From Ratchet to Riches

by Patrice Balark

  Just as he was about to pull a tittie out, the doorbell rang.

  “Who the fuck is that this late?” Pip snapped, snatching one of Capone’s hoodies off of the chair and throwing it on.

  Without replying, he headed up the stairs through the kitchen to the front door. Looking over at the video monitor on the wall, Capone shook his head at the sight of his big brother Jaylan and his wife Brianna. Although the video was soundless, Capone could tell by their body language that they were arguing.

  “Who is it?” Pip appeared behind him and asked.

  Pointing to the TV monitor, Capone answered her question.

  “Let them in. Why you got them standing out there?” she asked as she unarmed the system.

  “What’s wrong friend? Is everything ok?” Pip opened the door, pulled Brianna in, and asked.

  “Ain’t shit wrong with that girl. What up bro?” Jaylan said, pulling Capone into a manly hug.

  “Why y’all out so late? Popping up at muthafucker cribs and shit?” Capone asked, eyeing his brother suspiciously.

  “She had to pee so bad, yet her ass ain’t even went to the bathroom.” Jaylan yelled towards Brianna, who stood there talking to Pip.

  “You can use the bathroom in our room. Come on.” Pip chimed in, pulling Brianna up the stairs while the men headed to the basement.

  “I see you called me earlier. I was busy arguing with Shayna’s ass.” Jaylan reported, pouring him a glass of Hennessy.

  “She still tripping about you telling Brianna about the baby?” Capone asked, leaning on the pool table.

  “Hell yeah. The bitch act like I ain’t married.” Jaylan replied, shaking his head.

  “Nah nigga, you act like you ain’t married.” Capone laughed but his brother didn’t find anything funny.

  “Just cuz Pip got you pussy whipped….”

  “Mannnnnn, I ain’t trying to hear nun of that. That’s the reason you still running around getting checked at the clinic and shit at twenty- five. Nigga grow up.” Capone laughed.

  “Fuck all that. Why you call me again?” Jaylan asked, getting back to his original question.

  With so much going on in one day, Capone forgot the reason he called his brother when all of a sudden, it hit him.

  “Ahhhh yeah, why I meet Snoop today out west and he told me some shit about not having access to the docks for the shipment.” Capone recalled.

  “That’s gon’ be a problem. Have you told Pops yet?” Jaylan quizzed.

  “Nah, he only needs to know when it becomes a problem. We good for now. We ain’t gotta run and tell him everything.” Capone explained.

  The brothers went over more concerning the family business before the girls joined them in the basement. It was almost three in the morning and Capone wanted nothing more than a blunt and his bed.

  “What y’all down here talking about?” Brianna appeared from the stairwell questioning.

  “Got issues with the shipment.” Jaylan blurted out, answering his wife.

  Capone shot him a questionable look before noticing the look on Pip’s face.

  “Problem with shipment? Why you ain’t tell me?” She fussed at Capone.

  “Two reasons. First being, it’s not a problem and secondly it’s not your business.” Capone replied, heading to his stash to roll a blunt.

  “Yes the fuck it is my business. Anything concerning you is my business.” She fussed.

  That was another issue with their relationship… Pip wanted to be included in every single thing when she already had enough going on.

  “I’ll call my dad and…..”

  Capone’s eyes darted in the direction of Pip who pulled out her phone to make that call. Walking over to her calmly, Capone snatched the phone out of her hand.

  “WHAT THE FUCK IS YOU DOING?” she yelled.

  “What the fuck is you doing? This is exactly why I don’t tell you shit.” He replied, still calm as a summer breeze.

  “If there is an issue with my family’s money, I need…..”

  “YOUR family money? Ava, this is business. If you wanna be daddy’s little girl, give that nigga a gift for Father’s Day but this ain’t got shit to do with him right now.” Capone explained.

  Capone knew by the look on Pip’s face, she wanted to go off, but luckily for her, she remained quiet.

  “Thanks for letting me use the bathroom y’all but we about to take it in.” Brianna chimed in and stated.

  “Chill baby, this shit about to get good.” Jaylan said, taking a seat on the couch.

  Brianna smacked her lips before walking over and pulling Jaylan off the couch. It was no secret to everyone on the outside looking in that shit could get heated between Pip and Capone. They were the same person but in different bodies, which contributed to why they bumped heads so much.

  Saying their goodbyes, Jaylan and Brianna was gone within the next seven minutes and Capone was headed upstairs to shower before bed.

  “I wish you stopped doing that in front of company.”

  Capone heard Pip’s voice over the sound of the water running and let out a long sigh. He loved her but she had a way of getting on his nerves. When things were good between them, they were good but when things were bad, they were horrible.

  “And yo phone ringing off the fuckn hook.”

  “WHO THE FUCK IS MECCA?” She screamed at the top of her lungs.

  Walking out the connected bathroom with a beige towel wrapped around his lower half, Capone entered the bedroom, picking his phone up off the nightstand.

  “Who the fuck is Mecca, Capone? And why is she reaching out at this time of night?” Pip asked again, this time standing in his face.

  Capone looked up at her briefly and then back at his phone as he read the text message from Mecca.

  Mecca: My HOUSE IS ON FIRE!

  An unexplainable emotion hit him as he read those words. Glad that she was ok since she was texting him, Capone felt slightly relieved but not enough relief to sleep.

  “Where you going?” Pip questioned as she watched Capone move about the room getting dressed.

  “I gotta take care of some business. I’ll be back.” He promised, unplugging his phone and walking out the room.

  “BUSINESS? I SWEAR TO GOD CAPONE… YOU BETTER TELL ME SOMETHING. A BITCH BLOW YO PHONE UP AND THEN YOU LEAVE?” She screamed at him as he headed down the stairs.

  Knowing that she wouldn’t understand and further not knowing how to explain, Capone did what he always did and left. Over the year, he learned how to deal with Pip and her fits. He just didn’t know how much longer he was going to be able to deal with it.

  23

  Mecca woke up the next morning with a headache out of this world. Picking up her cell phone, which was on the side of her, Mecca checked the time. It was a little after eight in the morning and there were seven missed calls along with two text messages, both of them from Capone.

  Capone: Are you good?

  Capone: I’m outside on your block. Wya

  Reading over the message sent before, Mecca had forgotten about sending that text message to Capone. After discovering the house on fire, Mecca phone died but it felt good to know that he had shown up, even if she missed his call.

  “How you feeling best friend?” Kay asked after noticing Mecca was woke.

  “My head is pounding. Where is Danielle?” She searched the room, looking for her sister.

  “She’s downstairs with Darrius. You hungry? My dad cooked breakfast.” Kay advised.

  “I’m good. About to head to the hospital as soon as visitor’s hours start.” Mecca explained.

  “I’ll go get Dani for you… I’ll be back.” Kay explained before closing the bedroom door behind her.

  Grabbing the phone again, Mecca dialed Capone back twice but didn’t get an answer. Tossing the phone on the bed, Mecca headed to the bathroom to wash up and prepare for the day. After getting her hygiene together, Mecca and Danielle were dressed and in the car with Kay in less than thirty minutes.r />
  Trips to the hospital had seemed to become a regular for Mecca with Danielle making frequent visits within the last month. Although this visit wasn’t for Danielle, it was for someone just as important.

  “Yana is going to love this teddy bear Kay’s mom got her.” Danielle smiled as they headed up a few floors to see their sister.

  Still unsure of exactly how the fire started, both Mecca and Danielle were just happy that Yana was able to escape out the back door. Last night when they discovered the flames, of course they panicked until they learned that Yana had been already taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Getting a ride to the hospital last night, they were able to see her briefly before they were told to come back in the morning.

  “Yana love everything.” Mecca agreed as she thought about how easy was to make her happy.

  Thinking of all they had been through and how Yana always made things lit for them, Mecca smiled proudly to herself until Danielle made an unexpected discover.

  “This room empty.” Danielle announced after sticking her head in room 312.

  “They probably moved her. Let me ask.”

  Walking over to the nurse’s station, Mecca waited until a chubby white nurse with rosy cheeks ended her phone call before addressing the situation.

  “Hey, my little sister Yana Young was in this room last night. Can you tell me where she was moved to?” Mecca asked for clarification.

  Giving a warm smile, the nurse used the keyboard in front of her to type in the information Mecca had just given her before delivering the news.

  “Looks like she was discharged early this morning.” She informed them with the same smile on her face.

  “Discharged? By who? Who picked her up?” Dani questioned, eager to know what was going on.

  Mecca noticed the faint look on the nurse’s face as she looked into the system again for them.

  “I’m soooo sorry, I can’t disclose that information.” She replied softly.

  “AND WHY THE FUCK NOT?” Dani snapped, stepping closer to the desk.

  Pulling her back by the tail of her shirt, Mecca tried to make sense of what she was saying, instead of shooting now, how Dani tended to do.

  “I’m so sorry, there’s only so much I can say.” She replied again.

  “THIS SOME BULLS….”

  “Thank you ma’am, we understand.” Mecca cut Dani off by saying, allowing the nurse to get back to business.

  “What the fuck you mean, we understand? Yana is missing Mecca.” Danielle snapped as they waited on the elevator to arrive.

  “Don’t you think I know that but if they bitch ain’t giving up info, you gotta find another way to get answers.” Mecca schooled her.

  Smacking her lips and clearly unpleased by Mecca’s answer, Danielle rolled her eyes and prepared to get on the elevator. As soon as the doors opened, they walked in.

  “Well look here. My favorite sisters.” Nurse Peaches said as they entered the elevator cart.

  “Miss Peaches!” both girls said her name in unison, followed by a quick hug.

  “Thought I told y’all I ain’t wanna see y’all here again.” She began to preach as the doors closed.

  “Trust me, this is the last place we rather be.” Mecca replied, thinking about how exhausting the day was already and it wasn’t noon.

  “So, what’s tea?” she said, looking directly at Dani.

  “There was a fire at our house last night and our little sister was brought here, but according to the nurse on the third floor, she’s been discharged but she won’t tell her who signed her out.” Danielle ran it down for her.

  “Really? That’s weird.” Miss Peaches said, pressing the bottom for the fifth floor.

  “Come up to my office with me.” She said, pressing the button for the doors to close once they reached the lobby.

  Both Mecca and Dani looked at each other before shrugging their shoulders.

  Once the elevator doors opened again, they stepped off behind Miss Peaches, following her to a small office near radiology. Miss Peaches allowed them to enter first before closing the door shut behind them.

  “Let’s see what’s going on.” Nurse Peaches huffed, taking a seat behind her desk while the girls stood near the door.

  “Have a seat.” She gestured with her hand.

  Doing as they were instructed, Mecca and Danielle waited to see what was next.

  “What’s that baby name?” she asked, typing it in as Dani gave Yana’s full name.

  The room sat in silence as Miss Peaches read over whatever was on the screen in front of her. Watching her facial reaction change worried Mecca, that along with suspense.

  “Is everything ok?” she asked, looking over at Dani who looked worried too.

  “Yana Young was signed out by child protective services.” Miss Peaches said somberly.

  “WHAT?” Dani yelled, standing to her feet, causing the chair to fall underneath her.

  “We see this happen when a child is brought in under suspicious circumstances.” She explained.

  “Suspicious circumstances?” Mecca repeated, trying to assemble the pieces to the puzzle in her head.

  “Yes, according to this report, there was no adult at home the time of the fire and Yana suffered from smoke inhalation.” Nurse Peaches spoke.

  “So, what are we supposed to do now?” Danielle asked with tears in her eyes.

  After taking a deep breath and pulling back from the computer, Miss Peaches spoke again.

  “Have your mom contact the case worker assigned. DCFS is full of shit… they will release Yana if your mom simply talk to them. There will be an open investigation but that would be a solution for now.”

  Miss Peaches jolted down some info on a piece of paper before sliding it to Mecca.

  “All the case information as well as my phone number is on there. Go get that baby back.” She continued, standing to feet, checking the pager that was on her hip.

  “Thank you so much Miss Peaches.”

  “Yeah, we appreciate this.” Mecca followed up behind her sister as she texted Kay, letting her know they were ready.

  After expressing how grateful they were again, Mecca and Danielle headed to the elevator on their next mission, getting Yana back.

  24

  Staying at Kay’s house was cool, but it wasn’t her home; and for some reason, Danielle was missing Madea even more now than ever before. Their grandmother always seemed to have the right answers, rather she talked to God or pulled the answers out of her ass, Madea knew how to get the problem solved.

  “I just can’t stop wondering if she’s ok.” Dani heard Mecca say from the bottom stoop.

  “Y’all know Yana strong and don’t take no bullshit. She’s good.” Kay replied, trying her best to make best of the situation.

  “Yeah I know but I can’t help but wonder. She doesn’t know those people, what if they hurt her?” Mecca stated again, this time glancing at her phone.

  Those same thoughts raked her brain. Danielle was just as worried about Yana, but she knew nothing was going to get done with them sitting on their asses.

  “Mecca, call that number Nurse Peaches gave you.” Danielle finally spoke aloud.

  “Right Mecca, it doesn’t hurt to try.” Kay added in, taking a sip from the water she was drinking.

  Pulling her phone out again, Mecca removed the paper as well and dialed the number, placing the call on speaker. Danielle waited impatiently as the phone rung. She knew little to nothing about child protective services but like most Government services in Illinois, they barely did their job.

  “DCFS, Keisha speaking, how can I help you?” A nasty voice sounded through Mecca’s speakers.

  “Good afternoon, my name is Mecca Young, and I received your information from the hospital. My sister was taken this morning because….”

  “What’s her name?”

  “Yana Young.” Mecca replied, rolling her eyes to the sky.

  “And you are the child’s mother?” Keis
ha asked feisty.

  “No sister but…..”

  “You not the child’s mother or legal guardian, there is nothing you can do. Have the right person call back.”

  CLICK!

  “Did this hoe just hang up in my face?” Mecca asked, looking at the phone in her hand.

  “That’s an ignorant ass bitch.” Kay snapped, standing to her feet stretching.

  “Have y’all seen Melissa?” Kay continued, sitting back down.

  “Not since the night of the fire. I was hoping the bitch died in there.” Danielle mumbled under her breath.

  “Well, I’m glad the bitch alive cuz it’s looking like she’s our only way of getting Yana back.” Mecca stated.

  “Walk around the corner with me to see if she’s by the store.” Dani requested, this time standing to her feet, heading down the stairs.

  “I’ll drive y’all, let me grab the keys.” Kay offered.

  “Nah, we need to walk, crackheads don’t do shit but walk.” Dani half joked.

  “She’s right… it’ll be quicker running into her that way.” Mecca added in.

  “Cool, let’s walk then.”

  Kay got up and followed Danielle and Mecca as they headed around the corner. It was the end of August; the dog days of summer and the gang were feeling it.