“Naww, baby girl, I can’t inhale smoke. Did you forget?” He reminded me.
“Umm, sorry, I forgot. You know being high and everything tends to do that,” I mumbled, putting my blunt.
Leaning over, I toppled out my seat, barely catching myself.
“Whoa, baby girl. Yo ass is tore up. You need to lay down,” he told me, catching me.
“You gonna, you gonna, help tuck me in bed? I promise, promise, not to try and fuck you. I’m not yo type, right?” I slurred, tryin’ to stand up straight.
Thank goodness he’s holding me up. If he wasn’t, I’d have to crawl my ass in the apartment.
“That’s not true. I’ll help you to the couch. I only tuck my lil’ sis and girl in. You ain’t my lil sis, right?” He told me, opening the door.
I heard him, but my concentration was on putting one foot in front of the other. That comment bout his girl though stung.
“There you go,” he encouraged, trying to sit me on the couch.
I braced myself slightly, while rocking side to side.
“No, no, no, my room. I can’t get naked out here. I’m hot, I got on too much clothes.” I slurred, tugging at my top, causing him to chuckle.
“Okay,” was all he said, while helping me down the hall.
“Which door?”
“Huh?”
“Which door?” He repeated.
“Oh, um, the second on the right,” I stammered out.
“It’s locked,” he observed, after trying to turn the knob.
“Key, pocket.”
“Okay,” he mumbled, patting my pockets.
His hand landing on my key. Squeezing his large hand in my tiny pocket was a chore. But he’s determined. I’m trying not to squirm at the feel of his warm hands on me.
“Got it. Damn, girl. How you breathe?”
Opting not to answer that, my bedroom door opened. Helping me to my bed. Flopping down, I sighed heavily.
“Aiight, Ocean. How bout I come by tomorrow? We can catch up,” he stated, eyeing me.
“M’Kay. Thank youuu,” I sung out.
“Here’s your phone, keys, and inhaler. It’s empty. You need to change it. Lay off smoking. Okay?”
Hearing his words, I’m unable to answer him, being that I’m half way to heaven. I nodded, I think, I’m not really sure if my head moved. Next sound I heard was the clicking of my door. Flopping to my stomach, I’m through.
$$$$$$$$$$
“Ocean,” a voice wheezed out.
Smiling in my dreams.
“Ocean (wheeze), I (wheeze) can’t, (wheeze) breath (wheeze).”
“Umph, what that got to do with me?” I wondered, while dreaming. Snuggling deeper in my bed.
“Occceeeaannnnn, (wheeze).”
THUMP!
Bout time peace and quiet. My dreams were too loud. Mr. Sandman pulled me deeper into my slumber.
$$$$$$$$$
“Miss, Miss, wake up! Your brother isn’t breathing. Do you know what happened?”
Jolting upright outta my sleep, the move caused my head to spin. Grabbing it in an ill-fated attempt to stop it.
“What? How the fuck? Seaqual!” I yelled, stumbling outta my bed.
“Ma’am! You can’t. He’s in the ambulance. Do you know what happened to him? His bracelet reads he’s asthmatic and diabetic. Do you know where his inhaler is?”
Fuck! I’mma die, is all I can think, listening to her questions. I ain’t worrying bout Banks, Neesha gonna take my ass out. That damn thought hadn’t cleared my brain good before,
“You trifling nothing ass bitch!”
“Yep, yo ass is as dead as a damn door knob.” A voice that sounds a lot like mine, echoed through my head, at hearing Neesha’s death call.
Aquaneesha
“Waffle House One A.M.’
“Neesha, what you doing working tables?” Sugi, my co-worker, questioned, upon seeing me with a pad and pen in my hand.
“Missy called in. June should be here in an hour. I’ll be glad, I’m ready to go,” I answered, walking from the back.
“You had classes this morning, right?” She questioned.
“Yep, I’m taking all the classes that I can. While working as much as I can. My clinicals start soon,” I responded.
“Do the damn thing, girl. I’m proud of you,” she encouraged.
“Thank you. I’m trying,” I accepted smiling a little.
There’s only a few females I enjoy working with. Sugi is one of them, and June is the other.
Being a manger is cool, as long as everyone who is scheduled comes in on time. When I first started here, I just thought it was just an easy way to make a quick buck on the weekends. That after club crowd, early Saturday morning crowd, kept my pockets swole. Plus, I work at the Waffle House located by USC. The white college kids be on one.
“Hello, how y’all doing? I’m Neesha. What can I get y’all to drink?” I asked, approaching one of the tables in the back.
All their heads were bent, but lifted at the sound of my voice. Recognizing each one, I know it’s bout to be some shit.
“Umph, I thought that was yo nasty ass when we walked in. Aye, y’all, this the trick that was in Banks’ face. Y’all remember the one who ran when she saw me approaching?”
Sighing at her childish ass. Banks’ baby mama damn near thirty-five, and act younger than Ocean’s ass. Her homehoes cackled like the ignit shit she said was funny.
“So, what can I get y’all?” I reiterated.
They all smacked their teeth, while shaking they heads at me. Two folded their arms cross their chest, with their faces scrunched up.
“She so fucking weak. You ain’t got to worry bout her being wit Banks. Bitch ain’t got no backbone,” one of the homehoes spat.
“Bitch, yo ass ain’t never lied. These young hoes ain’t built like me. They listen to Banks lies and shit. I’m his number one bitch. Ain’t nobody taking my spot. Especially not some fucked up shape, hash slinging, broke, nappy headed, bitch,” Shenniqua sassed, high fiving each other as they laughed.
“Professionalism, Neesha,” I whispered to myself, trying to remind myself of my responsibilities. Fuck that, the shit ain’t work.
“All this y’all spitting is unnecessary. Either order or leave. You don’t know shit bout me to be making dumb ass assumptions. Watch yo fucking mouth when speaking on my name. I ain’t nobody’s bitch, bitch,” I read they asses.
All four of their heads swung in my direction, with their eyes wide. I ain’t no scary hoe. I just tend not to follow a lot of shit up. But these low class, childish hoes, don’t know no damn better.
“Is that how you talk to fucking customers? I need to speak to a manager. Yo broke dumb ass finna be fired,” Shenniqua threatened.
“So, on top of being a money grubbing, fake, lying, begging ass hoe, yo ass is illiterate too, huh. Check my name tag, it says manager. Now, leave, thank you fa’ yah service,” I spat.
Again, causing their mouths to drop.
“Are you okay?” Sugi asked.
“I’m fine. They were just leaving,” I answered, not removing my eyes from the fake fucked up ass Destiny Child’s.
“Fuck you. I didn’t want this slop no way!” Shenniqua spat, standing from the booth.
Her girls followed as she looked around the restaurant.
“I’mma get yo ass fired. Nothing ass, sloppy, bitch,” she sneered.
“Do what the fuck yo ass feel you gots to do. I don’t give a fat baby’s ass. I tell you what, mess up anything in here, yo happy ass going to jail fa’ destruction of property. Now, fuck wit me,” I warned.
They smacked they teeth, eyeing me like they are trying to figure out if I’m serious or not. They are smarter than they look. One by one they walked out the restaurant, throwing out curse words and other nonsense. As they passed through the doors, June was walking in. I’m happy to see her ass.
“Hey, boss lady. Is it okay if I clock in early?” She rushed out.
“Definitely,” was all I said, while continuing to watch the raggedy she-devils. They moved to the side of the building. Pulling my apron off then,
“Aye, Sugi, get my bag out the office. I’ll be back. Them bitches just went left,” I called out, walking out the door.
Thank goodness we ain’t busy, sounded through my thoughts, as I pushed through the doors. Speed walking to the edge of the building. Soon as my foot hit the corner,
CRASH!
The back window of my car shattered.
“Bitch!” I growled, tackling her ass.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
“Yo ugly ass touching my shit. This what the fuck yah ass want?” I growled, tagging her ass.
“Get the fuck off me. Bitches, get her the fuck off me!” She screamed, trying to block my punches.
Bitch got the most mouth, but can’t fight worth a damn. I heard footsteps, but they stopped.
“Touch her, I’m slicing you bitches,” Sugi’s voice sounded out.
WHAMP! WHAMP! WHAMP!
I tried to knock her face off. Shit, I can give her ugly ass the perfect face lift. Standing,
THAWACK! THAWACK! THAWACK!
Stomping her ass with my slip resistant shoes.
“Umph fuck,” she wailed, as I kicked her dawg ass.
“I should kill yo ass. Immature, dumb ass, bitch. This how yo ass live yo fucking life, delusional ass trick? Banks don’t fuck wit yo ass. I don’t fuck wit Banks. I tell yah ass this, you getting off fucking easy this time. Try to run up on my shit again, yo fucking kids gonna be motherless,” I seethed, breathing hard.
THAWACK! THAWACK!
Kicking her ass twice more, fa’ good measure.
“Ugghhh, shit,” she whimpered, through labor breaths.
“Y’all non-descript, dumb, follow the leader, punk ass, hoes, get that piece of fucking trash up. Before y’all be arrested for littering. Trash ass bitches. Oh, I’m coming fa’ y’all asses. Yo best bet is to take heed to my fucking words. Tweddle-le-dee dumb asses,” I sneered.
They moved quickly, trying to lift Shenniqua’s half unconscious ass up. She spook on how the fuck I look. My ass ain’t out of shape. Just because I don’t wear my clothes all tight, doesn’t mean there isn’t a bomb ass shape beneath them. She used to be something worth looking at, but over the last couple of years, she’s turned in to a damn disaster. I guess it was harder fa’ her ass the drop that baby weight she gained from having Banks’ son.
“Thanks, Sugi. I’m bout to go. I got some retribution to hand out. Everything’s done on my part. Alicia should be in, in twenty minutes. Y’all have a good night/morning,” I let her know, after receiving my bag from her.
“No problem, girl. You need me, call me. Be careful, Neesha,” she stated.
Nodding my acceptance, I moved, giving her a quick hug. Climbing in my car I started it pissed, eyeing my shattered glass.
“Fuckin’ hating ass, bitch,” I grumbled, throwing my car in reverse.
DJ Luke Nasty ‘One the Way’ blasted through my speakers.
“I’m doing a hundred in a sixty-five, fuck ah ticket. Cuz I ain’t kill ah muthafucka in ah minute. When I get there I’mma stab’em, I’mma stab’em. Ain’t shit gonna be left when I finish. Ooh, nigga, I’m on the way (way) ”
Rapping my own version got me crunk.
This bullshit is exactly why I don’t fuck wit hustlers. I ain’t saying all of’em are the same, but most got babies from ignorant ass hood rats of LSC. They all think alike.
There’s a select few that understands co-parenting. Shenniqua’s dumb ass ain’t one of’em. Everybody knows it ain’t never been shit between her and Banks but a fuck. Once she told him she was pregnant, he forced her ass to have an amniocentesis done. It confirmed he was the daddy. He ain’t fucked her since.
She’s hood ‘til she die. He tried moving her outta LSC, but she wasn’t feeling it. Unless he claims her, do the whole family thing. She even went as far as to have her daughters calling Banks daddy. He cancelled that shit the first time he heard it.
I haven’t even seen Banks since the bash. Preshus stayed wit me that night. We talked some. Mostly about Kimmy’s ass. I’ve never cared fa’ her ass. She’s quick to call the women of LSC hoes. But she’s the queen. She’s just dressed up better. I’ve watched her turn down men based on the amount their clothes cost. She would actually calculate the worth of the name brand labels. If it wasn’t high enough, she wouldn’t even speak.
Her and Preshus are so different, I don’t understand how they are even friends. Preshus is a damn multi-millionaire, but no one knows it. She owns businesses that no one but a select few knows are hers. She’s smart. She invested in some stocks. She even tried to talk me into doing the same. I didn’t though, not because I didn’t trust her advice and tips. I was scared. I do believe she got something set up for Seaqual though. She loves his little ass like he’s her little brother, and not cousin.
“I know his black ass is here,” I grumbled, slowing down as I entered LSC. Those damn speed bumps will mess yo alignment up.
Driving round the back.
“Bingo,” I spat.
SCREECHHHH!
Slamming on my brakes without even parking in a spot. Jumping out without turning my car off, slamming the door causing the back window to shatter completely falling in. Pissed is an understatement bout how I’m feeling at this moment. Letting my pissitivity drive me to the door. Then,
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Beating on the door like I’m the law.
“Aye, shawty, wha’ chu need?” A voice attached to a peezy little head spoke out.
“Dawg, get Banks, now,” I spat.
“Naww, shawty, Banks ain’t even here,” he lied.
“The fuck if he ain’t. Get the muthafucka. Now,” I seethed.
“I done told yo ass he ain’t here. Get the fuck on, fo’ you piss me off,” he barked, slamming the door.
“Lying, muthafucka,” I hissed, jogging back to my car.
Pooping my trunk, I got the bottle of alcohol I keep in there, along with an old towel and the glass recycle bottles I’m posed to drop off. Seaqual be having my ass doing the most.
Pouring the alcohol in the glass bottle, submerging the towel in the bottle with some sticking out the top. I grabbed my long lighter. Walking back to the door, striking the lighter, I lit the rag. It caught fire quick. Standing back, I launched it in the window. My own Molotov cocktail.
CRASH! Echoed as the front window shattered as the bottle sailed through it.
“Oh, fuck!”
“Shit!”
“Fire, muthafuckas!”
Was yelled out, along with some screams. Followed by,
“Put the bitch out! Who the fuck did this shit? Get the fuck out! Grab the shit!” Banks’ deep voice barked.
A few beats later, the smoke from a fire extinguisher could be seen, along with addicts and workers leaving the apartment through the back. Standing with my hands braced on my hips. My right one clutching something else I’m going to use.
“Yo, Dawg, find the mutha,” Banks started, then stopped once his eyes landed on me.
“The fuck yo ass doing here?” He questioned.
I hit his ass with a smirk.
He looked from me to the building then back again. The look on his face changed to one that I’m sure puts fear in the hearts of the strongest men. But not I.
“Yo ass did this shit? Yo ass ready to fuckin’ die? The fuck wrong wit yo crazy ass?” He thundered.
I’m too pissed to flinch.
Running up on’em,
SPEWWW, SPEWWW
“Arrgghhhh fuck! (cough) I’m blind! (cough) This shit burns! (cough) Get that bitch!” He howled, as the pepper spray landed in his face.
“Nigga, touch me, I’mma light yo ass on fire. Muthafucka, I got yo bitch. Yo ass needs to tame that lizard looking hoe who birthed yo son. Ignit bitch shattered my back window cuz of yo dumb ass. That bitch is stupid, and so is yo ass,” I
seethed.
I don’t know if he heard my ass. Nigga too busy trying to flush his eyes out. Dawg too busy trying not to laugh. Most of these niggas know me. They know I ain’t the one fa’ the bullshit. Most have tried to fuck. That ain’t happen though.
“Man, fuck. That shit ain’t got shit to do wit my ass. So, she do that you bring yo uncouth ass here and sho’ yo ass? That’s why I’d never take yo ass serious. Yo ass just like these other ghetto rat hoes. Yo ass could’ve handled this shit differently. Yo ass actin’ like ah bitter bitch,” he sneered, glaring at me with blood shot red eyes.
“Do you know how dumb yo ass sound? Yo ass fa’ eva auditioning sum damn body like yo ass is the ‘Cream de’ la cream’. I did handle the shit right. I was at work when yo shedawg baby mama caused a fuckin’ scene. Then the hoe throws a brick through my back glass. All because I said three sentences to yo monkey ass a month ago.
I came to the door on some calm shit. Yo fucking do boy wasn’t trying to hear my request. Say what the fuck yo ass wants, think what the fuck yo ass wants, I really don’t give ah damn. The words, ‘I wanna be Banks’ woman,’ never left my lips.
Yo dusty ass putting me in a damn box without knowing shit bout my ass. Let me help yo ass out with something. That thing that birthed yo son says mo’ bout yo choices, and what yo ass is about, mo’ than anything that yo ass will ever do wit yo fuckin life,” I read his ass.
“Damn,” Dawg whistled, causing Banks to cut his eyes at’em.
“Look,” Banks started.
(Ambulance sirens) (Flashing lights)
Looking towards the ambulance, my heart started beating fast. Without my permission, my feet began moving first to my car to grab my bag then across the backyards of the numerous apartment buildings, heading towards mine. A feeling in the pit of my stomach is pushing me faster to my apartment. The burning in my calves is reminding my ass I could’ve driven.
Pump yo feet, girl. Of all the nights I’m hating like hell we stay at the damn front of the projects. This shit is huge, I thought.
“Finally,” I panted out, rounding the corner.
“Hol’ up. What’s wrong wit him?” I yelled, upon seeing Seaqual on the stretcher with a pump on his face.
King of the Hood Page 10