by Tony White
Once them a finish there dinner Ruji-Babes aks Zafar if him want fe take a bath. She dont have fe aks him twice is it and him still feel mellow from them couple a spliff him smoke with Shabbaz and Ranky. You no need me fe tell you how much him would a enjoy that bath is it. Just fe slide that little bolt on that bathroom door there and sink down in some like bubble bath or whatever. Shit you know how good that would a feel init. So think how good that sound and times that by like ten or whatever and thats how much Zafar enjoy himself just lay there and soak away him vex and strain. He just be lay there and hear the sound a them two girl voice in the next room init but not listen a what them say cause him just day dream. While him lay there like that with him eye close Zafar almost feel he gonna see him grandad when he get out the bath but then him open him eye and see how the bathroom a change since him last have a bath there and him see all them shampoo and stuff what woman have in there bathroom and see how clean it all is now and him feel like well nuff thing change init only still when him reach out fe some shampoo him reach automatic fe where him grandad use to keep it. And that keep happen over the next few days init cause him hold how that flat use to look in him head and also cause a habit init. Stuff him never even think about when him up Feltham. And this is like whether him want fe get a cup and have like a coffee or whatever first Zafar would reach beneath the sink where him grandad use fe keep them cup and that and then him remember where them two girl keep them now and stop himself only then the same thing a go happen when him reach up on the windowsill for the coffee jar init and it aint there no more cause them two is keep it by the kettle. But apart from them type a thing him no really miss him grandad is it just sometime him reflect upon them thing. And believe me when him get out a that bath is only cause the water a get cold. Then by that time them two girl is gone to bed init and just that bed make up for him on the sofa.
Before him rest Zafar roll up a little spliff though init and lean out the window fe smoke. And this what Zafar always done when him live here before init. Him smoke him spliff out the window when him grandad a gone upstairs. Only now him grandad gone init and him back. And trust me man Zafar just enjoy smoke that spliff init even though it start fe rain but aside from feel them raindrop on him arm him no care is it cause him just soak up them sight init. After that believe me him no have no trouble a sleep.
Next morning him wake up when them two girl is chat in the kitchen, then once him dress he open the curtain and that then go next door fe fix up some breakfast.
Foxy-T already gone downstairs by this time init fe switch on them computer and shit like she done every day. But Ruji-Babes just a clear up them breakfast thing and say like ‘Morning’ and aks him if he want toast or cornflakes then when him say she go, ‘Listen Zafar man I aint get at you is it but you should a clean out that bath when you through. Guess you is out of the habit init.’
Zafar all embarrass now cause him figure that he probaly left it in a state. Him start fe stand up and go, ‘Shit sorry man …’ but Ruji-Babes say, ‘No stress yourself man. Eat your breakfast init. I done it already.’
‘Thanks man,’ say Zafar but Ruji-Babes go, ‘Is cool Zafar I’m just tell you for next time init.’ Then she go downstairs and leave him to him breakfast and once him eat Zafar wash up him bowl under the tap and thing cause him a feel guilty through not wash out him bath before.
By the time him get downstair them two girl is open the shop and couple a customer a sit there and doing there email or whatever. Zafar figure him a go take the day easy init cause now he doing security him plan fe pull up a chair and pure relax but that aint the way him plan work out cause Ruji-Babes have a couple a job line up for that boy init. First of all she aks him fe empty the bin them and put the bags out by the lamp post and thats all the bin init upstairs one and all. Then once him done that Ruji-Babes aks him fe wash the window. And believe me that Zafar never wash no window before in him life is it and it take him ages man and by the time him finish him sleeve all wet. But Ruji-Babes aint stupid is it and she know how many thing she a go get away with aksing him and she bring him a coffee init once him finish them window. And once him put that bucket away it seem like Ruji-Babes aint got no more job so now him pull up a chair init and sit by the doorstep fe drink him coffee.
Cannon Street Road well busy by this time init and Zafar just pure enjoy sit there and check the runnings. Nuff man was come back from the mosque. Them old man always make Zafar laugh way them all look the same init with them white cap and raincoat and each of them have like walking stick. Some a them old man was chat and walk along in group while other a them was just walk on them own and loss in them thought. Them type a man remind Zafar a him grandad init. And how like in old time Zafar stand fe wait outside the Cannon Street Car with a coffee from the machine and wait for him grandad and he always use fe recognise him init and check him when him turn the corner off Commercial Road and him head always bow init and him just thinking about him faith or whatever. And since time Zafar always figure them old man cool and each to him own only them seem like they is come from a older time init when life a simple and them old time men live simple life of put bread in them family belly and long as them can do that and smoke them cigarette and pray them is well sorted init. And him could never figure how them old man bring them simple old time country way with them cause far as him knowed life in London far from simple init and respect to them man what can live the simple life and make time fe pray in a place like this with all them stress and strain. And maybe him never even think about thing might be the other way around is it and pure because a them faith that them life more simple but still Zafar never feel like them religion for him and him no believe. But nuff respect him think as him watch them all come down the road there even though him no understand.
One or two rude boy was a walk down the road and all init and when them check Zafar a sit there outside the E-Z Call there one of them nod him head and go, ‘Later yeah,’ as him walk past. Zafar no reckonise him is it but figure is weed him after and that Shabbaz is probaly tell nuff man where them can check it so when him think this him nod back init and say, ‘Safe man.’
Aint seem like long him a sit there when Ruji-Babes aks him fe nip over the Nagina Sweet House fe buy a few samosa. She and Foxy-T well hungry since them a get up ages before Zafar. One thing about both a them is them get all feisty if them skip lunch init so them figure another job for that Zafar. Also they aint say nothing is it but them both feel like when that Zafar a sat there aint no young fool a try fe nick whatever and even if they never say this they is both in like a good mood init and them figure get some nice lunch instead of just have sandwich like usual and also them feel like that Zafar earn it for clean them windows what was well filthy init.
It no take him long fe cross the road and fetch them lunch. Them two aks fe cold vegetable samosa but Zafar like them meat one and he like them hot init so him cross back with one bag in him hand and one in him face and him a try fe blow that samosa and take a bite at the same time init. Since him have a few dollar left in him pocket and him figure that business soon be good Zafar was also carry some small box init cause him buy them two girl some piece of kulfi. He never knowed jelabi there favourite is it but Ruji-Babes well chuff even still cause though she no like kulfi that much she one a them type a girl what think is the thought that count init.
Is only when him look up that Zafar see Foxy-T a stand in the middle a the E-Z Call on one foot with her hand clasp on her head init. Him no say nothing but look at Ruji-Babes what just go like ‘shush’ then say like, ‘T a concentrate init.’ Him check a couple a them customer what is look round at Foxy-T instead of there computer them so he knowed that them PC must a crash init cause if you paid like dollar fifty fe spend one hour on them PC you aint go waste it by just sit there and look at the shop keeper seen. Even when that shop keeper is well fit like this girl. But Foxy-T in her own world init and probaly never notice them customer all stare or if she had of notice probaly she dont care is i
t cause that girl was just stand there like that and she well concentrating so Zafar look at Ruji-Babes and then him point back outside and return to him seat and eat them samosa what is cool down now.
That afternoon pass quick init. Nuff runnings fe Zafar a check all them coming and going. Couple a youth check him too init. And Zafar still have a gut feeling for them type a runnings seen and since time a pass him figure that other rude boy what stop earlier on would be plan fe reach in a bit when he still knowed where Zafar a go be. So to them other youth him say fe meet him down the Eastern Fried Chicken in a hour. And sure enough when him say to Ruji-Babes that him a take a break and go nip down the Eastern Fried Chicken down by the One Stop there and start fe cross the road him look down toward Bigland and see that rude boy a walk past the One Stop there. So by the time him reach at Eastern Fried Chicken all him customer a reach and all and him sell like four eighth to them youth and half a ounce to that other rude boy, and them youth all get them can a coke and like one portion a chip between them and man all sit and chat init except that guy what buyed half a ounce. Still Zafar no got all day is it so after five minutes him stand up and go ‘Later seen’ then him stroll back up a E-Z Call and him well please init cause now him only have a ounce left fe sell.
Zafar a pop him head round fe let them two girl know him back then sit back down outside. Easy now him think and fold him arm and stretch out him leg. Man you know it feel good to that Zafar fe know him back init.
It take him a while fe realise that the phone him a hear ring is him own and by the time him take it out him pocket it done stop ring init. Zafar cuss under him breath then check call register and since this Anwar phone it come up and say like Shabs call so him return init.
Shabbaz pick up straight away and go, ‘Seen Zafar listen man you aint do nothing tonight is it.’
Zafar just laugh and say, ‘You know it man. What a go on?’
Shabbaz tell him them a plan fe go down the Glass House init and Zafar aks what that is.
‘Is a club man what you think?,’ say Shabbaz. ‘Ranky a go check you about nine init. Listen man you have any weed left?’
‘Seen,’ say Zafar. ‘About a ounce init.’
‘Safe man,’ say Shabbaz. ‘No sell it now seen. Cause I just check Red-Eye and them and tell them you is go sort them out init.’
When him hang up Zafar just sit back and pure enjoy the music what pump out a Cannon Video init. When him up Feltham them just have fe listen to station like Capital init and Capital Gold and like Five Live when them a run football or whatever cause them white man is control the radio them seen. Them cunt would never listen to that type a music what Zafar and him spar is into is it. Believe me Zafar just smoke a Silk Cut and tap him foot and watch them thing hanging by the £1 shop there. Nuff like blow-up tennis and bucket is hang off there canopy and all get toss around in the breeze.
That £1 shop new init was fashion place before but most a them shop the same as when him stop at him grandad except like Ekota stationer and T&T Mobile and Mohamedia them what is new just them and that £1 shop only all them other shop is the same except for Tiffin Restaurant what have like new window and that. But even though him only reach a couple a day Zafar feel like him never go away init and them few thing what is change is start fe seem like they was always there. A couple of customer nod when them go in the E-Z Call and Zafar nod back init. When they gone in him smile and just relax. Trust me with each minute him back in him yard that boy no help it him just have fe smile init. And also when him not just sit and think about them two girl him keep try fe remember why him knowed the name Glass House. That club sound familiar even though him never been init. Then him look over the road there and check them poster what is stick on the wall two door down from the £1 shop and him see the poster what he been stare at all day without bother fe read it. Top of that poster say Underground Explosion init and under that it read UK Garage R&B Old Skool then it say the Glass House Puddledock Blackfriars but what catch him eye is at the bottom where it say Ladies Free B4 11PM. And Zafar smile again init cause him knowed that when them club say ladies free there be nuff ladies a turn up seen. That took him mind off them two girl inside init cause Zafar was day dream and think about the place a go be ram with them ladies init and believe me Feltham seem like another life as him just sit there and plan what lyrics he a go give them girl.
Time Ranky pull up outside the E-Z Call Zafar knowed that Ruji-Babes and Foxy-T a start fe tidy up inside init and get ready fe lock up. Them last customer finish already init and them a take care a them thing like clean up and log off and put them top up and them phone card in the safe with there cash. Zafar take him chair back inside fe let them two know him a go out now. Ruji-Babes look up at him and smile init but him notice that she tired cause she have ring round her eye and that.
‘No thief today is it,’ him say.
‘Fe true man,’ say Ruji-Babes. ‘That cause we got security init.’
She was laugh init but him pretend fe took her serious and go, ‘Seen seen. Me put them off man!’
‘Is you eat with us now Zafar?’ Ruji-Babes aks him and Zafar go, ‘No man me go out init. Me spar them just reach.’
Ruji-Babes nod and go, ‘Cool. You have you key there now init?’ and him tap him pocket fe check that spare key what Ruji-Babes give him and go, ‘Safe. Later man.’
‘Yeah later init.’
Him no see Foxy-T now is it cause she just tidy up them booth like wipe them window and them phone. Them two girl is do that every night init cause them like fe keep thing look nice and with air fresheners and that cause them figure man aint go want fe use no dirty phone is it. But still that Zafar a stand there for like a couple a second init looking down the back a that shop as if she a go suddenly appear only him no see her is it so him smile at Ruji-Babes and go, ‘Easy now seen.’
As him step outside Ranky lean over fe open him passenger door and them touch fist init.
‘Safe man,’ say Zafar. ‘Where this Glass House then eh? Blackfriar me never hear a that.’
‘Down by the river there,’ say Ranky only as him drive off him no go down Cable Street way is it what lead to the river there him turn down Bigland and that little car park by Surma Town Cash and Carry.
Shabbaz Sierra Cosworth a park up already init and him sound system turn up to the max. Man like Red-Eye and Shah is stand around the car and laugh init so Zafar open him door then stand up fe greet cause him no seen Red-Eye and that for year like since before Feltham is it. Them all shake him hand and go Respect init then Zafar see man like Ifty sit in the back a Shabbaz car there. Ifty pass Zafar a bottle a Bacardi Breezer out the window then after them touch fist him aks, ‘Listen man Shabbaz say is you we a deal with then?’
‘Seen,’ say Zafar as him take a drink then check up the street fe check no police about before reach in him pocket fe some bag a weed. ‘What you need man?’ him aks.
It aint take long till him sell all them last bag is it. Ifty buy a eighth and Red-Eye buy a quarter then Shah check fe another quarter so by the time DK a turn up in him car and take another quarter Zafar just left with a eighth for his self init.
Zafar and him spar making nuff noise init and Red-Eye point up at them flat with him spliff and laugh and when Zafar check what him on about is some man lean on him balcony and smoke a cigarette and check them.
Red-Eye laugh and go, ‘Hey is Elvis man,’ and that Zafar is right pissing himself init cause Red-Eye right that man have like a quiff and sideburn and that.
Red-Eye shout up like, ‘Alright Elvis!’ only man no laugh is it him just look embarass and step back in him flat.
Shabbaz a get out him car and dust down him trouser then him check fe Zafar and nod him head over by them flat there. Zafar follow him over init and them two is have a quick chat in that stairwell.
‘You have me money star?’ Shabbaz aks him so Zafar put him drink down on the step init and spit down on top a the bin them before start fe count him takings init and when hi
m done him end up peel off nuff a them bill init then him remember that eighth him a go keep and put one back with the rest what him roll up and give to him spar. Shabbaz say, ‘No offence man,’ and start fe count it and all seen but once him done that Shabbaz go, ‘Safe,’ then him take out a pen and place him tag upon the wall there above the rubbish chute then pass him pen to Zafar. One thing Zafar have plenty a time fe practice up Feltham was him tag init so him take him time and put it up next to where Shabbaz done his then him write Bigland Massive and the date and give Shabbaz back him pen.
‘Come down me arch about eleven man,’ say Shabbaz as them walk down the stairs. ‘And we fix you up with some more init.’
Ranky already have him car start init and when them reach Red-Eye take him bottle and chuck it over the playground there and it smash upon the climbing frame. Ifty lean and open up the back door a Shabbaz Sierra but before Zafar get in him finish him Breezer and chuck it and all only when him get in Shabbaz already turn up him music init so Zafar never hear that bottle smash.
Since them all mash up is like them all talk at once in that car so aint take long till them reach at the Glass House is it and by the time them inside the place ram up believe me. Couple a well fit girl make straight over where Shabbaz and Ranky is wait at the bar. Them two was dress up init and Zafar find him cant take him eye off them behind and how them G-string show through them white trousers. Them G-string is disappear right up there arse. Easy now Zafar. Shit man them two girl was lean over and say something in him spar ear and touch them arm and laugh init but Zafar just watch them behind like he never seen a girl before. Shabbaz put him hand upon that girl waist though init so Zafar figure aint do him no good fe check him spar girl is it and him better check fe some other girl a him own but him cant resist have one last look at that girl behind init and think how she well fit.