“I think you are now ready for the next step,” Pastor Ralph informed Suave a few nights later after he finished the despicable act on the boy. “It took awhile to prep you, but it’s time for the home run.” The pervert grabbed his groin, beaming down at Suave, who was curled up on the bed. “Yup, you’re indeed ready for the Chief.” Pastor Ralph slapped Suave on the behind to make his intention known, laughing when Suave whimpered. Whistling a tune, Pastor Ralph exited the bedroom fully satisfied with himself.
Suave didn’t sleep that night. It was just as he thought. Pastor Ralph was going to rape him. It was obvious Pastor Ralph didn’t plan on stopping at oral sex. He wanted more. Pastor Ralph wanted to turn him into a homosexual, and Suave could not allow that. But what could he do to stop the man? Suave knew he couldn’t fight off Pastor Ralph. God knows he had tried. And he certainly couldn’t ask anyone for help. What would he say? My uncle is molesting me, and I need your help? He might as well just shout it from the rooftop because everyone would know. He had to stop Pastor Ralph by himself... but how?
The next day, Suave had to make a delivery for Mason to a customer who lived on Dike Road, a few miles away from Tivoli Gardens. It was his first time at this location. When he got to the house, he repeatedly knocked on the gate, but no one came out. Just then, he heard laughter coming from the back of the house. Curious now, Suave lifted the latch off the gate and pushed his bicycle into the yard. He leaned his bike against the wall, then made his way around the side of the house to the back.
He stopped short when he saw four men forming a circle around two other men trying to hold down a pig. One of the men held a big butcher knife in his hand, with another firmly grasping the thick rope around the pig’s neck.
“Yo, stop the laughing and come help hold down the pig,” the man with the knife said, perspiration pouring down his face.
Suave edged closer, his eyes fixed on the scene playing out in front of him. He loved pork—jerked, stewed, or boiled, he didn’t care. But he had never seen a pig butchered before.
The men were so involved in their task that no one paid any attention to the boy standing behind them, peering at what was going on.
Suave noticed a huge pot of boiling water sitting on three big stones, a roaring fire under it from the lit pieces of wood. The hair on his head stood up when the pig squealed, flopping around wildly as it tried to escape the men holding it captive.
With one guy sitting on pig’s back, another guy pulled its head back and plunged the butcher knife deep into its throat, again and again. The pig squealed louder, flapping around as blood gushed out all over the ground. Soon it grunted, its movements slowed, and the pig fell to its belly. The man then used the big knife and sliced the pig’s throat from ear to ear, killing it.
Suave peered at the dead pig, and right before his eyes, it changed into Pastor Ralph. Gasping loudly, he stepped back, his hand covering his mouth.
The sound caused the men to turn around.
“Who are you?” one man asked.
“I-I have a delivery for Dusty,” Suave said, still a little shaken up at the disturbing image. He took off his knapsack and took out the package.
“Okay. That’s for me,” said the same man. He took the package Suave handed him. “Tell your boss I’ll pass through later this week.”
Suave nodded and looked over to see boiling water being poured over the dead pig, while the hair was scraped off. Bile filled his mouth. One thing was for sure... Suave wouldn’t be eating pork ever again.
It was a horrible scene to watch, but it just might be what he needed to see. A big butcher knife could do so much damage. Bidding goodbye to the men, Suave hurried to get his bike and rode off.
He was sweating when he got on Spanish Town Road. Pedaling fast, he got to the hardware store in record time. He left his bicycle outside and hurried into the store.
“Can I help you, young man?” a pleasant, silver-haired man asked Suave.
“Yes. My mother asked me to buy a very large butcher knife. Where can I find it, please?”
“Right this way. Follow me.” The man led Suave down a few aisles until they came to the knives. “Pick the one you want. As you can see, we have various sizes.”
Suave looked through the array of knives, his eyes settling on one that looked like a small machete. “I’ll take that one,” he said, pointing at the knife.
“Great choice.” The man reached up to take down the knife. “Would you like to also buy a whetstone to sharpen it?”
“Yes, sir. I would like that. I mean, my mother would like that,” Suave lied. The sharper, the better. “I would also like some rope.”
Minutes later, Suave left the store with his purchases neatly tucked away in his knapsack. He had a few more runs to do before he headed home. Luckily for him, Pastor Ralph had a revival meeting that night at church with his few members and wouldn’t be home for a while. This would allow him some time to put his plan into place before the monster tried to make good on his threat to rape him.
“Why don’t you just disappear?” Junior asked Suave when he entered the shop looking for Mason. The shop was empty except for Junior.
“Where’s Mason?” Suave ignored the
