by A'zayler
*****
The next afternoon when Congo was released from jail he had to call his cousin Toro to pick him up. Toro was parked out front in his black Chrysler 300. Congo walked to the car and reached for the passenger door handle. He stopped in his tracks when he opened the door and Arizona, who they often called Z, was sitting in the seat. She smiled and waved at him. Arizona was his cousin Toro’s fiancé’. They had been together since high school and he’d proposed last month at her birthday dinner. She was like a little sister to Congo.
Toro looked across Arizona. “Aye bruh hop in the back.”
“Aight.” Congo closed the door and hopped in the backseat.
When he slid in Toro pulled away from the curb and headed for the interstate.
Toro looked at him in the rearview mirror. “They tell you why you got locked up yet?”
“Crazy ass Neeka. You know my shit in her name since I’m a felon. That bitch called and reported the shit stolen yesterday when I left the house.”
Arizona turned around in her seat. “Are you serious? Why would she do that?”
“Because she a stupid ass hoe.” Congo got mad all over again.
When they booked him and told him the car had been reported stolen by the owner he could have flipped the whole building over he was so mad. It took all night for her dumb ass to drop the charges and explain what happened. Only then did they let him go.
“Man nigga I don’t even know why you still fuck with that broad. She stay trying to get a nigga knocked.”
“I’m bout to cut her ass loose real soon. I’m bout sick of her retarded ass.” Congo looked out the window. “You know what Toro, don’t take me to the impound lot, take me to my daddy house to get my other whip.”
Congo had tried to change up his dope boy image so he’d stopped driving his old school Impala but before he had a bitch pulling him by a string about a damn car, he’d ride his own shit. He’d ride that muthafucka til the wheels feel off.
“You need to find you somebody else Congo. Neeka be on some other shit. I told you to let me hook you up with my sister.”
Congo and Toro both shook their heads.
“Hell no. Your sister too fucking rowdy. She’ll have my nigga head hurting just as bad as Neeka’s ass.”
Arizona hit Toro’s arm. “Shut up. She aint that bad.”
“Like hell she aint.” Congo spoke up. “I aint tripping anyway. I got my eye on something else right now.”
“Something else like what?” Toro inquired.
Arizona sucked her teeth. “She probably ratchet too. You can’t pick no good woman. You always messing with rats.”
Congo smiled and shook his head. “Lil mama aint no rat.”
“How you know?” Arizona challenged.
“Get out my business nosey ass girl.”
“Where you meet her at?” Toro was looking at him through the mirror again.
“Aight, so yesterday when I got locked up the police was on some ole bitch nigga shit slamming me on the hood of my car and shit, searching my whip and everything. I kept telling their ass the fucking hood was hot but they aint care. So you know a crowd of nosey muthafuckas had gathered their ass around but wasn’t doing nothing to get them niggas off of me. My face was burning the fuck up on that shit too. I had just cut the engine off and it was hot as hell outside but they wasn’t stun my ass until Honey walked up.” Congo paused thinking about the way she swooped in and held shit down for him.
“So her name is Honey?” Arizona asked.
“There yo ass go again. Keep yo nose up there girl damn.” Congo laughed as Arizona narrowed her eyes at him.
“You so childish. You make me sick. Just tell the damn story.”
Congo and Toro laughed at her.
“But yeah since you wanna know so bad. Her name is Honey. I heard her say it when she was on the phone. But like I was saying, she walks up going all kinds of ham on they ass about letting me off the hood. She called the police on they ass and everything. I didn’t even know you could call the police on the police until she did that shit. Once she got all them racist ass niggas in check she started rubbing my face and giving me water and shit while I’m standing there in cuffs. That shit was too playa. I gotta get her on my team after that shit.”
“Awww that was sweet. How she look?” Arizona was all into the story.
“She bad as fuck.” Congo shook his head as he thought about Honey. He had to find a way to get in contact with her.
He had been thinking about her all night while laid in that crowded ass holding cell. Between her and Neeka he had only gotten like an hour or two of sleep. Thinking about the way Neeka threw him under the bus that fast was what made him think about Honey. Here it was he and Neeka had been together going on two years now, she knew he was a felon, and she still threw dirt on him. Honey didn’t know him from a can of paint and she was ready to take that ride with him when shit got ugly. That’s the kind of woman you keep for yourself.
“So when can I meet her?”
Congo mushed Arizona’s face and she slapped his hand away.
“I’m for real. When?”
“I don’t know. Shit I don’t even know when I’ma meet her again. I don’t even know where she came from. One minute I’m face down on the hood of my car with some fat ass nigga on my back, the next she’s standing next to me regulating shit,” Congo scratched the top of his head. “I’ ma find out though. When I do, I might let your extra eager ass meet her. I don’t know yet. Yo ass talk too much someties.”
“I do not. And you being all extra and shit, I could have helped you find her.”
This caught Congo’s attention.
“How you was gon’ do that?”
“Nah nigga, don’t try to be nice now. Keep talking all that shit.” Arizona turned around and looked at Toro. “You see how quick his ass got to being nice. Nope too late Congo, I aint fucking with you.”
Toro turned into the driveway at Congo’s parent’s house which was his aunt and uncle and killed the engine. Congo shuffled a little grabbing his phone and wallet before opening the door. When he opened the door he turned back around and looked back into the car.
“Z, you my nigga. When I find her I’ll let you know. But if you find her first bring her to me.”
Arizona stuck her fist over the seat and Congo pressed his fist against it. “Love you brother. Keep your head up.”
Congo nodded. “Toro, I’ll hit yo line later.” He closed the door and headed up the driveway.
He pulled his keys from his pocket and let himself into his parent’s home. It was cool and clean as always. The living room was decorated with dark blue furniture and plants. There were fake trees, flowers, and animal statues everywhere. He dropped his keys on the table near the door and went to look for his dad. He already knew his mother wasn’t home because he hadn’t seen her car out front.
“Where you at pops?” Congo looked around the kitchen and spotted his father on the patio in front of the grill. He slid the door open and joined him outside. His father was the older version of him. He was tall, just as dark, and was still in good shape. The only thing that differed between the two other than age was the salt and pepper hair his father had. The round beer belly he’d gained over the years was another separating factor.
“Son. What you know good?”
“Shit.”
His father laughed and tossed him the other beer he had on the corner of his grill. Congo caught it and took a seat.
“So what’s this I hear about you being in jail last night?”
“That crazy ass bitch Neeka. She be on some dumb shit. Talking bout I stole her damn car. Hoe just mad because I don’t fuck with the streets like I used to.”
“I told yo ass. That girl crazy as hell.” His father took a swig of his beer.
“I know. I’m bout to leave her ass alone.”
“Shit. You should’a been did that. Aint no pussy that good.”
Congo laughed at his father. That
old ass nigga was always saying something slick. He was definitely his father’s son. His mouth was too flip sometimes.
“Pussy aint, but the way her jaws be gripping my dick be having a nigga reconsidering.”
His father hopped up from his chair dramatically slapping his leg. “Hot muthafucking damn. I knew it was something had yo ass stuck on gotdamn stupid.”
“But for real though pops, I think I’m done with her ass. This shits too stressful.”
His father polished off the rest of his beer. “I hear that son. What you here for?”
“The old school. I’m giving that bitch that sissy ass Camaro back.” Congo finished his beer and threw it in the bin with the other empty bottles before walking over to his 1979 Chevy Impala that his father had backed up in the back yard. The royal blue candy paint was a little ashy, and one of his rims was cracked but everything else was in good condition. He opened the gate to their backyard so he could pull out before telling his father he’d catch him later. Once his engine roared to life, Congo turned up some music and drove down the hill. He had some shit he needed to do. He drove straight to his house to change. If Neeka was there he was slapping the shit out of her and that was on everything. Being that it was in the afternoon she should have her ass at work but you never could tell when it came to her. Congo’s blood began to boil the closer he got to his house. Luckily for her when he pulled up she wasn’t there. After showering, changing clothes, and eating he was right back out the door. He was at the nail salon Neeka worked at within ten minutes. When he first went in he didn’t see her. His eyes surveyed the entire shop, while the women in there gawked at him, but he didn’t see her. He went over to the receptionist she smiled.
“Hey Congo, Neeka’s in the bathroom.”
“Cool.” He was headed to the back of the shop when she appeared.
Her eyes bucked when she saw him. She could tell by the look on his face that she was in some deep shit. Knowing how crazy Congo would act she tried to make it to the front door and out of it before he embarrassed her in front of everybody. So much for that. As soon as she got next to him he snatched her up by her arm and practically dragged her from the shop.
“Let go of my damn arm Congo.”
“Bitch shut up. I should break this muthafucka.”
“Nigga yo ass aint gone do shit.”
Before Congo could stop himself he had thrown her against the car and slapped her. She grabbed her face for a minute before swinging at him wildly. He blocked her blows easily and slapped her ass again. This time after slapping her he grabbed her by her neck.
“Bring yo ass around me again and I’ ma break yo fucking neck.” He pushed her away from him roughly before getting back in his whip and leaving. Instead of laying down in the apartment he paid rent in, he packed him a quick overnight bag and left. He’s spend the rest of the week at a hotel. He couldn’t deal with this shit right now. Once he checked in and put his shit down, Congo pulled his shirt over his head, kicked his shoes off and laid down. The moment his head hit the pillow thoughts of Honey consumed him. The feel of her hands on his face had him in a daze. He made up in his mind the moment he woke up from his nap, he was going back to look for her. Congo thought for a minute that a woman that sexy had to have a man, but shid, that hadn’t stopped him before. I wonder if she’s thinking about me the way I’m thinking about her.
Chapter Three
Every day may not be good, but there’s something good in every day…
“I don’t know why yo sorry ass sister couldn’t take him.” Toro said with a frown on his face.
Arizona pecked his lips. “Because she asked me to do it. Now stop being like that.”
Arizona’s sister Virginia had called and asked her to take her son to the barbershop while she went to work. Being that Virginia was a single parent and Arizona loved her nephew she had no problem doing it. The only thing stopping her now was Toro. He hated when she did stuff for Virginia because no matter what it was whenever Arizona needed her to do something she had an excuse as to why she couldn’t do it. Arizona noticed it but chose not to be like her.
“I aint being like nothing. I just don’t see why yo fuck with her using ass. She don’t do shit nobody ask her ass to do.”
Arizona laughed at the way Toro was pouting. It was cute. “I’ll make it up to you when I get back okay?” She licked up the side of his neck.
“Stop that shit girl.”
She did it again. This time he grabbed a handful of her ass and pulled her closer to him. “You want some before I go?”
“Hell yeah. But that lil nigga already in the living room. So yo ass gotta wait.” Toro kissed her lips sloppily before pulling away and laying back down on the bed. “I’ll be here when you get back. Just don’t take all fucking day.”
“You make me sick. Bye.”
Toro chuckled. “Don’t get mad at me. Get mad at that lil cockblocka in the living room.”
Arizona shook her head and left the room. Toro’s ass was a fuckign trip but that was her baby. When she got into the living room she grabbed her things and told her nephew to come on. He was the most responsible six year old she’d ever met and she loved him like her own. Once they were in the car she looked for her phone so she could gps the barbershop he went to. It took her twenty minutes to get there.
“That’s it right there auntie,” Malakhi pointed over her shoulder to the little barbershop in the corner.
“Okay man, come on.” She and Malakhi crossed the street hand and hand in went in.
It seemed like everybody was looking at her. That’s why she hated barbershops. Nothing but men. Arizona was a very attractive woman and got attention everywhere she went, but sometimes it still made her a little uncomfortable. To ease her nerves she grabbed Malakhi’s hand and leaned down to whisper in his ear.
“Which one is it Khi?”
“Mr. Rick. He works in that chair.” Malakhi pointed to the bald head man in the corner. He was already cutting someone’s hair but he nodded at her acknowledging her precense before looking down at Malakhi.
“What’s going on Malakhi? Who is this you brought with you today?”
Malakhi smiled a big toothless grin. “My auntie Z. My mama had to work so she had to bring me.”
“Oh okay well get you some chips and it’ll be your turn next.” Rick looked back at Arizona. “Z, it’s nice to meet you. I’ll get him right after I finish with this cut.”
“Okay that’s fine.” Arizona sat down on the red leather couch next to Malakhi and pulled out her phone.
She was looking through Facebook when she heard the bell on the door chime. When she looked to see who had come in, it was a girl. Not just any girl though, a pretty girl. She was light, but not too bright, average sized body, and some long ass hair. She didn’t have much ass but she had thick thighs which made her appear to have some. Her hair was black and wavy. It looked like it had been washed and she let it air dry. The pink satin band she had tied around it made the messy style look festive. Her skin was smooth and blemish free. She was dressed casually in a pair of pink Addidas shorts and a white shirt and sneakers. The only jewelry she wore was a large gold watch and a pair of gold hoop earrings. When she walked in versus going to sit down she went to a station and took her backpack off. Arizona watched her pull a few things out of it before placing it under the cabinet by her station. Oh how cute, she cuts hair. It was something about the girl’s aura that wouldn’t allow Arizona to look away. She looked so calm, and beautiful. It was rare that Arizona saw pretty black girls that looked natural. All of them either had a head full of weave, or a face full of makeup. This girl had neither and she was gorgeous. Her hair wasn’t even combed for real, and she still looked amazing. Arizona studied the side of her face and how peaceful she looked while she wrote in her book. The girl had sat down and began writing in a book once all of her things were put away.
“Come on Malakhi,” The barber named Rick said.
Arizona tore her gaze from
the girl and took Khi over to his chair. She told him how Virginia wanted it cut before returning back to her seat. She tried not to, but her eyes had a mind of their own. She was back looking at the pretty barber. Her head was down and she looked enthralled in whatever she was doing in that notebook. Arizona, feeling like some kind of freak, looked back down at her phone and got back on Facebook.
“Honnnnnneeeyyyyy,” One of the other barbers said. “I aint even see you sneak up in here. Why you so quiet?”
Arizona looked up at the girl waiting for her to say something. For some strange reason she wanted to hear how she sounded.
“I don’t know. I just got some things on my mind.” Her voice was soft and very fitting.
“Like what? Your boyfriend?”
Her smile was bright as she shook her head. “No. Well not completely. He’s not my boyfriend. Just somebody I met yesterday. I’ve just been wondering what he’s doing. And you already know the rest of my everyday struggles.” Arizona watched her laugh but her smile was a little sad.
The barber walked over to her and rubbed his hand up her leg playfully. “Well you already know we got you with the other struggles, but as far as this friend goes why don’t you call him?”
“I can’t. I don’t have his number. I don’t even know his name for real.”
“Honey, what kind of shit is that?” Malakhi’s barber Rick yelled across the shop.
Oh shit! It can’t be.
Arizona looked from Rick back to the girl and waited for her to say something else. I know this aint Congo’s Honey?
