Down by Law (10 page)

 

“B
aby Girl! Look atchu! All grown up and lookin' just like yo' mama! And you finally made it to see yo' daddy.”

I couldn't believe he said that.

I blinked. Then looked away.

I couldn't look at him.

I just couldn't.

So, I looked around Ms. Brenda's apartment, my eyes skipping from the torn plastic that covered the floral living room set, to the moving boxes stacked along the walls, to Yvette—who stood next to me.

I pulled in and pushed out a deep breath, then looked back over to Daddy. He was dressed in a worn pair of blue jeans, an oversized plaid shirt, and construction boots, and he held a half-empty Olde English forty in his hand.

Most of me was happy to see him and the rest of me was scared that he wouldn't remember who I was.

Although he still lived in Da Bricks, I hadn't really seen him in the last three years. But since today was my sixteenth birthday I decided to do something different and knock on Ms. Brenda's door.

“Who's that, Daddy?” A little girl stood in front of Daddy and leaned against his legs.

“That's your sister Isis.” He sipped his beer. “She just stopped by for a moment to say hello.”

I felt like I'd been kicked in the gut and I didn't know whether it was this lil girl calling my daddy, Daddy, or him limiting the time I wanted to spend with him to a moment.

The little girl continued, “Oh.” She smiled. “My name is Jacinda. You goin' wit' us? 'Cause we movin' to Baltimore.”

Before I could answer or even wrap my mind around what Jacinda had just said to me, Daddy shook his head and said, “No, baby. Isis is a big girl now. She's not going to live with us. Just me, you, Mommy, and your other sisters and brothers.”

“Okay.” The little girl hunched her shoulders, gave me a small wave, and ran off.

And that's when it hit me. . . . He'd lied to me.

He lied.

Set me up.

Made me believe I was a princess.

When I wasn't.

Made me believe he would always be here for me.

When he wasn't.

I felt like I could barely stand up and if I didn't sit down, I was gon' fall. So I flopped down on the plastic-covered sofa, next to the door.

Daddy grinned. “Talk to me. Tell me how's er'body at the house? How's your grandmother?”

Fat. Always mad. Hates everybody, except her boyfriend.
“She's fine. Likes to keep the house clean.” I swallowed and wiped the tears I felt crawling to the corners of my eyes. I even tossed in a small smile.

“That's mama.” He looked over at Yvette. “And how you been?”

“Okay.” Yvette sucked her teeth, draping an arm over my shoulders.

“Isis,” Daddy said. “How's Chuck, and what's going on with Stick?”

Chuck's on the run. Streets said he killed a dude. I hate Stick. She has stole, sold, and smoked up er'thing I had. And I didn't have nothin' to begin with.
“They fine.”

“How's Face?”

“In prison.”

Daddy shook his head.

Tears eased out the corners of my eyes. I sniffed and quickly wiped them away.

Daddy paused and took in my tears. “Smile, baby girl, your daddy's okay.”

He really thought my tears was about him? I promise you, I wanted to punch him in his face.

Was he trippin'?

Crazy?

He had to be.

'Cause ain't no way he was serious.

I did all I could to fight it, but I couldn't hold it in any more. Bump this. “First of all, I'm not cryin' over you!”

“Then tell me what's wrong.”

“Er'thing is wrong! What part you got messed up? You so busy askin' about er'body else that you ain't asked about me yet? You wanna know how I'm doin'?!” I pounded the arm of the couch, wishing it was his face. “Huh? What about me? Don't you wanna know how I'm doin'?” Before he could answer, I blew up the spot. “Yo' fat mama don't give a right tittie-freak about me. Just don't mess wit Jesus, her money, her man, or her cigarettes and she'll let you live in peace. But that's all she gon' do!” Hot tears continued to pour down my face but I flung them away.

“Queenie? Don't nobody know where she's at. You over here playin' a ghetto Mike Brady and you think, you really, really think, my tears is about whether you okay or not? I just turned sixteen today, don't you think I need somebody to take care of me!”

“I did the best I could—”

“You ain't do nothing!”

“Your mother put me out!”

“She should've put you out!” I hopped up from my seat. “I hate I even came here. Forget you! I don't need you! I'm good and I can take care of myself.”

“You outta order, baby girl!”

“I'm not outta order! You outta order! You and Queenie. Got me out here by myself. Livin' wit' people who don't like me. Keep stealin' from me! Did you even realize that today is my birthday?! Do you understand I don't have nothin'?! Face locked up. At least he got three hots and a cot. But me? Zero. Zilch. Nada. Nothin'. Not even you!” I kicked a stack of his boxes and they tumbled down and scattered across the floor.

A pregnant Ms. Brenda stormed from the back of the apartment and into the living room. She looked over at Daddy. “Zeke, if she don't quiet down and sit down you gon' have to get her up and out of here!”

“Forget you!” I snapped. “This is between me and my father. You need to mind your business!”

“This is my business.”

“You don't have no business between them!” Yvette snapped. “So take yo' fat self back where you came from and go have a seat.”

“Zeke!” Ms. Brenda spat. “You gon' let them talk to me like that? They gotta go! Right now!”

I could tell that Daddy felt bad. But so what? I'm glad he felt like that 'cause he needed to feel what I'd been feeling for the last three years. Like nothing.

“Don't even sweat it, Daddy. I understand perfectly.” I looked over at Yvette. “You ready?”

“Yup.”

“Let's go.” We stormed out and as the door slammed behind us, I heard Ms. Brenda tell Daddy that we better not ever come back.

“S
urprise and happy birthday, hookerrrrrrrrrrrr!” Munch screamed the moment me and Yvette stepped into our bedroom.

I struggled to smile and forget about the fight I'd just had with Daddy, as Yvette, Munch, and Cali snatched me into a group hug and we all danced around.

“This heifer is finally sixteen with us!” Cali screamed. “And we gon' do it up today, baby! What y'all wanna do?”

“Well, first she gon' open these gifts. And then we gon' hit this blunt.” Yvette smacked her lips in glee. She pointed to her bed, which was filled with gifts, and over to my nightstand, which held a freshly rolled blunt. She pushed me over toward her bed.

“This heifer's been boosting again.” I chuckled and hugged Yvette, who had never given up and had perfected the art of lickin' off the mall. Me? I learned my lesson. I liked to look fly, but I wasn't about to go to jail behind no jeans, so while my cousin was out five-finger shopping, I kept her baby.

“That is not all from boosting.” Yvette smiled. “Flip gave me some money and some of those things I actually had to buy.”

Me, Cali, and Munch all looked at each other, our eyes bright with surprise. “So you claimin' his old behind now?” I smirked but then quickly smiled, to not spoil the mood.

“Funny,” she said. “Don't even try it. You knew he was Kamari's daddy all along. I just never said anything because I didn't want him to go to jail.”

“'Cause you know Nana woulda had him locked down.”

“I know.”

“So y'all still a couple?”

She sucked her teeth. “Please. He done had like three or four babies since Kamari. So I left him alone.”

“Good,” Munch said. “Now let's get back to the party.” She snapped her fingers. “Open the gifts.”

I flopped down in the middle of Yvette's bed and tore into gift boxes filled with Levi's jeans, mini skirts, tops, and sneakers. “Oh my God! This stuff is so fly.”

“I know it is,” Yvette said proudly, handing me a small red velvet box.

“That's from all of us,” Cali said.

“What is it?” I said, as I opened it. There was a gold chain inside with a small charm that was round on one end and L-shaped on the other.

“We each have one too!” Munch said and they all lifted their gold chains. “And if you put all the charms together it makes a heart.”

“This is soooooooo dope!” I screamed.

“We know,” Cali said. “And now we got something that represents our crew.”

“We sure do!” I said as they all fell across Yvette's bed and we group hugged again. “Now,” I said, wiping tears of joy from my face. “Let's hit this blunt.”

For the next hour, we zooted up, talked about boys, clothes, and rappers we'd love to do. “I think LL Cool J is everything and more,” Cali said. “I would love to rock out with him.”

“I bet you would,” I said. “Isn't that who James told you he looked like?”

“Eww.” She wrinkled her nose. “I broke up with him.”

“You did?” Munch said. “I'm your sister and you didn't even tell me that.”

“We just broke up last night.”

I couldn't help but laugh. “How you break up with somebody you've never seen? I mean, you met him on the party line. If you wanted to leave him alone, all you had to do was stop calling.”

We all cracked up, including Cali. “I'm not worried. I'll find me another boo.”

“Me too,” Yvette said.

“Me three,” I agreed.

“Well, I'm happy. My baby loves me,” Munch said.

“Whatever.” We laughed.

Munch asked, “Hey, y'all know where I haven't been in mad years?”

“Where?” they asked simultaneously.

“To the park to chill.”

“I know,” Yvette agreed. “'Cause all we do is hang around here.”

Cali jumped in, “That's 'cause we stay broke as a joke.”

“Word,” Munch added.

“But I got some money today.” Yvette grinned. “And if I hit Nana off with twenty dollars, she'll keep Kamari for me. So y'all wanna go? I got our bus fare.”

We all hopped off the bed so fast, it's a wonder we didn't take off and fly. “Let's get it!” I popped my hips to the left and then to the right. I was having one of the best days of my life, and I refused to let the emptiness of not having Daddy, Queenie, Face, or Schooly here with me sink in. I had my girls and right now, at this moment, that was all that mattered to me and all the family I needed.

T
he moment we stepped into the playground, I felt like everything had been on pause and waitin' for me. The trees. The breeze. The birds. The swelterin' summer sun that beamed down at least eighty-five degrees. And the deejay, who rocked the dopest hip-hop, courtesy of his turntable and two massive and boomin' speakers connected to yards of extension cord that snaked from somebody's apartment window and eased down the block.

Er'thing was live and the park was clearly the place to be.

I looked dope too: white and neon-paint-splattered midriff tee that draped off one shoulder. Super tight and white Levi jeans. Crisp white Lottos on my feet with fat hot-pink shoestrings. All courtesy of the Get Fresh Clique.

Me and Yvette grooved to the music, while Munch and Cali flirted with cuties.

People was everywhere.

B-boys was break dancing.

D-boys was shootin' dice.

The think-they-dime girls were posted up.

The chill chicks were sprinkled here and there.

And kids were all over the monkey bars, the seesaws, and the swings.

“Isis,” poured from behind me. “So what? Don't tell me you gon' try and pretend like you don't remember me.”

I found myself holding my breath and forcing my mouth to fight off a smile. I could tell by the look in Yvette's eyes that that voice belonged to K-Rock. I turned around and couldn't fight off my grin a moment longer. “Oh my God! Wassup? How you been? Where you been?” I said practically in the same breath. “What's good?!”

“You. That's what's good.” His caramel eyes drank me in. “Daaaaaang, girl. Look at lil Icy. All grown up for real. How old are you now?”

“Sixteen.”
Jesus, I was blushing. Why, oh why, was I blushing? I needed to stop. Jesus, please help me to stop!
“Today's my birthday, actually.”

“Word? Happy birthday, lil ma.”

Lil ma? Lil ma? I felt like bustin' out into a moonwalk. I can't believe he didn't call me lil sis.
“Thank you.”

“So what do you have planned?” he asked.

Being here is the plan. Oh wait, I can't say that. Then I'ma sound all played, busted, and disgusted. Think... think . . . think . . .
“I'ma chill with my man. He should be here at any moment.” I popped my glossy lips and looked him dead in the eyes. Dang, he was fine.

“That's wassup.”

“Yup. So what you got goin' on? Where have you been?”

“Yo, after Schooly died and they knocked my boy Face, I knew I had to switch it up or I was next.”

“So what you do different?”

“I stopped slangin', got back in school like I needed to, and now I'm in college.”

“College? Word up? Get outta here.”

“Yeah, I'm only home for the summer.”

“Where you school at?”

“Stiles U in New Orleans.”

“That's wassup.” I paused and a moment of awkward silence slipped in between us. I felt like he was checkin' for me, but I wasn't sure and I dang-gon' was not about to play myself. “Okay, well. I just saw my boo come into the park. I'll see you around.”

He nodded, looked me up and down. “Okay. You got a man, huh?”

I forced a smile on my face. “Yup.”

He nodded. “A'ight, I hope he treating you good. Doing you all right and holding you down.”

“He is.”

“Straight. That's wassup. So I'ma let you go. I'm not gon' hold you. Be good, lil ma.”

“I will.”

He gave me a soft kiss on the forehead before walking off and disappearing into the distance.

It took everything in me, or out of me, not to pass out. “Did you see him?” I squealed, as I turned around and faced Yvette. “He was sooooooo fly.”

“He was all right,” Yvette said. “But let me show you somebody soooooo fly that he has got to be illegal. I promise you the letters in his version of fly stand for fine, lovely, and yes, he is all of that.”

“Who are you talkin' about?” I spun around and faced the B-boys, who were havin' a break-dancin' war. “Them?” I frowned. “I'm all for break dancin' but umm . . . dear Yvette, you already know you cannot come up offa nobody in a Windbreaker suit. I'm talkin' no cash, and a broke dude is just all kinds of wrong.”

“Eww. Don't play me out like that.” She curled her top lip. “My need-to-be tender is over there at three o'clock.” She placed her hands on both of my shoulders and turned me to the left. I now faced the D-boys playin' a dice game. I pulled a long and soothing breath of fresh air into my nose and eased it through my glossy lips. “Daaaaang, they smell like money.”

“Oh yes, they do.” Yvette drooled.

“And judging by the groupies surrounding them, er'body wanna go to the bank.” I snapped my fingers and my eyes soaked in the small dope boy crowd of Bermuda Kangols, Yankee caps, Levi's denim suits, and Adidas sweat suits. “Yvette, which check you tryna cash?”

“The honey-colored one with the sun shining over him. You see him?”

“The one in the dark blue Levi's suit?”

“Yes.”

“He is lookin' stupid fresh.”

“And did you peep the two dookie chains hanging around his neck? I just love him.” She squealed and it was obvious that the butterflies in her belly were dancing. “They call him Fresh.”

“Oh, word. How you know him?”

“Everybody know him.”

“I don't.”

“Umm, helloooo.” She snapped her fingers. “Fresh is the head of the Avenues
and
er'body knows that the Avenues practically got hustlin' in the South Ward on lock.”

“So he a Down South boy?” I took a step back. “You already know I hate Down South dudes!”

“Look. Most of them dudes that was out there when Schooly got killed and Face was in the game is either dead or in jail. I mean, it's still some on the block, but Fresh is not one of 'em. He's just cool wit' 'em. But he ain't a part of they crew.”

“How you know that?”

“'Cause I know. Trust me, he's a cool dude.”

“If you say so.”

“I say so,” she assured me. “And if I get wit' him, that's gon' be like gettin' wit' the president.” She placed her right hand like a visor over her eyes. “The haters gon' be like, ‘I see you, Yvette.'”

I laughed. “You really on his sack right now.”

“Not yet, but I will be.” She fanned her face. “How do I look?”

I looked her over in her black bodysuit, leopard leggings, and pumps. “Fresh.”

“Fresh? Or stupid fresh?”

“Fresh enough to be Mrs. Fresh.”

She giggled. “You sure?”

“Yes.”

“Cool. Now how should I get his attention? 'Cause he has not looked my way.” We both zoomed in on him. He was pickin' up the pot of money from the dice game he'd obviously won. He looked over at his boys, said something to them, and lay a hundred-dollar bill on the ground.

I pulled a cherry-red Blow Pop from my pocket, threw the wrapper on the ground, and placed the candy between my lips. After a few seconds of the sweetness drenching my tongue, I wiggled my neck and said, “Don't be shy. Walk over there and say, ‘Heyyyyyyyy, Fresh. Wassup, playboy. What's good, young blood?' ”

She shoved her hands up on her hips. “I'm serious.”

“Me too.”

“Isis, you knoooow I'm not gon' do that.”

“Okay, okay, I got an idea. Come on.” I took a step toward Fresh and his crew.

Yvette pulled me back. “No wait. We can't go over there! He's gon' think I'm desperate. He needs to come to me.”

“What?” I shook my head and looked at her like she was crazy. I couldn't believe this. This skeezer had stolen er'thing that wasn't nailed down, but now she was too scared to step to a dude? I frowned. “You want him?”

“Yeah.”

“You tryna come up?”

“Yeah.”

“Then you better get your rap together. Queenie always said if the john don't come to the track, then you go to where they at and make a new track. Maybe he see you. Maybe he don't. But if you for sure wanna be seen, then I'ma make sure he lays eyes on you. Now do have a hundred dollars?”

“What?” She looked at me like I had two heads. “Oh heck no! What you need a hundred dollars for?”

“So you have it?”

“Yeah, but I need that for my baby. That's all I got and Kamari needs Pampers, milk, and food.”

“Gimme the money.”

“I can't do that.”

“Would you give it to me?!”

“No!”

“You'll get it back today. I promise.”

Yvette hesitated, then reluctantly handed me the money. “That's all the money I got left for the month.”

“Look, go sit over there on the bleachers, post up, and look cute. I got a plan, just follow my lead.”

“And what's your plan?”

“I'ma hook you up. Now go,” I said, tight-lipped.

“No! Suppose he has a girlfriend?”

“Suppose he doesn't?”

“Don't make me look desperate.”

“Go sit down.”

Yvette huffed, but she walked over to the bleachers and took a seat.

I walked over to the dope boys and winked, then I slowly bent down and lay my money on top of theirs. I stood back up and gave each of them a wide grin. I could hear Yvette clearing her throat, but I refused to turn around. I already knew I was takin' a chance and I didn't need her making me nervous. Besides, if things went the way I planned, I was gon' walk away with a pot of cash and Yvette was gon' have her man.

Fresh and his entire crew turned and had their eyes on me. Obviously, nobody had ever jumped into their dice games before. I took my lollipop out of my mouth and looked at Fresh. “What? You don't play with girls?”

He shook his wrist and the herringbone bracelets he wore draped over his hand. “Money is money. And girl or no girl, if you wanna lose yours to me and my crew, then you're welcome to. So come on, sexy, and get your money taken away.”

“Oh, that was real cute. And whatchu call that? Reverse psychology, tryna make think I'ma lose. Well, I don't lose and I'll have you to know that I prevail in er'thing I do.”

Fresh's crew gave amused sighs and some of them outright laughed. “Say word?” Fresh said more to his crew than to me.

“Word,” I said.

“So you think you just gon' not only invite yo'self into our game but you gon' take our money too?” He laughed, and for a moment there, I thought I saw a blush.

“First time for everything.”

Fresh stroked his box beard and judging by the redness filling his cheeks, he was fighting off a smile. “So who you s'pose to be? A hood celebrity?”

“Maybe. And could you come on, 'cause you're talking a little too much. Now gimme the dice. Ladies roll first.” I looked over my shoulder at Yvette and winked.

I could tell by the dreamy look on her face that the butterflies in her stomach were fluttering all over the place, again.

“Who is that?” Fresh asked.

“Your new girl. My cousin Yvette.”

“My new what?” He chuckled.

“Unless you already have a girl, then you should probably break up with her tonight. So let's roll the dice and when you take my cousin on a date, then the two of you can work out the kinks and the details.”

“So a hundred dollars and a date with your cousin is what you tossin' into the pot?”

“Yop.”

“And what if I win, then what I'ma get out the game?”

“Well, for one, if you win, or any of your other boys win—”

“They ain't in this round.” He placed three hundred-dollar bills on the ground, lifted my money off the original pot, and placed it on top of his.

I arched a brow. “Well, if you win, then you get the whole pot.”

“And?”

“
And
, you get a chance to go out on a date with my cousin, Yvette.”

“And why should I do that?”

“'Cause she's cute
and
she's feelin' you.”

“Look around. They all feelin' me.” He looked back over his shoulder at Yvette, and then quickly turned back around to me. “A'ight, bet but—”

“No buts.” I picked up the dice and shook them in my hand. “Now blow on these 'cause mama needs some shoes and my cousin needs to be rockin' witchu.” I squatted, prepared to roll the dice.

Fresh squatted beside me and placed his hand over mine. “Hold up. I didn't finish.”

“Finish.”

“If you win, I'ma take your cousin out. But if I win”—he lifted his hand and blew on the dice—“I wanna date with you.”