CHAPTER 12
“So how do you like it?” K asked.
“K, this shit is fly. Mattie look at how big this living room is,” Reebie spoke up saying.
“This is nice baby. I’ve never seen a kitchen so big in an apartment. I’m ready to start cooking already,” said Mattie.
It didn’t take K that long to find another place to call home. Even though he kept his first spot a secret, he decided to bring Mattie and Reebie to Allentown. The decision to bring Reebie came with persuasion from her big sister and due to her situation it didn’t seem like a bad idea for everyone to get a fresh start in a new place. But the main reason that K brought Mattie with him, outside of her being wanted for cutting the chick at the club, was to slow him down and keep the dick at the crib. After that first night hanging out at Harry’s, K had been on a mission. Later on that night Dark and Skulls had come up in the club with two carloads of chicks from a town a few miles away called Bethlehem. K had woke up the next morning with two of the prettiest bitches he’d seen in his life and couldn’t even remember their names.
After a week living reckless, he knew that he had to tighten up. He knew that by fucking outta town chicks, it would always eventually lead to some type of beef somewhere down the line. You can’t come to a town and fuck all the bitches, get money, and shit stay sweet. It just didn’t work like that.
So he found a real nice condo in one of the more upscale sides of town, went to NY, grabbed two bricks, all Mattie and Reebie’s shit and loaded up the u — haul truck.
“Well this is our new spot so we might as well start unloading this truck.”
“I’m going out to look for a job tomorrow,” said Mattie headed out the door to the u — haul.
He knew that wouldn’t take long. If it was one thing Mattie was dead set on, it was being independent.
“Oh dam, that reminds me. Here’s that license that I got made for you,” K said handing her a Pennsylvania State Drivers license.
“Kim Ortiz” I kind of like that name,” Mattie said inspecting her new I.D.
“Cool. Once we get all this stuff of the truck, I gotta make a few moves to collect some money. But as soon as I’m done, we going to the furniture spot so you can hook this shit up however you want to.” K walked over and wrapped his arms around Mattie’s small waist and grabbed her ass.” Where is your sister?”
“I think she went out to grab something off the truck.”
K really wanted to take Mattie in the bathroom and bend her ass over for a quickie, but since he’d come home from jail the only quickie’s he’d had were his first two nuts. Outside of that he’d been, Fucking. Mattie felt his hardness pressing against her thigh and smiled. She was thinking the same thing.
“Later,” K said remembering the money he had in the streets.
As they were on their way out to the parking lot, K was thinking how fortunate he was to have a down ass bitch like Mattie. Sure she had her flaws and made some mistakes, but so had he. Nobody was perfect. Of course he had his pick of the litter in a new town, but who wanted to go through the motions of trying to learn the ways and likes and dislikes of a new chick. Especially when he had 90 % of everything he wanted right here with Mattie. Of course the pussy was so good that it had his perception off, and trust should have accounted for much more of the 10 % that he gave it.
His thoughts were cut off as he walked down the sidewalk and saw Reebie talking to a cat in a big body green Lexus with chrome factory rims. He was a pretty boy, who looked harmless. But looks could always be deceiving. As hard as K had looked to find a low spot to rest easy, Reebie had blown it up just that quick. Mattie looked at K and knew what he was thinking, as well as how he felt about niggah’s knowing where he slept.
“Don’t worry baby I’ll talk to her,” said Mattie as she heard Reebie laughing and pointing to the door of the condo.
“Yeah Ma. You do that.”
K cruised slowly down Turner Street which was one of the hottest blocks in the town, looking for one of his workers. While Dante and Skulls had been out and about making moves, K had been doing some recruiting of his own. There was much too much paper floating for K to sit back and wait for somebody else to make things happen. And of course K being the Crimedanch bred hustler that he was, he had go getta in his blood. The sun was setting giving the sky a burnt orange tint. There were various crowds and crews making guap and doing their thing in the six hundred block of Turner. K had found out from his own investigating that there were niggah’s from Jersey, N.Y., Philly and Pittsburg in the town getting their grind on. This wasn’t K’s first venture OT (outta town) so he knew how to maneuver in this type of atmosphere.
He got caught by the red light on 6th street and was able to get a better view of the area. K saw some local cats standing in front of the corner store bodega on the corner. He didn’t see who he was looking for, but one of the cats on the corner noticed the Caddy. G’d-up gave a head gesture saying what’s up and K nodded letting him know shit was all good. Once the light turned green K pulled off cruising slowly in search of a parking spot. He found a spot midway down the block, just after a bar called Trinkles, and pulled in. He removed the.45 caliber Glock from under the armrest and slid it into his waistband. The extended clip made his shirt poke out a little, but he really didn’t give a fuck. Shit is real in these streets, he reasoned. K leaned against the caddy.
“Yo what’s up fam?” said G coming down the sidewalk.
“You know the struggle youngun. Tryin to make moves, I got mouths to feed. What’s good witchu?”
“I been trying to holla at Dark, but he said shit was dry. I’m trying to make a move.”
“Watchuworkin wit. I just touched down (got back in town),” said K.
G had been buying ounces pretty consistently and K knew he had the potential to be a big customer. K didn’t believe in going to the top by himself. Before he had got knocked and was getting money in VA, he made sure everybody in his circle, as well as niggahs he dealt with was eating. Jealousy and envy usually came into the equation when everybody in the food chain wasn’t getting fed.
“Yo that shit yall had, had my customers blowing up my phone. I got like $2000 I’m trying to make a move with. What can you do for a niggah? I’m tryin to come — up.”
“Come on and hop in the whip. Let’s take a ride and talk about some things,” said K.
“Hold up, let me stash this shit, I copped from the Philly niggahs. I snatched a lil seven grams to keep me going, but they shit aint that good.”
G spun off and went down the alley. He reappeared two minutes later and slid in the front seat of the caddy.
“Open the ashtray and fire up that kush,” K said a Styles P came through factory speakers.
Eyes are the window to the soul/too many people lookin’/so I blow a dutch and leave em half closed- Styles P flowed.
As the whip slowly began to fill with the lovely scent, K got right to BI (business).
“Look fam, I been peepin your moves and it seems to me like you trying to get some bread.”
“No doubt, but it been kinda hard. Everytime I start getting right shit get dry. Or shit might be going good and something come up on the homefront. Mymoms be running into tough times, so I gotta hold her down. On top of that shorty is pregnant. That’s why I’m spending 2 G’s trying to stack for this seed I got coming,” said G.
K had seen the little cute white girl named Jodi. He had met her sister named Terri, who was a freak that another crew of N.Y. niggahs was running through.
“True. I can dig it. Peep game though. I’m trying to help you change your situation. How long would it take you to rock (sell) a big 8(4? ounces)?
“Nah fam, you don’t understand. I only got 2G’s.
“Nah playa. You don’t understand. I’m trying to take you to the next level.”
It was like a light went on. When the reality of what K was saying hit home. G hit the dutch and thought for about 20 seconds.
“I
t all depends on how I move it, you know-if the numbers is right. If I bust it all the way down, it might take me a little over a week. But if I could get it for like $3800 I could sell some eight balls, and quarters and move it in a couple of days.”
$3800? He was leaning more towards 34.
“We can make that happen, but I’m trying to have you at half a brick status in like a month, month in a half. That is if you ready to go there.”
”Hell yeah, I’m ready. Niggahs be always looking for weight.Especially my peoples on Chew St. and my fam down on Second.”
K already knew about the money down on Second Street. He had a few cats he rocked with down there, but the potential for that spot was unlimited. Them 2nd niggahs was about they scrilla. They pulled up in front of G’s crib and K dropped him off.
“Yo, call my cellphone so I can have your number and lock it in. You won’t be dealing with Dark after today. Give me about 20 minutes and I’ll call you when I’m pulling up,” K said handing G his cellphone number.
“Good looking out on the hook up too. I’ve been waiting for a chance like this.”
“Just keep it funky with a niggah and we gonna shine like 50 carats of clear blue stones on everybody. That’s my word.”
After K dropped off G’d-up at his crib he called Mattie.
“Hey daddy. Where you at? “ Mattie answered.
“I’m on my way to the crib. I need you to fix me something to eat,” he said talking in code.
Mattie knew exactly what he was talking about because K had put her up on game a long time ago.
“What you want me to fix for you? A steak (ounce) a burger (2 and a quarter ounce) or barbeque ribs and macaroni and cheese (four and half ounces)?”
“Them barbeque ribs and macaroni and cheese, is what’s really good?”
“Alright, I’ll start on it right away. I got something to tell you when you get here.”
“I’m on my way.”
K pulled in the complex ten minutes later and Mattie had the big 8 waiting for him when he came through the door. She was almost done unpacking and shit was everywhere.
“Good looking out baby. I’m taking all this work up otta here before we go to bed. Where is your sister?”
“That dude took her to go get some trees. I told her we had to talk or I was gonna send her ass back to N.Y.”
Mattie could see the expression on K’s face and knew he was getting frustrated.
“You know what I went through in Amityville and I’m not trying to relive that nightmare again,” she quickly added.
“And I dam sure aint. What did you want to tell me?” K said changing the subject.
“I’ve got an interview tomorrow.”
“Already?Dam girl, you aint bullshittin. That’s what’s up though. Where?”
K could see her expression change and could see that he might not like what was coming next.
“I saw a billboard for a club when we were on our way in town and called the number. They want me to come in for an audition tomorrow.
“Audition? What kind of- oh….”
It didn’t take long for K to figure out what kind of club Mattie was talking about. He was about to protest, but quickly remembered how she had told him about her last experience, being in another state with him, and left with nothing after he got locked up. As much as he wasn’t feeling the idea, he had to respect the fact she was covering her tracks. He could look in her eyes and see the fear of possibly reliving the experience. But he could also see the determination as a go getter which was another characteristic he admired about her.
“Aight. We’ll talk more about it later. Let me go and handle this BI.”
Mattie could tell it was bothering him more than he let on, but hoped that things wouldn’t change. Things were definitely going to change in the near future, but not in the way that either of them had expected.
CHAPTER 13
Things began to move quickly and within six weeks K had managed to crank up four spots and employ 17 workers around town. Mattie had gotten hired on at the spot because of her skills and beauty, and soon became a main attraction at the club. The first few weeks in PA had been sweet. K had done exactly what he said and let Mattie hook up the condo. From the furniture to the flat screens, and computers, to the fully stocked bar. It definitely had every outward appearance of home. The first weeks Mattie only worked at the club a few days a week. So on the weekends while Reebie was out learning the town with her new friend in the Lexus, K and Mattie would blaze blunts and sip mixed drinks on the balcony and talk about their goals and aspirations for the future.
Mattie wanted desperately to get her life together and reclaim her son Miguel, which she’d had at a very young and confusing time in her life. She’d also speak about her hopes to own rental property and a huge ranch with lots of land and horses in Montana. She had actually begun the process to enroll in college before the incident in the strip club in N.Y.
K had plans to own a bunch of everything. They would talk and laugh for hours and screw like rabbits for hours after that. The fact that they were one in the same, could dream together, and actually believed that they could achieve their goals, made their relationship that much better. But it wasn’t long before Mattie’s popularity at the club grew, and the owner began to schedule her to work more days out of the week. It was great for Mattie, but it left K with a lot of free time on his hands after he handled his business.
He had gone to her job to hang out and have a couple of drinks in the beginning believing that it was no big deal watching her dance, But he soon realized that it affected him more than he thought it would. Watching her dance for other men brought about feelings and emotions that he didn’t care to deal with. But he saw how much bread she was caking and wasn’t willing to knock her hustle because of his feelings.
So it wasn’t long before K was hanging at some of the local spots and bars where some of the people he dealt with hung out. After he had run through some more of the local cuties, he began to want to do something different. His conscience was starting to get the better of him as he watched some of the young kids in the community that he was destroying. Just like today as he cruised past the park on Tillman Street between 6th and 7th. The park was full of young kids playing on swings and sliding boards as their mothers watched from the benches. K cruised by slowly in the Suburban that he had traded the Cadillac in for. He had become a familiar face in the hood, so a lot of the people in the park recognized him. A few people that he knew waved and smiled and it was at that moment that he made the decision to do something to make a difference.
K pulled up to the curb of the Allentown Youth Center five minutes later and exited the truck. He went through the entrance where two young boys were standing talking about the newest play station game. Inside the front doors was a wide open carpeted area, with six pool and ping — pong tables. Only six kids occupied this area engaged in recreation. Towards the far end of the building K saw a flight of steps that lead up to a second level. He could hear the sound of bouncing balls and the rubber soles of sneakers screeching on wood floors. After he headed up the stairs, the sound of male voices yelling competitively could be heard. When K reached the top of the stairs there were a few different groups of kids balling, but nowhere near as much as it should have been in a youth center of this size.
He walked over to the bleachers and took a seat. He watched the future as they ran up and down the courts without a care in the world. He wondered at what point would lives full of such young innocence, take a dramatic turn that would lead them to make the kind of choices he did. Then it hit him almost immediately. He remembered when that time had come for him like it was yesterday. K knew how easily the wrong kinds of influences and wanting for things that family couldn’t provide could lead an individual to take the next available option. For him that had been the streets.
His thoughts were interrupted by a female voice.
“No disrespect, but you look a little old to be hangin
g out in here,” she said.
K turned and was awestruck by a vision of beauty that smiled back at him. She looked like she had just walked off the screen of the popular show on Spanish television called Caliente’. She stood five feet tall and weighed about 130 pounds, which was proportioned properly in all the right places. Her catlike green eyes smiled when she did. Her olive — tan complexion was a perfect contrast to her shoulder length Jet black straight hair. Her hip hugger jeans gripped her Dominican assets to perfection.
“Nah, my bad. I mean — I’m sorry,” K said trying to catch himself, realizing that he was staring.
She saw that he was struggling and helped him out.
“I’m Liza — Liza Montez,” she said extending her hand. “I’m the Youth Center Coordinator.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Kevin Johnson.”
There was an awkward silence momentarily.
“I just moved out here recently. I was just checking out the center, trying to see what kind of activities it offered to the kids.”
“Do you have any children that you’re planning on bringing here?”
“Well I do have a son, but he’s in N.Y. with his mother. The reason I’m interested is because I was considering getting involved. You know like fund raisers, talent shows, cookouts for the kids. Stuff like that.”
“Oh” she stated. “That’s a wonderful idea. But right now we are fighting to keep the center open. The budget that we have is barely covering the expenses. On top of that we may not even have operating capital for next year. We can’t get the kids off the streets and into the programs in here,” said Liza.
She looked truly heartbroken. K could tell by the way that she was watching the young fellas on the court that her position here was much more than a job. She cared for every child that came through those doors as if they were her own.
“I got some ideas and I’m pretty sure that if we put our heads together we could fill this place up and invite some of those bigwigs down at City Hall to come check it out.”
It Was All A Dream et-1 Page 6