by Wahida Clark
“All praise is due to the Most High,” Nina said.
“Amen to that,” commented Michelle. She was happy because as the driver, her take was twenty percent on each envelope.
At bank two they collected 975 dollars as well as at banks three, four and five. When they arrived at bank six the bank was stashed at the back of the shopping center. It was very busy and had lots of traffic.
“This should be a piece of cake. This spot is jumpin’. It’s like we back in the hood. Obviously, this must be where all the black people shop,” Michelle cracked as she pulled up to the drive-through, snatched the check from Nina and placed it in the glass tube.
“Sho’ you right!” Nina said. They kept an eye on the teller as they indulged in their usual chitchatter.
After about three minutes Michelle said out the side of her mouth, “What the fuck are they doing? Who is he at the window?” A young guy had appeared next to the teller servicing them. He was talking to her and looking at the check and ID in her hand.
“It’s probably her supervisor. You know how some branches gotta get approval when it’s over a certain amount.” Nina didn’t want to go into panic mode.
“Fuck that! Let’s roll.” Michelle’s hand was already on the gear.
“Hold up,” Nina said. “Don’t panic. How many times we went through this and everything turned out copacetic?” she said as she smiled at the teller. The supervisor rushed back inside. “Aw hell no! Hit the call button.” Michelle hit the button.
Nina leaned over Michelle and said, “Excuse me, miss. Is there a problem?”
The teller looked up and gave a fake smile and said, “It’ll be a minute, we don’t have your signature card on file.”
“Oh, okay.” Nina relaxed because that was a normal response and plus she knew that she had the woman’s signature down to a tee. “See what I mean?” she assured Michelle.
Just then the supervisor came back out, looked over at the car and ran back in.
“Aw, hell no!” Nina said.
“You ain’t said nothing but a word!” Michelle said as she threw the car in drive and pulled off.
When Nina looked back the teller was writing the tag number down. Michelle swerved recklessly, trying to get the hell outta Dodge.
“Ain’t this a bitch?” Nina yelled. “We only had one more spot to hit! Slow down, girl we don’t want to get pulled over for speeding.” They both knew the drill and began pulling off the wigs and taking off the jackets, cleaning the makeup off their faces, thus giving themselves a totally new appearance. Nina ripped up the check, cut up the ID and tossed everything out the window. She watched the fifty-five-mile-an-hour wind blow everything away. Two police cruisers passed them and Nina and Michelle both watched as they turned into the shopping center.
“Step on it, Michelle. Hit the fucking turnpike! Or should we ditch the ride and hop a bus?”
“Naw, fuck it! I got it. I think we can make it. We won’t get on the turnpike, we can take the back roads.” Michelle mashed the gas until she hit seventy. Both of them had an adrenaline rush. When Michelle looked again in the rearview mirror she saw lights flashing. “Damn it!” They both saw another shopping center up ahead.
“Hurry, quick Michelle. Pull into that shopping center,” Nina ordered, as she gave Michelle her share of the money. Michelle slowed down as she pulled into the huge parking lot of a Target. There was no need for words. They stuffed the wigs under the seat and then split up. Nina headed for the bus and Michelle flagged down a cab as a police cruiser turned into the parking lot.
Two buses, three hours later and 4,390 dollars richer, Nina was putting the key into her front door. The first thing she noticed was the stillness of her house. “Ms. Ruthie,” she called out. She walked to the back of the house and saw that the back door was swinging off the hinges. “Oh shit!” Her heart began to race as she grabbed a butcher knife outta the kitchen drawer. “Fuck!” she cursed as she ran to one of her hiding spots for her loot. She frantically snatched the garbage bag out of the way; the box with 8,200 dollars was gone! The tears immediately began streaming down her cheeks as she ran to her second spot. The 14,400 dollars was gone! “Oh my God!” Her knees were turning to mush as she saw her ticket out of this hellhole fly out the window. She snatched open the door to the attic and climbed the stairs and as soon as she saw the closet door off the hinges, she knew the safe was gone. She sat down, balled up into a knot and let out gut-wrenching sobs. “I hate this place!” she screamed out into the silent air.
THREE
Ms. Ruthie had taken the kids to the park. Nina was sitting on the porch with a baseball bat waiting on Michelle to pull up. She had paid the sitter an extra hundred dollars to stay with the kids. She was also waiting on her neighbor Mr. Jimmy to fix the back door. He had said he would be right there but that was an hour ago. Nina had steam coming out of her ears and if she could have spit hot boiling blood she would have.
“Damn, shorty, who yo’ fine ass plannin’ on fuckin’ up?” Nina ignored the two niggas in the silver Porsche. Any other day and time she would have been ready to get her mack on and hone her pimpin’ skills, but not today. “Yo, shorty, come here!” the dude on the passenger side yelled. “Why you lookin’ so mean?”
“Nigga go ’head. If you ain’t trying to help a sista out by fixing her door or replacing my shit that was stolen then I suggest you keep it movin’.” Nina rolled her eyes and kept looking up the street for Michelle’s ride.
Ol’ boy shocked Nina by getting outta the car. She gave him a nigga what! look as she gripped the baseball bat tighter.
“You’re not planning on using that on me, are you? ’Cause I just want to get your name and number.”
“Nigga, didn’t you just hear what I said? If you ain’t ready to fix my door or replace the shit that was stolen outta my crib, then I suggest you keep it movin’.”
“I heard you, ma. Where’s the door?”
Nina hesitated before answering as she gave this fine specimen of a man before her the once-over. “Go right around back and you’ll see it.”
He surprised her again by going around the back of the house. She used this opportunity to further scope this nigga out. He was definitely from New York, the accent was a dead giveaway. From the ice on his wrist and in his ears she knew he was ballin’. The crisp Air Force 1s looked like they were fresh out of the box. The Rocawear sweatsuit looked brand new. The Porsche was pimped out. He was her complexion and about six feet two. He reminded her of Alonzo Mourning of the Miami Heat.
“Damn,” she mumbled to herself. Then her attention went to the nigga in the car, who was looking at her while he was licking his lips. He was finer than his partna. “Fuck him!” She said to herself, His ass ain’t get out and offer no assistance. Which would say a whole lot for the brotha.
“Yo, Nick, pop the trunk and see if my toolbox is in there.” Dude came back from behind the house.
“Ump, looks like the whip belongs to the passenger after all,” Nina mumbled to herself.
“Yo, shorty, I can fix the door but you still need to replace the locks. The bottom one is busted up.” He disappeared again. Nick closed the trunk and was carrying a medium-size gray toolbox.
“Yo, my boy don’t be going around assisting damsels in distress on the regular. He must see something in you,” Nick told her.
She turned her glare in the opposite direction to make sure her body language said she wasn’t falling for the bullshit. This big ass, perky tits and pretty face. That’s all the nigga sees, she mumbled under her breath.
“What was that?”
“I said, don’t be trying to big your boy up on my account.”
“I’m serious, ma,” he said as he carried the toolbox to the back.
Nina opened up her cell phone and hit seven, Michelle’s speed-dial key. Michelle answered on the first ring. “Yo, I’m turning down Hermitage now. I had to get ma dukes some Rolaids, a Pepsi and a pack of Kools. You know how she do.”
“Yup. Some things never change,” Nina responded drily before turning her phone off.
Three minutes later, Michelle was making a U-turn in the middle of the strip. She was oblivious to the traffic she was holding up. She pulled her dark green Land Rover next to the Porsche, then rolled the passenger window down. “I thought you was ready? Let’s roll! Why you just sitting there?”
“Park the car. I got something for you to check out.”
Michelle did as she was told, backing up and sliding in the spot behind the Porsche. “I hope what you got for me to check out has something to do with this piece of expensive machinery right here.” She was sweatin’ the Porsche.
Just as she walked up onto the porch, Nick and his boy were coming from the backyard. “Yo, shorty. Your door is fixed,” ol’ boy said as he set the toolbox down and dusted his hands off. “So what was stolen?”
“Just my hard-earned cash.”
“How much?”
“You don’t want to know.”
“Oh, it’s like that?”
“Yeah, it’s like that.” They remained staring at each other. In the meantime Michelle decided to interrupt the staring contest by introducing herself to Nick.
“Well, can I finally get a name and a number? I’m Reese.”
“If you have something to write with,” Nina snapped but then caught herself. Shit, the nigga had just helped her. “I’m on my way to take care of something.”
“That something requires a baseball bat? What, you got a game today?” Reese asked.
“Oh, so you got jokes!” Nina snapped. “But to answer your questions, yes it’s gonna require a bat and no I don’t have a game,” Nina said as she eased off the front porch and headed to the Land Rover.
“Damn, shorty. It’s goin’ down like that?” He was becoming more intrigued by the minute. She ignored him as he watched her get into the Rover. He then pulled out his keys, opened the trunk, placed the toolbox inside and threw the keys back to Nick. He came around to the passenger side of the Rover and said, “You gonna give up a name and number?”
“I told you to get your pen and paper.”
“I don’t need a pen and paper. That’s how niggas get in trouble.”
Nina gazed in his eyes before deciding he was serious. “Nina, 609-396-3732.”
“Nina,” he repeated. “Aiight then. You gonna be safe or what?”
“Oh, I’ma be fine. One.” She rolled her window up. Michelle started up her ride and they pulled off.
Reese jumped into the Porsche and said to Nick, “Yo, son, follow them sistas. I need to know what shorty into.”
“Who the fuck was that?” Michelle pressed. Nina was in deep thought.
“You heard him. His name is Reese. I know just as much as you.”
“I ain’t talking about him. I’m talking about that nigga he was rollin’ with. Where did you find them?”
“You was talking to the nigga. They was just out on the block; ride down Stuyvesant first.” Nina was trying to focus on the business at hand.
Michelle, not being slow, knew what time it was. “Shit, Nina. Foreal, foreal, if Derrick got your loot we ain’t gonna find him today. Right now he holed up somewhere suckin’ on that almighty glass dick.”
“I don’t give a fuck! That means we are gonna roll up into every hole until I find his punk crack-smoking ass. He can’t smoke up thirty-five thousand dollars in one day. Even the biggest of feens can’t do that.”
Michelle shrugged as if to say, “I ain’t sure about that.”
Michelle pulled up on the corner of Hoffman and Stuyvesant. They looked around. Nina rolled her window down. “Yo, Father Master Divine, you seen my brother?”
“What up, Ni?” he said, looking like a walking skeleton. “Naw, I ain’t seen him. I need to get downtown. You got a coupla dollars?”
“I got you as soon as you find my brother for me. I’ll spot you a twenty.”
“Go through Roger Gardens,” he wasted no time snitching. “He was over there earlier. He got jumped and robbed.”
Michelle skidded off before he could say another word.
“You hear that shit!” Nina screamed. “The nigga gonna rob me, then turn around and get robbed! I swear I’ma kill his ass!”
“That’s fucked up. Find him and then let’s go after the niggas who robbed him! Fuck them feens!” Michelle was amped up. That’s why she was Nina’s roadie. She was always down for whatever. Three minutes later, they were rolling through Roger Gardens. Michelle didn’t even notice Reese and Nick a few cars behind them as she parked the car.
Nina rolled her window down when she saw Rob, another feen. “Rob, where my brother at?”
“Who dat?” Rob had the biggest, ashiest nigga lips you ever saw.
“It’s me, Nina, nigga. Where my brother at?”
“That nigga out east. He spending with Horace and them over on Tyler. I got some checks for you. You want them now?”
“Nah, get at me tomorrow.”
“Hold up.” Rob was trying to bum-rush the Land Rover.
Michelle put the car in gear and headed for Highway 29, the quickest way to the east side of town. As she was driving and changing lanes, she thought she saw that Porsche rolling behind her but nixed it off when it dropped back. They pulled up on Tyler Street, creep-in’ along, trying to spot Derrick. The strip was busy as usual and Horace’s porch was full of niggas as usual.
“What you need, Nina?” a hustler named Shawn asked her.
“My brother. Tell Derrick to come here.”
“Yo, Tone! Tell Derrick his sister is out here!” he yelled. He turned back to Nina. “That’s all you need, ma?”
“Yeah, that’s it. Thanks.”
Ten minutes passed and still no Derrick. “If that nigga snuck out the back door, I’ma fuck his ass up, watch!” Tap. Tap. Nina turned and Reese was tapping on her window.
“Yo, shorty, who you waitin’ on?” He was dead in her face.
“What? Are you following me?” She couldn’t mask her surprise.
“Yeah. I’m trying to make sure you gonna be aiight.”
“I’m cool. This is family business, and thanks. But I suggest you go back to your car before you get jacked.”
Reese lifted up the front of his jacket and revealed a shining Glock. “Holla if you need me. If anything, I’ll be doin’ the jackin’.” He headed back for his Porsche and both of the ladies started giggling.
“Damn, M, I’m starting to like this nigga,” Nina said as she watched him go back to his ride.
Five minutes later Derrick came out of the house. He looked smoked out as he peeked up and down the block, obviously paranoid and geeking. When he stepped off the porch Nina grabbed her bat and jumped out of the car. “Yo, D, come here.” Michelle jumped out of her side, snuggling with her two boys, Smith & Wesson, in her hand. She leaned up against the front of her ride watching Nina’s back.
“Ni, what you doin’ out here?” He looked as if he had two black eyes.
“You thought I was gone, didn’t you? I’m looking for you, nigga, where my money, D?”
“What money? I ain’t got your money.”
Swooosh! You could hear the bat slice the air as she hit him on the backs of his legs, causing him to fall. “AAAGggg! Nina! What the fuck is your problem?” Derrick screamed out, obviously shocked and in pain.
Swoosh! She hit him on the legs again. “Where my money, Derrick?”
“Aw shit, y’all! D gettin’ his ass whipped by his sister! A fuckin’ girl, y’all!” Tone yelled as everybody started laughing and began gathering around.
“Ouch! You see that shit, Nick? Shorty ain’t no joke,” Reese said, enjoying the show.
“I see her. Yo, what the fuck son do? That’s her man?”
“I don’t know. He’s a pussy if he is!”
“Where my money, D?” Smack! She came down on the backs of his legs again.
“Oowww! Damn, Nina. You broke my leg! Stop it! What the fuck is the matt
er with you? Fuck! Somebody call an ambulance!” He was squeezing both legs while groaning in pain.
Nina began digging around in his pockets and socks and pulled off his sneakers. All three spots he had wads of money. The more money she pulled out, the madder she got. She threw the money to Michelle.
“You punk-ass nigga!” She began stomping him and kicking him in the face. When she went to pick up her bat, he pulled her legs out from under her, causing her to slip and fall. She then sent her foot smashing into his nuts.
“Uuugg ooooweeee, damn!” His screams echoed into the air. He grabbed his nuts with both hands as he rolled around on the ground. All the spectators began to groan, as the fellas felt his pain.
She crawled over to the bat, stood up and began swinging. “Where is the rest of my money, D? Who robbed you? I want my money!” She kept hitting him and he kept screaming out in pain.
“Yo, ma, you gonna kill him.” Horace came out on his porch. Just then, the po-po was coming up the street, yelling on the horn to break it up. Their lazy asses wouldn’t even get out of the car.
“Let’s roll, Nina.” Michelle jumped in the Rover and cranked it up. “Come on, Nina,” she yelled out the window. “He ain’t got no more loot on him.”
Nina grabbed her bat and kicked D in the face one more time, causing the crowd to moan, “Oww!” She jumped in the Rover and Michelle pulled off. Nina began to cry as she counted the few dollars that were left of her hard-earned stash.
“Fuck!” she screamed out like a madwoman. “All my hard-earned money, Michelle. Why niggas don’t want to see a sista progress? And this nigga ’sposed to be family. I can’t take this shit no more, M. I feel like I’m about to lose it. I got to get the fuck away from here. But how the fuck can I? I get one step forward then get pulled ten steps backward. What part of the fuckin’ game is this? This is the third time that I almost reached my goal only to have a major setback.” She put her hands in her face and cried some more. Michelle was silent as her best friend released her frustrations.
