A Sip of Hennessy

by Lucinda John

  “Bring your ass home now before you piss me the fuck off!” Kenny shouted and hung up before I could respond.

  “Dumb ass nigga.” Sucking my teeth, I took a long toke, desperately anticipating the feel of the drug to numb me.

  “BITCH!” Wilma burst into the room, trailing water that dripped from her naked body.

  Her breasts violently bounced as she stomped over to me, dropping all the pregnancy tests on the bed.

  “What happened?” I asked before picking one up to read the results.

  “No, Wilma.” My eyes grew wide at the two bright red lines.

  “What am I going to do?” She groaned and plopped down on the bed next to me. “My mama is going to kill me.” Reaching for the blunt, Wilma took a long pull.

  Unable to speak, I just sat there, not knowing what to say.

  “Best friend, I can’t be nobody’s mama right now,” Wilma fussed.

  “I mean, you can always get rid of it,” I suggested.

  “When I first got my period, my mama told me she wasn’t raising no babies or paying for an abortion.”

  “Ask Quan. Technically, it’s his baby too. The least he could do is pay for the abortion.”

  “I doubt that nigga pay for that shit, he loves having kids. Fool only twenty-three with five kids. I sholl know how to pick ’em.” A loud groan escaped Wilma’s lips as she buried her head in her hands.

  “I can ask Kenny for the money.”

  “Nah, you ain’t gotta do all of that. Imma ask that nigga Dre.”

  “Alright, well, I gotta go. I’ll call you when I get home. Put some damn clothes on.” Scrunching my nose up, I acted as if there was a foul stench in the air.

  “Girl, you know my coochie don’t stank. This that Pure Life pussy.” Wilma laughed before popping her ass cheeks, then dropping down in a spit.

  “You gon’ fuck around and have all types of debris in ya pussy, keep playing,” I joked while reaching for the blunt. “I’m taking this with me too.”

  “Later, hoe!” Wilma called out as I made my way out of the house.

  Making slow strides down the dirty pavement, I smoked my blunt while minding my business. Out the corner of my eye, I saw a bitch checking her nigga over a hoe while another nigga across from them completed a drug transaction. The smell of fried chicken filled the air while kids played outside until their mamas yelled for them to bring their asses in the house. I had a love-hate relationship with the hood; I loved the drama that went on but hated how the drug epidemic ruined lives.

  “Oh, hey girl, I was just talking about you.” Pooh interrupted my thoughts. She was posted up on the corner with Chuck.

  “You checking for Miami?” Chuck smirked.

  “Nah, he was supposed to look out for me on my Spanish test, that’s all, but that nigga never showed.” I finished up my blunt before tossing what was left on the ground.

  “That nigga been on some other shit lately. He ain’t come home last night. My auntie said if he don’t show up tomorrow, she’s going to report him to his social worker.” Chuck shrugged.

  “Damn, that’s fucked up,” I mumbled. “Imma catch up with you tomorrow, though, Pooh.” Walking off, thoughts of Miami consumed me. Instead of heading home like Kenny ordered, I went to the park in search of Miami.

  Crossing the street, I headed in the direction of the park. Bypassing the basketball court, I ventured to the back of the park where the benches were located. In the far corner, I spotted him sitting on the picnic table with his feet propped up on the seat.

  “Why you ain’t come to school today?” I asked.

  Ignoring my question, Miami looked up at me, quickly sizing me up before looking away. Taking in his appearance, I noticed he was wearing the same thing from yesterday.

  “You slept here last night?” I probed.

  “Why the fuck you all in my business?” Miami snarled.

  “Chuck said if you don’t go back home, his auntie is going to call your social worker,” I stood in front of him and said.

  “You got some more shit to say?”

  “I was just looking out, that’s all. You ain’t gotta be so fucking rude.” Sucking my teeth, I plopped down next to him.

  “What the fuck you want me to say? Thank you?”

  “I mean, that’s what normal people say when someone looks out for them.”

  “Ain’t shit normal about me, shorty.” The deepness of his voice left me in a trance. The word shorty sounded so sexy escaping his thick lips.

  “You coming to school tomorrow?”

  “If I come, I come. If I don’t, I don’t.” Reaching for his bookbag, Miami got up from the bench then walked away.

  “Shit,” I groaned when Kenny started blowing my phone up.

  Ignoring his calls, I headed home to receive the ass whooping I knew his ass had waiting for me.

  Pulling my hair into a high ponytail to prevent Kenny from pulling on it, I made my way inside the house. Seated on the couch was my father, drinking from a bottle of Hennessy, while my mother sat next to him with her feet propped on his lap while she did lines of coke. Sucking my teeth at my sorry ass parents, I knew they wouldn’t be much help when Kenny started beating me. Licking my dry lips, I slowly made my way to my bedroom and pushed the door open.

  “What the fuck?” I frowned at the playpen that was set up in the middle of my room.

  “Why the fuck you always testing my gangsta?” Kenny asked, gripping me by my neck.

  “I told you we were doing schoolwork!” I calmly spoke.

  Pushing my body against the wall, Kenny scowled down at me before slapping me in the mouth.

  “Lie to me again!” he yelled, shaking me by the grip he had on my throat.

  “I’m not lying.” I sniffled while tears trickled down my face.

  “You and your hoe ass friend was on the block selling coochie for weed?” Kenny grilled me.

  “Wilma copped some weed from her dude, then we headed to her house to study, I swear!” Pleading with my eyes for Kenny to believe me, I prepared myself for the next blow.

  I would beat your ass right now, but I need you to watch my son for me while I make a few moves.

  “What son?” I asked.

  “Listen, my ex just hit me and told me he was mine. I had him tested, and he is. This shit was before you, ma.” Kenny softened his tone.

  “I don’t know shit about babysitting no baby. Bring his ass back to his mama,” I spat.

  “What the fuck did you just say about my son?” Through the slits of his eyes, Kenny glared at me.

  “He is not my child. Why should I have to watch him?” Nervously shifting my weight from my left leg to my right, I gazed at the small baby who slept peacefully in the center of the playpen.

  “You my bitch, right? What’s mine is yours,” he reasoned.

  “I have homework to do, so…”

  “You really not about to watch my son, Henny?”

  “No, that’s not my kid!” I raised my voice.

  WHAP! WHAP!

  My face was on fire from the harsh blows Kenny delivered. Through gritted teeth, he snarled down at me before huffing out, “Watch your fucking mouth when talking to me.”

  Pulling me by the bun that sat on top of my head, he flung me across the room, causing me to hit my shoulder had against the wall.

  “OUUUUUCH!” A desperate cry of agony escaped my lips.

  “Dumb bitch!” He kicked my injured shoulder before stepping over me and grabbing his son. “That’s why I keep a bitch on the side to do everything you won’t do!” He shot at me before slamming my room door behind him.

  My arm was paralyzed with pain as a burning sensation radiated through my shoulder. Using my good arm, I pulled myself to my feet then made my way to the mirror.

  “Shit!” I sobbed at the sight of my arm hanging out of the socket.

  Hobbling out of my room, I reached for my phone and headed to the living room.

  “Sorry ass motherfuckers!” I spat
, looking at the motherfuckers who created me sprawl out on the couch passed out. “I hope you motherfuckers die!”

  With every step I took, pain surged through my body, crippling me. When I finally made it outside, I was winded. Leaning against the wall, I struggled to catch my breath before calling Wilma. Frustrated that she wasn’t answering the phone, I slowly continued my walk up the block, heading in the direction of Wilma’s house, out of fear that Kenny would return and finish me off. I always knew he would be the one to kill me. I’ve accepted and welcome it, but today, I didn’t want to die. I had to get away.

  With my eyes trained on the ground, I watched every step, making sure I didn’t trip or fall.

  “Aye, man, you good?” a familiar voice asked, causing me to look up.

  “Miami?” Ignoring the pain that I felt in my shoulder, I walked into his embrace, wrapping my good arm around him. “I think my arm is broken,” I cried.

  “Nah, that shit ain’t broken, it’s dislocated.”

  “I need your help, please.” Gripping the back of his shirt, I held on tightly to him.

  “Alright, man, come on.” Miami placed his hands on the small of my back while he walked me through an alleyway filled with motherfuckers who were strung out on the drug of their choice.

  “Watch where you going. There’s a bunch of dirty needles around here.”

  “Okay.” I nodded while holding on to his body.

  When we arrived at an apartment complex a few blocks from the park, he stood behind me, my ass pressed to his front as he walked me up the stairs.

  “Stay right here real quick.” He turned to me before making his way into an apartment.

  With the back of my head pressed against the wall, I waited for him to return.

  “Come on.” He waved me over to him.

  Pulling me by my good hand, he rushed me into a room before closing the door behind us.

  Two other boys were in the room, each of them lying on the bunk beds that were pushed against the back corner of the room.

  “Is it okay for me to be here?” I asked.

  “Lay down right here.” Disregarding my question, Miami motioned for me to lay on the bottom bunk.

  “I’ll be right back.” I watched as Miami walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

  My eyes traveled to the two boys who were in the opposite bunk beds. The cartoon on the small TV that sat on the even smaller nightstand had their undivided attention. They hadn’t batted an eye when I walked into the room. I wasn’t sure if I should speak or not. Deciding it was best to keep my mouth closed, I tried to focus on everything else but the pain I was feeling.

  “Here, take this.” Miami returned with a pill and a cup of water.

  “What is this?” I questioned, looking up at him.

  “It’s a Percocet for the pain.” Snatching the pill from the palm of his hand, I quickly gulped it down with the entire cup of water.

  Welcoming the effects of the pill with open arms, I looked down at Miami through hooded eyes. It didn’t take long for my body to feel as if I was dancing on the clouds. The intense excitement that coursed through my veins eased my body, ridding me of the pain. My eyes grew lazy as I tried to focus on Miami, who was now kneeling on the floor beside me.

  “Turn on your side.” His voice softened, or at least in my mind, it did.

  Doing as I was told, I slowly turned on my side. Chills rushed through my spine the moment Miami’s hands made contact with my body. Gripping my arm, he felt around on my shoulder blade before counting to three, then forcefully snapping my arm back in place.

  “Ummm,” I moaned. With the Percocet in my system, the quick movement felt good.

  “I Just popped your shoulder back in place.”

  “Thank you.” Flashing Miami a bright smile, I could no longer conceal my attraction to him. Despite his mean persona, I sensed there was some kindness underneath his tough exterior.

  “You gotta go.”

  “Can I kick it here until Wilma answers the phone?” I slurred. “I’m in no position to walk home alone right now.”

  “Man.” He looked over at the boys who were in the room. “Don’t say shit. Just lay there and shut the fuck up. When ya girl hit you up, you gotta clear it.”

  “Pinky promise.” I softly giggled before pulling his blanket up to my nose, inhaling the mixture of fresh laundry and his cologne.

  “Kelly been in here messing with y’all?” Miami asked the boys.

  “No.” Both boys shook their heads.

  Grabbing a towel from the rack, Miami walked out of the room.

  “Is he always this mean?” I spoke up.

  “He’s not mean to us. He just don’t speak much,” the oldest of the two replied.

  “I’m Hennessy. What’s your name?” For whatever reason, I was feeling real chatty.

  “I’m Aaron, and he’s Luke,” the oldest replied.

  “Do you guys like it here?”

  “Yes, Ms. Kim is cool, but Ms. Kelly is mean,” Aaron spoke for them both.

  “Does she hit you?”

  “No. She’s always yelling at us, especially when we invade her and Miami’s privacy.” Aaron shrugged.

  “Her and Miami’s privacy?” I asked more to myself. I wanted to ask Aaron to elaborate, but the door swung open, and in walked a shirtless Miami dressed in a pair of orange gym shorts, a color that matched perfectly against his chocolate skin tone.

  The more I studied Miami’s tall, lanky frame, he reminded me of King Combs, P. Diddy’s son.

  “Why the fuck you looking at me like that?” Miami snapped me out of my trance.

  “No reason.” I yawned.

  “Your girl still ain’t answer the phone?” Pulling a pillow and a blanket from the top bunk, he made a pallet on the floor before lying down.

  “No, not yet.”

  “Hit her ass up again. You can’t be here for long.”

  “Alright.” Turning on my side, I studied Miami as he lay on his back with his fingers locked behind his head while he watched TV with the boys.

  Tired of fighting a losing battle with my sleep, I closed my eyes, welcoming the deep slumber.

  “ M iami! Get your ass up now!” Ms. Kim’s voice bounced off the walls as she stood in the doorway of the room.

  Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I sat up to peep what all the yelling was about. Once my vision cleared, I looked over to my left and noticed Hennessy’s small frame still wrapped in my blanket.

  SHIT! I silently kicked myself for falling asleep before kicking her little ass out.

  “I need to talk to you now!” The seriousness of Ms. Kim’s tone indicated that she meant business.

  Standing to my feet, I stretched out my limbs before following Ms. Kim out of the room and into the kitchen.

  “Have a seat, son,” she ordered, pulling out the old wooden chair that creaked the moment I plopped down in it.

  “Where have you been, Miami? You go missing for an entire day, then when you do return home, I find a girl sleeping in your bed. Explain to me what’s going on.”

  Looking down at my fingers, I drummed then across the table, trying to figure out what to say. There was no way to explain to Ms. Kim that her sister found leisure in sucking my dick whenever she wasn’t around. I was a man. Men didn’t get raped. My dick eventually got hard, and I busted nuts every time. That shit wasn’t rape.

  “Now is not the time to ignore me, Miami. I want answers now!”

  “Alright.” I slouched down in my seat. Running my hand through my thick hair, I licked my full lips. “Henny is a girl from my school. I ran into her at the park. She was going through some bullshit with her people, so I decided to stay with her. Instead of spending another night on an uncomfortable ass park bench, I told her she could kick it here until she could get in contact with someone. She wasn’t supposed to stay over. We ended up falling asleep, waiting for her ride. My bad.” I lied, figuring that the story was better than the truth.

&nbs
p; “Your bad? Did you have sex with her in front of those boys?”

  “Nah, I don’t even like her like that.” I shrugged.

  “Miami, I don’t get you, but let me tell you this… While you’re under my roof, you will abide by my rules. You spend another night outside of this house without speaking to me first, and I will contact your social worker. No girls in the room! You can only have guests when an adult is present. I will not have you getting these little fast girls pregnant under my care. Now, go wake your little friend up for breakfast,” Ms. Kim spoke with a finger pointed in my face.

  “Imma just get her out of here. You don’t have to give her breakfast or no shit like that.” Standing to my feet, I waited for Ms. Kim to respond.

  “Miami, invite your little friend to the breakfast table now!”

  Backing out of the kitchen, I headed to the room to wake Hennessy up.

  “Yo’, you gotta go, man.” Tugging the blanket off her body, I took in how sexy she looked lying on her side with her pretty feet tucked underneath the pillow.

  Henny’s jet black, curly hair was sprawled all over the place, slightly covering the side of her angelic face. Everything about Hennessey was sexy as fuck. Even her name was lowkey bomb as fuck.

  “Get up the fuck up, man.” I nudged her.

  “Mmm.” Soft moans escaped her lips as she began to slowly stir out of her sleep. “What time is it?” she asked, pulling herself to the edge of the bed.

  “It’s the fucking morning! Why the fuck you ain’t bounce?!”

  “Are you serious right now?” Jumping to her feet, Hennessy slightly winced. Examining her shoulder, I noticed it was still intact.

  “Ya shit still hurting?”

  “It’s just a little sore. Do you have any more of those pills?” Hennessy eagerly asked.

  “Nah, I only had one,” I lied.

  Ms. Kim had an entire bottle from her surgery, but Henny didn’t need to know that.

  “I have to get home, now! Where is my phone?” Hennessy frantically searched for her things. After gathering all her belongings, she rushed out of the room with me walking slowly behind her.

  “Good morning, Ms. Thing,” Ms. Kim spoke up.