Smitty chuckled. “So that’s what you kids are calling it now-a-days? Busting a nut? Listen son you can’t expect a woman to remain a roll in the hay forever. Eventually she’s going to want to know where it’s heading.”
“Love,” Tommy muttered shaking his head and sipped his drink. “She doesn’t even know what my favorite color is, but yet she’s in love.”
“Son I think she knows what your favorite color is. I think everybody knows.”
“That’s funny. But the weird thing is that after I told her I may still have feelings for Nicky and she stormed out, I automatically started missing her. And I got to be honest, it wasn’t just the sex. I honestly missed her.” Tommy said, like even though it was happening to him, he couldn’t believe it. “After my divorce I won’t lie, there was a stretch where I did my share of hoeing around. Then I met Donnie and things changed. I changed. I actually enjoyed waking up next to her and having breakfast. Chilling. Prior to her I’d flip through my little black book and pick a random name. And when what’s her name complained that I didn’t take her out to dinner after we got it on, I tossed her a candy bar and would tell her it was nice knowing her.”
“Damn son. That’s some cold shit.” Smitty raised his eyebrows.
“I dunno Pop. They say confession’s good for the soul, but if you ask me, it’s lousy for relationships.” Tommy said sounding frustrated.
Smitty poured out some more liquor into their cups. “Sounds to me like it’s more than just sex with you and Donnie. Besides I thought that Nicky was happy with this older uppity cat.”
“Yeah I thought so too but then tonight Nicky sends me these mixed messages and tells me how they aren’t happy and suddenly I’m thinking with my second brain, back to wanting her.”
“I saw you and Donnie out there dancing and personally I don’t think you want Nicky back.” Smitty said as a matter of factly.
“So, I should stick with Donnie?”
“No-I didn’t say that.”
“So, Nicky’s the one?”
“I didn’t say that either son. But your mother probably would. She’s loves Nicky. Even I’ve grown fond of her after all these years. She’s a good woman.”
“Then what are you saying Pop?” Tommy asked confused.
“What do I know?” Smitty cleared his throat and shrugged like he owed no one an explanation. “Shit-I’m a lucky son-of-a-bitch who’s fortunate enough to get a second chance to do things right with my soulmate. But since you feel the need to hear some of your old man’s worldly advice I will say this, son do whatever it takes to ensure that you don’t wind up gray and alone because as much as we all fantasize about living the bachelor life it pales in comparison to a full-time relationship.”
Tommy turned to his father with an understanding nod and a simple smile. “This is more stressful than being a Trouble Consultant!”
“I’m glad you brought that up. Now son, I hope I don’t have to tell you that what you do for a living is on hiatus until your mother and I return from our trip and pick up your sister. I’m saying this because earlier you mentioned that you pick and choose your own hours and I was wondering if that meant you planned on going out after she was asleep. You are aware that Tee-Tee needs a lot of supervision?”
“Come on Pop, I would never work while Tee-Tee was staying with me.”
“Good. Maybe the time off will give you the opportunity to think about changing career paths.”
Tommy twitched his lips. “I did, when I walked away from construction.”
“You didn’t have to do that. Or this. You had options. Still do. You just refuse to accept them.”
“No, I just refuse to accept a handout from my folks and instead stand on my own two feet.”
Smitty sighed. He couldn’t even get mad seeing as how his son inherited his stubborn and prideful genes. “Bottom line. You can’t run the streets forever. And I know if you gave it a chance, you’d enjoy running a night club solely.”
Tommy looked at his father awkwardly. “Running the club solely? Pop, you thinking about retiring?”
“Hell to the no! Smitty’s is as much a part of me as-as-”
“As your name?” Tommy asked coyly.
“Exactly, but what I was thinking is maybe opening up a second spot. We’d go half on the cost, but you could run it.”
“Me run a nightclub?” Tommy said with a doubtful look. Just listening to the words come out of his own mouth sounded like bad idea.
“Why not? You said it yourself, you aren’t the college type and where else could you make the kind of money you’re making now busting heads on the streets? Smitty’s caters to people who are too old for hip-hop and too young to sit around watching TV. A second nightclub would be ideal. I looked into it. There’s a huge audience not being served and not a single place in all of Brooklyn for them to go. So every weekend these kids pile into their daddy’s car and go to the lower east side to party. Now think about all that cash that you could be getting with your own place.”
“A second club huh? Brooklyn’s own black version of Studio 54?”
“Minus the drugs and weird shit. But yes.”
“What would you call it? Smitty Junior?”
“It’d be your place son so you would name it whatever you want. But, I’d put a little more effort into it.” Smitty said.
Tommy shook his head indecisively. This was not something he could just say yes to without giving it considerable consideration. “I’m not saying it’s a bad idea but why me? You’ve been doing this since forever. You know the business inside out.”
“Why? Because you’re my kid. Besides, I don’t know today’s youth. You do. And trust me anyone can learn the club business. Hell, I did it without a high school diploma and I know more than my own accountants do about facts and figures, or Joe College when it comes to running a business. That’s why I understand what you meant when you said depending on what type of degree you have, all it is a high-priced piece of toilet paper. When you and your sister were kids all I wanted was for the two of you to have the opportunities and experiences that I did not, which is why I stressed going to college. But then she had the accident and…” Smitty took a swig of liquor and pushed his daughter’s catastrophe out of his mind. He looked over at his son and grinned proudly. “I remember the day when your mother told me she was pregnant with you. I was working at the pool hall on Kingston Avenue and she called and told me she had just come from the doctor’s office. And that the rabbit died. I was like, ‘Okay, I’m gonna call you right back.’ It took me about fifteen minutes to get back to her cause I had to let it sink in that I was going to be a father. Man I was shitting bricks. I remember being in the room and watching your birth. It was amazing. You could feel it in the room that a new life was being born. When the nurse placed you in my arms, I was like, ‘Wow! This is my seed. My boy. I guess the reason I’m saying all this stuff is because I worry about you out there on the streets getting into all kinds of danger and what could happen. I know your name rings bells but to me, you’re just an older version of the same little boy who couldn’t sleep without a nightlight.”
“Hey don’t tell people that.” Tommy said.
Smitty chuckled. “Son you may find this strange coming from me because of the hell I give you about what you do for a living, but I admire anybody who refuses charity, stands on their own two feet like a man and won’t take anybody’s crap. Problem is these fools coming up today are plum crazy! Don’t you get scared?” Smitty asked his son wholeheartedly.
Tommy made a smug faced and shook his head. “Not at all, since I’m the one doing the scaring.”
“Just because I admire something doesn’t necessarily mean I agree with it either. Hell, I think Felix Mitchell and Nicky Barnes are some bad motherfuckers, as was Bumpy Johnson but on the same token I don’t agree with their lifestyles either. Son I constantly worry about you. You’re my only boy. The one who has to carry on my name when I am
gone. What’s the point of having a legacy if I can’t leave it to my kid?” Smitty said. Word about his son’s battles often reached his club before his son did and he felt physically ill and helpless when he heard them. He loved his son more than life itself and if something ever happened to him he did not know what he would do.
“C’mon Pop. You know I hate it when you talk about dying. And please don’t start reminding me about life insurance policies and burial plots again.”
“Oh, so you can put your life on the line every day and I am supposed to be okay with that but the mere mention of me passing upsets you?” Tommy rolled his eyes and sighed. The discussion was ruining his buzz. “I’ve heard stories about you getting shot at and almost killed and played it cool. I don’t know how you do it. You’ve been lucky, but son luck doesn’t last forever.”
“Pop, I’m good at what I do. You can’t make it in my line of work on luck.” Tommy winked cockily.
Smitty shook his head at his son’s audacious attitude. “You’re a grown man Tommy. You got all the answers. I can’t force you to follow my advice. But I hope you at least listen to it.”
“Aight Pop. But I will say this, it’s nice to have choices.”
Smitty unlocked his door. “Well when it comes to choices, you can either go left, or do what’s right. Dig what I’m saying?”
Tommy nodded scratching his head. His Pop was always fond of trite maxims. “Yeah I dig what you’re saying.”
“Good because regardless of how good you are, you can’t do this forever. And if your luck did run out, I don’t have to mention what it would do to your mother do I? Especially when she doesn’t’ even know.” Smitty asked. Tommy shook his head and sighed. “Son learn from the mistakes of others because you can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.” Tommy half-smiled and shook his head like he got what his father was trying to say. “I’ll see you Sunday.” Smitty said and went across the street to catch a ride with one of his buddies
When Tommy walked back into the house more guests were preparing to leave. Guy was putting on his coat and Nicky was wrapping up plates of food. The caterers and DJ were finishing cleaning and packing up. After paying them plus giving them huge tips for a job well done he spotted Corbin angrily staring at his dog across the room then storm into the kitchen.
“Uh-oh there he go! Wait, I lost count. How many times is that?” Uncle Booze asked tipsy then emptied his shot glass with a shrug.
Tommy shook his head at his Uncle’s foolishness when his Nana came up behind him and took his hand. “Baby, this was a nice get-together you and your mama threw.” She had a cherub face with shimmering gray hair and the more his mother matured, Tommy could see how she would look when and if he ever made her a grandmother.
“Thanks Nana.” Tommy smiled. “Say, you and Papa Smurf need me to drive you home?”
“No that’s alright baby like we told your mother, we’re gonna stop by and visit some friends of ours who live nearby. But what you can do is look after your cousin Alonzo. That boy’s so thin. I declare it look like he got the sugar.”
“Okay Nana I’ll look out for him,”
“Good, now you go and sit with your beautiful lady friend. We had the nicest talk while you was helping your parents take Tatiana’s things to the car.”
“Boy if I was you I’d pitch a tent with that one.” Tommy’s grandfather said nudging him in the ribs. His full white beard and lop-sided blue applejack hat earned him the nickname ‘Papa Smurf’.
“Oh yeah Papa Smurf, and why’s that?” Tommy smiled.
“Elementary my boy. The way she looks at you. Reminds me how your grandmother used to look at me when we was kids.”
“What do you mean used to?” Nana demanded and pinched her husband of fifty-three years on the behind.
Tommy laughed as a cab pulled up outside the window and honked. He saw his grandparents to the door, kissed his Nana and promised he would call more often. He hoped when he reached their age that not only would he be as energetic but have someone to be energetic with as well.
Uncle Booze stumbled over and zipped up his loud outdated jacket then handed his nephew an empty beer can. “Smashing shindig nephew. We must do this again sometime.” he said then let out a cross between a burp and hic-up.
“You’re not driving are you Unc? Cause I can call you a cab or take you somewhere myself.” Tommy asked concerned.
“Don’t worry yourself nephew I’m in good hands. Now you get back to that buttered muffin of yours…” he said as an older attractive woman Tommy recognized as the owner of the catering service for his sister’s party walked up putting on her coat. “And I’ll get back to mines.”
“You ready Sheldon? I’m parked around the corner.” she asked. Uncle Booze rattled a pack of Tic-Tacs then brought it to his mouth and tossed it back like it was a shot of liquor. He winked at his favorite nephew and the pair left.
Tommy shook his head impressed as a pair of hands covered his eyes followed by the sweet smell of perfume. “Guess who?” Donnie asked.
“Janet Jackson? Vanity?”
“You wish.” Donnie laughed. AJ was standing beside her looking up at her with an infatuated sugary smile as he snacked on Fun-Dip candy. “I think someone has a crush on me.” she gestured down.
Tommy kneeled before his pint-sized cousin. “Hey little man, you trying to take my date?”
AJ laughed and nodded his head. “Yup. She’s pretty ain’t she?”
Tommy looked up at Donnie and frowned, “Eh, she’s aight.”
Donnie cut her eyes at him slyly. “Oh really? And I was going to follow you back to your place tonight. But since I’m just aight maybe I should just go-”
“Sike! I was just playing.” Tommy said quickly as Laquita laughed at him clean it up. “So Quita where’s Bug-Out at?”
Laquita wrinkled up her face like it had just occurred to her that her husband was missing. “He was here a minute ago.”
“Cousin Tommy, Daddy went outside.” AJ said and went back to gazing at Donnie.
“Thanks shorty. Now I’m going outside to see your daddy and while I’m gone don’t steal my date got it?”
“Got it.” AJ blushed.
Tommy rose to his feet smiling and faced Donnie. “Oh so suddenly I’m your date?” she asked with an arched eyebrow.
“Oh yeah, that and more.” Tommy said leaning in and gently pecked her on the lips before strolling outside. As he walked out Donnie and Laquita both exhaled.
“Girl you is so lucky! Now don’t get me wrong I love my man to death, but Tommy got it going on wit his fine self. Nicky must’ve been smoking some brand new shit to have traded in his sexy fine ass for that whack guy she’s with now. I don’t know what she was thinking ‘bout anyway, cause you know old men give you worms.” Laquita laughed.
“You are wrong gurl, you know you are.” Donnie said unable to stop giggling and when they turned around Nicky was standing there holding wrapped up slices of cake.
Laquita and Donnie looked at each other with ‘Oh shit’ written across their faces unsure of what to say. Nicky feeling equally awkward said, “Cake anyone?”
“Oh um, thanks.” Donnie said.
Chapter 14
Tommy spotted Bug-Out standing in between two parked cars and walked up on him. “Yo cuz, what you saw in the kitchen is not what -” he paused and his heart sunk. “I don’t fucking believe this shit!”
Bug-Out turned around high as a satellite smiling goofily then took another snort of the white powder. With pupils wide as frying pans, he grinned as the drug took effect. “Damn I ain’t never been this high in my life! And I been to the top of the motherfucking Empire State Building.”
“What the hell are you doing?” Tommy demanded.
“Oh this? Check it out, I know it looks fucked up. But it ain’t what you think cuz.”
“Is that right?”
“Nah, I don’t even like coke…just the way
it smells.” Bug-Out said and burst into laughter. “Fun fact. Coke was basically Tylenol about a hundred years ago. It was prescribed for practically everything from toothaches to headaches. Your man Sigmund Freud, was a major cokehead.”
Tommy’s top lip curled. “I came out here to tell you how proud I am that you’re making so much progress in rehab. And instead I get a history lesson on drugs.”
“Man please. Rehab’s for quitters.” Bug-Out said then opened a folded dollar rubbed his finger roughly on the rear of the bill and sucked the coke residue from his finger.
“Why don’t you just pray for the earth to open up and swallow your ass cause that’s where you’re headed!” Tommy snapped. Bug-Out shrugged like he could give a damn about what his cousin was saying and began swaying in time to a tune playing in his skull. “Why Bug-Out? You were doing so well” he growled and snatching Bug-Out by the collar.
Bug-Out turned to his cousin with pain written all over his face. “You’re right I was doing well! Then I got my blood test back…I got the monster yo.”
“The monster?” Tommy’s jaw dropped and his grip loosened. “AIDS?” He whispered. Bug-Out nodded sadly. Tommy instinctively looked at his hands like they were contaminated then felt embarrassed under his cousin’s hurt glare. “Are they sure?”
“Positive. That’s what took them so long to get back my results. They checked and re-checked. But each time the results said the same thing…‘Sorry Mister Strong, that’s the breaks!’ I don’t get it! They got you believing this shit is a gay disease or something started by perverts fucking monkeys in the jungle! But they don’t tell you there are other ways to catch it? Hell no!”
Tommy was not about to tell his cousin that information on AIDS prevention was as close as the nearest clinic or bus stop advertisement, and that it was common knowledge that unprotected sex and sharing needles was a surefire way to obtain the deadly virus, so instead he consoled him. He had read enough on the disease to know that he could not catch the virus from bodily contact but was concerned how others would react. AIDS was a new alien specter, and public fear and ignorance turned people unfortunate enough to catch it into outcasts. Even he freaked for a second when Bug-Out said he had it.
Havoc and Mayhem Page 24
