“You should be good here. There’s a bathroom over here,” she said, walking to the other end of the room.
Coco’s eyes followed her in wide-eyed amazement. She watched Deedee and knew they had formed a special bond since the first night they had met. They were survivors of bizarre episodes in seemingly parallel lives traveling so fast both Coco and Deedee thought they would have crashed. Though they were better friends now, as Coco looked around the room, she realized the difference still existed. Deedee was rich and could afford to extend her kindness in an extravagant manner. Coco was poor and had to struggle to make it. But because of their experiences the girls had forged a bond of friendship that was far more than either expected.
“Wow this shit is tight. Yeah I think I can crash here for a night or so, yo.”
“You can stay as long as you want Coco.”
“Don’t tempt me, yo,” Coco laughed.
“Oh, c’mon Coco, you know you can. We’re besties like that.”
Coco smiled and hugged Deedee. The girls broke away staring at each other, caught in the moment.
“We’re always going through shit, yo. I mean look at tonight, Madukes wound up in the hospital again. And to top it off, we were chilling and those niggas tried to jack us—”
“Again,” both Coco and Deedee chorused.
“But because of you and your little Annie,” Coco said, pointing at Deedee’s Hermes Birkin bag.
“I don’t want to be a victim anymore, Coco. The old me wasn’t working, so I had to do what I had to do to survive. I’m packing and if someone run up on me, this will back ’em up,” Deedee said, reaching inside her pocketbook and pulling out the small handgun.
“Annie, go get your gun,” Coco laughed. “Dee, put that shit away, you’s a mess, yo.”
“I’m being real. A lot of guys want to pimp smack you. I’m not taking that.”
“You changed a lot from when we first met, yo.”
“I know. I had to, Coco,” Deedee said. “Remember when you told me about you being a victim?” she asked.
“Yeah, I remember telling you, cuz you could identify with that feeling, yo.”
“Yes, that’s right. That morning outside school, you told me that after you were assaulted, you felt like killing every muthafucka who looked at you,” Deedee said.
“Yeah… And sometimes I still do. Once you been raped, you carry that scar around with you forever, yo.”
“Well that’s how I felt too,” Deedee said with a wry smile.
Uncharacteristically, Coco walked about six miles to the school. Even so, she was early. Sitting on the bench just outside the school, she searched for cigarettes and found none. She stood and started the walk to the shop at the end of the block. Coco paused when a black Range Rover circled and stopped in front of her. Deedee hopped out. Both Eric Ascot and Sophia waved at Coco as Deedee approached.
“Whaz-zup?” Deedee shouted.
Her yelling shattered the morning air. Birds took refuge in nearby trees. Eric honked, and Deedee waved goodbye.
“What’s poppin’? I’m goin’ to da corner store, yo,” Coco greeted, wondering if Deedee was feeling better.
“I’ll walk with you, if you don’t mind,” Deedee chirped.
“That’s cool, yo,” Coco said, easing into a leisurely stroll.
“This seems like such a nice morning. I mean, the sunlight, the water on the grass. Damn, how could it be such a nice day?” Deedee pondered, lighting a cigarette. She puffed and passed it to Coco.
“Know what’cha mean, yo,” Coco said.
They walked on to the store at the corner of the block. Coco bought cigarettes and a Coke. Deedee, got apple juice and chewing gum. The girls stood outside the store, sipping and smoking. They left as other students descended on the shop. Coco and Deedee walked back toward the school and sat down on a bench.
“It’s still early,” Deedee said.
“Yeah…” Coco said and her voice trailed off in sadness.
Was Coco’s behavior just early-morning blues? Deedee wondered. Maybe she was tired. She knew Coco and the girls had been rehearsing for the talent-show finals.
“So, how’s rehearsal?” Deedee asked.
Coco nodded and reached for her cigarettes. She lit one and stared upward, blowing the smoke out slowly. Deedee watched her, and Coco started to speak.
“Life’s some fucked-up shit, yo,” she said.
It occurred to Deedee that her own situation fitted the phrase better than Coco’s.
“Yeah, I know just what you mean, Coco.”
“But it could always be worse. No matter what, there’s always gonna be worse,” Coco continued, looking away. “I mean, yo…d’ya wanna take a walk?” Coco asked. She paused thoughtfully. “We best chill,” she said. “Cuz I’ll wind up not fucking bothering with this shit. I need da education, yo.”
They remained seated on the bench. She lit another cigarette and Deedee joined her.
“You’re alright, yo?” Coco asked.
Deedee thought about that. “Yeah,” she finally said, not fully understanding. It didn’t seem to matter.
Coco slumped back and said, “You’re looking better, anyway. But I’m saying the feeling stays with you, yo,” Coco continued.
Deedee stared at her, still unsure of exactly what was going on. Then Coco came up with the clarification.
“That feeling like a vick… That shit never leaves, yo. It becomes your fucking shadow, pops up in different situations. You be seeing faces, like it wuz that muthafucka, or this one.”
Deedee listened, dangling her cigarette. She watched Coco’s expression change from sad to anger.
“I know wha’ da shit feels like, yo,” Coco said. “See, I wuz fucking raped. Muthafucka got drunk wid my mom and when he wuz finished wid her, he came for me. My mutha, yo, she tried to fight him, and I did too. That muthafucka was big, yo. He kicked Madukes drunken ass and then took mine. Now every day I just be staring at muthafuckas, having flashbacks. I’m telling you, if I had a gun, that muthafucka would be straight spitting up lead. I’m telling you, shits fucked up when I be staring in muthafuckas’ eyes, looking for him, yo. If I ever see his ass, I swear to God, he’s dead, yo.”
Students began entering the school. First they had to pass through the metal detectors. Some waved to Coco. She managed to ignore them and stared off, over the trees.
“I’ll kill a muthafucka like what!”
Coco summed up a feeling that had haunted her for a long time. Deedee was surprised. She had no idea the morning would bring this revelation. She had planned on going to school, enduring as much of the stares as possible, and leaving early if they got her down. Now, she too would stare back at ‘muthafuckas,’ possibly locating the one who had caused her pain. It was a scary thought. Coco’s grim expression made her realize that things really could be worse.
“Do they know about this, too?” Deedee asked when she saw Danielle and Josephine heading toward the bench.
“Nah,” Coco sighed. “They wouldn’t understand da half. You had to be there like a vick to fully get it, yo,” she said, getting up to greet Danielle and Josephine.
They were standing close to each other, and Coco could see the look of determination on Deedee’s face. She was still a very pretty girl. Being a survivor of abduction and rape changed Deedee’s outlook on life. She had grown so much from her harshest experience. Looking at her, Coco wondered if anyone could be prepared enough for everything in life.
“You got heart, yo.”
“I’m next door to the right. If anything happens just knock real loud. I’m a sound sleeper,” Deedee said.
“A’ight Dee,” Coco said. “Hopefully I could sleep this night off, yo.”
“As soon as my head hit the pillow, I’ll be out.”
Deedee took her shoes off while speaking, and walked out the room. Coco put the headphones over her ears and reclined on the bed. She listened to beats that Eric Ascot had created for her. Nodding her head to
the rhythm, Coco went into her flow.
“Yeah I like that, yeah I like this for club…Hmm, fire,” she said aloud.
God bless the dearly departed,
here yesterday today and forever
your love lives in my heart
music makes you alive brings you closer
every day and I’m still a part of you
Spiritual healing lonely nights are through
Difference in a day spent making classics
Jo, Dani, Bebop I’m living for you
Listening to Miss Katie’s voice
Missing you making me nicer
fills my soul lyrics coming tighter
I’m invincible truth be told
tougher than dice never shiesty
always calm and bold
Like your misses I don’t creep
Oh my God look at the time…
Gotta catch some Z’s, sleep…
The next morning, Coco heard the knock at the door. She was still in bed when Deedee walked in and energetically jumped on the bed.
“Hey sleepy head, you up?” she asked.
“I’m up now, if I wasn’t, yo.”
“You actually sleep with your headphones on, Coco?”
“It’s the only way I sleep, yo.”
“What? You were listening to music while you were sleeping?”
“What’s wrong with that, yo?”
“Wow, I guess that’s how you stay connected, huh?”
“Stay connected? Seriously yo… You woke up in a Dr. Doolittle mood yo?”
“Hmm, I think I’d like to plug into a vault of expensive jewelry and mentally slip them out. One piece at a time.”
“A’ight Dee,” Coco said. “I see you’re sleepwalking.”
“You’re saying I’m daydreaming?’
“I’m saying you’re delirious, yo.”
Deedee watched Coco jump out of the bed and disappear into the bathroom. She emerged a few minutes later and smiled at Deedee.
“You did a number two, and stunk up the place, Coco?” Deedee asked with mock sarcasm.
“Why are you clocking me, yo?”
“I’m not clocking you, Coco. I was just saying—”
“I thought you were a heavy sleeper, and was soo tired, you’d be knocked out all day!” Coco asked.
“I was knocked out asleep, but Rightchus kept calling my damn cell, and woke me up. So I figured if I’m up you might as well be too.” Deedee said.
“What he saying? Why didn’t you say so, yo?”
“He spazzed on me, telling me I shouldn’t be sending him money in his government name. Then he told me to lose all his info. He was gonna call me from another telephone and I should lose that number too.”
“Why is he soo paranoid, yo?”
“I don’t know. I just did what the hell he wanted me to do.”
“He always trying a run game on everyone, yo. That’s what’s up with his paranoia.”
Deedee laughed and eventually Coco joined in. Both had dealt with Rightchus’ con game, and were aware of his mastery of the art of deception. His strategy relied on how much of what you heard, you believed. The girls burst out with laughter like schoolgirls with no worry.
“I guess you really do gotta laugh at yourself sometimes, yo,” Coco sighed.
“Yes I agree, wholeheartedly,” Deedee chuckled.
“So seriously, that’s it? He didn’t say anything about your uncle, yo?”
“He said he’d be calling me back and so far he hasn’t.”
Deedee pulled out her cell phone and checked it. She shook her head at Coco and seemed startled when the cell phone went off. Deedee stared in awe at the instrument loudly ringing in her hand. Regaining her composure, she answered the call and put the speaker on.
“Hello…?”
“This is Rightchus. You burned up everything with my name on it? Please do so. These peoples have eyes all over…and I don’t wanna be involved. So lose my info and do not pass it on to anybody. Cuz y’all don’t know them peoples.”
“What people you talking ‘bout, yo?”
“Oh no… Is that Coco again? I told you the less people know about this, is the—”
“Is the more money you’re able to scam from my girl,” Coco joined in. “We on to you, yo…”
“Coco, you don’t have any idea. Don’t even begin to think that way. Let’s make one thing clear. Deedee called me. I never reach out to y’all. Matter of fact, I’m trying to get away from all that shit. What I’m about to say, y’all can take whichever way y’all want. But I know your uncle gotta buy out this case. And it’s gonna cost him a lot. Or they gonna take his freedom.”
“Really, are you trying to play me?”
“Why would I? You contacted me and asked me a question. And I gave you the answer. Maybe it’s too much for you to handle but it is what it is… This case is gonna cost your uncle a lot of money. But I’m sure he got it. Poor people like myself would be getting the electric chair.”
“How much is a lot of money, yo?” Coco asked.
“Oh, we talking anywhere in the two to three million range… Them peoples want that money—”
“What’s your cut, yo?”
“Coco, just listen up and learn sump’n. I’m not getting none o’ that. The lawyer probably keeping some for his self, like point five, but the rest goes to the other peoples involved. Not me.”
“How do you know this for sure?” Deedee asked, sounding unsure.
“My name is Rightchus and I make it my business to know what’s going on at all times on all fronts. They’s been trying to setup your uncle for the longest behind those murders. Now that he’s got that money, he’s gonna have to pass it on. If he do what they tell him to do, he’ll get that money back and more…”
“Who are ‘they’ that you’re referring to?” Deedee asked.
“They is them. The peoples… I can’t tell you too much more. They got eyes everywhere too just watching and waiting. All them killing that you supposedly know about… Those killings were nothing more than sacrifices that had to be made.”
“Are you down south burning rocks in the church, Rightchus?” Coco asked. “You sound like you smoking, yo.”
“Say what you want, Coco. I been told you that things ain’t always what they seem to be. It’s whatever they want your eyes to see…”
“Why you going there like that? I’m just saying if you need to scam my girl come up with a better story than this science fiction, yo.”
“I told you, I’m not trying to scam no one. It was your girl who contacted Rightchus. I did not reach out and touch anyone. Your girl called me.”
“But all this B.S. conspiracy theory sounds like you made it up on the fly. You doing like you always do, yo—you scamming—”
“I’m a tell y’all, believe half of what you hear and nothing that you see. After we hang up, please lose my info. Please…” Rightchus said, interrupting.
“Oh, so that’s how you gonna do us? You gonna take the money and run after trying to feed us this bullshit, yo?” Coco asked sounding angry.
“Okay, Rightchus, thanks and I don’t think I need to talk to you anymore,” Deedee said hanging up the call. “Hmm, alrighty then,” she sighed.
“I hate for a muthafucka like that to be playing us like tricks, yo,” Coco said in an agitated tone.
“Okay, anyone for breakfast?” Deedee smiled.
“I know you got dough to blow, but aren’t you a little bit upset about being taken by this asshole, yo?”
“It cost me three hundred dollars to hear that the police led by these so-called ‘peoples’ are in conspiracy to get my uncle to pay two million for it all to go away. I just think it’s a really expensive joke,” Deedee laughed.
“It’s great that you can take it easy like that, yo. I’d be on my way to South Carolina, or where ever his ass is, to get my money back.”
“Let’s forget about the little twerp for now and freshen up then have some
breakfast,” Deedee suggested.
“I don’t have any clothes. You didn’t wanna go—”
“I gotcha my girl, you can select something you like from Deedee’s closet. There’s unworn stuff with tags still attached and there’re—”
“Yeah, that’s cool. But you only have them tight jeans and—”
“I got some dresses that you’ll like. You know you may look good in that Versace or a Gucci… Hmm, I don’t know. C’mon Coco let’s go find you a dress.”
“I don’t want anything having me looking like a nerd or—”
“Coco, I told you I got you. You can be thugged-out wearing a nice dress you know…? It’s just the mystique.”
“Mystique my ass, niggas gonna think I’m a nerd and be hitting on me. I don’t wanna slap a—”
“Today just chill out and don’t slap anyone,” Deedee said, cutting Coco off.
They walked down the hallway to one of Deedee’s closets. She opened the door and Coco’s eyes widened. It was a small room neatly packed and filled with clothes.
“A room for a closet, filled with nothing but expensive clothes and shoes… You been boosting or sump’n, yo?”
“Boosting…? No silly, shopping,” Deedee laughed. “It’s just that whenever I get bored or whatever, I go shopping for shoes or clothes,” Deedee answered in a matter-of-fact tone.
“Lately, you must have been really bored, yo. It’s like a store in here.”
“Oh, I have about three or four more closets filled with nothing but clothes.”
“What happened in your life that could’ve made you bored?”
“You went into the hospital. You were shot and I was scared. I did a lot of shopping with you in mind.”
“Lemme find out…?”
“I just thought like if you’d like this dress or this pants or shoes and so on. I did it when my mother…ah…when she left…”
Coco heard Deedee’s voice trailing. She smiled and hugged her friend. Deedee seemed lost in a thought for a beat.
“Easy with all this sadness, you might want to go on another round of shopping spree, yo,” Coco joked.
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