Salty: A Ghetto Soap Opera (Drama In The Hood)

by Aleta Williams

  "Excuse me miss. Excuse me." That's Peter's nurse. She came to go over his aftercare. After being in the hospital for a week, he is finally being released. Peter doesn't have any family; his mother is dead and he never knew his father. Ken and I are the only ones that he considers family. Since Ken is out of town and can't make it back until Saturday, Peter is under my care. I bet you all are wondering what happened to Diesel. Well the night D and I was seeing the Lakers game, Yay called and told me that she was at the scene where Peter was in a bad accident. Somebody tried to rob him. She told me that they were rushing Peter to the hospital and that people said they don't think he was going to make it. I panicked. I mean, I was really hyperventilating. Luckily, there were medical people at the game that helped me calm down. I was given a brown paper bag and was told to take deep breaths in it. Once I was calm, I told D what happened. His mouth said one thing, "Do you want me to take you to the hospital?" But the look on his face said another, "I know the fuck she ain't doing all that over this nigga." That pissed me off. Without saying a word, I jumped up and walked as fast as I could out of the game. D was right behind me. I stood at the exit of the Staples Center, pulled out my phone and called my mom. I wasn't getting in the car with his selfish, jealous ass. D stood there and listened while I told my mother what happened and that I needed her to pick me up. She asked where D was, and I told her he was standing next to me, but I didn't want him taking me. D cracked a smile at that part, and I snapped

  ,

  "I don't see what's so damn funny."

  "Your childish, confused ass is real funny." He reached in his pocket, pulled out a napkin and threw it to me. "Go blow your nose." He said, and walked back into the game. I couldn't believe him. I told my mother; she understood his actions. She said that he was hurt and jealous. "Jazz, if you still loved Peter and you knew that you didn't want to be with Diesel or have feelings for him like that, why did you give him you?" At that moment I didn't have an answer. At that moment I was worried about Peter. At the moment, I regretted what happen between D and I. As the week went by and Peter was doing well, I wanted to make things right with D and I needed him to fill the void I had in mine. But every time I called, he sent me to voicemail. Laurie said she wasn't in it and in the same breath she suggested that I let him be and stay with Peter. She didn't have to say it, but I knew she didn't trust me with her brother’s heart. I wondered if D was missing me like I was missing him and hoped that he had not moved on.

  Chapter 12

  “Wack” Pow! I back handed my white bitch so hard she flew over the back of the couch. I looked at her while she lay on the floor holding a bloody lip. I walked over to her, and grabbed her by her hair. I stared into her blue eyes. I had to let her know that I was serious. The shit that she helped me do was between me and her only.

  "If you ever tell anybody about what went down, I'll kill you bitch. Your my ho; I own you. You got that?" She nodded her head yes.

  "Now go clean your face. Roll me up a goodie and run me a hot bath."

  I walked over to the kitchen counter and took a swig from the Remy bottle. I cut my eyes at my snow bunny. She was going inside the duffle bag.

  "Fuck you in there for?"

  "I rolled the last of what we had before we left today." She said nervously.

  "So you trying to tell me that I smoked up a pound of powder? Bitch you playing with me."

  I walked over to where she was and pushed her down on the couch.

  "You fucking with my shit?"

  "No babe, I haven't. I don't mess with that stuff."

  I laughed.

  "Bitch you saying that stuff like it’s a bad thing. Oh you too good to fuck with it?"

  "Wack I told you how I feel about drugs. Drugs destroyed my family." She started to cry.

  I knew what I was about to make her do was fucked up, but ain't no way a bitch of mines gon’ think she better than me. I snatched the bag of pure coke out of the bag. I then walked over to the kitchen counter, grabbed a knife and walked back over to where she was sitting. I tossed the bag of coke on the coffee table, and slid a chair up to the table. After I sat down, I looked at my snow bunny.

  "What the fuck you crying for? You don't trust me? How in the fuck you don't trust the man you claim you love?"

  She did not say nothing.

  I stabbed the knife in the coke bag and then proceeded to cut the package open.

  "This nigga got this shit sealed up tight." I thought to myself.

  Thinking about Debo made me more pissed than I already was. The anger I had toward Debo gave me the strength to cut the bag open. Once the bag was open, I got the weed, some zig zags, and a couple of pinches of coke. I rolled up one of my special joints. I handed it to White-Girl.

  “You know what to do, I told her.

  Part 4 Chapter 12

  Skeletons

  "So, you fucking the pastor now?" Pam looked at Calvin in shock. She then looked at the biracial couple on her left. They didn't hear. She looked over at the Latino family on her right and all eyes were on her. "Oh, so now y'all muthafuckas understand English?" She screamed on the family and then rolled her eyes. She looked at Calvin.

  "Don't come at me with no bullshit your momma done filled your head with." she told him.

  "My momma ain't told me shit. If she knew you and that nigga was fucking, she would have been got at you and that nigga too."

  He had a point. So if Mrs. Lewis didn't tell him, then it had to be her sister who told. And no, she wasn't fucking the Pastor. Yeah, they had been on a few dates that's about it, but he was the perfect gentlemen. He never tried to touch Pam. Although, she kind of wanted him to.

  "I'm not fucking him. If I was, then I would tell you. Why the fuck not? What I got to lose? I'm dying any mother fucking way!"

  Calvin ran his hand across his forehead. He stopped at the temple and massaged it.

  "You're not dying; you’re just as, if not healthier, than people who don't have the virus."

  "Anyway, I came here because you haven't called. I need $6000.00 for Jazz’s party."

  "SIX!" Calvin raised his voice. Remembering he was in a facility where a bunch of cock strong guards were that was waiting to run up on inmates and beat them down,

  he lowered his voice.

  "What type of party is this? I'm not spending that type of money on a party. I'm going to get her a car. You want to give her a party, you do it. Don't you got niggas?"

  "No, I don't have niggas. I have clients. The money I make from them is to take care of bills. It’s not their job to take care of your child. Damn, that's the least you can do."

  The two debated for a few more minutes until Calvin gave in. Calvin told Pam that he would send his boy to drop off the money.

  "Thanks Bae. And for real, I'm not sleeping with no one for pleasure. I love you!"

  Pam was telling the truth. Although she enjoyed sex with two of her clients, she wasn't doing it for pleasure. And yes, she did love Calvin. Why else would she be with a man that is the cause of her having HIV?

  "I love you too. Now tell me what's up with you and the pastor. Pam don't fucking lie to me."

  This nigga must think I'm stupid. Does he honestly think I'm going to tell him that this pastor guy gives me the chills? That I often wondered what it would be like to be the first lady? Hell no. I'm not going to tell him that! Besides, ain't nothing going to ever happen with me and the pastor. What he want with me?

  "Calvin, if I was interested in the man, what is the chance that he and I will work out? I'm a ho with HIV."

  Calvin stared into Pam's deep brown eyes. He saw disappointment, regret, and pain. He was used to seeing everything but happiness in Pam's eyes. He hated what he allowed to happen to her. He hated that she loved him so much that she put her life on the line for him. He would never admit to himself, or anyone else, that he was glad the virus made her insecure. He knew for a fact that she wouldn't leave him for no reason, not for his infidelity.

  "Baby smile;
you’re scaring me." Calvin told Pam.

  She gave a weak smile.

  "It’s going to be alright. You're tougher than that HIV shit." He told her.

  "Yeah, whatever

  “Pam”

  After I leave the prison from seeing my husband, I head to my sister's house. I'm about to put the hater in her place. How dare she go back and tell Calvin anything about me; what's the purpose? I understand her and Calvin are like sister and brother; they were always cool, but I'm her flesh and blood. How many times do I have to get it through her fucking head? I pull up to the projects where her and my niece reside, park, pop my truck and retrieve my tennis shoes. Yes, I was getting prepared to whip my sister's ass. She has a smart mouth, don't like to admit when she's wrong, and is scary as hell. After I put on my shoes, I bail to the door. I did not come in peace so why pretend.

  Boom Boom Boom. "Open this muthafucking door."

  "Who is that?" I hear my niece say.

  "It’s your aunt; now come open the door."

  When Yay opened the door, the first thing she asked after giving me a once over is:

  "What my momma do?"

  She then stepped to the side and let me in. Ignoring the question,

  I asked, "Where is she?"

  "I'm not sure, auntie. I heard her on the phone asking was her pictures ready."

  I made my way up the steps and into her room. She wasn't there. I had an idea.

  "Hey, Yay. Go move my car to another building. I wanna surprise her when she came back. I gave Yay my keys, went back in my sister’s room and sat on the chair next to her bed.

  I don't deserve this shit. I thought.

  Flashback -Fifteen Years Ago

  "Hey, boo; I'm about to make some Tacos." Pam said to Calvin as she walked past him toward the kitchen.

  "Where that blunt at you had?" He asked, never taking his eyes off the TV.

  "I smoked it nigga, what you think?"

  "Damn, you didn't bother to see if I wanted to hit it or not! Fuck, Cuz, damn!"

  He threw the PS controller at the T.V. He then got up and walked toward the entertainment center, took a CD out the case and put it in the player. Tupac's Gangster Party blasted throughout the house. The music was way too loud, but in the projects it was the thing to do. In the projects nobody ever slept.

  Pam didn't come out of the kitchen until she finished preparing the tacos. She was so glad Jazz was at her grandmother’s house, although she didn't like the old bitch. She hated when Jazz was around and Calvin would flip. Calvin had been acting funny lately, real moody. She already knew what the problem was, his money was funny. He wasn't getting it like he was before she had Jazz and when his brother was alive. They used to have their hands in any and everything illegal. Home invasions were their specialty. Now that his brother was dead, he had nobody to watch his back, since a snitch is the reason his brother was killed. A snitch from their hood; he didn't trust nobody. Pam didn't want Calvin going out there doing shit that would cause him to go to jail, so she came up with an idea. She was getting a job. She didn't tell him but she had been putting in applications everywhere. Church's Chicken was one place that wouldn't call her back. The manager was a bitch she went to high school with. The chickenhead, tramp used to spread rumors about her. Claiming that she was a toss-up, Calvin confronted Pam about the rumors, but he refused to tell her who said it. He finally gave in when Pam wouldn't talk to him for a week. He lied and told her ol' girl said it. After Pam stomped her out, Pam found out from her friend Stacy that it was her sister that told it. Pam beat her sister’s ass too. They both deserved it. Any bitches that showed hate deserved getting they ass beat.

  "Here you go, baby." Pam said and handed Calvin his tacos.

  She couldn't hear him because the music was blasting, but she read his lips. He said thank you. She watched him while he ate. She always did. He had no problem with it. After he finished eating, she wiped his mouth, cleaned his hands with the towel she had, and removed his tray. After she cleaned the dishes, she went to shower. When she got out the shower, she put on one of Calvin's wife beaters, tying it up in the front, showing off her belly button and lace thong. After Pam finished with her final touches: perfume, body spray and lip gloss, she went in her secret stash and fired up her special joint. Calvin would have beat her ass if he knew she was fucking with primos. It was a habit she picked up in middle school, compliments of her best friend, Stacy. After three pulls she was straight. She sprayed the bathroom and walked out and into their bedroom. Calvin was playing Adina Howard’s T-Shirt and Panties; he knew she loved the artist.. He also knew just hearing the song would put Pam in a creative mood. And it did. She put her 4 inch red pumps on. She was now ready to put on a show for her man. The music and her special joint gave her so much confidence. Dancing was what she loved to do, but Calvin wasn't having it. He went off when he found out her and her friend, Stacy auditioned for a strip club. Later, he would change his mind. Until then... she was Nicety... That's the name Calvin gave her. He said she was a nice, but nasty freak. Nicety was so high it felt like she was flying. She felt even sexier than she looked. She stepped into the living room with her back turned toward Calvin. She began moving in slow motion; like a sexy ballerina. As she twirled around, she pulled her shirt up over my head and tossed it in the air. She then bent forward, placing her hands on her calves and moved her ass up and down; popping it just right to the rhythm. After shaking her ass for a few more minutes, she stood back up. Her back still toward Calvin, she did a little twirl with her head, and with one hand she unclamped her barrette and her long brown hair fell to her ass. She turned around, pulled down her thong, and strutted toward her man to feed it to him.

  “Oh my gosh." She screamed in fear. There were two big black dudes in her living room. One had a gun pointed at Calvin and the other was punching him in the face. From what she could see, blood was everywhere. Without thinking, or even caring that she could be shot, she charged at the man that was using Calvin’s face for a punching bag.

  "Get off him you fat fuck." The man that was holding the gun snatched Pam by the hair, and threw her up against the entertainment system. Whatever she hit when she hit the radio caused it to cut off. Pam laid there for a minute. She wasn't in pain, thanks to the laced joint she hit, but she was trying to register what happened. The dude that was punching Calvin stopped and looked at Pam with a wicked smile.

  "You love your nigga?" He asked her.

  She was now sitting up, looking at Calvin. She ignored the man.

  "Calvin baby are you okay?" She said, getting up as she held her back.

  "Bitch, don't move." The gunman warned.

  Pam ignored him too. She walked slowly over toward Calvin and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Get him an ambulance now.” Both of the bears laughed.

  "Bitch I call the shots." The one that was punching Calvin said. "Now I want my mutha fucking money."

  "What money? Calvin what is he talking about?"

  The guy that was holding the gun walked over to Calvin and Pam and tried pulling her off. She held her grip around Calvin's neck.

  "You fat bitch; let me go." She cried.

  "Bam." He slapped her.

  "Watch your mouth when you talk to a man."

  "Man, leave her alone. I’m going to get you your money!"

  "And how is that?" The boss man asked.

  Calvin begged for the two big black men to give him 24hours to come up with a plan. They agreed. They knew the nigga couldn't get far within twenty-four hours. When they left, Pam ran and locked the door. She wanted to call the police, but knew that was a no no from where she come from. Besides, what would they do? The next day, Pam and Calvin went down to the owner’s place of business - The booking joint on 85th and Vermont. Calvin told him that Pam and him needed at least 30 days to pay the debt. After explaining how they was going to get the money: working at the strip club and after hours he owned, the owner smiled. Not because Pam’s fine ass would make him lots of mo
ney, he was pleased. But not as pleased as he would be by sticking his dick in her. He looked at Calvin,

  "Do you wanna stick around while I test my product?"

  "Test who. Nah nigga, you ain't fucking my girl?"

  The boss went under his desk and pulled out his Beretta. He aimed at Calvin.

  "Does that mean you have my $3000.00 deposit?"

  "You didn't say I gotta give you a deposit. I ain't got $3000.00. Besides, I only you $4000.00."