The Aftermath

by Anna J.

  “Yeah, we thick as thieves,” she replied sarcastically with a smirk on her face. I knew what it was hittin’ for, and her facial expression let me know she wasn’t falling for the okey-doke. “So what do you need me to do, or do you need me to find out some shit?”

  “Damn, ma, you killin’ me.”

  “I ain’t killing you, I’m keeping it real. The only time you blow through here is when you want something, be it ass or info.”

  “Yoyo, you know it’s not even like that.” I got up and went over to where she was standing so I could look her in the eyes. Even though we both knew it was bullshit, I wanted to at least sound sincere. “You just always seem to have some info I can use, and you ride out for me. I know I always got you in my corner, ma.”

  “Is that so? So why are you here today?”

  “Because I missed you . . .”

  “And?”

  “I need some info on ya sister.”

  “See, I knew it was some bullshit!” Yolanda said, breaking from my embrace. I tried to pull her back, but she was already turned around and facing me.

  “What bullshit, Yoyo?”

  “You only here to get the scoop on my people. You only using me!”

  “And you’re not using me? Did you forget so soon the price I have to pay to get what I want? Eight balls ain’t cheap, or are you getting ya nose candy from someone else nowadays?”

  That hushed her ass right on up. She stood there looking at me for a minute like she was contemplating a way to kill me, but then she plastered a fake-ass smile on her face like everything was cool. I watched as she went around the room turning out the lights and the television before I followed her back to her room.

  She immediately began to undress when we reached her bedroom, her back facing me the entire time. I stretched out across her bed and watched, wondering when she had become so shy. Shit, this was the same chick who answered the door asshole naked on any given occasion, so why the sudden case of shyness now? I didn’t even bother to ask as I watched her do her thing while I chilled fully clothed in her bed. She’d be working for the dick that night, for sure.

  Yoyo wrapped a towel around her body before she went into the bathroom to turn the shower on. Normally, I would be naked and in there with her, but I just fell back and clicked on the television. She was stubborn, and I damn sure wasn’t going to make it easy.

  Forty-five minutes went by before she came back into the bedroom, and by then I was already sleepy. I watched her dry off through half-closed eyelids, feigning sleep while she started undressing me. I cooperated as she removed every stitch of clothing from my body with lightning speed.

  Yoyo wasted no time getting into position and squatting down on the head of my dick. She was killing the game as she rotated between riding just the head and taking all ten inches. I swear this girl needed to bottle some of that shit because the pussy was tight.

  “So, why are you here, Carlos? What do you want from me, huh?” Yolanda asked as she grinded her pelvis into mine, causing my toes to curl up from the grip her walls had on me.

  “I . . . I need some . . . damn, girl,” I could hardly get it out. She was doing the damn thing to me with her legs wrapped around my back pulling me closer to her with each stroke.

  “What you need, boo? Talk to me.”

  “I need . . . I need some info on Monica.”

  “What kind of info?” she asked as she rotated her body so her back was facing me. I loved the view of my dick going in and out of her. I had to look away before I messed around and ended it all.

  “What happened with Rico, and what really went down with the police. He was untouchable until she came along.”

  “I see, so what you gonna do for me?”

  Instead of responding, I met her stroke with a hard thrust, causing her to moan louder. Quickly gaining control of the situation, I picked her up off me so she could lie back on the bed and I tore the pussy up. We pushed and pulled on each other until it was over for both of us.

  When we were done, Yolanda retrieved the eight ball from my pants pocket, tucking it in her nightstand. I made myself comfy on the bed as Yolanda got a warm rag from the bathroom. I was excited but I kept my cool because I didn’t want to let on how important this info was to me.

  “Well, since you’ve been so nice to me I’ll see what I can come up with. Just give me a couple days, but for now let me see what my loving sister is up to.”

  Monica

  Pandora’s Box

  “OK, Ms. Tyler, you are about twenty-three weeks pregnant and everything is looking good so far. Because of your past medical history, I’ll be placing you as a high risk pregnancy until further notice, just to make sure everything is running smoothly. I need you to fill out these forms, and . . .”

  The nurse must have gone on forever until I tuned her out. Honestly, I couldn’t really focus on anything else after she told me how far along I was. Twenty-three weeks . . . that was almost six months pregnant. The crazy thing was I really had to put my plan into action before I started showing. Right then I had a little pooch, but you know how that could go. One day I’d be fitting my clothes, and the next I’d be big as hell.

  I shook my head and gave her one word answers as I signed my life away on the papers she placed in front of me. I knew for sure that once this baby dropped, my ass would be right back in the gym, and I hoped to God I didn’t get stretch marks. If only I could let this baby grow in a jar or something, I’d promise I’d come back to get it when it was ready. Hell, who was I kidding? This wouldn’t be easy, but the sooner it was over, the better. And I couldn’t wait to get back to the gym to confirm if the rumor that I had been hearing was true or not. Rumor had it that the twins from the gym had ran up in Jasmine at her crib while James wasn’t home. I couldn’t wait to drop this baby just to get the scoop straight from the horses’ mouths about this one. It sounded like it might be just the thing I could use to finally tear Jazz and James apart. If my pregnancy alone wouldn’t do it, I knew that there isn’t a married man alive who would stay with his wife after two guys ran a train on her ass!

  “Ms. Tyler, I asked you a question,” the nurse snapped, annoyed that I was ignoring her.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I just have a lot on my mind. Can you ask your question again?”

  “Will the child’s father be joining you in Lamaze class, or will you be partnering with someone else?” she asked as she glanced at me over the top of her glasses, noting my chart at the same time.

  “Ummm . . . no, I’ll be attending by myself. My fiancé is extremely busy.”

  “Do you have a girlfriend or a family member who can come with you? You need to be partnered up.”

  “I said no,” I responded, getting frustrated that she felt the need to constantly remind me of my predicament.

  “Well, I’ll see if we can partner you with one of the assistants at the facility,” she replied hurriedly as she gathered the papers in a sloppy pile. She had just a little too much attitude for me, and I really wasn’t in the mood for being pleasant.

  “You can get dressed now. Make an appointment for four weeks from now at the front desk. Do you have any questions?”

  “No, not right now.”

  “OK, Ms. Tyler. I’ll see you in a few weeks.”

  After she closed the door, I stepped down off the exam table to take a look in the mirror before I put my clothes back on. The skin on my belly was still smooth, but I was developing a little pooch from the baby growing inside me. As I turned for a side view I began to feel overwhelmed because my mom wasn’t there to share the moment.

  I wanted to hate my mom for not being strong enough to stand up for herself. I never met my grandmother, so I didn’t know what kind of woman she was, but if my mother was any example of her upbringing, then I’m glad I never met her. I wanted to hate my mother for not protecting me from the hands of my brother and stepfather. Although neither of them ever penetrated me, what they made me do was unspeakable. I knew she heard my c
ries for help, but she never came.

  I wanted to hate her for leaving me and not teaching me what I needed to know to survive, but how could she if she didn’t know how to survive herself? I wiped my tears and put my clothes back on. Now wasn’t the time for tears. I had things to do, and I couldn’t be getting all soft all of a sudden.

  After standing in line for all of fifteen minutes to pay my co-payment and schedule my next appointment, I was finally on my way out the door. I bumped into some chick on the way out, but I honestly didn’t care enough to look back. If I had, maybe I’d have caught the dirty look I’m sure she threw my way, but I was on a mission and probably wouldn’t have cared either way.

  Getting home in record time I pulled up just in time to see the FedEx delivery guy pull away from my house. I didn’t remember ordering anything, but I had to pee so bad it didn’t matter. I just threw the damn box on the couch with the rest of my stuff and went to handle my business.

  After relieving myself, I made a sandwich before I went back to the couch, pushing the box to the side until I was finished with my meal. It wasn’t until I watched a couple of my favorite shows did I decide to finally see what was in the box. I sat it on the table and took careful measures not to shake it up or cut the packing too deep since I didn’t know what was inside.

  Inside the FedEx box was a beautifully beaded pink box. It had jewels on it, and pink was my favorite color. I was puzzled and excited because I knew I hadn’t ordered anything. I briefly wondered who sent it before taking the lid off.

  The box smelled sweet as I pulled out the tissue paper that covered whatever was inside. My face went from a look of wonderment to shock as I viewed the contents of the box. Inside I found a little doll dressed in what appeared to be a black dress as if she were mourning. A knife was sticking out of what seemed to be her pregnant stomach. Further inspection produced a headless baby and a little car that looked like a hearse. Black rose petals filled the bottom of the box, and a card sat in the corner.

  I was scared to open the card at first, but curiosity was killing me. Inside I found a card that had black roses on the front with a picture of an eye in the middle. The words “I’ve Got My Eye On You” were typed right across the middle. I put the card down with shaking hands and leaned back on the couch to gather my thoughts. Who would be watching me? Why? I’d done so much dirt in my life that it was hard to tell who’d want to get back at me.

  I sat on the couch stunned for what felt like hours. With the exception of Jazz and James, everyone else I did anything to got what they deserved. I didn’t force myself on anyone. They came to me willingly. I don’t know how long I sat there until the ringing phone startled me out of my thoughts. I hesitated to answer, not sure if I really wanted to talk. The person who sent the package obviously knew where I lived, so who was to say that he or she didn’t have my phone number? I crept to the phone, not realizing how crazy I must have looked. I stood near the phone and allowed it to ring again before I answered.

  “Hello?” I answered the phone, my voice barely audible. I don’t know what the hell I was so scared of. Killers don’t normally call first.

  “Hey, big sis! How’s it going?”

  “Yolanda?”

  “Please, call me Yoyo. Besides, how many little sisters do you have?”

  “No, it’s just that I wasn’t expecting your call. Are you locked up again?” Not for nothing, I didn’t mind hearing from my sister. I mean, we were family and all, but the only time she called was if she was in a jam or short on cash like I was a damn ATM. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I had to help her out. We weren’t that close as kids either, with her being a prissy brat, and me having to hold the house down because Lord knows our brother wasn’t doing shit to help. I loved her because we were family, but I despised her so much because she had it made.

  “Damn, is that the only reason I can have to call you? Hell, I thought we were family.”

  “And when did family mean anything to you?”

  “Look, Moni, I ain’t call to argue with you.”

  “OK, so you’re not in jail. What do you need? Money?”

  “Damn, Monica, can a bitch call and see how you doing without wanting something? Rico is gone, and you’re there by yourself. I’m just calling to check up on you.”

  “Well, a bitch can surely call to check me out, but I have yet to see a female dog dial a telephone. And since when did you care about anyone’s well-being but your own?”

  “You know what, Monica, I tried to be civil with your evil ass. You’re going to die a lonely, old, bitter bitch. That’s why I don’t fuck with you now. You’ve always been a—”

  “Yoyo, I’m pregnant.” I had to blurt it out before I lost the nerve. For the first time I was actually scared of what was coming. I knew I wasn’t anywhere near being the motherly type. What was I going to do?

  “What? By who?”

  “You don’t know him,” I said as I walked back to the couch and flopped down. What the hell have I gotten myself into? James didn’t want this baby, and since I was keeping it real, neither did I. My dumb ass done got caught up on Jazz’s table so I knew that was a done deal, unless . . .

  “Do I need to call Maury? He’ll test you and all of your baby father possibilities.”

  “Yolanda, I didn’t say I didn’t know the father of my child. I said you don’t.”

  “So, what’s the problem?”

  “I’m not sure if I want to keep it.”

  “Girl, you better hold it down. Your ass ain’t getting any younger, and the least you could do is keep Rico’s baby since he ain’t here no more.”

  “Rico? I am not pregnant by Rico. Where you hear that?”

  “I just assumed it was his since y’all were kicking it like that. Didn’t you feel bad for getting him locked up?”

  “First off, I was pregnant before that shit went down with Rico, and what I had with him was strictly business. I didn’t know he was going to kill himself.”

  “So, if it ain’t Rico’s kid, whose is it?”

  “You don’t know him.”

  “Well is he at least claiming the bastard?”

  “Yolanda, what did you call here for?”

  “Just to see what’s up.”

  “Well if you’re done with your twenty questions, I have some phone calls to make.”

  “One more before you go.”

  “What?”

  “Can we go shopping or something? I need like three hundred dollars, and a new outfit to wear to Fat Daddy’s party on next Saturday night. I saw these Jimmy Choo boots that I just have to have.”

  “You said that like you’ve ever done something for me. How much is your tab now?”

  “Girl, as long as I owe you . . .”

  “I won’t be broke regardless. Call me next week. I’ll meet you downtown.”

  “Thanks, Moni. You know I love you, right?”

  “Yeah, right. You love me like I love a pair of Payless shoes. Good-bye.”

  I didn’t wait for a response. I hung up. I had to start setting my plan into action, and I needed the help of a few old friends. I called Sheila and smiled to myself despite the situation. It’d been a while, and I hadn’t heard from her since I got her that job as the judge’s secretary. She owed me a favor or two.

  Sheila S. Stone

  Iswear, life was such a BITCH sometimes! One day you’d be sitting on top of the world, and the next day your ass would be getting crushed by it. My past had been haunting me like crazy, making it hard for me to move on. I was so mad at myself I didn’t know what to do, but at the same time I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. That’s why when Monica set me up to work with the judge I hopped right on it. I knew my job with Jazz was over. That’s why I didn’t even bother to go back and get the stuff I left there. I could do without the memories.

  I thought for sure Monica would be calling for me to return the favor, and surprisingly she hadn’t yet. I had my guard up, though, becaus
e I knew it was coming. I wished I could call Jazz and apologize, but what was I supposed to say? I’m sorry for setting you up and getting caught fucking your husband on your kitchen table? I really did want to talk to her, but I wasn’t ready yet.

  My phone had been ringing nonstop all morning, and it was working my nerves. The judge was sleeping with half the women in Philly, but I just stayed my ass out of it, took messages, and smiled brightly when I saw his wife. The last time I tried to help someone my ass got caught up. I knew whoever this was calling now was persistent. The damn phone had rung ten times. I had to find a way to change the ring count so the answering service would pick up after three rings.

  “Good afternoon and thank you for calling District Council Three. Sheila speaking. How may I help you?”

  “Sheila, it’s me, Monica. I need to talk to you about something.”

  Speak of the damn devil . . .

  Carlos

  The Scoop

  “Damn, Carlos. For all that you should have called her yourself. You was all up on the phone like you dialed the number.”

  As soon as Yoyo hung up the phone I was in her ear about Monica. Hopefully, she got some info I could use, and they weren’t just talking about some girlie bullshit. I tried to go pick up the other line in the kitchen so I could listen, but she wouldn’t let me get out of the bed. I even tried to put my face next to hers on the receiver, but she kept pushing me away. As soon as she hung up, I was all in the business asking a million questions.

  “So, what she say?”

  “Nothing really. She’s pregnant, and it’s not Rico’s.”

  “Oh word?” Now, I already knew she was pregnant because Shaneka was crying about it earlier this week, but I didn’t know it wasn’t Rico’s baby, which meant Shaneka was spazzing for nothing. She did feel like Rico betrayed her, though, so I’d just keep that bit of info to myself and let her get her shit off.

  “So what happened with all that money Rico had?”

  “Did it sound like we were able to discuss all that? Hell, you were practically on the phone with her your damn self.”