A Hustler's Wife

by Nikki Turner

  "I am glad it fits." Yarni said.

  "Yarni, it's a shame. You know I was always a size 15/16 and I looked inside the label of these shorts and they are a 5/6. I stared in the mirror and what used to be my voluminous butt, is gone. I've even lost weight in my face. How did you even recognize me? I know I look a mess. If the tables were turned, I wouldn't even allow me to be in this car. I was really smelling, and for you to allow me to even sit on your leather seats as dirty and stinky as I was. I thank you so much, Yarni." Yarni didn't respond as she pulled in the McDonald's parking lot. She ordered Cara something to eat and herself a drink.

  "Thank you for allowing me to see what I was letting drugs do to me."

  "Yeah, well what are you going to do to stop it?"

  "I don't know, I hadn't realized it had gotten this out of control. I thought I was handling it. I don't know what to do, or who to go to because my family has totally disowned me." She shook her head in disgust as she dropped her head. "I even lost cus-tody of Lil Ronny, I lost my house. I lost everything." Yarni reached her hand out of the window to grab Cara's food and their drinks as she passed Cara the food, she asked her,

  "Cara, you never even smoked cigarettes, better yet used any drugs when we were friends, so how did it get to this?"

  "Girl, I just got caught up. Right after we fell out, Mike got locked up and he started snitching on everybody in sight. He told on everybody he dealt with around Richmond, about thirty dudes, and they only took like ten years off of his twenty-seven year sentence, and you have to do day for day. If you're sentenced to three years, you have to do every day. So, he continued to rat on people, anybody and everybody he knew or heard of. They reduced his time again, taking three more years off. See, that's the part I don't understand, how they make you tell on all of them people and yet, still make you do years. After he got another reduction, that still wasn't good enough, so he was putting pressure on me to go around to clubs in D.C. and North Carolina meeting dudes who look like they getting any type of money to get their numbers talk to them and find out details, where they be, what they drive, what they do or just whatever information I can get and turn it over to the proper authorities.

  "And these dudes were telling you all their business?" Yarni asked in a surprised tone.

  "Yarni, you know what a dude would do for a big butt and a smile! They pour out their whole game plan, trying to impress me, plus I wasn't from there, which meant, "new coochie!" Chile please!! And, Yarni, I put my work in faithfully for him, but it was never enough. I wasn't cut out for that doing time with a nigga type shit. And, you know this from when I used to tell you, but I tried being there for him, but when I wasn't at home to take his calls or on time when visiting hours started, because maybe I was putting in work the night before for him, I was cussed out, called everything, but a child of God. The whole scenario just began to frustrate me, because it was NEVER enough to get him released. I started feeling useless, pathetic, and hopeless. So, I started smoking weed, staying high all day, everyday. Then lacing the weed with coke, and shortly after just leaving the weed out and doing coke, 24-7, I just got tricked up in the game. And whenever I wasn't high, I would think about you, and resent-ment would really set in when I thought how you held it together running up and down the road to see Des for all those years and just being a devoted friend to him along with everything you was faced with in your own life. Taking all your strengths into consideration, I began to hate you. When I heard that you'd finally gotten your townhouse, I couldn't stand the thought that you were faced with almost the same struggle as I was, if not even worse, and you prevailed, and I was just smoked out!" Cara covered her face as the tears rolled down her eyes uncontrollably. "And to top it off, Mike met some girl through the prison's pen pal program and married her right before he came home.

  When he was released, we saw each other. He rolled up on me in his brand new Lexus, that he got from hustling. Can you believe he's right in this same town where he told on a rack of people not even three years ago? And these same local cats is still buying and selling drugs to his police ass. He said, he'd lost all respect for me because I'd looked so bad and had let drugs get the best of me. Well, I told him that I'd lost respect for him too because he wasn't a man, he couldn't do his time without bringing other people, who had nothing to do with his case down. He beat me like he was fighting a man, and called me a

  "crack head, trick bitch." I told him, with what little energy I had that he was a coward and a snitch, and that he can beat me, but while he's beating me he better be looking over his shoulder because somebody may be coming to kill him. He only got madder and stomped me with his Timbs.

  "Damn, Cara. I feel so bad for you. I had no idea that things had gotten so rough for you. But, Cara, you got to bind out that evil spirit, that curse, that addiction in the name of Jesus, Girl.

  You've got to stay in the word." She reached into the back seat of her car and grabbed her Bible and gave it to Cara. "And on your knees in prayer and believe in your heart that it can be done. Take my word, Cara, that all things are possible through Christ who will strengthen you." Just then, they pulled up at the Good Samaritan Inn on Hull Street, which was a place that reha-bilitated people, provided them with a structured environment, meetings, shelter and helped them find employment.

  "Cara, I was in route to do something very important when I saw you. These people here will be able to help you get yourself back on track. My boss is a personal friend with the coordinator, so they will call me if you get out of line. Don't disappoint me.

  I called while you were in the restroom, so they are expecting you.

  "I won't disappoint you because after everything shiesty that I have done to you, you've found it in your heart to get me out the gutter and back onto the right road. Thank you so much, Yarni."

  Yarni didn't want to get emotional, so she never elaborated on what Cara had just said to her. She told Cara, "I won't be able to bring you any of the things you need in here because I will be preoccupied for the next few days, but I am going to get Steph to bring you some personal items and a couple of outfits. They're not going to allow you to go out for the next thirty days." Cara shook her head. "I understand Yarni, I owe you my life.

  Thank you."

  Yarni drove off. She had no idea exactly how much she loved Cara in spite of everything Cara had done to her. Yarni had always said to herself that if she ever seen Cara, after everything she's done from throwing dirt on her name to sending Des letters revealing every foul thing Yarni had ever done, to calling her job trying to get her fired, if she were to see her lying on the side of the road dying and needed one drop of water, she wouldn't even spit on her. That's how much animosity she had towards her. Now, after seeing Cara, she'd realized exactly how much God had ministered her heart. Yarni knew that it wasn't her who had the will and the power to put her own feelings aside to assist Cara. It was God. This was another confirmation of God's miracle working powers.

  Meanwhile at the Haynesville Correctional Center on June 30th 1999.

  "Desmond Taylor, B&B," said a fat black correctional officer with sweat rolling down his face.

  Des heard the announcement while he was playing chess.

  "What is going on?" He said.

  The correctional officer arrogantly said, B&B, Bed and Baggage.

  "Where am I going? They don't usually transfer in broad day-light." Des asked suspiciously.

  "Are you going home or not?" The correctional officer asked.

  Des grabbed his state issued property, mattress, blanket and sheets. He didn't know what type of stunt was being pulled. He gave all his items he'd just bought from the canteen two days before away. The only thing he kept, was his sweat suit that he purchased from the J.C. Penney Catalog. The clothes he wore in were too small. He'd gained forty pounds, all muscles from working out over the decade he'd been there.

  He walked through the gates. He saw Yarni leaning on her black convertible Jaguar waiting for him. The gates shut
behind him. He dropped to the ground and started thanking God. He stayed on his knees for ten minutes. Once he finished praising God, he gazed up, and Yarni was standing right there. He hugged and kissed her. They hopped in her car, and drove off.

  THE BEST THINGS COME TO THOSE

  WHO WAIT

  Yarni and Des ended up in D.C. where she was taking him shopping. They enjoyed a quiet lunch together also. Yarni explained to Des the information that Gloria had produced.

  "Didn't I tell you that I was going to get you out? It may have taken me a decade, but I came through," Yarni said.

  "Just like you always have. Thanks for being there so faithfully for so many years," Des said kissing Yarni with a long passionate kiss.

  Yarni felt so complete. She had never felt so comfortable around any man as she had Des. She loved him wholehearted-ly. He loved her completely as well and had the utmost respect for her. As they ate lunch, they fed each other. Des gazed into Yarni's eyes. He thought to himself how he wanted to marry her right then and there. He wasn't in the appropriate position that he felt he needed to be in to marry Yarni. The reality of it was that Yarni didn't care what Des' financial situation was. She wanted to be his wife. She wanted nothing but to marry this man, to take on his name, to bear his children and to be with him until death do them part. They were destined. He was her soul mate.

  "Yarni, I am going to marry you in the next few months, but I have one order of unfinished business I have to take care of," Des explained to Yarni.

  Yarni was shocked that Des had spoken about marriage after he had only been home for a few hours. She was also alarmed that he said he had some unfinished business to take care of. She was heated.

  "What do you mean you have some unfinished business to take care of?" Yarni said.

  "It doesn't involve any drugs or anything that will risk me being removed from your life again. Yarni, I'm never leaving you ever. I've just got to put some things into effect so we can live comfortably," Said Des.

  Yarni was still worried. She had made up in her mind that she wasn't expecting to get married any time soon. She was fully aware that the reality of the situation is that Des was raised in the streets. He went to college and was the Valedictorian of his high school senior class, but he'd been married to the street life for so many years. She had promised herself that she'd never accept a hustler into her life again. A hustler had a lot of excess baggage that comes with him: the women, the perks that the hustlers get for having the drugs, the late night hours, the jealous people and the haters which could result in kidnappings, robberies and murder. She couldn't accept any of those things into her life anymore, not even for Des. She loved Des but she loved herself more.

  They arrived at Gloria's house. Gloria and Joyce had planned a nice get together for Des. Des was overjoyed that Joyce and Gloria had went through so much for him, especially Gloria.

  Gloria was a remarkable woman. He could understand entirely why he loved Yarni so much. Look at the woman who raised her.

  He knew Yarni had doubts of him cheating due to the fact he had been locked up for so long. But the truth was, Des had done everything that the streets had to offer before he went in. Yarni proved to be everything he needed, wanted and desired in a woman. Yarni was truly his very best friend. All he wanted to do was be her Knight in Shining Armor.

  As Des made his rounds around the party, he met the friends that Yarni had acquired over the years while he was in prison. He also was formally introduced to Larry and Jack. He gave them his eternal thanks for the work they had done on his case.

  Gloria presented Yarni and Des with the picture she had taken of them on their first date. She had it painted and framed for them to hang over their fireplace once they were married.

  Gloria's restaurant became one of the classiest restaurants in Richmond. She later married Sam and they purchased a sum-merhouse in the Florida Keys.

  Des and Yarni went to Las Vegas, it was their first vacation away from Richmond since he had been home from prison. Des had arranged everything. On New Year's Eve, early during the day, they were at the Venetian Hotel riding on the Guandulopes and the man rowing the boat started singing, "when we get married we'll have a big celebration. There will be dancing and all when we get married."

  Des looked into Yarni's eyes and said to her, "Yarni, I love you so much. What do you think about us just getting married while we're out here?"

  Yarni was speechless as tears of happiness filled her eyes.

  Des wiped her eyes and said, "listen baby, I need you to look at me. Look into my eyes."

  Yarni looked up at Des. He was holding an exquisite, plat-inum solitaire marquis ring with baguettes on each side of the band. The sight of the ring left Yarni breathless.

  Later that night on December 31, 1999 at 11:00 p.m., Yarni and Des were married at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas on the Eiffel tower. The ceremony was simply beautiful.

  Des had surprised Yarni by flying in the guests in hopes of her accepting his proposal. Gloria gave Yarni away. The wedding was very intimate. Only twenty guests were allowed to attend the wedding. Among Yarni's ten guests were Rita, Zurri and Stephanie. There was one of Des' guests that Yarni didn't recognize, or had never even seen before for that matter. The ceremony was over right when the New Year, the new millennium, came in. The fireworks began right after Des kissed the bride.

  The timing was perfect. After the ceremony Des introduced the arbitrary guest as Rico, an old and devoted friend.

  The next day Yarni and Des got tattoos on their left finger, the wedding bands. Des explained to Yarni that the ring finger has the main artery that runs straight to the heart, that was why it was so important for them to get the tattoos there and always wear their wedding rings. Des even surprised Yarni with a tattoo on his arm with a heart with Yarni's name, their wedding date, and a message reading "Death Before Dishonor." Later that evening, while still in Vegas, Des met up with Rico while Yarni was in the Christian Dior store. Rico handed Des a huge Bellagio shopping bag full of money.

  "Congrats on your wedding are in order," said Rico.

  "Yeah, thanks, man," Des said, while smiling.

  "You've got a good wife, Papi. She really loves you!"

  "Yeah, I know, man! Look, thanks for everything!" Said Des.

  "Thanks for giving ten years. You could of so easily told, but you didn't." Rico said.

  "Thanks for the ultimate get back taking that cat Bengee out for all the pain he caused my wife."

  "No problem at all, papi," Rico added. "Just for the record, I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent flowers and a representative."

  "This is it for me. I'm through with the drug game and the street lifestyle. I've got my freedom, my wife and I know God. I can't straddle the fence. I'm outta this," Des said.

  "I respect you papi, and can only pray that I retire out of this game, before I am killed. I love you, pa, and I hope to be the Godfather of your children." They hugged, patted each other on the back and went their separate ways.

  THE END

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