Foxy_T

by Tony White

  First thing when they got up and dress Ruji-Babes and Foxy-T even before they had breakfast they was down in the back yard looking at that coat. Zafar had hang it up on the door knob of the air raid shelter. It was a well cool black leather jacket and man knowed is worth a lot of money. Good thick leather and gold fittings. And the lining say like Gucci. It must of cost that thief a whole heap a money.

  ‘He gonna be sick man thats a expensive jacket for real,’ say Ruji-Babes. ‘If him wasnt some thief you feel sorry for him init.’

  Foxy-T keep quiet and just stand there look a bit distracted. She reach out her hand and feel that leather. She could practicly smell it though them two could easy tell it aint exackly new. It still have that strong smell of thick leather init.

  Zafar come outside and all. Him look a bit red around the eye since him only catch a couple hour sleep. When she hear him footstep on the back steps Ruji-Babes turn around and walk past him back into the flat.

  ‘Wicked jacket man,’ says Zafar.

  ‘Yeah,’ says Foxy-T. ‘I wonder how many house him have fe rob fe buy this init.’

  Zafar thought for a sec.

  ‘Eh T. You recognise it man? You think him that same thief what you seen before that time. Remember?’

  Foxy-T thought the jacket look familiar but without the man in it was hard to tell.

  ‘Probaly,’ she say.

  Zafar watch her but him cant tell what she thinking. That Foxy-T confuse this boy init because she so quiet and not use to men ways but also kind of hard like a man herself. It seem like what she think and what she speak was two different people and him cant figure her out is it.

  ‘You a go keep it?’ she aks him.

  ‘Dunno. Lets think about it after breakfast init.’

  ‘Got that strong leather smell init,’ says Foxy-T. ‘Someone tell me once that a sign of cheap leather. Smell like them leather shop up Brick Lane. All a them cheap jacket there.’

  She could still smell it on her hand just from stroke it.

  ‘No. I reckon its real Gucci man,’ says Zafar. ‘Its quality init. Thats a good bit a leather that. Maybe get it clean or whatever though I reckon. Him may have flea init.’

  ‘Ugh,’ says Foxy-T.

  ‘Never know is it,’ says Zafar.

  Later on she see that Zafar have brung the jacket in and hang it from a wire coat hanger in the hallway. Seem like that smell a leather is get in her head.

  Zafar was well fucked off all day. Perhaps from him late night or perhaps from what him hear them talk in the night. Or both init. Whatever. Or perhaps cause him no really get the respect him due fe catch a thief. Maybe him think that through catch that thief them two girl would change there minds from what they was saying the night before init. Man if he hadn’t a been there theyd a been rob. And they aint give him no credit for it. Him face look like a donkey arse. But spite a this him still polite and that. He didnt say nothing about them getting marry and just keep well clear a Foxy-T all day. Much a the time him sit out front and read him paper. Except he get up every now and then and shake some brother by the hand and chat. Man like DK and Ifty is drop by init cause him call fe tell them about him catch a thief. Or other time some car would pull up and him get in there and chat for a bit or smoke some little spliff. But most a the time him be sit outside the E-Z Call. Doing him security thing. And probaly feeling well please and satisfy on account of that thief what him catch. And him well bragging init. To all them spar what him chat with. Man knowed Zafar would a tell that story over and over and it getting better every time him tell it. A couple of them guy him bring through the shop and show them the jacket fe see if them know who it belong to. Man like Red-Eye and Shifty a come by init. But them all shake them head and go, ‘No I never seen no one wearing that, man. I’d a recognise it init.’

  And Zafar laugh and go, ‘Listen man. If you see some guy who limp real bad and stand there shivering with no jacket then give me a bell init. You got my mobile.’

  And them guy them friend of his like Ranky and Shabbaz laugh and all when they walking back through the shop init. And them nod at Ruji-Babes behind the counter as if fe say, ‘Hello.’ And she manage to nod back even though she dont really trust them neither if there friend of Zafar and when Zafar go past she be concentrate upon sort out them top ups or something and dont say nothing to him. And believe me that Zafar is act like he angry with her and all so him dont even try fe say nothing to Ruji-Babes.

  Come the evening and they was having there supper yeah. Ruji-Babes didnt want that Zafar eat with them two which was fine with him init cause him prefer eating on him lap. Before them dish up Ruji-Babes tell that Zafar that him have fe move out at the weekend init. Zafar knowed this was coming init but him pretend fe shock even though he aint. But him no mind not have fe eat with them neither cause Zafar well fucked off with Ruji-Babes and just enjoy eat his bit of channa dal and rice with plenty a pickle and some cucumber on him lap in front of the telly. This never bother him much like I say since he usually done this since time init. But Ruji-Babes and Foxy-T eat there tea on the kitchen table like normal they even light the candle like usual and he could hear them chatting while he ate though he couldnt really hear what they was saying cause of the telly. After that they just sit quiet for a couple of hours and all watch the telly together though neither Ruji-Babes nor Foxy-T said nothing to him. Ruji-Babes had some of them accounts on her lap and was reading through the figure and thing. While Foxy-T wasnt reading her software manual like normal she was reading some woman magazine what she nip over the road to Ruposhi Novelties and Sari Shop and got earlier on. With all kinds of dress in it. Like fashion shoot. Only all Asian style. With all How to Marry a Millionaire type thing in it. All them dress and that was mainly traditional stuff but also some like western stuff.

  Zafar was play with him mobile. Playing snake or sending text or whatever them couldnt tell just see him concentrate and push them button with him thumbs.

  Every now and then Ruji-Babes would look up because it hurt her eye just focus on them row of small numbers. She see Zafar hunch over him mobile.

  ‘How you go get to Dagenham man?’ she aks him.

  He finish something then look up. ‘Dunno man tube or whatever I dunno. District Line go there or number 15 bus. Either way. Aint got much fe carry is it.’

  ‘So Saturday morning yeah?’ she aks.

  ‘Seen,’ him say.

  ‘OK,’ she say looking down at them book spread out on her lap. But then she look up again and aks. ‘What is it you gonna do then eh? If you dont mind me aksing you Zafar.’

  ‘Do?’ him say. ‘What you mean “Do”?’ This had piss him right off.

  ‘You know what I mean init. You and T. What you gonna do about all this getting marry and shit? You sort out the dates already eh? Send out them invite?’

  Ruji-Babes was right taking the piss man believe me and Zafar no say nothing yet is it just wait till she play out.

  ‘Been over Tiffin fe plan you catering yet Zafar?’

  ‘Oh that,’ him say. ‘I dont know init.’

  ‘You aint know much is it?’ she aks him. ‘So come Saturday nothing a go change is it. Still dont know?’

  ‘What of it man,’ says Zafar waving his mobile around. ‘I can phone init. Or email. Whats the difference?’

  ‘Seen,’ says Ruji-Babes. ‘You can probaly get marry by email and all these days init. But it matter to me on account of E-Z Call since T and me is like business partner. I need to know them date and shit so me can get some new staff in. I got to advertise and interview and all that init.’

  ‘Foxy-T could still do them thing,’ Zafar says. ‘Just because we was marry wouldnt mean she couldnt do them thing she does. Why you have fe find someone else Rooj?’

  He was playing a bit stupid here init and also try fe annoy her through call her Rooj instead of Ruji-Babes. Because him well know what Ruji-Babes a go say next.

  ‘Obvious init eh?’ says Ruji-Babes. ‘This flat and this
shop and that aint no place for some marry couple. Is only a one bedroom flat for real. Aint hardly enough money for the two of us let alone for a marry couple. And there aint no real work for you here init. If you two was marry you a go have fe check you own place and new job and everything init. Think about it man.’

  She was tapping the side of her head when she say this.

  ‘Think about it Zafar. No way man.’

  ‘Me know say I have fe move out man,’ says Zafar.

  ‘Seen. Glad you see thing my way,’ says Ruji-Babes. ‘Thats what I say init. But aint just you is it is T and all. When she gonna move out thats what I need to know man.’

  Foxy-T look up but she say nothing then look down at her magazine again init while them two just sit and stare for a second or two. Zafar stare at Ruji-Babes and Ruji-Babes stare at Zafar.

  ‘Ah,’ say Zafar eventually. ‘I dont know.’

  Ruji-Babes was enjoy this.

  ‘What? You tell me you no think about this yet is that it? You is suppose to be getting marry yet you aint think about when you is gonna take your wife? Is you think about anything else man or was that idea just a joke of some kind? Was you joking when you aks her fe marry you?’

  ‘Course I wasnt joking man,’ say Zafar. ‘But I’m going back over Dagenham init.’

  ‘What just you?’ aks Ruji-Babes. ‘Or was you thinking of take your wife up Dagenham and all?’

  ‘Course man.’

  ‘You listening T?’ says Ruji-Babes looking over at where Foxy-T is sit with her head in that magazine. ‘Zafar say you moving out Dagenham on Saturday and all? You pack yet man?’

  Foxy-T look up a bit quick as if she about to laugh but with a odd expression on her face.

  ‘News to me Rooj,’ she say.

  ‘Good news though man,’ says Zafar.

  ‘Maybe,’ Foxy-T say and look back at her magazine.

  ‘Is you ready fe move out Dagenham way,’ aks Ruji-Babes.

  ‘Depend what type a place init. I aint go sleep on him sister sofa and thats a fact.’

  Zafar look at her and smile.

  ‘You think I should go first and like scope it out?’ he aksed.

  ‘Aint no alternative man,’ says Foxy-T.

  ‘Smart girl,’ says Ruji-Babes. ‘See what kind a move him make and then you can decide if you is going or not. Anything else is pure foolishness init.’

  ‘I reckon we should get marry before I go init,’ he say. ‘And then take it from there man.’

  ‘See what I say? Listen to the boy T. Pure foolishness. How is you gonna get marry between now and Saturday Zafar? Getting marry cost money you know,’ say Ruji-Babes.

  Zafar wasnt listening to Ruji-Babes though is it. Him look at Foxy-T and wait for her to speak.

  ‘What about you T?’ he aks.

  She look over at the telly.

  ‘Dont aks me man,’ she say.

  ‘What you mean?’ him aks.

  ‘What you mean?’ She repeat back at him. She was laughing now. ‘I dont know what I mean. I aint thought about it yet is it.’

  ‘What you need fe think about then T?’ he aks.

  ‘I got nuff thing to think about and that should be obvious to you of all people init,’ she say.

  He look at her like I dont know what. Like she just join up with Ruji-Babes against him. It seem like whatever him say she would take the piss out of him. Mood she was in or whatever.

  ‘Up to you man,’ he say eventually. ‘Your decision init. You can move over when you is ready T.’

  ‘The boy see sense at last,’ say Ruji-Babes turning to Foxy-T fe share her victory then turn back and watch the telly confident in she win this argument.

  Come midnight or so Ruji-Babes say, ‘You tired T?’

  ‘Not really man,’ says Foxy-T. ‘But if you is ready for bed I’ll come and all man.’

  They both get up and go out the room without saying nothing to Zafar. Him just sit there and watch the telly like he never notice what they is doing. Later him hear Foxy-T shouting down like, ‘Goodnight Zafar. Turn out the kitchen light yeah.’ Like him nothing more than some guest or other. And he wish then he should of gone out and run with him spar or whatever. Go for a drive and smoke some weed down the Bigland near the playground but him no feel like it is it and also him no tell them none a this is it and Zafar knowed that him spar would take the piss if he did init merciless. Worse than Ruji-Babes fe true and he was still angry from the way she bait him tonight init. What the fuck is it have fe do with her him think. Bitch just have fe get use to it. And Zafar was just sit there and run them thing she say through him mind and all them thing what he should a said init. Even when he turn off them light and the fire and that and him settle down on the couch he was feel restless and none of them thoughts about what Ruji-Babes and Foxy-T might be get up to upstairs was enough fe like settle him down and he took ages to get to sleep and there was none of that weed left neither so him couldnt just get wreck and sleep like that. And laying on that sofa under there spare duvet with them orange street light shine in the window through the curtain him feel like he really waste him life here if he not careful. What he hanging around here for anyway. Shit them two lezzers aint worth it man him think to himself. But then eventually him remember about Foxy-T on her own or at least the way she act when he is around and the way she think him a thief that one time and how she dont know if she coming or going sometime and he was think to himself like ‘Well why shouldnt I want to marry her?’ and he almost forget and totally fool himself and all with them ideas and feel like maybe he really did love her. Cause why would he want to marry some lesbian if he no love her anyway. Must do init. He aksed her for real. Him Zafar Iqbal had aksed Foxy-T fe marry him init. And he believe it then and feel right pissed off at the way them treating him. Like he just some guest or other when he aint nothing like that cause him and Foxy-T is gonna get marry. They is engage init. Then he lay there with his hand on him cock and just think about Foxy-T and getting her on her own and all kind of thing they would do or whatever. And him get to sleep eventually.

  Next morning Zafar was in a right bad mood. He look really distract because him thinking. Him thinking about how much him want Foxy-T fe marry him and move up Dagenham. He figured it was signed and sealed till last night. He still never knowed why him want fe get marry. He was a bit young for that fe true. None of him friend was marry. Like maybe one or two older cousin. Maybe people back home. But not in London. Him mind made up though now man. Him want to marry Foxy-T. Yet thing dont seem to be going his way no more. Thing not working out is it and Ruji-Babes just make it worse. Man if it just down to Foxy-T and him there be none a this is it. This is what was piss him off. As Zafar got up and eat or whatever him nuff angry through think about them things. And also because he really didnt know what fe do about it. He never face them kind of thing before. But he reason bide him time and play it cool. Foxy-T may start figure well why not marry Zafar. She no want just Ruji-Babes is it. Zafar still think about that if Foxy-T no want fe marry then she would a tell Ruji-Babes direct init soon as him aks and the fact she never mean thing aint all that between them two and that give him courage init. Foxy-T a go come round and realise that Ruji-Babes just in her way init. Zafar figure that probaly the way thing would happen so he just have fe keep quiet and be cool. Now him plant that idea in her head its only a matter of time till she see that life would be better with Zafar than with Ruji-Babes.

  Still also there was no need fe argue with Ruji-Babes since she went out after they open up the E-Z Call. She never tell Zafar where she going and Zafar never want fe aks Foxy-T is it. Even though Foxy-T probaly know. So Zafar just pull up him chair outside and watch some kids them pulling all piece a wood and old broke up pallet out of that skip down by Savera Sweet Centre where them a go build like some new flat and drag them down the road. Then before long some of him spar from like Norton Massive or whatever come around and them all chat there for a while and big it up. Then maybe Ranky pull up in
him Escort GTI and so Zafar stand up yeah and pull him chair back in the shop and go get in the car and drive down like Bigland down by the Surma Town Cash and Carry there and maybe a bit of money change hand and Zafar got himself some nice eighth anyway. So them just cranking up the music and chat and chill and watch them kid build that bonfire there in that yard where them play football. And one or two other of him spar turn up and all init. Man like Red-Eye and DK. So this way him spend a cool couple of hour and roll a couple of spliff.

  ‘Shit man,’ say Zafar as him chuck the roach out the window. ‘This shit nuff strong init. Fucking laughing gas man believe me.’

  And its true cause them was all get well raucous and shout and laugh and maybe go get some Bacardi Breezer up the newsagent. And Red-Eye got some big like box a fireworks init so they all get out a the car and start light them firework with them spliff then either chuck them, or if they was like air bombs or whatever they would hold them out and fire them thing up into the trees or whatever. They was having a wicked time believe me. DK was put them firework in empty bottle init and them things blow up like a grenade man. They was pissing themselves laughing init. And cause a this him forget some of them trouble what was weighing heavy on him mind back in the morning and him still never told him spar about getting marry neither cause him figure them no understand.

  When him walk back up Cannon Street Road he cross over again and as him walk past T&T Mobile he see Ruji-Babes cousin car pulling away up the road and see Ruji-Babes standing and wave on the pavement. Zafar knowed that Ruji-Babes cousin still away init and when him check is just her cousin driver is sit in front of the car. Something make Zafar stop init and hang back there. He just stop for a second and light up a Silk Cut and watch Ruji-Babes pick up some bag or whatever and start try fe carry them up towards the E-Z Call since they was park down the road outside the Mohamedia. Some kids was let off a load more fireworks over the road down toward the laundrette where theres that little park. Ruji-Babes look tiny from this distance init and as he watch her struggle with her bag and shit he think how much he hate the bitch. And believe me man if looks could kill I tell you. Zafar was feel a bit stoned again now because of the cigarette init but he was start fe see Ruji-Babes in a new light init. Way she a bait him was get under him skin init and he was just talk under him breath and saying ‘You fucking bitch I hate you. I wish you was dead and then you wouldnt get in the way of me and Foxy-T init. I wish you was dead you lezzer bitch.’