From Ratchet to Riches

by Patrice Balark

  “Any questions?” She finally looked up from her watch and asked.

  “Ummm yeah, as far as compensation, how does that go?” Danielle asked because she was a believer that closed mouths don’t get fed.

  “Every two weeks, you will receive a direct deposit into the bank account we just opened for you. The deposit will be from Pip’s House Interior Design Collection. You’ll receive two checks, one with a base pay and another which will be a commission check. We can get into specifics later but just know you’ll be the richest seventeen-year-old on the Westside of Chicago.”

  Pip’s words were like music to Danielle’s ears. This was everything she needed, and the timing couldn’t be more perfect.

  “We can get you a whip AFTER you learn how to drive. In the meantime, I’ll set you up with a room here, considering your living situation, and when you turn eighteen, you can get yo own shit.” Pip further explained.

  The shit Pip was saying now was sounding too good to be true, but Dani still didn’t object. All Danielle needed to do was think of a lie to tell Mecca. She knew telling her sister the truth was out of the question. On the outside looking in, Mecca seemed like the perfect caring sister when in reality, she was overprotective.

  “Your lifestyle is about to change, but you must remain low-key no matter what. We take no chances here at Pip’s House… therefore, you need act accordingly. People gon’ look at you funny and begin to question but you work for Pip’s House Interior Design Collection, end of story.”

  Danielle was starting to think Pip had read her mind the way she answered that question for her.

  “Now let me get you back home so I can do what I gotta do.” Pip announced as she prepared to leave.

  “Oh, you forgot to grab this last time.” Pip said, handing Danielle the .22 she left behind from the last visit.

  “Keep this on you at all times. It’s clean but if you get caught, you better think of a lie fast.” She continued as Danielle slowly took the gun from her.

  Placing the small piece in her back, Danielle walked out the door, following Pip to the car. With it being much later in the evening, traffic was a breeze, so they made it in front of the store within fifteen minutes. When Pip pulled to the curb, Danielle looked at the time on her phone. Almost three hours had passed since she was supposed to meet Mecca.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow… let’s just say that when training starts.” Pip said, hitting the locks letting Danielle out.

  Without saying another word, Danielle powerwalked around the corner to Kay’s house. Skipping up the stairs two at a time, Danielle rang the doorbell. Not waiting long, Kay appeared at the door and opened it.

  “Mecca in there?” Dani questioned, trying to read the look on Kay’s face.

  “Nah, she left right after you earlier. I called her but I think her phone was dead. I thought y’all were supposed to meet up here for Yana.” Kay replied, stepping onto the hot porch.

  “Yeah, I got wrapped up into something. I at least thought she’ll do it.”

  “Nope. She with Capone so I guess she got wrapped up into some shit too.” Kay chuckled, but Dani didn’t.

  “Leave the door open. I’ll be back.” Danielle said to Kay as she took off down the stairs.

  “I sure hope this wasn’t y’all ONLY chance at getting Yana back cuz the both of y’all FUCKED UP!”

  Danielle heard Kay yell out to her, but she was too ashamed to address the truthfulness spit at her. Instead, she was going to call Mecca herself and explain how she got the phone later. Cutting through a dark alley, Danielle picked up speed when she heard someone call her name.

  Turning around, she noticed Mecca sprinting to her so she stopped and allowed her to catch up.

  “Where you going?” An out of breath Mecca asked once she made it to her sister.

  “I was looking for you. Why you ain’t meet me to handle that business?” Danielle immediately questioned her.

  “I was with Capone and…..”

  “It always something to do with that nigga…” Danielle cut her off and said.

  “Well that nigga was the one who put that outfit on yo back.” Mecca replied, rolling her eyes and shifting her weight to one side.

  “Girl fuck you and that nigga.” Danielle snapped, turning to walk and leave when she felt Mecca tug at her arm.

  “Well what happened? Did you go?” Mecca yelled out to her.

  “I was out taking care of some business and…..”

  “SO YOU WASN’T THERE TO MEET ME EITHER AND YOU TRIPPING?!” Mecca screamed, stepping closer in Danielle’s direction.

  “Unlike you, I wasn’t in sum nigga face. I was getting a job, something yo ass can’t even do.” Danielle snapped, this time completely fed up with Mecca and her attitude.

  “Bitch please! You tried it but Imma walk away before I buss you in yo shit.” Mecca warned, turning to walk away but Danielle grabbed her.

  “Nah, let’s talk about it. It’s yo fault we ain’t got Yana now cuz you were in that SAME nigga’s face. Had you been home, we would not only have a roof over our head, but our little sister wouldn’t be going through God knows what.” Dani argued, letting her true feeling be known.

  Just as fast as those words left Danielle’s mouth, Mecca punched her in that same mouth.

  “Now let me tell you what’s your fault…. If you wasn’t fucking our mother’s man then…..”

  Danielle pulled the .22 she got from Pip and aimed it at her sister, causing her words to freeze. Dani took blame for a lot of shit, shit that wasn’t even her fault, but she’ll be damn’d if she allowed Mecca to make her feel like it was her fault, her fault that she was raped.

  “Bitch if you don’t put that gun down….”

  “You’ll what?” Danielle cut her off, challenging her.

  Knowing Mecca never backed down from a challenge, Danielle still pointed the gun at her sister’s stomach. Noticing that Mecca was slowly walking towards her, Dani gripped the trigger.

  “At this point, you gon’ have to kill me.” Mecca said through clenched teeth as the gun Danielle was holding was pressed against her stomach.

  “Now like I said, if you weren’t so fucking secretive… if you weren’t a fucking liar… and if you weren’t fucking our mother’s man, a lot of shit would be different.”

  Mecca’s words felt like daggers hitting the heart. Dani felt warm tears sliding down her cheeks. This was the most hurt she ever felt in her life and it was coming from the one person she loved the most. Unsure of how to respond or react to the pain, Danielle did the only thing she thought was fair. She had to make sure Mecca felt the same hurt. She needed her to feel that same exact sharp pain, so she shot her. She shot her big sister in the stomach and watched as the life left her body without one single ounce of remorse.

  To Be Continued

  August 21, 2019

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