Debbie looked over to Chulito. “Where you goin’, Chulito?”
“I was just gonna give you all some room to do ya thing.”
Martha warned. “Don’t call Kaz to warn him that we’re here. We are gonna see his face and make him pay up.”
Debbie jumped in, “And make him pay for more than a fucking baby carriage. He wants to be a big ass drug dealer and roll around in his loot. The least he could do is take care of his responsibilities. It’s not like he ain’t got it. You dress good, Chulito, so somebody’s gettin’ it.”
“Yo, I told you I work for my shit.” Chulito looked around agitated. “Kamikaze will be here and he’ll pay up. He’s got the money. I know that.”
“Why doesn’t he return my calls then?” Brenda asked resting her chin on Joselito’s curly head.
“I don’t know. He’s busy.”
Martha made a sound like air being released from a tire, “Psssssshhh, don’t make excuses for him. He’s an asshole. C’mon, he can give Brenda a hundred and fifty bucks for a fucking baby carriage.”
Debbie snapped her fingers in the air. “I’ve seen him shove that kind of shit down some saggy tit stripper at El Coche.”
They all stared at her.
“Back in the day. When Benny took me there with the guys.”
Martha rolled her eyes. “Classy.”
Small, tinny tones of Big Pun’s “Still Not a Playa” came out of Chulito’s cell. He saw Kaz’s number on the display and flipped it open. “Yo, wassup.” Kaz had spotted the women, so to avoid Brenda and the ambush, he asked Chulito to meet him near the McDonald’s down the block. “Cool, I will see you there, pa.”
“Girls, maybe we should go,” Brenda said. “I think we’re wasting our time.”
“Call him back,” Martha said stepping up to Chulito.
“Forget it, Martha. He ain’t gonna answer.” Brenda handed Joselito to Debbie so that she could slide off the car.
“He will answer Chulito’s call. Phone him from your cell, Chulito.”
“That wasn’t him,” Chulito said.
“Give me the phone,” Martha demanded.
Chulito hated Martha for pressuring him, but knew she was right and was pissed at Kamikaze for ignoring Brenda and Joselito. It didn’t make sense to Chulito because he’d seen Kaz peel off bills with ease in social situations. He paid for everything when they went out and he always bought the rounds at bars. He kept his crew well paid because as he often told Chulito, “Sharing the wealth is good karma. It builds trust, loyalty, and keeps the natives at bay.”
Chulito looked down Garrison Avenue in the direction of the McDonald’s and adjusted the tilt of his baseball cap. “O.K., I’ll call him.”
When Kaz picked up the call, Chulito said hold on and handed it over to Martha.
“Hey, Kaz, it’s Martha. Look, Brenda and Joselito need some help from you. Joselito’s carriage broke and Brenda has been carrying him around, and it would make things easier for her if you could help them out with at least buying a new carriage for him.” Silence.
“Let me talk to him,” Brenda whispered.
Martha put up her hand. “O.K., that’s cool, Brenda wants to talk—O.K., O.K., I will tell him. Thanks.” She flipped the phone shut.
“What the fuck?” Brenda complained.
“He didn’t want to talk to you.”
“So?”
“I’m sorry girl, but I wanted to deal with one issue at a time,” Martha said. “He’s gonna pull up on the corner in front of Rivera’s and he’ll give Chulito some money to bring to us. We should just stay here and not go to the car. He’s on his way.” For a moment, Chulito saw a shimmer oflora shimm defeat in Martha’s face, but just a shimmer, because she’d won a small battle.
“That’s fucked up, Martha. I wanted to talk to him.”
“Brenda, he didn’t want to talk to you. It’s hard to hear that shit but try to understand.”
“He’s an asshole.” Debbie bounced the smiling Joselito in her arms and sang, “Your daddy’s an asshole.”
“He’s paying for a carriage,” Martha said. “I thought that’s what we wanted.”
Kamikaze pulled up in front of Rivera’s, windows shut up tight, air-conditioning on high inside, and the beats of Fat Joe buzzing through the speakers. Chulito walked down the block to the car. Kamikaze handed him a roll without looking at him. Chulito stood for a moment, staring at Kamikaze who then turned to him. “What the fuck are you looking at? Give her the shit and get back here.” Then the window rolled back up.
Chulito handed Brenda a fist full of Benjamins.
“Holy shit,” Debbie said. “Look, Joselito, your mami and your two titis are going to buy you a super deluxe baby carriage.” She clapped his hands.
Chulito walked into the building to get his wallet.
“Hey, Chulito,” Martha called out. “Thanks.” Debbie and Brenda chimed in their thanks as well. Chulito was glad that he could help and felt that it was worth any shit Kamikaze might give him.
Chulito nodded, then ran inside, grabbed his wallet and ran out to Kamikaze’s car and slipped in. The doors locked. “Wassup.” Chulito greeted Kamikaze who made a U-turn on Hunts Point Avenue without talking. As they passed the building Chulito saw the women waiting to cross the street. Brenda had her eyes locked on the car, as if she could see through the dark windows. Martha passed Joselito off to Brenda to distract her and they scurried across Garrison Avenue.
Chulito got startled when Kamikaze slammed the gas and the car jerked forward. One of its custom features was to go from zero to sixty miles per hour in 4.8 seconds. Chulito scrambled to put on his seatbelt as they zoomed down Garrison. The light on Longwood Avenue turned red, but Kamikaze sped right through it. A few blocks later at a corner he slammed the breaks. “Don’t you ever do anything like that again!” he yelled pounding on the dashboard. “I handle my own shit! Don’t forget that. There’s no proof that Joselito is mine, ya hear? And what’s with you helping those bitcighg thosehes out? Don’t be getting soft on me.”
Chulito was out of breath and for a split second he feared for his life. It was the first time Kamikaze had directed his rage at him. He’d heard how much of a roughneck Kamikaze was when he was running corners back in the day and he had witnessed it only once when Mikey, one of Kamikaze’s new boys, tried to get over. Raheem, the lieutenant overseeing the bars in the Upper East Side, reported that cash receipts were low from the lounge where Mikey was stationed. Mikey ignored several warnings until one day Kamikaze cornered him in the men’s room at a bar. He pressed his boot against Mikey’s stomach and shoved him against the wall. Kamikaze pulled out his gun and pointed it at Mikey’s crotch. “You’ve got fifteen minutes to call Raheem to hand over the cash or the stash!” Mikey nodded as a puddle of piss formed around his feet.
“What the fuck are you looking at?”
For the most part, it had all been smiles, good times and feeling Kamikaze’s protection. As they continued down Garrison Avenue with the New York City skyline in the hazy horizon, he realized there were lines he couldn’t cross and didn’t want to discover what would be done to him if he did so again. “Sorry, Kaz.”
Kamikaze looked at him, then reached over and squeezed the back of his neck. “You still my boy.”
Chulito flinched. Kamikaze’s hand felt cold.
chapter seven
Chulito walked up Hunts Point Avenue toward Cruz Travel Agency. His mother had asked him to go pick up their tickets to Puerto Rico before she left for work that morning. Carmen worked as a lunchroom attendant at P.S. 48 and left her house every school day morning at 5:45 A.M. She was looking forward to taking Chulito to spend the summer with her mother and older sister. It was only June 1 and they were set to leave on July 9 after the neighborhood’s big Fourth of July party. At first Chulito didn’t want to go, but lately he was feeling like he needed to get away from Kamikaze, the fellas, even Hunts Point.
In P.R. he could take time to get his hea
d straight again. He was having second thoughts about telling Carlos that he dug him, too. Then what? What would they do? Be boyfriends? That shit was whack, right? Besides, he hadn’t heard from Carlos since their conversation in front of the building over a week ago. Maybe since Chulito didn’t reciprocate, Carlos’ feelings changed.
When Chulito reached Cruz Travel Agency, Julio, or La Julio as he was sometimes called, was at his desk talking on the phone and Brick was sitting in a chair in front of him. He leaned the chair back and balanced it on one leg and rocked. CHisehulito nodded a greeting to him and Brick responded by raising his eyebrows.
Chulito was about to take a seat on the couch when Julio waved him to the empty chair beside Brick.
Julio covered the receiver on the phone with his slim hand. “Have a seat, papito. I got your tickets.” Julio placed a thick envelope on the desk. “Just sign for them, and I’ll print out a receipt.”
“You taking a little trip?” Brick asked as Chulito sat next to him.
“Puerto Rico with my moms.” Chulito leaned forward to sign for the tickets, not making eye contact with Brick.
“For about six weeks,” Julio added as he hung up the phone.
“Wow, that’s a long vacation. Did Kamikaze give you time off?”
“Not yet, but it’s not a problem.”
“Kamikaze must have changed.” Brick got up and served himself from the water cooler. “You want some, Chulito?”
Chulito looked over and nodded. Above the water cooler there was one of Brick’s posters. The seductive stare in his dark eyes was familiar. He had a tight fade haircut and his skin glistened. His chest was small, but his arms and shoulders were big.
Chulito’s gaze traveled from the poster back to Brick who had his back to them. Brick’s crucified Jesus tattoo could be made out through the worn white ribbed tank top.
“Bring me some, too.” Julio snapped his fingers, then answered the phone.
Brick handed them their waters and took a seat next to Chulito.
“That poster’s dope,” Chulito said.
Brick craned his long neck to look back at it. “Thanks.”
“Was it fun to do?”
Brick nodded. “It’s always fun working with Julio.” t>
Julio smiled and covered the receiver. “Gay boys from all over were booking their cruises with me. Great for business.” Then he returned to his call.
Brick leaned toward Chulito over the chair’s armrest. “And I make good clean money here. I don’t have to be risking my life.”
“So it’s worth all the shit the fellas be giving you?”
Brick snickered. “In the big scheme of things those fellas don’t matter. Half of them don’t work, and they definitely don’t sign my paycheck. Besides Julio is good people, and good people are good people. Period.”
Chulito felt defensive. “Well, Kaz’s good people and he got my back.”
“No doubt. You a cool cat, but you playin’ a dangerous game. You may be tough enough to be in it, but you can’t think about just you, you gotta think about the people in your life, especially the ones closest to you.” Chulito remembered how Brick usually walked around with his daughter on his shoulders. He had a family with Jennifer and her son from a previous man, and he helped with the neighborhood barbecues and block parties. Whereas Kamikaze didn’t reveal whether he had family and as far as Chulito knew, he was the only close person in Kamikaze’s life. He imagined it was because of that danger Brick had alluded to.
Chulito nodded. “Right now, it’s just me and my mom.”
Brick leaned back in his chair and put his feet up on Julio’s desk. He wore flip flops and the nails on his long toes were clean and clipped. Strong veins ran up his feet, across his ankles and up hairy shins.
Julio slid an envelope to Brick and shoved his feet off his desk with one hand and handed papers to Chulito with the other. He then raised one finger signaling him to wait a moment.
Brick counted money from the envelope, then folded and pocketed the bills. He flashed Julio a bright smile. “A pleasure doing business with you.” He extended one of his large hands and offered it to Julio to shake. When Julio shook it, Brick bent over and playfully kissed Julio’s hand. Julio pulled his hand back and hung up the phone. Chulito wondered how clean that money was and if he were being paid for more than just maintenance and handiwork.
“You’re a fucking tease, a fucking bugarrón. I only put up with you because you make me wet.” Julio smiled as he tore off the receipt and handed it to Chulito.
“You wish I was a bugarrón.”
Chulito didn’t know what bugarrón meant, but he wondered if Brick might be gay on the low. He seemed comfortable and playful with Julio, and Chulito didn’t know any other man who behaved like that with a gay guy.
“Check the tickets, Chulito, to make sure everything is O.K.,” Julio said.
Chulito nodded. Brick sat on the desk and put his bare foot on the chair he had just been sitting on. The flip flop remained on the floor. Chulito checked the tickets and stole glances at Brick’s bare foot.
“Get your ass off my desk,” Julio said playfully.
“Chill, Julio. I’m bouncin’,” Brick said with a smile. Chulito had never seen Brick so relaxed. He usually walked around with a scowl.
Jennifer, Brick’s woman, popped into the shop mid-smile. “Brick, how long you gonna make me wait, it’s hot out here.”
“Be right there.” He flashed her a stern look—a look that Chulito was much more familiar seeing on him.
“What the fuck are you doing? Did you get it?” Jennifer asked.
“Yes, I’ll be right out.” Brick turned to Julio. “Sorry.” Then he gave Julio a kiss on the cheek and left. Through the travel agency’s large window covered with posters, Chulito watched Brick and Jennifer continue to argue. Their voices were muffled and the loud, rattling air conditioner made it difficult to make out their words.
“What took you so fucking long, Brick?”
“Enough, Jennifer. Ya, let’s go.”
“If you don’t want to go shopping, just give me the money and you stay here. I don’t care. Crystal needs shoes.”
Julio talked to Chulito but watched the argument. “Have a good trip and tell your mother to call me if she needs anything.”
The fellas from the corner walked up and pretended to pass by but watched the spectacle. n>
“Jennifer, don’t raise your voice to me.”
“I’m not raising my voice,” Jennifer shouted. “I just want to go and you’re sitting in there hanging out and taking your time. Just give me the money and let me go.”
“Jennifer, chill.”
Chulito felt like he was trapped in the agency by the argument. “Brick’s woman is pretty tough.”
Julio nodded. “To be with Brick, a woman has to be strong.” A small crowd had formed.
“Fuck you, just give me the fucking money so I can go,” Jennifer said.
Without warning, Brick’s large hand swiped Jennifer’s face. For a moment she stood there stunned. The crowd recoiled. Julio ran out front. Jennifer’s eyes narrowed and she lunged at Brick. Brick lifted his hand.
“Brick, no!” Julio cried out, but Brick’s hand came down on Jennifer and she fell to the ground. Crystal wailed and ran to her mother. Jennifer’s mouth was bleeding and her teeth were red.
“Let him go, you motherfuckin’ faggot,” Jennifer yelled. “Don’t hurt my baby.”
“Brick!” Julio shouted.
Brick gave Julio a look that warned him to stay out of it.
Chulito took two steps toward the door and Julio stopped him.
Someone yelled, “Call the cops!” Jennifer got up and pulled Crystal to her.
Jennifer looked at Brick with defiance as she walked past him with her child sobbing. He glared at her with his hands balled into fists.
Jennifer spit at Brick. The red bloodied glob landed on his cheek right below his eye. He flinched as if to lunge at Jennifer, bu
t held back. The spit slipped down his face and stained his white Tshirt. Brick’s eyes were closed and flickering as if"blkering he were having a seizure. Jennifer walked toward their building.
Julio led Brick back into the travel agency. He sat on the couch, covered his face with his big hands and cried, his whole body shaking. The crowd peered into the shop through the posters. Chulito wanted to chase them away but he couldn’t take his eyes off Brick. He’d never seen him so broken and vulnerable, and at the same time Chulito despised him for hitting Jennifer. He wondered if his own father ever expressed such remorse after hitting his mother. If so, Chulito never saw it. He mainly remembered his father’s anger, depression and drunkenness. And the times his father hit Carmen, he would always leave the house in a rage.
Brick put his head on his knees and held himself with his strong arms, sobbing and shaking, no one dared to touch him, not even Julio.
“I can’t believe I hit her, Julio. I can’t believe that shit. I broke my promise.” He looked up at Julio, his eyes were red and tears dripped off his chin and made small spots on his T-shirt next to the blood stain. Brick saw Chulito watching him and covered his face.
Chulito wanted to do something. He went to the water cooler and got some water for Brick. Julio smiled at Chulito, took the water and gestured for him to leave.
A police car pulled up to the travel agency and the crowd dispersed as quickly as it had assembled.
The fellas swarmed Chulito as he came down the block.
“Yo, what happened?” Davey asked, licking his lips.
Chulito shrugged and continued to walk toward the corner with the fellas. He was too stunned by what he’d witnessed and the look of horror on Brick’s face to speak to anyone.
“She shouldn’t have mouthed off like that to him,” Papo said.
“What you talking about?” Chin-Chin asked. “A man never hits a woman. Didn’t your mother teach you that, Papo?”
“Not unless she deserves it. A chick like Jennifer needs to be smacked down, especially if she’s disrespectin’ you out on the street and shit,” Papo answerd.
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