Removing his cell phone from his pocket, he decided to call his brother who had his son. He always checked up on them, but he needed to hear his son’s voice more than ever now. The phone rang twice before Melvin answered. “What up, big bro?”
“Nigga…I been waiting on you to call,” Melvin averred. “What the fuck it do, son?”
“Not a lot.” He laughed.
“Well I hope you calling to tell me your ‘Guys On A Mission’ situation is over. You got me over here playing daddy and I gotta tell you, I’m not doing a good job.” He laughed.
“I wish I was calling to tell you that too. But that ain’t the deal.” Bricks confessed, as he reached a stop sign. “On the real we just getting started bringing this to a close. It shouldn’t take us too much longer though, we gotta plan now and we focused.”
“You don’t sound like shit moving in your favor. Everything cool?”
He sighed and tried to sound confident. He knew Melvin worried about him and he could only imagine what went through his mind, while he was out there in the streets. “Yeah…I’m good sorting everything out. Right now I’m just trying to remain focused.”
“I know you, B. You my kid brother. Now we may have our differences, but you have to know you can always talk to me. I don’t want that to change, just because you signed up for a war, that in my opinion, ain’t got shit to do wit’ you.”
This was one of the reasons Bricks hated talking to him. Although he called himself being nonjudgmental, Melvin was one of the most opinionated people he knew. But not having anybody to talk to forced him to open up. “It’s Yvonna. I mean…I want to see this shit through wit’ her. I gave my word and you know how I feel about that. But lately she seems to be tuning into the nigga Swoopes instead of me. They always on the same page, to hear her tell it and I don’t understand this shit. Just because this cat was fucked by some other dudes don’t make him smarter than me. And I ain’t sure how I feel ‘bout it.”
“So he still riding?”
“Yeah, and I would’ve thought he would’ve fallen off by now. But the dude still going steady.”
“You think she fucking him?” Melvin interrogated, heightening Bricks’ perceptions. “’Cause if you ask me, he do seem to be a little too concerned with what she got going on all of a sudden, specially after we had to lay a few people down in his camp, when he was trying to get at her. Now all of a sudden they bosom buddies?” He laughed. “You don’t need me to tell you what’s going on.”
“All this shit is dumb.” Bricks admitted. “I just want it to be over.”
“Well walk away, man. It ain’t too late. Right now you only one foot deep in this shit. Don’t bury yourself by adding the other foot.”
“My pride won’t let me walk away, Mel. Plus, if I told you in detail how important this shit is, you wouldn’t ask me to give up. Kids gettin' raped, forced into slavery and some more shit. I knew it was bad, but didn’t know how bad until I got involved.”
“You not a Black Panther, Bricks. You a hustler who fell in love with the wrong bitch. Don’t confuse the two.”
Bricks sighed. “This why I don’t talk to you.”
Melvin was tired of faking with his brother. At the end of the day, they didn’t have a father or anybody to lead them the right way. He had to play the father role and he accepted that position with pride for over thirty years. “I’ma put it out there, because I be glad when you realize you don’t need to be bothered with this bitch. I’m telling you, Bricks, I have a bad feeling about this chick. If you don’t get the fuck away from her while you can, she’s gonna get you killed. And that goes for that Chinese bitch and the gimp; too. Walk away now, and let her sort the shit out on her own. It’s her problem right now, don’t make it yours.”
“You can never be biased.” He confessed. “First you tell me I can be real with you, and when I do, you bash. I might be your little brother but I’m a grown ass man first. You gotta start respecting that some decisions, are binding. And that goes for anything I pledge to do with my name.”
“So let me get this straight, you take the crazy bitch’s shit all day, but you hate to call your brother because he gives a fuck about you? That makes me wrong because I can’t sleep sometimes, wondering if you still alive? I’m wrong for that?”
“You know that’s not what I’m saying, Melvin. I just need you to understand that I made my decision and since I’m a man, I stand by it.”
He sighed. “You know what, I’m not about to let you give me a heart attack.” He paused. “All I know is, it’s a damn shame that I’m in my late forties and playing father to a boy you said you would be there for. I fucks wit’ the little nigga Chomps, but I ain’t bang his mother out to have him. And you didn’t either, so let’s just put the shit out there.” He paused only to catch his breath. “He the child of a man, you thought was a bitch, that ended up gettin’ killed by the nigga in your little group. He’s not our responsibility.”
“So all this is Chomps’ fault now?”
“I’m not saying that.”
“You know what, after this shit, you don’t ever have to say nothing to me! Now whether you know it or not, that’s your nephew. Why? Because I took on the responsibility to be his father.” Bricks’ tone was serious. “Now I’m sorry I had to go on you just now, but know that I’m not leaving this situation until it’s done. The only question is, will you help me or not?”
“Whatever, man.” Melvin disputed. “Let me put little homie on the phone. I got a shorty over and the three of us were about to grab something to eat before you called. And since she give this little nigga more hugs than she give me, you already know it’s not my kind of date.”
“I hear you.” When the line went silent, Bricks waited nervously to hear Chomps’ voice. He couldn’t say exactly when it happened, but along the years they’d spent together, he could honestly say he didn’t love anybody the way he loved him, and that went for Yvonna too. It didn’t matter that he was not his biological father.
“Daddy! Is that you?” Chomps said excitedly. He was the one person who was always thrilled to talk to him. “When you comin’ back?”
“It’s me, son. And I’ll come back as soon as I can.” He smiled hoping he could feel his love. “So how are you?”
“I’m good. We going to get something to eat soon.” He paused. “But daddy, I want to go with you. Come get me.”
“You can’t, son. I told you that already. You gotta stay there with uncle Mel until I finish taking care of something.”
Silence.
“Chomps?”
“But uncle Melvin don’t like me. He spank me too much.”
“See that’s why the fuck I don’t let you get on the phone sometimes! You too fucking grown.” Melvin said. There was a lot of rustling around in the background and Bricks felt like a man on the edge of murder. The world already gave the kid a bad break. He didn’t need Melvin adding to the situation, especially when he knew where the kid stood in his heart. Melvin was his brother, and he loved him more than anything, but if he fucked with his little youngin', when he knew what he was faced with at the moment, it would be along time before he’d ever talk to him again.
“Chomps…you still there, man?” Bricks pulled into a parking lot just to talk. “Chomps, you there?”
“Yes.” He said in a shaky voice.
“Are you okay?”
“Daddy, please come home.”
Bricks’ heart cried out. This was not the plan for his life, to be without him. And for a moment he felt like stealing Yvonna in the jaw and breaking Melvin’s legs. He blamed everyone for the kid’s sadness including himself. “Calm down, Chomps. We gonna work on that, I promise. For now put Melvin on the phone. I gotta rap to him right quick.”
A few seconds later Melvin said, “What’s up?”
Bricks took a few quick breaths and tried to pace his words and calm down. “Do you love me, big bro?”
“Don’t come at me like that.”
“I’m coming at you real. Do you love me or not?”
“You know I do.”
“Well be careful with how you treat my son. I know shit rough, and you ain’t sign up for this. But believe me when I say if I didn’t love little homie, he wouldn’t be there with you now. I would’ve been sent them people, to take him and put him in the system.”
“And you know I ain’t want that for him.”
“I know, man.” He swallowed. “I know. I also know your life ain’t about all this shit, but I need your help anyway. You hear what I’m saying?” he paused and his frustration could be heard and felt through the phone. “I need you, bro. If you had five kids, and had to complete a mission and needed my help, I would be right there for each one of ‘em.”
“And that’s what I’m doing…but I gotta be real with you, I’m not feeling this daddy daycare shit. I feel like I’m missing out on life or something. You signed up for this shit not me.”
“So what you saying?”
“I think you know, Bricks. This ain't me, man.”
Bricks sighed. “Give me twenty minutes and I’ll call back.”
“So you mad now?”
With mostly disrespect, he hung up in his face and quickly dialed the number of his brother from a different mother. It rang three times before he heard his homie’s voice. “What up, Kelsi?”
“Oh shit! Nigga, I been waiting on a line from you! Had me thinking you fell off the left side of the earth or something. What’s happening?”
Bricks grinned after hearing the excitement in his long term comrade’s voice. “You know I been around. Just trying to solve some things before I step back on the scene.”
“Still attached to that chick?”
“Until we put this shit to rest.”
“I got it. I got it. But what you need? Me to come through and help out or something?” This was why he fucked with Kelsi. He always lent a hand without asking what it was for. “If you do consider it done.”
“Naw…I need you to do me a favor that you might not be feeling.” He was dressing him for the situation. “Trust me, Kelsi, I wouldn’t ask you to do this, if I didn’t need your help.”
“You can’t be my best and give me all that first. If you need something, just say it. You already know, it’s done.”
He hoped it was true. In a low voice he proceeded. “You mind if my little man stay with you until I get shit together? I mean, I know you got your own youngin’ now, since you just had a baby. And I know you run the club with your shawty, O and mama Janet, but I would really appreciate it.” He paused to release some frustration. “Melvin acting like I’m five seconds from taking him to court for child support. Talking about he ain’t sign up for this and that. I can’t have my little man around me right now, but I would die if something happened to him. I need him around somebody who wants him there.” Kelsi laughed. “What’s funny?” Bricks inquired.
“You.” He continued. “Nigga, are you asking me do I have a problem taking care of a youngin’ who love me like an uncle? You sound like a fool.”
“I gotta ask.”
“You may have to ask, but you don’t gotta ask me.”
“I’m serious.”
“Don’t play games with me, Bricks. I’ll be down by the end of the week to scoop him from Melvin. Just let him know I’m coming through. Tell him he don’t even have to pack his shit. I’ma get the little nigga straight when he come back to the ‘A’ wit’ me. So if that’s your problem consider it solved.”
Bricks felt the weight of the world lift off his shoulders. “You always come through.”
“You already know what it is.” Kelsi paused, when he heard one of his employees call him in the background. “And let me get up with you later, duty calls. But know that your kid is in good hands with me. Rest easy.”
“One.”
Feeling better about things, he got back on the road and parked at a convenience store, to get a new burner and a pack of cigarettes. Ever since he was involved with AFCOG and Yao, he’d adopted a new habit of smoking. Swaggering up to the counter, he was clueless that he immediately caught the attention of a customer, who walked in after him. Her blue jeans were painted on the way he liked them and her body filled them just right.
“Can I help you?” She grinned, anticipating if he’d smile back. “I hope the first thing you let me do is put a smile on that face.”
He grinned, eyeing her body in all its splendor. “You work here?”
“I can get a job if you need help.”
He shook his head. And when the real cashier stepped up he said, “Give me a soft pack of Newport’s and one of them burners,” he pointed at the wall at a bunch of cheap mobile phones. “Any one of ‘em’ll work.”
When she walked away to fulfill his request, he caught another glimpse of his new friend’s body, who walked away toward the chip aisle. An ass man since his birth, he couldn’t help but be attracted to her. The way her natural brown hair touched the middle of her back, made her more appealing.
“Here you go, sir. Can I get you anything else?” The cashier interrupted, his gaze.
He cleared his throat and said, “Naw…but give me two one hundred dollar airtime cards.”
The cashier looked around her area suspiciously and grabbed the two cards. When she was sure the coast was clear she scanned everything but the cigarettes and placed everything in the bag. “Here you go.”
“You ain’t ring everything up.” He didn’t want no problems on his way out the door. And where was the girl with the fat ass?
“Shhhhh.” She placed her finger against her lips. Whispering she said, “That’s from me to you. You do take gifts don’t you?”
Bricks hit the jackpot. Not only did a girl hit on him on his way into the store, but the cashier also wanted to give him the business. He had been so caught up in Yvonna’s shenanigans, that he forgot that he was one fine ass nigga. Where he came from, bitches fell over him and vied for his attention by the loads, and now he was having to compete with a dude with one eye and seven fingers.
He accepted her gift and said, “Thanks, I appreciate it.”
“Anytime.” She waved, going back to work.
When he turned around, Miss Big Booty was looking directly at him. What’s your name, cutie?” He asked.
“Grey.”
“Grey?” He simpered. “Well I can appreciate a unique name.”
“If you really appreciate it, you’ll join me for dinner, that is if you’re not in a rush.”
Thirty minutes later, they were at Mama’s Kitchen, a soul food restaurant, enjoying each other’s company. Bricks ordered country fried steak with rice while she picked over a Caesar salad with grilled chicken. Her conversation wasn’t spectacular, but their temporary union wasn’t about having an explosive connection. It was about feeling appreciated at the moment, and separating himself from the cloud of pedophiles and molested children that hovered over him. He was sure that after he fucked her, they would never see each other again, and that was fine with him.
“You are so handsome.” She admitted. “And I normally don’t tell guys how they look, but I have to tell you.”
He raised one eyebrow. “Why don’t you tell them how you feel?” he chewed a piece of bread. “Nothing is wrong with a woman telling a man what she wants.”
“I know, but I find that most of them already know.”
He laughed. “Well you should always say what you feel,” Bricks advised, “even if it’s a compliment.”
“True,” she agreed, placing her fork down. “I do believe that it’s important, to tell a person what you’re feeling. So let me start and then you continue. What I find interesting about you is that you don’t even know what you’re doing.” Her facial expression suddenly changed and almost made her look like a different person.
Intrigued, Bricks placed his fork down and said, “Why would you say that?”
“Because you’re walking right into fire.” She grabbed the nap
kin off the table and wiped her mouth. “And because I like you, I’d like to offer you a little advice. That might save your life.”
“Shoot.” He responded.
“Hopefully I won’t have too.”
The hairs on the back of his neck stood up. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“Why do you help her?” She stabbed a piece of chicken with her fork and stuffed it into her mouth. “The girl with the multiple minds?” she chewed with her mouth full. “Don’t you know that just by being with her, she’ll have you killed?”
Bricks reached under the table and felt comfort knowing that his gun was in place. “Who are you?”
“Someone who needs to finish off Yvonna. Someone who has been waiting for the perfect time to kill her.” She giggled which seemed to be out of place considering the topic. “I have been following Yvonna Harris for a minute and you know what, I can never seem to get my hands on her. Do you know why?”
He remained silent.
“Because of you. You always seem to be in the way, as well as the others.” She placed her fork down. “Now I have the next best thing, you. I don’t want you, I want her, so the question becomes what shall we do?”
Bricks looked around him to see if he killed her, how many people could identify his face. “So what was all that shit about in the store?”
“I still think you’re cute, and so I’m giving you a chance to walk away. All we want is her, Bricks. You don’t need to get caught up in all this shit.” She reached over and softly touched his hand. “Tell me where she is, and I’ll let you walk away alive.”
Shyt List 5: Smokin' Crazies The Finale' (The Cartel Publications Presents) Page 13
