“What’s up old man?” Kay said as they exited the cars.
“What’s going on little soldiers?” Bay Bro responded tossing the cigarette.
“Bad news,” Jon said as he sat on the porch across from Bay Bro.
“Give it to me,” Bay Bro shouted.
“It wasn’t our fault,” Zoe said.
“Yeah, we was minding our business,” Ron said nervously.
“Old man, Don saw dude from Delany trying to sneak behind us but before he got close enough his boys started shooting from the opposite side of the street. It wasn’t our fault.”
“Are ya’ll sure it was Delany?” Bay Bro asked wondering if Cash was back in town and his source hadn’t told him.
“We sure,” Kay said getting hyper. “We need to go out there and let them feel us. I’m tired of them niggas, old man. I say it’s time to dig some ditches.”
“Hold up, hold up, let me check around and see what’s really going on. If they’re responsible,” he said looking at a car driving slowly down the street. “We’ll bless ‘em.”
They watched the car going by. An elderly woman was behind the wheel. Jon went in the house to see Lynette.
The others focused on getting Shine. Jon and Kay had told the rest of the group that if they were going to come up it would have to be off of Shine. They told them about the millionaire stories. He was soft and slipping. Jon didn’t want to rob small time drug dealers. He wanted it to be a one-time thing because to him anything could go wrong. If he had the millions that everyone said he did, it was worth the risk. They were going to try and get as close as possible to Shine. The plan was to befriend him and watch his moves to see where he was vulnerable. They’d find out who was dearest to him. They wanted to exploit any weaknesses. The boys wanted to start right away.
Hudson Campbell on a Saturday morning was the place to be. The gym wasn’t as packed like the boys had hoped. Only four teams were there to play ball. Shine wasn’t playing ball. He and Shawn sat in the bleachers watching the teams. When Shine saw Zoe and the rest of the boys walked in, they stood.
“What’s up fellas?” Shine greeted.
“What’s up Shine?”
Don turned to his brother and whispered, “So this Shine. Seems like we hit the jackpot,” Don said looking at the six-point star medallion hanging from Shine’s neck.
Jon was walking with Lynette under his arm while he whispered, “Be cool. We got this.”
Shine shook the boy’s hand and introduced Shawn. Jon introduced Lynette as Lyn trying to disguise identities.
“I didn’t expect to see ya’ll here,” Shine said and sat back down.
“Why you ain’t playing?” Jon asked sitting next to Shawn. Lynette sat on his other side.
“I’m retired,” Shine said smiling. He was a star at Wirt High School. Shine averaged thirty-one points and thirteen rebounds as a senior.
“You too young,” Twon said.
Shine traded in scholarships, college and a shot at the NBA for fast money and drugs. “I used to be all right but I had other obligations,” he said reminiscing.
“I hear you on that one,” Jon said knowingly.
“Enough talking, y’all up.”
They easily won all the games they played. The oppositions had only one or two players that could really ball. The boys did some trash-talking while punishing the other teams. Shine paid no attention to the talk. Then Ron spoke.
“My man, is this the best ya’ll hood got to offer? They gotta be some loyal soldiers for you to just watch this kinda slaughter and be cool with it.”
Shine became furious and decided to come out of retirement.
“They are killers. Now let’s see who gets slaughtered,” Shine said getting off the bench.
“Let’s up the stakes to say five thousand a man,” Shine said.
The boys thought that it would be easy money.
“Let’s make it ten,” Kay said.
“Ten it is. I know ya’ll good for it.”
The game began and on the first play Shine shook Don and went high in the air tomahawking over Kay. The boys all looked at each other while Shine back paddled down the court with a smile on his face.
“I told ya’ll that I was all right,” he yelled.
The boys decided to run some set plays that had won them all of their championships. If they played street ball with Shine, they’d lose. Shine tried to keep the game fast paced while the boys slowed it down. Both teams went back and forth exchanging baskets while Shawn cheered for her man’s team, especially Shine.
The boys pulled it together and buckled down on Shine thinking that the four other players couldn’t beat them. They were right. The boys went on to win by ten points and Shine decided to run it back because he enjoyed the competition. The boys also won the second game. They played a little loose doing playground tricks and even let Shine do his thing.
“That’s twenty G’s a piece.” Jon said walking back to the bleachers.
Shine’s boys were looking at him to settle their debts.
“I don’t have all the money here,” Shine said toweling his face off. “But ya’ll know I’m good. I’ll bring the whole thing next Saturday.”
“Um baby, I betted on y’all too,” Shawn said in a baby’s voice.
Shine looked at her and smiled. He kissed her on the forehead
“How much?”
“Ten thousand,” Shawn cooed.
“I got that now.”
Shine went into his pocket and pulled out two rolls of hundred dollar bills wrapped in rubber bands. “That should cover it.”
He handed the money to Jon.
“I’m sure it’s all there.” Jon said taking the rolls from Shine. They all walked out of the fitness center and went their separate ways.
Cash crept back into Gary. He had been sneaking around for two days but had no luck finding Doug. Cash visited his mom, aunt and cousin. He was staying with his son’s mother, Victoria, who loved him but couldn’t stand him. Victoria was the color of peanut butter with black hair and a curvaceous body. She was a nineteen year old who ran Cash’s life.
Cash was relishing being back in Gary. It didn’t bother him too much that he had to be creeping. He couldn’t find Doug and that bothered him. Cash checked with all of the women Doug messed with, his family members and even Doug’s mom. No luck. It had been a week and Cash became impatient. He knew it was only a matter of time before Doug would come out of hiding. Cash had put the word out on Doug, along with a fifty thousand reward.
All week long the boys worked on a plan to persuade Shine to sell them five bricks and front them another five. He knew they had money and would be good for the dough. It made no difference. The boys didn’t plan on paying.
Saturday rolled around. The boys were at Hudson Campbell ready to win more money and to bait Shine. Shawn was in the bleachers watching as Shine practiced sets.
The boys walked in at nine confident that Shine would agree to do business with them. Shawn waved and smiled. Zoe and Kay returned the greetings.
“What’s up fellas? Y’all ready to get it on?”
Shine made a cut then crossover between his legs. He probably traveled on the play Jon thought but hollered back at him.
“What’s the price?” Jon asked lacing his sneaks.
“I figure we play a series, best of five. If I win I keep my hundred thousand and if y’all win, well…” Shine paused smiling, picked up his gym bag and tossed it to Zoe. “Y’all get this.”
Zoe opened the bag and his mouth dropped open. “Two hundred G’s in there.” Shine said. The rest of the boys looked in the bag.
“Bet,” Jon said.
This time Shine and his team played with more enthusiasm. They executed plays Shine had worked out with them. The boys had seen the Benjamin’s’ in the gym bag and stepped up their game. They pulled away and easily won the first game. Shawn and Ron were in the bleachers cheering. Even though Shawn was supposed to be cheering only for Shine
’s team, she couldn’t help clapping for the boys. The second game was a repeat performance. The boys huddled and Jon spoke.
“Let them win the next two. Keep it close. But let ‘em win, build their confidence up. We got some suckers here and we can do this every weekend. It’s an easy come up until we come off. The last game we’ll win coming back.” The boys agreed with Jon. If they could do this every weekend there wouldn’t be a need to rob anybody.
The next two games went according to plan with the boys taking bad shots and missing easy lay-ups. Shine’s teammates started talking trash. Halfway through the final game the boys were down to two shots and didn’t have the ball. It was time to turn it up Zoe and Twon were worn down by the bigger opposing players and couldn’t deliver. Jon scored the next seven baskets, putting them up by two points. Kay provided a needed basket on a reverse lay-up.
“Y’all earned that,” Shine said in between breaths.
“Y’all played a hell of a lot better today,” Jon said sipping orange juice.
“You real nice with it don’t fuck up and throw it away like I did,” Shine said.
“Thanks,” Jon picking up the gym bag filled with dough.
“I really need to talk to you about something,” Shine said.
Jon already knew what he wanted to talk about. They walked to an area of the gym where they could be alone.
“So what’s up, Jay?”
“Yeah, we trying to lock the west down but we need a real plug. I heard that you was doing big thangs and maybe you can show us some love.”
Shine didn’t like doing business with kids. He decided to entertain Jon.
“What y’all trying to cop?”
Jon didn’t know what number to throw out there since Shine knew that they had at least two hundred to spend.
“Make me an offer,” Jon said smiling.
“I’ll tell you what,” Shine said looking at his Rolex. “I’ll fuck with y’all. I think y’all some cool lil dudes. Bring the two hundred thousand with y’all tomorrow and I’ll bring fifteen bricks. You know you can’t beat that price around here.”
Jon nodded in agreement even though he really didn’t know if he could’ve done better.
“Tomorrow,” Jon said shaking Shine’s hand.
Jon walked back over to his crew smiling. “It’s a go. I’ll tell y’all the happenings back in the Dungeon.”
The boys walked towards the exit with Shine, Shawn and the rest of Shine’s entourage right behind them. In the parking lot all were going separate ways.
“See ya’ll later,” Shine called out raising his fist. Gunfire erupted as soon as his fist came down. Shine grabbed Shawn and led her to safety. The boys paired up and scattered trying to see where the shots were coming from. Jon and Kay ducked behind a car and pulled out their Glocks. Don and Zoe were hiding behind a Chevy Blazer while Ron and Twon were five cars up hiding behind a blue Nova.
“Ya’ll strap?” Jon called out to Don and Zoe.
“I am but Zoe not,” Don yelled back.
“Where the fuck is it coming from?” Kay asked still unable to pinpoint the location of the shooters.
“They straight ahead,” Jon said looking to see how far away their rides were parked. We just gone have to let off a couple and ease forward. Kay, don’t get trigger happy. Save some bullets.”
He readied himself to dash across to where Don and Zoe were. Shine had made it to his two-door ‘63 sky blue Impala, sitting on deep-dish Dayton’s and equipped with sixteen switches.
“Aren’t you going too help them?” Shawn asked concerned for the boy’s safety.
“Hell no!” Shine turned the key in the ignition. “Let them deal with their own shit.”
“I can’t believe big bad Shine, gone leave some little kids he likes get killed. I thought I knew you. I guess I was wrong.”
“I got you with me. I have to think about your safety.”
Shawn didn’t even blink. Shine became angry and said, “Fuck it! Get in the backseat and lay down.” He reached for his Tec 9 as Shawn crawled to the back of the car. Seeing where the boys were pinned down, he made his move to be the hero Shawn wanted.
The boys saw the ’63 Chevy racing towards them with the driver holding a gun out of the window. Thinking that the driver was part of the group shooting at them, the boys turned and were about to fire when the driver started busting in the direction of the shooters. Shine unload seventy-five shots, then came to a stop in front of the boys. “Get in.”
The boys jumped in the car with Kay letting off a couple more shots.
“Thanks man, that was on time,” Jon said from the backseat.
“No big deal.” Shine said stopping to pick up Ron and Twon.
“Man, who the fuck was that?” Ron asked getting in the car and looking around to see if all the shooters were gone.
“We’ll discuss it later.” Jon said glancing back.
“We right here,” Don said pointing to their cars.
“What do the SCC stand for?” Shine asked. The boys looked at each other. A minute later Jon spoke.
“It stands for Straight Conservative Clique.”
Shine looked at Don, smiled and said, “I knew y’all were Vice Lords the first time I met Jay. He kinda turned his nose up at my chain. Its cool though. Y’all good little dudes. We straight.” He nodded.
The boys exited Shine’s car and Jon lost his balance landing with his left hand on Shawn’s lap and his head on her breast. “My fault,” he said smiling awkwardly.
“It’s all right,” Shawn said smiling at him. Shine saw nothing.
“Be cool,” Jon said as he got out of the car.
“Tomorrow,” Shine said as he pulled out a CD case.
Jon held the door open as Shawn got out the backseat. He waited for her to sit before closing the door. “Take care,” he said.
“You too,” Shawn said.
Cash had a huge fight with his son’s mom after refusing to fuck her. Victoria loved to fuck. Victoria held on to her feelings for Cash but he didn’t have any for her. Victoria smacked him in the head with a coffee mug.
“Get the fuck out,” she ordered. Cash did but not before busting her nose, splitting her lip and blackening both her eyes. It all started when Cash’s cousin called him telling him that Doug was living with a girl who worked at McDonald’s. Cash planned to follow her home and enter the house, catching Doug by surprise.
He entered the Mickey-D’s looking around for any female he had seen Doug with. Having no success, he went on line hoping someone would call out her name. A pretty, light skinned woman was at the counter. She asked for his order. Cash was ordering and noticed how cute the woman was and his eyes started roaming over parts of her body not covered by the counter.
“Jossie…” Cash said aloud when his eyes came across her name tag.
“Yes,” the woman responded with a beautiful smile.
“I’ve never met anyone with the name Jossie before. I have a God-daughter named Josephine and we call her Jossie.”
“That’s my real name.” Jossie said pointing at herself before she added, “And I have a niece named Josephine, we also call her Jossie.”
Now Cash knew exactly why Doug was staying with her. Cash started to have doubts. He now remembered Jossie from when she was a little girl. Although Cash was six years older than Jossie he had a crush on her. When he was younger, he called her his Angel. Cash placed his order and went and sat in a booth.
“Fuck that nigga, he ain’t shit no way,” Victoria said into her phone.
“Why are you now telling me all this now?” A man’s voice on the other end asked.
“I don’t know. I guess I call myself trying to save a nigga that didn’t want to be saved,” Victoria said visibly upset about the ass kicking she took.
“I been told you that he didn’t love you the way I do. Don’t worry bout it. I’m about to call my peoples and we gone take care of him sump’n good.”
“Thanks, I love you daddy
,” Victoria purred.
“Yeah, I love you too, baby.”
“Excuse me sir, but do I know you?” Cash looked up from his table with a smile that spread from ear-to ear.
“No, I don’t think so,” Cash said staring in her light green eyes. “But I would love to get to know you.”
Jossie smiled and politely said, “I would love to because it’s something familiar about you. It’s just that right now is not a good time.”
“That’s my cell number and my pager number. If you need anything at all, please, don’t hesitate to give me a call.”
“Goodbye,” she said and put the number in her pocketbook.
The boys really didn’t want to check in with Bay Bro. They all felt like they were bothering him too much with their petty wars. They weren’t little boys anymore who needed to check in with a keeper whenever they ran into problems. They were hyped to let Bay Bro know how they were feeling. The boys had a change of heart when they pulled in front of his house.
“What’s up old man?” Don said as he sat down on the couch.
“I’m glad ya’ll here because I need ya’ll to make a run with me,” Bay Bro said.
The boys looked at each other smiling. It was their time to shine.
“What we waiting on,” Kay said jumping up from his chair.
“Calm down,” Bay Bro smiled. “Let me grab something and then we can be out.”
Lynette was asleep on the sofa. Jon went over to Lynette and started rubbing her forehead when Bay Bro left.
“Man, it’s about time that Bay Bro took notice,” Twon said.
“Yeah man, it’s long overdue,” Kay agreed.
“I wonder what’s up,” Don pondered.
“It’s probably nothing,” Jon said and continued to lightly rub Lynette’s head.
Bay Bro came back out and saw Jon sitting on the armrest of the sofa rubbing Lynette’s head.
“You can stay here with Lynette,” he said.
“After we done I’ll just come back and spend some time with her,” Jon said.
“Jon.” Bay Bro said putting his hand on Jon’s shoulder. “Trust me. This nothing, I need you to stay here with Lynette because she’s sick. When she wakes up, I want someone be here.”
A Good Day to Die Page 7
