Ghetto Girls 6

by Anthony Whyte

“Uh-huh,” Kim said.

  “You ain’t heard it from me. I ain’t the one to spread gossip and all. But I know for a fact that your mother used to hide when she used to see me coming. Then she started going out late in the night cuz she didn’t wanna bump into me. I ain’t the one to spread gossip. I’m just sayin’ I ain’t seen her for months now…”

  “My mother’s been in the hospital…”

  “What…? Kimberly, why you never told me that?” the older woman said with hands akimbo.

  “I not too long ago found out, Mommy,” Kim said. “Coco was outside rapping and I saw her and that’s when we started talking. Shit if I knew— you’d know. You should know, I’m not into people’s biz like that, Mommy.”

  “Which hospital is she in, Coco?”

  “Harlem,” Coco said.

  “When I get a chance, I have to go visit her then,” Mrs. Jones said. “My prayers are constantly gon’ be with your mother. Coco you want some delicious oatmeal cookies?”

  Questions were hot and stirring in her mind. Coco wanted to clear her head. So much was happening, she didn’t know exactly where to begin. Mrs. Jones walked into the kitchen and took the tray of cookies out of the oven. She separated morsels of the cookie and placed them on a napkin.

  “Here, taste,” she said, shoving the morsels into Coco’s mouth. “The same shy girl, huh, Coco?”

  “Just give her a beat and all that shyness will be zapped from her,” Kim said with a smile. “She’ll transform into Coco, the rapper, slash singer, slash dancer. Coco’s a monster—she’s very talented, Mommy.”

  “Really, that’s good. Ever since she was a baby she was always quiet and snapping her fingers to any sound. Her daddy was a talented man. He used to go on tours with a lot of bands and sing in nightclubs. Then the crack got the best of him, and he just fell off like the archangel,” Mrs. Jones said.

  “You mean he went to heaven?” Kim asked.

  “Heaven, hmm. More like he in hell with that crack. But you know he was dibbing and dabbing in drugs like all them artists and singers do, but it was the crack, the crack. Oh Lord. Where’s Rightchus now?”

  “I heard he got shot and left the city. Some people said he’s dead,” Kim said.

  “You never know with that man. He’s always in bad company. He was the one who turned your mother on to crack. She was such a sweet girl. The two o’ them started dating and her personality started changing. By the time you were born—they had already split up.”

  “Told you, Coco. I told you,” Kim said.

  “Yes, Kimberly should know. She’s six years older than you. She’s my last and I used to keep both you and her close by. She used to watch you and smile at you all the time, even when you were crying. Your mother never brought you back after Rightchus ran off.”

  Coco was speechless at the revelation. She was curious, but her mouth was filled with morsels of cookie. Coco wanted to spit it all out. She wanted it all taken back. Rightchus was her father. Her thoughts were still churning when the voice of Mrs. Jones crept back into her mind.

  “The old folks who are still alive remember. But many people done passed away since then. Katie would remember, but she’s dead. Only God knows why he ran off with the teenage, Spanish girl. He went to jail for a couple years cuz she was a minor. They said he kidnapped her, and held her against her will. Your mother was embarrassed. She stopped talking to everyone and took refuge in drinking and drugs. They were gonna get married, but only God knows why that didn’t happen,” Mrs. Jones said.

  “Shyt, I told you… What I said, Coco…? Same thing,” Kim said.

  “Kim, please. Stop cursing. Yes, you know cuz you older than she and you’re not gonna remember all that when you are an infant. Unless someone tells you. Your mother begged Miss Katie not to tell you. I know that for sure. Katie was loyal, God bless her soul. She never talked about your mother’s business to anyone. All she did was prayed for her.”

  “That’s probably why she never did bring you back here, Coco. Cuz my mother would’ve told you everything a long time ago,” Kim said.

  Coco chewed on the morsels of cookie Mrs. Jones had shoved in her mouth, and felt nauseous. The black mark on the woman’s nose appeared to have grown into a blob. Coco wanted to vomit, but hugged herself, trying to hold onto her wits. Her mind was speeding and couldn’t slow down. She could feel her heart pounding beneath her shirt. Coco’s vision became momentarily blurred. She remembered smoking the weed, and maybe the buzz was catching up to her.

  Her body swayed, Coco could see both Kim and Mrs. Jones looks of concern. She attempted to walk to the bathroom. Her legs felt like lead and she felt the room spinning just before she blacked out.

  “Bring her some water!” Mrs. Jones shouted.

  Kim ran to refrigerator and returned carrying a glass of water. Coco awoke with cold sweat on her face and neck. She was on the sofa, her mind caught in a web of confusion. She felt the cold liquid against her lips and shook her head.

  “It’s okay, Coco. You just take deep breaths. I worked in a doctor’s office for twenty-five years. I seen many a people faint,” Mrs. Jones said. “Breathe girl, breathe…”

  The sound of her cellphone went off, and Kim answered it.

  “I’m at my mother’s apartment,” she said. “Tina sez hi, Mommy.”

  “Say hello to that Tina for me too,” Mrs. Jones said, waving her arm in disgust.

  Her attention was focused on Coco. The teen managed to sit up and started coughing. Mrs. Jones gave her the rest of the water.

  “Drink all of this, Coco,” she said.

  Coco took the glass and drank the rest of the water. Mrs. Jones went to the bathroom, and returned carrying a bottle of Robitussin.

  “You’re still very sensitive, ain’t you Coco?” she asked. “Just like when you were a baby. I had to spend a lot of time with you. Remember Kim? You never liked that, huh?”

  “I ah, huh—” Coco began.

  “I lost the call. Let me call Tina back,” Kim said, interrupting the confused teen. “What up, Tina…? Why don’t you get a better carrier? You’re always dropping calls,” Kim said.

  Coco was watching Kim walking away and talking on the phone. Coco was trying to make sense of why she suddenly was feeling faint, when she heard her cell phone ringing.

  “It’s Grand Central up in here now. These darn cell phones sure ring loud!” Mrs. Jones said.

  Coco was peering around like she had forgotten where she was. She saw Kim still smiling, and chatting on her cell phone. Mrs. Jones’s hands were busy applying ointment on her back. Coco got up, and tried to steady herself. The room appeared foggy, and she felt like her head was swimming in a cloud. Her legs buckled, and she sat back down. Coco’s eyes were blinking rapidly, and Mrs. Jones held her down when she tried to stand up again.

  “You’re stubborn like your mother. Coco, you can’t jump up too quickly,” Mrs. Jones said, holding the teen. “I think your cell phone ringing too, Coco.”

  Feeling dazed, and a little wobbled, Coco checked her jeans pocket for her cell phone. She shoved the instrument to her ear and waited.

  “Don’t let what I say about your father get you discombobulated, girl. One thing for sure, you’re as pretty as your mommy was before all that drinkin’ and druggin’,” Mrs. Jones said.

  “Coco, you a’ight, girl?” Kim asked. “You want me to get the call for you,” she continued when the cell phone rang again.

  “I got this, yo,” Coco said, realizing she had not pressed the answer button. “Hello Dee… A’ight, I’ll see you out front in a few.”

  “You good enough? Maybe you should have her meet you in here,” Kim said. “Mommy won’t mind. Will you, Mommy?”

  “I don’t mind at all. Like I said before, I used to care for you like you were one of my own when you were a baby girl, Coco,” Mrs. Jones said with a chuckle. “And Kim,” she continued, pointing at her daughter. “She’d always be complain, ‘Why you takin’ care of her so much? You lo
ve Coco more than you love me!’ Remember, Kim? Back in the days you never did like Coco. Always complainin’ ‘bout, ‘Coco cry too much,’” Mrs. Jones chuckled.

  “That was back in the days. I done moved on from all that. Now I got my own baby,” Kim said. “My own worries…”

  “Don’t you call my grandson ‘worries,’ girl. When you had him—”

  “You can have him, Mommy,” Kim said, her tone becoming serious.

  “Girl, you know if you bring my grandson to me, I will always take him. Never will I turn him away. And you only gonna come running back begging after a day or so.”

  “I need the break. I might make it a month or so,” Kim said.

  “You’d never do that. You’re all talk, and talk as far as I’m concerned, is still cheap,” Mrs. Jones said.

  Coco quietly listened to the chatter going back and forth between mother and daughter. She sighed then stood up. Her gait was unsteady at first, but Coco was determined to leave.

  “I better get going, yo. Thanks for all your ah…”

  “Not a problem,” Kim said. “Give me a second, and I’ll walk down with you, Coco. You sure you wanna leave? I mean Deedee could meet you here,” Kim offered, hurrying inside the bathroom.

  “Nah, I think I’m good, yo.”

  “I won’t be long, just gotta freshen my makeup.”

  “The fresh air might do you some good, Coco. I hope you continue in school. If it’s one thing your mother did was brag about you and your school. I heard it through the grapevine that you got a scholarship or something like that…?”

  “Yes, I got accepted to Harvard. They offered me a scholarship. I’m also completing my first album.”

  “What kind of album?”

  “Music, hip hop, and R&B mixes. I sing and rap.”

  “Oh, so you did get your some of your father’s talent. Back in the days, Rightchus sang back up for all ’em big Motown acts.”

  “I don’t know if he’s even my father. But I’ll definitely ask my mother when I see her.”

  “Hey Coco, you ready? I am.”

  “Well, Mrs. Jones, nice meeting you again,” Coco said, extending her hand.

  Passing up Coco’s attempt at a handshake, Mrs. Jones gave her a tight embrace. Crushed to the woman’s chest, Coco smiled.

  “You’re still shy, and quiet, huh Coco? And you’re soo humble. I don’t know who you got that trait from. Maybe me,” Mrs. Jones laughed. “It was soo good to see you and talk to you after all this time, Coco. I gotta go see your mother soon,” Mrs. Jones said, still hugging the teen. “Kim told you she can sing too?”

  “I heard her—”

  “I wish somebody would help her out cause she running with that Tina, and don’t have time for nothing else,” Mrs. Jones scoffed.

  “Alright Mommy, I’ll see you later,” Kim said. “Coco, I’m ready to go now.”

  As they walked out of the door, the smell of baked cookies wafted into the hallway. Mrs. Jones stood at the door for a few beats and watched Coco and Kim getting in the elevator.

  “I hope she don’t become a damn drug addict like her mother,” she said under her breath then closed the door.

  10

  The summer night air wasn’t enough. Coco needed assistance and Kim held her arm, supporting the groggy-teen. They were outside the building and Coco was trying her best not to look conspicuous.

  “I think that’s Deedee over there,” Kim said, pointing to the BMW.

  “Where yo,” Coco asked gazing in the wrong direction.

  “Over there, Coco,” Kim said.

  Coco peered through her dazed view and was unable to see where Deedee was parked. Then she heard the familiar sound of her best friend’s voice, and her burden felt lighter.

  “Hey Coco,” Deedee greeted.

  “Dee, whassup, yo?”

  “Hey Kim,” Deedee said, waving.

  “Hi Deedee, I’m glad you came when you did. Coco don’t feel too good. We were hanging at my mom’s place and she fainted. So be careful, she might—”

  “I’m a’ight. For real, I’m good, yo,” Coco said, shaking free of Kim’s arm.

  The action caused her to lose balance and sent her tumbling forward. Coco spun around and danced out of falling down. Deedee stared wide-eyed above the rim of her sunglasses. Kim’s jaw dropped in complete amazement. They watched as Coco suddenly jumped and flipped in the air with cat-like precision.

  “Oh shyt! Kim shouted excitedly. “I thought you were about to bust your ass against the asphalt. You are fuckin car-razy, girl.”

  “You’d be very surprised by the things Coco can do, yo,” Deedee said, mimicking Coco.

  Coco smiled at both of them then they all burst out in laughter. Coco waved at Kim and walked away with Deedee.

  “Bye, Kim,” Deedee said, walking away.

  “See y’all,” Kim shouted, shaking her head, and walking away.

  She met Tina who was impatiently waiting at the corner. Tina was smoking and impatiently hurled the cigarette away when Kim got close.

  “When you say in a couple minutes, you mean like a half hour later. You know how long I been standing on this corner? All these nasty-ass men trying to pick me up and shit…”

  “Tina, I thought you liked all the attention, bitch,” Kim laughed.

  “I’m not in the mood for your BS. What was you doing for the past half hour, ho? You should’ve just let me know—”

  “Shyt, bitch! I told you I was with Coco and the bitch passed out at my mother’s apartment,” Kim said.

  “Oh really ho…? That was half hour ago.”

  “Yes, and we had to wait for Deedee to come. I didn’t wanna leave her out there by herself.”

  “Shut da front door! When did you get so sympathetic to her?”

  “Coco’s cool peeps. We went to my mother’s cuz she ain’t know that Rightchus’ her daddy. Her mother never told her.”

  “She needs to wake up and smell the coffee,” Tina laughed. “And that’s what made her sick?”

  “Shyt the weed I gave her, and it was like she could hardly see—”

  “Shut da fuck up! Tell me you didn’t give her all my weed, trying to be her friend and sucking up to that ghetto girl,” Tina said.

  “I left her a pinch of the shyt, and we smoked a blunt. What bitch?”

  “Did you find out if Deedee got a baby bump or not…?”

  “Baby bump?”

  “Yes, is she pregnant?”

  ”No, not a thing. Coco is real. She don’t say shyt about shyt!”

  “Coco is real, she don’t say shyt about shyt,” Tina said, mimicking Kim. She chuckled and said, “Soo, you went through all that—even sharing my weed and all. And you found out nada, ho?”

  “Yes bitch. I never knew I was supposed to be spying for your ass!”

  “I said find out what you could—”

  “And I was supposed to give her some type of truth serum and then she gonna start spitting shyt out of her ass…?” Kim said.

  Her neck was moving with every syllable. Tina stared at her for couple beats then she laughed.

  “Shut da front door. Ho, you know what? I really don’t have time for you. I gotta go downtown and pick up this money. You ready?”

  “You said money, bitch…? Lead the way.”

  “Let’s catch a cab.”

  She raised her arm and three cabbies responded simultaneously. Tina smiled at all the attention she received. The driver kept his eyes on them as Kim and Tina entered the cab.

  “Where are you headed, ladies?” he asked.

  “Downtown,” Tina said. “And turn up the music please,” she added.

  Chit chatting in the back, Kim and Tina laughed and drew the attention of the driver. Tina caught him occasionally looking at them. She didn’t mind and moved her legs when he adjusted his rearview.

  “I can’t believe you, bitch. You were with her all-evening, and didn’t find out nothing? And you left her weed…? Oh my gosh!”

/>   Kim pulled out the ounce of marijuana and held it up. Shaking the bag at Tina, she said, “I can’t believe your ass is still complaining ‘bout da shyt! Look! See, you can’t even tell that shyt was taken out, huh?”

  “Why don’t you just announce it on the radio, ho? Put that shit down, bitch!” Tina said, looking at the driver.

  He was staring at her and saw the bag of weed. Tina opened her legs wider and his eyes followed her hand all the way up to the crack. His eyes were riveted directly on the spot she wanted him to look.

  “You’d like to rub my pussy, wouldn’t you?” Tina asked him.

  “Huh…? No I wouldn’t!” Kim said.

  “I ain’t talking to you, ho. I’m talking to the driver.”

  “Oh you dirty, nasty, lil’ bitch!”

  “Shut your face! Please put the bag away before you lose it. I wanted to know if the sucio driving us wanted to rub my pussy. He’s welcome. But he better keep his eyes on the road ’fore we crash!”

  “Oh my God! You over here teasing the poor man… Nasty bitch, of course he gon’ crash, you have your legs wide open. Shyt, he could look all the way up to your throat.”

  “Shut your face, bitch! He ain’t complainin’.”

  “I’m riding in the cab too and I have a son who I wanna see through college. And your dumbass in the back seat rubbing your pussy.”

  “Shut your mouth.”

  “You are fuckin’ crazy, bitch! I just saw Coco do some wild shit but you beat her by a mile with your crazy ass! Close your legs!”

  “Really, I don’t mind,” the driver said.

  “You don’t mind cuz your ass ain’t had no pussy in a long ass time, my man!” Kim said.

  “I have pussy every night. I’m a married man!”

  “Then why are you all up her asshole like that?”

  “I look—I see road, rearview, and road!” he shouted, pointing at traffic.

  “Your eyes should be on the road,” Kim countered.

  “Pull over here for me, thanks. How much?” Tina asked.

  “Ten dollars,” the driver said. “Pay me.”

  “Shyt, we got you, your freaky ass. Damn perv!” Kim said.

  “You made this habib mad as hell,” Tina laughed. “All you had to do was shut your pie-hole, and we could’ve had a free ride!”