A BROKEN GIRL'S JOURNEY

by Niki Jilvontae

  Ray-Ray stood up over the sobbing boy's body with blood all over his hands.

  “Aye Bruh.” Lil Shun yelled as he drug a boy by his shirt and stomped him in the face. “Send them away. They can't get locked up.” Lil Sun yelled at Ray-Ray.

  Ray-Ray looked at Lakea, “Get the fuck out of here lil sis. Go up to auntie Cookie house in Texas Court.”

  “What about you though big bruh?”

  “Maine lil sis somebody gotta go or ALL of us gotta go. Better me and Lil Shun than all of us. Just know that I love both of y'all more than life.” Ray-Ray said looking at his sister and brother. “Now get the fuck on!!!!!” Ray-Ray yelled as Lakea, Quan, and Lil Shun's little brothers and sisters ran as fast as they could.

  Lakea was angry and hurt as she ran alongside her little brother and cousins. Here she was about to lose a person she loved for something they did together and she was getting off Scott-free again. She wondered how long her luck would last.

  The police got Ray-Ray and Lil Shun, charging them with aggravated assault. The only good part of the situation was even though Ray-Ray was now seventeen and Lil Shun was sixteen and they both had prior records, they were not charged as adults so they would not have to spend any time in 201 Popular or the Penial Farm. They would spend a short amount of time at Juvenile Court then they would do 1 and a half years in either STC or Tall Trees, which were both juvenile facilities in Memphis, TN.

  When Felicia found out what happened she was pissed.

  “You muthafuckas always have to get into shit, don't ya?” Felicia raged. “I can't stand y’all ugly asses cause y'all don't know how to act. Always fighting and doing stupid shit. That's okay though, cause y'all asses gone learn and today is the beginning. Ray-Ray ain’t the only one about to be gone!” Felicia said staring at Lakea and Quan. Lakea, your grown ass leave tomorrow for Michigan. Thank God I finally got the money up to send your ass. And Quan, to Texas your black ass go. Stay with your uncle Trell a while and worry the shit out of him.”

  Lakea looked at her mama with disgust, then she looked at the floor. ‘Now she really has what she always wanted,’ Lakea thought. To be free, alone, no kids, now worries. ‘FUCK HER,’ Lakea thought. She was on her own now.

  That was two days ago. The first Friday in May, Felicia put Lakea and Quan on the Greyhound bus together headed to two different states. The two were on the same bus for hours before Lakea had to transfer buses, saying goodbye to her baby brother. It was a sad moment and they both cried, but they knew that they would see each other again. That two day ride to Michigan was horrible. The bus smelled like musk, farts, booty, rotten food, and perfume. To top it off Lakea's window wouldn't stay open so she was constantly messing with it or left to suffer. Some drunk Mexican on the bus kept trying to touch on her too every time she dozed off. She had to flash her knife at him for him to finally understand that she was not to be fucked with. It was truly the bus ride from hell.

  Chapter 6

  By the time Lakea stepped off of the bus at the tiny bus station in Saginaw, she was irritated. ‘Oh hell naw, what did I get myself into,’ Lakea thought as she looked around. Lakea knew that Memphis was a relatively small city, but Saginaw was even smaller. Her cousin Yolanda was at the bus station to pick her up.

  “Hey, hey, hey Pretty Girl!” Yolanda squealed grabbing and hugging Lakea.

  Lakea really like Yolanda, she was really nice. Yolanda and Lakea's mama Felicia were like best friends even though Felicia was the aunt and Yolanda was the niece. Not even the hundreds of miles apart came between their relationships. They were still close and their children also shared a bond. Yolanda was tall, an Amazon as Lakea called big, tall women. She was about 5'11”, 190lbs, curvy and pretty with caramel skin and long dark hair and eyes. Yolanda had four children, three girls and one boy. Her oldest daughter Lisa was the same age as Lakea, and they were so much alike. Lisa also had a terrible temper just like Lakea. She also loved to fight just like Lakea, so much so she had a reputation in Sag-Nasty as they called it, as being a beast. The two younger girls were just as volatile so it was easy to assume that things were about to get worse.

  “I missed you big cousin and my lil homies.” Lakea said as she got into the passenger side of Yolanda's Ford Explorer. She then turned around and gave her little cousins Penny and Kia some dap.

  “We missed you too.” Yolanda said as they pulled away from the bus station and headed to the north side also known as The City, where all of their family lived. It was noon when they pulled up on Dillon where Lisa and the rest of the cousins were chilling. “Go on and have fun with your cousins.” Yolanda said to Lakea as they stopped in front to the kids. “I will take your bags in the house for you. Have fun and no fighting.” Yolanda yelled as Lakea, Penny, and Kia go out of the truck.

  It was pretty chilly in Saginaw that afternoon, their weather was definitely different from May weather in Memphis. Lakea was happy that she had brought all of her clothes with her, now she had choices in these types of situations. So she grabbed the blue Memphis Tiger’s pullover she left on the seat before she closed the truck door.

  “That means no fighting for you too Lisa!” Yolanda yelled as she pulled off glaring at them.

  “Ayyeee!” Lakea's cousins yelled as she put on her blue and white tigers pullover and walked towards them.

  Lakea didn't care where she was, she was reppin' for her city no matter what and who didn't like it. She was in Memphis Tigers blue from head to toe with her dark blue leggings with the tigers on them, her blue and white tiger tank top, her blue and white Jordans, and her sweatshirt. She was 901 to death.

  “Lil Country here!” Lakea's cousin Mark yelled as she approached him and her cousins Lisa, Deshun, Tisha, and Te-Te.

  There were a couple of other boys sitting around on the porch shooting dice and smoking weed, but Lakea didn't know any of them. However, they seemed very fascinated by her. Probably because she was so different with her ghetto down south booty, small waist, and large breast. Her being country, short, and having long her and exotic eyes also added to the allure.

  “Oohhh, Lil Country fine as hell!” One of the boys on the porch shooting dice said as he stood up trying to get a better view of Lakea's ass when she hugged her cousins.

  “Back the fuck up, dehydrated negro.” Lisa yelled mushing the boy in the face.

  “Yeah, thirsty much?” Penny said rolling her eyes.

  “Let's take her to the catwalk.” Kia said grabbing Lakea's hand. She was a pretty little girl about ten years old with dark skin and long, thick black hair. Penny was also a pretty chocolate doll of about twelve, with long hair. She was skinny and tall just like Lisa and Yolanda. Hell they were all tall. Lakea stuck out like a sore thumb.

  “Yeah let's go smoke this dope!” Deshun said standing and doing a two-step.

  After sending Penny and Kia home, Lakea and her cousins headed to the catwalk to smoke and chill. Lakea had no idea what the catwalk was until they approached a stairwell that went up to a bridge that ran over a street and came out into another neighborhood. They got faded and Lakea told them why Felicia had shipped her there.

  “Damn cousin, it’s too wild in Memphis or your ass just bad.” Lisa said passing the blunt.

  “Shiddd, Both!” Lakea answered taking the blunt and inhaling so deeply she started spitting and coughing. They all laughed as she tried to catch her breath.

  For a moment Lakea had forgotten all of her troubles. She forgot about her horrible childhood, being raped, having a glimpse of the good life to have it snatched away, and being sent away again. She forgot about her love and her brother being locked up. And she forgot about her little brother in Texas. Her mama was on her mind though. As she lay on the let-out-couch in her uncle's den that night, Lakea thought about how much she loved and missed her mama, and she was mad at herself for doing so. She didn't want to miss a mother who always sent her away, and she damn sure didn't want to love her. She didn't deserve her love, but it was still there. She couldn
't shake it.

  Lakea decided that night to make the best of her time in Saginaw. She was through getting back at her mama until she was actually around to see it. As crazy as it was Lakea didn't really want to hurt her mama, but she was hurting so badly herself she had to make her feel some of that pain. But now she was willing to let that hurt go for a while and just focus on being happy. Whatever that meant.

  The next couple of days in Saginaw were some of the best days of Lakea's life. Her cousins took her everywhere they knew and they turned up at every stop. Things started to changed when Monday rolled around and it was time to transfer Lakea's school again, for the second time that year. Although there was only two weeks left in school, the law said that Lakea had to attend. Her first day at Arthur Hill High School was hell. People had shit to say all day about how she talked and the way she dressed. Hell, Lakea knew at home she would be considered fresh to death in her Seven jeans, matching off the shoulder shirt, matching Air Max, and Michael Kors purse. But here everyone looked at her like she was a bum and kept calling her Mississippi.

  In honors English, Lakea was at her snapping point when this ugly girl who looked like a transsexual approached her with an attitude and sly expression on her face.

  “I didn't know that girls down south had long hair. I thought they were all black, bald headed, and dirty, ain’t that right Mississippi?” She then flicked Lakea's 17”, silky natural hair to the side as she tried to make it back to her desk.

  Lakea was raging, she had enough bullshit for the day. She jumped up as the girl made it back to her desk and grabbed the girl by her shoulders slamming her down into her desk hard. The girl's eyes got big and she looked at if she peed on herself.

  “Look bitch, first off, I'm not from Mississippi, Bitch I'm from MEMPHIS!!! Home of the First 48, where we body hoes for fun.” Lakea said as she poked the girl in her forehead with her index finger. “So, bitch I advise you to shut yo man looking as up and let me be before I beat you tall, witcho yo Wong Fu looking ass.”

  The entire room erupted in “Oooohhhhh's” and “Dammmnnn's”. Lakea didn't know it then, but she had just punked one of the so-called hardest girls from the south side and that this would begin some shit. This would be the first log into a terrible wildfire that would burn uncontrollably. For the next two weeks at school, Lakea was feared and respected by most, and when her cousins revealed that she was a Johnson, it was even more respect in and out of school. She didn't have any problems with anybody, everything was cool. It was the quiet before the storm.

  On the last day of school, Lakea, Lisa, and her other cousins planned a fun night out at a local nightclub called Club Neutral. They invited a lot of people from school who were mostly boys, but someone told the girl Lakea punked about the party and she started planning her retaliation. She had planned on cutting Lakea in her face as she left school, but once she heard about the party she knew that would offer a better opportunity. After school Lakea and her cousins started getting ready for the party. Lisa and Lakea were doing makeup in the bathroom when Yolanda walked by on the phone.

  “I'm proud of you KeKe.” Yolanda said as Lakea cut her eyes as her. “Girl please don't look at me like that. I'm going to forever call you KeKe lil mama.” Yolanda said and they both laughed out loud.

  “Be the fuck still!” Lisa yelled at Lakea as she spiral curled her long tresses. “You want me to burn your pretty ass? Well, you better be still then”.

  Lakea sat still looking at Yolanda who was still standing there in the door with the phone up to her ear. Every now and then she would say “yeah”, or “okay” to the person on the other end.

  “What are you so proud of me for?” Lakea asked.

  “I'm just proud that you aren't getting into trouble or walking around with that damn black cloud over your head anymore. I hope you stay this way even after I give you this phone!” Yolanda said as she silently mouthed, “It's yo Mama”, while pointing at the phone.

  Lakea rolled her eyes, but she took the phone. Her conversation with her mother was surprisingly pleasant, for the first time in a long time. Felicia told her how much she missed her and how much she had been working on herself. Lakea didn't know how much to believe but she was happy to listen. Felicia told her that she was back in school getting certified to work in a nursing home and she had already found a new job for next month when she finished school. Lakea was happy for her mama. She wanted her to do better so that they could have better lives. Then maybe Lakea would act better. Felicia even revealed that Quan was coming back home in June instead of August, and that she was moving into a four bedroom house in Frayser right around the corner from Lakea's favorite aunt Violet. That was great news.

  Lakea was so excited by the time they left eight cars deep to go to the club. The club was popping by the time they all stepped out of their cars in the parking lot, looking like movie stars. Lakea was wearing a red and blue catsuit that had slits everywhere revealing her cleavage, sides, and stomach, and her only pair of expensive shoes; some blue LouBoutin Red bottoms her aunt Violet bought her. Lakea was fierce. Too bad not many people would get a chance to see her.

  “Let me go up here and make sure my homeboy at the door so y'all young asses can get in.” Mark said pushing his way through the crowds in the parking lot.

  Tupac, Gangsta Party started blasting from the club and Lakea and her cousins began dancing. Lakea was twerking on the hood of her cousin's car when she heard a commotion behind her. When Lakea turned around she noticed a huge group of girls and boys pushing their way through the crowds in the parking lot, and were headed straight towards them. Lakea jumped down from the hood as soon as she saw her cousin Mark and three big bouncers from inside the club coming towards them.

  “What the fuck going on?” Mark yelled as he stopped right beside Lakea. By this time the crowd had made it in front of Lakea and her group, only two cars separated the two.

  Lakea instantly noticed the girl she had gotten into it with at school in the front of the group. She never thought it would lead to this. Hell Lakea thought that it was over. She was trying to be better in a lot of ways, but once again her environment and circumstances beyond her control were leading her right back to that gangster lifestyle.

  “That's the bitch I got into it with at school.” Lakea said pointing her finger at the girl.

  “Look hoes, y'all ain’t about to jump my lil cousin.” Mark said walking close to the girl. “But you can get your one-on-one.”

  When Mark said that both sides erupted with curses and threats. Lakea took off the necklace and earrings and put all of her rings on her right hand. She was ready, fuck all the talking. Talking was never something Lakea liked to do so she walked straight up to the girl and gave her a right power punch to the face followed by a blow from her forearm that sent the girl tumbling back to the ground. Blood was all over her face as she lay on the ground trying to regain her composure. Lakea jumped on top of her and began to give her a series of punches, head buts, and forearm strikes.

  After a few seconds of pounding the girl stopped trying to fight back and lie there on the ground limp. Lakea could hear the crowd going crazy all around her and then suddenly both sides combined. People were fighting and being slammed everywhere. Lakea got off the girl and went to help her cousin Lisa who was fighting two boys. Lakea round house kicked the boy who was holding Lisa's hair in his throat, making him fall to the ground gasping for air. She then proceeded to stomp him in the face with her Red bottoms until blood was all up her leg. Just then a girl ran by Lakea and hit her in her left jaw, or at least she thought she hit her. Lisa and Lakea caught the girl and began to beat her ass until Lisa noticed blood streaming down the front of Lakea from her face to her chest. Lisa stepped back and looked at Lakea's face noticing a long cut from her hairline to her chin. The girl hadn't hit Lakea, she had cut her face with a razor and now she was split wide open. Meat was hanging from the wound but Lakea continued to fight losing a lot of blood.

  Once
Mark and Deshun noticed Lakea was hurt shit went crazy. One of their homeboys took off his shirt and gave it to Lakea to put on her face while putting her in the car. Mark and Deshun and the homies got their guns out of the trunk. They shot into the crowd of South Side kids hitting several people. Deshun walked up on one of the boys he was fighting and put his 9MM in his mouth as he yelled and blew the back of his head off all over the sidewalk. The scene was mayhem, people ran everywhere screaming. As the police pulled on to the scene Deshun was the first person apprehended. Mark managed to get the guns in his friend's car and away from the club just as the police began roaming the crowds trying to find out who was fighting and shooting.

  Lakea was loaded into the ambulance and a police woman came and read her rights. She was still going to jail when she got out of the hospital receiving treatment. Investigation on the scene had revealed the girl she fought was severely hurt. Lakea would have to pay for her actions this time. After one week in the hospital, 56 stitches, and a nasty infection, Lakea was released from the hospital and sent straight to Saginaw County Juvenile Detention Center on Hospital Road. She was there for almost a week before her court date. At court Lakea was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and assault with a deadly weapon because of her training. She was sentenced to three years in Wolverine Center for minors. She wouldn't get out of jail until right after her 18th birthday. Both she and Jeremy would become adults in prison. Deshun was sentenced to 15 years that day for killing a boy. Lakea cried when he was sentenced. She had just lost another person she loved.

  Felicia didn't come to Lakea's trial or sentencing. Matter of fact, she didn't even want to talk to her at all. She wouldn't answer her collect calls or letters. She said she was too hurt. Lakea couldn't believe it, she was the one hurt. The one time a situation actually wasn't her fault and her mama wasn't there. However, aunt Violet was there. She flew to Michigan and didn't leave until after sentencing. Yolanda never left her side either, she was there for her little cousin. Lakea looked up at the sky as they loaded them on the bus to Wolverine, and wished things could have been different. That same broken girl had started to rebuild only to be broken again, but would this be the last time.