by Natavia
Charged for His Sins
A Soap Opera
N atavia & Marqua’lla
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters 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, organizations, events or locales are entirely coincidental.
© Copyright 2016 Marqualla Thomas & Natavia Stewart.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.
1. Samiah
Present Day May 12, 2015:
T he pastor preached as we sat in the front row with tear-stained faces. Our make-up ran onto our blouses along with our mascara. In front of us laid a childhood friend of ours. None of us could believe she was murdered in cold blood like that. It made her death worse because the killer was still at large. The police had no leads when it came to her murderer, but my friends and I had our suspicions.
Adisa whispered to me, “Look at that son-of-a-bitch crying like he didn’t have anything to do with her death.” I looked at our friend’s husband, and tears fell down his face as he looked on at the body that laid before him. The sight of him sickened me.
“I wish it were him who was laid there dead and embalmed,” I said to Adisa.
“He will have his day,” I mumbled as the pastor looked down on us and shushed us with his eyes. I looked forward as the rage for her husband simmered inside of me waiting to explode.
I snapped out of my anguish and heated thoughts when the pastor called for the two-minute expressions. I got out of my seat and headed to the long forming line leading up to the podium. A noise drew the entire church to turn towards the commotion at the door. Just as the first person, her husband began his two-minute expression. It was quite fitting that he was interrupted just as he started speaking about the first time they met and so on. Making it seem like they had a perfect happy marriage when that was far from the truth.
The police stormed into the church and headed straight towards her husband. My friends and I all had a slight smile on our faces as one of the officers walked up to the podium and whispered in our dead friend husband’s ear. The smiles slightly became larger when he followed the officers back down the stairs, and out the door. Our smiles faded to frowns when a few of the officers walked towards us. “You three have to come with us.” Three officers approached us and said loud enough for the people that sat in our section to hear.
“Where are you taking them?” my mother asked.
“We’re taking them in for questioning.” One of the officers answered as he gestured for us to follow him.
“You all couldn’t wait until her funeral was over before questioning them. This so damn disrespectful. Can’t you guys just wait outside for them until the service is over?” my mother asked.
“I’m sorry ma’am we’re just following orders from the district attorney. They have to come with us now.” The officers said as each one of them grabbed one of our arms and tugged a bit until we followed them out. “Cooperate, and we won’t arrest the three of you.” One of the officers said.
The three of us along with our friend’s husband was put into the back of four different police cars. I could see our husbands run down the stairs of the church just as the police cars started to pull off. I couldn’t believe everything that was happening to us.
Minutes later, we pulled up to the front of the police station and parked. One by one we were pulled out of the back seat and ushered into the station, down a long hallway, and into separate interview rooms.
“I want my lawyer,” was the first thing out of my mouth as I sat down.
“For what? You are not under arrest; we just need some information to catch your friend’s killer.” The fat white balding officer, Officer Wilson said.
“Don’t you want to help us catch your friend’s killer?” the muscular tall black officer, Officer Robinson questioned with a suspicious look on his face.
“What do y’all want to know?” I asked just as Detective Owens walked into the room and sat across from me.
“I want to know why your friend wrote in her journal that one of her friends were deceitful and meant harm towards her.” The detective said as he tossed a journal on the table. “But you can start from the beginning. Don’t worry your friends are being recorded also,” Detective Owens said as he reached for the tape recorder in the middle of us and pressed record, and I did just that started from the beginning...
Part One:
The Beginning
2. Samiah
June 2004
“C ome on, Adisa you mean to tell me that nigga ain’t cute?” I asked my best friend.
Adisa and I had been friends since elementary school. We went to the same private school, but it didn’t last long. I was only in private school for a year before I had to attend public school due to financial problems. Adisa and I stayed in contact because she would sneak and call me. She eventually talked her parents into letting her attend the same public school as me. They didn’t have a choice because the school no longer wanted Adisa. She developed major behavior problems so she could purposely get kicked out of school. We’re like night and day, Adisa is what you call “Bougie” I on the other end was the around-the-way-girl. I lived in the hood and Adisa lived in the suburbs. I was raised by a single mother with two jobs. I wasn’t the only child my brother York was a few years older than me. He was a d-boy.
Adisa was an only child so I think that's what made us like sisters. Her parents were caked up, her father was a lawyer and her mother was a therapist. Adisa had the life that girls in my hood envied but she was bored with it. She snuck out to my end of the city any chance she got. Her parents worked so much that they didn’t realize Adisa hung out in the hood.
“Bitch, he ain’t cute. Ewwww, look at his funky-ass Reeboks. I haven’t seen those shoes in like forever. But your brother York is cute, stop playing and hook me up with him,” Adisa said lusting after my brother as he dribbled the ball on the court. We sat on the bleachers in my hood. We had graduated from high school a few days prior. We had to get summer jobs to pay for our off-campus apartment. Adisa’s parents told her she had to pay for her housing since she wouldn’t be living with them like they wanted.
“I keep telling you that York is too much for you. I don’t want no part of that because you already know how he is,” I said to her. Adisa rolled her eyes at me, everyone knew that my brother wasn’t up to any good. He repped the streets heavy and Adisa didn’t need that. Adisa and I were going to college and never looking back.
“I swear he is so fine though, his tatted up sweaty chest is doing something to me. Those waves on his head are speaking to me. I want to lick the sweat off his chocolate body. I’m getting me a piece of that before I go to school,” Adisa said. York came over to the bleachers, he reached for his water bottle. When I handed it to him he snatched it from me.
“See, that’s why I don’t like your big headed ass now. All you do is start shit,” I fussed at him. York and I always fussed, but at the end of the day he’s my brother and I loved him to death.
“Umm hmmmph,” Adisa cleared her throat then crossed her legs. She was wearing a tennis skirt. Her skirt raised up exposing a tattoo of a bloody butterfly that her parents knew nothing about.
York eyed her thighs then licked his lips, he wiped the sweat from his forehead. York was only twenty-one and looked to be twenty-five. He worked out daily and was always in the gym. He boxed, played basketball and football when t
he city had different tournaments. Whatever York could get into he did, he was very talented when it came to sports but the streets got to him.
“What your bougie-ass doing down here on this basketball court? You know people be shooting out here?” he said to Adisa.
“Whatever, I’m down here because I want to be nigga and what?” Adisa fired back. York smirked showing his bottom row golds laced with diamonds.
“Your fake-ass don’t know shit about the hood. I don’t know why you even bother. Muthafucka’s trying to get out of the hood and your lil’ bean sprout head ass can’t stay out of it,” York said to Adisa. They stayed at it also, but Adisa enjoyed every minute of it and I thought he did too.
I didn’t want a hood guy; I was surrounded by it enough. I wanted a guy that was opposite of my brother, and besides York wouldn’t allow that to happen even if I wanted it to.
“When are you going to stop playing with me and take me out? You know you want to, York,” Adisa said. Adisa stood up then wrapped her arms around York’s neck, a few girls on the bleachers mumbled underneath their breaths.
“I’m too much nigga for you, shorty. I don’t want your pops to come down in my hood because I gave his daughter some shit she couldn’t handle,” York said arrogantly, Adisa pushed him away then sat back down. I rolled my eyes and pretended to throw-up. York slapped me on the back of the head.
“Keep on muthafucka’ or else I’m going to cut your ass,” I laughed. Emani got off the bleachers, she was one of my brother’s many hoes. She stormed towards him, “So you disrespect me like this huh? You brought this square-ass-bitch down in my hood? Are you disrespecting me in my hood, York?” Emani said. Emani was your average hood chick that wore tight clothes, had a big booty, with long weaves and nails. Her face was average but that didn’t stop the boys from talking to her. Just like any other man, York fell for the slim waist and big booty.
“Chill out Emani, damn. I’m chilling and watch your fucking mouth,” York said to her. Emani slapped York in the face, “I’m sick of yo’ shit!” she screamed.
I jumped up and York pulled me back, “Bitch, I know your dusty ass didn’t just put your hands on my brother! Let me go York so I can tag this bitch real quick. She got me fucked up,” I screamed.
York and his right-hand man Hoppa pulled me back. All of a sudden, Adisa fist swung hitting Emani in the face, “Bitch, you got us all fucked up,” Adisa said swinging on her again. Everyone looked on in shock even Emani’s jaw hit the ground for a second because no one was expecting Adisa to swing. Adisa stepped up on the bleachers in front of her giving her some height as she kept swinging on Emani. Emani reached up and grasped Adisa’s hair, she pulled her down making them crash to the ground. All the while, Adisa fists kept connecting with Emani’s face. They rolled around on the ground exchanging blows as a crowd began to form around them. Somehow they ended up facing each other on the ground. Adisa slammed Emani’s head against the ground causing the grip she had on her hair to slip. Adisa jumped on top of Emani and started punching her in the face. Emani’s friend lunged towards Adisa.
“Let me go! They are ready to jump her!” I yelled trying to push York and Hoppa out of my way. When they saw that Emani’s friend was getting the best of Adisa, they let me go. I almost flew on top of Emani’s friend; I moved so fast. All hell broke loose after that. Emani’s friend was more of a fighter. She was getting the best of Adisa until I got to her. Emani was pulling my hair as I swung on her friend.
“That’s enough! The police are coming!” York yelled as he and his friend’s pulled us apart. Adisa’s eye was swollen and she had a few scratches on her face. Adisa was one of those rebellious rich kids, she did anything she wanted. She talked hood and acted hood but never lived it of course.
I walked over to Adisa’s 2003 Chrysler Sebring, I just wanted to go home. I couldn’t wait to leave that dump. All I did was get into trouble, but I just couldn’t seem to escape it especially since it was always around me. Adisa walked over to me smiling and I wanted to hit her myself.
“That shit isn’t funny and you have gone crazy! Why are you fighting over York’s big-headed ass?” I asked her.
“That bitch shouldn’t had touched my man. These hoes know how I feel about some damn York, hell he even knows that shit too. They better not let the proper grammar fool their asses because when I come, I come fucking correct,” Adisa said getting pumped.
“My Thelma,” I said finally smiling.
“My Louise, now give me some suga’ pumpkin,” Adisa joked. I didn’t know what I would have done without Adisa, she was my only friend. I didn’t vibe with many females but Adisa stuck out. She had a carefree attitude and did what she wanted.
York walked over to the car and smiled. “I hate to see women fight but shorty you fooled me,” he said squeezing Adisa’s cheek causing her to blush.
“So will you take me out on a date?” Adisa asked.
“Hell nawl,” York said then walked away.
“I hate your black ass!” Adisa screamed at him.
“One day you are going to love me though, just not right now,” York said back.
“I do love you,” she mumbled when she got in the car. I went inside of my purse that was on the car floor and pulled out a bag of weed.
“This is our summer break, so let’s live it,” I said to Adisa. I knew at that moment that Adisa had more feelings for York then she let on. Since she was thirteen she was crushing on him, but when she got older her crush turned into something else.
The next day…
Adisa and I walked into the clothing store, Hippy Daisies, for our orientation. It was our very first summer job. They were so short of staff that they hired Adisa and I the same day we filled out our applications. I knew my brother didn’t want me to work, but I wanted to have my own money. He did enough for me, so it was time for me to look out for myself.
Adisa and I sat down in the only two empty chairs next to two other girls. I looked over at the girl; the one sitting next to me had a plain but beautiful face. It was plain to me because I was so used to seeing girls around my age with make-up. She had on a pair of pink glasses with a collar button up white shirt and some black slacks. She was light-skinned and looked to be around a size nine. The girl sitting next to her had on wooden jewelry with a long flowing dress. She looked to be a size five with a dark brown skin hue. Her hair was dreaded up, and braided into two french braids.
The manager wasn’t in the room yet. She had us in the back where the extra clothes were located at. The room also doubled as an office as well, there was a desk with some paperwork in front of us.
“I’m Faraji and this is my best friend, Emeka.” The girl with the wooden jewelry on turned in her seat and introduced herself to us.
“Hi,” Emeka said just barely above a whisper. Her voice was soft and squeaky.
“Hi,” Adisa and I said in unison. The manager went on and on for almost an hour about store policy. I caught the last few minutes of her speech. She stated that we had a thirty percent discount. York called himself old school, so because he gave me money to shop with, my clothes had to be to his liking. I couldn’t dress how I wanted to because he always had something to say. After the orientation, we went out onto the floor. The manager worked the cash register while we stocked the clothes. We took turns watching the manager work the register. We were tired by the end of the day. The store was privately owned and it got a lot of business. An African-American family owned the store, they expanded their business to the mall and needed to hire staff. When they had their grand opening a few employees they hired quit once they saw how fast paced it was going to be, which turned out to be a good thing for Adisa and me.
“We’re having a graduation slash going to college dinner, and the two of you are more than welcome to come,” Faraji said to Adisa and me as we were getting our stuff out of the break room.
“What college are the two of you going to?” Adisa asked.
“Morgan State Univers
ity,” Faraji answered for the both of them.
“We are going there too,” I said excitedly.
“Are you guys living in the dorms or getting off-campus apartments?” Faraji asked.
“Off-campus apartments,” I answered.
“Emeka and I are living off campus too. We found a place within walking distance to the school.” Faraji said as we passed by the closed food courts on our way to the front door. The security guard impatiently waited to let us out. I guess we were not moving fast enough for him because the mall closed thirty minutes ago.
“We are having a party at my house tonight at ten, and you two are more than welcome to come,” I said. I wasn’t into females outside of Adisa, but Emeka and Faraji were cool. They both were down-to-earth and seemed to stay to themselves.
“Okay let’s all exchange numbers. Just give us the time and address and we’ll be there.” Faraji said as we walked out of the front door. The muggy summer air hit us and I wanted nothing more than to take a cold shower. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead as we exchanged numbers with Faraji and Emeka.