Sleep No More (Sleeping In Heaven, Waking In Hell Book 2)

by Forever Redd

  I hung up the phone and was sweating and panting like I had just left the gym. That bitch had me on fire. That was yet another moment I had been caught in the middle of his shit. I kissed a peeping Serenity square on the mouth and returned to the living room with Karley and Sincere.

  “Girl, if you don’t get yo ass up and go lay him down, put him on the sofa or something. Bringing yo ass over here tryna spoil somebody, no ma’am…up, now,” I scolded. She giggled and went to lay him down.

  “Sorry man, damn. Aunties spoil the chil’ren.”

  “Not mine you won’t.”

  “Yea, yea, yea. Anyhoo, I been here all day. I’m goin’ home. I’s tired.”

  “Ok girl, I love you and don’t be a stranger,” I said, walking Karley to the door. We hugged and said our good-byes and she went on her way. I took the time to feed, bathe, and place Serenity in the crib next to her brother.

  Karley had been gone for a while, and for the first time in a long time, I was alone. It had been damn near ten months that I shared my body with two other people. Now that they were out, my body was empty. Jody was back on the road, and that left my heart lonely. Karley was gone and the house was free. She had her shit going on and I didn’t want to pressure her to stay, but I wasn’t in a good place right then. I really felt I needed somebody and Mary Jane fit the bill. I was sure there would have been no protests from her. Luckily, Jody smoked so I had everything I needed on deck. I was going to court Mary Jane right out on the back porch, calm my nerves, then overanalyze some shit.

  True to form, Mary took me in with open arms. The thick smoke hurled above my head like a crown, giving me a royal appearance, while the full moon illuminated the night. The unhurried, seductive wind Mary used to enter my body was so fucking sexy. Nice and slow. I choked on the remnants of her aura and my back was tapped with the sturdy stronghold that Mary had on me. My eyes glazed over and began to close. My head drifted to the back of the wicker chair, as I relished in the orgasmic bliss that had begun to conquer my mind. I needed her in my life. I needed a place to rest my shit and this was the only mental escape I had. I inhaled my Heaven and blew out my Hell. I watched it as it left my chest and dissipated into the night. If only it were all so simple.

  I sat in the straw bottom chair, baby monitor placed on the glass table, and there I smoked. I smoked until I cried, then until I laughed. I smoked until it felt better. I cried about my life and laughed at my stupidity. The harder I tried, the worse shit got. I know now that I should have been said fuck Jody, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t a quitter. I wasn’t a loser…or was I? I sat right there and allowed my dear friend Mary to convince me that there were no errors of my ways. My green friend fed me bullshit beautifully placed on a sterling silver tray, garnished in the shame of being a dumb bitch. All to be washed down with the tangy taste of no self-worth. It was so funny. Grandma and her sayings replayed in my ear, “Sometimes things gotta get worse before they get better.” I figured my present life was the worse and things would definitely get better. Mary didn’t even dispute my conclusion. Instead, she gave me hope, and allowed me to believe my Heaven was yet to come.

  ************

  Jody

  I cruised through Columbia with my windows down and music blasting. I ain’t have a care in the world and no known destination. As my mind drifted, it seemed as though the car just drove itself. I ended up in Branchville. I knew I wasn’t gon’ pay my pops a visit, because he had a way of killing my vibe. Another option was Teez. He stayed ‘round the trap and the trap stayed jumpin’. I fumbled around in the passenger seat until I located my phone. “Call Teez,” I stated into the speaker.

  “Big Jody! What da deal Unc?” Teez answered.

  “You got it, Baby. What’s shakin’ ‘round the spot?”

  “Shiiiit, you know how we do it. The math right, the bottles popped, and the Xan’s on deck.”

  Teez was talkin’ my language. “Word, well I’ma pull up on y’all boys.”

  “Dats what’s up. You got a ETA?” Teez asked.

  “Fo sho, I’ma be there in three point five.”

  “Damn nigga, three point five minutes, yo ass is a GPS,” he chuckled.

  “Nah Nigga, three point five seconds, open the door.”

  Teez opened the door with the heat in his hands, and I shook my head at the young boy’s desire to bust on something. He put the gun in the waist of his pants and gave me a brotherly hug. I went inside, dapped up the fellas, and took a seat on a folding chair in the corner. Some of the fellas were playing video games and the others were standing around shootin’ the shit about this or that. The smoke in the small trailer was so thick that I could barely see my hand in front of my face.

  “Damn man, open a window or sumn up in here. How y’all niggas even see?”

  “Aye Cu’, we keep it like dat cuz ain’t shit to see,” said the youngin’ sittin’ by the door. “Smoke sumn, Big Jody.”

  “Shiiiit…” Ask about the bitches nigga, you know we love the bitches. “Damn, nigga we just bust a nut.”

  “What you talkin’ bout, Jody?” The young boy asked.

  “I, ahem. Nigga I was sayin’ I just bust a nut, ain’t nobody een got the energy to pick up a cigar, let alone, roll up. You got it, Nephew. I got two on it.”

  “Dat’s wassup, Unc. You drankin’, or you ain’t got da strength to pick up a cup?”

  “You got jokes.” What the fuck is this shit? Lil man wanna be a comedian? “Ahem, I got the strength to go piss, funny man. Roll the weed, fo’ I piss in ya mouth.” Bet you won’t! Do it!

  I walked off, ignoring all words coming from all directions. I didn’t need this shit. I wanted to sit back and kick it with the fellas, not go through the bullshit with that damn voice. Self. Inside the small bathroom, I ran some cold water in the sink and splashed it on my face. I looked into the mirror at my reflection and wondered what was really good with me. I was hearing that damn voice more and more, and when I thought about it, I did remember the puppies. I remembered I had an imaginary friend named M. He would only come around when I got in trouble and got put on restriction. When I started getting into trouble all the time, M was always there. He was my boy. M and M, that was us.

  You done wit this boring ass trip? Spare me the greetings and how you missed me’s, blah, blah, blah.

  “Man ain’t nobody missed you. My life was fine when you were away.”

  That’s just the thing, I never left. Jody, I know you really don’t think you actually have clout. You really don’t think YOU ‘bout that life? It’s meeeee.

  “Look, I’m not ‘bout…”

  “Aye Big Jody, I knoooow you ain’t come all da way to da spot to shit.”

  “Hell naw man, I was on the phone.”

  “Well, get yo cakin’ ass out the shitter man, some of us gotta shit.”

  I gave myself one last look in the mirror and came out of the bathroom. The youngin’ passed me the rolled blunt and went inside to handle his business.

  I took a seat next to Teez on the sofa and blazed. The music was blasting, blunts were being passed around from all different directions, and they popped bottle after fuckin’ bottle. I don’t even know right off hand what took me over the edge. The room was slowly spinning, my tongue was heavy and my mouth felt pasty. Sweat had begun to form across my brow and it was becoming hard to breathe.

  “Aye Teez.”

  Silence.

  “Yo Teez?”

  Silence.

  What the fuck was going on? Everybody was laughing and talking, they were acting like I wasn’t even there. I tried to raise up off of the couch, but I felt restrained. I couldn’t move anything. I thought one time I was droolin’ and couldn’t even lift my hand to wipe my mouth. Was I sleep? Was I dreaming? Whatever the state, I was drifting in and out of consciousness and no one even seemed to notice.

  “Help me,” I tried to say as the room faded to black.

  When I woke up the next afternoon, Teez was walking ‘round picking
up empty beer bottles and cigar wrappers.

  “Bout damn time, Nigga. I thought one time you won’t gon’ een make it.”

  “What you thought that for?”

  “Shiiiit, yo ass been knocked out two damn days.”

  “Whaaaaat? Two days? You for real?”

  “Look at yo phone. I put it on the charge and shit. That mufucka been blowin’ up too. But yo, yea man, two days, but it be like dat when you crashin’ off dat shit.”

  “Fuck you mean dat shit? What shit?”

  “They call it White Lights. Dem boys take dat wax shit, crush a molly up in there, and smoke that out a bowl. The wax melts, the weed burn, and the molly hold it together. You been fucked up my dude. The only reason I ain’t call the abalamps is cuz u was still breathin’ nigga.”

  “Well what the fuck? How you up cleanin’ and shit?”

  “You da only one dat did that shit. We was all like fuuuuck dat. You started screamin’ M and M for life and you was breakin’ shit, so we was like fuck dat shit. Tie that crazy mufucka to dat chair. Damn Bo, you be wildin’.”

  “Fuck! I’on een remember any of that shit. Yo, I gotta get home man. I just, shit, I just don’t know. Aye, I’ma clean up and get right and take it on to the crib.”

  “You got it, Bossman, gone head.”

  9

  Victoria

  Jody made it home just in time for my six week checkup. Everything was back to normal. He had apologized over and over again, and of course, I accepted. It did take some time getting warmed up though, or maybe it didn’t. I could have been playing the “beg me” role, but deep down inside, I knew I wasn’t going anywhere and it was so sad. Jody knew it too. He was so in tuned with my body that he knew how to warm my insides. He knew how to melt my heart and I loved him so much that I didn’t know how I would ever live without him.

  I put my thoughts on hold and continued getting dressed for the Annual Grits Festival that was being held in St. George, South Carolina. It was a big carnival with all sorts of rides for the kids, food, music, and of course grits. South Carolina held all these different carnivals in different towns, honoring the most bizarre shit. We had an Okra Strut, a Chitterling Strut, and even a Railroad Days. It was the same setup in every city, and people traveled from the surrounding areas to attend. It was all goodness when the sun was up, but when the daylight turned to darkness, it was time to go all out. Car and bike shows, itty bitty bikini contests, and every country chick out to snag a new sponsor for some country’s virgin hair.

  I was so excited. This was my first real outing since I had the babies. The weather was beautiful, sun shining and birds chirping. It was a warm and even seventy degrees and it was already two o’clock, so it wasn’t going to get much warmer. Jody walked in the bedroom after making sure everything was okay with the babies. He was dressed in some khaki shorts, wife beater, and a red and white button down, which he wore unbuttoned. No show socks covered his feet, and some red and white J’s covered the socks. Jody had his platinum Jesus pieces in his ears and the grill was glistening.

  “You bout ready, Ma?” Jody asked before putting his watch on his wrist.

  “Just about. I need to change my purse and can you zip me up please?” I turned around so Jody could have view of the zipper running the length of my torso.

  “Yea, you know I’ll zip it up,” he said while rubbing his hands together.

  “Oh no, we not going there, Jody. We have stuff to do,” I whined, even though I wanted him to touch me. I wanted to feel his hands travel every curve of my body. No stops, no yields, disobey all traffic regulations, and recklessly reach his destination. Ms. Kitty. Unfortunately, time didn’t permit for such an unplanned journey and Jody didn’t even try to take it there. He delicately placed one hand on the small of my back and several kisses between my shoulder blades. I closed my eyes and allowed my drug to course through my veins and deliver me to my happy place. That feeling singlehandedly washed away any negative thoughts, feelings, or vibes that may have surfaced during the past few months. Once he kissed all over my back, he proceeded to zip the all red baby doll dress that covered my body. I wore the cutesy little dress and a pair of number fours on my feet. I did a final once over and all was in place, so Jody and I exited the bedroom to get the family trip underway.

  Parking was crazy. People were everywhere, taking in the sights, vendors, and food. We settled on parking about two blocks up from the events and traveled on foot the rest of the way. I had to admit, Jody hit a lick on convincing me to wear sneakers, because I wouldn’t have lasted an hour in the strappy sandals I wanted to wear. Jody maneuvered the Eddie Bauer edition double stroller through the crowd of eaters and onlookers before we decided to stop at a t-shirt vendor. They had all types of shirts and bandanas with catchy phrases on them, like I survived Grits Fest, You ain’t seen nuttin til you seen my grits, and my personal favorite, Glory, Guns, Grits…The Way of the South. I decided to get a shirt. Then I could take it home and freak it to my liking. I had already planned to drop the neckline and remove the sleeves, the rest could be figured out while in front of my sewing machine.

  There were a few tables scattered around a platform of little girls dancing from local dance academies. I took an empty seat at one of the tables to watch the friendly competition between the dancers. I used the downtime to daydream about my little girl in the frilly bottom shorts and big fluffy hair bows. While I was having a mommy moment, I asked Jody to run and grab me some freshly squeezed lemonade and some fries splashed with malt vinegar. Since the babies were sleeping peacefully, I wanted to go ahead and grab a bite to eat.

  Jody made it back after being gone for quite some time. Jody took Sincere from my arms and gave me the head nod to go ahead to eat. I put a few fries in Jody’s mouth just as he sat with the baby.

  “Damn dats good, Ma,” Jody said while chewing the hot fries.

  “Yea, I know. Why you think I asked for them?” I joked and took a sip of my drink. Once my food was gone, we walked the rest of the festival. We laughed as we people watched, and purchased little knick-knacks here and there. Since the sun had begun to set, we agreed to start back to our side of town and get the babies in from the night air. We did make one stop, my mom’s house. Mama had been working nonstop for the past month, and had very little time to drop by. If she wasn’t sleeping, she was working. Mama had told me earlier that she had the next two days off and would love to see us, so we stopped in for a few.

  She greeted us at the door by taking the carrier I held with Serenity in it, and gave me a kiss on the cheek. Jody made his way inside with Sincere, and she placed a soft peck on his cheek as well.

  “Listen,” Mama began. “I know you been cooped up in the house and want to get out. Leave the babies here and you two go and rest, go out, do something…together. I was so not expecting that, so I did as any mom would have done. I started barking orders.

  “Jody, put them seats over there. Mama, we gon’ shoot home and pack them a bag. We will be back in less than an hour. There is milk in the cooler compartment of the baby bag…”

  I stopped when I noticed all eyes on me, and the two of them laughing at my expense. I had been stuck in the house for the last six plus weeks, trying to do right by the old wives tales, and I needed an out. I was tired of the sleepless nights, midnight feedings, and stinky diapers. I loved my babies to death and I wasn’t keen on the idea of letting them go overnight while they were so young, but I needed a full night’s rest. My mama is my mama, so I knew she knew what she was doing and she knew exactly how I felt. She was coming to my rescue, just to give me a second to exhale and maybe bring some of my sanity back.

  With the kids at my mom’s, Jody and I went to our own house to chill. I had just gotten out of the shower when Jody barged into the bathroom to relieve himself. He looked over his shoulder and said, “Let’s go out.” I honestly didn’t feel like going anywhere, but I also could use some adult time.

  “Out where?” I asked only semi excited
. Jody was throwing club names out there like I knew where he was talking about, I didn’t. He was insistent on going to a club off St. Andrews Road, but I definitely didn’t wanna go there. I told him just go hang with the boys and I would be there when he got back. I even offered to go for drinks, come back home, and he could do his thing. I simply wanted a blunt, some dick, and some sleep.

  “Look, I wanna go to the club and I want you to go, soooo, you going and that’s all it is to it. Now, we don’t have to be out late, but you are going.”

  I didn’t know what had gotten into him once again, but he was on that bullshit. I didn’t even put up a fuss, I kinda found his aggressiveness kinda sexy. Not only that, but the most precious gift to be given is one’s time and he wanted to give his to me! The thought of him wanting me out with him made me smile. He could have been stuffing singles in asses and titties, but he wanted me with him. I went.

  Jody had called up his boys and let them know we would link up at Hooters on Harbison Boulevard for drinks, which was the pregame. Since Karley was knocked up and so standoffish, I didn’t even extend the invite. Jody didn’t invite Leon, which I thought was odd, but not my business. I rolled with the guys. I was casually dressed in a pair of black, wide leg jeans, a black and white halter, and some zebra print heels. All courtesy of White House Black Market. Jody dressed in Army fatigue cargo shorts, a powder pink Polo, and matching Polo canvas sneakers. He wore only earrings and a watch as accessories, to keep the wild boys at bay. If I had to choose, I would have chosen to step out in the deep of things. Travel I-20 to Marion County, they be going in down there. Club Fuzions stayed jumping, and the photographer/promoter was all that. He was constantly having something, promoting something, or showing off his camera skills. Not that it mattered, I had no say.