by Dotson, P.
“Whatever,” Cassidy mumbled as she walked upstairs. She would crash in her old room for the night and face her reality once again in the morning.
“I’m done with this,” China said throwing her hands up in the air. “I’m gone go ahead and go. I need a fi-,” she stopped and looked at her mother.
“You need what?” Pearl asked raising an eyebrow.
“Nothin’ Ma. Love you,” she said bending over and kissing her mother on the cheek.
“Love you too baby. China!” Pearl said grabbing her hand.
“Yes, Ma,” China said getting a little impatient and agitated.
“You’re going to have to make a decision too. I’ve been meaning to kick your ass, but you have always been the type of child that had to learn things the hard way. I just hope you do before it’s too late.”
“Ma, wh-,”
Pearl held up her hand. “China I ain’t dumb nor am I blind. Believe it or not I got ears in these streets.”
“Okay Mom,” China sighed.
“The Pastor wanted me to ask if you will sing this Sunday for the youth service.”
China rolled her eyes. “Mom you know I don’t sing anymore.”
Pearl figured her daughter was going to say that, but she thought she’d try anyway. China had a beautiful voice and used to sing at the church often, but since Dre’s death she hasn’t stepped foot in a church.
“I know but it didn’t hurt to ask,” she missed hearing her daughter sing.
“Okay Ma I will call you later,” she said over her shoulder as she headed out the door.
Pearl watched her youngest daughter saunter out the door. She looked up at the ceiling, as she thought about her girls, each born five years apart. They’re grown now and she understands certain things are out of her control. She looked up at the ceiling, “Lord what am I going to do with these girls?”
Chapter 5
“Girl, where you at?” Nene screeched into the phone. “I’m standing outside of your house. You better hurry up before I start without you.”
“I’ll be there in twenty minutes,” China said before ending her call and throwing her phone in the passenger seat of her truck. With the way she was feeling she made it to her house within fifteen minutes.
“It’s about time,” Nene frowned.
“Sorry girl, drama!” China said, fidgeting with her house keys.
“What happened?”
“I’ll tell you later,” China lied. Nene was her girl but she’s known for running her mouth. “Just hurry up my nerves are on edge.”
“So now you wanna rush a bitch?” Nene said sucking her teeth. None the less she pulled out her magic stick and added the needed ingredients to do its trick.
Both China and Nene quickly made it to the living room and sat down on the living room floor. China rubbed her hands together in anticipation. She greedily sucked on the glass pipe until her jaws were sore. She leaned up against the wall and her muscles begin to relax as she allowed the drug to release the tension from the day’s events.
“Gimme that,” Nene said snatching the pipe out of China’s hands. “It’s my turn,” she said rolling her eyes.
“Are you starting at the club tonight?” Nene asked, before wrapping her lips around the pipe.
“I don’t know Nene, I don’t think I can do it,” China whined getting a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach as she thought about the idea of actually dancing for money. She remembered she would always trip about Ciara taking her clothes for dollar bills and she was two seconds away from doing the same thing.
China lost her job as a Medical Assistant because of her out of control drug habit began taking over her life. She began to show up at work late, her work ethics began to decline and she failed her drug test. After losing that job she somehow managed to find work as a teller at the local bank. All went well until temptation got the best of her and she started pocketing the customer’s money. She’d stolen close to ten thousand dollars before she got caught. No one in her family knew about the incident and the bank promised not to press charges as long as she agreed to pay all the money she’d stolen back. It was getting hard to pay her debts, bills and feed her current drug habit.
Which bought her back to the conversation at hand; she’d been looking for a job for the past couple of months with no success. Even the manager at Mcdonald’s smirked at her resume. Her cash flow was low and her habit was getting worse. Nene offered her a position down at Club Dynasty where she worked as an exotic dancer, but she wasn’t too thrilled about the idea. She’d heard some wild stories about that place and didn’t want her name to be affiliated with it.
“So what you plan on doing then? Run home to mommy like a little bitch.” China gave Nene a warning look. Nene got the message and quickly laughed off her smart remark. “You know I’m just playing with you. But on some real shit though, what are you going to do? It’s been damn near three months since you had a job. I told you Whitey been asking about you anyway.”
“Whitey,” China said turning her nose in disgust. He was big, sloppy, and black as all eternity. There was nothing cute about him at all except his head full of white curly hair. He tried to get with her a couple of times while she and Nene were out and about but his lack of good looks, and terrible case of halitosis was a turn off.
Nene shrugged her shoulders. “Soot yourself. Don’t come boo hooin’ to me when your black ass is broke.”
“Shut the fuck up damn,” China belted mad because Nene ruined her high.
“Don’t get mad at me,” Nene said sucking her teeth. “I’m just trying to help you handle your bizness.”
Nene put on a good front of being a good friend but it was far from the truth. As kids she always envied China. In her eyes China had everything she always wanted, the stability of living in a two parent home, lived in a better neighborhood, and China always rocked the latest labels and hairstyles. She even came out on top when she found the better man, Dre. Nene couldn’t even begin to deny the feelings she held for Dre. In her eyes he was perfect. She always longed for Dre to look at her the way he looked at China. She wanted to feel the love he held in his heart for China, but no matter how hard she tried he never wavered. He was loyal to China until the day he died.
“Whateva Nene,” China snapped folding her arms across her chest, contemplating her next move.
* * *
“I’m a dirty dance for ya’, gonna shake my ass for ya’,” China nervously sang along with the lyrics of the ole school jam as she watched Nene do her thing on stage. She was nervous; the perspiration that smothered her armpits was a dead giveaway. She downed the rest of her Gin, slightly wincing from the burn as it glided down her throat.
I don’t think I can do this, she thought to herself.
“It’s not that bad,” a female voice seductively whispered in her ear.
China jumped and immediately turned around; mad because she felt she’d just been violated. It was Spice a regular who has worked for Whitey since the club opened. “I mean can you back the fuck up off me? You invadin’ my personal space.”
Spice smiled and licked her full lips and ran her fingers through her bleach blonde hair. China was feisty and she liked that. “Can’t help it if I like what I see,” she said boldly eyeing China’s vicious curves in the black fishnet dress she wore.
“Look I’m just going to tell you one more time and if you don’t get the message by then, I’m just going to let my fist do the talking.” She was disgusted by Spice’s bold manner. She wasn’t cute at all in the face and looked like Wesley Snipes did in drag. The only thing Spice had going for her was her measurements of 36-24-42 with a small waist line other than that if you stuck a fork in her she would be well past done.
“Oooo, a nasty mouth for such a pretty girl.”
“Bitch don’t let the pretty face fool you,” China snapped, she was reaching her boiling point. Spice still hadn’t bothered to put any space between them, China balled up her fist ready to make
good on her threat.
“You heard what she said. Back the fuck up,” Whitey spat. “Take your ghetto ass in the back and get ready to go up on stage.” Spice rolled her eyes and smacked her lips as she eyed China up and down, China kindly returned the gesture. “Bitch, smack ‘em again and see what happens,” Whitey threatened. He turned his attention back to the enticing creature before him. He eyed China hungrily praying for a chance to rest in between her thighs.
“Thanks,” China muttered as she directed her attention back to the stage. Nene just finished her routine and was scooping up her earnings.
“What’s up chick?” Nene asked fanning herself with her hand. “Get ready because after Spice you’re up next.” China raised any eyebrow and Nene smirked.
“I don’t know Nene, this shit ain’t me,” China stated seriously having second thoughts. She was no angel by any means and had done some wild shit back in her day, but she never thought she have to shake her ass for dollar bills. I’m twenty-five years old. I’m too old to be doing some shit like this, she thought.
“Stop acting all stuck up and shit. Half these bitches in here never thought they would be shaking they ass, but when push comes to shove a bitch gotta do what a bitch gotta do. You got bills to pay don’t you?”
China began to nervously scratch her arms and wiped away the snot that kept dribbling down her nose. She needed something to ease her nerves. Whitey picked up on the signs easily. He dug in his back pocket and spread a line across his finger.
“I got you ma,” Whitey said giving her his pointer finger decorated in white.
China licked her lips in anticipation and without a moment of hesitation she inhaled the powdery substance. Within seconds she could feel the drug racing through her system putting her mind and body at ease.
“Thanks Whitey,” she smiled.
“The pleasure is all mine,” he said licking his lips, while eyeing her seductively. He was use to sampling his meat and China would be no exception. If she wanted to stay then she had to play. The things I’m gone do to you, he thought to himself. “You up next. So get ready.”
China simply nodded her head. She began to wind her hips to a beat only she could hear. She was as high as Bobbi Brown on a good day.
“Okay gentleman, we have a new houseguest in the building tonight. Please make her feel welcomed and show her some love. Honey, come on out here and show ‘em what you working wit baby,” DJ Mike blasted over the microphone.
As soon as China heard her name she bounced on the stage without a second thought. The only thing on her mind was Dre and the way she used to perform for him. She walked up to the pole center stage and made it her personal bitch. All eyes were glued to her as she climbed the pole with expertise, before flipping over and landing into a split.
Nene watched seething on the inside with envy as every eye in the building appeared to be glued center stage, as China continued to do her thing. China was definitely making it rain, which pissed Nene off even more. “She has to win at everything,” Nene mumbled before angrily turning on her heels to change clothes, she couldn’t stand to watch anymore.
“Your love’s like honey,” China sang along with the lyrics as she continued to dance for Dre. By the time the song was over China was completely naked. She continued to stare at her imaginary Dre, but as his image began to fade she could see the frown on his face as he shook his head in disappointment. “Dre, where are you going?” she yelled as his image faded completely and just like that she was bought back to her reality.
Guilt and shame made circles around her heart as she looked out into the crowd of lustful eyes. She felt like Adam and Eve after they ate the forbidden fruit and became aware of their nakedness. China did her best to cover up her nude body, while scooping up her earnings. She quickly exited the stage and bumped into Whitey. She rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth, disgusted by the goofy grin plastered on his face.
“Yo’ you did your thing ma. You was really into that shit,” he nodded his head while stroking his chin. “You coming back tomorrow?”
“Yes,” China lied. They would never catch her step foot inside of that club ever again. She would just have to figure out another way to pay off her debts.
“That’s what’s up,” he said rubbing his hands together, eyeing her breasts.
China simply rolled her eyes and did her best to cover herself up. She already felt violated and the fact that Whitey was staring at her like a hot bucket of chicken made her stomach feel queasy.
“You ready?” Nene asked with a slight attitude. She wasn’t feeling all the attention China was getting.
“Yes,” China replied.
“Good let’s go.”
“Gladly.”
* * *
China stood outside of the playroom heated with her arms folded across her chest. She checked her watch, hotter than a bull seeing red. She was ready to go, but Nene had an unexpected visitor who she was now servicing in the playroom. China was approached by many of the customers as well promising to make it worth her while, but she flat out declined. She refused to sell her goodies at any cost; she felt she’d already done enough.
“Man I wish she’d bring her tired ass on,” China mumbled under her breath. She was about two seconds from barging in the room and asking Nene for the keys. Her feet were begging for a break from the four-inch stilettos she wore. “Damn I should have gotten those keys before she carried her hot ass in there.”
“You still here?” Whitey asked sneaking up behind her, his big crusty lips scraping her ear.
China didn’t even begin to hide her annoyance. He’d been eyeing her all night and she’d reached her boiling point. She was ready to put an end to the daydream he had circulating in his head.
“Damn, what the hell is wrong wit you. Don’t be sneaking up on me like that Whitey,” China said snaking her neck giving off as much attitude as possible. She was already pissed and looking for a reason snap.
Whitey shook his head turned off by a bitch with a lot of mouth. “Niggas got shot for saying less than shit like that to me. You have a slick tongue lil’ mama, but we can fix that,” he said caressing her cheek with rough hands.
China quickly jerked her head back and rudely smacked his hand away. “Don’t touch me,” China said giving him her Don’t fuck with me look.
Whitey instantly became irritated and looked at his hand as if it were infected. He was disgusted by her lack of respect for him. His name rang bells in the streets and he wasn’t about to put up with the blatant disrespect especially not from a female. He hated when a woman denied a man of his stature the pussy. When women refused to give him what he wanted he would simply take it.
“I guess Nene forgot to tell you that every bitch that works for me is obligated to let me sample the pussy. Right now I’m being nice. For that petty shit you just pulled you should be dead right now. It’s up to you ma we can do this shit the easy way or the hard way.”
Just the thought of Whitey climbing his big, nasty, greasy ass on top of her nearly caused the contents of her stomach to make an exit.
“Nigga you must be crazy if you think I’m letting you anywhere near this pussy. Nigga I wouldn’t fuck you if you were the last man on earth and my life depended on it. I’d choose death first.”
“Oh I see you one of them stuck up bitches,” Whitey growled turning his face in disgust at her slick comment. “I’m a have to take your ass down a notch,” he said roughly grabbing her arm.
As soon as he touched her China smacked him hard in the face causing spit to fly out of his mouth. She shoved him with all her might in an attempt to get around him; she knew she was no match for this grizzly bear. Whitey managed to recover. He grabbed her by the arm and backhanded her.
“Bitch you’ve lost your fuckin’ mind,” he growled as he stared at her with death in his eyes.
China fell into the wall and watched as stars momentarily circled her head from the hard blow she was given. She could taste the blood on her
lips and she could feel it beginning to swell. She tenderly touched her lip and eyed Whitey with just as much contempt. Her anger didn’t allow her to think clearly, from the outside looking in anyone in their right mind would have ran for cover but not China.
She gritted her teeth and dug her stiletto heel into Whitey’s knock-off gator boots. He howled in pain but the palm of China’s hand connecting with his nose temporarily distracted him from the pain that shot through his foot. He stumbled backwards caught off guard. Anger shot through his entire body pissed beyond words that China had laid hands on him again.
Nene walked out of the playroom all smiles calculating the money she just earned in her head. Despite the large amount of change she was just dropped, it wouldn’t do much to improve her way of living only feed her growing habit.
“Hey . . . bitch you ready to go-,” Nene’s voice trailed off immediately picking up on the deadly tension that hung in the air. “What the hell is going on?” Nene asked looking from China to Whitey once she noticed they were both leaking blood.
“I’m a dead this bitch,” Whitey hissed through clenched teeth.
“Nigga you ain’t gon’ do shit,” China snapped back, unfazed by the look of death in his eyes.
“I don’t make threats bitch,” Whitey growled quickly flashing his blade that never left his side.
China froze once she noticed the all too familiar shiny metal staring her dead in the face. She cursed under her breath for not having her own.
“China, what the fuck did you do?” Nene began to panic, knowing that Whitey would make good on his threat.
“Aye Whitey you might want to slow ya’ roll a little bit.”
Whitey looked over his shoulder and sucked his teeth recognizing the all too familiar face. “Clay this ain’t got shit to do with you.”
“See that’s where you wrong. You see that girl right there,” Clay said pointing to China. “That’s my home girl, so if you fucking wit her, you fucking wit me. Lay a hand on her and I’m a own you and everything up in this bitch.”