A Good Day to Die

by James Hendricks

Three days before Halloween, Don went to see his brother. The two sat around Jon’s swimming pool while their kids played inside the house.

  “I’m telling you Jon, now is the time for me to strike,” Don said lounging and sipping Corona. “I heard them niggas done went to sleep by now. They vulnerable, they slipping, I gotta take advantage.”

  Jon had prayed that this day would never come. “Man, you straight down here. You ain’t got to worry about a thing. No bullets, no wars, no killing, nothing…”

  “This for the birds,” Don said and sat up in his chair. “You know me better than anyone and you know that I can’t live my life knowing that bitch-ass, Shine still breathing. He killed my loved one and all I do is fantasize about killing his ass with the most pain.”

  Jon hoped that the change of environment and the whole college scene would have helped ease Don’s pain. He had to admit to, he wouldn’t have let it go either.

  “I don’t want you to go back,” Jon said standing up. “But if you think now is the perfect time then go handle take care of BI. But,” Jon said pointing at Don. “If you need me, call me. I ain’t forgot how to get down for my crown,” Jon said smiling.

  “I know you ain’t,” Don said getting up from his chair. “Look lil’ brother, I’m a leave the kids down here with you and Lynette until shit’s over with. I can think better knowing they safe. Don’t worry, I got this, I got it.” Don hugged Jon. “I was so close. I love you.”

  Don went back. He had been in the city for two days. Only Juice and J-Roc knew he was back. Will and Shine had let their guards down. Will more than Shine. The talk round town was that Shine ran Don off. People were saying that Jon was the real leader and Don was a pretender. Someone even had the balls to spray paint: Chicken Shit, on the side of the game room. With all the talk of Don being coward, no one tried to war with SCC. Not one robbery or an attempt was made on any of the apartment buildings. This was mainly because everyone assumed J-Roc was in charge with the unpredictable Juice at his side. Shine figured SCC’s demise would happen naturally. Shine knew their supplier and without her they’d eventually fade.

  Don had left Juice in charge of keeping tabs on Shine and Will. Shine had been hard to follow because no one knew where he stayed. He wasn’t hanging out in the streets like before. When the rumors started circulating that Don had left, Will relaxed. He became so comfortable when there was no retaliation from Don, he started hanging even more in the streets. Will started back going to club flossing his wealth. He made it easy for Juice to find out where he lived.

  Juice followed him after a night out on the club. Will led Juice right to his house. Juice passed the information to Don and told him about a lead on Juan’s hide-out. Don sat in the cut and watched Will for a couple of days in the hopes he’d lead him to Shine. Don had already waited over three months to get his revenge, a couple more days wasn’t going to matter.

  While Don waited on Will to slip, he paid a visit to the county. It had been months since he last saw Jackie and didn’t want her thinking he had forgotten about her.

  “What’s up stranger?” Don said into the phone.

  Jackie still looked beautiful.

  “What’s up with you?” Jackie smiled. “Why you didn’t tell me you were coming back? Hold up,” she said pointing at Don through the glass. “Ain’t you supposed to be in school?”

  Don laughed realizing Jackie thought he was Jon.

  “Oh so Jon is the only twin that loves you. I’m hurt,” Don said his hand covering his heart. Tears started streaming down her face and Jackie was unable to speak. “Hey,” Don said smiling. “I’m all right. As you can see, I’m still standing.”

  Jackie managed to control her tears. “I heard about Shawn. I’m sorry. I wish I could’ve been there for you.”

  “It’s all right,” Don said looking at the floor. “He’ll pay.”

  Jackie sensed that Don was still mourning and changed the subject.

  “I got some good news, I’m outta here the first of the year,” she said smiling.

  “Why so long?” Don asked looking at her.

  “Them damn holidays. Hey, it still sounds better than sixty years.”

  “I hear you,” Don said smiling.

  They chat about other things. Before they knew it, the visit was over.

  “You take care, Don,” Jackie said.

  Don blew her a goodbye kiss and left. In his mind, Will was going to die that night.

  He was parked across the street from club Genesis, smoking a blunt. Don was waiting for Will to come out the club. Don puffed thinking about all the good times he and Shawn had and even some of the funny bad ones. The more he reminisced, the angrier he became. Don called Jon down in Louisiana.

  “What’s up brother?” Don said when Jon pick up the phone.

  “These bad ass kids,” Jon said laughing. “They about to drive me up a wall.”

  Don shared the laugh. He knew Don Jr. was tearing up Jon’s house. “You can handle that. All you gotta do is use some of that psychology shit on them.”

  Jon laughed even harder. It felt good to hear Don joking again.

  “This psychology shit must only work on white kids because these kids here ain’t hearing it.”

  Don laughed. “Oh yeah, Jackie said she’ll be out the first of the year.”

  “That’s cool. So you went to see her?”

  “Yeah,” Don said. Will strolled out. “I was checking in, but I gotta go. It’s that time. You know what I’m saying?”

  “Be careful, brother,” Jon said knowing what Don meant. “I love you.”

  “I love you too, Jon,” Don said starting his car. “I’ll be in touch.”

  “You do that,” Jon said hanging up.

  Don turned off his cell phone and looked at Will. “It’s on.”

  Will was feeling real good walking leisurely to a navy blue Lexus. He wore a smile on his face. Will had just received some brains in the club. If his girl wasn’t home waiting, Will would’ve headed straight to the telly with a few girls from the club. His rep as a big-time hustler had spread, but didn’t let the streets interfere with his family life. He went home every night and kept the promise he hade to wifey and son, lil’ Will.

  Will stopped at a liquor store to get a bottle of Dom Perignon for wifey. He wanted her mood to match his. He didn’t see the beat up Chevy behind him. Will parked in the lot outside the liquor store. Don kept driving. Will lit a blunt in the empty lot and listened to the lyrics of Hove’s: Jigga My Nigga.

  He was singing the chorus when a gun came smashing through the driver’s side window startling him. Will looked up. Don was there holding a Glock to his head.

  “What’s up now, nigga?” Don said, a sinister smirk on his face.

  Will was speechless. Don reached inside the car and unlocked the door.

  “Get the fuck out!” Don said backing away.

  Will got out of the car, leaving his gun under the seat.

  “You got me,” Will said looking around. “Now what?”

  Don swung the gun at Will’s head putting a gash above his eye.

  “I don’t want yo ass,” Don said watching Will falling to the ground. “Where the fuck is Shine at? All you gotta do is tell me where Shine at.”

  Will’s head was spinning. He was having a hard time focusing.

  “I don’t know,” Will said trying to get to his feet. “The nigga’s been missing.”

  “What the fuck you mean; missing?” Don asked.

  Will gave up on trying to stand and decided to sit on the ground.

  “When Shawn died he disappeared.”

  Don kicked Will in the head. “Y’all killed her. Don’t sit up here and play word games with me. I’m not in the mood.”

  Will’s head hit the door of his car.

  “If you gone kill me just kill me,” Will said holding his head. “If not, do whatever you gone do.” Will wasn’t going to give up Shine’s whereabouts. Don shook his head as he looked at Will. “What
?” Will asked.

  “I guess you got down with the wrong team,” Don said before shooting Will in the head and chest. He then rifled through Will’s pockets, taking money and snatching jewelry. “It’s gotta look like a robbery,” Don said. He spat on Will’s carcass and walked away.

  Will’s murder was big news in the drug community. Every big-time drug dealer wanted to know who had the balls to do Will. Shine had gotten the call on his cell and couldn’t believe it. Don was the first name that popped into his mind. Michelle explained that it was a robbery. Shine quickly dismissed Don as a suspect. After hanging up, Shine thought about all the stick-up kids with enough heart to kill Will. He came up empty every time.

  Outside of SCC he couldn’t think of one person who would risk going to war with him. Shine sat in his Florida beach house contemplating attending the funeral and decided against it. He had started to get over Shawn’s death and wanted to clear his mind by the time he returned to Gary. He continued to focus on healing himself.

  Don was going crazy. It had been three weeks since he killed Will and Shine still hadn’t surfaced. Shine didn’t attend Will’s funeral. Don was getting tried of playing the shadows but didn’t want to expose himself too soon. Don sat in his apartment when the phone rang.

  “What up?” Don said pouring a drink.

  “I got this nigga,” Juice said and smacked Juan in the back of his head with his gun.

  “Got who?” Don asked.

  “Juan…”

  “Where ya’ll at?” Don asked and sat his drink down. Juice gave him the address. Don was out of his apartment before Juice could finish.

  By the time Don walked into Juan’s house carrying a baseball bat, Juice had already worked Juan over real good. Juan was sitting in a chair with the whole left side of his face bruised, bloody and swollen.

  “I left the other side for you,” Juice greeted smiling.

  Don walked in front of Juan and looked at him.

  “Please Don,” Juan begged reaching out to Don. “Don’t kill me. It’s these drugs man, I can’t help it. You know I wouldn’t play you like that.”

  Don backed away from Juan and looked at Juice.

  “Is this nigga wet?” He asked.

  “Nah, I think I caught him on his way to go cop.”

  “Good,” Don said before he swung the baseball bat hitting Juan in the ribs.

  Juan fell to the floor doubled over in pain yelling and gasping for air.

  “Please Don,” he screamed gasping for breath.

  “I brought you into my fam. You piece a shit, betrayed me. You tried to rape my wife.” He swung catching Juan in the back. “Who was with you?” Don bellowed cocking the bat. “Who the fuck was with you?”

  Juan was on the floor crying when his roommate walked in.

  “What the fuck is going on?” The roommate asked.

  “Pain,” Don said turning to face the roommate.

  He turned and tried to run. Juice hit him in the back of the head with a .44 Desert Eagle. He crashed to the floor.

  “Two for the price of one,” Juice said.

  Juice tied up Juan’s roommate. Don continued to punish Juan. After Don inflicted more pain.

  “Who was with you? Who was the other nigga?” He asked again.

  Juan laughed and winced from the pain.

  “You don’t know?” He asked between swollen lips. “I ain’t saying shit!” Juan spat blood on the floor as Don watched with the bat in hand.

  “All right,” Don said walking away. “You wanna be tough, go out like a soldier. We’ll see.”

  Don went out of the house and returned a few minutes later with a gasoline can. Without saying anything, Don poured gasoline all over Juan as he crawled on the floor.

  “We about to see just how tough you really are,” Don said pulling out matches. “One last chance before you go up in flames,” Don said producing a stick. “Who was the other nigga?”

  “All right, all right,” Juan shouted putting his hands up. “It was Terry.”

  “Good,” Don said with a smile on his face. “We getting somewhere. Who the fuck is Terry?”

  “I’m sorry dog. I can’t go out like this.” Juan had tears in his eyes. Don turned and looked at the roommate.

  “Mr. Squeaky Clean…?” Don asked snatching the gag off. “Thought you going to get off easy, huh?”

  “Nah dog, it wasn’t me…” the roommate said looking up at Don with eyes wide as deer’s.

  “Now you wanna lie…?”

  Don swung the bat splitting the man’s forehead. Terry was out cold but Don kept swinging with all his might. Juice grabbed him.

  “He’s history,” he said looking down at the blood pouring from Terry’s head and face. “Let’s get this shit over with.”

  “You right,” Don said walking back over to Juan. “Thought I forgot you…?” Don looked down at Juan. “Since we was boys I’m a give you a choice. How you want it?”

  “Shoot me. Pump one in my head.” Juan knew that his fate was sealed and wanted the quickest way out.

  “Hell no…!” Don shouted. He pulled out the matches tearing one off. “This is for my kids.” He lit the whole book of matches and tossed it on Juan. “Let’s get the fuck outta here.” Don picked up his bat and walked out.

  Word came around that Shine was back for two days. He sent fear through his crew criticizing their inability to protect one another. Shine executed his best bodyguard. Four other members were killed for not stepping up after Will’s murder. They’d let profits suffer. He had the whole crew stressed, fearing who’d be next. Shine dangled a two million dollar reward for the name of Will’s killer.

  He had a new outlook on the business. While away Shine learned you have to befriend the enemy to achieve your goal sometimes. He planned on making it where even his enemies would want to collect.

  Don went back to Louisiana for a week to spend Christmas with his kids. He was in Gary by New Year’s Eve. Don didn’t want to deal with the sneaking around any longer and decided to come out of hiding.

  He along with Juice, J-roc and a few other SCC members sat in the game room laughing and joking. Twon walked in and was surprised to see Don sitting in the room.

  “This truly is a surprise to see Don here with us,” Twon said smiling at. “When did you come back?”

  Don got up from his chair and hugged Twon.

  “I been in and out taking care of a few things. I just got back today.”

  “That’s fo’ sho.” Juice laughed.

  Twon looked at Juice and then at Don. “So you’ve been coming back and forth and didn’t let me know?” Twon asked with a scowl.

  “It ain’t nothing,” Don said sitting back down. “I just had to see a few people, that’s all.”

  “Yeah, I must not be as important to you as I thought,” Twon said and looked at Juice.

  “C’mon Twon, you know we brothers.”

  “Yeah, we brothers,” Twon said with a light smile. “Everything’s cool,” he said before sitting down. “Fill me in.”

  The two spent the rest of the night talking about everything, even Will and Juan. Things were back to normal. Don set out to be even larger than before.

  December 31, 1999 Don spent the whole day with his crew tripping, telling old war stories. At ten o’clock in the night he wanted to bring in the new year with his family, not his clique. His mom was the only real family in the Gary area. Don drove out to the house to celebrate the new millennium with her and never noticed the blue Cutlass tailing.

  “You got my money…?” A voice barked.

  “Who the fuck is this?” Shine asked looking at his phone.

  The person on the other end only wanted the reward. “Names ain’t important. The only thing important is Don killed Will. He back in Gary.”

  Shine was all ears now.

  “How do you know? How the fuck can I trust you when you won’t even tell me your name?”

  The caller on the other end was anxious. “Look, I
know where he at. Either you gone pay me or not…?”

  “Alright…” Shine said sitting up. “Where he at?”

  “My money…?”

  “Hell nah. Fuck that!” Shine said jumping up from the couch. “It don’t work like that, for all I know you can be trying to beat me. I’m a business man. If it checks out I’m a pay you.”

  “Give me half now and I’ll give you the address. After you see him or whatever you give me the rest.”

  Shine thought for a few seconds. “If you fuck me,” he said as he searched for a pen and paper. “You know I’m a kill you…?”

  The caller didn’t want to come out of the situation empty handed. He had someone parked two blocks from Tina’s house ready to get the reward. The caller gave Shine Tina’s address and warned Shine that if he tried anything shady, Don and the rest of the SCC crew would be alerted. The caller hung up and Shine ran out the door to get the money.

  Don had been at his mom’s house for an hour and a half. The two sat around playing cards and Playstation. They were watching a Chicago Bulls basketball game when Don turned to Tina.

  “Can I ask you a question?” He asked turning the volume to the television down. Tina sat her bag of microwave popcorn down. “You know that when you spoke at Shawn’s funeral it really caught me off guard. At first I thought you just making stuff up to look good but then I realized you was telling the truth. I never knew y’all had got close. How long was y’all cool? I mean, how did it happen?”

  Don looked up at his mother. She was smiling.

  “If you must know, when you was in Arizona,” Tina said her hands in her lap. “She was having a hard time with the kids and being alone. So we talked one day and I realized that I had misjudged her. We started talking everyday and she started spending nights over here with the kids. And I guess somewhere in our conversations she grew on me,” Tina said nudging her son.

  Don hugged his mama and kissed her cheek. “Thank you.”

  Tina had tears in her eyes as she hugged her son back.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  Tina got up from the couch straightening her Chicago Bulls jersey.

  “Let me go get us some more snacks,” she said before walking away.