Ghetto Girls Too

by Anthony Whyte

  “Good morning, Miss Katie,” she said greeting the old lady while trying to wipe the sleep from her eyes.

  “Coco, did you see the news on the TV? They arrested that man, Eric ah...”

  “They arrested Eric Ascot for what?”

  “Oh Coco, it was on the news,” Miss Katie said pushing her weight past Coco. “It was on all the channels, Coco.” Miss Katie reached out to turn on the television. “It’s on every single one of the channels in the city,” she said getting anxious when the screen remained blank. “Coco, is it plugged in? How come there ain’t no picture?” Miss Katie asked.

  “It’s old and has to warm up, Miss Katie. What was Eric arrested for?”

  “Oh girl, they got him for guns and shooting. He had a shoot out with rivals, the news said. Go get ready and come by. Oh, by the way, Josephine said to tell you she’s on her way.”

  “Thanks, Miss Katie. I’ll come over in a minute, alright?”

  “Okay Coco. That man... Oh Lord, help him.” The door slammed cutting off Miss Katie’s prayers.

  “Oh shit,” Coco exclaimed as her television had finally come on. “I gotta buy mommy a television for Mother’s Day,” she whispered. She sat down and attentively watched the news cast.

  ...Music mogul, Eric Ascot, was released from jail where he spent the night after what police described as a wild shoot out in the city last night. Mr. Ascot was arrested on a possession of weapons charge as well as reckless endangerment charges. Both charges carry stiff penalties. This is what his attorney had to say earlier today...

  The scene shifted to Eric Ascot being led out in handcuffs then changed to outside Central Booking where his attorney was being shown jawing with the media. Eric was shown being escorted to a waiting limousine. The scene is reverted to the newsroom. ...His attorney said that his client was being framed by the police and promised that the truth would come out. Police said they are investigating the shooting. Mr. Ascot’s SUV was riddled with bullets when, at about eleven o’clock last night, police were called to the scene of a gang-style shoot out. An NYPD spokesperson reported that the first officers on the scene were greeted by a hail of gunfire coming from the direction of Mr. Ascot’s vehicle and rival gang members. We’ll keep you posted with up to the minute broadcasts as the case develops. Elsewhere...

  Coco turned the shower on and stepped in. She let the water beat on her shoulders as she digested the news she had just received. Lil’ Long was released already? She wondered. No, couldn’t be. He’s still supposed to be locked down. Maybe he had his boys doing the dirty. Maybe it’s them crooked cops fucking with Eric. Coco’s thoughts flowed freely along with the water. Later, she dressed and went to see Miss Katie.

  SIXTY-ONE

  Lil Long walked into the workout area where Nesto told him he would be. It was plain to see that Lil’ Long didn’t belong. He moved between big bulges of biceps and quads. He spotted Nesto surrounded by some other prisoners. They were all working out, lifting heavy weights. Lil’ Long ambled over to their corner of the gym.

  “Yo, y’all mad diesel on this side here,” he said and embraced Nesto.

  “Sup, Lil’ Long,” Nesto replied. “You look like you may wanna join me and my peeps here. Everyone, this Lil’ Long, the cat from around the way. Don’t tell me you forgot? Nesto just mentioned that shit less than an hour ago.”

  “You up, Nesto. It’s your set, baby,” a man with huge biceps said.

  “Excuse me here, daddy. This the last set I’m doing. These Russians ain’t gonna kill Nesto,” he said then put himself in position to lift the weight. Lil’ Long watched Nesto hoist the barbell filled with big round plates of steel. Lil’ Long was getting dizzy after the fifteenth rep but he could hear the grunts as Nesto hefted the barbell again and again. After the twentieth rep, the weights slammed down.

  “Whoa, hold up. You da fucking man. How much weight was that?” Lil’ long asked as he gave Nesto a pound.

  “Yo,” Nesto said gasping. “That was what? Five fifteen, five twenty and change?” Nesto huffed. “Ya gotta do that shit twenty times, daddy,” he said as his breathing slowly returned to norm.

  “Shit, that’s a lot. Neva ketch me doing no shit like that. No way, baby. The only thing I’m lifting up is da four pound... Desert Eagles, kid.” Lil’ Long laughed and Nesto joined him as they walked away.

  “Let’s go blaze sump’n, my nigga. I wanna tell you ‘bout my son. Daddy you know Tina?”

  “Which Tina?”

  “You gotta see her. She da bomb, kid. Got da fatty with long black hair. Nice pair o’ tatas too.”

  “Yeah, she sounds like a dime. I must’ve seen her in da hood. Where she hang?”

  “She be uptown all da time on da Eastside. Her peeps Puerto Rican.” As Nesto painted the picture, Lil’ Long realized exactly who he was referring to and tried not to seem shocked when he heard Nesto saying, “She got my shortie, my little man. Nesto Junior, that’s my heart, daddy. C’mon, let’s blaze this and I’ll show you a picture of him, sun.” Nesto swaggered with confidence to the cell block and found the picture. He made himself busy rolling the blunt as Lil’ Long took a look at the photo. He recognized the beautiful woman as Tina from around the way. This was a chick he had dogged many a night. A smile consumed his demeanor.

  “You got a lovely fam, man,” Lil’ Long said with wink.

  SIXTY-TWO

  Josephine walked up the stairs because she was familiar with the place. She had been to Coco’s home before and even though it wasn’t her favorite, she climbed the stairs knowing that she and Coco would hang out and chit chat. She also wanted to go shopping. Coco may not dress the part but she knew all the hot spots and had an unbiased taste in style. If it didn’t look good on you, she’d let you know immediately. Unlike my boring ass mother who’s always saying everything looks good on you and buy what you want. Josephine was deep in thought when a couple of kids ran by her.

  “Huh! Damn, you guys scared me. Take it easy before you fall, little bad ass boys. Where are your parents?” she asked aloud as she knocked on Coco’s door. Just then the elevator door swung open and two girls, one pushing a stroller, got off. Josephine remembered their faces but she couldn’t recall their names. She knew one was Deja’s baby mother. This must be their floor also, she thought as they walked toward her.

  “Hi, remember me from Busta’s thing?” one of the girls asked.

  “Yes, right. That’s where we met,” Josephine said and knocked again. She heard rustling from within. “It’s Josephine. Is Coco inside?” Coco opened the door and saw the crowd in the hall.

  “Chill, Jo, you crazy ass. Oh, what’s good, Kim. Hi, Tina,” Coco said nodding at the girls. Josephine turned around and smiled. “You remember my friend, Jo, right?” Coco asked.

  “Yeah, we were about to...” Josephine started to say when the door adjacent to Coco’s opened and Miss Katie peeked out.

  “Why, everyone is here,” she beamed. “Hey, Coco and...?”

  “Hi, Miss Katie. This is my friend from school and the singing group, Josephine,” Coco said.

  “Josephine,” Miss Katie repeated. “Your face seems familiar. How’re doing, Josephine? Any friend of Coco is a friend of mine. Hey, Roshawn, are you coming to spend the day with Grandma Katie?” Miss Katie bent over and picked up the infant boy.

  “Yes, Roshawn is here to spend the day. I appreciate it so much, Miss Katie,” Kim said. “Did you ever meet my friend, Tina?”

  “Bring his carriage inside. Nice to meet you, Tina,” Miss Katie said to Kim and Tina. Then she smiled and said, “Coco and Josephine, I’ll see you all later, ya hear. Gotta go take care of my cute boyfriend. Hey, Roshawn, whatcha up to, baby boy, smiling with them big eyes?”

  “Bye y’all,” said Josephine as she waved.

  “See y’all. I’ll talk to you later, Miss Katie,” Coco said before Josephine walked into the apartment and the door closed behind her.

  “I don’t think she heard ya. She was too busy with
that kid. Is that what’s-his-face’s baby?” Josephine asked excitedly.

  “Who is what’s-his-face? That’s Deja’s son.”

  “Yeah, that’s who I meant, Deja. Deja has such a cute little boy,” Josephine said then she glanced around the place. “Damn, Coco, you need to fix this place.” She laughed.

  “Very funny, bitch. What ol’ hole did you crawl out from?” Coco asked.

  “Whatever, bitch.” Josephine answered and flipped her middle finger.

  “Whatever, bitch,” Coco responded unveiling both her middle fingers.

  “You know what? It’s all good cause I’m rich.”

  “Speaking of rich, did you get the number for Danielle’s mother?” Coco asked and when Josephine hesitated, Coco continued. “You forgot, right?”

  “I wasn’t even thinking about that shit when I got home. All I could...”

  “Think? You didn’t need to think. You’re walking around with a ten thousand dollar check. What is there to think about?”

  “If your mother was riding you all day long then...”

  “That’s just excuses, bitch. Speaking of mothers, I need to buy my mom a lil’ Mother’s Day sump’n, sump’n before I forget.”

  “Oh really? What’re you getting her? Furniture would be nice. Maybe a nice living room set. Hmm, just what the doctor ordered.”

  “See, you’re asking to be kicked out.”

  “No, I’m just making gift suggestions.”

  “I suggest you keep your damn suggestions to yourself. You brought da weed, yo?”

  “Thought you’d never ask. You’re gonna roll, right? Cause you know me when it comes to rolling a blunt.”

  “Yeah, I know. You’d rather give brains before you roll.”

  “You just take shit I tell you and throw it back in my face. Here, roll this shit already,” Josephine said and threw the bag of weed at Coco. She examined the bag for a few seconds too long for Josephine who stood staring anxiously, awaiting Coco’s approval.

  “Aw shit, my girl got the purple stuff. Ahight, Jo. This that shit, yo,” Coco said happily. “We ready for the party tonight, yo. We got enough weed here to last a minute. How much did you spend?”

  “I guess it meets your standards, huh, Miss Weedology,” Josephine deadpanned. Coco ignored her and was busy breaking up the buds from the stalk. She slit open a cigar, emptied the tobacco and replaced it with the finely ground from between her fingers. “Anyway, who said I spent shit? That’s from Geo’s stash,” Josephine continued with a smile.

  “Oh, don’t tell me that nigga already boned you, girl?” Coco said as she licked the blunt-wrap and sealed it.

  “I won’t tell you cuz he ain’t. I wish but I got my period.”

  “Thank God cuz I know you’d already give up the chocha,” Coco said as she got down to the business at hand. She ran her fingers over the outside until the blunt was smooth and dry. “Let’s go by the kitchen window and take a few puffs.”

  “Look at you. Let me know you smoking in da crib now,” Josephine said as she joined Coco by the window.

  “This my spot right here. Madukes ain’t around so I might as well stunt in my own crib.”

  “Word,” Josephine said as she watched Coco open the window then light the blunt. She saw someone who had become more important to her while they were apart. Josephine realized she missed not only the camaraderie of the group but the individuals too. Danielle was gone forever, Josephine thought as she watched Coco suck on the blunt, hold her breath then exhale a cloud of smoke. She’d come to cherish more the time spent with Coco. “How does it burn, Coco?”

  “Oh, it’s purple haze and it’s good, yo. This da shit. Here, see for yourself,” Coco said holding her breath and speaking at the same time. The whole time smoke flowed in and out of her mouth. It was a difficult act that Coco had mastered. Josephine appreciated it as she tried to do the same thing and wound up choking instead.

  “Oh, oh...” Josephine started to speak but ended up in a coughing fit. “You’re right, Coco,” she finally said. “This da shit.” Josephine started to cough again.

  “I’ll get you sump’n to drink, Jo,” she said and reached for a glass. She poured the girl some cherry flavored Kool Aid and handed the glass to her.

  “Hey,” Josephine said taking the glass. “I’m official in da hood now. Weed and Kool Aid. Thanks, Coco,” Josephine said and gulped.

  “You’re welcome, bitch, and don’t get the blunt tip wet. I hate that shit. You ever smoke wit niggas and they gotta slob all over the blunt then try to pass it to you? I be like, you can keep that shit. I’ll be mad if da weed’s da bomb though.”

  “Shit, I ain’t trying to smoke wit no nigga that slob. Cuz if you gonna smoke wit him then he’s gonna wanna know why he can’t slob you down?”

  “See, you getting ready to start talking all that freaky shit. Just in case you forgot, I’m Coco and not Danielle. You and her might be into that freaky nastiness but I am not,” Coco said. “Look, you let the blunt go dead. I’m a put my sneaks on and then let’s bounce up out this piece and go shopping.”

  “Coco, have you heard from Dee?”

  “No but did you see that shit about her uncle on the news?”

  “What shit?”

  “He was arrested on some gun charges and shit, girl.”

  “Word?”

  “It was on the news all morning. You been under a rock or sump’n, yo?”

  “I went home and fell out alright. I put earplugs in my ears and slept with blinders on,” Josephine said. As Coco slipped on her sneakers, Josephine relit the blunt. She puffed and gazed out the window. After a few puffs, she began to speak. “There are a lot of people in this city,” she said. “I wonder what would happen if I go. Nobody would know. I mean, nobody would care.”

  “Jo, get away from the window and pass the blunt,” Coco said walking to the window. She took the blunt from between Josephine’s fingers. “Why you bugging and talking all that BS, yo?” Coco asked taking a drag. “Of course, people would care if Miss Josephine Johnson died, yo,” Coco said and went back to making sure the laces on her sneakers were just right. Josephine’s mood was unchanged by what Coco had said. She gazed from the window and saw the mad dash of people seemingly running off to nowhere. Buses, cabs and dollar vans were transporting them with faces of gloom like they were going to their doom. We’re all hypocrites, she thought. She turned to see Coco puffing away.

  “Nobody would care, Coco.”

  “You’re just saying that because, right now, you mad at your parents, Jo. I’m quite sure they’d at least care about...”

  “My mother and father, they’re too concerned about what each other is gonna gain from this divorce,” Josephine said. She reached for the blunt. Coco hesitated in passing it.

  “You sure you can handle this, yo?” she asked.

  “Word, it’s too strong for me. I don’t need anymore,” she said. Coco continued to puff. “Yo, going through this divorce thing with my parents is like a fucking game. You don’t even know. Wanna see two adults who are supposed to be sensible act the fool? Just get married and after living together over eighteen years, tell the other, ‘You know what? I don’t think this marriage is working.’ Then after awhile, you’ll see what’s it all about. ‘Well, if you’re gonna leave then I want this and I want that’ and back and forth. It boils down to damn material shit and money. That’s why I say they wouldn’t give a shit if I died today. They too busy with their own shit to even so much as care.”

  “Here,” Coco said handing Josephine the blunt. “You might need this after all, yo.”

  “Yeah, I probably could use some more,” Josephine said and took a pull. She exhaled and realized Coco was standing closer and watching her keenly. “What, I’m violating puff-puff-pass?” she asked Coco and saw her shaking her head. “What? What is it, Coco? My make-up? What’s wrong with it?” Josephine asked.

  “I would care, Jo. I would give a fuck if you died today,” Coco said and
the girls embraced.

  “That’s sweet, Coco. I know we like sisters but you’re not just saying this because of the weed, are you?” Josephine teased. They both laughed.

  “Yes, I must admit the weed’s got sump’n to do with it but...”

  “You bitch, you,” Josephine said interrupting.

  “If you let me finish my statement.”

  “Speak to the hand, bitch,” Josephine said and thrust her hand in front of Coco’s face.

  “See, you gonna make me have to whip your counchy ass.”

  “Counchy, bitch? The word is country, okay.”

  “Whatever. Let’s bounce, yo.”

  “Yeah, let’s go shopping plus I’m getting hungry.”

  “You haven’t eaten breakfast? Me neither.”

  “Yo, Coco, there goes your girls. Who’re they again, Fifi and Dodo?”

  “Where? What’re you talking ‘bout, girl?”

  “Here, out the window trying to get a cab,” Josephine said and Coco walked back to the window.

  “Oh, Kim and Tina. What did you call ‘em?” Coco giggled. “Their dresses are so tight, I know they can’t breathe properly,” Coco said as she and Josephine watched from the window.

  “Yeah but they don’t care. The men love that shit.”

  “Exactly and that’s why they be akin stupid, yo. Walking around switching they asses. They just straight up hos,” Coco said as cabs raced from all over vying to get to Kim and Tina.

  “See, she can’t even get into the cab without drawing a crowd cuz her dress is too tight. They thongs are showing.”

  “Yeah, but some men think that’s sexy.”

  “Who cares what skuzzy men think?” Coco asked and pointed Josephine’s attention to a group running to get the cab door for Kim and Tina. “Do you know that Kim and I used to have a fight every single day for about a month when we were in grade school?”

  “Get out,” Josephine declared with a smile. “Did you whip her ass?” she asked as they gathered everything and walked out the door.