by Chunichi
“Hey.” She smiled. “I’m sorry, but who the fuck are you? And how did you get into my house?”
“Ah, I’m the one who got your ass home from the bar.”
Damn, I was fucked up last night! I don’t remember talking to this bitch at all. “Okay, that’s cool, but I don’t know you and you need to get your ass out my house.”
“Nigga, please. You don’t have to ask me twice. Your ass was so lame last night, I can’t wait to never see your ass again.”
“Fuck you, bitch! You pushin’ it.” She sauntered past me like she didn’t have a care in the world and walked downstairs. I followed and watched as she put her shoes on and made her way to the front door. She turned before she went out and said, “You’re welcome for getting you home safe. Your truck is in the garage. I took what you owe me and nothing more.”
“What the fuck you talking about?”
“I’m a prostitute, you fool. I don’t give this pussy up for free. Well, last night I didn’t give it up. I have two words for you–whisky dick.” She smiled and closed the door in my face.
She was so calm about the whole thing, it left me tongue-tied. I had nothing to say to her. She had stunned me and left me standing at the door trying to make sense of what she just told me. It took me a little bit, but I realized I had just been suckered and dissed by a prostitute.
Instead of getting mad at the prostitute, I directed my anger at Jewel. She still hadn’t come home. I knew her crazy ass was heated, but so was I. My baby had never stayed away from home so long, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to give her what she wanted. I figured she probably had the phone right by her side waiting for me to call and make up.
I almost called her but then thought better of it.
Naw, man, I believe I’m going to wait this one out.
I just knew deep inside my baby would be walking through the house door any day now telling me how much she missed me and loved me. Or at least I was hoping she would.
In an attempt to kill time and get Jewel off my mind, I popped in a DVD featuring comedian Mike Epps. He was so funny that my stomach cramped up as I watched him act a damn fool in the movie Friday. It didn’t’ take long for the munchies to kick in, so I made my famous turkey sandwich to tide me over.
By the time I finished eating, it was going on one o’clock in the afternoon, and I still hadn’t heard from Jewel. Unable to resist any longer, my fingers began to dial her cell number. Again, it went straight to voice mail. “What the hell!” I shouted out to no one in particular.
I dialed Jewel’s number three more times to make sure my hearing was correct. Each time I got the same message, “You have reached the automated voice mail box of–”
“This chick cut her phone off,” I said as I pressed end on my cell phone.
The more I sat and let shit marinate, the angrier I got. I couldn’t stand it. I called Jewel again. “Yo, Jewel, stop playing. This ain’t funny. Bring your ass home. You taking this shit way too far,” I screamed in the phone, leaving her a voice mail, then threw my cell phone across the room.
All this stress about Jewel was fucking me up. My temples were pounding, and it felt like my head was gonna explode in a matter of seconds. A headache was coming toward my temples and fast. I decided to lay down and take a nap before I lost my mind and totally flipped out.
When I woke back up, I turned over to look at the time on the clock. It was getting close to eight o’clock. My whole day was wasted worrying about this bitch. I went across the room and grabbed my cell phone from the floor where it had landed when I threw it earlier. I checked the caller ID, and there still was no call from Jewel, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of me calling again. Jewel loved to see me squirm.
She had never been this stubborn, so I was beginning to get a little worried. I was hoping nothing had happened to her. Quickly erasing those thoughts from my mind I convinced myself Jewel would be strolling in the house at least by midnight. Unfortunately, I was wrong. I paced around the house until one in the morning with no sign of her.
Chapter 13
“I’m Watching You”
Lisa
I knew Touch was bound to fuck up and I would be there to catch his ass. After my embarrassment at the courthouse, I was determined to get this selfish motherfucker. So many nights I’d sat and watch him stagger his drunk ass into the house. This particular night I was hoping I would be just as lucky. My confidence was high, and I was ready to serve up some retribution. If things went as planned, I would follow right behind him and enter his house with ease. I had been playing it low for a while, so I knew his guard would be down.
I was dressed in all black with a hoodie on, and I’d been sitting outside Touch’s house for hours waiting for him to come home. I felt like a real gangster as I used binoculars to get a bird’s-eye view of his house. Since I didn’t know how long I would be waiting, I drank no liquids at all. I was craving some water or a tasty appletini. My mouth was dry as shit. I refused to leave my post, no matter the situation. I even put on Depend underwear, just in case I had to pee, but the lack of fluids in my body prevented me from having to piss myself.
“Finally,” I whispered as Touch pulled up in the driveway. I slouched down lower in my seat to shield myself from his eyes.
To my surprise, his guard wasn’t down at all. That fool was looking all around under the car, in bushes, and even behind the garbage can, all the while carrying a gun in one hand and talking on his cell phone in another. My window was down, so I was able to listen closely as he secured the premises before walking in the house.
From what I was able to gather, he was leaving Jewel a voice message. He had his beg game on, so I guess Jewel had left him. I laughed to myself and waddled in joy with this newfound discovery. Karma is a bitch, muthafucka.
I sat patiently and waited another hour before I attempted to walk into Touch’s house. The Touch I knew always hit the blunt and drank a couple shots of Hennessy after a long day. This was the little extra edge I needed before making my move. I quietly climbed out my car and walked to the back door. I turned the knob. This shit was easier than I thought. Touch dumb ass had left the back door unlocked.
“Jewel, is that you?” he called out as I walked through the door.
Shit, I thought to myself knowing for sure I was caught. I froze in my steps, not knowing what to do.
“Jewel? Baby, answer me,” Touch shouted out again.
With no other option, I cleared my throat and tried my best to disguise my voice. “Yes, baby,” I replied.
“Make me a drink, and bring it in here when you come please, baby,” Touch begged.
“Okay.”
I grabbed a shot glass and sprinkled a drug called Thorazine in it and mixed it with the Hennessy. I’d learned from a criminal-ass friend of mine that it paralyzes the body. I walked up behind him and put the glass to his lips, and he drank it all down in one big gulp.
“I knew you would come back,” he said, slurring his words.
Touch was so drunk, he didn’t even notice as I pulled out the rope from my backpack and started wrapping him with it.
“I love you,” I whispered in a sweet tone as I knew Jewel probably would. Then I pulled the rope tight.
Touch finally opened his eyes. He began to tussle a bit, but it was too late. The medicine had all ready kicked in.
“What the fuck,” were the last words he spoke before
I stuck it to him hard, like a virgin with no lubrication.
I pulled out a pair of brass knuckles from my pocket and started beating him with no remorse. I couldn’t resist fucking with his manhood, so I stomped on his dick. And to wrap it all up, I knocked out one of his teeth. I was sure to leave my mark, just as he’d done to me. To fuck up his mind even more, I ransacked the place to make it seem like I was looking for something. Satisfied with my handiwork, I took one last look around the place. I figured, since I had the run of the house, I would take something as a memento. I deserved it
, considering what Touch had put me through.
I quickly snatched up an iPod from the end table and put it in my pocket. Then I went through Touch’s pockets and took all his cash.
My last stop was the kitchen. I opened the refrigerator took out a beer and calmly sat and drank it. Now that my mouth had some saliva back, I went back to Touch and spat in his face before walking out the back door.
Chapter 14
“Girl Talk”
Jewel
Shakira and I spent the morning at Tyson Corner, a mall in Alexandria, Virginia. Our first stop was the M•A•C counter. I could have used some more M•A•C makeup, but I simply couldn’t afford it. No Touch meant no money. It was times like these that I hated myself for depending on a man for so long to provide for me. Shakira offered to pay for some items for me in the store, but I refused. She had a little daughter to take care of, and there was no way I would allow her to spend her hard-earned money on me. Besides, this was her first bonus check from her job, and I wanted her to only splurge on herself.
While speaking with Shakira about my situation, I realized it was time I made some changes in my life. I didn’t know how, but it was time I figured it out. Back in Virginia, being with Touch was stressful. Not only did I have to put up with his erratic behavior, I had constant irritable bowel syndrome. My stomach was always churning for the worse.
While in DC, I didn’t feel the churn at all. I felt relaxed. Everything felt easier. Also, there was no looking over my shoulder and wondering if someone was going to kill me or him first. Some nights, I would catch Touch looking out the window with his gun in hand, waiting and willing to kill anything that moved. I knew this was the life I chose, but it wasn’t the way I wanted to live. Now it was time I broke free. I was truly getting too old for the bullshit. Ten years down the road, I didn’t want to look back and regret that I’d never made a change for the better.
From the time I reached DC, I’d had my phone turned off, so Touch had no way to contact me. I wanted to be free from the drama, hurt, and pain. To be honest, I had no idea what my next move was, but I was sure it would be a positive one.
Looking at Shakira made me realize what potential I had. I knew if she could do it, I could too. We’d come from the same past and walked the same paths in life.
After browsing the mall a couple of hours, I ended up purchasing a pair of shoes on clearance. For lunch, we went to the Cheesecake Factory. Thankfully, I had a gift card I’d received from my father for my birthday. The total I’d spent for the entire mall day was only thirty dollars and fifteen cents. Being accustomed to spending whatever I wanted, this was a big accomplishment for me, and I couldn’t have felt better.
Later that afternoon, we took Shakira’s five-year-old daughter, Kelly, to the zoo. It had been years since I was at a zoo, and I was just as excited as Kelly. I always found the animals so exotic and fascinating.
“What flavor snow cone would you like?” I asked Kelly as we walked up to the concession stand. I had a crazy craving for rainbow cotton candy myself.
“Grape, please,” she said with a head nod.
“Sure thing!” I smiled as I ran my fingers through Kelly’s long, wavy hair. I wondered if my daughter would have such characteristics. Being around Kelly made me second-guess my life decisions and reassess my priorities. I wondered if I had made different decisions in my life if I would’ve had a child now. I wanted a baby now, so I could raise it to be a respectful, contributing member of society. I became a little sad thinking that I may never have a child.
Shakira had raised Kelly well and taught her respect at a young age. My eyes filled with tears when I observed the loving bond they shared. The most touching time was bedtime. Shakira would bathe Kelly, and after reading her a bedtime story, they both would get on their knees on the side of the bed and say their prayers together.
I couldn’t help but think about what it would be like for Touch and I to raise a family together. My thoughts would start out nice enough. Then I would get a vision of Touch walking around with a gun near my baby, and those happy visions would turn into a nightmare.
When the night hit, it was girl time. Shakira called over a neighbor to babysit Kelly, and we hit the road.
“So what’s the going rate for a babysitter these days?” I attempted to start a little small talk after being seated. We were dining at Tuna, a local upscale seafood restaurant.
Girl, I don’t know. As long as I continue to reload Suzie’s iPod gift card and pay her twenty dollars in cash, she’s good for the night.”
We both started laughing.
“Shakira, I’m proud of you,” I had to admit.
“Me?” Shakira said in a surprised tone. “For what?”
“Well, you have got your own place. Your daughter is healthy and happy. You make your own money, and you don’t have to depend on a man. All the things I dreamed of.”
“Thank you, Jewel.” Shakira said, tears in her eyes. She then rose from the table to give me a hug.
“Shakira,” I said, surprised at her reaction.
“I really appreciate that, Jewel. You have no idea what that means to me.” Shakira wiped the tears from her eyes. “It wasn’t easy. A few years ago, I wanted a change from the drug life. I went back to school to become a dental hygienist, and with the help of God, I landed a job right away. Life is all about balance. I’ve got my Kelly and my job. We are taking it day by day,” Shakira explained, looking over at the bar.
“You deserve to be happy,” I replied, thinking back to the rough past Shakira had. She was heavy in the drug game because of some shady guys she’d dated, and in order to survive she had to strip.
“And so do you too.”
“Sometimes I’m not so sure if I do. I made my bed, and now I have to lay in it,” I said, full of self-pity.
“That is not true, Jewel. You control your destiny. You have got to find yourself. Let go of the self-pity and bring that confident, outgoing Jewel I know!”
“I guess you’re right. I have sort of lost myself. I’ve gotta find me and find my happiness in the process. Touch has put me through so much. The fights, the cheating, the mental and physical abuse, and prison have all taken a toll on me. If I told you everything that has happened, you would lose your appetite.” I began to tear up. “You know what? The pity stops here. I’m not looking back. I want to look forward from this point on. You’re going to be my inspiration.” I was fighting to hold back my tears.
“I believe you will change your life.” Shakira then hugged me again.
“Yes, I will,” I replied, hugging her tight.
“Wow!” Shakira said as she looked toward the bar. “I had no idea dinner was gonna be so emotional!” She gave a grin but seemed a little distracted.
“Shakira, you have been looking at the bar many times. What’s up? Is a cutie over there or something?” I asked, no longer able to ignore her constant glares over at the bar.
“Turn around,” she said.
I quickly turned around and scanned the entire bar, but the only thing I noticed was the bartender making a flaming drink.
“There, walking out the door.”
“Who?” I inquired.
“A woman dressed in jeans and a black sweater. She had a haircut similar to Halle Berry. She was dark-skinned and kept staring in your face the entire time she was on her cell phone,” Shakira explained.
“Hhhmm. I don’t know anyone that fits that description. Plus, I don’t know anyone in this area. Are you sure she wasn’t looking at you?”
“No. She was definitely looking at you. Maybe it was a mistaken identity and once she realized you weren’t the person, she left.”
We both blew it off and left the conversation at that as we enjoyed the rest of our dinner.
As we walked out of the restaurant, I patted my stomach. “Girl, I’m stuffed. That was some good eating.” Normally in Virginia my stomach would be doing backflips after a meal like that. Not now though. I was feeling good.
“Yes, I’m stuffed too. The food was so tasty. We have to come here more often.” Shakira nodded.
“Where to now?” I asked, yawning.
“Are you tired? I see you yawning.”
“No, the night is just getting started for me. Give me thirty minutes, and I will perk back up. The food has got me sleepy. I have a small case of the itis.” I giggled.
“Well, I want to take you to a place called Pink Dices, a new club in the area. I’ve heard nothing but good reviews. Plus, if you get in before eleven, ladies get a free drink.”
“I’m in! I need a drink, and I love free!” I laughed, giving Shakira a high-five.
“Jewel,” a voice called out behind me.
Shakira and I both turned around wondering who the hell would know me in DC. But when we looked around, there was no one else in the parking lot. I began to develop goose bumps. Both of us wanted nothing else but to get the hell up out of there. Chills went down my spine as I wondered, Did Touch send someone to spy on me? Has he found me?
Shakira and I darted out of the parking lot. I was so shaken up, I didn’t feel like going out after all. My stomach got that queasy feeling I would get back home. My night was ruined by Touch once again. Would I ever be able to live a stress-free life?
Chapter 15
“Unveiling the Truth”
Unknown Person
I hope Jewel didn’t see me last night, I thought as I got out of my car. I knew it was likely that she may have seen me because I couldn’t stop staring at her. I just couldn’t help myself. She was just so beautiful, much prettier than I’d remembered. I wish I could have approached her that night, but the time wasn’t right. I needed some time to gather my thoughts and figure out what I wanted to say to her. I was sure that other chick she was with caught a glimpse of me, and she was making my spot hot. That’s why I had to dip out so quickly.