“And what about my daddy?” Savannah whimpered. “He stays with me and Sammy all the time.”
Star took one look at the brown-skinned doe-eyed girl with long, silky locks of hair and could tell she was realizing her parents were monsters. She fought hard to keep her game face on, but was almost in tears surveying her little sister’s legs and arms that were full of welt marks and bruises left behind by Jerome. I’ve gotta get my baby girl up out of this struggle before it ruins her like it’s ruined me. “Fuck yo’ daddy, Savannah. Look at the lash marks on your legs and arms. Don’t no daddy do that type of shit to his li’l girl. He ain’t shit either.”
Bonnie had tricked with the young dealer all night. He brought a fifth of vodka, and that paired up with the pills and marijuana he was letting her smoke on behind him had her mind in a zone that was far from reality. She was loving the stamina of the young’un, unworried and uncaring of Star, Savannah, Samantha, or Jerome. When she awoke with a pounding headache, the room spinning, but more liquor to drink, she took another gulp and passed back out.
Star woke up and took a long, hot shower, curled her hair, and dressed in the items Rello had gifted her with. She even clamped on the gold diamond tennis bracelet like it was hers. No sense in letting this fly shit sit around collecting dust. He better call me back so I can have the chance to run those pockets some more. Star was still holding on to hope that Rello would call her back to extend a second chance although the whole night had passed of countless texts and phone calls with no response or answer. Since he hadn’t shown up clowning on her head, she figured all things went unnoticed with what she’d stolen. Counting out ten pills and grabbing a bottle of syrup, she banked on selling it to one of the fiends she’d surely encounter on her route to or from school.
Star got her sisters bathed, dressed, and partially fed with cereal and watered-down milk. That was the best nourishment she could come up with so early since Bonnie had disappeared and had yet to return a call. Since she’d researched daycares the night before, she wasn’t that worried about them eating because the one she’d chosen served breakfast. They had open spaces according to the Internet, so Star was hopeful everything with enrollment went right.
They managed to make it out without disturbing the house and to the bus stop waiting for the five-mile ride. Savannah had told Samantha about all the great things they’d do in school, so the girls kept Star busy answering questions about everything to expect for their day. Despite Star trying to reach Rello, she found a little peace and joy with the happiness and innocence of her sisters.
The ride was unadventurous for Star since she rode public transportation all the time, but the girls loved it. They seldom went farther than the front porch or maybe to the grocery store for a trip. When they got to the daycare center, Star enrolled them with ease and paid for a week in advance so at least during the day the girls could have security from Jerome. She was starting to feel more like a mother to them than their big sister.
“Come here you two.” She pulled them over close to her. “You’re going to be safe here until I get back. You’ll be here for a while but you can play with all of these cool toys and all of these friendly looking kids; and these nice people will feed you if you’re hungry. Make sure you tell them if you need to use the bathroom or want to call me.” She’d never left them with anyone and although she felt they were safer at the daycare than at home, Star still had to school them to what was going on. Hugs and kisses were shared between all, but no further words.
Savannah looked at Star with tears in her eyes and wanted nothing more than to make her proud. She remembered the words from last night and tried playing the role of a big girl. She took Samantha’s hand and led her to the play area. “Come on, Sammy, let’s play with all these dolls until Star comes back.” She might’ve been excited for school, but she was nervous as a child should’ve been for her big sister to leave.
Star couldn’t leave the daycare without letting her know she was proud in every way. She was glad to know Savannah had learned the importance of looking out for her 100 percent blood sister Sammy. Having the same mom and dad, they were cut from the exact same cloth. And since they were coming up stair-step, they’d have a closer relationship. She walked over to them in the playroom. “Keep taking care of Sammy. I see you, sissy, and I’m proud.” Smiling, winking, and giving Savannah a kiss on the cheek Star watched her sister light up. “I’ll see you two later.”
When Star got back to the bus stop to wait, she felt nothing but relief that she’d given Savannah and Samantha safe shelter, definite food, and someone to teach the basic shit Bonnie was dropping the ball on. She held her head high the entire bus ride back to the hood to meet up with Tanisha.
“Where’s this bitch at and why isn’t she answering? She better come back with a pocket full of money, I know that much.” Jerome hung up the phone infuriated at Bonnie not answering. He’d called all night but hadn’t got one response back.
He knew the house was empty of his daughters and stepdaughter because he’d heard them scurrying out in the wee hours of the morning. He didn’t budge from his bed or care where they were going. He was only happy to have a break from the brats he’d mistakenly put in Bonnie in the first place. He’d gotten out of being a father for eleven years to a son he hadn’t seen in that long, to only get trapped by a woman just as cracked out as him in Bonnie.
Lighting another Pall Mall cigarette, he was starting to shake and go through withdrawals from not having his daily dose of pills, crack, and Mary Jane. He’d watched the porno and jacked off his penis to the point of it being sore. Each two minutes he was back and forth looking out the window thinking Bonnie would be walking up. He couldn’t believe she’d had the audacity to let the sun beat her home. She’d trick for cash on any given day but at home with her man was where she slept. Between hearing the light laughter, usual gun shots, and sirens of either the police or ambulance, Jerome hadn’t slept a wink calling his second baby momma off and on.
Since it was useless to scavenge through the house for bottles to take back for a deposit to possibly get a beer, Jerome chose to gather all the tails in every ashtray he could find so they could be broken down and smoked again. He was desperate, down to no dollars for his craving, and itching for a hit. When he’d broken down enough to fill his personal pipe, he packed it tightly and smoked the burnt, foul-smelling buds. Jerome was accustomed to blowing on recycled weed so he lit it like a pro. Damn I can’t wait ’til that ass gets home so I can run those pockets. I know she’s gonna be holding heavy after pulling an all-nighter. The higher he got, the more times he called Bonnie’s cell. His phone eventually ran out of minutes, which sent him into more of a craze. Instead of waiting on her to surface, he flew out the house heading toward the one place he was banned from but where he knew he could get some credit.
Cars and trucks of men sped past honking their horns at Star while she stood at the bus stop, but she wasn’t in a sack chasing mood. Her mind was going a mile a minute consumed with thoughts of Savannah and Samantha. She wanted nothing more than to get them somewhere safe to stay twenty-four/seven instead of just eight to ten hours at daycare. She thought about her blemished childhood and what she’d grown into and wanted more for them. I’ve gotta start making some grown woman decisions. If I’m not careful, I’m gonna end up just like Bonnie. Struggling Star took one look at her arm and knew what she had to do.
“What’s up, heifer? You done acting all uppity?” Tanisha approached Star standing hood fresh at the bus stop rocking her new kicks, jeans, and tennis bracelet. She instantly started hating and trying to get a reaction from her supposed best friend. I see that little late-night creep did her good. I’ve gotta get ol’ boy’s info somehow so I can benefit too.
“Whatever, I’m straight. Good morning to you too. Please don’t start, girl. I’ve got a lot of stuff to work out behind Bonnie’s neglectful ass.” She rolled her eyes, then began filling her girl in about everything Savannah told her.
In spite of Star knowing Tanisha wasn’t trustworthy when it came to sack chasing, she’d been her only confidante when it came to talking about her family struggles.
“Damn, Star, I would’ve babysat had I known it was that bad for Savannah and Samantha at home while you and Bonnie were out. I knew Jerome was slime, but I ain’t know he was acting up on y’all like that.” Tanisha hugged her girl because she saw Star about to cry. As jealous as she got over her friend getting an overnight visit with who she thought was a moneymaker, she felt bad for Star sincerely. Tanisha might’ve had it hard, but she didn’t have any siblings to care for.
“Thanks, girl, I appreciate you even offering to look out. And after this move I’m about to make, I might be taking you up on babysitting.” Star hugged her friend back. “Instead of us going to the GED program today, which neither of us wanna go to anyway, let’s grab something to eat and open the doors with the pawn shop owners. I need to sell this tennis bracelet in order to afford the apartments we’ll go see afterward. I’ve gotta get my sisters out of that house before they end up dead. Unlike me, they ain’t got time to grow into their own.”
“Wow, what happened with ol’ boy? He can’t pay for you a place to stay? That’s a nice-ass bracelet.” Tanisha wasn’t hating. She thought what Star was doing was honorable, so she didn’t think it was the right time to gun for her head.
“It is a beautiful bracelet and I’d love to stunt hard with it for sure. But I’m just grateful that I have it to sell.” Star knew she’d swiped the fine piece of jewelry and if you got something quick and fast, it’s the same way you’d lose it.
“Well, do you, boo. I’ll be along for the whole ride, especially if you’re treating. With a bracelet like that, you’re bound to get some helluva chips.” Tanisha winked, then took a sip of her Pepsi.
The bus ride and the rest of the early morning hours went slow for the girls. They grabbed breakfast value meals from McDonald’s, blew through a blunt, and looked on Craigslist for cheap one-bedroom apartments with no qualifications that weren’t too far from the hood. Star wanted to get away, but not too far from the only thing she knew. Plus she hoped Bonnie would at least want to visit with her youngest daughters.
“It’s quite a few apartments that are only four hundred dollars a month with everything included and studios for three hundred dollars. You should be able to swing that if you get on aid and jump on a few dicks when the girls are at daycare,” Tanisha advised Star. The more she talked, the more she wanted to move into her own place too.
Star began feeling like she would have good news for Savannah and Samantha when picking them up. Not only was she going to sell the bracelet she’d stolen, but the pills and cough syrup, too. At the thought of having someone to help sponsor her newfound lifestyle came up, she pulled out her phone and called Rello but still didn’t get an answer. When I have my own space to seduce that nigga, I’ll get him back for sure. “Thank you for tagging along with me today, Tanisha. I can’t even lie; you made me feel a little bit better.”
“Not a problem. I know we bump heads when it comes to these dudes in the streets, but I ain’t trying to have nothing bad happen to you or your sisters because of Jerome. If you got a way out, take it. So come on, it’s after nine if you still talking about going to the pawn shop.”
The girl working behind the counter rolled her eyes out of irritation at Star and Tanisha bouncing in so early. She’d barely sat down and hadn’t even checked her Facebook feed for the day and it was time to work. “Yeah, how may I help you? Whatcha got?” Popping her gum, she was rude and ghetto and the reason they say black folks aren’t successful when it comes to customer service jobs.
“Let me sit down before I snap on this chick,” Tanisha spoke directly to the girl but was talking to Star.
Star giggled then unclamped the tennis bracelet from off her wrist. Dropping it in the metal slot, she wanted to cry watching the sparkling diamonds being weighed up. “How much can I get for selling y’all that? Top dollar, too. Don’t try playing me.” Star got just as ghetto with the worker.
The worker didn’t care about Star’s attitude or her wanting top dollar for the bracelet because the Arabic man who owned the pawn shop enforced strict rules to only pay out half of half of whatever that product was worth. That meant Nicole’s appraised bracelet for $20,000 would get Star $5,000. The worker knew her manager would have her head for giving away that much cash, so she tried to bamboozle Star herself. “You can get a thousand dollars, but I’ll give you fifteen hundred just to look out.” The girl smirked. “Take it or leave it.”
Star thought she was going to get more, but was too desperate to say no. However, instead of arguing back and forth with the girl she chose to take the cash and go. Having the lump sum would surely be enough for a deposit on an apartment. “Come on, Tanisha, let’s go find me and my sisters a new place to call home.”
Chapter 11
“So, do you have a job? Any verifiable income? The application fee is twenty dollars,” the apartment manager informed Star from across his desk.
“Naw, I don’t have a job but I’ve got cash.” Star flashed a few of the crisp hundred-dollar bills she’d gotten for the tennis bracelet in the manager’s face. “I can pay you three months of rent right now and I’m good for the other nine months for sure.” The one-bedroom apartment she’d seen with Tanisha wasn’t close to a gem, but it would definitely serve its purpose as a getaway for her sisters. It was only 800 square feet but would be like a heaven from the hell at Bonnie’s. She was willing to spend every dime she’d come up on to get the keys.
The manager tapped his pen on the notepad with a bright idea starting to brew. He saw all types of people managing an apartment building in the ghetto of East Detroit: prostitutes, junkies, and even homeless people looking for a fresh start. He seldom saw young girls looking for refuge unless they tricked at the nearest short stays; but was glad the day had come. “Well, little lady, I see you’re quite enthusiastic about being grown and on your own.”
“Yes, sir, that’s absolutely right. Me and my sisters were born in the struggle and since I’m the oldest it’s my responsibility to get us all out,” Star spoke with pride, looking him directly in the face.
“Wow, those girls are lucky to have a big sister looking out for them like you.” The manager grinned.
Star thought she was impressing him but she was walking right into his trap. He wanted to know exactly why she was desperate and her weakest points so he could use them against her later. Passing Star the application, he questioned her as Tanisha watched on knowing the old man’s plot. But since they were both part of the sack chasing game, it was to be expected.
“I think it’s admirable what you’re trying to do for your sisters, but there’s still rules to follow out here in this big ol’ world. If you don’t have credentials or good credit, you have to have something else to offer up. I think yo’ folk call it the barter system. What is it that you’ve got to offer me for breaking the rules?”
It was then Star realized what was up. She had the cash but he still wanted a piece of what was between her thighs. There’s no way I came this far to not get these keys. Whatever he wants, he gets. “You already know I’ve gotta work for mine, Tanisha. So do you mind waiting outside for a few?”
“Not a problem. Holler if you need me.” Tanisha high-fived her girl, then closed the door behind her.
Star got to doing what she did best: using her body to get what she needed and wanted. It was something she’d picked up from Bonnie whether she wanted to admit it or not. All it took was for the manager to dangle the keys in front of her face for it to all go down. First she bent over his desk chair and allowed him to tickle her anus with his finger. She was never a fan of being pleased anally, but she squinted her face and mustered up enough strength not to puke. Star was more than willing to take the discomfort in exchange for an apartment. It didn’t take long for him to switch their positions with her straddled on his lap. The manage
r loved watching her busty chest bounce up and down. She pounced on his small pudgy penis until it shot warm cum into the Trojan latex condom that was almost too big. He couldn’t keep his loud moans in having the youngness wrapped around his small girth. He was so sprung over Star’s sack chasing skills that he waived the whole move-in fee and helped her forge the application as needed. She walked out of the leasing office a proud renter of a one-bedroom slum apartment.
“Let’s be out.” She disgustingly waved Tanisha toward the main exit. “I’ve gotta get in touch with ol’ boy so I ain’t never gotta mess with that man again. His old ass probably got worms.”
“Girl, bye. You better test that key to make sure it works before you walk up out of here,” Tanisha warned, snatching the key from Star’s hand to lead the way. “I might’ve misjudged that white old fart. He must sex like a stallion and fucked the wires in your brain loose.”
Rello saw Star calling but couldn’t answer with only one minute left on his government-issued phone. Carrying a few shopping bags of his handed-down clothes, he was still trying to act hard like he hadn’t hit rock bottom. The more he played the Chicago trip over in his mind, the more he wished it was possible to travel back in time. He missed Star but she was ultimately the reason he was spiraling downward now.
Only a few feet away from the entrance to the Sojourner Truth Homes, he couldn’t wait to get to his mother’s house but knew her refuge came with a price. Rello knew his mother was going to be disappointed in him to say the least. She wanted nothing more than her son to have the same respect, name reign, and cash flow as Banko did. Maybe I’m more like my pops than I want to admit.
Chapter 12
Bonnie’s body woke up from the sweet dream she was having about her, Star, Samantha, and Savannah. In the dream they were a normal family living with a dog, matching furniture, and a white picket fence. There wasn’t a man beating on her, a drug addiction she was battling, or people who looked down on her. Wiping the sleep crust from her eyes, Bonnie desperately wished she could go back to the innocent nirvana of experiencing pure happiness and joy with her daughters; she wasn’t high enough to escape reality. She lay frozen in one spot and stared blankly at the ceiling wondering how she’d gotten so low in life. Bonnie hated coming down from days of being high.
Girls From Da Hood 10 Page 35