“’Bout eight hundred.”
She lost all expression in her face as she shook her head, mumbling, “His whole fucking paycheck. Goddamn it!”
“Hey, Katrice. You a good-looking woman. Why you fuck with that nigga anyway?”
“’Cause I love him, Rodney. Because I love him.” And on that note, she headed for the stairs, probably to talk to that fine-ass Kerri.
I watched Katrice walk up the steps, then almost shit on myself when the front door to the building flew open and Big Red walked in. He was followed by the human gorilla Bubba.
Red, a short brother who looked more like a pimp than the city’s biggest drug dealer, always wore red. Today was no exception. He was wearing a red jogging suit, red sneakers, and a red baseball hat. Oh, and all his jewelry had red ruby stones.
“Where’s my money, Rodney?” Red demanded coolly as he approached. “You was supposed to drop off my money six hours ago.”
“I know, Red. But the funniest thing happened on my way to your office.” He was in my face now and I felt like I was pinned to the wall.
“Oh yeah, what’s that?”
I gave him a big, pitiful smile as I whined, “I lost the money. Ain’t that funny?”
Red glanced at Bubba, then Bubba glanced back at him. They both bust out laughing and I tried to join them, though mine came out more like a nervous cackle.
“Yeah, man.” Red continued to laugh. “That shit’s funny as hell. Tell me if you think this shit is funny.”
Before I could react, Bubba punched me in the stomach then grabbed me by the neck, lifting me off the ground like I was a rag doll.
“Where the fuck is my money, Rodney?” Big Red asked sternly. “I gave you twenty thousand dollars’ worth of drugs and all I asked for was fifteen thousand dollars in return. Now I want my money or I want my product.” Big Red stared at me as if he thought I was gonna answer him. But the way Bubba was holding my neck I was having a hard enough time trying to breathe. Talking wasn’t even an option.
“Let him go, Bubba.” Bubba did as he was told and I dropped straight to the floor like a piece of lead. Red bent over and got in my face.
“Where’s my money, Rodney?” Red demanded again.
“I’m sorry, Red. I don’t know how but I lost it.” As much as I hated to look like a punk, I was crying by now. Red glared at me, then nodded his head three times like he’d made a decision.
“Carry this nigga in his apartment so I can put a cap in his ass,” he told Bubba. Before I could even think to holler for help, Bubba’s huge hand was around my neck, lifting me up in the air again. A few seconds later I was in my apartment, about ready to pee on myself. I was sure I’d be dead in ten minutes.
“Where the fuck is my money, Rodney?” Red demanded again as he pulled out a gun and pointed it at my head. He pulled back the clip and I closed my tear-filled eyes, praying that there was a heaven and God was going to accept me into it. “I asked you a question. Where the fuck is my money?”
Bubba eased up on my throat so I could speak. “I lost it, Red. I swear to God, I ain’t take it. I lost it. Look around you. Can’t you see I’ve been tearing this place apart trying to find it?”
He looked around. “Damn, this place does look like shit.”
He scratched his head then reached into my pockets, pulling everything out. “Let’s see what he’s got, Bubba.” He thumbed through the contents of my pockets. “Eight hundred dollars. Rent receipts…” He stuffed the eight hundred in his pocket. “Two lottery tickets. What the fuck you got these for?” He laughed and tossed them on the floor.
“A dollar and a dream,” I said sheepishly, and he laughed.
“Yeah, well, you better hope your dream comes true, ’cause if you don’t have my money by Monday, you gonna be dreaming permanently. Do I make myself clear?”
“Perfectly.” I nodded.
“Let ’im go, Bubba.”
Bubba did as he was told and I went crashing down to the floor again.
“I want my money on Monday night, Rodney. I’m not playing with you.”
“I’m gonna have it, Red,” I told him as he headed for the door. “I promise. I don’t care if I have to rob a bank. I’m gonna have your money for you on Monday.”
“You better,” he growled, “or you’re gonna be pushing up daisies on Tuesday.”
5
Katrice
I was so pissed at Jordan. I couldn’t go back into the apartment, even if he wasn’t there. Just the thought of having him walk through the door and having to look into his face made me sick to my stomach. I decided to go upstairs and see if Kerri had at least part of her rent.
“You okay, Kerri?” I asked softly as I tapped on the door.
“Yeah, I’m cool,” she said, and opened the door.
I followed her into the candlelit room. “Candles? And Luther? What was the occasion?”
“Happy Broke-as-Hell Night.” She lifted a glass of wine in the air in an imaginary toast. She tilted it back and drank it all in one swallow. I knew she was down. Kerri hardly ever drank.
“I take it that it wasn’t a happy celebration?”
“No, it wasn’t. Want a glass of wine?” She stood up. “I sure need a refill myself.”
“What the hell? Yeah, bring me some. Hell, bring the whole bottle,” I told her.
“My girl!” she yelled as she went into the kitchen. “Where is the love of your life tonight?”
“Went to the Quick-Mart.”
“What? He trying to win the big jackpot, too?”
“What jackpot?”
“Girl, you know the lottery jackpot is fifty million this week. That’s why the lines have been wrapped around the building at the convenience stores. You didn’t know?” She sauntered into the room carrying the bottle of wine and two glasses.
Kerri was a very attractive girl. She reminded me of one of those video chicks. Not the ghetto-fab ones, but the classy model type. She kept her long, thick hair in a ponytail piled high in the middle of her head and her face had that high-class look—almond-shaped eyes, full lips. Her body was to die for. I still didn’t understand why she couldn’t find and keep a good man. She was really nice, smart, and funny. Maybe there was something to her that I didn’t know about.
“I didn’t notice, I guess. Too much other stuff going on in my life.”
“Join the club,” she said, and filled our glasses.
“Look, Ker. I know your luck these past couple of months has been just as bad as mine, but I really gotta have your rent money.”
“I’m trying, Trice. I damn near had it tonight, but I lost my head.” She slumped back on the sofa.
“What happened up here?” I asked her out of curiosity.
“You know that older dude Charlie I been messing with?”
“Yeah. The one that said he wanted to marry you.”
“Uh-huh.”
“What about him?”
“Well, I decided to break him off a li’l something real good. Then I was gonna hit him up for some money for the rent.”
“The way y’all were moaning and groaning, it sounded like you were breaking him in two.” I laughed.
“I worked it. I know I did. Hell, he even went to the ATM to get the money for me.” She sighed.
“He got you the money? Then you should be straight. Gimme my money, girl.” A smile came over my face.
“I didn’t finish. While he was gone—get this, girl—his motherfuckin’ wife called.”
“Shut up! That nigga was married? He’s been coming over here for, like, months. I thought y’all were doing a’ight.” I couldn’t believe it. Men are a trip. I knew I’d seen this man come over all times of the day and night. Shit, we even double-dated a couple of times. You never would’ve known that he was married. He sure as hell hadn’t acted like it.
“Can you believe this shit?” She turned her glass up again. “And at first he tried to deny it, but then he just left when I told him I was gonna call the c
ops on his ass.”
“So that’s why you was cussing his ass out? We heard you yelling and him leaving,” I told her.
“What are y’all, professional eavesdroppers or somethin’?”
“No, but when your ass is loud, and you are loud, we can hear everything, and I do mean everything.
“So what about the money? Did you at least get the money?”
“Hell no. I wasn’t thinking. I kicked his ass out before I got the money. Now I got no man and no money.”
“I feel for you. Men are dumb,” I said, thinking about my own situation and referring to Jordan.
“Don’t I know it. But I’m on a mission. I am gonna hook me a real man.”
“A fine man,” I added, still thinking of Jordan and his sexy chocolate self. Lord knew my husband was a loser, but he was beyond fine.
“A nice man.”
“With a steady J-O-B. Don’t forget he gots to have a job.”
“No doubt, no doubt. And know how to romance me.”
“And make sure he don’t live with his mama.”
“And he gotta satisfy me in more ways than one. He gotta go downtown!” Kerri stood and danced provocatively as she sang. I nearly fell off the sofa with laughter.
“And no baby mama drama!” I reminded her.
“And no wives!”
“You gotta triple-check his ass when you find him.” I was almost drunk by now.
“Triple-check?”
“Credit check, criminal check, and medical check. You got to check his ass!” Tears were streaming down both of our faces and I had to pee by now. “I gotta get out of here. You got me drunk, and your ass still ain’t paid your rent.”
“I’ll figure something out. There’s a Mr. Just-For-Right-Now out there somewhere.” She sighed.
“What about Rodney?” I said, thinking if I hooked them up then he could help her out and she could pay.
“Uh, I don’t do criminals. I want my man to be legit. Besides, he’s too small for me, and Trina from down the block said he got a little-ass dick.” She winked.
“Men with little dicks have the best tongues. They make up for their shortcomings by giving us long cunnilingus.” I winked back.
“Forget it. I find the thugged-out thing sexy, but it’s not my style. I told you, I like my men big and legit.”
“What about Paul?”
“Paul, from across the hall?” She tilted her head in thought.
“What other Paul would I be talking about?”
“I don’t know, Katrice. He’s nice and all, but he tries too damn hard.”
“Didn’t you say at one time you liked a take-charge man?” I decided to push this issue because Paul always paid his rent, and if he couldn’t afford to pay it all, maybe he could afford to help Kerri pay some of her rent.
“But Paul?”
“I think you should talk to him and at least see where his head is at. Come on, Kerri, if you don’t come up with this money, we’re all gonna be homeless. At least try.”
“So you think I should pimp myself out to Paul for my rent money, Trice? What does that say about me?” She looked at me.
“You said yourself you had thought about it at one point. Just act on those thoughts.”
“No, I said I thought he was nice. I never said I wanted to fuck him,” she corrected me. “Besides, he can’t afford to keep me in the lifestyle I’m accustomed to.”
“What lifestyle is that? Lifestyles of the broke and evicted?” I asked her and opened the door to leave. Paul was unlocking the door to his apartment across the hall.
“Oh, hi, Paul. You sure keeping some late hours,” I said.
“Just taking the garbage out,” he replied. “How you ladies doing?”
“Just fine. Kerri and I were just talking about you.”
“For real? What about me?” He turned and looked past me at Kerri wearing the short kimono and holding her glass. I opened my eyes wide and nodded. She rolled her eyes and opened the door wider so he could get a better view.
“She asked me what type of men I liked and I told her I like my men big, like you.” She licked her lips and I took this as my cue to be on my way.
“Interesting,” was his only comment.
“Well, I’ll check y’all later. Handle your business, Ker. Peace, Paul.” I weaved past them, down the steps to my own apartment.
Jordan had not come home yet so I crawled into the bed and curled into a tight ball. I didn’t know what I was going to do. Even if Kerri came up with her money, the fiasco that Jordan had worked out with Rodney still created a hole that couldn’t be filled. I could see my brother Kevin now, smiling because he was right. I wasn’t responsible enough to take care of this building and all that it included. I could barely pay my car note, and that was a month behind, too.
“Katrice, you don’t know anything about real estate or property management. We should just sell the building, and you and Jordan can have a nice little nest egg to start off with,” Kevin told me at the reading of Daddy’s will.
“Daddy didn’t know anything about it either, and look how much he made off of it. He had faith enough in us to leave it to us, why can’t you?”
“Look, Trice, I am not trying to belittle you, or doubt you, for that matter. This is more responsibility than you can handle, and I am not gonna be the backbone for you with this one. I promise.”
“I don’t need you to be my backbone. That’s why I have a husband. That’s his job.” I glared at him.
“Jordan?” He laughed in my face. “You are gonna depend on Jordan to help you do this? Trice, I just got called two days ago because the car I co-signed for you guys is past due. Now you think you can pay the mortgage on a building?”
“The car note has been taken care of. There was a bank error, but now it’s corrected.” I didn’t tell him that the error had been that Jordan told me he put five hundred dollars in the checking account when he only put in two-seventy-five.
“Fine, Trice. You do your thing. But I am not gonna be responsible for whatever happens. I mean that.”
“Whatever, Kevin. I know what I’m doing.”
He was right. I wasn’t responsible enough, and Jordan sure as hell wasn’t no kind of backbone. The door squealed open as he tried to sneak in. He crept in the room and I could hear the jingling of his belt as he removed his pants. He went into the bathroom and brushed his teeth and gargled. Then, carefully, oh so carefully, he eased into bed. When he saw that I didn’t move, he snuggled against me and put his arm around my body like he did every night. I chose not to say anything because I was sleepy from the wine, exhaustion, and depression all rolled into one. I fell asleep with the building on my mind, my daddy in my heart, and tears on my pillow.
6
Paul
“So, Kerri, maybe we can have dinner sometime?” I wasn’t sure, but it looked like Katrice was giving me a hint to try and get with Kerri before she left. So I was gonna see where it went. “How about Red Lobster?”
“I don’t do Red Lobster, but you can take me to Legal Seafoods if you want.”
“Ah, I don’t know much about Legal Seafoods. What’s it like?”
“It’s expensive, Paul. Like me.” She smiled and it seemed like the entire hallway lit up. “Do you think you can afford a woman like me? A high maintenance woman?”
“Well, yeah, I think so. I mean, I like you, Kerri. I’d do whatever it takes to keep you happy.”
“Really? Well, I might keep you to that,” she teased. “Look, I have to check my calendar and I’ll get back to you about dinner, okay?”
“Yeah, sure, no problem. Let me know when you check your calendar.” I frowned. She was giving me the runaround just like usual. Damn, I shouldn’t have even asked her out. I picked up my trash and took a step towards the stairs.
“Hey, Paul,” she called. I stopped and turned around. “I’m having a couple of people over the day after this Saturday night to watch the Tyson fight. Why don’t you bring over a bot
tle of Dom Perignon and a bottle of Moet, say around nine? You can be my date.”
“Sure, but why you gonna need both?”
“Because I’m not quite sure what I’m gonna be thirsty for. I thought you said you’d do whatever it takes to make me happy?”
“I did.”
“Then I’ll expect you to have both. Now I’ve gotta get some sleep.” She leaned over and kissed my cheek. My dick got hard right away. Thank God she didn’t look down at my sweatpants before she closed the door, because my shit was poking out so far my pants looked like a tent.
I picked up my bag of garbage and walked down the stairs with a stupid grin on my face. I never really thought I’d have a shot with Kerri. I guess I always thought she was too high maintenance for me. And in truth, she still might be. Dom and Moet? But I wasn’t about to let a chance like this go by without trying. Kerri had to be one of the finest women I’d ever met.
When I got downstairs I went around to the side of building where the trash cans were. Freddie was there, rummaging headfirst through one of the cans. It turned my stomach to see a grown man with his hands all up in that nasty shit.
“Freddie, what the hell are you doing, man?”
“I’m trying to find this brown envelope for Rodney. He said he was gonna give me two dollars if I found it. I’m gonna buy me some lottery tickets.” He bent back over into the can and started digging again. I grabbed him by his coat and pulled him out.
“Freddie, man, get the hell outta there. Here, I’ll give you the two dollars.” I reached in my sweatpants pocket, pulled out two dollars, and handed it to him.
“Thank you, Paul. Thank you!” He looked like he was gonna bust a gasket. “Man, when we hit, I’m gonna split it with you. I swear to God.”
“A’ight, Freddie, you do that. Just don’t be going through no more garbage. You hear?”
“A’ight, Paul. No problem. Look, I’m gonna go get in line so I can buy our tickets.” He turned around and headed straight for the Quick-Mart, which meant he’d be guzzling down a forty-ounce in about ten minutes.
I put my trash in the can and covered it with the lid. When I turned to go back inside, Rodney was standing in my way. I couldn’t stand his ass. Poisoning our people with his drugs and shit.
A Dollar and A Dream Page 3