Ghetto Girls

by Anthony Whyte

  “Ya know who we haven’t seen yet?” Josephine asked.

  “No. I knew you would be bringing that shit up again. Just like you, Ms. Nosy Josephine...” Danielle said.

  “But I’m right.”

  “Yeah. Yep, you’re dead on the money. Anyway, I know that nigga wouldn’t dare face up.”

  “You wanna make another bet?”

  “What?”

  “Look who’s walking over.”

  “What da fuck! Well you gotta give him that. He’s a bold muthafucker,” Danielle said. Cory approached them. Josephine looked on with keen interest.

  “Hi,” Cory said smiling. He gave Josephine a kiss, hugged Danielle and gave Coco the thumbs-up sign. Coco looked at Deedee, shrugged her shoulders and smiled.

  “Aw, y’all are champs. You’ve got this in a bag,” Deedee said.

  “Well,” Coco said.

  “Well, what?” Deedee asked.

  “Well, yo, they busted Cory wid some other bitch in his ride earlier today, an’ they claim that he saw them and busted an illegal U, trying to duck ‘em, yo,” Coco said. She inhaled the smoke with confidence.

  “Oh no. What a dis,” Deedee said.

  “Yeah, but let’s peep da show, cuz Danielle don’t like to be dissed, yo.” They chuckled, high-fived and fixed their attention on Cory.

  “Danielle, we hanging later?” Cory asked.

  “I’m not through talking about today, Cory.”

  “Today?” Cory asked sounding confused. He saw Josephine smiling. “Can you excuse us Josephine, uh, please?” Cory asked.

  “My friends are not the ones unwelcome around me,” Danielle said. Josephine high-fived her.

  “Let ‘em know. Let ‘em know.” Josephine chanted and Sophia who was in hearing distance walked away, both embarrassed and amused.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Danielle.” Cory intending to lie his way out.

  “Weren’t you driving with someone today and pretending I wasn’t there? Weren’t you?”

  “I was moving with different peoples at different times,” Cory said.

  “Were you riding around with a bitch today, Cory?” Danielle insisted.

  “What’re you talking about?” Cory asked befuddled. “Come on, you know I’ll never even try to play ya, baby. You’re the one and only.” With a poker face on Cory laid down his excuse.

  Danielle listened to him. She wanted to believe him. Cory made good use of his opportunity.

  “Yeah, and maybe you saw a ride which looked like mine. I wouldn’t be dissing you like that! Have I ever?”

  She had only known him a few months. Maybe he’s telling the truth. Danielle looked deep into Cory’s eyes. He was standing close and his presence overcame her recollection. She reached out and hugged him. Danielle heard and felt the vibration as Cory’s beeper claimed his attention. She hugged him tighter and kissed his mouth.

  “Aren’t ya gonna answer the call?”

  “Yeah, later. Right now it’s... it’s not that important.”

  “Oh, that’s how you be ignoring my beeps when you’re with her ass?” Danielle asked. Cory knew he had been trumped.

  “I don’t be ignoring any beeps. Sometimes my beeper be off.”

  “Well, go answer your beep,” Danielle said. Cory hesitated.

  “Go,” Danielle said. “It could be important.” Danielle turned to Josephine who was fascinated.

  “It’s close to that time,” Danielle said.

  “What time is that?” Josephine asked.

  “Oh...” they high-fived, laughed and yelled.

  “The booty-call hour.”

  “Y’all made up quick-fast, yo,” Coco said.

  “I mean, I don’t know,” Danielle said.

  “Where’d he go?” Deedee asked.

  “To return a call,” Danielle said. “And he ignores my messages.”

  “Tell him he can use my phone,” Deedee suggested. She pulled out the instrument as if it were a dagger and handed it to Danielle.

  “Cory,” Danielle called, “you can use this phone, hon.”

  Cory came back to Danielle and took the phone. He dialed and spoke in hushed tones, then returned the phone.

  “Thanks,” he smiled.

  “...and the top three finalists are...” came the booming voice of the emcee, behind a thunderous drum-roll. Da Crew heard the names of other finalists, then suddenly everyone was kissing and hugging them. The crowd converged on them, mobbing them. Coco spotted Deedee and Danielle hugging. She rushed through the crowd, and past the screaming Josephine, to Deedee.

  “Lemme use your phone. I wanna call this old lady to let her know, yo,” she said breathlessly.

  Deedee hugged her and handed over the instrument. Danielle jumped around Cory to protect her from a fall. Coco, who had not used a cellular phone before, fumbled with it, accidentally pressing the redial button. She got an immediate response. A female voice crooned, “Cory, is that you baby?”

  Coco stared at the instrument. Danielle snatched the phone. The line was dead. Danielle, no stranger to cellular phones, pressed the same button that Coco had. The voice came back.

  “Cory, you better stop playing around.”

  “This ain’t Cory, bitch. He just happened to use my phone to call ya ugly ass.”

  “Who is this calling me a bitch?”

  “All Cory’s girls are bitches, and you just another one,” Danielle said.

  “Hey, can I make my call, yo? I mean, I was da one…” Coco said.

  “Gotta go, bitch,” Danielle said. She pressed the end button and handed the phone to Coco. She strode over to Cory, who was unaware of what had occurred. Danielle delivered a stinging slap to his cheek, kissed him and walked away. Cory was stunned. He lunged after her. Vulcha stood in his way and Lil’ Long escorted Danielle to their table.

  “Go home, big boy,” Vulcha warned: “Things could get crazy up in here.” Cory saw Lil’ Long hug Danielle, pulling her body against his. He turned and walked away, angry.

  “From the frying pan into da fire,” Josephine said showing open palms. Coco slapped her hand. Together, they watched the Chop Shop Crew raid the stage and charge the atmosphere with their hyper rap blast. The audience jumped up in delight and stayed on its feet throughout the verbal assault.

  “Yeah, I love me some Alize,” Danielle said as she sipped the drink. She was with Lil’ Long, Kamilla and Vulcha in a booth at club Eugene’s. She was moving with the expensive and fast crowd.

  “A little too sweet for my palate,” Kamilla said with a smile for Danielle. “But you probably need it to soften up your throat. I mean, y’all were doing that rapping and singing and dancing.”

  “It’s a lot, but we really rehearsed our butts off,” Danielle said.

  “Yep, I know. I remember how those can get,” Kamilla said.

  “Remember, right? Rehearsals, sometimes they pay off,” Danielle said. Kamilla now appeared calmer. The two beautiful ladies laughed together. Lil’ Long and Vulcha looked on contented as they sipped gin and juice.

  “I’m a hit that bitch wid this thug-passion dick.” Lil’ Long leered at Vulcha. The two laughed loudly and raised their glasses in a toast.

  Meanwhile, Coco, Josephine, Deedee, Sophia and Eric sat in a restaurant and feasted on a late supper. Busta stood and raised his glass.

  “To Da Crew, who ran right through the competition,” Busta said, “and now they’re on to the bigger and better.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Deedee and Sophia shouted. Eric applauded.

  “Well, I’m certainly looking forward to working with these talented young ladies. I think they have something,” Eric said drinking from his glass.

  “Well, I think I speak for the whole group when I say thanks. And we’re looking forward to working with you,” Josephine said. Coco nodded.

  The alliance had been made, Da Crew had achieved the attention it craved. Coco, Josephine and Danielle seemed destined to succeed. They were about to sign with
a famous producer. It was a dream finally realized. Coco and Josephine hugged while the others cheered.

  “Danielle would have eaten this shit up,” Josephine said.

  “I know what ya mean,” Coco smiled.

  “Yo, but we representing her,” they both said and laughed.

  Vulcha paid the handsome tab, and when Kamilla and Danielle returned from the restroom, they left. Lil’ Long and Vulcha walked in the rear.

  “Damn, damn, double damn!” Lil’ Long said. He stared forward at Kamilla and Danielle’s backsides.

  “They got that shit going on in a ruff way,” Vulcha said.

  “Yo, nigga, I’m fucking that bitch raw,” Lil’ Long said.

  Vulcha and Kamilla sat in the front seat of the Navigator and drank champagne. In the back, Danielle allowed Lil’ Long’s groping hands to roam her body.

  “You want this, don’t you?” She asked, teasing. They kissed, his tongue licking her throat. They drank more champagne and Danielle loosened up quickly. Before she knew it, she was on the hood of the Navigator, dancing and singing wildly.

  Cory had been following them since they left Eugene’s. With a forty-ounce beer in his hand, he stood in the night air, leaning against the parked car. He watched as Danielle performed. She looked down and saw him.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Yo boo, get down off the hood and let’s go,” Cory said.

  “Go? Go where?”

  “I gotta talk to ya.” Cory’s tone was harsh.

  Lil’ Long stepped out of the SUV. He walked away and showered the side of the road. He turned to Cory, still holding his appendage.

  “Big man, why d’ya wanna disturb da funky performance?” He stowed his penis and tugged at his zipper.

  “Yeah, da funky show,” Danielle said.

  “Let’s go. You’re drunk,” Cory said.

  “This is da way ya like me? All gassed-up and ready to roll?” Danielle was slurring her words now.

  She jumped, falling against Cory, and he held her. Lil’ Long moved toward them. Cory swung the bottle and smashed it against Lil’ Long’s head. The blow opened a gash under his hairline. Lil’ Long winced. Vulcha leaped out the Navigator, gun ready. Lil’ Long held up a hand to stop him.

  “You’re ahight, sun?” Vulcha asked.

  “Yeah, yeah, it’s all good.”

  Kamilla held Danielle, who was regaining her composure.

  “It’s like everyone wants to dis me. Know wha’ I’m saying?” Lil’ Long wiped his forehead. Blood dripped slowly from his brow.

  “He didn’t mean to do it,” Danielle said.

  “Bitch, in my quest for immortality, all weak niggas must fall.”

  He pushed the gun in Cory’s face and squeezed the trigger. The bullet exploded and wiped Cory’s face from his body. Kamilla grabbed the lunging Danielle, preventing her from running to the faceless Cory, now laying in a sea of red on the damp street.

  “You killed him,” Danielle screamed. “Just like that, you killed him. You’re a murderer, a fucking...”

  Lil’ Long looked at the screaming Danielle, bemused. She was on her knees, face in the asphalt vomiting, her tears rolling.

  “Bitch, it was self defense,” he said.

  “Hey, yo, son, let’s be out,” Vulcha said. He started the engine.

  Kamilla tried to touch her, but Danielle wouldn’t let her get close enough. She continued screaming. Lil’ Long approached.

  “Get away! Get away! You’re a murderer,” Danielle screamed.

  Lil’ Long put the weapon to her head. She grabbed the zipper of his jeans and pulled it.

  “What da fuck? Ya gone loco, bitch?” Lil’ Long tried to evade the grip on his penis. But she had it.

  “Let’s go back to da ride wid honey,” he said.

  “I don’t want to go into da ride. I want it here and now,” Danielle said still in tears.

  “Yo, Lil’ Long, man. Let’s be da fuck out,” Vulcha yelled.

  Lil’ Long tore loose from Danielle and grabbed her collar. He pulled her to the SUV and pushed her inside. Vulcha quickly drove away.

  “Yo, nigga, drop us off at the Mo.”

  “Ahight,” Vulcha said. He quizzed Lil’ Long in the rearview mirror.

  “Nigga got a little insane. You know wha’ I’m saying?” Lil’ Long said.

  “Yeah, yeah. Couldn’t un’erstan’ da shit ma’ damn self,” Vulcha said.

  He stopped at a motel. Lil’ Long got a room, and he and Danielle went in. She was barely through the door when she pulled the gun from Lil’ Long’s waist.

  “What’cha do that for, bitch?”

  Danielle pointed the gun at his head and moved closer.

  “Strip,” she ordered. But she had come too close. Lil’ Long pounced. He knocked the weapon from her weak grip. She screamed, collapsing into a chair, crying. Lil’ Long lit a coolie and offered it. Sniffling, but passive now, Danielle took the cigarette and puffed wildly. She coughed several times as she inhaled. The high calmed her.

  Lil’ Long had regained control of the situation. He made her dance for him and he gave her another coke and weed cigarette mix. He knew he had her when he ordered her to dance naked and she complied without hesitation.

  “Yeah, c’mon bitch. Putty on me. Putty all on pappy,” he chanted. Danielle’s naked body swirled in motion. Her excitement grew with every move. Finally, fearing explosion, he reached up and grabbed her. He entered her brutally and continued his chant.

  “Putty on me, bitch. C’mon, putty on me. C’mon.”

  Then he exploded in her, raw, just like he had wished. Danielle moaned and twisted. Lil’ Long stared. He couldn’t read her feelings. She had a crooked smile on her face. Her eyes stared, with no focus. She reached for his penis.

  “More, more.” Her lips formed the words, but she made no sound. He rolled her over and entered her with anger and pleasure. When he tired, he rolled away, gun at his side.

  “I want another coolie. Keep your dick,” Danielle said. Lil’ Long gave her the coolie and stared.

  “Yer ca-ray-zee, bitch,” he said, eyes wide. He was tantalized in a way he couldn’t believe. He wanted that body. He was on her like a wild boar, savagely entering her ass. Then he lay, spent. He drifted into a short, deep sleep. He awoke suddenly.

  “Bitch, where are ya?” He yelled. Her clothes were on the floor, but she was gone. He was frantic as he got dressed. His gun was missing.

  “Oh, fuck. That bugged-out bitch,” he hissed. He grabbed the phone and quickly dialed.

  “Vulcha! Come get me, nigga,” he yelled. He hung up and ran to the tiny office.

  “A dollar twenty for the call,” an outgoing message stated. Lil’ Long scanned the office for signs of Danielle and gave the attendant the keys and five dollars. He went into the cool evening air in search of Danielle. She could be anywhere, naked, with his loaded gun. Lil’ Long heard tires screech behind him. He stepped out of the path and saw Vulcha.

  “Muthafucka, learn how to drive.”

  “Yo, hurry up and get in. What’s up?”

  “Yo, I don’ know. We came here. We fucked. Da bitch bugged out started singing and acting wild and shit. Then we fucked again. Bitch wanted more coolie, so I kept hitting her off. Feel me? Then da bitch bugged out—curled up in a corner and all. I took a nap. I thought da bitch finally went out. Woke up, da bitch was gone, and my muthafucking gun, too.”

  “Yo...yo, sun,” Vulcha said. He stomped hard on the brake, barely avoiding another car.

  “What da?” Lil’ Long said as his head jerked back.

  “Yo, it was on da radio. Some unidentified naked bitch blew her fucking brains out.”

  TWENTY-TWO

  “What da fuck? You for real?” Lil’ Long shouted.

  “I’m telling ya, roots. See all da traffic backed up? She was found somewhere round here,” Vulcha said. Lil’ Long gazed at the slow-moving traffic.

  “Da bitch wuz akkin’ da fool all evening.”
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  “Yep, but ya had to do it, didn’t ya?” Vulcha asked.

  “What ya trying to say? I killed her? Nah, wasn’t me. I did-n’t hit her like that, kid,” Lil’ Long said.

  “Yeah, but...”

  “But what?”

  “You wanted to hit that bitch hard. I mean, kapow,” Vulcha said. He extended his right fist and laughed.

  “Just watch da fuck wha’ your ass is doing, nigga, ‘fore you cause a damn accident,” Lil’ Long said.

  “What did you hit her wid? A drunken dick? A suicide knob? Bitch couldn’t stand it. She went crazy. Had to go shoot herself,” Vulcha said belching a violent laugh. “Since you love giving advice, why didn’t you try talking da bitch outta killing herself?”

  “I’m telling you, kid, I wuz hitting da bitch. Hitting da bitch. And da bitch got freaky on me, kid. I crashed for awhile. Da bitch was all curled up in a corner, smoking coolies. I woke up. Da bitch an’ my gat missing. I’m running all over da fucking place trying to find her. Now your ass come telling me this bullshit about some naked bitch found shot.”

  “That’s why traffic was backed up, I’m telling you, sun.”

  The flow of traffic became easy. Vulcha turned for the downtown lanes.

  “That’s some real crazy shit, Vulcha,” Lil’ Long said.

  “Yeah, hit that bitch. She couldn’t stand it. Had to fucking shoot herself. If it wasn’t da dick, then what did ya put in them coolies?”

  “Same as always, man: dust and fucking coke. Yo, but I’m telling ya, da bitch wuz cr-cr-cra-zee way before I hit it, dogs.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Seen how da bitch be moaning and grinding on da stage.”

  “I’m telling ya, kid.”

  “Word,” Vulcha said.

  “Word up.”

  “Da bitch wuz one bad, crazy bitch,” Vulcha said. Lil’ Long joined in chorus at the end. They squirmed wildly and chuckled at the revelation.

  “See how she wuz dancing on cars and shit?”

  “Yeah, fuck it, that’s da long and short of it.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Look at honey wid them lips, in da next car kid. Over on this side, nigga.”