As Dexter strolled along the streets, he took a walk down the memory lane of his childhood phase. Thirty years ago, when his mother, Sis Salome, had been sent to Nigeria in Africa on a missionary journey, he had been delighted that he was going to a whole new continent. He had hoped in his nine-year-old heart that the kids over there would treat him better than the kids in Las Vegas. He had secretly borne the taunts and rude remarks kids made about him and his mother. He acted like his mother had taught him and always forgave them even though they never apologized. Once he had lost his temper and hit a teeny boy who had called his mother a whore in the nunnery. The other kids had gathered around them when they saw him hit the boy. They had held him down and the teeny boy hit him repeatedly till he got tired. They left him writhing on the ground in pain and ran away. He had cried his heart out that day wondering why he was hated. When he got back to the Covent, he tried to hide the bruises from his mother, but sis Salome had found out, treated the wounds and joined him to pray for them.
On their way to Africa, they had gotten separated and Dexter had been taken to an orphanage in South Africa. There Dexter met Terry, whose mother had abandoned him when his father denied getting her pregnant. He had been there for six years and no one came to visit him. They had become friends immediately, seeing that they had a lot of things in common. They were both biracial - Dexter was half American and half Mexican, while Terry was half American and half African. Terry was small, small for an eight-year-old child he was. He was also sickly, but Dexter looked out for him. He protected him from bullies and made sure he got his share of the watery beans and dried bread they were served every afternoon. After eleven days, as Dexter had kept count, he decided to leave the orphanage in search of his mother. He told Terry of his plan because he didn't want him to feel deserted. Terry had begged to go with Dexter, who reluctantly agreed. Together they ran away into the cold night. They had spent five days wandering in the city. They ate what they begged from passers-by and slept in front of closed stalls. Then Terry fell ill and lay dying on the cold floor in a shack. Dexter had thought God was angry with them for leaving the orphanage and had punished them. That night, Dexter had prayed, pleading with holy Mary to ask Jesus to help them by healing Terry and bringing his mother to him.
Dexter had slept that night holding Terry, who was shivering so badly. The next morning, Dexter had woken up to find Terry gone. He crawled out of the shack and looked about him but couldn't find Terry. He began walking down the street looking for Terry when he heard someone shout his name. It was Terry running up to him holding out his hands. Dexter ran up to him and embraced him. He was so glad that God had heard and answered his prayers by healing Terry. Terry showed him the coins he held in his hands and told him a woman had given them to him. Dexter happily took Terry's hand and ran up the street to meet and thank the woman. He saw the woman and was surprised that she was his mother, sis Salome, who had been looking for him. He ran up to her and hugged her, weeping loudly. Sis Salome had taken them back to her group, and they continued their journey to Nigeria. Sis Salome raised Terry as her son and the boys grew up together as brothers. The two had been very close until Terry was about ten years old, and a certain disenchantment had settled in. Sis Salome detected traits in the boy's character that troubled her. Terry, at the age of ten, was an exuberant, slyly humorous child. He was a good athlete with great physical coordination. He loved to talk, especially with Dexter, and he had long secret conversations with Abbess Sis Gabriela. But then, after the age of ten, he became malicious and crude. He fought with boys his age with inappropriate intensity. He teased girls mercilessly and with an innocent lewdness that was shocking though funny. He tortured small animals not necessarily significant with small boys, as Sis Salome knew he had tried once to drown a smaller boy in the river while they were swimming. Sis Salome had talks with him and continued praying for him.
It was during his teenage years that his jealousy of Dexter increased. Dexter had grown into a tall, extraordinarily handsome youth with a mature courtesy. All the nuns and their school girls adored him and fussed over him. Their town females flirted with him, something they never did with Terry looking so grave with his sly humor, his average height and his hugely muscular body, which was frightening to these young girls. Terry was too clever not to observe all this and secretly bore a hate for Dexter, who had it all.
Dexter walked past Ho Jo's club. He silently made his way past happy-go-lucky people who stood talking outside. He didn't have anywhere to go for the night, and he walked on hoping to reach West Coast Children's Park before midnight. He knew the security guard and could sleep there tonight. He rubbed his hands together trying to preserve some heat. He noticed a man trying to hold a lady who walked like she was intoxicated.
"Leave...me alone," the lady said, staggering forward.
Dexter recognized that voice immediately. It was Hayley's. He wiped his tears with the back of his hand and walked towards them. The man grabbed Hayley pulling her in for a kiss when Dexter grabbed him by the collar of his jacket and threw him off.
"She said you should leave her alone," Dexter said through clenched teeth. He strongly disliked men who took advantage of women.
He turned to Hayley, who stared at him like she had seen a ghost.
"Are you okay?" He asked and felt a shove.
"Mind your business asshole," the man said, shoving Dexter away.
Dexter grabbed his hand, twisted it to his back and flipped him over like he weighed no more than a bag of chips.
"What the fuck dick!" The man yelled on the floor. "Are you lost?"
Dexter stooped over him and punched his face, blooding his nose. He wiped his hand on his trousers and turned to Hayley, who stood watching in horror.
"What are you doing out here alone?" Dexter asked, advancing towards her.
Hayley tried to speak and staggered a little. Dexter could see she was drunk.
"I...got this," she mumbled and started towards her car.
She fumbled in her bag and eventually fished out her car keys. Dexter took it from her hands and held the door open for her.
"Get in. I would drive you home," he said, shivering.
He helped her get in, got into the driver's seat and started the car.
Man, this was super, he thought as he settled in its plush leather seats, the epitome of luxury and comfort. The roaring engine announced its presence with authority, with swift acceleration, the thrill of zero to sixty in seconds. With wind noise at high speed and the rush of air Dexter enjoyed the thrill of the sports car, a rush of adrenaline with every turn.
"Where do you live?" He asked Hayley, who was staring at him dazed.
"Lu...Luxor," she sang out and giggled childishly.
Dexter smiled. Her nice scent filled the car.
"Ugh," Dexter sighed weakly. He pulled into the hotel's parking lot and helped Hayley out. He assisted her up to her room and turned to leave, but Hayley grabbed his hand.
"Don't...leave me," she whined.
Dexter stared at her amused.
"Pleaseee," Hayley pleaded, giving him her pretty baby look.
Dexter tried hard not to laugh. She looks so cute, like a baby. Well, maybe he could crash here for the night. He could make do with a good shower. He walked into her suite and looked around. It was clean and airy. Definitely, it was a hotel for the elite in the city.
Dexter settled on a cushion and relaxed, closing his eyes. He heard a muffled grunt and opened his eyes to see Hayley semi-naked, struggling out of her jeans.