to do; feeling a desire to help, but not knowing how.

  She looked up and saw Imani walking toward her, Umoja and Ujamaa on either side. Nia collapsed into their arms. A nurse, embarrassed by their tears, herded them into a vacant consultation room and closed the door. Imani, eerily composed, comforted them in turn; sharing tales of the esteem her son held for each.

  Ujamaa left to get them some water and returned with the news that the council referendum had been defeated by a vote of six to five. The chair, who could've cast a tying vote, abstained. This brought another round of tears; these tinged with relief to know that Kuji did not die in vain.

  When they regained some of their equilibrium, they went together to check on Ujima. The charge nurse looked surprised to see them. "We lost track of you during the shift change. We've been looking all over the hospital for you," she said, giving no indication if the news was good or bad. "You can go on in."

  Kuumba stood at her bedside, staring with wonder at his newborn son who was sleeping peacefully against Ujima's breast. He looked up as they entered the room and smiled. "We are again seven," he said with pride.

  "Our son will be called Kuji," Ujima announced as the tears streamed from her eyes. "May his life honor that which we've lost."

  EPILOGUE

  NGUZO SABA

  The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa

  Umoja [oo-MOE-jah] (Unity)

  To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.

  Kujichagulia [koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-yah] (Self-Determination)

  To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.

  Ujima [oo-JEE-mah] (Collective W
ork and Responsibility)

  To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.

  Ujamaa [oo-JAH-mah] (Cooperative Economics)

  To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.

  Nia [nee-YAH] (Purpose)

  To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

  Kuumba [koo-OOM-bah] (Creativity)

  To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

  Imani [ee-MAH-nee] (Faith)

  To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

  # # #

  AUTHOR'S NOTE:

  Electronic publishing has gone a long way toward lessening the layers between authors and readers. This helps to ensure more of the money readers pay for books actually reaches the authors, which is a very good thing. Still, there are middlemen nibbling—sometimes taking big bites—of the sale price: vendors and payment processors. Some even censor the content they allow to be sold. That pisses me off royally, and it should piss you off, too.

  I respect the law, and I will never attempt to sell erotica that violates it. I do not, however, respect the imposition of someone else's values on my artistic endeavors. Thus, to ensure you have access to all of my available publications, I encourage you to buy my books directly from www.PurpleProsaic.com

  I realize it's convenient to one-stop shop from megastores, and I realize it's a hassle to create accounts for multiple sites. However, please listen to the authors you enjoy reading and make your purchases from the sites they endorse. Not only is it a better way to support your favorite authors, but it also sends a message to those meddling middlemen that you do not condone their arbitrary censorship. Thank you.

  * * * *

  About the Author

  1Take one part Appalachian redneck, one part aging wet dream, and one part filthy-minded wordsmith. Mix well and serve with chocolate-covered cherries. There you have the one and only Alessia Brio.

  Alessia writes all colors and flavors of erotica, from heterosexual to ménage to same sex, and from twisted to humorous to deeply touching. Sometimes, usually by accident, it even qualifies as Romance (with a capital "R").

  Her work has earned her critical acclaim in the form of an EPIC eBook Award for Best Erotica (fine flickering hungers), two EPIC eBook Awards for Best Erotica Anthology (Coming Together: Against the Odds and Coming Together: Into the Light), a Romantic Times Top Pick (Coming Together: For the Cure), and two Next Generation Indie Book Awards for Best Erotica (Coming Together: For the Cure and Squeeze Play with partner, Will Belegon) in addition to a plethora of glowing online reviews.

  Since 2005, Alessia has also been the driving force behind the Coming Together erotica series. Each title in this series benefits a specific charity. Please check out the site at www.the-erotic-cocktail.com and support it by purchasing a title or three. You'll be doing good while being bad!

  The Internet is both Alessia's office and her playground. She can be found online at various social networking sites:

  https://www.twitter.com/Alessia_Brio

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