“Who the fuck was that?!?” Candace screamed, eyes blazing, as she pointed towards the door.

“Calm down,” Ikher said, holding his hands up, walking towards her slowly.

“Calm down?! You had that bitch over here hanging out?! And she had to be here for a while cause she had your plate! How many times did you fuck her?!”

“What? No! Relax. My neighbors came over to welcome me to the neighborhood. They brought a cake and she wanted to take some home, so I sent her with one of my plates.”

“The WHOLE neighborhood came over to say hi? Really?” she replied, folding her arms across her chest and glaring at him.

“Yes, they all came over,” Ikher nodded. “That was Janine, who lives right there,” he pointed to the house to the left of the porch. “Ken and Jason live over there. Robin lives down on that corner. Ada and Georges are on the opposite corner.” Candace stared at him through narrowed eyes for a moment before shaking her head.

“No, you’re up to something,” she said, uncrossing her arms and pointing at him. “You were super paranoid and rushed me in the house. You were planning on having her come over so y’all could fuck again. And I messed it up by being here, didn’t I?” Ikher blinked and shook his head.

“What? No!” he replied before his shoulders dropped with a sigh. “I was sold those kids some. Then you show up with your high beams on and then you’re yelling about weed. I don’t want everyone knowing I have drugs.”

“You sold those kids your weed? So you don’t have any left?” Candace asked her head cocked to the side. Ikher blinked and shook his head.

“No, I didn’t sell them all of it. Just a dime. Ken wanted to get some from me too,” he said, pointing to Ken and Jasons.

“Oh, so everyone DOES know you have weed? You’re such a liar!” She stomped past him, opening the door.

“What am I lying about?” he asked, following her. Candace turned around so quickly her dreadlocks spun and landed on her shoulder.

“Fucking her!” she yelled and slammed the door in his face. Ikher exhaled, opened the door and followed her outside. She was already down the stairs and walking over to her car.

“Candace, I didn’t fuck anyone,” he called, descending the steps. She replied by flipping him off as she got in her car. Ikher walked up to the passenger side as she started the car. He bent over and knocked on the window, but she flipped him off again before pulling away.

“Why do I even try?”

The next morning after breakfast Ikher went out to resume work on the fence. Uninterrupted, he finished most of the way down the side when his stomach started rumbling. While he was eating lunch, he noticed Ken walking over. Ikher met him at the door with bowl in hand.

“Oh! You’re eating,” Ken apologized, noticing Ikher’s meal. “I can come back.” Ikher shook his head, waving Ken in while trying to chew quickly.

“No, no. It’s fine,” he said after swallowing. “Thanks again for the painting stuff.”

“You’re very welcome. The fence looks great. Jason’ll be over the moon when he gets home,” Ken said as Ikher motioned for him to take a seat. He sat and pointed to Ikher’s lunch. “Really, it can wait till you’re done.”

“Nah, it’s all good. You want some?” he asked, offering his bowl toward Ken.

“Smells interesting. What is it?” Ken asked, examining the concoction of soup, noodles, and chicken.

“Khao Soi. It’s fried noodles, curry, and chicken. My mom always made this for us when dad was out of town cause he didn’t like it.”

“Oooh. No thank you. My stomach and curry don’t get along.” Ken replied, sitting back in his chair. Ikher spooned the last couple mouthfuls in together and swallowed. Ken shook his head chuckling.

“You here for some green?” Ikher asked, jumping up and putting his bowl and spoon in the sink.

Ken nodded, pulling out his wallet and laid two larger bills on the table. Ikher took one, sliding the other back to Ken before walking back to his bedroom. When he returned to the kitchen, he had a lit blunt in his mouth. He tossed Ken a baggie, then took a quick pull off the blunt and offered it.

“Oh! I was going to try it once I got home but all right,” Ken laughed.

“Go easy. It’s potent.” Ikher said with a slight cough. In contrast to his large size, Ken held the weed gently with his fingertips and his slightly pinky out. He took a short drag and held it in. He coughed after a moment, exhaled, and took a couple quick puffs, before passing it back to Ikher.

“Why'd you give this back?” Ken asked holding up the returned bill as he focused on breathing.

“Oh sorry. Did you want more than that?” Ikher asked, putting the blunt in the corner of his mouth.

“No, no. This is right.” Ken his thumped his chest as he inhaled.

“What I took is standard price,” Ikher shrugged. “I mean, that was the usual price in school." He took another quick pull before passing it back to Ken. Ken took another hit and held it in.

“This is…” he said, blinking as he shook his head, “…making my temples tingle.” Ikher held up his hands.

“There’s nothing else in it. Just weed. Everyone asks that.”

“Interesting,” Ken said taking another drag before passing it back and standing. “Thank you, sir. I’m going to go start my lunch,” he said, pushing his chair in.

As Ikher walked out with him, he noticed a paper folded in the flag of his mailbox. Opening it, he found a flyer offering a reward for any information regarding the death of a dark haired woman with classically beautiful features.

“Whoa, who’s this?”

“Oh. That’s Nadia Grisham," Ken said, looking at Ikher confused. "Haven’t you watched the news?”

“I don’t even know if the TV in there works. Something else on my list.” Ikher shrugged before looking back to the flier. “Someone killed her?” he asked and Ken nodded.

“Yeah. She vanished a couple weeks ago and they found her body recently."

“Oh yeah,” Ikher said, glancing up to Ken. “My friend was talking about this. She said it was vampires cause of the neck wound.” Ken's eyebrows shot up and he chuckled.

“That's an... interesting theory,” Ken said then pointed behind Ikher’s house toward the park. “The Grisham’s live in the fancy neighborhood on the other side of the river. I forget you’ve just moved in, so you aren’t up on the local goings-on.”

“Man, that sucks. Hope they’re getting on okay,” he said, looking back into the park.

“As well as they can I guess. Hey, thanks again for this,” Ken said, patting his pocket.

“Oh! You’re Welcome! I’m gonna get back to it,” he said folding the flier into his back pocket and motioning to the fence.

Ikher worked through the afternoon and as the sun was approaching the horizon, he stopped painting and started sanding the remaining pickets. He was in the back corner, kneeling in the bushes when he heard laughter. Popping his head up, he saw Janine walking toward him.

“Why are you in the bushes?” she chucked. She wasn’t her usually flashy self today: plain t-shirt and jeans, a pair of square framed glasses, no makeup and her hair was loosely pulled back and fell over one shoulder.

“This was the only way I could get to this post,” he shrugged as he stood.

“It’s pretty hidden. You could have left it.”

“Nah. I would have known it was there. No fancy makeup today?” he asked, making his way out of the bushes. Janine shook her head.

“Low key day,” she said. “Hey, I’m sorry about last night. I didn’t mean to interrupt anything.” Ikher took a deep breath and smiled weakly.

“It’s okay. She’s always upset about something.” Janine laughed.

“Man. I get you’re laid back, but you’re a saint to have a girlfriend like that.”

“Oh, she’s not my girlfriend,” he said, causing her to do a double take.

“Wait, what is she then?”

“I dunno,” he shrugged. “Friend with benefits?”

“You put up with that kind of attitude for a booty call? Men are dumb. Y’all will deal with anything for some ass.”

“She’s not that bad,” he shrugged and Janine shook her head.

“Not that bad?! Guy, I could hear her yelling from inside my house! Her pussy can’t be THAT good. You need to weigh the pros and cons,” she said, pointing at him. “You’re gonna end up on the news with your dick cut off, or worse.”

“Come on now.”

“I’m serious. You can’t see the crazy in those eyes?” she asked, eyebrows up. “Keep it up. It’s only a matter of time,” she pointed with a scissor motion at his crotch.

“That’s not funny,” he said, concern creeping into his voice.

“It isn’t! But that’s what happens if you play with fire.” They heard a car door shut and both turned to see Nancy walking around the back of her sedan in her signature tracksuit.

“Hey Nance!” Ikher waved as she went by them. Janine watched her go down the trail and then looked back to her car.

“Huh. I was wondering who that belonged to.”

“Yeah, she parks there to run in the park,” Ikher said as Janine looked back to him.

“Well, anyway, I just wanted to apologize for causing a fight,” she said, pushing off the fence post. “I’m heading home but you might want to keep sharp objects hidden when your friend comes over.”

“I’m sure I’ll be okay."

“If you say so," she shrugged." But if something goes down, scream like a girl, and I’ll come running,” she winked at him. He sighed and shook his head.

“Good night Janine.”

“Night Ikher. Be safe,” she said with a big smile, making scissor cutting motion with her fingers as she walked away laughing.