Soul Dancing
Arlene Brathwaite
BRATHWAITE PUBLISHING
www.brathwaitepublishing.com
Books by Arlene Brathwaite are published by
Brathwaite Publishing
P.O. Box 38205
Albany, New York 12203
(800) 476-1522
Copyright © 2011 by Arlene Brathwaite
Library of Congress Number:
ISBN: (10 Digit) #0-9797462-7-2
ISBN: (13 Digit) #978-0-9797462-7-7
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book was printed in the United States of America.
Acknowledgements
It’s 2011 and Brathwaite Publishing is growing in numbers and accomplishments with each year that passes. This year we are bringing on a few new authors, and we’re opening Albany’s first official urban book café called The Book Club. We’re hanging tough in an industry that will run you over if you stand still. So, we here at Brathwaite Publishing are steady moving, and are steady coming up with stories that will keep our fans demanding more.
The fans drive us, but it’s’ the support of fellow comrades in the book industry that guides us and keeps us focused. People such as; Anthony Whyte, Erick S. Gray, Jason Claiborne, Shannon Holmes, Wahida Clark, Nakea Murray, K’wan Foye, and Deborah Cardona, just to name a few.
A special thanks to Jonathan Johnson of Brand Concepts for the book covers. Their works are fresh and eye catching.
And a very special thanks to all the readers and supporters who motivate us to give them the glued-to—the-seat, can’t-go-to-sleep-til-I-finish-this-last-page reads. Those are the kinds of stories that we’re known for, and that’s not going to change. Thank you so much for your support and we hope to see you at future events and at The Book Club.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
CHAPTER 1
In the lobby of the Palace Theatre in Albany, New York, Liana and her girlfriends stood together in the swelling crowd of R. Kelly fans awaiting the Prince of R&B.
Liana was an island blend of Panamanian and Puerto Rican. She inherited her father’s dark complexion and her mother’s long, straight hair. Since she was the tallest of the crew, at five-ten, she was considered by onlookers to be the leader of the four-girl ensemble. The only piece of jewelry she wore was her engagement ring.
Reese was ginger-complexioned with an insatiable appetite for M&Ms (Money and Mens). Being slim and cute gave her the potential to be a high-end fashion model, but her filthy mouth and stink attitude made sure she would never walk down anyone’s runway.
Jenna was the shiest of them all, but her exotic facial features handed down to her from her Chinese mother and father, coupled with her thick thighs made her stand out in any crowd. The Chinese wasn’t known for their eye catching curves, or tan complexions, which is why many people suspected that Mrs. Ling allowed a brother to take a couple strokes in the gene pool while Mr. Ling worked fifteen hour shifts at the fish market.
Elizabeth, if you let her tell it, had the best of both worlds. She attributed her hazel eyes, straight hair, and refined tastes to her white father, and her five-foot-eight bootyful body and brains to her African-American mother.
“I don’t give a damn what the media say,” Reese said. “R. Kelly didn’t do anything wrong. Anybody who looks at that videotape can see that girl was totally with it.”
“That’s not the point,” Jenna said. “That still doesn’t negate the fact that she was underage.”
“That’s the problem,” Reese said, flipping her hand at Jenna. “Everybody wants to be all technical ‘n’ shit. Home girl is a grown ass woman. You know what they say. You old enough to bleed, you old enough to breed.”
“You are so… disgusting,” Jenna said, shaking her head.
“And you are so stupid for entertaining her bullshit,” Liana said, cutting in. “You know Reese doesn’t have the sense she was born with.”
“I’m just keeping it real,” Reese said, rolling her eyes.
“Yes.” Elizabeth nudged Liana. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
They all looked at the light-skinned brother Elizabeth pointed out. He was wearing a button down shirt and jeans with a pair of black Timbs. Elizabeth didn’t care too much for men with hair on their face, but the goatee this brother sported made him a dead ringer for Denzel Washington in the movie Training Day.
“Ka ching,” Reese said, appraising the two diamond studs in his ears and the square-link bracelet on his wrist.
“Definitely a drug dealer,” Liana said.
“Why does every brother who looks like he’s got money got to be a drug dealer?” Reese said with a sour look.
“Because they are,” Liana shot back.
“Whatever.” Reese turned her gaze back to the light-skinned brother. When he looked her way, she winked. He winked back and held eye contact with her long enough to let her know he was down for whatever.Reese blushed and looked away.
“Oh my God,” Jenna said. “Is that Wayne?”
“Wayne who?” Elizabeth said with an attitude.
“That is Wayne,” Jenna said. “What’s he doing here?”
“Duh, the same thing we’re doing here,” Reese said.
“Wayne and R. Kelly don’t even sound right in the same sentence,” Jenna said, as she started waving at him.
“What the hell are you doing?” Elizabeth said through clenched teeth. “Don’t call that lawn boy over here.”
Wayne saw Jenna waving and waved back. As he approached them, he casually glanced at Liana, but it was enough to make his belly jump. Liana gave him the quick once over, surprised at what he was wearing. Everyone knew Wayne was so tight with his money that the only way he would let it go was to get a tighter grip on it. But tonight, he was wearing a pair of vanilla knit pants with a matching tank top. His six-foot frame was chiseled and chocolate brown.
He hugged Jenna and kissed her on the cheek. “What a surprise,” he said, releasing her and then hugging Reese.
“Who you telling?” Reese said, hugging him back and kissing him on the cheek.
Elizabeth forced herself to smile and gave him a stiff hug. “I didn’t take you for an R. Kelly fan.”
“I’m not,” Wayne said, as he pecked her on the cheek.
“So, what are you doing here?” Liana asked. “You’re like a fish out of water.”
“I came with someone.”
Liana blinked, and was shocked at the jealousy coursing through her veins. What the hell do I have to be jealous about? He’s not my man… anymore.
“You came with someone?” Jenna said, looking around. “Where are they?”
“Yo, yo, what up, people?” Taz said, as he bopped toward them.
“Oh God.” Elizabeth folded her arms and looked away.
“Hello to you, too, with your fine Mariah Carey-looki
ng ass,” Taz said, walking up on her.
Elizabeth scrunched up her nose as she looked at his uneven afro and dingy white headband. “You could’ve at least gotten your hair braided and act like you’re not on the block slinging.”
Taz licked his lips as he stepped closer to her. “I would love to sit between your legs and let you twist me up like you do your man, Indio, or am I not high enough on the drug totem pole?”
“Nah, ah, I know you didn’t take it there,” Elizabeth said, snaking her neck. “Number one, Indio would stomp your raggedy ass out for talking to me like that. And number two, my man, unlike your simple ass, had enough sense to get out the game and start his own legit business.”
“Legit?” Taz said, almost choking on the word. “You actually believe that—”
“So, how you doing?” Wayne asked Liana, stepping in front of Taz.
Jenna picked up on Wayne’s cue. She grabbed Elizabeth and Reese by their arms and started walking off. “We’ll see you inside, Liana.”
“I’m coming right now, wait up.”
“Nah, stay and finish your conversation with Wayne,” Jenna said, dragging Elizabeth and Reese away with her.
“I’m going to get me something to drink,” Taz mumbled, as he walked off.
Liana watched her friends melt into the crowd and pictured herself wringing Jenna’s neck when she got her alone.
“So, how you doing?” Wayne asked for the second time.
“I’m fine. I’m just out with my girls.” Liana studied her nails and then looked around as if she was bored.
“You came all the way from California for a night out with your girls?”
“Actually, I’ve been back for a couple of weeks.”
“Everything okay with you and Rob?”
“Ron.” Liana quickly corrected him. “And yes, we’re just fine.”
“Whoa, sorry for asking.”
Liana lowered her defenses. “I just came up to spend a few weeks with Nana. You know… to make sure she’s okay and what not.”
“Your grandmother is still giving everybody hell. As a matter of fact, me and my pops are going to be at her house on Saturday cleaning out her garage and planting flowers.”
“When did your father get out?” Liana asked, genuinely interested.
“Three months ago; and he’s driving us crazy with that Muslim stuff. My moms can’t cook any pork, Alisa can’t wear tight clothes, and he tries to drag me to the Mosque with him every Friday. He’s gone from hustle man to holy man.”
Liana tried not to laugh, but when Wayne got animated, she couldn’t help it. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to laugh, but—”
Her smile had always been his Achilles heel. He looked away when he felt his temperature rise. “Well, I’ll let you catch up with your girlfriends. I’ll probably see you on Saturday at Nana’s.”
Liana caught herself staring at his lips and looked him in the eyes. “Nice seeing you, Wayne.”
“Nice seeing you, too.” Wayne examined her like a jeweler would a rare stone. Liana wore a white linen outfit with a midriff top. Wayne stole a glance at her long legs. The long legs Liana loved to wrap around his waist when they used to make love. He shivered at the memory and walked off to find Taz. It was no surprise to find him huddled with two females. They both wore body-hugging outfits that left nothing to the imagination. Wayne could smell the lust emanating from their pores from twenty feet away.
“Hey, here comes my boy,” Taz said, pointing the girls in Wayne’s direction. “Wayne, this is Caroline and this is Peaches.”
Wayne nodded and smiled.
“Me and the girls were just talking about having a private party after the concert. You know... smoke some trees, pop some E’s, shoot the breeze, and if we act right, get a little strip tease.” The girls laughed at Taz’s impromptu rhyme. “So, you with it or what?”
“Yeah,” Wayne said with a smile. “We can hang.”
Taz grabbed Peaches by the hand. “Let’s head in and try to get some seats together.”
It wasn’t hard to find four vacant seats together. They weren’t vacant because the ticket holders didn’t show. They were vacant because everybody was crowded by the stage when R. Kelly started to perform. The females held their hands out, hoping he would come to the edge of the stage so they could touch him. Surprisingly, he reached out and grabbed a couple hands.
Wayne had his arm around Caroline, and his eyes around Liana. He studied her as she laughed with her girlfriends and sang along with every R. Kelly song. There were plenty of times he tried to take his eyes off her and focus on Caroline, but his focus kept wandering back to Liana. He tried to take his mind off her by jamming his tongue down Caroline’s throat, who was more than willing to tongue wrestle with him.
“Oh shit, look,” Taz said, tapping Wayne on the shoulder. R. Kelly grabbed a girl by the hand and led her onto the stage.
“He picked the wrong one,” Wayne said, as he watched Reese quickly close the gap between her and the R&B Superstar. Reese turned around and wiggled her butt on his crotch, letting him know she didn’t see nothing wrong with a little bump and grind. Everyone in the theater got to their feet when Reese seductively faced him and grabbed a handful of nuts.
“That bitch is crazy, yo,” Taz said, jumping up and down.
“I told you he picked the wrong one,” Wayne said, laughing and high-fiving Taz.
R. Kelly’s security quickly escorted Reese off the stage, but at that point, she didn’t care if they were escorting her to jail. She got what she came for. She had a story to tell her kids and her kids’ kids.
Wayne felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He looked over at Liana and saw her looking his way. He looked at her nonchalantly and nodded. She rolled her eyes and got back into the show. Caroline slowly danced against him as R. Kelly sang his next song. She shivered as Wayne gave her the cold shoulder.
“You all right, baby?” she asked.
“I’m good,” Wayne responded, looking past her.
She followed his line of sight to Liana. Caroline dismissed it and went back to doing her little dance as R. Kelly tore the house down.
***
“R’s the best that ever did it,” Taz said, walking out the Palace Theater with Wayne, Caroline, and Peaches. “Right or wrong, Wayne?”
“He’s okay,” Wayne responded in a distracted tone.
“Okay? I bet every female is walking out of here with soaked panties.” Taz looked at Caroline and Peaches. “Your panties wet?”
Peaches slapped him on the shoulder. “You stupid, Taz.”
“Well, if they ain’t, they soon will be, right, Wheezy?”
Wayne looked at his watch. “I have to head home.”
“What?” Taz, Caroline, and Peaches seemed to all say at the same time.
“I didn’t know the show was going to end this late. I have to work in the morning,” Wayne said defensively.
“You call mowing lawns work?” Taz said, twisting up his face.
“It pays the bills.” Wayne looked at Caroline. She folded her arms and scanned the people coming out of the theater. She was determined to have a man for the night.
“You’re crazy,” Taz said, shaking his head. “Well, fuck it. The least you can do is take us to Kenneth’s to get something to eat and then drop us off at the Marriot on Central Ave.” Taz put his arms around both girls. “One man don’t stop the show; there’s plenty of Taz to go around.”
Caroline and Peaches looked at one another.
“I’m down for whatever,” Caroline said.
***
Wayne’s cell phone alarm went off at seven o’ clock the next morning. He turned it off and rolled over. Two minutes later, his phone rang. Fuck! “What up, Dad?”
“What I tell you about having me waiting?”
“I’m on my way.” Wayne would never say it aloud, but he liked the landscaping business better when he was doing it by himself. When his father had to do a five-year bid f
or gun possession a few years back, he left Wayne in charge of the business. Wayne was twenty-one at the time, but he managed to hold it down and even pick up a few more contracts. He also set his own hours and worked at his own pace. When his father came home, it was back to working from seven in the morning until five in the evening.
Wayne walked out his front door and right across the street to his parents’ house. People couldn’t understand why he chose to live so close by. His father was a hustler long before he was a husband with two kids, which meant that his loyalty was to the streets first. So, that meant prison would become his second home. And when he went up north for years at a time, it was on Wayne to pick up the slack.
Wayne entered his parents’s house and walked into the tail end of his sister and father arguing.
“There’s nothing wrong with these pants, Daddy.”
“They’re too tight. If you dress like a slut, men are going to treat you like a slut.”
“Mom.” Alisa looked toward her mother for support.
“Don’t get your mother involved,” Nevel huffed. “This is between me and you. I’m your father, and I’m telling you to go upstairs and put on some pants that fit.”
Alisa stormed off, knocking Wayne out the way.
“You better talk to your sister,” Nevel said to Wayne. “She’s going to make me whip her behind.”
“You need to stop being so hard on her,” Julie, Wayne’s mother said.
“You’re the reason why she’s giving me a hard time,” Nevel retorted. “I went away for a couple of years, and you let her do whatever she wanted.”
“A couple years?” Julie said, amazed at how Nevel trivialized his jail sentences. “Try five. Alisa needs a daddy, not a dictator. She was twelve when you went back to prison for the umpteenth time. Get to know your daughter first before you start telling her what to do.”
Nevel put on his cap and looked at Wayne. “Let’s roll. I’m not trying to hear this.”
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