“Beg to second that,” Coco added.
“Well whatever. I have to worry some about this Lil’ Long character, I really don’t want him to start any war with any of us.”
“I hear you, Dee,” Josephine said. “You’re preaching that good gospel. Why that nigga want y’all so bad?”
“From the time Danielle was killed, he’s been after us,” Coco said.
“What he thinks y’all killed his man Vulcha?”
“It’s not even that. That nigga thinks we set him up and tried to kill him. We should’ve really murdered his ass, yo,” Coco said.
“After what he did to Dee, both him and his man should be killed,” Josephine opined.
“I’m telling you though if that nigga thinks he could just be around and we should be hiding, well I won’t.”
“We should just find his ass right, and… no we should dress up and play him take him to the mo and cut his dick off and watch him bleed to death…”
“See I told you, you’re insane in the brain, bitch.”
“I ain’t playin’. What he gon do without his dick, huh?” Josephine asked. “He’d be like: Yo ma, I really want to fuck you but I got no dick…”
“Stop laughing Dee, you’re encouraging this crazy-ass bitch, here.”
“So Coco you could ride with us later, alright. You’re gonna visit Miss Katie after school, right?” Deedee asked.
“You know I am. As long as she’s in there I’m visiting. But my mother…”
“We’ll take her too dammit. There’s strength in numbers,” Josephine said.
THIRTY-FOUR
Lil’ Long dialed from the pay phone. There was a pause then a rustled voice was heard on the other end.
“Ward here,” the voice said.
“Hello, what’s good PO?” Lil’ Long said. A crooked, sardonic grin spreading on his face.
“Your crippled ass better have a good reason for calling me. What do you want? Make it quick. I have no time for losers.”
“I got sump’n you’ll be interested in good buddy. Sump’n really big. Really, really big,” Lil’ Long sounded like he couldn’t contain himself.
“I don’t have time for all this clowning. You’re wasting taxpayers’ money by being on the phone. Come down to the office.”
“Nah, don’t trust ‘em cops. Them muthafuckas rough me up so much; I’m still aching from the last time. I ain’t fuckin’ ‘roun’ there no mo’.”
“Then what’re you gonna do?”
“Meet me somewhere. I’ll show and prove what I’m dealing wid. I promise, my man.”
“I don’t have time for your fun and games, chump.”
“This ain’t bout no fun and games, my man. You either want this info or you don’t. There’s a lot a shit ready to jump off. You want inside action or you want to read it in the newspapers?”
“This better be worth me getting out of my office.”
“It will be worth it. It’s something really big. Really, really big. It involves these Russians and these Spanish niggas and all that ya heard me. I’m telling you’re gonna make a name for yourself off this one. This gon make you famous, you’ll be the chief or sump’n. Ahight partner, this gon be some bulletproof type partnership from now on. Just show a nigga some love when you reach the top, alright man?”
“Alright, alright, get off the phone. I’ll meet you at three pm over by the basketball courts.”
“One-forty-seventh and Seventh? Thursday okay? You got it, ahight.”
Lil’ Long hung up the line and a smile enveloped his mug. He hobbled over to the bed in Tina’s apartment and switched the television on. Lil’ Long rubbed his fingers along the muzzle of his guns. He checked the magazines in both the Desert Eagles, filled. Lil’ Long cocked the Desert Eagles and licked his lips to prevent over salivating. He grinned and replaced them.
THIRTY-FIVE
Monday evening after school, Coco along with Deedee and Josephine chatted while they rode to the hospital.
“I got to come along with you to visit Miss Katie,” Deedee said.
“Oh you should as soon as she gets out of the coma I’ll…”
“If she’s still in a coma that’s not good,” Josephine said.
“What you think it won’t change, huh?”
“I’m just saying the longer you stay in a coma is the less chance…?”
“Nah, don’t even sweat it like that, Miss Katie, she’s fighter. She ain’t gonna give up. I mean she’ll be all right, ahight yo?”
“You actually talk with her, Coco?” Josephine asked.
“The nurse thinks it’s a good idea. So I just be kickin’ it with her like she can hear me.”
“Like what topics you be kickin’ with her?”
“Please, any and everything. If you run into my mother out here, please don’t mention Rightchus or Lil’ Long. I mean she’ll freak if she know anything like that. And don’t talk any…”
“…Boys, hanging out or clubs. Talk about school, what college you’re going to attend…”
“Oh you’re trying to say you heard it all before, yo?”
“Don’t worry girlfriend I won’t mention anything. I got your back,” Deedee said jokingly.
“See, you’re joking around but that’s for real, yo. My mother will flip if you start talking ‘bout boys and stuff like that. What, it’s got to be about edumication and all that, yo.”
“I guess she feels that’s the best way to keep your focus, right Coco?” Josephine asked jokingly.
“I’m focused bitch. Yo, madukes she was always about things like, ‘friends ain’t gonna last but a good education will.’ She’s always pushing complete high school and go to college.”
“She should be satisfied I mean you’re gonna graduate. She’ll be there to see you,” Josephine said.
“Yeah, but madukes will always see me as her little daughter. And after what went down with my arrest and all, I suppose she is trying to show that she cares about me. Plus, like now, she’s around me on the day to day. Oh, that makes her even more curious, if that’s possible.”
“How long do y’all visit Miss Katie for?” Deedee asked.
“I don’t know, maybe an hour or less, for the past three weeks.”
The Range Rover sped to a stop in front of the hospital. Coco waved and walked to the entrance of the hospital.
THIRTY-SIX
Coco met her mother inside the hospital like she had been doing for the past three weeks. Her mother appeared happy and Coco hoped to hear good news of Miss Katie.
“Ma, you look like you heard sump’n good. What’s…?”
“Oh Coco I’m so proud of you,” Mrs. Harvey gushed.
“You are at the top of your class. You are the number one in all the scores and grades. Coco I dunno what to say…”
Coco reached over and hugged her mother. In each other’s embrace, they walked silently to the elevator. Mrs. Harvey was beaming when she walked into Miss Katie’s room.
“Oh Miss Katie,” Rachel began to speak enthusiastically. “Coco did a great thing. She has the highest average in the school and she has turned in all her papers. She could be valedictorian. Oh Miss Katie if only you could see the letter from the school, you would be smiling and saying…”
“Lemme see the letter,” Coco said interrupting her mother.
“I’m really, really proud of you Coco. They thought that you weren’t gonna make it and you just showed them non-believing asses up. I love that and I love the fact that you is my flesh and blood,” Mrs. Harvey said.
Coco stared in guarded surprise at her mother’s glowing face.
They heard a sound that surprised them both. It was a clearing of a raspy throat. Wide eyed with surprise Coco and her mother glanced at each other for a moment. Disbelief, then joy overcame them.
“Miss Katie!” They both shouted at the same time.
“Miss Katie, oh God bless you so,” Rachel Harvey said through her tears. Miss Katie signaled for a glass of wate
r. Coco quickly grabbed the cup next to her bed. Miss Katie drank. Her face made a smile and Coco moved closer.
“Oh Miss Katie…” Coco’s emotions overcame her. She held Miss Katie’s hand and her tears came.
“Coco don’t cry girl. We all gotta go sometime,” Miss Katie said in a faint voice. Her lips were parched and Coco smoothed them with Vaseline. She then gave her more water to drink.
“Shouldn’t we get the nurse?”
“Doctors and nurses what they know anyways? Only God have the answers,” Miss Katie proclaimed.
“Miss Katie, you heard us?”
“I know your mother was in a good mood…”
“Oh Miss Katie, I’ve been coming here all the time waiting for this and here…” Coco stopped speaking when Miss Katie started coughing. “Maybe we should call the nurse or a doctor. I think we should Miss Katie,” Coco said anxiously.
“Now you know everything in the medical book is wrong with me. I’ve been up before this. This morning was the first time… briefly… ah.. ahem…” Miss Katie’s voice trailed off.
“Miss Katie I’m gonna get a doctor or a nurse,” Mrs. Harvey said and quickly left the room.
“Your mommy still crazy,” Miss Katie said showing her teeth when her eyes reopened. “Coco you’re gonna be a star, child. But you’ve got to respect elders. Read the Bible, embrace humility. Put God before you, Coco whatever you don’t see God will. I want you to be strong for you and your mother. I know you’ll be, but I feel I should tell you anyway.” Miss Katie said. She held a slight smile on her face. Miss Katie’s voice went silent and she closed her eyes.
“Miss Katie, Miss Katie…” Coco cried.
Miss Katie’s eyes slowly opened. She took a breath and the pumps on the respiratory machine moved up and down.
“Is it supposed to be doing that?”
“It does what it feels like. Your mother should have pressed on the knob right here. The nurses would be here already.”
“They’re coming, they’re coming Miss Katie, I can hear footsteps.”
“Oh don’t worry ‘bout that. Coco you’ve gotta be the strength. Your work is not yet done, hon. You’re gonna be a great person. Thank God I got to know you, Coco.” Miss Katie’s voice trailed off again. She closed her eyes as the nurse and Mrs. Harvey walked into the room.
Coco stared in disbelief as the nurse checked Miss Katie. The nurse eventually asked the visitors to wait outside in the hallway. Two doctors rushed past Coco and scurried inside the room. She knew it was bad when they later walked out of the room shaking their heads.
“Are you next of kin?” One of the doctors asked and the other walked away. “I’m afraid… there was nothing else we could’ve done… Katie Patterson ah… died a few minutes ago.”
“Noooo!” Coco screamed her knees buckling. She wept with extraordinary violence, keening and howling. Her mother tried to steady her.
“This will calm her down,” the nurse promised giving Coco a cup of water.
When she got home, Coco sat in the kitchen with her headphones on staring into space. She was numb to calls and text messages.
THIRTY-SEVEN
The next morning, Coco tarried at home, not wanting to go to school. Her mother tried to get her out of bed twice but both times Coco just pulled the covers further over her head and buried herself deeper seeking comfort in her dreams.
“Coco you’ve gotta go to school. Wake up, girl. You know Miss Katie wouldn’t want you laying up in no bed just…” Mrs. Harvey begged. “Doggone you Coco. You’ve got to go to school now, girl c’mon get up.”
Slowly, Coco dragged herself into the bathroom.
“See ya later, mom.” Coco yelled and was out the door.
She managed to catch the bus. Coco knew she was moving but her mind was in a fog. She spent the morning session at school in a shell, functioning on autopilot. Josephine caught up to her smoking a cigarette at lunch.
“What’s good Coco? You look like it’s the day after…” Josephine said covering her mouth with her hands.
“I’ll be ahight, yo. Just give me a few minutes,” Coco requested. Josephine knew something was seriously wrong. She had never caught Coco crying before.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry. Soo sorry oh…” Josephine’s voice was shaky. She reached out and embraced Coco. They hugged and sobbed together.
“She was like a mother to me… Jo, she was fam,” Coco whispered.
“I know y’alls relationship was real and tight, Coco. God bless her soul.”
Lil’ Long watched their movements from the back of a cab. He wanted to make an attempt at the girls but changed his mind when he saw the gray sedan parked across the street from the school. The occupants were also observing the girls.
THIRTY-EIGHT
Igor had arranged for Ernesto to meet his sister Karin Von Wink upon his release. She was married and ran a modeling agency. Igor assured Ernesto that she would provide him with a legal job. The image of being around models motivated Ernesto to get out of bed. He was ready to take the first step. The deal would be complete when Igor contacted him.
The train arrived at the midtown station. Ernesto alighted to the New York bustle of spring sidewalk madness, vendors and pedestrians competing for space. Ernesto headed to the Von Wink Agency, glancing into storefronts and at ladies strolling by.
A thin pale-skinned girl handed him a cold glass of water.
“You can have sparkling water if you like. Karin is expecting you, go right in.” She directed him straight ahead. Ernesto accepted the water and felt the stare on his ass. He knocked on the door.
“Come on in,” an inviting voice called from the other side of the door. Ernesto walked into the office. There were several poster size pictures of gorgeous models decorating the wall but none was as striking as the red-haired woman sitting behind the glass-covered desk.
“Strip,” she ordered.
Ernesto cocked his head to the side.
“Mr. De La Rosa are you going to stand there and play bashful, or are you going to comply,” Karin queried in an all about business tone.
“No, no. I’m not here to be a model. I’m here to get a job, you know?”
“Ernesto, you’re making this complicated. You get out of your clothes here and now. It could be worth making anywhere from ten thousand to the sky’s the limit as a fashion model. We’ve got a show every week. Sometimes overseas. I don’t know what my brother told you, but this is a modeling agency. We market pretty faces and nice bodies. The two doesn’t always come in the same package. We’ve got to see the goods. It makes business sense.”
“All right,” Ernesto said, getting out of his jeans and T-shirt. He kicked off his boots. And stood in only his boxers.
“Everything off. Everything,” Karin said.
Ernesto complied.
“Very nice,” Karin said.
“You’re clean,” Karin said as she rubbed Ernesto’s six-pack. “Any diseases or infections?”
“No.”
“Very well. For insurance purposes I’ll have my assistant schedule an appointment for a full medical examination.”
“Mr. De La Rosa, you may get dressed.”
Ernesto almost toppled to the floor while rushing to get back in his clothes.
“Have a seat, Mr. De La Rosa. Have you ever done any type of modeling? Been involved in any porn movies or any such thing?”
At the end of the interview, Karin rose.
“Mr. De La Rosa, it has been nice to meet you.” Karin handed him some papers. “Take these forms with you and fill them out. Bring them on Saturday afternoon. There is a show and I want you to be seen. Any questions?”
Ernesto wore a smile when he left the office.
THIRTY-NINE
“Slow your roll girl. Shoot, now you wanna hurry to get to the place after you wanted to go window shopping.”
“Kim, you’re soo slow,” Tina said.
“I’m saying we ain’t got to be walking so fast. I got
heels on. What if I break sump’n?”
“You ain’t gonna break a goddamn thing. Hurry, we’re almost there,” Tina said. She held Kimberly’s hand and dragged her to the entrance of the community center.
“They could’ve fixed the place up a little better,” Kimberly said as she entered.
“You gon’ complain all night, bitch? The after party is at Cheaters.”
“Shoot, I’m saying, his friends and family could throw sump’n a little better. I’m entitle to…”
“Here comes Miss loud-mouth… Pricilla, hi. How’re you doing?” Tina abruptly ended Kimberly’s complaints. They turned and sized up Pricilla as she approached.
“Hey girls what’s up? You’re both looking good, as usual.” Pricilla gave both Kim and Tina the once over. “Y’all stay fly. That dancing thing must be paying off, huh?”
“Yep,” Tina said.
“And I see that welfare thing still keeping you in Mandy’s,” Kimberly said. Her eyes were wide, nose flared and, with her hands on her hips, she took a step closer to Pricilla. They were now toe to toe. Pricilla turned, hissed and walked away.
“That’s right bitch, keep it moving in your Salvation Army giveaways,” Kim shouted.
“Now how you wanna come up in here and start shit and I…”
“I can’t stand that bitch. She knows I don’t give a fuck. She always dropping hint about the ‘dance thing’. Fuck her! Fuck that bitch.”
“You know that bitch is soo fucking ghetto. She can’t bear to see anybody wid shit better than hers. That’ how Ernesto family be coming at you.”
“See, you can take that shit, her cousin is your baby daddy. You family. That bitch, don’t mean shit to me. And she ain’t pay my muthafucking rent. So she better back up before she get smacked up.”
“Easy, Kim. Leave that bitch alone. Lets mingle, get some drinks and enjoy the party, ahight.”
“What party. These niggas bringing their own brown bags filled with cheap liquor. Damn can’t even find a decent drink.”
“Come with me. You complain too much. There goes Mannie and Carlos and them. Let’s go over and say hi.”
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