A Gangsta Twist Saga (9 page)

 

 

Clifford was sitting at his desk, steaming.
How could that bitch do me like that? That's some cold-ass shit! After all of the time and energy I've put into her, she's just going to up and get involved with someone else. That's cold!
he said to himself as he stared at the picture he and Sacha had taken in front of the Oklahoma City Bombing memorial.
She's too damn special to lose like that. I'm going to have to find a way to get her away from whomever she's seeing. I have to!
He put the picture back inside of his desk drawer.

 

 

Once Sacha was outside of the county jail, she pulled out her cell phone and quickly called Taz. He answered his cell after the third ring. “What up, Li'l Mama?”

She smiled and said, “Hi, baby! Are you through getting your muscles all worked up?”

“Yeah, we just finished. Where are you?”

“I'm leaving County now. I'm going to go back to the house and change into something comfortable. What do you have planned for us?”

“After I take a quick shower, I'm going to give Mama-Mama a call and see if she's busy. If she isn't, I'm going to see if she'd mind cooking us lunch. More than likely she'll tell me to hurry up and get over there. So, I'll give you a call after I get at her. Then I'll come scoop you up.”

“That's fine, baby. After we leave from your mother's, are we going to your house to do the nasty some more?”

Laughing, Taz said, “Damn, Li'l Mama! You're a straight sex fiend, huh?”

“I am now! See you in a li'l bit, baby.”

Laughing loudly, Taz said, “A'ight then, Li'l Mama.”

Sacha stepped out of her home, dressed casually in a pair of brown corduroy pants and a tan sweater. Since it was slightly chilly outside, she hoped she was dressed appropriately to meet Taz's mother.

Taz smiled as he watched Sacha walk toward his truck. “That's one sexy-ass lady!” he said aloud as he continued to stare at her.

Once Sacha was inside of the truck and comfortable, she said, “Hi, baby. Did you have a nice workout?”

“Yeah, it was cool. I got at Mama-Mama. She's expecting us to be there in about twenty minutes.”

“That's fine. Do I look okay, baby?”

“You're on point, Li'l Mama. I like those boots you got on. They're tight.”

Blushing slightly, she said, “Thanks. I've been having these bad boys for a minute now. I've been waiting for a reason to wear them. I hope your mom will like me. I'm kinda nervous.”

“Nervous about what? Baby, you've already impressed the hell outta me, and that's all that matters. I love Mama-Mama, but nothin' and no one will ever change how I feel about you. So relax, 'cause she's goin' to love you, anyway,” Taz said seriously as he pulled out of her driveway.

“I hope you're right.”

Taz pulled into the long driveway of his mother's home out in the city of Spencer. Spencer is considered the country, since it's about twenty minutes outside of Oklahoma City, and is mostly a rural area with lots and lots of land. Taz's mother's home was a large ranch-style house with plenty of flowers in the front.

Sacha smiled and said, “Oh, I love your mother's flower garden! I wish I had the time to do something like that in front of my house.”

“If you'd like, I could come over when I find some time and hook yours up just like it.”

“You'd do that?”

“Yep. Why do you look so surprised? I got skills, Li'l Mama,” he said as he pushed a button on the door panel and both of their doors opened with a whoosh.

Mama-Mama was standing in her doorway when Taz and Sacha stepped out of the truck. She smiled as she watched her loving child. Finally, after all of these years, he was bringing a girl home for her to meet
. Thank you, Jesus, for letting this boy finally start to live again!
Mama-Mama thought to herself as she stepped out of the doorway. “Well, well, it's about time I got to see my man child! For a minute there, I thought you done forgot about Mama-Mama,” she said as she gave Taz a tight hug.

After they finished hugging each other, Taz stepped back and said, “You need to gon' with that, Mama-Mama. You know I be busy and stuff. Anyway, Mama-Mama, this is Sacha. Sacha, this is my mother, Mama-Mama.”

Sacha stepped forward, extended her hand, and said, “I'm pleased to meet you, Mrs.—”

Mama-Mama slapped her hand down, gave Sacha a tight hug, and said, “Girl, you gon' with that Mrs. stuff! You call me ‘Mama-Mama' just like everybody else, hear?”

Laughing, Sacha said, “Sure, Mama-Mama.”

“Good. Now, y'all come on inside so we can sit down and eat. After lunch, we can gets to know each other better.”

As they followed Mama-Mama into the house, Taz grabbed Sacha's hand and whispered, “See, I told you! Mama-Mama loves you.”

Sacha smiled but remained silent as they went inside. Once they were inside, she smiled because Mama-Mama's home was so comfortable looking. She had a beige sectional in her living room, with a huge glass coffee table sitting in front of it. The house made her think of something out of that old TV show,
Dallas
. It was homey looking as well as expensive.
I bet Taz made sure that Mama-Mama remained well taken care of,
she thought as she stepped to the mantel over the fireplace and stared at some of the pictures that were sitting there. There were pictures of Taz when he was in high school, looking funny in his football uniform. Then there were some of Taz, Mama-Mama, and another little girl who Sacha assumed was Taz's little sister, because they could pass as twins, except that she could see that she was much younger than Taz.

Taz plopped himself onto the sofa and watched Sacha as she was looking at the pictures of him and his family
. Yeah, she's definitely going to be in my life for a long time.

After a few more minutes, Mama-Mama yelled from the kitchen, “Y'all come on back here! The food's ready now!”

Sacha turned and asked, “Where's your little sister, Taz?”

He smiled and said, “She goes to OU. She lives out by the campus in Norman.”

“That's nice. You know you two could pass as twins.”

“Yeah, that's what everybody tells me. Come on, before Mama-Mama starts tripping.”

“Tripping about what, boy?” Mama-Mama asked, standing in the doorway of the kitchen.

“Nothin'.”

“Humph! Y'all come on now before I gets upset and gets my switch!”

They all laughed as they went into the kitchen.

Mama-Mama sat her large frame down and said, “Taz, have you spoken to Tazneema lately?”

Taz was reaching across the table, grabbing himself one of Mama-Mama's buttered rolls, and said, “Yeah, I talked to her a few weeks ago. Why? Is something wrong?”

“Did you know that she wants to go spend the holidays with some white folks way out in Houston?”

“Yeah, she told me. I really don't see nothin' wrong with it, Mama-Mama. She's been doing real good in school, so you might as well let her have some fun.”

“Humph! You know how them youngstas are now these days. Especially out there in Houston.”

“Come on, Mama-Mama! What do you know about what's goin' on in Houston?”

“Boy, you think I don't know about how they be out there sippin' on that syrup?” The shocked look on both Sacha's and Taz's face answered her question. “Just like I thought. Y'all be thinkin' 'cause I'm an old woman, I don't be knowin' what's goin' on. Well, you're both wrong.”

Laughing, Taz asked, “Mama-Mama, what do you know about syrup?”

“Miss Jones's son lives out there in Houston, and he told her all about that there ‘lean' they be drankin' down there. She told me it's codeine and pop they be mixing and stuff. I'm not having my baby out there gettin' mixed up with all of that stuff, ya hear me, Taz?”

“Yes, ma'am. But I doubt if 'Neema would get caught up with any of that stuff. You need to have more faith in her, Mama-Mama.”

“Faith my ass! Now pass me the corn, boy.”

As Taz did as she told him to, she turned toward Sacha and said, “Now, tell me something about yourself, Sacha. I already knows you're a lawyer, so you can skip that part.”

Sacha laughed nervously and said, “Well, I was born in the City. I grew up in Bethany. After I graduated from Putnam North, I went to Oklahoma State and studied law. I'm an only child, and both of my parents now live in Florida.”

“Florida? What made them want to move way out that way?”

“After they retired, my mom talked my father into it. They seem to love it out there, because I hardly ever get to see them anymore.”

“You mean to tell me that they don't come to visit or nothin'?”

“That's right.”

“And you don't go out to visit them neither?”

“Well, with my job it's kind of difficult to find the time. But I was hoping to go out there this summer.”

“That sounds like a lovely idea. You need to make sure that you take this knucklehead out there with you. That way, he can meet your folks. They gon' need to meet their new son-in-law,” Mama-Mama said, and she stuffed a piece of the tender brisket she made inside of her mouth.

Taz almost choked on the corn he had in his mouth. Sacha laughed as she watched him. “Mama-Mama! You know you need to quit it!” Taz said and smiled.

“Boy, this is the first woman that you've brought to this house in I don't know how long. And I can tell by the way the both of you look that y'all done fell in love with each other. So don't be tryin' to play like Mama-Mama don't know what she be talkin' 'bout. 'Cause I do!”

“It hasn't even been a whole month since we've been goin' out, Mama-Mama.”

“So what, Taz? That ain't squat. Ain't no time limit on love, boy. Look at the both of y'all. If y'all ain't in love with each other, my name ain't Mama-Mama.”

They laughed some more and continued to eat the big lunch that Mama-Mama prepared for them.

After spending a couple of hours chatting with Mama-Mama, Taz said, “Well, Mama-Mama, it's time for us to be going. Do you need anything before we leave?”

“Mama-Mama's just fine, boy. I want you to know that I don't agree with that Houston stuff, but I'm gon' go on and let that girl go. But if somethin' crazy happens, I'm gon' blame it all on
you
, Taz!”

Smiling, Taz shook his head and said, “All right, Mama-Mama.” He then stepped to her and gave her a tight hug and a kiss on her cheek and said, “I love you, Mama-Mama.”

“I love you, too, boy. Now, gon' and get out my way so I can give my daughter-in-law a hug.”

They laughed as Sacha stepped into Mama-Mama's warm embrace and gave her a hug. “It was really nice meeting you, Mama-Mama. I hope we can come and do this again real soon,” Sacha said sincerely.

“Girl, you're welcome in this home anytime . . . anytime, ya hear?”

“Yes, ma'am,” replied Sacha.

Taz turned toward Sacha and said, “Here, Li'l Mama. Go on out to the truck. I need to holla at Mama-Mama for a sec.”

Sacha took the keys from Taz, waved good-bye to Mama-Mama, and went and got inside of Taz's truck.

After she was out of the house, Taz asked, “Mama-Mama, do you like her?”

“She's perfect for you, Taz. That girl loves you, boy.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“The question is, do you love her?”

“Yeah, Mama-Mama, I do.”

“What you gon' do about that white girl?”

Sighing heavily, he said, “I'm gon' have to keep it real with her. Tari knows everything about me. I've never kept any secrets from her, and I'm not about to start now.”

“You know you gon' break that girl's heart, don't you?”

Nodding his head yes, he asked, “But what else can I do, Mama-Mama?”

“Nothin' I guess. Follow your heart, boy. I guess that's all you can do.”

Smiling, he said, “That's exactly what I'm doing! All right then, let me go. Oh, and don't worry about 'Neema. She'll be all right.”

“Speaking of 'Neema, does Sacha—”

“One thing at a time, Mama-Mama . . . one thing at a time,” Taz said as he gave his mother another hug and left her home.

Taz climbed inside of his truck and said, “You were a hit. She loves you.”

Smiling brightly, Sacha said, “That's good. I really like your mom, Taz. She's so down to earth.”

“Yeah, Mama-Mama's gon' always keep it real. Well, since you're now in with my Mama-Mama, all you have to do now is impress 'Neema.”

“Your sister?”

Before he could answer her question, his cell rang. He flipped it open and saw a picture of Michael Jordan shooting a fadeaway jump shot over Joe Dumars of the old Detroit Pistons. He closed his phone and said, “Shit!” He reopened his phone and quickly dialed Keno's cell number. When Keno answered his cell, Taz said, “Dog, I just got hit by Won. Call the others and meet me at my spot. I'm out in Spencer, and I'm on my way there now.”

“I'm on it, my nigga,” said Keno, and he hung up the phone.

Taz turned toward Sacha and said, “Look, Li'l Mama. I gots to bounce outta town. I'm goin' to need you to do me a favor, okay?”

“Is something wrong, baby?”

“Nah. I just need you to take my truck to your pad for me, 'cause I'm not gon' have enough time to take you back to your spot. I'll most likely be gone for a day or two. I'll hit you when I know for sure.”

“That's no problem, Taz, but is everything okay? You seem kind of bent out of shape.”

“Everything is everything, Li'l Mama. I just gotta take care of some business and I'm on the clock.”

Sacha didn't respond as she watched as Taz drove toward his house.

Oh, my God! I know this isn't this man's home!
Sacha said to herself as Taz pulled into the circular driveway of his mini-mansion. He stopped his truck in front of his four-car garage, grabbed the remote control and pressed one of it's buttons. All four doors of the garage opened slowly, and Sacha gasped as she saw Taz's 2005 S Class 600 Mercedes-Benz in one stall. In the other stall he had an all-chrome Softail Harley-Davidson, and in the last stall there was a brand-new convertible Bentley Azure.
What the fuck?
Sacha shook her head to make sure she wasn't dreaming. When she realized what she was staring at wasn't a dream, she said, “Taz, baby, what are—”

“Look, Li'l Mama, I ain't got time for questions right now. I gots to go get ready to get up outta here. I kinda got an idea of what's goin' on in that beautiful head of yours. Don't trip. I'll explain everything when I get back. Just trust me, okay?”

“Okay, Taz, but you definitely have some explaining to do, mister.”

He smiled, gave her a quick kiss, and said, “Fa' sho! Now, let me go. I'll give you a call later on this evening if I can. If not, I'll call you sometime in the morning. I love you, Sacha.”

“I love you, too, Taz.”

They shared a quick kiss, and Taz jumped out of his truck and went inside of his home through the garage.

Sacha climbed over and got comfortable in the driver's side of his truck. After she adjusted the seat, she put the Denali in reverse and backed out of the driveway. As she turned onto the street, she stared in disbelief at what looked like a small fleet of all-black trucks driving past her and pulling into Taz's driveway: Keno's all-black Range Rover, Red's all-black Tahoe, Bo-Pete's all-black Navigator, Wild Bill's all-black Durango, and Bob's all-black Escalade. “Yeah, you're going to be explaining your ass off when you get back, Taz!” Sacha said as she drove away from his home.