Ghetto Girls

by Anthony Whyte

  “Thanks... Thanks a lot,” Deedee said, overplaying the graciousness.

  She attempted to turn away, and Deja grabbed her right hand. His grip was strong, her body jerked back from the motion.

  “Why do you insist on touching me?” she started to ask. Deja cut her off and shoved a Dutchmaster cigar in her face.

  “You’ll need one of these if you’re going over there,” Deja cautioned as he offered Deedee the cigar. “Have blunt, will travel,” he said with a smile.

  “No, I’m not into traveling high,” Deedee said and put her fake smile on.

  “Bitch!” Deja shouted, unable to control the anguish he felt. “She’s—ah, ah, fuck it,” he said to any clubbies who were close enough to pay attention.

  He spun, licked his lips and watched as she moved hurriedly away. Her black sweater clung to her sensuous body, shapely legs crowned by tight, round buttocks. Damn! She’s nice for real, for real, thought Deja. He was enraptured by her graceful walk.

  “Listen, I gotta go,” Deedee said, standing next to the table where Coco and some other kids were puffing on a blunt.

  “Yeah I’m through my damn self,” Coco declared, getting off her chair.

  “This some good weed, yo,” Lil’ Long said and offered the lit blunt to Deedee.

  “No thanks, I don’t need that. They let you smoke that on this side?” Deedee asked hesitantly.

  “This da VIP section, girlfriend. You do whatever, yo.” Coco walked as if a shoestring was loose. She struggled to gain her balance.

  “Coco, are you ahight?” Deedee asked, giving a hand to Coco.

  “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Just gimme a second, ahight, I’ll steady myself, thank you.”

  Coco needed more than a second. Deedee allowed her the time. She felt like walking away and leaving Coco, but then turned around and put an arm across Coco’s shoulder to steady her walk. Coco offered no resistance and Deedee held her tighter, guiding her through the maze of club kids.

  “Where are the other girls? Do you—”

  “I heard you,” Coco snarled, she was not used to the friendly treatment. “They ahight, they hooked up with their boyfriends...”

  “Oh, they’re not—”

  “What are you, some kind of a counselor? They good, yo. Come on, Ms. Harriet Tubman. Lead the way. Take me home,” Coco said as Deedee ushered her toward the ladies room.

  “Yeah, yeah, I gotta go. Were you gonna give me a ride back uptown?”

  “Sure, if you want me to. I—”

  “Yeah, cool,” Coco said as she held the door open for Deedee. She’s real cool, Coco thought as she stared at Deedee’s backside disappearing into a stall. She has a nice shape. Coco pulled down her sagging jeans, revealing colorful boxers.

  Deedee waited outside the bathroom for Coco and eventually both girls made their way to the exit. Coco had both hands in her pockets, bopping, staring at the reflections of the faces in the mirrors on the wall. Deedee, meantime, fumbled for the keys to the Mercedes. What if the car isn’t there? she thought, stressing.

  “Member where you stash the whip, yo?” Coco asked, catching up with Deedee.

  “Somewhere close, I think...” Deedee said.

  “Okay, but where, yo?” Coco asked.

  “Ah, there. This way,” Deedee said, finding her bearings. She grabbed Coco’s arm and pulled her to the left of the exit door.

  “Yep, there it is,” she confirmed, spotting the car, sitting on rims, radiant in the moonlight.

  “It’s such a dope whip, yo,” Coco said.

  Deedee did not understand, and for the moment she did-n’t see the two figures lurking in the dark.

  “What’s a whip?” Deedee asked.

  “Some dope shit like this. That’s a whip, yo.”

  “What up? What up? Why y’all moving so fast, huh?” A man’s voice shouted.

  “Who dat? Is it…”

  Coco peered around and felt the blow to her face.

  “It’s this, bitch!” the throaty voice came.

  A fist crashed the party. Coco reeled and blanked out immediately when her head hit the pavement.

  “Where you running to, bitch? Get back here and get in da fucking whip. We wanna test ride da shit,” the man chuckled loudly.

  Deedee shuddered as she felt cold steel pressed against the back of her neck.

  “I sez git in da car, bitch,” he growled.

  Deedee had seen this at the movies, heard of it happening to others. She never imagined it happening to her. Her knees became weak as the sudden demand hit her, and her mind reeled into a world of fear.

  “I said get in the muthafuckin’ car, bitch,” he repeated harshly.

  He brought the weapon to her face and then pushed the nozzle against her right temple.

  “Please,” she begged. “It’s not my car. It’s not mine. I...I.”

  “Shut up! Shuddafuckup!”

  A second man grabbed the keys to the Mercedes and headed to the driver’s side. He opened the door, got in the car and started the engine. Deedee ran, even though the guy with the gun was still close by. He caught up quickly and used his left hand to slap her face twice. Her cheeks stung. Then he brought the gun to her face. She pleaded with him. Terror engulfed her whole body, but he only seemed to enjoy her reaction.

  “Please, please,” Deedee cried.

  “What’re you trying to do, bitch? Just act normal and git in da fucking car and you won’t fucking get hurt, bitch.”

  Deedee was scared, but she got in the car. She tried to slither to the back but the passenger pulled her onto his lap.

  “I want you close. We can fuck around while my man drives,” he threatened.

  Deedee did not turn around. She didn’t want to look at his face. Her heartbeat was so loud, she couldn’t think of what to say. She thought she was close enough to reach for the door handle, press on it and jump. Deedee tried.

  The man anticipated the move, and as she reached over, he blocked her with a twist of his body. She stared into his smiling face. He was mocking her. The move seemed to have excited him. His face was familiar. He had been inside the club but she was too harried to really think clearly. Where?

  The car shot into the middle of traffic. The driver showed his unfamiliarity with the controls.

  “A yo, watch where ya going! Turn on some fucking lights!” An angry pedestrian yelled as the car hurtled by wildly.

  “What’s up? I thought you say you could drive this bad boy?”

  “I’m sayin’ though, I’m not too familiar wid da shit. Gimme time. Why your ass brought da bitch? Put her out,” the driver said as he searched for the headlight switch.

  “I brought her to tell your dumb ass where the light switch is. Cutie, tell him how to turn on the lights.”

  Deedee’s mouth remained shut. She felt too nauseated to speak.

  “Tell him!” The passenger ordered. Deedee managed to point a shaky finger.

  “Yeah, yeah, cool,” the driver said flicking the switch.

  “This shit can do ‘bout a hun’ed and fitty, yo,” he shouted, getting excited. The car raced toward the highway, piercing the morning mist. Deedee couldn’t believe what was happening. Then she felt his hands touching her body. She quivered as tears rolled down the side of her face.

  “Please, please, don’t,” she begged. It didn’t matter. His hand continued to roam. She started to resist, but felt the pressure of a gun. She allowed it to happen, out of fear for her life. The driver was preoccupied, and the car was doing close to ninety by now. His hand roughly groped her breast. She held in the sick feeling of disgust. “Please don’t do that. Stop please, no…” He covered her mouth with the gun.

  Where are the damn police? Deedee thought.

  It didn’t do much to try and outstare him. All of a sudden she remembered the face. He was one of the guys sharing a smoke earlier with Coco. His smile covered with the gold fronts she’ll never forget.

  Deedee felt afraid and started to scream. He slapp
ed a hand over her mouth, and with his other hand he placed the gun’s muzzle against her ear.

  “Click,” he said.

  Mentally, she was dead. She awoke with him physically on top of her attacking her. The passenger seat was in a reclined position, and her black spandex pants were off. Her black sweater was dangling around her neck. Lil’ Long was prying open her legs with his torso.

  She resisted and tried to push him off, but he was strong, and after a couple of minutes of struggling, he mounted her. He slobbered over her body, bit her breasts and raked her thighs. She screamed. He slapped her again and again. Blood trickled from her lips. Deedee sobbed as he viciously thrust himself into her flesh until he exploded. She scratched his face. He slapped her harder.

  “Don’t kill da bitch, yo. Lemme get a piece,” the driver shouted excitedly.

  The car pulled over to the roadside. Deedee thought the nightmare ride was over. Then the driver snatched her from out the car and slammed her against the hood. He was inside her, raping her on the hood of the Mercedes. When he was spent, he slapped her to the ground and got back in the car. Lil’ Long threw the rest of her clothes at her. Then he fired twice, both shots striking within inches. The explosion produced a fall-out of dirt that settled on Deedee’s tear-soaked face. She was down and not moving, wishing she was dead. Deedee sobbed loudly. Laughter and music came from the Benz as it disappeared into the mist.

  How did this all begin? Deedee wondered. Dazed and confused, she passed out from the pain. Her thoughts ceased.

  Meanwhile, outside the club, Coco gathered herself. She touched her nose. Blood appeared on her fingers, and her eyes stung.

  “Those muthafuckas. Fucking bastards,” she thought aloud as she pulled off her headwear and dabbed it at her nose. The white do-rag was now stained red. She headed back to the club. Her head was pounding from the blow. The music from the club only served to exacerbate the pain. She went past the entrance and straight to the ladies room where she washed the cloth and stared back at her bloodshot reflection.

  After she left the restroom, she went to the pay phone and paged her girls. They responded in a flash, and the three girls left the club before saying anything. Once outside, they walked a few feet away from the entrance. Coco held the headwear to her throbbing nose, hiding the bruise.

  “Coco you’re letting your dreads fly. What’s up?” Josephine asked.

  “This whazzup.” Coco removed the blood-soaked wrap from her face. “Some niggas mush me an’ jack da shit, yo. They must’ve snatched up honey too, cuz I ain’t seen her since. Y’all seen her back in here?”

  “Nah we were way up in da VIP area. She wasn’t back there.” Danielle said.

  “Oh shit! Oh fucking shit. They didn’t!” Coco yelled as Da Crew stood in amazement.

  “Who did it? You know?” Josephine asked.

  “I didn’t really see who they were, yo. But the voice sounded kinda familiar. It was like… did any of you see Lil’ Long leave?”

  “Coco, you know we were both all the way in da back booths. We couldn’t see them. They could a left anytime, yo.”

  “Word,” Coco said nodding her throbbing head in agreement.

  “All she wanted to do was drop me at da rest, yo. That’s it. That shit is fucked up.” Coco searched for cigarettes. There were none. Her head throbbed. She wondered about Deedee. The thought made her whole body shudder. Then Josephine said it. Maybe Da Crew was thinking it, but nobody wanted to say it.

  “We’ve got to call five-o, yo.” The words hung for awhile. Then the discussion began.

  “Now, ya know them muthafuckas ain’t gonna do shit,” Coco said.

  “I think we should call the cops,” Danielle said.

  “Ahight,” Coco said. The girls walked to the phone on the corner.

  “Police, 911...”

  “Yo, some guys just mugged some girls and stole a car. They kidnapped one of the girls. They had guns an’ all and they were shooting at everybody. It’s crazy out here. Send your baddest peoples out here.”

  “Slow down, Miss. Where are you calling from?”

  “We’re at the corner of 116th and 1st. Send the baddest cops.” Click. The girls hung up and sauntered away from the pay-phone.

  “I’m out. Y’all stay and talk wit’ da cops. I gotta take care of my nose, yo.”

  “Yo, Coco, wait up. You know what happened. Come on, you gotta stay.” Josephine pleaded.

  “Ahight, I’ll stay. But shit’s not gonna be solved by talking all night wit’ five-oh. We don’t even know if she stole da shit or if she had her license, yo.” Coco said.

  “Well, she said her uncle—” Danielle began to say but Coco cut her off.

  “Her damn uncle could’ve stolen that shit,” Coco said. The sirens sounded and the police arrived in a swarm. They came four cars deep, totaling nine officers. The cars moved slowly, red lights flashing as the dawn echoed an ominous air outside the club. Members of the baggy-clothes generation were still haunting their favorite hangout. The officers got out of their patrol cars and began to scrutinize the kids. What were they looking for? These kids didn’t know. Each group gave a negative response to the police inquiries.

  The much quieter club-goers filed by the officers in a hasty urban exit, oblivious of whatever had taken place outside the club. Suddenly, the officers saw the three girls standing under a broken-down lamppost.

  “Here they come, the city’s finest tin badges,” Danielle opined.

  “Did any of you happen to hear any gunshots being fired? Or have you seen anything unusual?” An officer asked.

  “I think it all happened over there,” Josephine said and pointed to where they thought the Benz was parked. “Some kids jacked this girl and her car, and they took off, heading that way.” Josephine pointed the officers to where the car-jackers were last seen.

  “Did you know the girl? Her name?” Another officer asked.

  “Well, she—” Josephine started.

  “Nah, not really,” Coco interjected. “That’s all we know.”

  “Your nose looks bad. What happened?” The second officer asked, looking directly at Coco.

  “A fight, yo. Someone messing ‘round wit’ my man, you know. Gotta defend what’s mine.” Coco said.

  “It’s a tough world, young lady. Did any of you happen to see any faces, or anything that may help to identify someone?” The officer asked.

  “A black Benz. A nice whip,” Danielle said. Her voice trailed off.

  “That’s it?” The officer asked. “Is that all you people know?”

  “Yeah, that’s it. They jacked her right over there,” Josephine said.

  “They?” The first officer asked zooming in on Josephine.

  “How many were there?” He questioned with excitement in his voice. “Two, three, four? How many?” He was almost shouting.

  “There were two of them,” Coco said sternly.

  “And they kidnapped a girl,” Josephine cried. “That’s all we know.”

  “Well, stay here, I’m gonna get an ambulance.” An officer commanded.

  “Can you describe the girl? What was she wearing?”

  “Black spandex and a black sweater,” Danielle replied.

  “Anything else?” The officer mumbled, and proceeded to put in the call for an ambulance.

  “Just a black girl in black with a black car,” Coco said sarcastically.

  “That’s all we know,” Josephine said. The officers huddled. The senior guy returned.

  “Stay out of fights,” he said directly to Coco. The rest of you best be getting home.” Sirens pierced the air. The ambulance arrived. Coco was treated by the emergency medical technicians. When she alighted from the ambulance, Da Crew ran to meet her.

  “Well, it’s not broken, is it?” Josephine asked.

  “No. Takes more than a little punch from a sucker to break something here, kid,” Coco bragged. The girls embraced. This was the first time all three had shown any emotion, other than in th
eir passion for singing. They hugged, and each thought about Deedee. Oneness enveloped the group, which came through in the tenderness of the moment. Coco, still a little woozy from the alcohol and the blow to her nose, was now able to speak.

  “Wonder what’s up wit’ Dee. I hope she’s ahight.”

  “Yeah, I hope she’s okay,” Danielle added.

  “She was only looking out for me. I owe her some kinda due, ya know?” Coco searched for corroboration. The idea was still overwhelming to her. She had just met Deedee, didn’t even know her last name, and was already feeling connected. “Deedee was looking out, yo,” she said, quickly summing up the moment.

  “Y’all could stay at my place. My parents won’t mind,” Josephine said. She did not look directly at her, but Coco felt the last part was meant for her. After all, her mother would probably be drunk and would curse up a storm had they gone there. Josephine understood. And besides, she had her own room, and her home was always clean.

  “I got some loot. Let’s catch a cab, yo,” Coco said.

  “Yeah, let’s do that,” Da Crew agreed. They hailed a cab, and it stopped. The girls looked at each other with surprise.

  “Aw shit!” Danielle said. “This must be some kinda omen or something. Strange things happen in threes, and this taxi stopping for us makes two. No more car rides for the weekend, y’all.” The girls ran to the cab.

  “A hundred and twelfth and Lenox,” said Josephine. The three girls huddled in the back seat of the taxi. The driver hesitated.

  “What’s the problem?” Josephine asked. She repeated the address. The driver glanced nervously at the rear-view mirror.

  “Aw, c’mon. We ain’t trying to jack your ass. See, we got loot,” Coco said. She showed the driver a couple of ten-dollar bills.

  “See money. Now drive,” Danielle ordered.

  “Yeah, let’s go already,” Josephine screamed.

  “Alright,” the cab driver said. “Now I drive.”

  “Think we gonna disrespect your livelihood, yo, Mr. Cabbie?”

  “We should,” Danielle said. “Take his loot and all. Straight jacking.”

  “Will you cut that out, Dani. Hello, we are trying to get somewhere here,” Josephine said. “She’s sorry, Mr. Cabbie.”