Ghetto Girls 5

by Anthony Whyte

“Wow Deedee!”

  “Wow what…?” Deedee said turning around to face him.

  Reggie was sorry he had disturbed the groove she was. Now Deedee appeared annoyed. Trying to make light of the situation, Reggie looked her up and down. Then he smiled.

  “I didn’t know you could dance like that,” he said, still smiling.

  “Like what?”

  “Well, you know…?”

  “No I don’t,” she said.

  Her dance movements came to an abrupt end. Deedee’s hands were on her hips and in the dim of the light, Reggie looked baffled. Her demeanor had changed and he wasn’t sure how to correct it. The pace of the music slowed and club heads were onto booty calls. Reggie glanced around and saw that there were still a few couples slow grinding on the floor.

  “Tell me,” Deedee urged, getting his attention. “Do I dance like a stripper, a skanky ho’, a ghetto girl, a slut a—”

  “No, no it’s not like that. I was just saying that you can dance period…”

  He paused, trying not to say too much. Reggie was being real careful, he didn’t want to draw her ire and felt he had already. Deedee in the meantime looked at him from head to toe, her eyes smiling. Reggie stared at her speechless. Getting closer, he caressed her hips and tried to kiss her lips. Deedee moved away, easily avoiding his attempt.

  “Not so fast, mister,” she said, kissing him on the cheek. “Thanks for the dance.”

  “My pleasure,” he smiled. “So can I at least have the digits?”

  “Sure,” Deedee said.

  They exchanged numbers and went on dancing until closing. The lights were turned on and the music was turned down. They saw Coco staggering toward them.

  “Y’all ain’t gotta go home but y’all got to get the fuck up out,” Coco chuckled.

  Deedee stared at her. The twisted smile and drawl were clear indicators. Deedee slowly realized that Coco was inebriated. Reggie also saw that Coco definitely had too much to drink. He reached out to help steady her sway.

  “I don’t need no muthafuckin’ help from no nigga, yo!”

  “My bad,” Reggie said, raising his hands.

  “I got my girl, Dee, right here,” Coco said. “I’m good, yo,” she continued.

  Deedee put her arms around Coco and they walked out of the club. Reggie walked behind them. He helped to get Coco in the back seat and Deedee drove off with Reggie in the passenger seat.

  “Where should I drop you?” she asked.

  “Maybe you should get Coco home first,” he answered.

  “Don’t worry about Coco. Where do you want to go?” she asked.

  “Uptown, One-Forty-Fifth and Edgecombe,” he said.

  “Wasn’t that easy?” Deedee asked, driving off.

  The BMW dashed through the light traffic of a city that never sleeps. Dawn was golden and the sun was about to peek through the blue skies. Deedee steered the Beemer to Reggie’s destination. Getting out of the car, he leaned over in an attempt to kiss her. She shifted, easily thwarting his advance.

  “See you Reggie,” Deedee smiled.

  “Drive safely,” Reggie said, returning the smile and waving.

  “Are we there yet, yo?” Coco asked from the backseat.

  “No, not yet, Coco,” Deedee answered and drove away.

  Early morning drizzle of rain caught Deedee helping Coco from the backseat of the car. They struggled from the garage to the lobby. The doorman was trying to help Deedee, who was having a difficult time keeping Coco’s wobbly legs from buckling.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said, waving him off.

  The doorman stared at the two teen girls and licked his lips. Deedee tugged at her top, which had risen exposing her midriff.

  “Good night,” the doorman said, staring at both of Coco’s middle fingers.

  With Coco’s arm locked around her shoulder, Deedee struggled off the elevator. She quietly helped Coco to her room and helped her out of her clothes. Clad in T-shirt and panties, Coco was off in La-La land as soon as her head hit the pillow. Deedee took off her pants and got in the bed. She cuddled next to Coco. While the sun pushed its head over dark clouds, both girls slept.

  It was after midday when Deedee awoke to the ringing of her cell phone. After disregarding it for a few rings, she picked it up and checked the caller ID. It was Reggie. She closed her eyes, ignoring the call. A few minutes later she heard it ringing again.

  “You better answer that, yo. It’s been ringing nonstop.”

  Deedee looked around and saw Coco coming out of the bathroom. This time Deedee picked up the phone and without checking, she launched in a tirade.

  “Reggie, I didn’t give you my number so you can annoy me!”

  Then Deedee made a surprise face and an embarrassing laugh escaped before she said, “I’m sorry Sophia. I thought it was this guy… Yeah I can meet you at your office. You mind telling me what it’s about?”

  Coco curiously eyed Deedee’s changed demeanor. She waited for her to hang the call before speaking.

  “That was Sophia?”

  “Yeah, she wants me to meet her at her office.”

  “She ain’t said what it’s about, yo?”

  “No… But it certainly didn’t sound too positive,” Deedee said, sitting up.

  “When are you gonna meet her?”

  “Now… I’ll drop you at the studio and—”

  “Can you drop me at the hospital?”

  “Sure—”

  “I’ll catch a cab from there to the studio, yo.”

  “Okay,” Deedee said.

  Seemingly in deep thought, she got out of bed and walked out the door. Coco showered and later met Deedee sitting alone at a huge dining table.

  “You a’ight, yo?” Coco asked.

  “I’m just a little puzzled by Sophia’s call that’s all,” Deedee answered, getting up.

  Later, they were out the door and into the lobby. Deedee drove all the way in silence, and Coco pulled her Gucci shades in front of her eyes.

  “This bright sunlight is killing my eyes, yo.”

  They drove in silence the rest of the way. Behind her shades, Coco closed her eyes and remained quiet. She heard Deedee speaking and thought she was dreaming.

  “Why didn’t she just tell me on the phone…?” Deedee asked.

  Coco glanced at her without saying anything. Deedee seemed to be thinking aloud so Coco couldn’t give an answer. She looked on with interest.

  “I’d think the phones are safe enough. Or maybe they’re bugged… I mean,” Deedee continued. Pulling to a stop, she glanced at Coco. “I’m sorry I got caught up with this phone call from Sophia. It’s pretty baffling…”

  “Do you want me to go with you?”

  “No, you go visit your mother. I’ll be back to get you later.”

  “Drive safely yo,” Coco said, getting out the car.

  Deedee watched Coco ease into her bop down the street. Driving away, thoughts of the phone conversation earlier with Sophia steered her toward the attorney’s office.

  Moments later, Deedee parked in a garage and walked to Sophia’s office in the heart of downtown. She walked upstairs and was immediately greeted by Sophia.

  “Hi Dee, come with me.”

  Deedee followed behind Sophia. Her heart was thumping in her chest, and she didn’t know why. This caused her some irritation as she felt pushed into a corner by her anxiety. Her defense mechanism kicked in.

  “Sophia, I thought you said you’re not going be involved in the case?” she asked.

  “Things have developed and—”

  “What things, Sophia? All this mumbo jumbo does not make sense to me. First you said you’re not gonna be involved because of your job and now you’re calling me about—”

  “Dee, in fairness to you, I wanted you to hear this from me. I didn’t want you to hear it through the media,” Sophia said.

  They walked into her office and Sophia closed the door. She ushered Deedee to a chair and kept s
tanding while she continued speaking.

  “I was asked to be a witness for the prosecutor,” Sophia said, staring at an aggravated Deedee. “Your uncle was implicated in murder and I have knowledge about several events that took place because of a deal he made with Busta.”

  “So you wanted to see me because you’re going to help these people send my uncle to jail?” Deedee sarcastically asked.

  “No, I wanted you to hear something and maybe you can see a different side of your uncle.”

  Deedee watched her put a disk in her computer and pressed play. Through the static of the recording, she could hear the voices of her father and her uncle mumbling. Then Dennis Ascot’s clearly said something about her mother to Eric.

  “Denise smokin’ crills, E… That shit is an embarrassment. I gotta get rid of her ass… That drug got her tainted…”

  “How you gonna do that? You married to her Dennis!”

  “Murk her if I have to. Eric I gotta prevent that bitch from poisoning everything.”

  “There’s no other way…?”

  “Nah, she ain’t worthy to be alive…”

  Crackling with static, the recording came to an abrupt end. Deedee had listened carefully and Sophia said nothing. For a couple of beats, the tension in the air crackled like the sounds over her father and uncle’s conversation. Deedee’s stare suggested that she needed more answers. Sophia tried to clear any doubt about the reason for letting Deedee hear the taped conversation.

  “Your mother’s body has been found. She was killed and buried. We… the authorities received information and dug her body out of a ditch. She had been shot. Since your father is no longer around, Eric has to answer for her murder,” Sophia said.

  There was a long pause and Deedee looked around in confusion. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Tears ran down her cheeks and she covered her face with her hands. Sophia watched for a few minutes. Bending over, Sophia held Deedee’s heaving shoulders.

  “It’s gonna be alright…” she said, holding shaken the teen.

  “How’s that gonna happen? My mother is dead and my uncle’s gonna be charged for it…? What’s gonna be alright about that situation, Sophia?”

  “Well I’m doing all I can to help—”

  “Yes, you’re helping to send my uncle to prison. Why Sophia? What did my uncle do to you where you feel it necessary to personally go after him the way you have?”

  “Personally gone after your uncle? I have done no such thing,” Sophia said, sounding agitated. “Eric has gone foul of the law. And because of my job, I have to cooperate with the investigation. I could go to jail, Deedee. It would be guilt by association. I know what he’s done and it’s wrong,” she said with conviction.

  Deedee looked at her and frowned in contempt. Sophia sat back feeling defeated. It was obvious that Deedee loved her uncle too much to let him go down for murder. She tried to convince Deedee.

  “I’m helping and what you’re doing is hindering. It’s because of the love—the passion you feel for your uncle is clouding your judgment. Take your time and think about it. I’m sure you’ll see that your uncle needs help. He’s done a bad thing, Deedee.”

  “How could you?” Deedee asked after a beat. “You were engaged to my uncle and now you treat him like a villain. Sophia, he paid for your law school and I’m sure he never once asked for any of the money back,” Deedee said with disdain.

  Sophia could hear the bitterness in Deedee’s voice. She slipped quietly into her office chair, wishing she didn’t have to bring the teen bad news, but she felt she had to do it.

  “Even though you’re not connected to the murders, you can still be implicated and tried as a conspirator,” Sophia said.

  “What’re you saying, Sophia Lawrence?” Deedee asked.

  “I’m just making you aware of one of the courses the law could take,” Sophia said.

  “But that’s not what you want me to know. You want to tell me that if I don’t cooperate with you and your cronies in sending my uncle to jail, you’re going to have to send me to jail too,” Deedee said, standing and pointing at Sophia.

  Deedee was annoyed and her voice was raised, but she wasn’t backing down. Poised and confident she walked closer to where Sophia sat behind the desk.

  “What kind of person are you, Sophia? Deedee asked, and without waiting for an answer she continued. “You pretended to be an Ascot, and got everything you wanted from my uncle. But I’m an Ascot by birth, honey. And you’ll never get me to sell out my family. Take your deal and shove it!”

  Slipping on her Gucci shades, Deedee turned and walked out the office. She slammed the office door, closing the relationship she had with Sophia. Their affiliation had been like mother and daughter, yet it had run its course. Deedee kept walking and was out of the office building before erupting into tears.

  Sitting in her BMW thinking about riding uptown to see Coco, Deedee’s mind wouldn’t let her shake the thoughts. It was futile, but she tried not to remember that Sophia had been such a close family member. Deedee always loved her. Sometimes she had even felt closer to Sophia than to her uncle. The conversation she had just endured had severed all the good memories. She was left with a feeling of disgust and resentment deep in her guts.

  Deedee started the engine, and tried to remember the good times they had. Instead, the first time she truly became connected to Sophia replayed in her head. It was after Deedee had come out of the hospital. She had been raped and her uncle didn’t know what to do with her. Alone in her room, Deedee was hating herself when Sophia knocked on her door.

  “Dee? May I come in?” Sophia asked knocking gently.

  “Hold on. Just a second Sophia,” Deedee said, opening the door.

  Sophia walked in and Deedee immediately went back to her bed. She wrapped herself under the covers.

  “Hey, girlfriend,” Sophia said, trying to sound upbeat.

  Deedee mumbled but Sophia ignored the inaudible response. Sophia’s presence made her feel safer.

  “I brought some water. Cold water, with a few ice cubes… I thought you could use a little. I know I could.”

  “Well no, but—Sophia, have,” Deedee began, looking down on the beige carpeted floor. She continued. “Have you ever been raped?”

  The blunt question caught Sophia off guard. For just an instant, she wished she could say she had been so she could offer that support, but that type of tragedy had never happened to her.

  “No,” she replied. “I have never been raped. I can imagine that it’s a most terrible thing.” A brief pause followed. “Do you want water now?”

  “Thanks,” she said, reaching for the glass. She sipped and spoke. “It’s bad. It’s really, really awful,” Deedee cried.

  Deedee gulped the rest of the water and felt it roll down her dry throat. A surprise burp caused her to look at Sophia, who had been standing in the middle of the room. They smiled. Deedee walked over and hugged Sophia.

  “Thanks,” she said. “I’m sleepy, but could you stay with me until I go to sleep?”

  17

  Deedee was at Harlem hospital in a matter of minutes. Combing the block, she slowed down, searching to find parking space. On this clear day, Deedee’s mind was still smarting from Sophia’s revelation. She tried to tune the words out, but the mind-worm was stuck on nonstop auto-replay. Deedee felt like a cruel joke had just been played on her by someone she loved and cared about. She had just been had. The hurt was deeper because Sophia was someone she trusted. She finally found an available spot. Still confused and angry, Deedee lowered the volume of the car radio and slowly backed in.

  After paying at the meter, she was about to walk across the street to the hospital entrance when she spotted Coco standing outside and smoking a cigarette. The hunch of her shoulder warned Deedee of Coco’s pensive mood. They nodded, and Deedee acknowledged Coco’s signal. Waiting by the car, she lit a cigarette and took a long drag. Coco was wearing a YSL denim jumpsuit, and her familiar bop. Her Gucci sha
des did nothing to hide the disgust on her face.

  “What’s the matter with you?” Deedee asked.

  “Madukes going back and forth, that whole shit is soo fuckin irritating!” Coco answered, clearly frustrated.

  “How’s she doing?”

  “Not too good, yo…” Coco’s voice trailed.

  She puffed on her cigarette for a beat. Coco let out a sigh as smoke came out her mouth and nostrils. Deedee calmly eyed her, deep in thoughts. Coco was so frustrated with her own situation she didn’t seem cognizant of Deedee’s demeanor. They stood smoking without speaking then Coco flipped the cigarette away and spoke.

  “So what happened with Sophia, yo?”

  “Ah well, it wasn’t good…” Deedee started then her voice trailed.

  “Yoo-hooh, yoo-hooh, Coco! Oh, is that Deedee with you?”

  The girls heard the familiar voice of the guidance counselor from High School. Both had counseling sessions with the older woman while they were attending school. The girls stared blankly at each other before speaking.

  “Mrs. Martinez…?” the girls chorused while reflexively tossing their cigarettes.

  “Ah, ah what’re you doing here, Mrs. Martinez?” Deedee asked.

  “Well since you asked my husband’s a doctor here and—”

  “A doctor…?” both girls echoed.

  “Yes, a medical doctor and he told me about…” Mrs. Martinez’s voice trailed.

  “And he told you what?” Deedee asked.

  “Well, this has to do with Coco. I wanted you to know that I’m really sorry to hear about your mother and I can arrange a place for you to stay just in case—”

  “We got it all figured out Mrs. Martinez. You didn’t have to come all the way out here to tell us that, but thanks anyway,” Deedee said, stepping forward.

  “That’s good, that’s good that you have it all figured out. But how about college?” the guidance counselor asked. “Now that your mother is in this condition then you should be thinking… God forbid—if she doesn’t make it. You’ll be without any support Coco.”

  “We’ve got college figured also,” Deedee said.

  “Well in either case, my husband has a foundation that offers scholarships to disadvantaged minority students, like yourself, who are talented, and skilled in academics such as you are, Coco. And are struggling econically. Coco, I know you’re into music, and will probably do well, but this is just in case that plan doesn’t work out. Then you can always resort to plan B.”