JALEEL McKnight entered the office of the President of African Methodist University and looked around. All quiet, too quiet. Almost as if the room was in the eye of a hurricane. With Ayaiah nowhere in sight, McKnight approached the desk of the receptionist, a fellow student at AMU whom he recognized as business admin major Ronika Levy, a junior. Ronika, who was busy with incoming phone calls looked up and rolled her eyes. He smiled. "Good day, Ronni, Aren't you a vision of loveliness this morning." She ignored him and answered another call. He cleared his throat.

"I said…"

"I heard what you said freak, damn. What the hell do you want?", she snapped after putting the last call through.

"Now is that anyway to greet a visitor?"

"No, but it is the way to greet your triflin' butt. Jaleel, what are you doing here? I told you umpteen times I ain't interested in dating yo' sorry bee-hind. You ain't grown none since the last time I saw you, either. Where's your footstool?"

"Ouch, Mama. No need to be hostile. What have I ever done to…?"

"You pasted a picture of my head on Latoya Jackson's half-naked ass and placed it on your webpage freakazoid!" Levy shot back, noticeably irked. McKnight cringed.

"Oh, I forgot about that. That was a…"

"Stupid, asinine, idiotic, childish thing to do", completed Ayaiah as she stepped off the elevator.

"Lover!" McKnight grinned broadly. Ayaiah jabbed her opened palm in his face.

"Don't say another word the entire time we're in this office, got me. Just get a couple of shots of Oz then be on your merry way."

"Well, we're certainly in mood this morning. Something troubling…?" Ayaiah froze and shot Jaleel another 'boy be quiet' look. He got the message.

"Hey Ronni, how are you doing this morning?", greeted Ayaiah as she turned her attention toward the receptionist.

"Better, now that you're here. I see Dante stuck you with the smurf, again", she pointed at McKnight and rolled her eyes once more. "Girl, you're hair is off the chain! You must have just had your braids redone." Ayaiah smiled.

"Thanks Ronni, yeah. My boy hooked me up last night." Proud of the job DeMarkus did on her head the night before, Ayaiah had purposely declined to wear the customary African head-wrap she usually wore on the Hill and let her newly retouched micro braids hang down below her shoulders. For her meeting with Oz, she decided to wear an ankle-length blue tie-died sarong, frilled at the edges, and a matching short-sleeved cover-up over a black form-fitting t-shirt. To complete the outfit she had slipped on the tan-leather sandals she had bought during Freaknik last year in Atlanta, a pair of dangling gold Nefertiti earrings, and the simple African charm necklace Teek had bought her in Daytona for Beach Week.

"Who does your braids, girlfriend? I go to Celebrity's down on Palmer, but they charge an arm and a leg chile-and I got to buy my own hair!"

"Oh, my boy DeMarkus keeps me fresh. I'll give you his number when I get out of my meeting with Oz. Speaking of, is he…?"

"Hold on, I'll check. I thought I saw him in the hall a moment ago", offered Ronika as she turned her attention back to the switchboard. Ayaiah waited as the receptionist tried to track down Dr. Oswald. Meanwhile, McKnight dared to speak up.

"No really, Ay. Is there something wrong? I hope I didn't offend…?" Exhaling, Ayaiah swung around.

"No nothing is wrong. I'm just sick and tired, ta’ death, of black men and all their bullshit at the moment. I mean really Jaleel. You can't keep disrespecting the sisters like you do all the time. Who told you that we like shit like that? It's downright disgusting what you did to this girl, and a few others who will remain anonymous; posting that picture on the internet. Do you realize what kind of harm you might’ve caused her emotionally?"

"But…"

"But hell boy. Grow up Jaleel. Would you like to see people treat your own mother that way?"

"Ah, have you seen some of the shit they print about my moms in the tabloids lately? I mean the other day they ran a story that she's shacking up with some twenty-year old fitness guru from Nepal. It's true, but still. It's embarrassing."

"All the more reason why you should be more sensitive to the feelings of others Jaleel."

"Damn, girl. What's eating you this morning? Don't snap at me because Teek played your ass big time." Ayaiah's eyes narrowed.

"Fuck you Ja…!"

"Oz is in his office Ay", interrupted Ronika. "You can go on through now." Collecting herself for a moment, Ayaiah calmed down and turned away from McKnight. He was right and she knew it. Although she meant what she said, she was taking her frustrations out on him, again. He was such an easy target. That phone call from Teek early this morning begging her to take him back didn't help either.

"Thanks Ronni. Don't let me forget to give you Dee's number", she stressed as she headed toward the inner office. Reluctantly, McKnight followed. They remained silent as they walked through the bustling suite and headed straight for Oz's chambers. The president's assistant, who intercepted Ayaiah and Jaleel along the way, led them inside. There they found the university's president overlooking a police report of yesterday's incident.

"Miss Kincaid", bellowed Oz as he rose and extended his hand in greeting. "So good of you to stop by."

"Thank you for agreeing to see me Dr. Oswald. I know, with everything that has been going down, you've been very busy lately. You remember Jaleel McKnight, one of The Fang's staff photographers?" Ayaiah motioned toward Jaleel, he moved forward and shook the president's hand as well.

"Yes, yes of course. I see the Capital News ran one of your shots from yesterday on the front page."

"Oh, well. Thank you Dr. Oswald. I was just in the right place at the right time, I guess."

"Be that as it may, African Methodist University always takes pride when one of our students gets the recognition they so deserve. I'm certain your parents are just as proud."

"I wouldn't know sir. I haven't heard from them in…"

"Dr. Oswald", Ayaiah cut in. "If we could just get a quick shot of you at your desk. Then Jaleel won't have to hang around and we can get on with the interview." Ayaiah was certain Oswald was not at all interested in Jaleel's parental woes, at this moment neither was she.

"No problem", he replied as he sat back down. After McKnight clicked off a few headshots, he thanked the president, nodded to Ayaiah, and then made his exit. Alone now with Oz, Ayaiah sat down in one of the chairs before his desk, pulled out her notebook, and flipped to the page where she had jotted down a few questions she wanted to be sure to ask the night before.

"Dr. Ozwald, if I may? Yesterday Devarious Cherry, the SGA president, said some rather harsh words regarding you're your administration's handling of the bombings. Do you have any comment?" Leaning back in his chair, Oz thought hard for a moment, then responded.

"Miss Kincaid, I have done everything within my power to see to it that the students and the faculty here at AMU are accorded the utmost safety measures as is possible at the present time. I am aware that Mr. Cherry, the SGA, and the Faculty Senate have concerns and will address them accordingly and in due process. However, right now my main concern is seeing to it that whoever it is that is responsible for these incidents is brought to justice so that our beautiful campus can get back to being the safe haven it once was."

"Are you saying that more can be done, but your hands are tied?"

"No, that's not what I said at all. I said…"

"That you're doing everything in your power, at the moment. Yes Dr. Oswald I understand that. However, not much has changed on campus that I can see. Yes, TPD has beefed up patrols in the area and I hear that AMU police are all on overtime, but is that enough to insure no one else is going to be hurt or no more bombs will be planted in the near future?"

"We certainly hope that the increase in police presence will deter anymore terrorism, yes Miss Kincaid. I think that's a fair statement."

"Is it also fair to say that, at the moment, the African Methodist Convention—the body that governs this institution—has been under a lot of financial strain lately and, because of this, has restricted any further measures in the way of safety due to high costs?" Oz leaned forward. Unperturbed, Ayaiah stood her ground.

"Miss Kincaid, I don't know where you picked up that information, however false, and strongly suggest you check your sources. The AMC is just as committed to providing for the safety of everyone here on the hill as I am. Why Mrs. Whitley, the executive director of the AMC, flew into Tallahassee personally yesterday to make certain the necessary steps had been put in place to insure the continued welfare of all students, faculty, and staff here at the University. It would be misleading to imply that the Convention was hindering our efforts", he lied.

"Yes, but regardless. Someone was still able to plant another bomb on campus yesterday that has badly injured a faculty member. Indeed, I hear Professor Mickins is in very critical condition. Obviously, the current precautions are not working. Giving the fact that SGA is due to present you with a petition calling for more stringent measures any moment now, will you be implementing any changes?"

"No, not at the present time. But I can assure you Miss Kincaid that my office has been in contact with Governor Keane and at this very moment we are working on a new game plan. So, you see, Cherry need not even bother. However, I am always glad to see SGA get involved when issues regarding AMU students arise. Still, I do not think that now is the time to get everybody all riled up. What we need now on campus is calm rationality. Anything else will only succeed in furthering the goals of the bomber. We mustn't play into his hands and dive into an abyss of chaos and pandemonium. That, I believe, will serve no good purpose."

"So you're saying that the Governor's office is going to step in. But why, AMU is a private institution? Shouldn't the AMC be more on the ball?"

"Miss Kincaid, really. The AMC is on the ball. And no, I'm not saying that the Governor is steeping in. I'm just informing you that his aides have graciously offered us their help. Regardless of the fact that the University is run privately, this is still a matter of civil order, and that young lady is always furthermost on the minds of our state's leadership. Now…", concluded Oz as he rose again from his chair, "…if you do not mind. I need to get back to work."

"Oh, yes of course. Well, thank you for you time Dr, Oswald", replied Ayaiah as she got up to leave. "I've certainly enjoyed our conversation."

"Oh, anytime Miss Kincaid. Good luck with the story. Dr. Weems tells me that a scout is coming down from New York tomorrow to check out your work?"

"Hmm? Oh, yes. He's with the African American Journal."

"I see. The AAJ, huh? I've heard good things about them. Well, I'm certain you'll impress them to no end Miss Kincaid. We have really enjoyed your work with The Fang these last few years. I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors."

"Well, thanks again Dr. Oswald. My years at AMU have been very rewarding." With that, Ayaiah gathered her backpack and turned to leave.

"Oh, Miss Kincaid?"

"Yes?", she answered, swinging back around.

"Off the record?"

"Um, sure."

"Lay off the AMC." Puzzled, Ayaiah frowned.

"Excuse me?"

"I repeat. Do not try to go toe to toe with Mrs. Whitley, you’ll surely end up on the wrong foot Miss Kincaid."

"Dr. Oswald, is that a threat?" Oz smiled.

"No, no my dear. Only a warning. Sheryl DeForrest Whitley plays hardball, and plays it well. Cross paths with her and you might not be lucky enough to find a job proofing type on missing children's bulletins. Can I be any more clearly stated?"

"Ah, I suppose not Dr. Oswald. I'll keep that in mind", Ayaiah promised. Perplexed, Ayaiah left the president's chambers and rejoined McKnight in the reception area. Noticing her bewilderment, McKnight tapped her on the shoulders from behind.

"You look odd. What's up?"

"Huh? Ah, nothing. I guess. Hey Jaleel, about earlier…"

"Don't sweat it Ay, you were right and I shouldn't have gone there about Teek. I'm sorry about that. Sometimes, I can be a…"

"Jerk", concluded Ronika, who pretended not to notice them in the hall. "Oh, Miss Girl, don't forget to leave me boyfriend's digits", she reminded. "Cuz them braids are goin' off, you hear me!" Laying all seriousness aside, both Ayaiah and Jaleel busted out into laughter.

"Ronni, hand me a piece of paper girl", Ayaiah chirped as she retrieved her pencil. For the time being she forgot all about Oz' words of caution.