HAMMER

They all sat down, including Greg. Jerome and Greg sat facing each other. Chloe, Jerome’s wife sat by his left hand side while Tiffany on his right. Jacob sat next to Tiffany. Samantha ran to Greg and raised her hands, he lifted her up and unto his lap. She handed the bracelet to him, Greg then helped her wear it.

“Do you like it?” He asked.

“Yes, very much!” She said, “Thank you very much!”

A black cat walked down from the stairs and jumped on the empty chair next to Greg.

“Oh, Jesus!” Jerome said, “I thought we’ve agreed to never let Miss Kitty stamp her paws on the dining table?”

“Uh oh!” Samantha interjected.

“I can’t leave her alone in the room, dad!” Jacob said.

“Unbelievable!” His father responded.

“Tiffany dear,” said Chloe, “Please, pray for us!”

“Mom?” Tiffany answered, “Daddy prayed in the morning, must we pray again?”

“Yes!” Said her parent in unison.

“Greg is here,” she said. “Why don’t you ask him to pray?”

“Shut it, lady!” Her mother said.

“Pray! Pray! Pray already!” Jacob teased, “I am starving, Jesus!”

“Fine!” She protested as she closed her eyes, “Thank you heavenly Father for the meal. Don’t remember us if we don’ remember the poor and the homeless! Amen!” Tiffany opened her eyes and grabbed a fork, when she realized all eyes were set on her, she grinned, “What? God doesn’t like lousy people, so I made it short!” She sank the fork into the plate of rice that was laid before her.

Chloe shook her head and entertained Jacob’s plate with broccoli.

“Mom?” He lamented.

“And you…” Jerome said, “Allow Uncle Grey to eat, okay? Go disturb mammy!” He mimicked Samantha’s voice.

“Seriously?” Chloe said. “I’ve been working all day trying to make dinner.”

“Well, she kicked your stomach for months before you finally dropped her!” He added, “You’re the only one who has mastered the art of Samanthism!” He giggled.

Greg and Chloe burst into laughter.

“You’re a joke,” she said, “Do you know that?”

“I guess it’s one of the reasons you dumped the rest of the crew and married the captain?” He said as he kissed her, “I love you!”

“I love you too!” She kissed him back.

“Ugh!” Tiffany responded. “You two make me so NOT want to be an adult anymore!”

“So, Samantha was a boxer, eh?” Greg said.

“Yes,” Jerome remarked as he sipped his wine, “I’d sit down and watch her little foot come and go like this…” he kept the glass cup on the table and punched the air with his fist back and forth. “It was like watching a kick boxer trying to kick his way out of a punch bag.” He laughed.

“Yeah, and what did I get for bringing your seed into this world?” She said, “He was away on an assignment the day I gave birth to her. Now all she wants is daddy, daddy! Daddy!”

“Jealous!” Jerome responded and threw a tongue out.

“Mammy!” Samantha said as she threw a tongue out.

“Don’t mind daddy, my adorable sweet muffin.” Chloe said, “Mommy will teach you how to be a good lady, okay?” She smiled.

“Owkay!” Samantha whispered, “Mammy teach me how-to-be good lady?”

“She really resemble you, Chloe!” Greg said. “She’s got your dimple…and your smile!”

“Well, she doesn’t have any choice!” Chloe added as she passed a bowl of salad to Jerome, “She didn’t want to end up having a face like her sister, so she chose wisely which side of the family to roll with!”

“Whatever!” Tiffany protested as she filled her cup with juice.

They all laughed.

“And now she’ll get away with that?” Said Jerome, “And There you were yesterday accusing me of…”

“Angel, come to mammy so Uncle Grey would eat, okay?” Chloe interposed.

“No!” Samantha said. “I stay with Uncle Grey. You’re not my friend anymore. Uncle Grey is my friend!”

Greg laughed.

“Are you sure you’re comfortable with her like that?” Jerome asked.

“It’s alright,” Greg said, “We can eat from the same plate. Right, friend?” He tickled Samantha. She giggled as he took a sip of water from the glass cup before him.

“So what’s in the box?” Jacob said, “When are we going to open it?”

“Jacob! Manners!” His mother said.

“It’s for the family, you can open it anytime.” Greg said, “Right after dinner would be best, I guess.”

“I want a bicycle but dad said until I get good grades in school,” Jacob added as he chewed his broccoli, “Did you buy me a…”

“Hush it, young man!” Chloe said. “Where are your table manners?”

“What this?” Samantha asked as she curiously lifted Greg’s jacket. “Bang? Bang?” She giggled, “Jacob has gun too. Daddy bought water gun for Jacob! Uncle Grey, is this water gun too?”

Jerome and Chloe raised their heads up, they looked at each other, then gazed at Greg.

“Yes, Samantha.” Greg said, “It’s a gun…but not a toy gun.” He sighed as his lively face slowly froze to a more baleful look. He slipped his right hand into his jacket and pulled out a firearm from his shoulder holster. Greg lowered his head as he placed his right hand on the table; the gun was pointed at Jerome.

The Shortner’s stopped eating on noticing the gun. The sight of the pistol sent shivers down their spine. Tension steamed up as fear gripped the kids. The place became silent.

“Jacob, see gun like yours!” Samantha mumbled. “Uncle Grey has gun too!”

Jerome took a small white garment and cleaned his mouth. “Is everything okay, man?” He asked.

Greg nodded. “Yeah!”

“Greg, are you okay?” Chloe asked as fear gripped her. She turned to Jerome.

“Time to play?” Samantha asked.

“Yes, Samantha.” Greg said, “It’s play time!”

“Come on, man!” Jerome added, “We’ve got kids here. You shouldn’t be…”

“Shut up, Jerome!” He interjected. “Tiffany, empty the salad from the bowl, please.”

Tiffany looked at her father. Jerome signaled her to do as told. She was terrified. “Where do you want me to pour it?” She asked.

“Anywhere on the table, please!” Greg said.

She then poured the salad in the middle of the table as she trembled.

“It’s alright, sweetheart.” Jerome said to her as he coerced a smile.

“Keep it on the table, and Sit down!” Greg added.

Tiffany gently laid the bowl on the table and sat down. She was frightened, “dad?” She called.

“It’ll be alright, sweetheart.” Jerome reassured her once more.

“Jacob! Empty the wine from the bottle into the bowl...” Greg instructed, “…Including all the liquid contents in the cups!”

Jacob turned to his father, who gave him a sign to do as told.

“It’s okay, son…go ahead!” He said.

Jacob then stood up, took his cup and emptied the content in the bowl. Then went round the table and did same with the rest of the cups and the bottle. The bowl was half-full.

“Thank you, Jacob!” Greg said, “Please sit down.” He pulled out his phone and gave it to Samantha. “Hey, girl. Go and drop the phone into the bowl!”

“Bowl?” She asked with a smile as the cat climbed up the table.

“Yes, bowl.” He said, “Phone into bowl.”

“But water in bowl!” She said.

“Yeah, I know.” He responded, “Just do it, okay?”

“Okay!” She said.

Greg placed Samantha on top of the table, she walked between the plates and threw his phone into the bowl. She then turned and clapped, “Yeah!”

“Good girl.” Greg said, “Now, come to Uncle Grey!”

“Sweet muffin,” Chloe said, “Come to mommy.”

“No, mammy!” Samantha said, she giggled and ran back to Greg. He held her with his left arm then stood to his feet, with his right hand still holding on to the firearm.

“Now, all of you should throw your cell phones into the bowl.” He ordered.

Chloe turned to Jerome, “No! No!” She cried, “What is happening, Greg?”

“Just do what I say and no one will be hurt, okay?” Greg added politely. “Please!”

“Is this some kind of a joke?” Jerome said.

Greg took his finger off the trigger and pulled back the hammer to full cock.

“Oh my God!” Chloe screamed as she quickly held her mouth tight with her hands.

“Do what Uncle Grey says, mammy!” Samantha said, ignorantly, “You have another gun?”

“No, Sam!” He said, “Just this one!”

“Do what he says kids.” Jerome instructed his children. “Honey?” He turned to his wife. Jerome gently took out his phone from his pocket and threw it into the bowl, and so did Tiffany and Jacob. As Chloe made an attempt to pick her phone which was lying next to her plate, it began to ring. Greg turned the gun towards her, she gently took it from the table and flung it into the bowl. The sound faded as bubbles rose and popped.

“Now, that wasn’t so hard.” Greg said, “Was it?”

“Not hard!” Samantha said as she threw her hands up, “Easy!”

“Yeah, girl!” Greg said, “Easy…Easy!” He then stared at Jerome.

The cat walked on the table towards Greg and began lifting its paws to touch the gun.

“Uncle Grey?” Samantha said, “Kitty wants to be carried too!” She used her leg to push it away, the cat then jumped off the table and went upstairs. “Kitty scared!” She giggled, “Little kitty scared!”

“Yeah, Samantha.” Greg said, “Little kitties are always scared when faced with real danger.”

“Baby,” Chloe said, “Come to mommy!” She sobbed. “Please, don’t take my baby!”

“Look, man!” Jerome pleaded, “She’s just a little girl. She won’t survive out there without her mother. Give her back, please!”

“Oh my God!” Tiffany said as she wept, “Is he taking Sam away? Mommy! Daddy! No!”

“Please, Greg!” Chloe appealed as she wiped her tears.

“No one is taking your daughter anywhere!” He said, “So calm down, okay?”

“No one taking daughter anywhere!” Samantha mumbled, “Mammy, why you crying?”

“Now, let’s go open our gift box,” Greg said. “Shall we?”