Ghetto Girls IV

by Anthony Whyte

  “I’m tired of these trifling-ass-niggas.” Kim chuckled as she spoke. “I mean, my son’s father, God bless his soul, is not with him, but they did things together. You know? Deja took Roshawn to the park and all. They watched basketball and cartoons together.” Kimberly raised her eyes to ceiling as the words left her mouth.

  “Yeah, Roshawn’s father God bless his soul, was a big time basketball and video-game freak,” Tina laughed. “Shit, he even got me and Angel watching and playing some shit with him. For real, for real.”

  “Cash rules,” Kim said. They laughed as she continued. “I don’t wanna stay broke.”

  “Yes and get any nice expensive shits you want too,” Tina laughed and gave Kimberly a high-five. “We’ll be ballin’, girl.”

  “With my ass looking fine,” Kimberly said, shaking her hand around before slapping Tina’s bubble. “I’ll be having not only niggas serving me but nice guys too,” she continued. “Bitches ballin’! Yes!”

  “Success bitch,” Tina shouted.

  “Alright bitch, be easy. My son is taking a nap. “Don’t be coming to my place with your ghetto acting self, making noise, bitch!”

  “My bad, bitch. Soon you’ll own a house and me and Junior will come over and scream all we want.”

  “Think so? Don’t be making all your plans for my place. Ain’t shit going down in there, I’ll throw a little… No. A big party, but that’s enough. Having my place run down by all these ghetto-acting ass niggas and bitches? Nigga pu-leeze, no fucking way. You know niggas don’t pay for nothing when they break it. Am I wrong?”

  “You right, Kim. Keep them niggas out the mansion,” Tina laughed.

  “If a nigga gets lucky and I do mean lucky and stay over and he better be able to buy more than Ihop. I’m talking lobsters and pearls. You smell me, Tina?”

  “He better be all this and that,” Tina smiled, spreading her hands wide apart.

  “That’s what’s up.” Kim said and walked away briefly to check on Roshawn.

  By the time Kimberly returned, Tina’s thoughts were still simmering. Kim watched as she hurriedly jotted notes on a sheet of paper.

  “You look as though you can hardly wait,” Kim laughed.

  “You know I just lost Nesto but I’m through grieving his ass. I got a nice size rock to lean back on though. Sometimes I gotta pinch myself to know I’m still living. You heard me? The nigga endangered our lives and now’s the damn payoff for all our problems. We’re gonna have to flip the game and bring it,” Tina said. “Make sense don’t it?”

  “Yes it does.”

  “Then let’s make these dollars we know we can. All we’ve gotta do is cooperate with the DA and we can be paid. They’re not gonna let anything happen to us and we could sell this rock. It’s worth at least a mill. Nesto done told me that.”

  Tina looked at her best friend Kimberly, trying to figure which way she was going. Kimberly looked away, deep in her thoughts. Tina looked at Kimberly some more and knew she had flipped her best friend’s switch. Tina’s round eyes floated to the television and saw the bronzed flowerpot next to the set. She noticed how the plant leaves glowed in the sunlight. Then Kimberly spoke.

  “Life’s a pimp and I’m his pussy girl,” Kimberly said. “Let’s go out hustle and bring him goodies. I have to support my son,” continued Kimberly in hushed tones. “Deja, God rest his soul, can rest easier when they find his killers.” There was a rustling and after a short pause, she shouted to her son. “Roshawn, is everything all right, hon? Mommy will be right there.”

  Kim got up and placed the empty cup in the kitchen sink. The clang of metal collided with the thoughts of Tina. She smiled at the victory.

  “Alright. We’re gonna be working with the great Eric Ascot.”

  “I don’t wanna think about it just right now. You know what they say.”

  “What they say, bitch?”

  “Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched,” Kim replied while fussing with Roshawn.

  “They say, ‘Scared bitches don’t make no fucking money, bitch.’”

  “Who said that?”

  “Somebody with lots of sense,” Tina said with a chuckle.

  “I guess we just got to wait and see what happens,” Kim said, holding her son close to her chest.

  “Alright trooper, I’ll fall back,” Tina said. Then she thought about it before adding. “I will leave you with this, okay. We got a deal, right?”

  “I guess,” Kim said.

  “I hear you, I understand. I meant what I said in a good way. Deja and Nesto God rest their souls.” Tina completed the request with the kiss at the end of the sign of the cross. “Deja he was my man. He laid down his hustle and was always looking out for his family.”

  “I just want my son not to have to turn to the streets, like his father did. He’s gone. That’s the reality. My son and me, we still got to carry on. I don’t want to depend on anyone.”

  “And it’s how I’m thinking. I’m trying to get my mind to be all about Angel Jr. Nesto was into his, always looking out for himself only. You think he’d have learned sump’n when he was locked-down, reading all them damn books, right?”

  “Who would’ve thunk it, but homey did have a long history,” Kimberly said. The revelation was nothing new to either, but it jolted Tina.

  “I’m gonna miss his crazy ass but I got his son everyday to remind me of him. They just alike, except Angel Jr. is gonna have a better education. I’ll send him to Harvard. Imagine, my Angel in Harvard.”

  “I hear you,” Kimberly said.

  They had been friends for a long time and both knew what would happen when they started working for the DA. Tina quickly umped at the opportunity and Kimberly reluctantly joined in. The two friends smiled at each other.

  “We’re gonna be alright,” Tina said.

  “You want to get a touch-up to your do, don’t you? Let me get Roshawn ready and we’ll both go to the beauty parlor,” Kimberly said, heading out the kitchen.

  “Your hair looks good girl. It’s holding well. Did they cut it?” Tina asked.

  “Now who’s got amnesia? Remember, it was just the other day, duh. They did the ends. I think it needs some highlights. Let me go get Roshawn ready so we can go.”

  “Who styled it? The Dominican chica?”

  “Hmm. It looked real nice.”

  “It was cheap, girl.”

  “You won’t be singing that song anymore. Let me go take care of my baby.”

  The house phone rang and Tina went to answer it. She returned a few minutes later to the bedroom where Kim was fussing with Roshawn’s clothes.

  “Who was it?” Kim asked.

  “It was Tom from the DA’s office. We start tomorrow,” Tina said.

  Kim stared at Tina for a long beat. It was clear she didn’t want to believe it. She nodded and went back to fussing with her son.

  “Now I really got to get my hair did,” Kim said.

  CHAPTER 11

  Eric Ascot and Deedee sat in separate cells at a Manhattan precinct awaiting news from their attorney. Eric’s protest of being arrested for a stolen car had landed him in further hot water. The detective deemed he was attacked and hit Ascot with further charges of assaulting an officer. Much to his chagrin, Eric was re-arrested for the media and cameras. Sophia was there quietly witnessing the performance of the police. Eric was escorted by a smiling Kowalski on the infamous perp-walk, a parade staged for the camera hounds.

  Eric stewed in the cell and didn’t sit down once during the eight hours he was detained. His lawyer, Maximo Soto, finally cleared up the legal snafu. Eric hugged his niece when they were finally reunited.

  “Are you okay, Deedee? I’m sorry about all this,” he said.

  “It’s alright Uncle E. It wasn’t your fault. Mr. Soto told me it was a wrongful arrest and all charges were dropped.”

  “Yeah, but it doesn’t make it right,” Eric said.

  He walked outside with his niece and Sophia in tow
to face the snapping shutters of the cameras from paparazzi outside the precinct. Deedee and Sophia slipped on their shades. Eric shielded his eyes with his hand from the flashing bulbs.

  “Enjoyed your stay, Mr. Ascot?” asked a media hound.

  “Sure. You know the law goes out of its way to look out for me.” Eric smiled when the cameras went abuzz.

  “Mr. Ascot, what’s your next move?” a paparazzo asked.

  Cameras panned over to Eric hugging Deedee and Sophia as the trio was walking away.

  “I’m going to take care of family and get back in the studio. Do what I do.”

  “What about this trouble brewing with the law?”

  Eric paused and looked into the flashing lights of the cameras. It seemed the world was waiting for him to break down. Eric saw past the countless shutter bugs. He smiled confidently. “I’ll let my lawyers handle it,” Eric said then turned and walked away.

  “This is another typical miscarriage of justice by an overzealous police department. Mr. Ascot will be vindicated of any charges,” the lawyer started. Eric slipped quietly away. Sophia hugged Deedee as they walked toward a waiting car.

  Josephine sat fuming while watching the live coverage on television. She rose from her squat on the sofa, slammed the magazine down and walked to the bathroom. Josephine studied her profile in front of the full-length mirror. “He doesn’t think I’m worth it?” she pondered aloud, rubbing her hands over hips. “I’ll show him,” she smiled and left a print of her lips on the bathroom’s mirror.

  She was still angry when the next afternoon rolled around and she had neither heard from nor seen Eric. Josephine dialed his cell number but got only the outgoing message on his voicemail. Her phone received a blocked incoming call and she jumped to answer the cellphone.

  “Hello,” she cooed.

  “Hi Josephine, this is your mother…”

  “Mother!” she shouted too loudly, unable to disguise her disappointment.

  “What’s wrong? Is anything wrong, Josephine?”

  “No mom,” Josephine said, gathering her wits. “How’re you doing?”

  “I’m fine, Josephine. I’m sorry I missed your graduation. We were in Florida finalizing the divorce.”

  “You mean the attorney and you had to go to Florida to finalize a divorce that’s taking place in North Carolina? Hmm… what a story, mother…”

  “Josephine, you’ve got to understand. Your father and I are no longer together.”

  “And I guess that gives you the right to run around with any man, including the one who is helping with your divorce, huh mother?”

  There was a long, pregnant pause on the line. Josephine was frustrated and her mother’s explanation for missing her graduation ceremony did nothing to satisfy her. It was downright unacceptable to her and she started to cry.

  “I bought you a nice gift. It’s a new Honda Accord…”

  Josephine heard her mother but was too distraught to concern herself with the the gift. She said nothing and her mother continued.

  “It’s a great car. Your favorite color, red, and it runs so smoothly. It’ll be here when you arrive, honey.”

  “Oh, now I got it. The reason you bought the car for me is to get me to come and live with you and your adulterous lover in Florida. Mother, you can’t buy me.”

  “What did your father get you? Did he even bother to go to your graduation? He was too busy with his bimbo to probably even call you.”

  “At least he called to say he couldn’t make it because of his schedule.”

  “Oh he called, huh? I guess he’s a good parent, huh?”

  “Mother, dad also sent flowers and money, okay?”

  “You’re always on his side.”

  “Mother, I don’t think the conversation is going anywhere so I’m going to end it before I lose my temper, okay?”

  “You’re just like your father, impatient and—”

  Josephine hung up the phone and threw it on the bed. She waited for a few minutes and picked it up.

  “Oh Eric, please answer this time,” she said and dialed. Frustrated, she angrily threw the phone down again. This time it hit the floor hard and the mobile was shattered to pieces. “The only thing he wants to do is fuck me!” Josephine screamed. “I’m gonna get even with him. That bastard!”

  She buried her head in a pillow and her body heaved as she cried. It wasn’t much long after the phone to the apartment began ringing. Josephine stood, and picked up the phone.

  “Hey, who’s this?” she asked, trying to sound as normal as possible. A man’s voice responded, asking for Eric. “He’s probably at the Hamptons with his ex and his niece,” she said in a tone laced with venom. “And I don’t have any further info. Goodbye,” Josephine said, dropping the telephone and cursing aloud. “I don’t know who these damn studio engineers think I am? His damn secretary? Fuck that! I ain’t!”

  Josephine used the apartment phone to dial her father’s house number. The phone rang several times before she spoke.

  “Hello Dad. How’re you? Mother called me earlier and told me to talk to you regarding the settlement in her divorce…”

  The frown on Josephine’s face tightened and her lips pouted as she listened. Then she continued.

  “I don’t wanna live with her and that new man of hers,” Josephine shouted into the receiver. “He tries to be so bossy, trying to run everything. I don’t care what the judge orders, daddy. I’d rather be dead than living with them, I swear! Bye daddy.”.

  By the time Josephine slammed down the phone, she was bawling. The news hit her like a sledgehammer. It was decreed by the divorce that she had to live with her mother in Florida and visit with her father during Christmas holidays. This condition was troubling to the seventeen plus teenager. Josephine wanted to stay where she was living. She wanted to be near Eric and her mother wanted to live in Florida. Even though Josephine knew it was only a short time before she was eighteen, she still felt depressed and cried herself to sleep.

  CHAPTER 12

  Saturday evening out in his east Hampton mansion, Eric slept with ease. He went there with Sophia and Deedee shortly after he and Deedee had been released. Eric smiled as he slept, his mind was nestled in a world of sweet dreams. Sophia was back in his life.

  They were in a restaurant and she was impatiently waiting for service.

  “I’m sorry, babe, but it just couldn’t wait. I mean, I-... I wasn’t really that late. I was there when you received your award, and I was very proud of you.”

  He had managed to make it to an award banquet held for Sophia but had been tardy. Angered, her beauty shone even more than ever.

  “Stop trying to be my friend. I worked for it and furthermore, Mr. Lateness, I’m always on-time.” Sophia lit a cigar and gagged on the smoke. Eric reacted in alarm. The waiter rushed to the table with water.

  “You’re not supposed to inhale the smoke. It’ll choke you,” Eric said, giving the coughing Sophia a glass of water. The smoke brought several waiters to the table in a rush.

  “I’m sorry, Madame, but there’s no smoking allowed. May I get you something to drink?” one of the waiters said.

  “I’m sorry too,” Sophia said. “Keep them double apology martinis coming.”

  She stared coldly at Eric and pulled out her make-up case and refreshed her lipstick.

  “Apology martinis?” Eric looked baffled.

  “I want I want it you will give it up on the table, baby. I’m smoking and need a fireman to douse my flames, Eric.”

  “Let’s dance babe,” Eric said and softly guided her out on a cloud of smoke. He smiled and embraced her sexy frame. She was beautiful in her simple black dress, which revealed more now than Eric had noticed earlier. He held her tighter.

  “Hmm…” she murmured. He grabbed her hand and swept her off her feet. He was floating on the cloud provided by the pianist. Sophia held to him firmly, not caring where the ride ended.

  “Your place or mine?” Eric asked minutes late
r. Sophia said nothing and molded herself to Eric’s body. Her smile was beautiful.

  Eric kissed Sophia hard. She put up light resistance at first then gave in. His hands met the silky black barrier around her soft flesh.

  “Eric, let’s go to your place. We can do whatever you want.” Sophia’s breath was cut off by another deep kiss.

  Eric massaged Sophia’s thigh. The fabric felt supple in his hand, her flesh warmed to his touch. More than a little drunk from the evening’s activity, they zoomed down the highway of lust. As soon as they entered Eric’s apartment, his hands quickly encountered the silk panties covering her curvaceous ass.

  “Slow down,” Sophia uttered.

  “Just trying to be right on-time,” Eric responded hoarsely.

  “You don’t have to do anything. This loving is here forever waiting for you,” Sophia said in a throaty whisper.

  Eric stared lovingly at her dress, which clunging to a toned, five-foot-eight curves-in-all-the-right-places body. The black dress disappeared with a slight shrug of her shoulder. Eric kissed Sophia’s earlobes while his hands moved smoothly over her ass. Sophia sighed as her body clung to Eric’s thickness. Her heartbeat galloped. It made her breath come in gasps. Their bodies fell entangled on a cloud of pillows. She rolled on top. Eric sucked her nipples and rubbed her soft round breasts. She straddled his erection. He moaned when he felt her steaming, soft moistness. His hands roamed, kneading her taut hot brown body. His touch made her skin burn.

  “You drive me crazy. I love you baby,” she whispered, rocking back and forth.

  Sophia wrapped her arms around his neck and rode him. The cheeks of her buttocks were cupped in his large strong hands. His body was in a spastic dance of ecstasy. Eric grunted while Sophia’s sweaty breasts bounced up and down. He saw the way she bit her lips to prevent from screaming. She sweated as she continued lustfully riding him through her pearly gates. Through the haze of lust, he could see a figure. He got closer to satisfaction and recognized the figure. Eric groaned loudly when a shot hit him. He was sweating as he tried running but his feet wouldn’t move. Eric tried dodging the fireballs coming from the many guns of Lil’ Long, but his body refused to move.