From Ratchet to Riches

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From Ratchet to Riches Page 8

by Patrice Balark


  “Girl, what is wrong with you?” Mecca looked at her crazy and asked.

  “I been calling you, but it’s going straight to voicemail.” Kay informed her.

  “Well I WAS in the hospital and the service sucks. What up Kayla?” Mecca wondered, placing her hands on her hips.

  “Get in here, let me show you.” An excited Kay pulled Mecca in the house, leaving Danielle to close the door.

  Pulling her towards the back, down the long hallway to her bedroom, Kay finally released the grip on Mecca’s hand when Danielle closed the bedroom door.

  “Why you so extra? What happened?” Mecca asked for what seemed like the hundredth time.

  “Sooooooooo…… tell me why Capone and Jay stopped by and dropped some things off.” Kay beamed.

  “Ok…. annnddd….”

  “And, the nigga had these lovely things for you.” She replied, pulling shopping bag after shopping bag out of her closet.

  Mecca’s eyes lit up and so did her sisters, even before they knew what was exactly in the bags. After about the fifth bag, each girl, including Yana who stopped watching TV, grabbed one. Emptying the bags on the bed, every type of fabric and print you could think of fell out. Rampaging through everything, Mecca noticed there were different sizes and different designs.

  Stepping back, she pulled out her phone and called Capone. After being sent to the voicemail twice, she gave up. Just as she was about to toss the phone on the bed, she went to shoot him a text.

  Mecca: What is all this stuff?

  Capone: There’s two outfits a piece for you and your sisters. The funeral home is dressing Coby in denim and white so those are y’all matching outfits.

  Mecca: Hell naw, I can’t

  Capone: If something doesn’t fit, let me know.

  Mecca thought about writing back but she knew she’ll be wasting her time. Instead, she tossed the phone on the bed and tried on their new clothes.

  16

  Danielle picked through the collard and mustards greens with the plastic fork as her mind wandered. She was in a room full of people, yet she felt alone. Just an hour ago, she watched her baby brother be lowered into the ground. With Capone handling the funeral and the neighborhood helping with the repast, they were able to pull things off for Coby. A mixture of emotions tugged at her heart as she tried to cope with things.

  “I made you a plate to go.” Mecca’s voice sounded from behind Dani’s right ear.

  Turning around slightly, she forced a fake smile before thanking her and getting back to her thoughts.

  “Look, I know how you feel. If anyone knows, remember it’s me and Yana. We gon’ make it through this, I promise. We just gotta take things one day at a time.” She said before walking off to greet more people.

  Mecca’s mind space even during disasters seemed to be calm. Dani knew she was still most likely putting on a front and being the “strong one,” but she left her alone to do her thing.

  After a few more bites from the chicken she nibbled on, Danielle tossed her napkins on top of the plate and stood to her feet. Heading towards the garbage, her eyes landed on Melissa who had nodded off in her seat. Saying that she was acting off due to Coby’s death would be a lie; both Mecca and Danielle noticed Melissa using drugs more, but they figured that was going to happen eventually anyway. They knew it was only a matter of time before she crashed or worse… died from an overdose.

  After tossing the trash, she headed back to her seat but made a detour when she noticed Yana and her friends walking out of the hall. Following close behind them, Danielle stepped into the sun and instantly regretted not staying inside. It had to be at least be ninety degrees out; the strong hot winds blew her long curly hair wildly over her head. Her eyes scanned the street as people walked in and out of the small hall. Surprised at the outcome and all the love they were receiving, Dani’s eyes zoomed in on Yana who sitting on the hot concrete.

  “IF YOU DON’T GET YO ASS UP!” Danielle yelled out to Yana, who rolled her eyes.

  “I was tying my shoe Danielle, DANG!” she replied with an attitude.

  “I don’t care. You have on white pants… you could have kneeled down and done that.” She chastised her youngest sibling.

  Without replying, Yana continued to run up and down the street with her friends. After looking after them for another ten minutes, Danielle went back inside. The cool breeze from the air conditioning unit welcomed her with open arms, instantly causing goosebumps to form on her brown skin. Searching the room, she spotted her friend Stephany walking in through one of the side doors. Smiling to herself, she walked over to her, greeting her with a hug.

  “Friiiieeennnnnddddddd. I love you frriiieeennnnddddd.” Stephany’s loud voice echoed through the hall.

  “I love you too silly. What’s up?” Danielle laughed at her friend before the two of them found an empty table nearby.

  “Nothing bitch. The service was nice. Coby looked like he was sleeping.” Stephany recalled.

  Visions of Coby in the casket flashed through Dani’s mind as she fought back tears.

  “Thanks for coming and don’t forget to tell your mom we said thanks for everything.” She replied.

  The two friends caught up on the latest gossip, laughed, and joked until it was time to go. Steph assisted Dani and Mecca with cleaning up, along with the help from a few others. The day they dreaded so much was finally over, even though the pain would last a lifetime.

  “Ok so we riding back home with Kayla and Darrius, you ready?” Mecca asked, tossing a few empty water bottles into the trash.

  “Yeah but I’ll ride with Stephany. I’ll meet ya back home.” Danielle agreed before they parted ways.

  As planned, Dani hopped in Stephany’s green Maxima and trailed Mecca, Yana, Darrius, and Kayla. The drive from the repast to their house was roughly a fifteen-minute drive. When they pulled up, the block seemed a little more pack than usual. It may have to do with the five girls who stood posted in front of their building.

  Danielle got out first and walked over to Kay’s car to help them pull everything from the trunk when she heard one of the girls near her building say her name. Turning around and not recognizing any of them, she went back to what she was doing, assuming she heard wrong.

  “Ain’t you Danielle and Mecca?” One of the young ladies walked towards them and asked.

  “Yeah. Why? Who wanna know?” Dani glanced behind her and asked.

  “Dame’s little cousins, that’s who.” Another girl answered, joining the other girl who was at the curb now.

  Hearing Dame’s name made Danielle place the aluminum foil pan full of spaghetti she was holding back in the car.

  “Look bitch, now is not the time.” Stephany stepped in and stated.

  “First of all, wasn’t nobody talking to you.” The other female chimed in and said.

  “Look, they just buried their little brother. You hoes wanna be into it, pick another day but right now…. is not the time.” Kay advised them calmly, freeing up her hands as well.

  “FUCK THEY LITTLE BROTHER!” The biggest one yelled out followed by the other four laughing like a pack of hyenas.

  Before Danielle could fully register what had just left her lips, Mecca was ramming the girl’s head on the hood of Kay’s car. Without thinking twice, Dani grabbed the closest one to her and began beating her ass. It was like a domino effect the way everyone else fell in line. Both Stephany and Kay grabbed a girl and went to work. They were still outnumbered by one, but it didn’t make any difference, especially when Yana picked a broken bottle off the ground and started slicing flesh.

  Everyone on the block gravitated towards the fight; a few girls from down the block jumped in and helped as well. They weren’t necessary friends with Danielle and Mecca, but they knew of them and their situation.

  Slamming the young lady she was fighting on the ground, Danielle began stomping her when she glanced up and noticed Dame on the front porch watching. Seeing his face made her blood boil even
more. Not only did he not attend Coby’s funeral, but he picked that day to have his non-fighting ass family members to come over and start shit.

  Danielle completely blacked out. The next thing she remembered was being pulled off of the female by Kay’s brother Darrius as more guys on the block broke up the fight. Out of breath and even more pissed off than before, Danielle found a brick in the lawn, kneeled down, and picked it up without anyone seeing her. Danielle cocked her arm back like she was pitching in the major leagues and threw the brick at the porch, hitting Dame in the shoulder. Danielle watched as he turned red with anger. It was bad enough that his so-called hittaz got they ass beat, now he was gon’ be walking around with a bruise shoulder. Dani’s eyes and Dame’s connected, a wicked smile crept across her face, sending Dame running down the stairs in rage. By the time Dame made it to Dani, Mecca stepped in front of her, challenging him to continue.

  “Bitch you need to move before I slap the shit out of you!” He barked, spit flying from his mouth like a pitbull.

  Mecca stood there unfazed as Danielle waited for Dame to make good on his promise.

  “BITCH DID YOU HEAR ME?” Dame yelled again, this time stepping as close to Mecca’s face as he could get.

  Here he was, this six-foot-tall man towering over Mecca’s five-foot something frame. Mecca looked him in the eyes, not showing one lick of fear as his female cousins still ran their mouth in the background.

  “IF YOU DON’T MOVE, IMMA…” Dame paused, his eyes growing the size of goofballs as he stared down the barrel of a gun.

  “If she don’t move, you gon’ do what old man?” Capone appeared out of nowhere, pistol in hand, ready to bang.

  17

  Mecca’s eyes shifted back and forth between Dame and Capone. With so much going on and so many people surrounding her, she didn’t even notice Capone standing there. The day had already been crazy and now with guns involved, shit had just gotten crazier.

  “Nah nigga, don’t get quiet now. You was all for the bullshit before I pulled up. Keep that same energy.” Capone spoke again, his finger still on the trigger.

  “Capone, we good. Put the gun away. I know somebody dun called the police by now.” Mecca spoke to him softly.

  Capone looked over at Mecca and then back at Dame as if he was really debating on his next move. Of course, Mecca wanted Dame’s bitch ass dead and gone, but she wasn’t going to allow Capone to risk his freedom in order to do so.

  “I swear to God, we good. Now is not the time.” She assured him again, this time placing her hand on his arm, slowly lowering it for him.

  Dame still hadn’t uttered a word, which was surprising to everyone out, especially when he was known to big and bad around the neighborhood. Capone’s height and weight were no match for Dame’s, yet, Capone punked Dame like a lil nigga.

  “Aye Cap, twelve around the corner, let me get that.” A guy wearing a black durag appeared from the crowd and stated.

  Capone looked at the guy briefly before handing him the gun. Mr. Durag stashed the gun in his pants and took off running in the opposite direction of the sirens.

  Mecca watched Capone turn back to Dame after watching the guy disappear down the street. Staring into his eyes again, Capone spoke.

  “If I hear you sneezed in her direction too hard…. Imma blow yo fuckn head off yo shoulders. If you touch either one of them…” Capone pointed at Mecca, Danielle, and Yana. “Imma blow yo fuckn head off yo shoulders. Do you understand me?” he continued through clenched teeth.

  Silence fell upon their circle as Dame remained quiet. After a few minutes and still no response, Mecca pulled Capone out of Dame’s face and away from the crowd, which had slowly disbursed. Luckily for them, the cops rode through but kept on going when they noticed the show was over.

  “That nigga live with y’all?” Capone asked, anger still plastered all over his face.

  “Unfortunately, yes.” She lowered her head and replied.

  “Yo OG know how he be treating y’all?” he quizzed again.

  “Yeah, she don’t give a fuck. She strung out on drugs… look at her.”

  Capone’s eyes followed Mecca’s finger as they watched Melissa stumble down the street towards their house.

  “That’s yo momma?” he asked with widen eyes.

  “Yeah… don’t remind me.” Mecca replied, looking away ashamed.

  “What about yo pops? Where he at?”

  “What about him? Never met the man in my life.” Mecca replied truthfully.

  “Damn, that’s crazy….. what about other family? Y’all gotta have somebody else y’all can lean on.”

  “I wish like hell we did. My grandmother raised us until she died. I have an aunt and uncle, but I haven’t seen them since Madea’s funeral. I have no idea where they live. I know nothing.”

  Mecca watched the shocking look on Capone’s face as she answered each question. She had never been so truthful about her life before with anybody else, not even Kay. It was something about Capone that made her feel comfortable and open.

  “Look, I gotta go take care of some business. I’ll hit yo phone later and slide by if it’s not too late.” Capone said, checking the time on his gold Rolex.

  Shaking her head up and down, Mecca walked away, leaving Capone standing there before heading back over to the porch where everyone else was.

  “Girl what he say?” Kay asked anxiously.

  “Nothing much, other than he’ll check on me later.” Mecca replied nonchalantly.

  “Bitch stop acting like you not fazed or impressed.” Kay added in.

  “Just because you’re easily impressed, don’t mean everybody is.” Steph turned to Kay and replied before rolling her eyes.

  “Bitch ain’t nobody talking to you. Why you always got something to say?” Kay shot back.

  Mecca knew it wouldn’t be long before Stephany and Kay pulled out the claws and attacked each other. Danielle’s best friend and Mecca’s bestie hated each other guts and it was all over a boy. They came together when it was time to ride out, but the buck stopped there; neither would piss on fire to put the other one out.

  Hearing them bicker and argue made Mecca’s head hurt even more than it already did. She had been through enough bullshit for one day, the last thing she needed to hear was them arguing.

  “Could y’all chill… like for real?” She yelled, rubbing the temples on her head as the headache worsened.

  Everyone out there looked at her as if she had lost her mind, but they all remained silent. Mecca thought about her conversation with Capone and how she needed to better their living situation; she just didn’t know exactly how. The first thing she promised to herself was that she was going to get a job. Now that Danielle’s abortion situation was taken care of and Coby’s funeral was over, she could focus on better her life without any extra stress.

  Mecca rolled over the next morning to an empty bed. Slightly opening her eyes, she looked across the room and noticed Danielle sleeping alone. Panic immediately setting in, she tossed the sheets off of her and yelled out to Yana. When she didn’t answer after a few seconds, she jumped up.

  “What’s wrong?” a confused Danielle slowly rose from her sleep and questioned.

  “Where the fuck is Yana?” she asked, pulling on the doorknob so hard it broke.

  Mecca stared at the knob in her hand before throwing in on the floor and rushing out the room.

  “YANA!” she yelled out, checking in the empty living room first.

  Mecca went to the window and pulled the already broken blinds down, peeking onto the porch to see if she spotted her there. Coming up empty again, Mecca marched down the hall to the back of the house when the bathroom door swung open.

  “Why you hollering my name like that?” Yana’s skinny ass appeared from the doorway.

  “Are you ok?” Where is Dame?” Mecca questioned her frantically, looking around to see if he was near.

  “I don’t know. I heard Melissa telling Linda that he ain’t come
in the house last night.” Yana reported.

  Mecca knew whenever Melissa’s friend Linda came around, they were in hot pursuit for drugs. Linda helped her come up with plots and schemes when it came to getting high.

  “I’m hungry, can you fix me something to eat?” Yana asked, snapping Mecca out of her thoughts.

  “Um, yeah… Come on. I’ll heat you up something from the repast.” Mecca replied, heading towards the kitchen.

  “I don’ think that’s possible.” Yana said under her breath, confusing Mecca briefly.

  Mecca walked into the kitchen and abruptly came to a stop.

  “WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED IN HERE?” She yelled out, staring around at the food on the floor.

  “Melissa was mad this morning and threw all the food on the floor because we didn’t bring any potato salad home.” Yana informed her.

  Out of frustration and anger alone, Mecca wanted to cry. Those leftovers were all they had in the house. Melissa had just destroyed enough food to last them weeks.

  18

  Danielle stared at the black and gold business card in her hand and read over it again for the hundredth time. When she woke up from her nap at the hospital after losing the baby, she noticed the card on the stand next to the hospital bed. She thought back to how helpful the woman who dropped her off at the hospital had been. Dani wondered how her business card ended up in her room when she dropped her off at the door. The basic card didn’t contain much information other than her name, phone number, and email address. There wasn’t even a business or company name attached to it.

 

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