Still Sheisty

by T. N. Baker

  “What happened to you?” he questioned in shock.

  Epiphany revealed the ugly scar from not only the bullet, but the lung surgery after the shooting.

  “I was in an abusive relationship, and when I tried to leave him, he tried to kill me,” Epiphany said.

  “Damn, ma, I’m sorry to hear that. Where’s his punk ass at now?”

  “I don’t know,” Epiphany answered.

  “What you mean, you don’t know? Come on. For some sucker shit like that, he should be under the fucking jail.”

  “I know, but it didn’t turn out that way. Believe me, I wish it did, because maybe then the nightmares would stop and I wouldn’t have to worry about him coming back for me one day. But you know, with you I feel safe, I haven’t even thought about it.” Her tears continued to fall.

  Epiphany had over-dramatized her story to gain his sympathy, and it worked. Wild had seen a lot of crazy shit go down in his hood when it came to a man and his girl, so Epiphany’s story wasn’t far fetched. He could understand a nigga not wanting to let her go, because she was absolutely gorgeous, but what she did for him was more mental than physical. He’d fucked plenty of pretty girls with good pussy, but with Epiphany, he felt a connection that was real, and that made him want to hold on to her.

  “Listen, Epiphany, I’m feeling you like crazy, and if you feel like I feel and it ain’t about the money, then maybe something serious could pop off. I’ll be in L.A. for a couple of weeks, but when I get back, I’m trying to see what’s good, a’ight?” He leaned down and kissed her ugly scar.

  Epiphany didn’t say a word. She just looked in his eyes and hoped her tearful emotions would say it all. In her mind, she was screaming, I got his ass! Just like that old school tune said: Use what you got to get what you want. All she could think about was a life filled with the finer things, like shopping sprees, VIP status, trips around the world, and maybe even a career in acting.

  CHAPTER 37

  C-God lost himself completely as his addiction started to control his mind, body, and soul. His body started to take on the form of a true fiend, as well as his habits. His money was spent, his jewelry sold, and the only other thing he possessed that held any value, his Cadillac Escalade, was dogged out by the local street corner dealers, who he let drive it more than him in exchange for crack.

  Marisa lost her kids to the system due to her neglect, and she started selling pussy to any nigga that would provide her and C with their next hit. C-God started asking Reggie to wire him money on the regular, until Reggie just started ignoring his calls.

  Tanya had no idea that he was cracked out, so she would send him a couple of dollars whenever she could, until she started to suspect something was up. It got to the point where he would call at all times of the day, wanting her to go to a MoneyGram. He’d make up all kinds of excuses for why he couldn’t see her. Eventually she washed her hands of him.

  C-God was smoked out, and all he had was his memories of when he was getting paper. He would tell his story to any young hustler in VA who was willing to listen to him talk about what he used to have, how one of his own betrayed him, shaming him and his family’s name.

  Niggas didn’t believe or respect him at first. They would clown him and his stories.

  “Ahh, go ’head with that shit, nigga. You ain’t nothing but a crackhead,” they would say. It wasn’t until he started to drop some valuable knowledge, rules to the game that could be beneficial to one’s progression, that they really paid attention and respected the shit he was saying.

  One particular nigga named Alpo, a lightweight in the game, had enough hunger to be a heavyweight and took a liking to C-God. He could tell C knew exactly what he was talking about concerning this drug shit. Even though he was a fallen soldier, Alpo still admired the position he once held. During a two-year bid in prison, he became real familiar with the reputation of the infamous Hinderson brothers from some stories cats told. C-God also took a liking to Alpo because he reminded him of himself eight years ago at the ripe age of twenty-two. He saw a similar hunger in him and felt, given the right type of guidance, Alpo would not only be official, but he could be what C-God tried to be—unstoppable.

  CHAPTER 38

  On the way home, Shana rehearsed her “I’m leaving you” speech over and over again. It was gonna be hard to face K.C. without trying to claw his fucking eyes out, but at this point, it was whatever, she thought.

  Her cell phone started ringing, but no number registered on the screen. She debated for a moment on whether she should answer it.

  “Hello?” she finally answered.

  “Yo, Cream, they got me locked up,” said Raina.

  “What?” Shana had been caught off guard.

  “Yo, it’s me, Raina. They raided Honey’s last night. I had your shit on me and got locked the fuck up. I’m at the Queens House, so ante up and get me out of here. My bail is five thousand.”

  “A’ight, I got you,” Shana said nonchalantly.

  Damn, what next?

  “I hope so, because if you have me in here too long, I’ma start talking.” Raina hung up before Shana could respond.

  When Shana walked in the apartment, K.C. was on the phone, but her anger toward him was now diverted toward getting that bitch Raina out of jail. She cut her eyes at him as hard as she could to let him know they had beef, while passing him to get to the bedroom.

  “Yo, Smitty, my chick stay mad at me, dawg,” K.C. said, noticing her attitude.

  Shana slammed the bedroom door. She despised Smitty’s ass too. Plopping down on the foot of the bed, she tossed her car keys to the side and just sat for a moment, thinking about Raina’s threat to snitch her out. The more she contemplated, the more she realized that Raina ain’t have nothing on her but her stage name. She didn’t know her real name, and if she did, she didn’t know her full name, or where she lived, or anything about her connect. She was no longer worried.

  If I was a complete bitch, I’d let her ass hang, Shana thought, getting up and walking over to the closet for her stash. She could still hear K.C. on the phone with Smitty, but she didn’t pay their conversation any mind, until she heard Epiphany’s name being mentioned. Pressing her ear up against the door, she eavesdropped on what K.C. was saying.

  “Who, Epiphany? Nah, I don’t think she got it back. If so, don’t you think she would’ve had the police all over Ness’s ass for that shit? What? I think so. Come on, man, the nigga tried to kill her. Yo, that’s your boy. Nah, I can’t even fuck with him like that no more. Yeah, he be bugging the fuck out, and I know that nigga is responsible for what happened to Righteous and his girl. Yo, you still asking about that bitch? Yo, man, let it go. Nah, Shana ain’t gon’ hook that shit up. She can’t stand ya ass. Besides, Shana don’t even fuck with her like that no more, and what’s up with you and my sister? Yeah, you right. Trina is a crazy bitch. But yo, what’s up with that money? Nah, I got mine ready, nigga. I’m waiting on yours.”

  From the sound of it, Shana assumed Ness was the one responsible for Epiphany’s brush with death. That dude Ness rubbed me the wrong way just by looking at him. Damn, he probably did Mali too. And what the fuck is up with Smitty wanting to get with Epiphany? That ain’t happening. He’s not even in her league. When I met him the first time, he claimed he already fucked her and couldn’t stand her, so what’s really good? Today is definitely just one of those days.

  Shana directed her attention back to her stash in the closet. Pulling down the Timberland shoebox, she notice it felt extremely light. Shana opened the box and instantly she noticed the dent in her savings. What used to be 42 G’s was now only two thousand dollars.

  Shana threw the shoebox on the floor, dug in the back of the closet, pulled out one of those metal baseball bats, and stormed out into the living room.

  “Where that fuck is my money at, huh?” she screamed.

  “Whoa, whoa! Yo, nigga, I’ma hit you back.” K.C. quickly hung up the phone “Yo, Sha, chill the fuck out!” he y
elled, making a move to grab the bat. Shana stepped back and swung with all her strength, hitting his arm.

  “Don’t fuck with me, K.C. Where the fuck is my money, you dirty-dick nigga?”

  “Yo, what the hell is wrong with you, Sha?”

  Shana positioned herself to slug his ass again.

  “Yo, chill! Don’t hit me no more!” he ordered as if he was in any position to make demands.

  “K.C., I swear on everything I love, if you don’t give me my money right now, I’m gonna take this fucking bat and try to kill you with it.”

  “Sha, listen. I just need a couple of weeks. Let me make this move with Smitty and I promise you, I’ll give you back double. Come on, ma. Put the bat down. Just grind with me, please, so I can get this paper, a’ight? Come on, Sha, you know I got you. Clyde can’t shine without Bonnie.”

  Shana did the math. Double meant eighty grand. She weighed out her options.

  Raina’s bail or a forty-thousand dollar profit. Fuck Raina, she thought, lowering the bat.

  “See, that’s why I love you, girl.” K.C. let out a hard sigh of relief.

  Shana turned up her lips and gave him a “Whatever, nigga” look.

  “Well, if you love me like that then go get your dirty dick cured and stop fucking them nasty-ass hoes.” She walked back in the bedroom, slamming and locking the door behind her. Shana lay on the bed, trying hard to understand how and why she loved K.C.’s grimey ass so much.

  CHAPTER 39

  Epiphany’s mother was glad that she was home and still in one piece, considering that she hadn’t heard from her in days. Really, she wanted to talk to Epiphany about Keisha’s recent behavior, thinking maybe she could talk some sense into her friend. Lord knows she had tried. Keisha was like a daughter to her, and she couldn’t sit back and watch her live recklessly.

  “Epee, I need to talk to you.” Mrs. Wright was obviously worried.

  “Ma, before you start, I’m sorry I didn’t call, but I was fine,” Epiphany answered defensively.

  “I can see that now, but you know what? I’m not gonna go there with you. I wanna talk about Keisha.”

  “What about Keisha? Is she here?”

  “Shhh. She’s downstairs.”

  “Okay, well, what happened?”

  “Epee, I’m worried about her. She been running out of here with a different guy every night for the past four days, and you know that ain’t like her.”

  “Ma, she’s just trying to get her mind off of Tucker, that’s all. It’s not that big of a deal.” Epiphany tried to justify Keisha’s behavior.

  “Well, I tried talking to her, and I’m telling you, she’s not herself. She hasn’t even mentioned her son.”

  “Ma, I’m sure she’s fine, but if you want, I’ll talk to her. Don’t worry about Li’l Tucker. He’s with her mom in Atlanta. I’m going downstairs now,” Epiphany whined.

  “I’ll tell you this: You girls need to accept Christ in your life and stop running around here taking things for granted. Your father’s trying to.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Where’s Daddy at anyway?” Epiphany asked, heading down the basement steps.

  “He went to see his brother. Your Uncle Ramel got arrested. Mm-hmm, the feds finally caught up with him.”

  “Wow, that’s too bad,” Epiphany said sarcastically.

  “What’s up, E? It’s about time you came home, girl.” Keisha excitedly sat up on her futon bed, anticipating the 411 on Epiphany’s new friend.

  “Hey, I know. Believe me, it wasn’t by choice, and it ain’t for long. Wild’s gonna take me up out of the hood,” Epiphany said with a smile.

  “Are you serious? So what happened? He must have a lot of money, ’cause I ain’t seen you smile like that since your father bought you that Beamer.”

  “Keish, he has everything I want in a man: a lot of money, a huge house, good dick, no kids, and he’s not cheap at all. He bought me this Marc Jacobs bag. This fucking bag is a month’s rent, and I’m walking around with it on my arm. I ain’t never had a purse that cost more than five hundred dollars. So, girl, you know I made it my business to put it on his ass, right? ’Cause shit, a bitch is trying to get a one way ticket out of Southside, okaaay!”

  “That’s good. I’m so happy for you.” Keisha was a little envious. She once had everything she wanted in a man, too, and she missed the feeling.

  “Anyway, enough about me. How was your date with that guy?” Epiphany asked.

  “Which one?” Keisha answered.

  “Well, damn, Keish, go on and brush your shoulders off. I’m scared of you.” Epiphany laughed.

  “Don’t be, because my pimp game sucks.” Keisha sighed.

  “Well, what happened to the computer fix-it guy?”

  “Oh my gosh, E, his apartment was a dump, his ding-a-ling was the size of my son’s, and now he has the audacity to avoid my calls.”

  “The dick was trash and you’re still calling him? Why?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Well, did he at least take you out and spend some money?”

  “Out? Out for him was a movie in his junky-ass one-room apartment.”

  “Keish, I know you been out of the loop for a minute, but did you not learn anything from me? If you’re gonna give it up, get something out of it, okay?”

  “I know. I had sex with three guys in the last four days, and none of them made me cum. It’s like I’m going from bad to worse,” Keisha confessed.

  “Three guys? From where, Keisha?”

  “Blackplanet.com.”

  “Are you crazy, Keisha?”

  “No, I’m just lonely.”

  “So why don’t you call to see how T’s doing?”

  “For what? He hates me.”

  “Keish, I’m talking about your son. When was the last time you called to check on him, and when is he coming home?” Not waiting for Keisha’s response, Epiphany handed her the phone.

  “I don’t know, E. Maybe in a couple of days or so. I just haven’t been feeling like a mom ever since Tucker left me. It’s almost like I had a baby for him, and now that he’s gone, I don’t want my son anymore. I guess I should at least call.” Keisha hesitantly dialed her mom’s number.

  Epiphany knew Keisha was hurting inside, but she couldn’t believe what was coming out of her mouth, and she chose not to comment.

  “Hello?” answered one of Keisha’s sisters.

  “Hi, this is Keisha. Who’s this?”

  “Hey, girl, this Kelly.”

  “What up, Kells? How’s my son doing?”

  “He ain’t here.”

  “What? Then where is he?”

  “I don’t know. Didn’t you send Tucker here to get him?”

  “No, I didn’t. Where is Loretta at?”

  “She ain’t here. Tucker took the baby two days ago. He said you told him to come pick him up,” said Kelly.

  “Well, I didn’t. I have to go. Bye!” Keisha hung up and immediately started dialing Tucker’s cell phone, then the house phone, but got no answer.

  “What happened, Keish? Is Li’l T okay?” Epiphany asked.

  “I don’t know. He’s not there. He’s with Tucker,” she answered.

  “Tucker went to ATL and got him and you didn’t know anything about it?”

  “No, I didn’t, and I can’t understand why Loretta would let Tucker just take him like that without consulting with me first. Now Tucker’s not answering his phone.” Keisha took a moment to think. “Epiphany, do you think he’s trying to take my son from me?”

  “I don’t know, but maybe you need to just go over there and see what’s up. You could take my car, unless you want me to go with you.”

  “No, you don’t have to, but thanks,” Keisha said as she took Epiphany’s car keys.

  When she arrived at what used to be her home, Tucker’s car, along with a light blue Honda Accord, was parked in the driveway. Keisha got out of the car and walked up the steps. She could see the that lights were on through the
front window, and she proceeded to repeatedly press the bell, causing it to sing an annoying tune. Her heart pounded as she impatiently waited all of two minutes.

  If I have to start breaking windows around this muthafucka, I’ll do it. My presence is gonna be felt, she thought. She prepared herself to take it there if she had to.

  Just as Keisha stepped down off the steps in search of a nice size rock with some weight to it, Tucker answered the door in a sweat, looking like he was getting his workout on. He was wearing a pair of Calvin Klein drawstring pajama pants, with no shirt and scratches on his chest.

  “What do you want?” An annoyed Tucker watched her search the grass.

  Keisha looked up and saw him at the door. “I came to get my son!”

  “Keisha, I’ma take care of him from now on. You shipped him off and forgot about him, remember that? It took you two fucking days to find out I had him? Just continue to do you. My little man is straight right here with me.”

  “I don’t care if took me five days. I came to get my son and I’m not leaving without him.”

  “Keisha, just go, a’ight!”

  “No, I’m not gonna just go. What the fuck were you doing anyway, and whose car is that? I know your not stupid enough to have some bitch around my son.”

  “Whatever, Keish. Good-bye.” Tucker went back inside the house and slammed the door.

  “Tucker, you better give me my fucking son, or I swear you’ll be sorry!” Keisha screamed, but Tucker didn’t come back to the door. “Oh, so you want me to take it there, huh?”

  Keisha walked across the front lawn, once again searching for a rock. She couldn’t find a rock but spotted some bricks that were stacked next to the fence in the front lawn. Loosening three bricks from the soil, she slammed one into the windshield of the Honda, then the passenger’s side window of Tucker’s 745. The third brick she threw crashed right through the center of the front window of the house, setting off both car alarms and the ADT system.