Girls from da Hood 13

by Ms. Michel Moore

  “Hey, chick.” Monica reached over and turned the radio volume down a little. “Are you already at the salon or what?”

  “Girl, I’ve been here ever since seven-thirty this morning. You know Tasia’s ass stays booked up.” Kanina sucked her teeth as she looked around. “Plus all these fake hoes in here trying to get they wigs tight for tonight.”

  “I heard that. Them bitches betta come correct.” Monica and her girl were talking cash shit.

  “Whatever they do, it ain’t gonna matter. We the headliners for tonight. Believe that.” Kanina twisted her face at the females who were in her mouth listening to her conversation and hanging on her every word. She made sure to move the hair out of her face so that they could see the rock she was sporting on her finger. She rolled her eyes. “Let me go, Monica. I’ll holler at you later.”

  They got off the phone just in time for Monica to see the gates open and Sandra to step out with her green duffle bag in tow on her shoulder.

  “I can’t believe she’s here. That child kept her word,” Sandra mumbled under her breath. She was almost paralyzed with shock that Monica was outside the walls, parked and waiting for her just like she promised. The day that Monica got released was the last day that Sandra expected to see her cellmate ever again in life, but she was now fooled. Monica had written long letters, sent cards, and put money in her account on the regular, and now she was here in the flesh to pick her up.

  “Thank God.” Sandra looked toward the sky.

  The friends exchanged hugs and headed back to the city. “You are looking good, Monica, and look at what you’re driving. You must be putting a killing on them stores.” Sandra was truly impressed.

  “Naw, Sandra. It’s something else, a big surprise.”

  When they pulled up in the driveway of the two-family flat that Quinton owned, Monica jumped out. “Come on, Sandra. You’re home.”

  “Here? In this nice house?” Sandra was crying her eyes out for being blessed with a friend like Monica.

  Miss Lila came outside to greet her new neighbor and introduce herself. After five minutes of listening to them talk, Monica knew that the situation would work.

  “Listen, Sandra. I have to run. I’ve got a lot of things to do. There’s plenty of food in the refrigerator, and brand-new bath towels and linens. Plus the phone is already on.” Monica handed her the keys to her new home.

  “And don’t worry, honey.” Miss Lila patted Monica on her shoulder. “They delivered the furniture late last night.”

  Sandra put the key in the lock and couldn’t believe her eyes. Monica had the whole house completely furnished and new wall-to-wall carpeting put down. She had toothpaste in the cabinets and toilet paper on the roll. She had thought of everything.

  “The closet has a few different outfits for you until we go shopping next week. Pick one out for the big surprise later, and I’ll be back to get you. Your hair appointment is at ten. So be ready.”

  Sandra stood speechless as Monica backed out of the driveway and drove off.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “This is it, sweetheart. Are you happy?” Quinton and Monica parked in a spot that was specially reserved for the owner. They looked at the huge, flashing neon lights that could be seen across town.

  “You don’t even have to ask me. You already know I’m happy.” She leaned over and kissed him gently on his lips.

  The two had gotten there well over three hours early to supervise with the food and drink setup. Monica wanted everything just so. The napkins, the glasses, the plates, the forks, and the spoons had to be placed on the tables just right, with style. The clothes that were in the windows were originals and custom-made. Monica even went so far as to hire a makeup artist to ensure that the mannequins were as lifelike as humanly possible, with their nails and toes painted and extra-long eyelashes to boot.

  Ever since Megan originally began helping her and Kanina unpack clothes and arrange displays, Monica was glad that she had given her a flyer at Saks. Even though the district manager had offered Megan a raise to stay after the incident with Ms. Solomon, she turned him down flat and decided to come and work with Monica. Megan knew all the ins and outs of the retail business, including promotions and other things to do to entice customers to spend money. She was up on all the behind-the-scenes stuff that Monica had no idea went on to run a successful store.

  At seven o’clock the doors were open for business. Quinton and Monica were like two proud parents who’d just had a baby. Quinton checked his watch and nervously awaited the crowd that was sure to arrive soon. As always, Latrell was posted by his boy’s side, and Kanina stuck close to Monica, who paced the floor back and forth. This night was full of tension. This was do or die, make or break for her.

  “Girl, don’t worry. You know how niggas like to be late and make a big entrance.”

  “Kanina, I ain’t worried. If don’t nobody show they punk asses up, we’ll wear all this bullshit our goddamn self.”

  The pair of them were clowning around, messing with the waiters, when the first people walked in the door. Of course, they were some females Quinton and Latrell knew. Kayla and the Coopers came in next and surrounded Monica with love. Five seconds later Miss Lila strolled in with Sandra, who’d had no idea where she was going. After getting her hair done and getting all dressed up, she was let in on the surprise. Monica beamed with pride as all her family wished her well and got acquainted with Sandra.

  By the time the clock read eight, the store was getting packed beyond belief. All the clubs in town had to be empty and weren’t making a dime, because all the party people were at Monica’s. There was no question that her new store was going to be a success. She and Quinton were ecstatic.

  Black Billy and his entourage soon entered the store. Everyone in his crew came with their pockets on bump. They were ready to get their hands on some of the new clothes everyone in the town had been speculating about. Quinton watched Monica from the corner of his eye, while Latrell signaled for Black Billy to make his way over to where they were standing.

  “What’s up, son?” Quinton tilted his head sideways. “Did you handle that or what?”

  “Dawg, I’m telling you. We couldn’t find that cracked-out bitch nowhere!”

  “Listen, guy, I don’t wanna hear that dumb shit. I don’t need that little slimy dopefiend throwing salt in a nigga’s game.”

  Black Billy hated to disappoint Quinton, but he was at the end of his rope searching for Jenette’s drug-addicted ass. There were over a thousand abandoned buildings in the city where she could have been sleeping and getting high. After all, everybody had a sack these days and called themselves getting paid. The gym teacher at the neighborhood junior high, the telephone repairman, and even the little Korean lady at the corner cleaners were all doing a li’l somethin’-somethin’.

  “Look, dude, we ain’t seen the ho fall through any of the regular spots. Plus, those other tricks her ass rip and run the streets with claim they haven’t seen her in a minute.”

  “I feel you, Black Billy, but keep looking for ya mans.” Quinton gave him a pound as Monica walked toward the trio.

  “Hey, Black Billy. I’m glad you came.” Monica smiled and wrapped her arms around Quinton. “I didn’t know you three knew each other.” She threw her hip to the side as she bobbed her head.

  Latrell grabbed a glass of champagne and stood mute.

  “What’s up, Monica? Long time no see, baby girl.” Black Billy leaned over and gave her a brief but respectful hug. “How ya been? Ya looking good as always.”

  “I didn’t know that you knew my man,” she said again, still not getting an answer.

  Finally, after a good ten-second delay, Quinton replied, “This dude looks out for my loot around the way. He’s good people straight up.”

  Monica got a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach when he said that because she knew Black Billy knew the real, true, honest-to-God 411 on her mother and what all grimy bullshit she was capable of. Even
though Monica had already told Quinton about her miserable childhood, she chose to leave some of the more humiliating things out of the confession, and hopefully, if she was lucky and blessed, Black Billy would too.

  The grand opening was in full swing, and everyone was having a good time. The waiters were on top of their job, keeping all the glasses filled and the buffet looking inviting to the eye. The shrimp was chilled, and the chicken was hot. Megan was on the cash register, ringing up and charging sale after sale. Things couldn’t get any better. Monica was living a fairy tale, and nothing could bring her down. Kanina and Latrell were occupied by showing her flawless engagement ring off to all their friends who hadn’t had the opportunity to see it yet. They were the picture-perfect couple, madly in love.

  Kayla was busy running around the boutique, entertaining some of her classmates who showed up to get a firsthand look at her sister’s shop. Kayla had been bragging about the grand opening for weeks and wanted to make sure that the girls from her school would all see how her older sister was living large and doing it big. Come Monday morning she would be the talk of the entire school.

  Sandra and Miss Lila were spending their time gawking and whispering to one another about the lack of clothing that most of the young women at the grand opening were wearing. Most gave the appearance of common street hookers. Both older women thought it was a damn shame that they came outside the house in such clothes, and they agreed that most of them would end up with pneumonia before the night’s end. Black Billy and his crew were spread out in every corner, picking out new gear that Monica was bringing out of the store room hourly. She was making money hand over fist and had barely four hours to go before it was over.

  Mr. and Mrs. Cooper requested that each and every person in attendance, with the exception of the minors, have their glasses filled with champagne. Not only was this the occasion of the grand opening, but a new beginning for their entire family.

  “Excuse me, everyone. Excuse me.” Mr. Cooper tried his best to get the crowd’s attention.

  “Yoo-hoo, everyone,” Mrs. Cooper assisted him in quieting the noise as she clapped her hands. “Can you turn the music off please?” Without the music playing, the people soon focused on the older couple. The waiters were still passing out glasses as Mrs. Cooper began to speak.

  “Hello, everyone. For those of you who don’t know my husband or me, we are the proud parents of Kanina and our special adopted daughters, Kayla and Monica. Can all three of them please come and join us up front?” Mrs. Cooper watched proudly as Kayla pranced front and center, followed by Kanina, who was holding hands with Latrell, and finally a shy Monica, who navigated her way through the thick crowd standing by her family. It was a picture-perfect moment. Everything was golden.

  Mrs. Cooper raised her tall, slender crystal flute high. “I would like all of you good people here to join me in saluting my three gorgeous daughters on the accomplishments and spectacular milestones in their lives. To our youngest, Kayla, on being selected for the National Honor Society. To our devoted Kanina and our soon-to-be son-in-law, Latrell, we wish you well. And to our little girl of the evening, Monica, on the grand opening of DH Designs, named after her late brother, Dennis Howard. May God bless you all and grant you every wish you ever wished. Cheers.” Mrs. Cooper took a sip, and the crowd cheered and drank.

  Then, out of nowhere, chaos started.

  “Oh, hell to the naw, ladybug! You and all these fake Negros got me twisted.” An enraged Jenette abruptly burst through the middle of the crowd, going ballistic. The people standing near her were practically gagging from her repulsive odor. Without hesitation each quickly moved to the side, making a path. Allowing the visible freak of nature to brush by them as she slurred obscenities loudly, the crowd was stunned.

  Jenette was a 100 percent hot fucking-ass mess from head to toe. Jenette was dressed in a pair of old stonewashed blue jeans that were torn on one leg and badly wrinkled. She wore a soiled tan sweatshirt that was three sizes too big. It hung off of her skinny skeleton-like frame. The pumpkin-seed sneakers on her feet had no shoelaces. And, as for her hair, it was all over her head as if it hadn’t been combed in months.

  “Bitch, you got the game messed up. Them is my daughters you standing up there claiming. Mine! Not yours, damn you. Mine!” Jenette had one of the grand opening flyers crumbled up and clutched in her bony fist as she got closer to Monica and her newly formed family. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper watched in horror as Jenette neared the group. The whole room was silent as she continued with her rampage.

  “Monica is my motherfucking baby, not yours! My firstborn! I gave birth to her sorry ass.” Her lips were dry and cracked, and the few teeth she had in her mouth were visibly yellow. “Who do y’all think y’all is, trying to claim my child? This store is half mines, too. I raised the backstabbing bitch. She owes me that much at least. Ain’t that right, Monica?”

  Jenette snatched a glass of champagne off a waiter’s tray and guzzled it down in one quick swallow. She then stumbled to the floor and landed at a stunned Kayla’s feet. “Hey, mama’s baby.” She grinned while reaching out her arm, which was infested with needle scars. “Don’t just stand there. Help ya mama up.” Jenette blew a kiss to her youngest child.

  Kayla was completely beyond mortified. The roomful of people, including her classmates, covered their mouths and turned their heads in disgust at the open sores that were on Jenette’s wrist. Breaking out in tears, she wanted to die on the spot. Kayla buried her hands in her face and leaned over into Mrs. Cooper’s arms.

  The security guards on duty rushed over to the scene of the commotion. Hesitantly they picked the troublemaker up off the ground, holding their breath. However, Jenette wasn’t finished yet with her outburst. Somehow, she found more strength in her malnourished body. Yanking away and spitting as she screamed out in a violent rage of fury, Jenette continued tripping. “Let me go, motherfuckers! My daughter owns this joint! I’ll have all y’all fired.” Her breath smelled just like she looked: rotten. “Monica, you betta tell these niggas something! Monica, do you hear me?” Jenette demanded a response from her oldest child.

  Monica was stiff as a statue. She hadn’t moved one inch. Mortified by what was taking place, she’d failed to mutter a single word since her mother had entered the premises going wild.

  Latrell had somehow managed to get back over to where Quinton and Black Billy were standing. All the searching his boys had done for Jenette’s low-down ass didn’t turn up shit, and here she was.

  “What the hell are we gonna do now?” Quinton started sweating and shaking his head. “I swear to God if this dopefiend fucks up my shit with Monica, I’m gonna kill that bitch. That’s my word.”

  “Chill, guy. Her ass is always high as a kite. Maybe she done forgot about that bullshit.” Black Billy tried calming a frantic Quinton down.

  “Yeah, Quinton,” Latrell optimistically weighed in. “He’s probably right. Just chill and let’s see how this whole thang plays out.”

  They all decided to play the background and blend in with the rest of the crowd. Quinton rubbed his hands together nervously as he watched Monica start to tremble with anger. He wanted to rush to her side and take all the pain off her shoulders, but his hands were tied. There was no way in hell he wanted Jenette to lay eyes on him or Latrell. That’s when the shit would really hit the fan.

  “Oh, it’s like that? You two little bastard bitches is too good to help y’all’s own mama now?” Jenette pointed her finger back and forth at Kayla and Monica. “I should have killed both of y’all ungrateful asses. Having y’all fucked my life up. That’s why I couldn’t keep a man. I hated all three of y’all since conception.” Jenette ripped another glass of champagne out of a stunned Mr. Cooper’s hands and poured it down her throat.

  Sandra couldn’t take the hurtful words that were coming out of Jenette’s foul mouth, and she intervened. “What is wrong with you? What kind of mother speaks to her children like that? You should be ashamed of yourself. J
enette, you need some serious help. You’re a total disgrace.”

  “Excuse me, bitch! Do I know you? And how do you know my fucking name?” Jenette shrieked.

  “I was locked up with your daughter and watched her cry herself to sleep at night, worrying about her brother and sister eating because you ain’t shit.”

  “Oh, so you a jailbird bitch like my Monica, huh?” Jenette laughed, showing the full extent of her urgent need of a dentist. “Well if this don’t beat all. My own flesh and blood wanna chose all these no-good sons of bitches over me.” Jenette was in rare form and on attack mode once again.

  “First these uppity assholes, trying to be white, steal my little Kayla from me and make me lose all my benefits and food stamps.” The Coopers and Kanina had blank expressions on their faces as Jenette singled them out. “Then this old jail ho right here wants to tell me about mines.” Sandra rolled her eyes at Jenette. Her skin was tough, and unlike the Coopers, Jenette’s words didn’t affect her at all. “And then if that ain’t all bad enough,” Jenette said, making sure to look Monica directly in her eyes, “you wanna choose that dope-slinging nigga who murdered your little brother over me!”

  Monica was shaken out of her horrified trance as the words out of Jenette’s mouth hit her like a ton of bricks. Everyone’s attention immediately turned on a shameful Quinton, who slowly walked up to Monica in hopes of clearing up Jenette’s statement.

  “Say what now?” someone blurted out from the crowd.

  “Yeah, here he comes, the dirty, punk-ass nigga who killed my son out on the street. Now you got the nerve to be fucking his sister. You ain’t shit!” Jenette had the roomful of people mesmerized by her accusations. Monica was starting to get short of breath as she listened like everyone else. “He shot Dennis right in his head, and half of it was laid in the street. Yeah, that’s right, Monica. He gunned ya brother down, and you running around here, sucking his little dick! You ain’t shit either!” Jenette was stomping her feet and waving her arms, putting on a show as she tried to make her point.