A Good Day to Die

by James Hendricks

  Tina came downstairs in the morning to check on the boys and was panicking when she didn’t see her Jon. Don told her that he went fishing with Bay Bro and that he didn’t want to wake her. It was midday and Jon hadn’t turned up. Don was becoming extremely worried.

  “Do any of y’all know where my brother can be?” Don asked as they sat on the front porch. Everybody looked around at each other. “Man, if something…

  “Jon is fine,” Kay said cutting Don off. “He just needed to cool off.”

  “Cool off…?” Don asked.

  “For starters, Jon thinks that you went against him. He thinks that you sided with Twon over him. He also thinks that you see Twon as your brother instead of him. And worst that stunt that you pulled last night with him in front of everybody was straight disrespect.”

  The boys spent the rest of the afternoon just sitting on the porch. They didn’t even go out to steal no cars. Around nine o’clock that night Jon came walking up. The boys were still sitting on the porch lost in thoughts and hadn’t paid attention to him until Jon was on the first step.

  “Are you all right?” Don asked calmly.

  “Yeah, I’m cool.” Jon said.

  “I told ma that you went fishing with Bay Bro. He said for us to come by his house when you showed up.”

  “What you mean when I showed up?”

  “He just want to make sure we ain’t killed nobody lately.”

  Don laughed hoping that his brother would see that he wasn’t mad. Jon let his guard down and relaxed.

  “Ahight,” Jon said rubbing the top of Zoe’s head as he walked by him. “Let me jump in the shower first.” All of them were relieved that Jon had calmed down.

  Jon took his shower and went to his bedroom. He walked in and found Don sitting on his bed flipping through some CD’s.

  “What’s up?” Jon asked.

  “After you left last night I did a lot of thinking. I heard what you said last night and I also heard Kay earlier.”

  “Kay…?” Jon asked.

  “Yeah, Kay, that’s your man, right? The same way you feel about me and Twon’s friendship. I feel the same way about you and Kay’s. Look Jon.” Don said standing. “You my brother and I’m always gone worry bout you. Please, don’t stay away again without anyone knowing where you are.”

  Jon looked at his brother and smiled. “All right, now can I get dressed?”

  The brothers laughed and hugged.

  7

  The boys arrived at Bay Bro’s house and found him and Lynette sitting in the living room watching her favorite movie, Ghost.

  “What’s up old man?” Don said shaking Bay Bro’s hand. Don pointed at Ron. “This is who I told you about.”

  Bay Bro looked at the teenager and wanted to laugh at the sight of Ron’s black and blue eyes compliments of Jon. Instead he extended his hand.

  “What’s up, young brother?”

  Ron shook his hand and said nothing. He was busy gazing at Bay Bro’s toned upper body under the wife-beater.

  Jon went straight to Lynette.

  “What’s wrong baby?” she asked caressing Jon’s face.

  “I’ll tell you ‘bout it later.” He responded.

  Bay Bro looked over at Jon and Lynette and shook his head laughing.

  “Y’all two better not make me a grandfather no time soon. I think we should go out front and talk. I’ll be back in fifteen minutes baby girl.”

  Outside no one said anything for a minute.

  “What’s going on?” Bay Bro asked.

  “With what?” Ron responded with intense curiosity. Bay Bro glanced at him and lit a Newport.

  “What’s up with you and Twon’s eyes…?”

  “I got a little out of line yesterday and we fell out. But it’s cool though, we done squashed all that.” Ron said.

  “I don’t get y’all.” Bay Bro said inhaling. “Y’all egos so bad…y’all go to war with anybody, even y’all selves.” Bay Bro exhaled the smoke then continued. “I’ve never been ashamed or threatened by y’all. My ego is in check. I don’t have to beef with my boys about who’s the man, because you know what?” Bay Bro paused. “At different times we all play the man. Y’all have different qualities and at different times you’ll have to step up and put those qualities to use. No one should be mad or jealous because it’s for all y’all. Each of you’ll benefit from each other.” Bay Bro flicked his cigarette in the air. “Y’all brothers and brothers will fight. Now if y’all can’t resolve y’all differences on y’all own then I’m a get involved then we all be fighting. Now just put this behind y’all.”

  The boys looked at each other as if they didn’t know what to do. Jon walked over to Ron and shook his hand. He did the same with Twon. Everyone followed Jon.

  Later they sat watching Ghost. Jon didn’t care what movie it was, he and his boo were cuddled together on the love seat. Bay Bro went to his bedroom after his speech glad that they showed up because he didn’t want to watch Ghost for the hundredth time. The boys sat around cracking jokes about the movie and about Jon and Lynette. In the past Lynette would have told them off but now that she was with Jon she let them slide. After about thirty minutes Lynette got up to go to the bathroom and when she left Don went and sat beside his brother.

  “We need to start thinking about making some real money,” Don whispered to Jon.

  “What you got in mind?” Jon asked suspecting drugs would be involved.

  “Jackin,” Don smiled. Jon looked surprised. Don continued. “I figured it’s too much risk in selling the stuff ourselves, so we let other niggas take the risks and then we come and get they riches. And we open up spots.” Jon nodded his head.

  Ron approached Lynette when she came out of the bathroom.

  “What do you want?” She crossed her arms.

  Ron was enchanted and was determined to try and take her.

  “I’m not trying to start no trouble. I just wanted to talk to you. You know? One on one,” Ron smiled.

  “Whatever you got to say to me, you can say in front of my man,” Lynette said peeping game.

  “Look Lynette, I think that you’re a very beautiful young lady and I’m not trying to disrespect you but I thought that you and Jon had an open relationship, especially the way he’s out there.”

  “An open relationship…?” Lynette laughed. “Nah, we got a closed relationship and if it were open,” she paused and took a step back looking Ron up and down, “Honey, you wouldn’t have a chance.”

  “I’m just a stubborn kinda fella and I got my mind made up on you…” Ron smiled. Without answering Lynette walked away.

  “Stupid little bitch,” Ron said under his breath. Smiling thinking that all he wanted to do was zoom-zoom in her poompoom. He watched her backside sashaying back and forth as she walked away. It was best not to tell Jon, she thought. Lynette snuggled up under Jon’s arm and continued to watch the movie.

  The boys functioned as a unit for the next two weeks. Ron continued hanging with them and even made money with them. The fourth of July was hot. The boys were in the Dungeon debating stealing cars.

  “I’m telling you man, we should roll out to Gleason,” Zoe said on the phone to a girl.

  “I’m not trying to go to Taste,” Jon said wanting to spend time with Lynette.

  “All the girls gone be out there,” Zoe said covering the phone with his hand.

  “I don’t care what we do,” Jon said.

  “All right,” Zoe said jumping up from the couch. “The Taste is it.”

  The Taste of Gary was a knock-off from the Chicago’s Taste of Chicago. Only unlike Chicago, there is food from all over to taste. The Taste of Gary is a huge carnival with singers, usually old school singers like the Gap Band, the O’Jays and other soul groups from the seventy’s. This year TLC was scheduled. Zoe loved Left Eye. It was the determining factor he wanted to go.

  Around seven that night they arrived at Taste. Kay, Jon and Zoe rode in Jon’s Impala while Twon, Don and Ron
rode in Twon’s Delta 88. It’d be less hassle to find parking. It still took twenty minutes to find a spot. Zoe kept carrying on that the Taste was packed with honeys.

  They made it inside the concert. TLC were already on stage performing. The stadium was packed to the rafters with people from all over Gary. The boys got as close to the stage as possible. Zoe was really enjoying the concert, loving every song the group sung. They started singing What About Your Friends. Zoe spotted a golden complexion, five-foot one with long black hair, hazel eyed beauty standing a couple feet away. He thought she winked at him. He decided to kick it to her.

  “Do I know you?” the girl shouted over the music.

  “You probably seen me play ball,” Zoe said smiling before he continued. “We got this squad that the city be talking about.”

  “No,” she said with a blank expression.

  “You’re joking right?”

  “I don’t watch sports.” The girl said moving her hair away from her eyes. “I might catch a game a year.” Zoe knew she was lying, he could see right through her flirty moves. He had seen her in the stands before. She was a true basketball fan and had seen most of Zoe’s games. The girl had done her homework and found out that Zoe and his crew were up-and-coming gold-getters.

  “My name’s Zoe,” He extended his hand.

  “Shawn,” she said smiling and holding his hand. A six-foot three, dark skinned, slender man grabbed Shawn by the waist from behind.

  “Get your young ass on somewhere!”

  Zoe looked up and the first thing he saw was a gold six point star with diamonds on each point hanging from a gold Rolex link chain.

  “Do I know you playboy?” Zoe asked.

  “Who the fuck is this lil’ boy…?” The man said frowning.

  “Baby,” Shawn started as she turned and kissed the man on the side of his face. “He play on the Double One’s summer team.”

  “Oh yeah,” the man said covering his mouth with his fist trying to look cool as he now realized who Zoe was. “Y’all from Beckman, right? I’m Shine.” He said reaching out his hand.

  “Zoe,” he said faking a smile while shaking Shine’s hand. Jon went to get a drink.

  “Kay,” he said pointing over at Zoe. “Who that frontin’-ass nigga Zoe talking to?”

  Kay looked over to see who Jon was talking about and couldn’t believe it.

  “That’s the nigga Shine from Miller projects,” Kay said. “Shine got the whole eastside and Miller on lock. He’s only eighteen and damn near a millionaire.”

  “Miller projects is all Gangster Disciples, why is he talking to Zoe?” Jon asked.

  “He probably caught Zoe hollering at his woman. Might as well go over and say hi,” Kay said.

  Jon saw Shine’s gigantic six point star confirming what he thought. Shine was a G.D.

  “What’s up Zoe?” Jon asked.

  “You know me,” Zoe said cutting his eyes at Shawn. “Just trying to get in where I fit in.”

  Shine looked at Kay and Jon. He had the stories now he stood looking at them and wondering if they were true.

  “My name’s Shine,” he said extending his hand.

  Kay looked at Jon and then shook Shine’s hand.

  “Kay…”

  Jon didn’t really want to shake his hand but did anyway.

  “Call me Jay, what you and my guy talking ‘bout?” Jon asked.

  “Oh, we were just talking about basketball, you know?” Shine paused motioning for someone to come over. “We hold pick-up games at the Hudson Campbell, a thousand dollars a man every Saturday and Sunday.”

  “That’s good to know, we definitely gone fall through,” Kay said cutting his eyes at Shawn.

  “Excuse me,” Shine said and then walked over to talk to the gentleman he motioned to.

  “My name’s Shawn,” his girl said looking at Kay.

  Kay looked at her and wondered if she was testing him.

  “Kay,” he said looking in Shine’s direction.

  She turned to Jon and said, “Ain’t y’all from 11th?”

  Jon turned his nose up at her and said with an attitude, “If you already know the answer you shouldn’t ask the question, it makes you look stupid.”

  Shawn took a step back and said, “Excuse me for being polite to your sorry ass.” She rolled her eyes at Jon and turned her head.

  “Whatever,” Jon said laughing at her hood rat attitude.

  “You know what,” Jon said looking at Kay talking loud enough for Shawn to hear him. “Bitch must be spoiled.”

  “Nigga please, I ain’t spoiled.”

  She started laughing. Jon joined her. Zoe and Kay stood there watching the two.

  “Are you sure it was these little niggas that did it?” Shine asked. He already knew the answer.

  “My man ain’t never been wrong.”

  “All right,” Shine looked over and saw Shawn pointing her finger at Jon. “Get everybody ready and don’t lose them. We hit ‘em up when they leaving.”

  “Man, what’s your problem?”

  “What G…?” Shine asked. His man wondered how Shine had managed to stay on top for three years.

  “Look Shine,” G said with concerned in his tone. “You got to quit slipping. I already told you that they don’t separate. The other two around here somewhere, don’t worry bout it folks, I’m a take care of everything.” The two threw up Gangster Disciples sign and went their ways. Shine walked over to Shawn.

  “Everything alright baby?” He asked.

  “Oh yeah, we just tripping,” Shawn replied still smiling.

  Shine shrugged at her response. She’d gotten a little too friendly. He decided to let it go.

  “Yo Zoe,” he said trying to sound even. “Where’s the rest of your team?”

  “What team?” The boys answered dumbfounded.

  “I was just trying to make sure that y’all straight. I hope y’all didn’t come up here three deep, especially with all the bullshit that be happening at functions like this.”

  “Nah, we got some peeps up in here. Matter fact, it’s time for us to go find them.” Jon said.

  They walked away looking for Don, Twon and Ron.

  Jon, Kay and Zoe found the others at the free throw shooting booth betting.

  “It’s time to go,” Jon said to Don.

  “What’s up?” Don said and sank a free throw.

  “This G.D. thing, I’ll tell you bout it later.”

  The boys headed to the cars without paying attention to the person following behind them. It was time for payback and for him to prove to the others, he had heart. The boys kept walking and was now outside in the parking area. The man came running behind the boys with two Smith and Wesson .45 pointing at them.

  From behind a parked car across the street some people started shooting in their direction.

  “What the fuck!” Kay shouted as he ducked down behind a van and pulled out his Glock .45. The others also got low and pulled out weapons. Bullets hit the cars and van that the boys were hiding behind. Don recognized one of them.

  “Yo Jon,” Don said pointing his Glock. “It’s Delany,” and started shooting. There were other people entering and leaving the park. Confusion reigned as four others started shooting in both directions. The boys kept shooting while moving to Jon’s and Twon’s cars.

  One of the four teenagers that were drawn into this gunfight stuck his head up a little too far and caught a blast to his face from a 12 gauge shotgun. One of the boys that was with him saw what had happened and jumped up from behind the car that was shielding him and proceeded to run across the street firing shots at the group that had just shot his man. The two other boys that were with this soldier followed him. They were running into the street shooting at the group hiding behind parked cars. Jon fired shots at both groups on both sides of the street.

  “What the fuck you doing?” Twon said.

  “Shut the fuck up and shoot across the street!”

  With the three boys in the mid
dle of the road letting off shots and the barrage of bullets coming from SCC, the group that was behind the cars started running into the woods that were behind them.

  Bullets whizzed by as the boys made it to their cars. Don joined Jon, Kay and Zoe in Jon’s car.

  “I’m telling ya’ll,” Don said catching his breath. “It was them Delany niggas.”

  “Are you sure it was Delany? Cause Cash left town,” Jon said.

  “It was Delany. The same dude from the grave yard that was with Tyrone, I’m telling y’all. I know what I saw.”

  “I’m tired of bothering the old man with this bullshit,” Jon said turning on the street where Bay Bro lived.

  “We ain’t gotta tell him. I can’t stand another lecture.” Zoe said.

  “We could take care of it ourselves,” Kay said reloading a full clip in his Glock.

  “No,” Don said. He turned the radio off. “We might need some assistance taking on a whole project.”

  “Man, they ain’t got no structure,” Kay said.

  “It’s a right way to do everything,” Jon said and pulled up in front of Bay Bro’s house. “We gone end this once and for all.”

  The news of the shoot-out spread like wildfire. Within minutes it had burnt through the whole city and even reached Chicago. Cash’s cousin called to tell him that she saw Doug at the Taste. He started wiping down his Tec 9 as soon as he hung up the phone. He checked his AK, SK, and his twin .45 Glocks. Cash couldn’t believe that Doug would show his face at a public event like he was Mr. Clean. He thought about how Doug was out and about without a care while he was in the next state laying low trying to blend in. Cash still associated with the same people in Chicago that he partied and hung out with when he used to come and visit, but it felt different for him now that he actually lived there. He missed Gary and wanted to go home to bed. Cash polished the shells to all of his guns.

  “Revenge is mine,” he repeated.

  8

  Bay Bro was sitting on his front porch smoking a cigarette when the boys pulled up.