From Sinner to Saint

by Jones, Janice

  “It’s okay, Tony. I’m cool. I just hope you still want to kick it with me. What your mother said doesn’t bother me as long as we can still see each other,” Jasmine whispered. The last thing she wanted was for Trina to hear what she said, just in case she was eavesdropping.

  “Like I said, she will be at work tomorrow, so you can come by after I get out of school. Be there about four o’clock,” he replied, careful to keep his own voice down. He leaned in to give Jasmine a peck on the cheek, but decided against it and pulled away just in case his mother was lurking nearby. She totally understood his action and smiled. She left the porch and headed home.

  When Antonyo entered the house, his mother and aunt were arguing.

  “Why do you constantly let my child come over here and do what he wants? He only brought that fast-tailed girl over here because he knows I would not allow him to have female company in my house,” Trina stressed to her sister.

  “Girl, give it a rest. Tony is not a baby. What is wrong with him kicking it with females? It’s not like they were having sex up in here. I was here with them the whole time,” Treecie defended.

  “Look, Treecie, how you choose to raise your children is your business, but leave the job of raising my son to me. I do not think his behind is old enough to have a girlfriend. If you can’t respect my policy on this, then he won’t be allowed to come over here anymore.”

  “Yeah, okay. Whatever, Trina.” Treecie kept her tone flat and agreeable just to end the argument.

  Midway through her sister’s first sentence, Treecie had tuned her out. She had heard the speech about keeping Antonyo away far too many times. She was sick of listening to it. Because she never wanted Trina to enforce a ban on her nephew coming to her home, Treecie would agree to whatever terms her sister set—then totally ignore them.

  Trina took her son and drove the three blocks home, lecturing him all the way about not being allowed to have a girlfriend.

  “Boy, you need to be concentrating on your school work only, not worrying about these little fast-tailed heffas. That girl Jasmine looks to be at least sixteen or seventeen, so what does she want with a boy your age? You don’t have a job or a dime to your name. Please! Leave these little tramps out here alone.”

  Antonyo followed his aunt’s example of nodding, agreeing, and ignoring, all the while thinking how he couldn’t wait until tomorrow so he could finish his plan for Jasmine.

  Chapter 3

  The phone rang, waking fourteen-year-old Antonyo from his sleep. It was three-thirty in the morning. Unfortunately, Antonyo was sure he was not the only one disturbed by the ringing noise. Trina would be screaming her way to his bedroom any minute.

  Antonyo checked the caller ID on his receiver and found the caller had blocked their number. He knew, however, from past experience that it was Jasmine, sweating him. This had been the problem for the past three weeks, ever since Antonyo stopped spending time with her. The girl simply would not go away. As amazing as it sounded, a fourteen-year-old boy was being stalked by a seventeen-year-old psycho.

  Antonyo ignored the ringing phone, but his mother did not. He could hear her yelling from her bedroom.

  “Who is this calling my house this time of morning?” he heard her scream. He figured from the silence that followed that Jasmine had hung up, as she usually did when his mother answered the phone. But that was definitely not going to be the end of the discussion. He heard Trina stomping down the hall a few moments later.

  “Get up, Negro, ’cause I know you ain’t ’sleep. You heard the phone ringing just like I did,” Trina said as she pushed open her son’s bedroom door.

  “I don’t know who that was, Mama,” he replied nonchalantly, acting as if he truly had no clue.

  “Boy, don’t lie to me. I know who it was, so I know you know who it was. It was that stalking little trick, Jasmine,” she screamed. “Look, Antonyo, you got one day to straighten out this mess. I mean it. If I have to change my phone number to get that cow to stop calling here at all hours of the day and night, I’m gon’ kick your tail with almost every ounce of strength I’ve got, saving just enough energy to kick hers too. Then you’re going to use some of that money the stupid little fool gives you to pay for the phone number exchange.”

  For just over nine months, Jasmine and Antonyo had been a couple. Initially Trina was against the relationship, but after a month, she gave in, letting her son have his little girlfriend. She saw how her son was maturing in his association with an older girl—or so it seemed—and she liked the growth in him. She was also proud of Jasmine’s decision to go back to school, assuming it was a result of her interactions with Antonyo. For the past three weeks, however, Trina wished she had followed her first mind and put a stop to this little courtship in the beginning.

  When they initially started seeing each other, the two were inseparable. Jasmine continued to work at McDonald’s during the daytime, while Antonyo attended school. After classes and work, the two would meet at Antonyo’s house each day when he was done with his homework. Then the couple would leave and walk to his Aunt Treecie’s house, spending most of their time together hanging out with her.

  On some occasions, usually when Jasmine got paid, they would go to the movies, shopping, or to the arcade, then sneak back to his house to have sex. Antonyo strategically arranged it so the pair was only intimate when Jasmine spent some money, and the poor girl was totally unaware of it. Antonyo had her feeling like the sex was sporadic because he did not simply see her as a sex object, but someone he really cared about. In the months they were together, she purchased clothes, shoes, and video games for him. Treecie had trained him well.

  When the fall semester for school began, Antonyo entered his first year of high school, and Jasmine started adult education classes. This meant she had to cut the amount of time she spent with Antonyo, the hours she worked, and the amount of money she had available.

  Antonyo’s reputation of going with an older girl preceded him to high school. Every female, it seemed, from the freshmen to the seniors, was aware of his involvement with a seventeen-year-old. News of his conquest made just enough of them curious. They wanted to know what was so special about Antonyo. From day one, the girls flocked to him, most under the guise of wanting to just be his friend. The fact that he had grown even more handsome weighed heavily to his advantage as well.

  Jasmine found the competition to hold on to her man incredible. Everywhere they went, some hoochie or group of hoochies were either staring at him from across the room or going out of their way to make conversation. Most of them were girls from school; a few were the younger females in the neighborhood.

  Antonyo realized that his stock was on the rise, and used his newfound popularity to his advantage. When Jasmine’s usual showers of cash became more like a drizzle, he started using his charm to get what he needed from other admirers.

  Tianda Davenport, a junior, had no problem whatsoever giving him lunch money, even though he was part of the free lunch program. Monique Mitchell, a fellow freshman, loved helping him with his homework. The sophomore, Kelly Lewis, whose brother, Kelvin, was well known as the school’s marijuana supplier, always made sure Antonyo had a little pocket change. Each of these young ladies was aware of his relationship with Jasmine, but they were all subtly bidding to take her place.

  Jasmine noticed things with Antonyo were beginning to change. As a result of her new schedule, the amount of time available to spend with Antonyo had decreased. In addition, she noticed that Antonyo had put extra restrictions on their time as well. It soon became apparent to Jasmine that he only wanted to be with her on the days when she received a paycheck.

  Jasmine decided to skip her classes one day because she knew Antonyo had a half-day of school. Her intention was to catch up with him at his mother’s, then spend the entire day with him, since she was also not scheduled to work that evening.

  “Hey, Ms. Trina. Has Tony made it home yet?” Jasmine asked as she arrived at their home and fou
nd Antonyo’s mother on the porch, retrieving the mail.

  “Why would he be here now? You know he doesn’t get out of school until two forty-five, girl,” Trina replied.

  Jasmine quickly realized that Antonyo must have neglected to tell his mom about his shortened school schedule for the day. She tried to hurry and cover before Trina figured out something was going on.

  “I’m sorry, Ms. Trina. I just assumed since I had a half-day today at my school, Redford High School did too. I’m going to go on home and help my mama do some housework. I’ll catch up with him later,” she said, hoping she had convinced Trina that she’d made a mistake.

  As she began her retreat from the porch, Trina stopped her in her tracks. Jasmine just knew she had busted on her man.

  “Jasmine, come here for a minute.”

  “Yes, Ms. Trina?” Jasmine said as she turned around apprehensively.

  “I just wanted to tell you how proud I am that you decided to go back to school. A lot of young girls put their relationships ahead of their futures. I know because I did it myself. You just make sure you stay in school and finish your education. It’s the best thing you can do for yourself.” Trina gave Jasmine a big hug and an inadvertent boost of self-esteem.

  “Thanks, Ms. Trina.” Jasmine walked away feeling like a million dollars as she headed for Treecie’s house, knowing Antonyo must be there. Once she got there, that million-dollar feeling quickly depreciated.

  The front door to Treecie’s house was unlocked as usual. Jasmine walked in and down to the basement where Antonyo always hung out, figuring she would catch him watching another movie his mother did not allow him to see. What she actually saw was something else Jasmine was sure Trina would surely not approve of.

  “Tony!”

  Antonyo and Kelly both jumped from the sofa and reached for their clothing spontaneously and simultaneously.

  “What are you doing here, Jasmine?” Antonyo asked while doing his best to put his legs in his pants.

  Jasmine never bothered to answer the question her boyfriend asked. She, instead, went after Kelly, who also struggled, trying to get into her sweater. While Kelly’s head was still lodged beneath her clothing, Jasmine grabbed her in a headlock hold with one arm, and commenced to swinging wildly with the other.

  “Why are you here sleeping with my man, trick? You know he’s my boyfriend. You should have stayed away from him,” Jasmine yelled between the blows she threw at Kelly.

  Kelly was caught totally off guard. She fell hard to the hard basement floor while her arms and head were still bound by the cute pink sweater. Jasmine remained all over her, pummeling, kicking, and shouting.

  “Tony, help me!” Kelly screamed as she did her level best to get away from the brutal beating.

  “He has helped you to everything you gon’ get from him, tramp,” Jasmine yelled, continuing to do serious damage to the young female she’d caught with Antonyo.

  Antonyo finally found his way into his pants and went to assist Kelly. Treecie came downstairs to witness the melee going on in her basement just as Antonyo was able to sufficiently dress himself. The two of them pulled Jasmine off the screaming, bloody young woman. Antonyo dragged Jasmine until he had her all the way up the stairs and out the front door, while Treecie stayed in the basement to help Kelly.

  “Why are you here with her, Tony? Why are you here with her?” Jasmine yelled in her brokenhearted rage.

  Antonyo knew there was nothing he could say to Jasmine that would make sense. He decided it was best to just cut the ties and be done with her. He’d actually become tired of dealing with her since the money had stopped flowing like it used to. Between Kelly, Tianda, and Monique, he knew he would get all of his needs met without having to put up with his overly emotional and newly dubbed ex-girlfriend any longer.

  “Look, Jasmine, you might as well go home. You and me are finished. I didn’t want you to find out this way, but I’m not really feeling you the way I used to, since we don’t get to spend as much time together,” Antonyo stated emotionlessly.

  “Oh! So, what? You’re gon’ quit me for that little heffa in there? Is that what you’re trying to say, Tony? Since I decided to go back to school to better myself, you ain’t got time for me no more?” Jasmine was yelling and crying so loudly she could be heard all over the entire block. This was evidenced by the neighbors making appearances on their porches or peeking through their curtains.

  “Girl, just go home. It’s over between us,” Antonyo said casually, never raising his voice.

  Treecie was now in the living room, standing at the front door, listening to the conversation between her protégé nephew and his ex. After she helped Kelly get herself together, she sent her out the back door so she would not run into Jasmine and another beat-down. The scene she witnessed on her front porch was better than her daytime soap operas.

  “Nooo, Tony. You can’t quit me. I love you. You can’t quit me. I’ll stop going to school and spend more time with you. Please. I’ll do whatever you want me to do. Just don’t quit me,” Jasmine wailed as she tried to wrap her arms around Antonyo for emotional and physical support. All of her bravado had escaped her. She was now a desperate young woman trying to hold on to her man at all cost.

  “Now you’re just acting stupid, Jasmine. You need to stay in school so they can teach you not to be so dumb. And it really doesn’t matter whether you quit or not. It’s just over between us. I’m not into you anymore.” Again Antonyo spoke with the same cool distance as he grabbed her arms and held Jasmine away from his person.

  Jasmine was dumbfounded as she stared at the young boy in front of her. She could not believe he was the same virginal thirteen-year-old she had hooked up with initially. Before her stood a cold, calculating man in the body of fourteen-year-old Antonyo. She became utterly humiliated as she noticed Treecie standing in the doorway, laughing at her.

  With a wave of his hand, Antonyo turned to go into the house, dismissing Jasmine as if she were nothing. Jasmine, however, refused to go away so easily. Gone was the sniveling, begging, despondent female; she was replaced by a bitter woman scorned. Her wrath had returned, and she clawed at Antonyo’s face with a vengeance. Before he realized what happened, he’d sustained several gashes in his near-perfect skin.

  Treecie burst through the door to help her nephew free himself from the grip of the contemptuous woman. It actually took more effort to get her off of Antonyo than it had to pry her away from Kelly. Jasmine had become untamed and out of control. In her hurt and despair, she meant to make Antonyo pay for every bit of pain he had caused her that day.

  By the time the two family members were finally able to get the alley cat away from Antonyo, his face was bleeding terribly. Treecie pushed Jasmine down the four steps that led to her porch, and she landed smack dab on her behind. The fall must have jarred some sense into her. She jumped up immediately and ran away from the house. Unfortunately, this would not be the last they would hear from the distressed girl.

  Jasmine resorted to prank phone calls, waiting for Antonyo outside of school, and following him around. Whenever she would see him with either Tianda or Monique, she would attempt to provoke a fight with the young ladies, but Antonyo would somehow always prevent the girls from coming to blows. Jasmine never again started trouble with Kelly. Her brother, Kelvin, paid two girls to jump her after he learned of the whooping she put on his little sister.

  That had been three weeks ago. In that time, Jasmine had become a constant nuisance. Antonyo began to worry he would never be free of her bothersome behavior. He also had to deal with his mother constantly on his case because Jasmine repeatedly called the house and hung up on her. Antonyo knew his mother was as good as her word when she said she would kick his and Jasmine’s tail if the phone calls did not stop.

  As Antonyo prepared to leave for school later that morning, none other than his friendly neighborhood stalker met him on his front porch.

  “You know what, Tony? I decided that I am going to f
inally leave you alone. I ain’t even here to start no mess with you,” Jasmine announced.

  Trina heard Jasmine’s voice outside her door and decided she was going to give little Ms. Telephone Woman a piece of her mind. As she approached the front door, she stopped at hearing Jasmine’s next words.

  “All I want from you is the money, clothes, shoes, and games I gave you, and you won’t ever have to worry about seeing me again,” Jasmine stated.

  “Girl, get away from me. I ain’t giving you nothing. You want it back? Take me to Judge Joe Brown and sue me for it.” Antonyo laughed at his own joke as he walked past Jasmine. Her next words startled both him and his mother.

  “Oh! I will do better than sue you. I will have my brother and his boys beat the dog stew out of you. Watching you get your butt kicked will be all the compensation I need. So what you gon’ do, punk? You gon’ pay me or take a beat-down?”

  After hearing Jasmine threaten her son, Trina came through the door in a heartbeat. “Listen here, little girl! I’m gon’ say this to you one time and one time only. If anything happens to my son, I’m coming looking for you,” Trina shouted.

  Jasmine stood shocked with her mouth hanging open. She was not prepared for a verbal confrontation with Antonyo’s mother, especially after hearing the woman give her such high praises just a few weeks ago. However, she was also not prepared to back off easily.

  “Don’t come out here yelling at me, threatening me, Ms. Trina. You need to be talking to your son. Tell him he best be finding a way to pay me my money. I ain’t scared of you or him,” Jasmine replied boldly with both hands on her hips, her neck swaying.

  Trina was fed up with all of this Jasmine business. She wanted to smack the crap out of her right then and there. Instead, she used all of her resources to remain as calm as possible. Getting right in Jasmine’s face, she reiterated her words. “I don’t give a hot ham sandwich who you are or are not afraid of. You heard what I said. As a matter of fact, if you come near my son again, you’re going to have problems with me. And trust me when I say you don’t want those kinds of problems in your life.” Trina stared at Jasmine, daring the young woman with her eyes to utter another sound.