“But, I’m hungry now!” he cried again.
Tiny jumped in and said, “Awww, look at the big baby crying.”
Chubby frowned. “Fuck you, Tiny. Your bony ass need to mind your business.”
Tiny only laughed.
“Watch your mouth before I tell Mama you cursing,” Vonda scolded.
“And I’ll call Mama and tell her y’all are smoking reefer.”
“You do and I’ll kick your fat ass,” said Vonda.
“Watch me.” Chubby attempted to go to the phone in the kitchen, but Vonda stopped him cold and threw him to the floor. Tiny ran over and helped her with the assault by shaking and patting his wide stomach.
“Let me go, let me go,” he cried. “Jessica, help me.”
Jessica ran over to aid him and helped him to his feet. “Leave my li’l man alone.” Jessica smiled as she wrapped her arms around him protectively.
Vonda sucked her teeth. “Jessica, why you always helping this li’l nigga out? He’s bad now just like the rest of his no good brothers.”
“No, he’s not,” said Jessica, as she hugged him tighter. “He will always be my li’l cubby bear.”
As Jessica hugged him, Chubby stuck out his tongue at the two other girls.
Vonda shook her head. “All right, you little fucker. Just for that I ain’t cooking you shit, and I don’t care if you call Mama; I’ll just tell her you are lying. Now!”
“But I’m hungry,” he submitted as tears began to flow.
All the girls except Jessica began chastising and taunting him.
“Aw, look at the big baby.”
“Leave him alone, leave him alone.” Jessica took him by the hand and said, “Come on, Chubby. I’ll cook you something to eat, don’t worry.” She led him out of the room toward the kitchen.
Seconds later, he peeked his head back into the room and flashed a cunning smile. “Yo, Lynn, I’ll settle for one of your big titties so I can make a big-ass titty sandwich.”
They made an attempt to run after him, but he slammed the door in their faces and ran to Jessica.
Chapter 3
The party was being thrown in the St. Nicholas Housing Projects on 127th Street. Jessica, Vonda, Tiny, and Lynn arrived around 11:30 PM so they could make a fashionably late grand entrance. All the girls were dressed to kill, and when they walked through the door they immediately turned heads.
The host of the party, Stevo, was the first to greet them at the door, and he asked Vonda for the first dance. She accepted. Moments later, all four girls were side-by-side dancing with a partner to the latest dance craze, The Spank, and were enjoying themselves.
It didn’t take long for Jessica’s and Lynn’s dance partners to realize that the girls were far superior in technique and flair. So, much so, that Jessica and Lynn found themselves all alone on the dance floor. All eyes fell on them as they switched up and did their new version of The Hustle. Jessica and Lynn knew they had everyone’s attention and were really working it, putting and extra spin and twirl on every intricate move with accentuation.
All the boys watched with pleasure. The girls watched in envy, and hated them for it and began to whisper amongst themselves about everything from their clothing and shoes, to their particular hairstyles. Jessica and Lynn knew it and didn’t care. One thing the girls knew for sure was that they were the queens of the dance floor at that moment. It was also right about that time when Jessica spotted Kenny lurking among the revelers.
Kenny Duboise was a twenty-year-old heartthrob, plain and simple. He was tall, slim and had the deepest hazel-silver eyes that you ever saw on a human being. He was the epitome of ghetto fabulous even before it became popular because of the way he dressed and especially because of the way he danced. All the girls, and women, for that matter, even some who were twice his age fell head over heels for him at just one glance. He carried himself well to be so young, many thought, handling everything with the smoothness in all he did. For Kenny to be so well known, he was still enigmatic. Nobody knew his family, and he wasn’t born in America, but came from Haiti at the tender age of eleven. He was bilingual, speaking both English and French-Creole fluently, and one would have to listen very closely to detect even a hint of his native tongue. But when he did speak in French dialect, it would send any woman or girl into a whirl.
When Jessica caught a glimpse that he was in her midst, she purposely put her dancing in overdrive and inched closer to where he stood so he could get the perfect view. When the song was over, Jessica and Lynn received a rousing applause from the crowd. They had finally arrived, they thought.
Not everyone was clapping, though. Jessica watched Tiny’s grim eyes staring at her as if she wanted to kill her. She paid her no mind and decided not to let her spoil her moment of glory. Jessica and Lynn were sweating profusely and headed over to the punch bowl to get something to drink with Vonda in tow. The three girls were laughing and giggling all the while about their newfound status.
Suddenly, Vonda elbowed Jessica in her side. “Yo, Jess, don’t look now, but Kenny and his boys are looking over here at us,” she whispered.
Jessica turned to look, but Vonda stopped her. “Don’t look over there, bitch. Play your position and let him think you not worrying about him.”
Jessica nodded and asked Vonda, “So what’s up with you and Stevo? He’s been all up on you since we walked in here.”
Vonda agreed, and said, “Yeah, I’m feeling that nigga too. I been talking to him for a minute, but I had to let him know that I wasn’t no chickenhead and he got to respect me. You know what I mean?”
Jessica nodded.
Vonda continued. “Yo, Jessica, remember this. When you fucking with a nigga for the first time, you got to learn to say ‘no’ before you say ‘yes.’ You feel me?”
Jessica listened to all her words intently and nodded.
“That way, you separate yourself from all the other girls he’s used to talking to, putting you in a class by yourself. And that applies especially to them pretty boys, you hear me?”
Just as she finished schooling her best friend, the latest dance song, “Square Biz” by Teena Marie came blaring out of the speakers and it instantly filled the dance floor.
Lynn said, “Oh, shit, y’all. Kenny is walking over here.”
Everyone began patting their hair and straightening their clothing. All three girls grew numb with excitement as he stood in front of the three of them.
Tiny came up from behind him and asked, “Hey Kenny, you want to dance?”
He barely noticed her, as his penetrating eyes were locked in on Jessica’s.
Tiny followed his eyes and then gently grabbed him by his arm, forcing him to look at her. She smiled, batted her eyes, and repeated, “Kenny, you want to dance?”
He smiled, exposing a set of perfectly white teeth. “I’m sorry, not now; but maybe later, ok?”
He turned his attention back to Jessica. He was definitely feeling her style, but didn’t want to appear too pressed. He gave her one of his famous lingering glances right before he walked over to the punch, picked up the ladle, and poured some in a cup. He stopped before he took a sip and asked them, “This isn’t spiked with alcohol? Does anybody know?”
Lynn was the closest, and she looked into his piercing eyes and got stuck.
He smiled and asked again, “Do you know if it’s spiked with alcohol? Because I don’t drink.”
Lynn regained her composure. “No—I mean, I don’t think so. It tasted fine when we had some a second ago,” she stuttered.
He thanked her and began drinking it. When he finished, he looked at Jessica again and said, “Your name is Jessica, right?”
Jessica couldn’t believe he knew her name and was totally speechless. He awaited an answer, but received none until Vonda elbowed Jessica in the ribs.
She regrouped and said, “Yes.”
He nodded and smiled. “I saw you out there on the dance floor a minute ago. You were fly.”
Jessica blushed and put her head down.
He turned and looked at the dance floor. “Hey, you want to dance?”
Jessica looked at Vonda and remembered what she’d said. “No, thanks. Not right now.”
Kenny’s smile instantly turned into a frown. Vonda and Lynn were equally stunned.
“What?” he stammered, not believing what he’d just heard. Never in his life had a girl turned him down for anything.
“I just finished dancing, you know, and it’s so hot in here. Maybe a little later though, ok?”
This caught Kenny totally off guard, but he recouped well, smiled and said, “I understand.” Kenny walked back over to where his boys were with his head down.
As soon as he was out of ear reach, both Vonda and Lynn grabbed Jessica, spinning her around. “Jessica, are you crazy?”
Jessica was confused.“What?”
“Bitch, what do you mean ‘what’? Why would you turn down a dance from Kenny?” Vonda asked furiously.
“You told me that I should say no to separate myself from the chicken heads.”
“Bitch, I didn’t say to turn him down for a simple dance.”
Lynn shook her head and said, “You stupid,” then walked away.
Jessica and Vonda looked over at Kenny and his boys, who looked as if they were teasing him for being turned down by a girl—a young girl at that. It wasn’t even twenty minutes before the girls watch Kenny walk away from his group of friends and back in their direction again.
He walked directly up to Jessica and said, “Jessica, can I have a word with you?”
Jessica looked at Vonda, who nodded. She smiled at Kenny and said, “Yes.”
Tiny had just arrived back over to the group from dancing when she saw Kenny take Jessica by the hand and lead her over to a sofa.
She quickly asked Vonda and Lynn, “What’s going on?”
Both girls smiled and Vonda said, “My girl Jessica just got Kenny open like a token.”
The three looked over at the sofa where they were sitting. Tiny was livid as her eyes turned into a slant and she grew angrier by the second.
“I guess you won’t be getting the man of your dreams tonight, huh, Tiny?”
Tiny remained silent as her frown suddenly turned into a smile. She turned around and said to her two friends. “Listen, I’m going downstairs for a minute. I need some air. I’ll be back.” She headed toward the front door.
Vonda and Lynn watched Tiny leave, then Lynn said, “That bitch is scheming. She’s up to something.”
Vonda squinted. She knew Lynn was right.
**********
Outside, Tiny fished around in her pocket for some coins and when she found two dimes she searched for the nearest pay phone. She dialed the number and waited.
By the third ring, a voice answered, “Hello?”
Tiny cleared her throat and said, “Hello, yes, this is Tiny—” Tiny rolled her eyes and corrected herself— “I mean Claresse, Mrs. Jones. Can I speak to Jessica?”
“Young lady, it’s awfully late to be calling for Jessica. She’s not here anyway,” said Mrs. Jones.
“Oh, darn, they must have already left for the party,” said Tiny, fighting hard to keep from laughing.
Mrs. Jones sat up from her bed and asked, “Party? What party? She is supposed to be at the movies.” There was a pause. “Hello?”
“Yes, I’m still here, Mrs. Jones.”
“Claresse, is there something you’re not telling me that I should know about?”
Tiny held her mouth to prevent her laughter from escaping. “Mrs. Jones, I can’t lie to you, but, I don’t know if I’m supposed to tell you that we are supposed to be at a house party tonight in the projects at 1132 St. Nicholas, apartment 3B. Please don’t tell her I told you.” Tiny hung up and began laughing so hard passing strangers thought she was losing her mind.
**********
Meanwhile, Jessica and Kenny were vibing well together as they chatted about everything under the sun. Jessica forced her to eyes the ground; she could not bear to stare into his silver-hazel eyes without melting. He willingly admitted to Jessica that he wasn’t used to being turned down, and it made him want to know her even more.
Jessica still didn’t believe she was actually sitting with the most handsome boy in Harlem, and she kept having to pinch herself to see if she was dreaming. She’d heard all kinds of rumors about him, and he already seemed like a legend. Some people said he was the son of Ron O’Neal, the actor who played Superfly in the movie, and that he changed clothes at least three times a day. But whether the stories about him were truth or fiction, it was a reality that they were sitting together that night. It was truly a dream come true for any girl, Jessica thought.
“So what block are you from?” asked Kenny.
“Oh, I live on 138th Street.”
“Lenox and 7th?”
Jessica paused for a second before she answered. She put her head down again, rather embarrassed. “No, I live between 7th and 8th avenue.”
Kenny pulled back in surprise and asked, “Your family got an apartment in Strivers Row?”
Jessica hated to answer the question, because she didn’t like being perceived to be wealthy. She didn’t want everyone to think she was stuck up little rich girl. This was the reason she gravitated and became so close to Vonda and the rest of the girls. They were the first real friends she’d ever had. She wanted to lie, but told him the truth.
“No, my parents own the building on that block.”
“So your parents are rich?”
She knew this would happen and grew uncomfortable. “No, my mother is a 5th grade school teacher and my father works at the post office. That doesn’t exactly qualify us to be rich, you know.”
Kenny detected her frustration and said, “Cool out, baby; you should be proud to have parents that own their own home. My uncle was smart just like your parents and invested in real estate. He tells me all the time that I should think about buying a brownstone before there is no more left.”
Kenny began to mock his uncle, French accent and all. “Kenneth, if you ever invest in anything, always invests in real estate, nothing else.” They laughed. Kenny began to see that Jessica wasn’t the average girl he talked to in Harlem and really found her interesting.
They stared into each other’s eyes for a brief moment when Jessica broke the trance. “Can I ask you a question, Kenny?” She put her head down and blushed.
He smiled at her innocence and said, “Anything, baby. Just ask me.”
Jessica smiled and put her head down again. “Is it true that your father is Ron O’Neal, the actor, and that you are super rich?”
He chuckled and shook his head. “No, Ron O’Neal is not my father, and no, I’m not super rich.” Kenny searched her face and saw that she was still unsure about something. “What else would you like to ask?”
She giggled. “Is it that obvious?”
He nodded and said, “Yeah.”
“How do you stay so fly? You dress in all those nice, expensive clothes. I mean, people say that you change up at least three times a day.”
He paused, and replied, “That’s true, but I don’t change clothes three time a day; I just go out a lot. Parties, clubs, and things like that. My uncle takes good care of me.”
“So you stay with your uncle?”
“Most of the time. He owns some buildings on Amsterdam Avenue, too, but my parents live in New Jersey.”
Jessica nodded. “So, you don’t live with your parents?”
Kenny shrugged. “Sometimes, but it is so boring out there in Jersey ’cause we the only blacks in the entire area. I’d rather be in Harlem around my people.”
Jessica agreed with a smile and a nod. “What does your uncle do for a living besides owning buildings?”
Kenny’s smile disappeared as he shifted his body on the sofa. He appeared to be searching for the right words while his eyes looked up toward the ceiling. He finally looked her straight in the eyes
and confessed.
“Jessica, I usually don’t tell people this, but my uncle does some bad things. He sells drugs.”
He paused to see how she reacted before continuing, but he couldn’t read any reaction.
“I mean, he’s not a bad person; he just does bad things and he tells me all the time to stay away from it because of what it could do to a person and everything.” He looked Jessica in the eye and got serious. “Jessica, don’t ever use any drugs. I know what it does to people. He took me to a shooting gallery and actually made me watch these dope fiends shoot that shit in their arms, their legs, their necks, everywhere where there’s a vein. That scared the mess out of me. I don’t do any of that because that’s how it all starts, he told me. So he gives me and buys me anything that I want, as long as I stay away from drugs and out of trouble. He told me I can be anything that I wanted, and I believe him.”
Jessica never would have imagined a person like Kenny had such morals. Every good looking boy she’d met prior to him reveled in the fact that they used drugs. “So what is it that you like to become someday?”
He didn’t have to think long about it. “A real estate developer. I want to be the biggest real estate owner in Harlem. That’s why I respect you and your parents for owning their own property.”
Jessica smiled and said, “So your uncle did teach you something good.”
Kenny smiled and nodded. “My uncle drilled it into my head for so long, I guess it stuck,” he joked. “What about you? What do you want to become?”
Jessica folded her arms. “Well, I like people—you know, helping people—so I’ll probably get into the medical field. Me and my friends are all going away to college when we graduate this year. I’m looking forward to getting out of Harlem and maybe going to an all-black college down south.”
“So, that means I’m going to have to come visit you someday.”
Jessica was flattered. They both smiled and stared into each other’s eyes momentarily, secretly hoping the night wouldn’t end.
“Jessica, I know this might be too soon for me to ask, but do you think we can see each after this party? You know, maybe catch a movie or get something to eat?”
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