My Brother's Keeper 2

by U. E. Wynn

  “What's up, Koran? Where you been nigga?” he asked, giving Koran a hug.

  “Took a lil’ vacation. What's up with you?”

  “I’m chillin. Who you got with you?” Derrick looked down at Jamel, who was caught up in the sights.

  The weather was nearly perfect. Temperatures hovered at a comfortable sixty degrees while a light breeze ruffled the last of the fall leaves. Huge clouds speckled the rich blue sky changing Sha’’pes every few seconds. Although it was the beginning of March, people strolled through the project grounds in wife beaters and shorts as if it were Spring. Jamel took it all in through awestruck eyes. Seven months of being cramped inside made everything new to him.

  “This is my son, lil Kay.”

  “Son! I ain’t know you had kids.”

  “I didn’t either until his mom sprung him on me.”

  Derrick studied Jamel for a second. “Yeah, lil’ dude looks just like you. So what’s up? Where you headed?”

  “To the park for a lil’ while. Why, what’s up?”

  “I got some haze nigga.”

  “Word!” Koran’s eyes lit up. “Come to the park with us then. We can get toasted while Kay playing.”

  “Kay drive,” Jamel said, while climbing into his truck.

  When they made it to the park Koran and Derrick sat on a bench not too far from the swings and Started rolling blunts. Jamel rode around in his truck leaning to the side in an effort to mimic how Koran drove. In all directions kids were out playing. The basketball courts were packed with teams waiting to play next and old men sat the chessboard tables in deep thought over their next move.

  “A yo, this shit crazy,” said Koran before he took a pull from his blunt and looked around.

  “What’s that?” asked Derrick.

  “I mean, look around. All these kids and shit, but soon as it gets dark this muthafucka be flooded with drug dealers, crackHeads, and stickup kids.”

  Derrick nodded, his eyes nearly closed. “I know right. It’s been like this Since I was a kid. Probably long before that. When crack hit the streets back in the day it fucked a lot of shit up.”

  “Yeah. Them crackers some smart muthafuckas. I know the shit we do is ill,” Koran said, referring to the M.G.’s, “but them crackers, they the illest! Look at Bush. He got niggas raping the Middle East frontin’ like he’s looking for terrorist. What he’s doing is putting down a mean stick up game and its legal.”

  Derrick looked up at Koran with a straight face, then laughed. “Let me find out you on some political shit. Jesse Jackson ass nigga.”

  Koran laughed, although he was a news freak and stayed in tune with world affairs. “I’m saying, shit is real over there. Bush gonna fuck round and pop off World War Three. You think them Muslims gonna keep going for that shit? Hell no! Look at what Ben…”

  His words trailed off when he noticed a couple walking with a lil’ girl close by Jamel. The young woman screamed at her man who blatantly ignored her while the lil girl clung to her leg fearfully. Koran took a closer look and realized it was the same woman from the night before he killed Premo. The strong feeling that he knew her came across him again. His eyes traveled from her face to the tight Apple Bottom Jeans she wore which showed off her fat, heart shaped butt.

  She wore her hair in thin corn rolls that hung well past her shoulders, stopping in the middle of her back. Bright red lipstick detailed her small thick lips giving them the look of a juicy plum. Her high yellow complexion was emphasized by high cheekbones, a small, slightly upturned nose, and deep green eyes the color of the sea. The whole package sent a tingle through Korans’ genitals.

  Jamel equally engrossed watched wide eyes as she yelled and dabbed her finger in her boyfriends face. Suddenly, the boyfriends patience broke and he slapped her so hard she dropped to one knee causing the little girl to fall with her. A muscle twitched in Koran’s jaw seeing him hit her, but it wasn’t his business, so like everyone else in the park he sat still. It wasn’t until Jamel jumped from his truck and ran towards the commotion that Koran moved.

  “Kay chill!” Koran shouted, but there was no stopping Jamel. When he reached the couple, after stumbling twice, he wrapped his arms around the man’s leg and sunk his small teeth into his thigh before he could hit her again.

  “What the hell!” The man looked down at Jamel, who was latched to his leg like a leech and roughly pushed him to the ground.

  “I ought to stomp your lil’ ass!” he snarled, grabbing his girlfriend by the collar.

  Beside her the little girl tugged at her arm desperately trying to pull her away while Jamel pushed himself off the ground, a scowl on his baby face. Instead of crying like other two year olds, he turned to Koran as he ran up. “Ka-wan! Ka-wan get’im!”

  Koran would have laughed if he hadn’t been so pissed off. The only thing on his mind was murder as he drilled the boyfriend with an overhand right straight to the nose. The force shattered the bone and lifted him off his feet before he landed flat on his back.

  “You fucked up nigga!” Koran yelled, reaching for the 45. Automatic he kept tucked at the small of his back.

  “Bang bang, Ka-wan! Bang bang!” Jamel shouted.

  Koran had to laugh. “Ain’t no bang bang poppin’ off Kay. Go get in the truck. We’ll go get some ice cream later, okay?”

  Jamel wasn’t trying to hear it. “Me bang bang! Me bang bang, Ka-wan!” He jumped up on his stubby legs trying to reach the gun.

  “A yo Dee, come get Kay, man before he body this nigga.”

  Derrick laughed and picked Jamel up as Koran turned his attention to the young woman and the little girl who sobbed uncontrollably. “You a’ight shorty?”

  She gave Koran a sad smile. “Yes. Thank you, Koran.” She stood up and hugged the little girl. “It’s ok Dej’a. Don’t cry baby.”

  “How you know…” Koran was about to ask how she knew his name but she walked to where Derrick stood holding Jamel. He followed her with his eyes, trying to figure out where he knew her from and came up with a blank.

  Being a sucker for a woman’s affection, Jamel held out his arms for her to take him. “Okay?” he asked, gently touching the bruise forming under her eyes.

  “Yes, baby. I’m fine. You’re my little hero.”

  “Okay?” Jamel asked again looking down at the little girl.

  She smiled, showing three missing baby teeth, two on top, one on the bottom. Two long pigtails hung around her small oval shaped face and stopped at her shoulders. Her large hazel brown eyes were the same color as Jamel’s and was a shade lighter than her smooth brown skin.

  “Yes, I’m okay. Let me hold him, Sin,” she said in a small voice reaching for Jamel, who was more than happy to share himself.

  “Sin?” Koran glanced at her as her boyfriend stirred awake and realized that he knew her. He knew her well in fact. Her name was Serenity. Sin for short. She lived in building 1790 which was right across from his building. He also remembered having a huge crush on her when they were in Junior high school and that was the last time he laid eyes on her until recently.

  The boyfriend, still dazed, looked up at Koran through watery eyes. “You broke my fucking nose man!” he cried, as blood and mucus ran freely from his nose.

  “Shut the fuck up!” Koran kicked him in the side wishing he could kill him right there. “Stand your bitch ass up!”

  The malicious look in Koran’s eyes sent a shiver of fear through him. “A yo Money, I ain’t mean no harm man.”

  Koran shook his head, his mind set on killing him. “What’s your name?”

  “Trouble. Derrick knows me. We went to school together.”

  “Oh word. Dee your man?” Koran glanced at Derrick, who rolled his eyes. “You lucky then. I was about to merk your ass. You need to apologize to my lil’ man, though.”

  Trouble quickly nodded and walked to where Serenity stood holding Jamel. “My fault lil nigga. You gotta mean lil’ bite on you. And Sin, I’m sorry…”

  Serenity
slapped him so hard his face jerked to the side. “Get the fuck out my face you sorry bastard!”

  Jamel squirmed in her arms, trying to hit him. “Fuck face! Fuck face!”

  “I think you better leave Duke,” Koran said, standing in between them. “Ain’t nobody feeling you right now.”

  “Fuck face! Fuck face!” Jamel yelled as Trouble walked off holding his sweatshirt over his bloody nose.

  “A’ight Kay, chill.”

  Jamel covered his mouth grinning and looked at Dej’a. “Ice Came, Ka-Wan?”

  “Yeah, we on for ice cream,” Koran answered, unable to take his eyes off Serenity. With warmth all over his body, he still felt the same nervousness he felt around her in junior high school.

  “You get ice came too?” Jamel asked Serenity and a smile broke out on Koran’s face. “That’s up to your father, handsome. Do I get ice came too Ka-wan?” Serenity mimicked grinning.

  Koran laughed. “No doubt. You and this lil’ cutie right here. What’s your name pretty?”

  “Dej’a.” She blushed shyly.

  “You definitely do that with your pretty self. And Sin, pardon what just happened, but your man was way outta line.”

  “You don’t have to tell me,” Serenity rubbed her cheek.

  For a few seconds they were stuck staring at one another until Koran caught himself. “Give me a sec’ and we’ll be out.” He turned towards Derrick and nodded towards their bench.

  Jamel, playing the ladies man, squirmed out of Serenity’s arms. He stood between her an Dej’a, and took hold of their hands. Missing his mother’s touch made him seek a woman’s attention. When alone with Lisa and Koran, all of their affection was his. At times Koran wasn’t even allowed to touch her. Jamel would calmly remove his hand and proclaim the spot he touched “mine.” If Koran got a kiss, Jamel got two. That was the law. Being the two were so closely bonded, Koran understood completely and went along with the program.

  “A yo, you know that nigga Trouble?” Koran asked once they made it to the bench. “Yeah, I know scrams.” Derrick reached in his pocket for a cigarette. “Why, what's up?”

  “Oh, nothing. I’ma body his ass for putting his hands on Kay though. Do me a favor and bring him to the roof tonight at eleven. I’ll meet you there.”

  “Body him! C’mon Koran, it ain’t like he hurt the lil’ nigga.”

  “That ain’t the point. He fucked up when he put his hands on Kay,” Koran snapped and turned to walk off. “I’m good though. I’ll get his ass.”

  Derrick grabbed him by the shoulder. “Hold up nigga. I’ll bring the nigga, but damn son. It ain’t that serious.”

  “If it was your son or daughter what would you do?”

  Derrick gave him a thoughtful look before answering. “I feel you. What's up with shorty. She trying to look out for you holding her down?”

  “That’s what I’m about to find. One!” Koran winked, then jogged back to where Serenity stood with Jamel and Dej’a’. “What up? Y’all ready?”

  “We ready Ka-wan,” Jamel tugged at Serenity and Dej’a’s hand.

  “If you don’t mind, can you walk with us to my building so I can put his truck up.”

  “I need to go home too, so I can put something on my cheek. Sorry ass…” Serenity glanced at Jamel and cut her words off.

  “Trouble your man or something?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Was my man. If anything he was my dog. Every other week I hear he’s with a different tramp. And that’s the last time he’ll ever put his hands on me. I’d rather be by myself.”

  “I’m saying, you don’t gotta be by yourself. You need to find the right nigga.”

  “And where might the right nigga be?”

  Koran hunched his shoulders. “You gotta know where to look.”

  “Think so?”

  “Know so.”

  While Koran lay down his game, Jamel did the same thing with Dej’a’ although his words couldn’t be understood.

  “I wonder if the right nigga is the same one who use to sweat me all the time at school but never said anything.”

  “Maybe.” Koran grinned. “I’m saying though, if you peeped dude sweating you, why you ain’t say nothing to him?”

  Serenity shrugged. “I don’t know. Shy I guess.”

  “You shy, please! As I remember you were the complete opposite.”

  In Junior High Serenity hung out with four other girls nicknamed the F.A.B. which stood for Fly Ass Bitches. They were just that. They wore the latest fashions, sported the hottest hair-doo’s and wore tons of jewelry usually brought by their drug dealing boyfriends. When they entered a room all Heads turned. At fourteen Koran couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated by her.

  “Looks can be deceiving. I always thought you would get the nerve to ask me out.”

  “Now you’re making me blush,” said Koran smiling. “You were too fly to notice me back then. Where you disappear to after Junior High?”

  “That’s a long story, but I definitely noticed you. You use to be so serious. Always to yourself. I hardly ever saw you smile. As crazy as it may sound, that’s what attracted me to you.”

  Thinking back Koran guessed his seriousness came from watching Jahad and his knowledge of the M.G.’s. Gangsta’s didn’t do a lot of smiling.

  “On the low you had me kinda shook. That was then, though. So what’s really good?”

  Serenity looked at him through slanted eyes. “What you mean?”

  “I ain’t speaking French, Ma. You know what I mean.”

  She hesitated and looked towards the projects. “I won’t front like you still don’t spark my interest, but you saw what I went through. I can’t jump into another relationship just like that.” She snapped her fingers.

  “Relationship! Whoa Ma. I don’t get down like that. All I’m saying is we can hang out sometimes, you know? Ain’t nothing wrong with that right?”

  “No”

  “Good, because I don’t do relationships anyway. I do friendships.”

  “What you mean by friendships. You mean like we just cool or... you know.”

  “What difference does it make Since we only gonna be friends?”

  “None I guess, but I hope you’re strapping up if it’s like that,” she said wrinkling her nose.

  “To satisfy your curiosity.” He reached in his back pocket and pulled out a row of magnum condoms. “I stay wrapped up. That’s my man right there.” He glanced down at his crotch. “I gotta hold him down.”

  Serenity laughed. “You stay wrapped up, huh? Do your friends know each other. I mean are you all friends?”

  Koran gave her a devilish grin. “Nah, I like the idea though.”

  “Dog.” She rolled her eyes.

  “Nah, I’m saying.” His grinned stretched from ear to ear. “When I say friends I mean just that. We hang out, shop, or whatever. It ain’t like I’ll be in and out, pun intended. I’ll put in some time. We’re friends, you know?”

  “Un huh. Let me ask you this and it’s my last question.”

  “Go ahead. You gonna ask anyway.”

  “Why all the friends? You said it like you had at least two or three. What, you scared of commitment or does it take more than one woman to satisfy you?”

  Koran’s expression sobered. “It ain’t too many things I’m scared of. And maybe if I found the right chick, then yeah, I could stay faithful. I don’t do that though.”

  “Do what.”

  “You keeping it hot with the questions ain’t you, Ma? I plead the fifth,” he said, holding up his right hand.

  Serenity giggled. “I sound like a reporter, huh?”

  “Are you?”

  “No, just curious.”

  “Uh huh.”

  ~~~~

  Back at the apartment feeling like he was twelve again, Koran ran some bath water, then went to the stereo and put on 50 cents ‘Get rich or die trying just so he could hear 21 questions.

  If I fell off tomorrow would you still love
me?

  If I didn’t smell so good would you still hug me?

  He rhymed along with 50 on his way to the bathroom while behind him Jamel bobbed his little fat head hard enough to snap his neck. When they finished bathing, after he cleaned up the water Jamel splashed all over the floor, they walked to the bedroom both wrapped in towels.

  “You ready to go get fly Kay?”

  “Get fry,” he said, pointing towards the closet.

  Koran laughed. “Yeah, you know what time it is. We gonna stunt today.”

  He dressed Jamel in a silver Roc-A-Wear velour sweatsuit, gray Timberlands, and a silver and white New York Yankee’s hat. For himself a light brown Gucci velour sweatsuit, white Gucci sneakers and a white tee shirt. Since they were going to stunt, Koran pulled out the jewelry. He grabbed Jamel’s baby platinum Cuban links with a Mickey Mouse piece crusted with diamonds and the matching bracelet he always broke. For himself, a rose gold Gucci link with a sun piece flooded with yellow diamonds.

  “You ready to play lil’ dude?” Koran asked, looking in the mirror. “You got a shorty and I got a shorty. What's up?”

  “Ice came,” said Jamel looking up at him grinning.

  “Hopefully I’ll get some cake with that,” Kuran said while checking his clothes.

  “I get cake too.”

  “I don’t think you can handle the kinda cake I’m talking about.”

  On their way out Jahad walked in followed by Derrick. His face was screwed up into a frown until he saw Jamel running towards him. Since the two bumped Heads over the television Jahad had fallen under his spell. Jamel’s innocence had a way of making Koran and Jahad forget what they really were, killers.

  “What’s good lil’ nigga?” Jahad scooped him up and tossed him in the air. Jamel fell into a fit of giggles.

  “Up Jah! Kay up!”

  “Nah, it might wrinkle your gear. You all Gee’d up. Where you headed?”

  “Ice came. You go Jah?” Jamel asked, trying to pull Jahad’s platinum chain over his head.

  “You wanna rock my chain or you trying to house my shit?”