Stripping Asjiah I (16 page)

He joined the military and he took us with him wherever he went. I’d seen half of the world while you were still probably trying to find Carmen San Diego. He spoiled her, bought her any and everything she asked for. Don’t get it twisted, my mother held it down too. She was director of Marketing for the Links at Spanish Bay out in Pebble Beach. So before it became a profession, I was already playing Saturday morning golf with my dad.

Our lives were perfect; at least that’s what I thought. I thought he loved her. I knew for a fact that she loved him, so where did they go wrong? Of all the ways it could’ve ended I never thought it would’ve been like this. Now here it was ten years later and I was being haunted by the sound of his voice.

What if I had accepted his call? What would I have said to him? What would he have said to me? What could he say? There weren’t enough words in the English dictionary for him to even begin to try to apologize for what he did. This wasn’t exactly something he could apologize for. It’s not like he accidentally ran over my bike, flushed one of my fish down the toilet, or burnt my pancakes; he killed my mother. There was no apology for that.

I watched as Money’s car pulled into the driveway. I could tell him I changed my mind and didn’t want to go but what good would that do me? Instead I changed my clothes and smiled at the way my Azzure jeans hugged my ass. I put on a white baby-tee with Azzure spelled out in powder blue, my white D&G flip flops, grabbed my jacket and left.

ChApTER TWENTy-TWO

“How long do I have to keep this stupid blind fold on?” Pulling at the scarf, I tried to get a peek at where Money was taking me.
“N’uh uh.” Tapping my hands he smiled. “Be patient, we’ll be there in a minute.”
The car stopped and I sat in silence as he got out of the car. The passenger door opened and I felt him grab my hand.
“Watch your step ma.”
His hands were around my waist as he guided me up a small flight of stairs.
“Okay you can take it off now.”

“You live here?” Looking around I noticed we were in Cleveland Heights off of Taylor Road. I used to drive down this street when I worked at Richmond Mall; I would’ve never guessed he lived out here.

“Yeah, this used to be my brother’s spot before he got knocked. I used to come and kick it with him on the weekends but now it’s just me. I told him I would take care of the place while he was away.”

Money gave me a tour of the house before leading me to the kitchen where he had prepared dinner for us.
12
“So you cook too?” I took off my jacket and placed it on the back of my chair.

“Yeah, I do a little something. Mom’s isn’t really in the picture and my pop’s died when I was a baby so I learned what I do know from my grandmother.” A look of sadness washed over his face as he spoke of his parents.

“Jason Daniels, man of many talents I see.”
We ate Caesar salad, fish and spaghetti as we talked about everything from school, to our future, to childhood memories.
“So how did you start hustling for my brother?” Getting up from the table, I gathered our plates and took them into the kitchen.

“Angel and my brother were cool. He used to come over to the house all the time when we lived off of Sandusky. I used to watch my brother sell to the fiends over on MLK and eventually he started letting me make money off of nickel and dime bags. It wasn’t nothing big but it taught me a few things. When ya’ll moved from 112th they lost contact with each other until I ended up running into Angel up at Jamison. I told him what went down with Bread and he said he would look after me. The rest is history.”

“Wait a minute. Bread is your brother? Anthony? They went to Paul Revere and Nathan Hale together. They were like Batman and Robin. Bread was like part of the family.” Drying the dishes I placed them in the rack and washed my hands.

“I didn’t know Bread had a little brother.”
“And I didn’t know Angel had a little sister. I mean, I used to see you around but ya’ll don’t look shit alike so I never thought anything of it.” “So you were watching me huh?” I gave him a little attitude as I leaned against the sink with my arms folded across my chest.

“I already told you that. I’ve watched you grow up and I played the sidelines waiting for my chance to get close to you.” Money put his hands in my hair so that he was palming the back of my head. I closed my eyes and waited for him to kiss me.

“Come here, I want to show you something.” Snapping me out of my fantasy he took my hand and led me up to the attic.

“This is where I go when I want to clear my head.” Money unlocked a window that resembled a small doorway and climbed out onto the roof. “Gimme your hand.”

I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect night. The moon was full and the sky was clear making it easy to see all the stars. “This is gorgeous.” “Are you cold?” Pulling a sweatshirt over his head he noticed I was shivering.
“A little bit.”
Money disappeared in the small window and came back with a Cleveland State hoodie.
“Is that better?” Rubbing my shoulders he waited until he couldn’t feel me shaking anymore and then he let go.
“Perfect.”
This time I wasn’t about to wait for him to make the first move, I placed my hand on the side of his face and kissed him.
“Thank you.”
“For what?” The moonlight shone down onto his eyes giving them a glasslike appearance.
“Nothing.”

Snuggling into his arms we sat on the roof and tried to guess the constellations. I forgot about my father calling the house, about CJ and Corey, about Cash, I forgot about Keyshia. All I could think about was how safe and secure I felt with him next to me.

There was no pressure, no arguing, no friends or cell phones, just us. I could really get used to this.

ChApTER TWENTy-ThREE

“What up sis?”
“Hey Angel. I was just thinking about going up on Lee Road to get some food from that one Chinese spot we always go to.
“That does sound good, I’m around the corner. Give me a second and we can go up there.”
“Okay. Call me when you’re outside.”

I grabbed my Baby Phat jacket and closed my door. It was nice out so maybe Angel wouldn’t mind walking. I was halfway down the stairs when I heard my grandmother on the phone.

“Yeah she got accepted to some school in Atlanta. You know she not gonna do nothing but go down there and flunk out.”
I ran back up the stairs, and picked up the phone hoping she didn’t hear me.
“Uh huh. You know she’s boy crazy. I bet she end up pregnant before the year is out.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Instead of being happy that I was the first one to go to College my grandmother was on the phone with Sam and my other Aunt Vicki talking shit. I was hurt. All I ever wanted was for them to be proud of me. To accept me, but it seems like every chance they got they used it to demean me. I didn’t want to listen anymore. I was about to hang the phone up when one of my aunt’s said something about Cash.

“Has he been around there?” Concern was in Vicki’s voice as she asked about her brother.
“Nope, I haven’t seen him.” Marie cleared her throat. “He usually comes to see me everyday too. I don’t know where he is.”
“Ask Asjiah.” Sam snickered at her comment.
“I don’t know what that girl was thinking by saying he raped her. She’ll do anything for attention.”
“Sam didn’t you say she had bruises on her legs?” I could hear the kids running around downstairs as Marie held the phone.
Before she could respond Vicki chimed in. “she probably got em’ from somebody else doing some shit she wasn’t supposed to be doing.” I couldn’t take this anymore. I silently laid the phone down as my cell started to vibrate.

“Hello?”
“Big head, I’m outside.”
“K. Here I come.”

I walked downstairs and went out the side door. I heard my grandmother laughing as I left the house unnoticed.
*****
“What’s up Angel?” Although he lived around the corner with Stacey it felt like he was miles away.
“Lil’ baby, I heard you go to school in August. You know I don’t want you going down there, but if that’s what you want then I guess that’s cool.” “You can come visit. You should move down there, you, me and Stacey. We could all start over.”
“I don’t know about all that but I’ll try to visit. I may have to leave Stacey here though, because I heard those broads in the ATL are thick.” “You’re gross.” I playfully shoved Angel and walked down the driveway. “Can we go get something to eat now?”

Laughing Angel opened his car door.
“Can we walk?”
“I’m an old man A’. But if that’s what you want then sure.”

“You know I think I’m going to settle down with Stacey.” Angel watched the kids play as he thought of having some of his own.
“What?” I knew Angel was always over there but I didn’t know their relationship had gotten that serious.
“Angel she’s 15! What happened to your rule about not dating anyone that was younger than me?”

“Stacey is different. Plus her body doesn’t look 15.”
“That’s nasty.”

Come on.” Angel waited for me to catch up before he continued. “Like I was saying, I think I’m going to settle down with Stacey, she’s the only that puts up with my bullshit and I think I love her.”

“Yeah I hear you.” Zipping my jacket up, I held the door for him as we walked into the restaurant.
Angel looked at the menu. “Let me get some shrimp fried rice and whatever my sister wants.”
*****

“That’s them right there.” LT pointed out his targets to Juan and Vale. “He just made a run up to the Chi so I know he got some major weight at his girls crib. Asjiah’s not the target. I just want you to scare her. Our main focus is Angel. Make him take you to his spot then rob him.”

“So do you want us to beat him up too?” Juan was nervous; he’d never done anything like this before.

“No, I want you to hold his fucking hand and play Ring-around-the-Rosie. What the fuck do you think? Angel ain’t no hoe. He’s going to fight back. So do what you need to do but make sure you get the dope off him first.”

LT hated that he had to go to these extremes but he wasn’t getting money by selling weed anymore. All of his customers soon became Angel’s. He wasn’t coming off the name of his connect so he thought he would take it by force.

Vale replayed LT’s instructions in his head while he stared at Asjiah. “Asjiah’s not the target; I just want you to scare her.” He thought about the other day at the diner when he ran into her and Keyshia. He had wanted to fuck her for some time now but Keyshia was a lot easier to get to. Tonight he may finally get the chance; “I’m a do more than scare her.”
*****

“Remember when I used to read that one Charlie Brown book to you every time you got sick?” I smiled as I thought of our childhood.

Laughing Angel waited for the light to turn red before crossing. “Yeah, you used to change your voice and talk like Snoopy. That shit was funny as hell.”

“But on some serious shit A’, I’m sorry I didn’t believe you when you told me about Cash. I mean, I did, but I just didn’t want to think something like that could happen, especially not to my little sister.” Angel put his hood on his head as the temperature began to drop.

I tried not to get emotional as I thought back to me getting raped. Two months had passed but every time I thought about it, I got chills. “And I know you put that cut on his neck. I’m guessing those were some of CJ’s boys that cleaned that shit up and dumped him in the dog pen.”

My heart skipped as I realized Angel knew more than I thought he did. “Angel, how’d you know?”

“Your guardian Angel knows everything.” Angel smiled and tapped me on my head. “That nigga CJ’s not as corny as I thought he was. I’m gone have to talk to him; tell him good looking out. I found Cash in the backyard and after I had my fun with him I dumped him at University Hospital.”

“Thank you Angel.” Stopping to face my brother I hugged him. “I knew you wouldn’t let that shit ride. Sometimes it’s like we’re twins or something, like we think the same shit. We handled Cash like some straight gangsta’s!”

“You ain’t no gangsta!” Pushing me lightly Angel and I laughed as we continued walking home.
*****
Circling the block LT stopped on 153rd.
“Aiight, get out the car and go handle ya’ll business. Remember don’t shoot him till after you got all the dope. When it’s over meet me back on 139th.” Juan and Vale got out the car and walked around the corner. *****

Angel noticed the black Maxima when it was parked outside the China Garden but he thought nothing of it. Since they started walking back home the same car had drove past them twice. He was sure that they were being followed and something was about to go down.

“A’, hold this.” Angel handed the bag to Asjiah and began looking around them. He noticed the two boys crossing the street and prepared for battle. “When I tell you to, I want you to run as fast as you can. Don’t look behind you and don’t worry about me. I’ll be right next to you.”

“What?” I followed Angel’s gaze and saw the two boys coming across the street. Before I could protest and tell him I wasn’t going to leave him they started running towards us.

“Run Asjiah! Run!