Chesteria flicked the beam of the flashlight towards the partially open door, casting just enough light to catch the bear’s attention without fully illuminating the space.
The bear turned its massive head, letting out a dramatic huff.
I seized the moment and banged the pan again with more conviction.
CLANG-CLANG!
That time, I shouted in a deep, loud voice, not threatening, but commanding. “Out!”
The bear blinked slowly, like it was processing the command. After a brief pause, it seemed to reconsider its invitation to dinner. With a reluctant grunt, it turned and lumbered backward, back out onto the deck.
I moved quickly and slammed the door shut, twisting the custom locktight…then I turned slowly.
Everyone was staring.
“Damn… you really made it leave,” Adrian said in disbelief.
Isis dramatically clutched her chest. “Oh my God. You’re like… bear whisperers!”
“Did you really just record this?” Chesteria asked, narrowing her eyes at Isis, who had her phone out like it was press night.
Isis, still holding her phone up, gulped. “It was for documentation… just in case one of y’all died, and we needed a Netflix deal.”
“One of us?” I scoffed. “You mean either you or that nigga. Because if it came down to it, I would’ve offered youandhim, since y’all are clearly the weaker links. And afterward, I would’ve lit a candle and kept it pushing.”
Adrian blinked. “Damn, I ain’t deserving of a candlelight vigil? A balloon release? A shirt with my face on it? Not even a moment of silence or a little ‘rest in peace’ before you move on, Chesteria?”
“Don’t put me in any of that! But since you did, you would’ve gotten a Facebook post. That’s it. The way you showed out tonight, you’d be lucky if I added a dove emoji.”
“Not a ‘we lost a real one’? Not even ‘fly high’? Damn, that’s fucked up. I see where I stand,” Adrian muttered, half-hurt, half-amused.
“Look, fuck all that!” I roared, then focused on Isis. “Put that damn phone away! And don’t record shit else while we’re here… especially when you around me.”
Isis smacked her lips, ready to say something slick, but the look I gave her made her think better of it and scramble to keep that thought to herself.
I locked eyes with everyone in the room, wearing the stare of a Black mama who had just discovered something expensivehad been broken and missing for over a week, and everybody knew but her. Nobody said nothing, everybody lying, so now everybody gotta catch a whoopin’ ‘til the truth comes out.
“Who the fuck left the door unlocked?”
They all looked at each other.
Adrian spoke up first. “Not me,” he answered, a little too fast for my liking.
“Wasn’t me,” Chesteria added, calm but firm.
Deep down, I knew Chesteria didn’t do no stupid-ass shit like that. She knew I ran a tight ship when it came to the cabin—doors were locked by nightfall, heat was checked twice, and a strict emergency plan was always in place. She also knew I had a zero-tolerance policy for liars, so she wouldn’t have lied to my face.
“Definitelywasn’t me,” Isis said, hand pressed to her heart, delivering her statement as if she were testifying in court with Jesus as her cosigner.
I chuckled darkly and flicked the tip of my nose. “Somebody’s lying… and I got a strong feeling who. I was the last one up, checking this bitch like I check niggas with shaky knees and nervous energy—thorough and with zero fuckin’ grace. I locked this door. So if the shoe fits, lace it up and walk your ass into the truth.”
Still silence.
I paced around the door. “Let me break this down… for those who don’t know,” I began, crossing my arms. “This ain’t no regular Airbnb deadbolt. This cabin has a custom-designed lock that is BEAR-certified… specially designed to keep wildlife out. And I ain’t talkin’ ‘bout stray raccoons or a curious deer. That means no bear on Earth, I don’t care if it’s on steroids, got opposable thumbs, watched a YouTube tutorial, took an online locksmith course, or even went to Harvard Law and passed thebar, can get in if the lock is secured… unless adumbass humanforgets to lock it.”
I paused, then turned slowly and sliced my eyes straight at Adrian and Isis, since I knew Chesteria was innocent.
“If that happens,” I continued. “This ain't a cabin no more; it’s a damn Bearbnb.”
