Street Dreams

by K'wan

  Trinity just lay there crying while her father pumped away. Then he released inside of her and rolled off. Blood and semen were running down Trinity's legs and onto the sheets. Instead of trying to make excuses for what he did, the sick bastard slapped her face and cursed her for seducing him. He told Trinity that no man would ever want her because she was “spoiled goods.” Trinity believed him, believed that she was the one who had done something wrong. As she got older the raping became less frequent, but he still came calling when he wanted to release some stress. Trinity just took it as one more reason to want to end her life.

  Shaking off the memories, Trinity took the opportunity to take a shower. With any luck she’d be dressed and gone by the time her father came home. After her shower Trinity wrapped herself in a towel and went back into her room. She curled up on her bed with the extra-large stuffed animal Rio had won for her at Coney Island. She kept one of his T-shirts on the doll so it would always smell like him. She missed her boo-boo.

  Trinity picked up her Mickey Mouse phone to call Rio but decided against it. She knew he’d been on the block all night, so if he was home he’d probably be asleep. She walked over to her CD player and hit PLAY. She lit some scented candles and listened to Mary and Aretha singing about not wasting their time on no-good men. Trinity loved the song, but it really didn’t apply to her. Rio was a good man. Trinity's mind finally began to relax and everything was all good. Until she heard her father's voice.

  “Trinity!”

  3

  The line outside Club Vertigo stretched nearly half a block. Women were on the line wearing next to nothing, hoping to get someone's attention and make their way in without paying. The fellas were doing just as much fronting as the ladies. Each man trying to out-stunt the other and look like the stars they knew they weren’t.

  Rio just looked at the circus of people and shook his head. It was amazing what people would go through for a li’l attention. To Rio, it was all wack. You could be the flyest nigga or have the hottest car, but what did it all amount to if you still lived at home with your moms?

  Even though Rio wasn’t really into material possessions, he was still a sharp dresser. He was rocking a Sean Jean denim jumper with a crisp pair of constructions. Every curl on his head was in place and looking like a million. His man Chris had laced him with a fresh lineup before he left for the club. Rio was ready to party.

  Originally he had planed on spending the evening with Trinity, but that had changed. When he woke up he checked his messages. None were from Trinity. He checked his cell and got the same thing. He didn’t worry though. Trinity was probably just in one of her moods. Every so often Trinity would just draw in on herself. For days at a time she would just lock herself away and shut everybody out, including Rio. She wouldn’t see him or take his phone calls. When Rio would ask her what it was all about, she would get all emotional on him. Sometimes it would be a fit of crying, while other times she’d bark his head off. When Trinity closed him out like that, it pissed him off. She was his girl and if she was going through something, he wanted to be there for her. Hopefully she would open up in time.

  “You about ready to go in?” Shamel asked.

  “Waiting on you, kid.”

  Rio was so wrapped up in his own thoughts he’d almost forgotten his friend was there. Shamel was dressed to impress. He wore a loose-fitting black sweater and some blue Parasuco jeans. He wore the laces of his black suede Timb's slightly untied, giving him that hood effect. The iced-out cross bounced off his chest every time he moved, casting a hell of a glare. Shamel was ready to bag something.

  Shamel knew the bouncer so they didn’t have to wait on line. The two youngsters made their way through the angry crowd and into the club. The flashing lights and blaring sound system played havoc on Rio's senses. He had to stand still for a minute to let his eyes adjust to the lights. Inside, the club was jumping off. Ladies crowded the dance floor, bouncing their asses, while the guys played the bar getting saucy.

  Shamel greeted a few of the other roughnecks and ballers, while Rio played the background. He was never big on crowds or people. Rio nodded to a few of the cats he knew from the hood, but other than that he kept to himself.

  Shamel was on the dance floor “doing him” with two females, while Rio played the bar. He knew how to dance, but rarely did he show it. He mostly came to the club to get “mopped” and listen to the music. He was content to leave the flashing to cats like Shamel.

  As Rio sat at the bar nursing his Long Island iced-tea, he found his thoughts drifting back to Trinity. He knew she needed her space when she got in her moods, but he still didn’t like not hearing from her. He would feel better if he at least knew she was all right.

  Rio thought about the way he was acting and felt a little embarrassed. Here he was in a club with his right-hand man and about three hundred females and he was thinking about Trinity. Maybe the stories of him being whipped were true.

  Rio's thoughts were interrupted when someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around to find himself face-to-face with a chocolate dream. She was a cute li’l thang, with a pretty mouth and a fat ass. The tight-fitting black dress she wore looked like someone painted it on. She brushed a lock of her auburn hair from her face and smiled at Rio.

  “How ya doing?” she asked.

  “I’m cool,” he said, a little shy.

  “You’re Rio, right?”

  “How you know that?” he asked with interest. “Ya man told me.”

  Rio looked over to the dance floor and saw Shamel smiling at him, waving a bottle of Moet in the air. Rio should’ve known that this was his handiwork. He’d check him about that shit later.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, extending her hand. “I’m Precious.”

  “Nice to meet you, Precious.”

  “Is it a’ight if I sit by you, or are you expecting someone?”

  “Nah,” Rio said, clearing out a space at the bar for her. “Getya sit on.”

  Precious squeezed into the little space Rio had cleared for her and sat on the stool. As she was sliding in, she made it a point to rub her ass on his lap. “Sorry.” She giggled. Precious was a bad chick, but she had sack-chaser written all over her.

  “So,” she began, “why you sitting over here all lonesome instead of getting ya groove on?”

  “I dunno,” he said, smiling.

  “You shy or something?”

  “Something like that.”

  “Well,” she said as the bartender slid her a drink that Rio didn’t remember her ordering. “You ain’t gotta worry about me. I’m harmless.”

  “I find that a little hard to believe.”

  “Come on now, Rio. Do I strike you as that kinda girl?”

  “Nah, shorty. I’m fucking wit you.”

  “Better be careful how you phrase your words, Rio.”

  Rio continued to sit at the bar talking to Precious for lack of anything else to do. Dudes was trying to throw blocks left and right, but she was shooting them down. Her focus was on Rio. He knew Precious was trying to holla and he damn sure wouldn’t have minded blazing her, but he couldn’t seem to focus. His mind was on Trinity.

  The DJ slowed it down and played an old Tony-Toni-Tone jam. “That's my shit,” Precious said, grabbing him by the hand. “Come dance with me, Rio?”

  “Nah,” he said blushing. “Do you, ma.”

  “Cut it out, Rio. I’m not asking you for ya soul, just a dance. Please?”

  Rio started to shut her down until he spotted Joyce. He’d know that gorilla-looking bitch anywhere. After scanning the crowd he saw Alexis and Trinity coming out of the ladies’ room. Rio's mood suddenly darkened. He’d been worried sick about her and she was out shaking her ass. Well, if she wanted to play it like that, he could too.

  “A’ight,” he said, leading Precious by the hand. “Come on.”

  Rio led Precious to the middle of the dance floor. Without hesitation, she locked her arms around his neck and placed his hands on h
er ass. Precious's ass felt like the softest cloud. Rio felt his little man wake up and stand at attention. When she felt his hardness against her leg, she smiled and pulled him closer. The group sang about the weather in Southern California as Rio enjoyed the feel of Precious's body against his.

  Three songs later Rio felt as if he had proven his point and made his way back to the bar. Precious followed closely on his heels. The whole time he danced with Precious he felt Trinity watching him. Served her right for making him worry. He had used Precious to make Trinity mad but it seemed Precious wanted a little more out of the deal.

  “You sure know how to make a sister sweat,” Precious said, fixing her hair.

  “Thanks for the dance,” Rio said, hoping she’d catch on.

  “Listen Rio, let's cut the bullshit shall we? I mean, we’re two adults, so we should be able to just say what's on our minds, right? I wanna fuck you and I’m sure some part of you wants to fuck me,” she said, looking at his crotch. “So let's skip all the bullshit and go get a room.”

  Rio stared at her in surprise. The way Precious was eyeballing him, he felt like the female. Rio didn’t know what to say. But thanks to Alexis he didn’t have to say anything.

  “What's up, Rio?” Alexis asked, eyeing Precious. “You was gonna sit up in here all night and not say hi to a sister?”

  “What up, Alex?”

  “That's what I’m trying to find out. Who's ya li’l friend?” “I’m Precious,” she answered before Rio could say anything. “And you are?”

  “A concerned citizen.” Alexis said, rolling her eyes. “Well,” Precious said, matching her attitude. “Rio and I were just leaving.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Really. Rio, who is this, ya girl or something?”

  “No,” Trinity said, grabbing Rio by the arm. “But I am.”

  Precious looked back and forth from Rio to the angry young females. “Listen,” she said, adjusting her purse. “I ain’t got time for this. Rio sweetheart, youz a classy nigga. When you get tired of doing the R. Kelly thang wit these li’l bitches, you holla at me, okay?”

  “Bitches!” Trinity snapped. “Oh I got ya bitches! Bitch!”

  Trinity started taking off her earrings, but Rio grabbed her up. Alexis and Joyce called Precious all kinds of bitches as she left, but neither one tried to flex. Now Rio had to deal with Trinity and her wild-ass temper.

  “Fuck is up wit that shit, Rio?” she snapped, pushing him. “You was gonna slide wit that bitch?”

  “Trinity,” he said, holding her at arm's length, “you bugging out. I wasn’t going nowhere with that girl.”

  “So, what the fuck was she talking about?”

  “Look, all I did was dance with the girl.”

  “Somebody's lying,” Joyce butted in.

  “What?” Rio snapped. “Joyce, mind ya fucking business. This ain’t got nothing to do with you.”

  “Come on, Joyce,” Alex said, seeing all hell about to break loose. “Trinity can hold hers. Let's go get a drink.” The two girls walked off leaving Trinity to handle her business.

  “So, what you got to say for ya self, Rio?”

  “What? I ain’t got shit to say, cause I ain’t do shit.”

  “Nigga, you got cold jokes. I watched you rubbing all on that bitch and you gonna try and tell me you ain’t do shit?” Trinity began to remove her jewelry. “Me and you is about to have a misunderstanding.”

  “Trinity,” he said, backing out of arms’ reach. “You better not start acting all crazy.”

  “Fuck you, Rio. I should cut yo punk ass for trying to play me.”

  “Play you? Trinity you know how many times I tried to call you? I ain’t even wanna come up in this ma fucka, but you was off doing you. I think you got it backward.”

  Trinity glared at him. She knew Rio had a point. She hadn’t called him or answered her phone. Even though he was right, she still had an attitude.

  “Well,” she said, sucking her teeth. “I was going through some shit. But that still don’t make it okay for you to be in here jumping off wit these nasty bitches.”

  “Trinity,” he said, stroking her cheek. “You know that the only two women I love in this world are you and my mama. Don’t none of these other bitches count to me. Besides, shorty breath was cold stinking.”

  “You stupid,” she said giggling. “I’m still mad at you though.”

  “Aww,” he said hugging her. “I’m sorry, ma. Let me make it up to you?”

  “Oh, don’t worry, you will. Can we get outta here?”

  “A’ight. Let me just find Shamel and tell him I’m leaving.”

  “No need,” Shamel said, slapping him on the back. “What up, T?”

  “Hey, Shamel.”

  “So, you bailing on me, Rio?”

  “Yeah man,” he said, hugging Trinity. “I got me a slide, kid.” “Do you my nigga. Y’all be safe.”

  Shamel watched the two lovebirds leave, and what passed for a smile sprang to his rugged face. He was glad his man had someone he cared about in his life. Maybe one day he’d find someone special for himself. But not tonight. Shamel had half a bottle of “Mo” left and was on his way to being drunk. The club was still full of sack-chasers and he intended on taking one home.

  Rio sat in the back of the taxi listening to Trinity bark. She had been running her mouth nonstop about the sack-chaser from the club. She had calmed down a little, but once you got Trinity's mouth going it was hard to shut her up.

  “That was some real crab shit, Rio,” Trinity said. “I’m supposed to be ya girl, but you hugged up on that skanky weave rocking bitch. What kinda shit is that?”

  “Trinity,” he said, exhaling. “Why you gotta drag shit on? I told you that I wasn’t sliding wit her. I saw you in the club and I was trying to get back at you for ‘looping’ my calls.”

  “Yeah right, Rio. That's a lame-ass excuse. You gotta come better than that.”

  “T, I’m a grown-ass man. Fuck I gotta lie for? You should already know how I’m rocking. You my boo. Ain’t nobody else, ma.” “Whatever, Rio. I’m still mad at you.”

  “Okay,” he said, reclining in the backseat. “Since you mad at me, I guess you don’t wanna go to the Cotton Club wit a nigga?”

  “Rio,” she said, turning to face him, with attitude etched across. “That's some lame shit. They don’t even have events at the Cotton Club anymore,” she informed him.

  “They do if your name is Prince.”

  “Prince is throwing a party?”

  “Yep. His son Truck is the guest of honor.”

  “Truck? I thought dumb-ass Melvin was his only son.”

  “So do most people. Truck just did damn near ten year on a body.”

  “Damn, I know that's gonna be the jump-off. Fuck, I got a fit, but a bitch ain’t got no footwear.”

  “Baby, I got you. When I go see my P.O. in the morning, I’ll hit the village and cop you some nice li’l joints.”

  “Thank you, baby,” she said kissing him on the lips. “You know what size I wear, right?”

  “Trinity, how many pairs of footwear have I bought you? Of course I know what size you wear. I just don’t know what color.”

  “Oh, you can cop me some black riding boots. Just make sure the heel isn’t too high.”

  “I got you, ma. It’ll be nice to see you dress like a lady for a change.”

  “Oh, you trying to say I’m not a lady?”

  “Nah, I ain’t mean it like that. But you know how you are.”

  “No, how am I, Rio?”

  “Trinity, keep it funky. You know ya M.O. is boots and jeans.”

  “Fuck you, Rio. I dress to be comfortable, not to impress these low-life ma fuckas in Douglass. I dress up sometimes.”

  “Yeah, when you going out wit ya hood rat-ass friends.”

  “You back on that shit, huh?”

  “Them bitches is funny style, Trinity, and you know it. Especially Joyce. I can’t stand that bitch.”

 
; “Joyce is a’ight. Sometimes.”

  “Fuck that nickle-grabbing bitch. She ain’t nothing but a sack-chaser.”

  “Well, I don’t really fuck wit her like that. Alex is my bitch.”

  “Yeah, that's my girl, too. But Alex is loose in the drawers.”

  “You’re so judgmental, Rio. You out there doing ya dirt like everybody else.”

  “Yeah, but it's different. Wit me, the end justifies the means. I’m just hustling till I get on my feet, girl. You think I like being out here like that? Hell nah. Prince is always coming at me about getting down full-time, but I ain’t gonna do it. I mean, the money would be all that, but it ain’t worth it. I can’t bring myself to be the kinda nigga it takes to grind full-time. I’m sure most niggaz would jump at the chance to be the man next to the man, but not the kid. I’m my own man.”

  “Yeah, I hear you, Rio,” she said, sucking her bottom lip. “But… you ever think about the benefits of having that paper?”

  “Oh, yeah. I thought about it plenty of times, boo. Who wouldn’t have? But in the long run, is it worth it? Sure, I might be able to ball a li’l harder, but for how long? We both know it's only two ways out that game there.”

  “But you ain’t like most niggaz, Rio. You’re smart.”

  “Trinity, you know how many niggaz that came before me thought they was smart? Nah, matter of fact let's count the niggaz that actually were smart. In the streets it's really about who's the coldest. I thought about it, Trinity. Many a night a nigga be counting up that cheese and thinking, ‘This is all mine, if I chose to seal the bargain.’ Tempting, but I ain’t quite ready to sell my soul.”

  Trinity just stared at Rio while he aired his thoughts. Prince would gladly set him out as his right-hand man. Rio was the kinda nigga who was worth his weight. He was book smart and knew what time it was on the block. He was the reason Prince was able to move his product in some of the white neighborhoods. Rio plugged Prince to some white dudes from his school who liked to buy in bunches at a time. In time they told their people, and so on and so on. Prince could clear at least ten to twenty thousand on a good weekend. Rio still did his little side-thing with the cats, but he never asked Prince for PC on the hookup. He was just the kind of dude to leave every man to his own devices.