by A'zayler
“I don’t want that. It’s ugly.”
Congo hit Honey on her butt with the flimsy book. “You ugly.”
Honey kept right on looking through the row of notebooks. “Yo mama ugly.”
She looked at Congo out the corner of her eye and they laughed at the same time. She knew how he was and knew she should have moved faster but she hadn’t and he caught her midstride. Congo grabbed Honey in a headlock from behind and pressed his dick into her butt.
“Call me daddy and I’ll let you go.”
“Boy I am not about to call you daddy in this store. Get off me.”
“Nope. Call me daddy.”
Honey looked around at the people looking at them. They were all either smiling or laughing. Honey could only imagine how the must have looked. People probably thought they were cute or something when really Congo just needed to back his butt up.
“Congo, get off of me in these people store now.”
He started walking with his arm still wrapped around her neck.
“What’s the magic word?” Congo started tickling her and she laughed uncontrollably.
“Okay. Okay, daddy!” She squealed.
Congo kissed the side of her head and slapped her butt hard and let her go.
“See now how hard was that? You like to fucking play.”
Honey rubbed her butt dramatically and rolled her eyes. Congo blew her a kiss and leaned against the shelf. She scanned through the notebooks again and picked two new ones. One was gold and one was black and pink. Congo followed her to the aisle to grab a few pencils and they headed to the front of the store. They were in line talking about him letting her cut his hair when all hell broke loose.
“So this yo lil red bitch huh?” Neeka’s voice caught Honey and Congo off guard.
Honey didn’t know who she was so she just looked at her like she was crazy. For a minute she almost didn’t know whether or not she was talking to them. Neeka quickly cleared that up for her when she grabbed Congo’s arm.
“I said is this yo bitch?”
“Nah she aint my bitch, she my woman. You on the other hand, you my bitch. Just ad an ex to that muthafucka. Fuck outta here with that bullshit.”
“So you wanna get brand new on me because you with this lil hoe.”
Congo placed his hand at the small of Honey’s back and pushed her up as the line moved. He ignored Neeka and pulled out his wallet so he could pay for her things.
“Look at that thin ass wallet. Nigga you aint seeing no real paper still fucking off at that square ass job.” Neeka laughed sarcastically. “Do yourself a favor sweetie and find you a man with some money, because this nigga aint the one.”
Honey had tried to ignore the girl when she was speaking to her because petty stuff like that didn’t move her. Women had been catty all her life, she knew how to disregard that kind of stuff but what she didn’t know how to do was allow somebody to disrespect Congo. Honey slammed her notebooks down on the counter and turned around to face Neeka. She looked her up and down. She was cute in a ghetto kind of way. She was dark skin, with a burgundy bob, looked like a weave, and long orange nails. Her face was decent but her body was crazy. She looked like somebody Congo would have dated. The one piece spandex outfit she wore looked like it came from some low budget boutique on Instagram or something. She should have just kept quiet. Honey looked her up and down again before stopping at her frowning face. Her nose was turned up and she looked like she was about to snap.
“If you didn’t want him, and his square ass job that was your business. But you won’t stand here and talk to him like you aint got no damn sense. He aint yours no more boo, you no longer have that right,” Honey put her hand on Congo’s chest. “He’s mine now. He takes good care of me, so how thin his wallet is doesn’t concern you.”
“Bitch, you could have saved all that shit. I don’t give a fuck what he do for you.”
Honey shook her head and rolled her eyes.
“Baby turn around lets pay for your stuff.” Congo was trying to keep calm. He had to continuously remind himself that he was on probation.
“Yeah baby turn around and get your shit paid for.” Neeka laughed.
Congo paid for Honey’s things before putting his wallet back in his pocket and grabbing her hand. He grabbed her bag from the lady and pulled Honey from the store. They were getting in his car when they heard Neeka’s mouth again. She was standing at the back of the car.
“What was all that shit you was just saying in the store?” She had walked around to the passenger side door of Congo’s car so she could see Honey. Honey’s heart began to beat fast. Arizona had already told her that if she ever saw Neeka she needed to be ready to fight because she was going to try her. She wasn’t really in the mood to fight but she wasn’t about to let Neeka embarrass her in front of Congo.
“You heard me when I said it.” Honey replied snidely.
“You right I did.” Neeka reached inside Congo’s window and punched Honey in the face. The hit caught her off guard but she got with it quick. She opened her door hard and pushed it into Neeka causing her to flip backwards over the cart return bar. Honey took this opportunity to get the upper hand. She hopped out the car and kicked Neeka in the face a few times. She even had time to lean down and punch her before Congo grabbed her. With a handful of Neeka’s hair in her hand Honey pulled her along the pavement as Congo carried her to the car. Neeka’s knees were dragging the ground until she stumbled to her feet. Honey refused to let her hair go so Neeka followed behind her and Congo trying to break free.
“Let my hair go you dumb hoe.”
Honey reached over and punched Neeka in the back of her head as Congo pushed her into the car.
“Get yo ass in the car and put yo damn seatbelt on. Neeka take your ass on now.” Congo pushed her away from his car and she swung on him. She kept her blows coming. She caught him one good time in his eye and he backhanded her before he could stop himself. Honey gasped and covered her mouth. She had never seen Congo get physical like that. He’d told her numerous time that he’d slapped Neeka here and there but seeing it with her own eyes was something totally different.
“Take yo ass the fuck on Neeka damn. Stupid ass, dumb ass, ignorant ass bitch!”
“Fuck you and that bitch.” Neeka yelled as she walked away. Bystanders stood around observing the drama.
Congo hopped in the car, crank up and went home. He didn’t say anything to Honey the whole ride home. She could see that he was mad so she didn’t try to talk to him. Instead she looked in the mirror at the bruise coming up under her eye. When they got to Arizona and Toro’s house Congo got out and slammed the door. He didn’t even bother to open her door like he normally did. Honey sighed and got out. When she went in the house she could hear him in the kitchen talking to Toro and Arizona, so she joined them.
“Ayeee! There go my sis. I heard you showed out at Wal-Mart.”
“Not really,” Honey blew it off.
“Don’t get shy now. Yo ass wasn’t acting shy when you was in that parking lot fighting like a fucking hood rat.”
Honey snaked her neck back and looked at Congo.
“Nigga I know you didn’t.”
“Yes the fuck I did. Don’t start no shit with me Honey. You won’t drag me around nowhere I’ll beat yo ass for real.”
“What you mad at me for? She hit me first. What was I supposed to do? Let her just punch me and not do nothing about it?”
“Shit that would have been better than you showing your ass in the parking lot.” Congo was yelling at her while Toro and Arizona looked on. She didn’t care that they were there because they had become like family to her anyway. What she didn’t like was the way Congo was talking to her.
“Man, whatever I don’t have time for this.” Honey walked up the stairs. How had their good day gone sour that quick? She didn’t know what Congo expected from her. She had been scared as ever when Neeka walked up to her door but she knew she had to do something. In her opin
ion she handled her business, but clearly that was not how Congo saw it. Honey lay across the bed and scrolled through her phone. She noticed she had two emails. One was from the health department while the other was from housing authority. Honey’s heart rate sped up as she opened the first one. It started that she’d been award $362 worth of food stamps and he card should be coming in the mail. Honey was smiling from ear to ear as she opened the second email. It was crazy how her day went from bad to good that fast. She’d also been awarded a housing voucher for $920 a month. Honey wanted to scream because she could finally get her own spot. She clicked the link at the bottom of the email that showed a list of project homes, and apartment complexes, even a few houses that accepted housing assistance. Her eyes lit up with excitement as she surveyed her options. Honey was so excited that she almost jumped up and told Congo, but she got a hold of herself quickly. He wanted to be mad, then she’d let him be mad. Instead she got up and began to pack her things up. First thing in the morning she was going to claim her place and go furniture shopping. That reminded her, she needed to go to the shop and get some money from her bag. Honey walked to the mirror and brushed her hair back into a neat ponytail and left the room. When she got into the kitchen they were all still standing around talking.
“Arizona, can you please tell your friend that I need to go to the barbershop.”
Arizona smirked at Honey and looked over at Congo. “Honey needs to go to her job.”
“Well tell her ass she better get to walking,”
Honey sucked her teeth and looked at him.
“Congo, stop playing and take that girl where she gotta go.” Arizona said.
“Nope.” Congo crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back on the sink.
Honey looked him up and down and went to stand in front of him. She leaned her body on his and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“You mad at me? Huh babe, you mad?” She kissed his chin. “Don’t be mad I’m sorry.” She kissed his chin again. She could tell his anger was dissipating. She leaned her head back and made kissing noises towards his lips. “Give me some love babe. I said I was sorry.”
Honey stood on her tip toes and kissed his mouth. She caught his bottom lip between her teeth and whispered against his mouth. “Sorry daddy,”
Congo finally looked down at her and shook his head. He dropped his arms and grabbed onto her. “You stay fucking with my head. I gotta get rid of yo lil ass.”
“You can’t we promised to keep each other forever remember?”
“Y’all so cute.” Arizona said as she sat on Toro’s lap.
“Chill Z, but I’m bout to run this girl to this shop we’ll be back.”
Congo walked out of the kitchen behind Honey. They went back to his car and left. She didn’t tell him why she needed to go, because she wanted it to be a surprise tomorrow. It didn’t take them long to get to the shop. He told her he’d wait on her in the car while she ran in. All the men greeted her when she walked in like she hadn’t just been there earlier. Honey wanted to be in and out so she spoke and kept it moving. She grabbed a few bands from her bag and stuffed them in her purse. She was in and out in five minutes. Congo was on the phone when she got back into the car. He looked mad.
“Get the fuck outta here man,”
Honey’s brows scrunched up as she listened to him talk.
“Man damn. Tell them I’ll be there in a minute.” He hung up and threw his phone over the seat.
“What’s going on babe?”
“Neeka’s dumb ass called the police. They at Toro house waiting on me right now.”
“Are you serious?” Honey thought her heart was going to race out of her chest. It was beating so fast. She didn’t want Congo to go to jail but she already knew that was inevitable. She sat nervously as they drove. When they pulled up there were two squad cars in the yard. Congo killed the engine and looked over at Honey. He grabbed her leg.
“Listen baby, they probably bout to take me to jail. I’ll probably have to stay a few days before I get arraigned for whatever charges they about to give me, plus I’m on probation. Shit might get mad for a minute. You gon’ be all right?”
Honey nodded. “I’ll be fine babe.”
“Good. Give me a kiss.”
Honey leaned over and kissed him. She kissed him hard as she could. He kissed her back with just as much force. When he pulled away he kissed her nose and they got out. The cops walked over to him. Once it was clarified that he was indeed who they were looking for he was cuffed and they walked him to the back of one of the cars. They informed him that he was being arrested for assault and battery against Neeka Hawthorne. Just like they’d both figured. It tore Honey’s heart up to see her baby in cuffs like that. He looked a little sad but it had nothing on the way she was feeling. He watched her the whole time, keeping his eyes locked with hers. She was holding it together until he called her name.
“You staying no matter what right?”
“No matter what babe,” She ran to him and threw her arms around his body.
She hugged him the best she could without him being able to hug her back. Her heart felt tight like it would burst at any minute. Congo tucked his face in between her neck and shoulder and held it there while she hugged him. The police were nice enough to let them hug for a minute.
“Back up Honey,” Congo pulled away and stepped back so they could put him in the car.
She stepped back and Toro was right there. He pulled her to him and walked her back up the steps. Honey turned around and watched Congo until the car pulled away and she couldn’t see him anymore.
“Everything will be all right Honey.” Toro told her as they entered the house.
She nodded but went upstairs to the room she shared with Congo. She sat on the bed and pulled her money out of her bag. As bad as she wanted to cry, that wouldn’t help anything. Furthermore, jail wasn’t nothing to her anymore. The only two people she had in this world was locked up forever and she was making it just fine. Surely she could last a few days without Congo. Or could she? At the moment it didn’t feel like it but only time would tell. Honey counted out $4,765. That should be enough to furnish whatever place she chose for them. She would also use it to bond Congo out of jail once they gave him a bond. Exhausted from the day’s events, Honey decided to go take a shower. When she finished she called a bondsman to see if Congo had a bod yet. He told her to call him back in another hour and he’d have something for her. While she waited Honey packed up all of his things as well. She was taking it with her to their new place with her. She was stuffing his clothes in a bag when she heard a knock on the door. Arizona walked in and closed the door behind her.
“You okay Honey Bunny?”
“I’m good. You know I’m not new to this jail stuff.”
Arizona nodded her head in understanding. “Going somewhere?”
Honey smiled. “Yeah. I got approved for section eight so I’ma go handle all that tomorrow. I appreciate you and Toro for letting us crash here but it’s time for us to get our own spot.”
“Yayyyyy! That’s so good. I know he gone be happy.”
“I hope so. I know he’s trying his hardest so I wanna make sure I can help where I can.”
“Girl you don’t know how glad I am he has you. So many hoes would take advantage of a nigga like Congo, but you aint like that. That’s what I’m talking about boo.”
“That’s my baby girl. I’m holding him down forever,” Honey looked over at the picture of them on the dresser. They’d taken it in the little photo booth in the mall. She almost got sad but quickly put her mind on something else. “Will you come with me and help me pick us something out?”
“Girl yes. What else do I have to do with my life all day while Toro’s at work?”
“Good. We going in the morning.”
“Fine with me. Get some rest boo.” Arizona stood to leave and blew Honey air kisses.
When she left Honey called the bondsman back only for him to tell her they
hadn’t given him a bond and he probably wouldn’t go to court for another three days. The only good things about it was that they would probably let him go after court. Honey sucked up her feelings and went to bed. She’d be back in her love’s arms in a few days. It was only nine o clock when she got into bed but she was sleep instantly. She’d had a long day. Sleep found her easily but was broken just as quick as it found her. Her phone rang and she almost broke her neck trying to get it. It was an unsaved number.
“Hello,”
“Honey,”
“Babe. You okay?”
There were voices in the background along with static. “I’m good. You sleep?”
“I was trying to go, but its hard because you’re not here.”
He sighed.
“I’ll be home soon. You talked to the bondsman?”
“Yeah he said a few days until court. They didn’t give you a bond.”
“I figured they wouldn’t. They put me on a probation hold that’s why. It’s cool though I’ll be all right and so will you.”
“I know.”
“Aye baby, I gotta go. They making me get off the phone.”
“Aww. Call me when you can.”
“I will…,” Congo paused. Honey could hear him breathing but he wasn’t saying anything.
“Babe,”
“I love you Honey.”
The tears she’d been holding fell down her cheeks.
“I love you too. Goodnight.”
“Night.”
The line clicked and Honey fell backwards on the bed. This was about to be hard.
*****
“Appreciate that Jake.” Congo handed the phone back to the officer sitting behind the desk. He was a cop Congo had on his payroll back in the days. He’d let him use the phone to call Honey before they took him upstairs.
“The least I could do for my old employer.”
Congo gave a fake laugh and followed the other officer up the stairs to the holding cell. He was given a black and white jumpsuit and a small cell by himself. He got situated the best he could on the flat mattress with the thin sheet. He lay on his back and covered himself with the sheet. It was freezing cold in that cinderblock cell but there was nothing he could do about that. The most he could do was dream and wish that he was back at Toro’s house in bed with his Honey. He was always warm when he laid with her. She was so sweet and the best thing in his life right now. Since they’d been together he’d been working extra hard to make sure she was straight. Staying with Toro and Z had given him the opportunity to save a little more money than he had been which was good. He still made sure to give Toro half on the bills though. He was a grown man there was no way he was going to leach off of another grown man. He would carry he and Honey’s weight no matter where they went. Staying with Toro and Z was cool and all but he was ready for them to get out and get their own shit. They were too old to be playing the room mate game. My Honey. The chemistry between them was something fresh and exhilarating. He’d been around the block a few times busting down different women almost every other day when he slanging. Congo thought about the position he used to be in. He and Jabar was certified bosses of the street. They were respected by everybody for flooding streets with nothing but the purest cocaine. They were so big time they had stopped selling marijuana. They only got their hands dirty with dope that was worth doing time for. Rolls of money, garages full of cars, expensive liquor, the finest clothes and shoes. Back then all he cared about was stunting on niggas and takin their bitches. He was young and his world was totally different. He didn’t have the everyday struggles of bills, working a real job, he was young and getting it. Enjoying every day like it was his life. His reach was so long he could have things handled when he wasn’t even around. He wished every day that he’d met Honey back then. Congo smiled as he thought about how she would have felt once he exposed her to that lifestyle. She was always telling him how she wasn’t into thugs and drug dealers but he would put money on it, had he met her back then he still would have pulled her little morals having ass. He would have laced her with nothing but the finest. She would have been shitting on every hoe in the city. Instead of wasting his time on Neeka he should have been out looking for Honey. She probably would have been the one thing to keep him grounded. Making all that money made him feel like he was above others and Honey wasn’t like that. She would have been the perfect wife for a boss nigga. It was just his luck he would run up on her when he aint have shit. The one time in his life where he didn’t have anything to offer her, she came. He appreciated her now more than every though. She hadn’t pressured him for anything since they got together. She worked just as hard as he did, and was grateful for even the smallest of gifts. He found himself smiling again when he thought about how happy she got when he came home from work every day. It was like her whole face got brighter when she saw him. That warmed his heart to no end. He remembered days coming home to Neeka only for her to have an attitude and some slick shit to say. Not Honey. She would rush to him, hugging and kissing all over his face before she even gave him the chance to take a shower. The fact that Honey didn’t have much either made him want to work that much harder. He wanted to be the one she depended on to handle shit for her. His parents had taught him and Jabar both the qualities expected of a man. That included working until he was dog tired to make sure his family had what they needed and right now Honey was his family. She was his little ball of energetic sunshine. She relaxed him. Massaging his back and hands after long days at work, putting the pussy on him every night, and just being there. That’s what he loved the most. Having her around was everything. Besides Toro and Arizona he didn’t associate much with others. He hated going around people from his past. It always had him wondering was they thinking about how much he’d fallen off. He was used to being in the positon of power and now that he no longer had that he wasn’t as sure of himself anymore. With Honey he was always in charge. She didn’t fight nothing he said, she always trusted his words and went with his flow. She deserved it all and as long as Congo had breath in his body he was going to give it to her. If he had to pick up a second job just to spoil her that’s what he would do. She offered him money every day when she came home from work but he would never do no shit like that. Taking her money was a definite no. After he’d said no enough times she stopped offering.