If It Ain't About the Money

by Saundra

  “It is. And we need it,” I added.

  “I know just from seeing the things we have now,” she agreed. “Dang, I haven’t seen Kirk in years; you gon’ have to bring him around.”

  “Bet I will. But trust he is not the same old dusty Kirk you remember.” I laughed.

  “Wait, you checkin’ for Kirk now?”

  “Uh, no. We still cool just like in the old days. But he fine as hell, though; I can’t front. Wait till you see.” I held my right hand in stance for a high five. We laughed. We sat and talked for a minute then went and found us a mall locker, popped in our fifty cents, and finished our shopping. It felt so good to be able to buy her those nice things. It motivated me to get back to work and dance my ass off, if for no other reason than my sister deserved it.

  Chapter 11

  Isis

  For the fourth time I glanced at the time on my cell phone; it was now five thirty p.m. I had now been off work for thirty minutes, standing outside by the front entrance of JCPenney, waiting for Bobbi, who was supposed to pick me up at five o’clock when my shift ended. But there was no sign of him or his Cutlass. Hot and just a bit agitated, I walked back inside. Again I checked my phone: no missed calls. I had already called his phone ten times and received no answer. It was like him to be late by five minutes, maybe, but never longer than ten.

  Seeing the long line of people wrapped around the cash register in the kids’ department, I decided not to get too close for fear my manager might ask me to help out. It was a must that I get out of the store quickly. I almost called Secret, but I remembered she had a gig early in the day and wouldn’t be home until around eight. Realizing the bus was my only option, I pouted under my breath on my way to the bus stop in a hurry. The bus was due in ten minutes; if I missed it I would be waiting another hour for the next one.

  Two hours later, I dragged my hot, tired body in the door. Riding the bus made me remember why I hated to ride it. The ride was too long, and I always ended up sitting next to weird people with bad breath who forced conversation on me. Bobbi and the Cutlass had spoiled me. But I thanked God I was finally home. Heading to my room, I kicked off my flats, grabbed a t-shirt and a pair of my girl boxers, and headed for the shower. After the dreadful heat and bus ride I had endured, it was a must.

  After my shower I lay across my bed for what was supposed to be a moment of relaxation, but I fell asleep. I woke up a few hours later starving. Sliding into my slippers, I went into the kitchen to find food.

  “What’s up?” Secret spoke, as she barged into kitchen clearly in a good mood.

  “Making me a turkey sandwich, I am so hungry.” I pulled my bread from the toaster and spread hot mustard over both pieces.

  “Well, it looks good. Maybe I’ll make me one.”

  “So why you so happy?” I asked.

  “I’m always happy when I get these coins.” She dumped ten one-hundred-dollar bills on the counter. “Isis, this money is too easy. I can’t make this shit up.”

  “That is some to smile about. Hell, yeah,” I agreed. “But while you were out gettin’ money, I was busy riding the hot-ass bus to the crib.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Bobbi did not pick me up today.”

  “For real. Shit, he always scoop you. Maybe he forgot. Did you call him?”

  “Yep, I called him several times, and he didn’t answer. The phone just rings then goes to voice mail.”

  “You worried about him?”

  “Nah, he probably at the shop busy or at home and laid that phone down. Shit, he’s bad about that.” Reaching for my cell phone, I hit his name again. Still no answer.

  “You want to use the car to ride over and check on him?” Secret offered.

  I thought about it for a minute, but I was home, had a fresh shower and a fat turkey sandwich. Going back out was not an option. “Nah, I’m ’bout to sit down and eat this food and relax. He’ll call when he get straight. But he gone get this business.” Wrapping my turkey sandwich up in a paper towel, I reached on top of the fridge and grabbed an unopened bag of Doritos. “I’m off to my room for the night, ’cause after this snack, I’m going to bed.”

  “A’ight.” Secret reached in the fridge for the turkey. “If you change your mind, you know where to get the keys.”

  Almost knocking the still open bag of Doritos out of the bed, I woke up to the sun shining through my window. I must have fallen asleep while eating, because not only were the chips still in my bed, but my right hand was still in the bag. Sitting up, I closed the bag and set it next to the lamp on my night table. Picking up my cell, I could see that Bobbi had not called or texted during the night or morning. Again I tried calling his cell and again there was no answer, but this time it went straight to voice mail.

  Sighing, I realized that Bobbi had let his phone die. He was famous for that. I was so frustrated with him. But I didn’t have time to dwell on it because I had to be at work in an hour. I took another quick shower and got dressed and woke Secret up to drop me off at work, because there was no way I was getting back on that bus.

  Secret was off for the day and promised to pick me up after work. JCPenney was having a grab-a-tag sale, and we were so busy that time flew by, and I had not had a break. I had no chance to call Bobbi. But with a quick view of my phone I knew he still had not called me. I was so ready to get off I damn near ran outside after clocking out. I was glad to see Secret was there and on time.

  “Damn, you look stressed,” she commented as I climbed into the car.

  “They done worked the shit out of me.” I threw my head back on the headrest for a bit of relaxation as Secret took off. “People were damn near fighting over those damn clothes.”

  “I remember that crazy shit from Chic.” Secret laughed. “And I don’t miss it one bit.”

  “I don’t blame you. Pandemonium.” I chuckled.

  “Aye, but Kirk called and said he got a gig for me, and since it’s kinda last-minute, I’ma need you to drop me off and come back for me.”

  “Cool. I can use the car and drop by Bobbi’s crib. I still ain’t heard from him.”

  “For real.” She seemed surprised. “His ass trippin’, but it’s cool, do what you got to.”

  Pulling up to Bobbi’s crib, the first thing I noticed was his Cutlass parked in its usual spot. Parking Secret’s Impala right behind it, I jumped out and strutted up to the front door. His ass had better been dead, because I knew he was not at home relaxing and had not called me or picked up my phone call for going on day two. I wouldn’t be cutting him any slack. I knocked at least five times before trying the doorknob, which was locked. Finally, the door swung open and Melvin was standing on the other side of it.

  It was brief, but he had a look on his face as if he was almost surprised to see me. “Dang, Melvin, it’s about time you open this door.” I stepped inside past him without him inviting me in.

  “I was in the bathroom. Been eating those frozen burritos again,” he tried to explain. I hated when he shared disgusting information like that. But I was not surprised; he never had any tact about himself. I didn’t waste time saying just that. I was on a mission to talk to Bobbi.

  “Where your boy at? He sleep again? I been blowin’ him up since yesterday. I told his ass about not chargin’ that phone.” I kept marching toward the back. When I didn’t see Bobbi on the couch, I assumed he was in Melvin’s bed asleep. Sometimes when Melvin got up for the day Bobbi took his bed. Reaching Melvin’s room, I pushed the door open to find his bed empty. I turned to face Melvin, who was still hot on my trail and quiet as ever. And that was not normal, because Melvin was known to run his damn mouth way too much.

  “Melvin, where the hell is Bobbi?” I asked him.

  Sharing the same surprised look on his face, he hunched his shoulder looking confused. “He left yesterday . . . and went out of town.”

  I wondered if I heard him right. “Outta town. What you mean? Where?” This was becoming crazy fast.

  “I don�
��t know. He packed some bags and left.”

  Nothing he said seemed to register. I stood still and silent for a second to think. Where would be Bobbi be going? Then suddenly I realized who I was talking to: Melvin. He was such a jokester and loved to play around. I knew then that stupid confusion on his face was all a part of his little joke. He was trying to Ashton Kutcher me. I started laughing.

  “Bobbi, get your ass out here and stop playing,” I yelled. “You got me, okay. But this ain’t funny.”

  The look on Melvin’s face still had not changed. The house was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Still I waited. “Isis, Bobbi is not here,” Melvin repeated again.

  “How can he not be here? His car is right outside,” I pointed out. And Bobbi never went anywhere without his car.

  “He had a rental when he left.” At this point my heart dropped. None of this made any sense at all. “Shit, to be honest I thought you were with him.”

  Finally I believed him and didn’t want to hear anymore. Without another word I walked out the front door. Inside the car I sat in silence and played everything Melvin had said over in my head. I stared at Bobbi’s car. I pulled out my cell phone and tried Bobbi. Again I got the voice mail right away, no rings.

  I started the car and drove straight to the bank. Inside, I asked the teller to give me the balance on the joint bank account that I shared with Bobbi. The teller typed the information into her computer then handed me a slip. “This can’t be right.” I handed the slip back to the teller that basically told me all the money I had put into the bank was now gone. Without saying a word, the teller typed the information into the system again. She carefully looked the account over.

  “This is the balance as of yesterday, after a withdrawal was made.”

  I stumbled backward just a little. “Are you okay?” the teller asked, concern all over her face.

  Snatching the paper off the counter, I turned and briskly walked back to the car. With each step I took it seem like the soles of my feet were on fire. Back inside the car, I sat in a daze as reality set in full speed. Bobbi, my boyfriend of two years, had taken all of my money and the money we had saved together and left town. Most of the money belonged to me. When we had started saving money, I already had six thousand dollars in the bank that I had managed to save from the money Mrs. Tate had left for me.

  When Bobbi and I had decided to save together, we agreed that I would add him to my already established account, and he would just add to it. Even still, I added more than he did, because in the beginning he didn’t have a steady job, and he worked when he could. But through it all we had managed to save twelve thousand dollars. And now it was all gone.

  Tears rushed down my face as I hit the steering wheel and screamed out loud from pure frustration and the feeling of brutal betrayal. Both my arms were weak, but somehow I managed to start the car back up. It was time to pick up Secret. As soon as Secret climbed into the car, she knew something was up with me, and I could not hold it. The tears ran again like a faucet.

  “What’s wrong? What the fuck is it?” She got impatient when I didn’t answer fast enough.

  “Bobbi . . . he gone. He left town,” I cried.

  “And went where?” Secret was confused.

  “I don’t know, but he is gone. I went by the house, and Melvin told me. At first I thought it was a joke. But I went by the bank, and all the money we were saving is gone. He took it all, Secret. All of it.” A cry came from deep within.

  “That nigga took yo money? See, I told you his bitch ass was not up to shit. I never trusted his grinnin’ ass.” Secret pounded the dashboard with her fist. I continued to sob. I felt as if I had been beaten with a ton of bricks. “Drive this damn car back over Melvin’s house. His punk ass know more than he saying.” Reaching in her gym bag with her change of clothes inside, she retrieved her cell phone. “I’m ’bout to call Kirk. He gone come over there and fuck his ass up. I bet he tell where your money at then.”

  “No,” I sniffed and grabbed her cell phone out of her hand. “Don’t do that . . . I really don’t think Melvin know more than what he is saying.”

  “Fuck that, he know! That Alabama slick motherfucker know something!” she shouted.

  “I really don’t think so. You didn’t see the look on his face; he really seemed surprised.” I continued to sob; who knew when I would stop. This had to be a dream and could not be happening to me. There was no way that Bobbi, the love of my life, could or would do this to me. To us.

  Chapter 12

  Isis

  It had been one of the longest weeks of my entire life. Day in and day out I lay in the bed in a zone, only getting up to shower or go to work. Going to work had been like going to my own private torture. The last thing I wanted to do was deal with strangers and their needs. No, what I needed was to find Bobbi and pop a cap in his thieving, lying ass. I was angry and unsure if I would ever get over what he had done to me. Every time I thought about it, my stomach twisted and turned into knots. Already I had shed five pounds because I simply had no appetite. The only thing that would seem to go down my throat was liquids. Today had been the first day that I had actually paid attention to the growling that roared from deep within my stomach. But physically I was not in the mood to climb out of bed.

  “Can I come in?” Secret stuck her head inside my door. She and Penny both had been there for me emotionally in a big way. I was lucky to have them in my life. They always had my back.

  “Come on in,” I said without looking up. I had my pillow rolled up and my chin buried in it.

  Secret bopped down at the foot of bed. “This bed is all bad for you. You gotta get up.”

  “I have been up. I worked today, remember?” I reminded her. But I knew what she meant.

  “Trust me, going to work does not count.” She popped her mouth. “But don’t worry, I got you. Wanna roll up?”

  Now she had my attention. “Please, I need to be on cloud on nine.” I sat up slowly and crossed my legs Indian style to face her.

  Pulling the already rolled-up blunt out of the purple Crown Royal bag she had in her hand, Secret smiled. “I told you I got yo back.” She pulled out a lighter and lit the blunt. The smell calmed me. “Here, you do the honors.” She passed me the blunt.

  I wasted no time inhaling. I had to have it. Holding the smoke in longer than usual, I slowly exhaled and watched the smoke circle above me into a thick cloud. Secret reached for the blunt. I watched her as she followed my lead. “I still can’t believe Bobbi played me like that. I’m fit to kill him.” I balled up my right hand into a fist. “I thought he loved me,” I shrieked.

  “You already know I never trusted that nigga.” She passed the blunt back to me. “He was always too damn persistent. Or tryin’ to slick control some shit.”

  Now that I sat and thought about it, she was right. How could I be so stupid? I shook my head as I thought about it. “All that fuckin’ money just gone . . . Especially the money Mrs. Tate left for me. Her and her husband worked hard for that money, and I managed to give it to the devil without a clue . . . Shit, I’m stupid!” I screamed. I was so disappointed in myself.

  “You ain’t stupid, Isis . . . Just in love . . . That can happen to anyone.” I knew she just wanted to make me feel good. But even I knew I was stupid as hell. I should have known something was up when he suggested we use my account to save the money. For one, because he knew about the money Mrs. Tate had left me and I had managed to save, and two, he barely had a job at the time he suggested it. Out of the twelve thousand in the bank, ten of it had belonged to me. Then once he had started working full-time, he always had an excuse as to why he had to skip a week here or there putting his share of money in. So he had only contributed two thousand dollars.

  Tears started forming in my eyes. “I’m just disappointed in myself. I should have known better.”

  “Fuck all this crazy talk. And Fuck Bobbi. It’s time for you to get out of this damn bed and get to work. Get, get money,” s
he chanted with the blunt hanging from the corner of her mouth.

  “I already been going to work. I’m just not feeling it enough to do any overtime.” I reached for the blunt, afraid it might fall out of Secret’s mouth. The last thing I needed was for my mattress to catch on fire, because I didn’t have the money to buy a new one.

  “I ain’t talkin’ about that dead-ass job at JCPenney. That shit need to be history. I’m talkin’ about private dancing. That shit pays. And right now you need to build your nest egg up again. All you got to do is say the word, and Kirk will set it up.”

  “Secret, we talked about this already. The answer was no then, and it still is no.” This conversation was sure to blow my high. This was not the time.

  “Why not? What’s your excuse now? Shit, the money good, your body right, you single, and all you have to do is dance.”

  I tried to pass her the blunt, but she was too busy making her point to reach for it. I decided to take her turn. As I inhaled the smoke, suddenly what she said did make a little sense, as much as I hated to admit it. I exhaled. “Okay, let’s do it.” I hunched my shoulders in a nonchalant manner. Again I attempted to pass the blunt. This time she grabbed it.

  I could tell the sudden change of my answer surprised her. She raised the blunt midair and glared at me.

  “I won’t be a stripper, though.” I had to make that clear. “Miami has enough of those.”

  “I already told you it ain’t like that. All we do is private dances; there is no touching or anything involved. They don’t even throw money at you. They pay Kirk and he pays us. No worries, I promise you will be in good hands,” Secret explained with excitement. But I didn’t need to hear anymore. I was in. I had nothing to lose.

  * * *

  Two days had passed since my conversation with Secret, and I still had not changed my mind. After notifying my supervisor at JCPenney that I would not be returning to work, I went in and cleaned out my locker. Secret wasted no time calling Kirk an hour after our conversation and told him of my decision; he assured her I had made a good decision. “Get the door, Penny. It’s probably Kirk. He supposed to be stopping by,” Secret yelled from the kitchen. I was in my room lying across the bed thumbing through an Essence magazine. I instantly pushed it aside. I jumped to my feet. The living room was my destination. I could hear Secret already talking to Kirk.