I Wish I Had a Red Dress by Pearl Cleage

couldn’t hear you,” I said. “What did you say?”
    He frowned drunkenly at me, anger twisting his handsome face. “I didn’t say nothin’ to you. I’m lookin’ for Nikki.”
    “She doesn’t want to see you right now, Junior.”
    His eyes narrowed. “She want these kids, though, right?”
    “They know me,” I said. “I’ll take full responsibility.” I waved at Sheila’s boys sitting big-eyed and silent in the back- seat. “Hey, Duane. Hey, Daryl.”
    “Knowin’ you ain’t the question,” Junior growled. “Sheila told me Nikki ‘spose to get ’em and she they mama, so Nikki who I need to see, otherwise I can take the little niggas back home right now.”
    “You don’t have to do that—” I said, but Junior cut me off and took a staggering step in my direction.
    “Didn’t I tell you we didn’t have nothin’ to talk about?”
    Nikki was out the door and off the porch before I could stop her. Things were going from bad to worse at an amazingly fast clip.
    “What the hell do you think you’re doin’?” Nikki stopped a foot away from Junior. Duane and Daryl scrambled to the back window and looked imploringly at her, hoping she could rescue them.
    Junior’s lip curled in what probably passed for a seductive smile in the Lattimore family.
    “Came to see you, baby,” he said, his voice a drunken slur.
    “Let ’em out.”
    Junior nodded at Jarvis, who opened the car door and pushed his nephews out into the snowy yard. They were hatless, coatless and shivering. They hesitated for a minute, unsure of their role in this adult drama and not wanting to make the wrong move and piss off their uncle.
    “Go on inside,” Nikki snapped, and they bounded up the stairs to me. I hustled them quickly inside where Deena was waiting by the door.
    “Call the police,” I said. “And tell them to get somebody over here now! ”
    “Go home, Junior.” Nikki was still standing too close to him for my comfort, but she sounded unafraid.
    “Thanks for dropping off the boys,” I said, moving to stand beside her. “I’ll make sure they get home safely.”
    He ignored me, all his attention on Nikki. “Who gonna make sure you get home safely, sweet thing?”
    Nikki narrowed her eyes. “That’s none of your business anymore, is it?” Her voice was hard.
    “Let’s go inside, Nik,” I said, but as she turned toward me, Junior grabbed her arm and snatched her back hard.
    “What the fuck you say?”
    “Hey!” My voice sounded high and thin. “Stop it!”
    I tried to get between them. I was holding Nikki around the waist, and every time Junior pulled her, he dragged me along too. Through the car window, I could see Jarvis and Maleek laughing. Why hadn’t I called for help immediately? If anything happens to this girl, I will never —
    “Freeze!” a voice shouted behind me.
    I turned toward it, and there was Tomika standing alone on the porch step with an angry-looking snub-nosed revolver in her hand. She was holding it out in front and steadying her wrist with her other hand like a pro. Huddled at the back door, Sherika, Patrice and Tiffany stood watching. I didn’t even know Tee owned a gun.
    “Back off, Junior,” she said. “Right now!”
    “Or what?” He sneered. “You gonna shoot me?”
    “I’m gonna do the best I can.”
    “What if you miss?”
    Tomika didn’t blink. “I won’t.”
    “Come on, man,” Jarvis was whining out of the car’s back window. “These bitches crazy. Let’s go before they call the cops.”
    That must have been the magic word because Junior suddenly released Nikki’s arm like holding on to her was the last thing on his mind. I pulled her back up on the porch.
    Junior glared but didn’t make a move in our direction. “Fuck you, Nik. You ain’t got the only pussy in town.”
    I kept my arm tightly around her shoulders, hoping she wouldn’t answer him. Tomika had spoken for us. No other response was required. Maleek pulled out almost before Junior had