A BROKEN GIRL’S JOURNEY 3 (A BROKEN GIRL'S JOURNEY)
Page 3
“Yes, Ms. Martha I have lost my damn mind!” Lakea yelled into the phone.
She yelled so loudly that Ms. Martha got quiet and was probably staring at the phone.
“Ms. Martha I have been through so much these past few months, things you could never understand. Yes I have missed a lot of work and didn't call, but I'm sure you would have done the same if you were sodomized and severely beaten. An on top of all that you find out you have lupus,” Lakea said out of breath.
Ms. Martha gasped on the other end of the phone.
“I apologize Ms. Martha, I really do, but you will not continue to talk to me like I'm a muthafucking child. If I can show your angry ass respect you can do the same, so if you want to fire me for being attacked and being fed the fuck up go right ahead.” Lakea said as she sat on her bed rolling her eyes with her hand on her hip.
There was a long silence. For a moment Lakea thought Ms. Martha had hung up the phone, until she heard her sniffle.
“Ms. Martha”, Lakea said.
“Yes Lakea I'm here. I just feel so bad. I am so sorry for not being sensitive to the things you are going through. And I am even more sorry for treating you badly. You are an excellent employee, and I really appreciate it. You always go over and beyond, but I can not keep paying you when you are not at work,”
“I understand.” Lakea said in a somber tone looking up at the ceiling.
She knew she was fired.
“But I am going to keep you on for the time being,” Ms. Martha said in a nervous tone. “You will have to take a demotion because now you will have to work from home as a call rep. It only pays $8 an hour and its a max of 25 hours per week. Does that sound okay?”
Lakea shook her head no because she knew that she was barely making ends meet at full pay when she was handling all the bills on her own. She knew that with the pay cut she would never make enough to cover her expenses and she refused to go back to stripping.
“Its fine Ms. Martha, thank you,” Lakea said reluctantly.
“Okay Lakea I will need to see you in the office within the next couple of days to pick up the equipment and do a brief training session. Can you make it?”
“Sure,” Lakea said sarcastically, but Ms. Martha didn't catch it.
Here she was hours after being attacked and this crazy bitch wanted her to come in for training.
“Okay , see you soon and again I am so sorry and I will be praying for you.” Ms. Martha said before Lakea hung up the phone in her face.
Lakea lay back on her bed forgetting about all that had occurred there because now her mind was more occupied with the thought of becoming homeless.
“What else could go wrong?” Lakea yelled out loud.
Soon she would find out. Later that night Ray-Ray called Lakea frantic saying that the police had picked up Quan, but they let him go after hours of questioning. Someone had snitched and told the cops they saw Quan driving the creep's car, so they came straight to Quan when he was reported missing.
“Ima fix it.” Ray-Ray said crying. “Them muthafuckas ain't gone stop until somebody get locked up so it may as well be me. Quan leave for college Friday, not prison,”
Lakea sobbed loudly into the phone, “Nooo, let's just all leave.” Lakea pleaded with her big brother.
“Yes lil sis this is for the best. We can't be on the run with the boys forever,” Ray-Ray said.
“Just know I love y'all more than anything and I will see y'all soon.” Ray-Ray said before he hung up the phone.
The next few days were horrible for Lakea. She started the call rep job, which was a huge hassle full of paperwork and she had to go to the doctor everyday for a week and undergo countless tests, and blood draws.
Lakea was exhausted by the time Dr. Bruce and Dr. Williams came into the room the day she had to have an EKG. They discussed the results with her and Lakea found out that none of her organs had been significantly damaged, but her kidneys were a bit weak. After prescribing her more medications, Dr. Bruce suggested that Lakea reduce her stress, rest, take a vacation. She laughed at that thought, but at the same time she longed for such a luxury. That same week Lakea also found out that her funds would not cover her next month’s bills at all and the medical bills kept rolling in. She refused to use Quan's money because she knew that he would need it. She just had to face the fact that she would have to leave the home Jeremy had made for her and their son. She would have to move back to the hood in order to make ends meet. Lakea sighed at the thought, but she would do whatever it was she had to. The Thursday before Quan was to leave for college Lakea, her cousin Mesha, and her friend Nika went apartment hunting in Frayser close to her aunt Violet's house. Lakea found a reasonable three bedroom apartment in Frayser Manor Apartments and paid all of the money she had to so that she could move in the next month.
Lakea glanced around at what would now be her new home and shook her head. Even though she had lived in some of the roughest places in Memphis, she wanted better for her son and nephews. She wanted them to live the life she was never able to. Dope boys were everywhere in her new apartments just standing around smoking and talking, while children with nappy heads and dirty clothes ran around playing. Lakea was back in the hood alright, just like most of her life. After assessing the size of her new apartment Lakea realized that there was no way all of her furniture from her house would fit. Although she had a huge living room/dinning room combo with three nice sized bedrooms, two full baths, and a roomy kitchen the apartment was still small compared to her house.
“I'm gonna have to sell my living room furniture because its not gone fit in here,” Lakea said standing in her living room.
“I know somebody who will pay at least $800 for that nice ass furniture right now,” Nika said taking her cell phone out of her pocket and making a call.
Lakea walked into the kitchen and looked out of the window overlooking the community pool and playground. The water was filled with leaves and bugs, and the playground was littered with garbage, cigarette butts, condom wrappers, and weed baggies. However, there was at least a dozen children playing on the only two swings that weren't broken. Despite the despair all around them, Lakea saw the kids laugh, smile, and just be happy. Lakea wanted to find that type of happiness regardless of her situation. Even though she would be moving her boys back to the hood, she was not going to let the hood have them. She refused to let that vicious cycle continue.
“What's wrong cuzz?” Mesha said coming up behind Lakea and looking out of the window.
“Nothing cousin, just wondering when all my struggles will end and I can be happy like those kids,” Lakea said in a somber tone.
Mesha sighed and stared at the kids and then at her cousin.
“I wonder that too cousin. They say trouble don't last always so there has to be an end somewhere,” Mesha said hugging her cousin.
“I hope so cousin,” Lakea said hugging her back.
“Now, let's talk about when you moving in,” Lakea said pushing Mesha off of her.
“Hell, I'm moving in wit y'all. I'm beyond ready to get out of my mama house and its some fine ass niggas over here. Ummmm!” Mesha said looking out of the kitchen window at a group of boys walking by while licking her lips.
“Girl you a hoe, but I'm so serious right now,” Lakea said turning to leave the kitchen.
“Hell I am too bitch . Ima find my baby daddy ova hur!” Mesha said in a ratchet voice, while smacking her lips.
They both laughed hysterically as Nika met them at the front door.
“What's so fucking funny?” Nika asked with a lost look on her face as Mesha and Lakea laughed harder.
“Fuck you ugly ass hoes. Y'all ain't gotta tell me, but I got yo shit sold,” Nika said rolling her eyes as they all left the apartment and walked down the steps and exited the building.
“Don't be salty bitch. You might find you a baby daddy too!” Mesha said as all the girls laughed.
Lakea was happy in that moment, but only for that moment.
“What's going on ?” Lakea asked with worry all over her face.
She knew the police had no evidence for murder, no body, no weapon. However, Quan revealed that they wanted to charge him with auto theft for the creep's car.
“Don't worry about that,” Ray-Ray said hugging both Quan and Lakea.
“Didn't big brother say he would handle it. Have I ever let y'all down if I could help it?” He asked.
They both shook their heads no.
“Well I'm not fina start. Now let's go and have fun in honor of the genius here and his future as a damn chemical engineer, forensic pathologist, or whatever scientific shit he decides to do.” Ray-Ray said laughing and grabbing his brother and sister around the neck and kissing them on their heads as tears feel from his eyes. “I love you both and y'all gotta know I will never let y'all down.”
Lakea didn't know why, but she felt a deep lose in her heart after speaking with her brothers. She didn't know what it was then, but something bad was about to happen. Lakea found out exactly what that feeling meant later. After smoking, drinking, dancing, and joking with her brothers, family, and friends, Lakea's worst nightmare came true. Everyone sat in the living room on the couches as the party winded down. They were taking shots and laughing when they heard a loud knock on the door followed by the words, “Sheriff's Department!”
Everyone moved fast hiding the weed and liquor. Ray-Ray got up off the couch and hugged his cousins then grabbed his brother and sister holding them close.
“I'm doing this for us, now don't let me do it in vain. Y'all get out in the world and be successful.” Ray-Ray said as he cried harder than he ever had.
Lakea sobbed and fell to her knees as Ray-Ray found the boys in the back room sleeping and kissed them all. Lakea didn't understand what was going on. She looked at Ray-Ray with disbelief on her face as he walked back into the room and helped her to her feet. What Lakea and Quan didn't know is that Ray-Ray had called the police and confessed to stealing the creep's car to keep the heat off Quan. He had told the police exactly where to find him, after he had one last chance to party with those he loved and ensure his brother was leaving for college. He just couldn't let Quan go to jail, he was still hurt by the fact Lakea had gone. After kissing and holding Lakea and Quan again Ray-Ray suddenly pulled away from them as the police continued to bang on the door. He took one last look at his brother and sister before he opened the door and dropped to his knees with his hands on his head as dozens of police burst into the house.
Chapter 5
After the police burst through the door Ray-Ray was immediately thrown to the floor as one cop held him at gun point with his foot in his neck and a woman cop put him in handcuffs. Lakea stood there in shock as the tears ran down her face. She stared at her brother in disbelief as the police snatched him up of the floor cursing and jerking his arms. After interrogating everyone in the house, the police decided not to charge everyone in the house with the under-aged drinking and the gram of kush they found. They simply disposed of the weed and warned them not to follow in Ray-Ray's foot steps and end up locked up too.
“I love y'all,” were the last words that Ray-Ray said as the police pulled him out of the front door.
Quan was hysterical at this point, crying and cursing at the police officers. Lakea knew that most of his emotions were stemming from his guilt over the situation.
“Quan please calm down. He will be okay officer, he just upset,” Mesha cried as she and Anterrius pulled Quan out of the room.
Lakea stood there still sobbing as the last two officers left the house.
“Can I please talk to my brother?” Lakea asked the woman police who had handcuffed Ray-Ray as tears ran down her face.
“Yes for a minute,” The female officer said as they both left the house.
Lakea's walk to the police car seemed to take an eternity. Her heart was beating so fast that she thought she would pass out. Lakea did not want to think of her brother in real prison. He wasn't going to 201 Popular or some other county jail like the Penial farm, but a real maximum security facility for hardened criminals. Lakea knew Ray-Ray could hold his own, but the thought of him being somewhere worse than Wolverine and having someone over him who could be worse than Klemmings was unthinkable. Lakea shuddered at that thought.
Lakea embraced herself as she approached the back of the police car Ray-Ray sat in and the police woman let the window down so that they could talk. Ray-Ray had his head down and Lakea could tell that he was praying, something he hadn't done in a long time.
“Ray-Ray!” Lakea said crying, but he didn't look up so she repeated his name.
When Ray-Ray raised his head Lakea saw why he wouldn't look at her at first. His left eye was swollen shut and he had cuts all over his face.
“What the fuck happened to you. What did you evil muthafuckas do?” Lakea yelled as she began to cry and scream so loudly that Quan could hear her in the house.
When Quan heard his sister yelling he burst out of the door and ran to the police car to find out what was wrong. When he saw Ray-Ray's face he gasped loudly and held on to his sister.
“You muthafuckas ain't shit,” Quan said looking at the police woman who stood by the hood of the car talking to another officer and laughing.
“Maine fool I'm okay, you know me. But on the real, while I'm gone do what y'all gotta do. They can't hit me with but 4 years max and I will do two maybe. I can do that bruh,” Ray-Ray said to Quan as Lakea continued to cry with her head buried in Quan's chest.
“Just check on Kea lil bruh and make sure her, mama, and the boys straight,”
Quan shook his head yes as tears streamed down his face.
“I got you big bruh,” Quan said in tears.
“Maine I love y'all fool. Kea look at me!” Ray-Ray yelled.
Lakea took her head out of Quan's chest and looked at Ray-Ray with tears in her eyes.
“I love you and you can do this without us for a while. I know you can. Take care of yourself and the boys and tell them how much I love them,”
“We love you too big bruh,” Quan said stepping forward and grabbing his brother's head kissing him.
“No touching. That's it!” The mean police woman yelled as Lakea grabbed her brother and planted kisses all over his battered face for the last time in a long time.
That moment seemed so unreal to Lakea. She was dazed and confused. Lakea waved at her brother as the police car pulled away from the curb. This would forever be one of the worst days of her life. The day she would lose almost everyone who still loved her unconditionally, because in seven hours Quan would be leaving for Morehouse College. Lakea's brothers, best friends, and protectors would be gone, leaving her alone. One was off to college and the other prison. Lakea wept with her head on Quan's shoulder as he led her back into the house. Over the next few hours Lakea wrestled with several emotions. Her heart was so hurt just thinking about not having her brothers with her to talk to,have fun, with and just be around. Lakea felt like her life was truly crumbling and she didn't know what to do.
By the time Quan was ready to leave, Lakea had pulled herself together enough to see him off without having a full emotional meltdown. She was so proud of her brother despite all of the things that had gone on and she knew that she had to be strong so that he would fulfill his destiny. What had happened to the creep had to happen or she may have been dead. It wasn't Quan's fault and she had to make him understand that.
“Let it go, its over. It had to happen brother. Please don't let it keep you from your des
tiny,” Lakea whispered into Quan's ear as they embraced.
Tears were running down his face. Lakea wiped away his tears with the back of her hand then stood back so that she could stare at his handsome face. Her little brother was grown up.
“Now go your ass to Morehouse Mr. Genius and make us all proud,” Lakea said hugging her brother again.
“Yes let your light shine son,” Felicia said stepping forward and hugging Quan.
“I love you mama and I forgive you!” Quan said as he hugged his mama and Lakea hugged them both.
Then everyone else rushed forward hugging them; Anterrius, Mesha, Aunt Violet, Anthony, MJ, and the boys.
Lakea watched Quan until he disappeared on to the bus. She felt empty, but happy as they left the Greyhound station because even though Quan was leaving her too it was for the best. Over the next couple of weeks Lakea found out that Ray-Ray was correct when he told them the time he would get. He received a four year sentence, of which he would have to serve two years at the Hardeman County Correctional Facility. Lakea, Mesha, Felicia, and the kids went to see Ray-Ray twice in 201 Popular before he was moved to Hardeman County. Each time he was in good spirits and reassured everyone that he would use his time to better himself.