The Streets Keep Calling

by Chunichi

  My secretary buzzed not even five minutes after Mr. Biggs and Maria had walked out of my office. “Ms. Johnson, the tellers need you up front.”

  “Mrs. Biggs, unfortunately, our shipment is running late. I won’t have those brand new hundreds for you for the next hour. As an alternative, I can get you brand new fifty dollar bills,” I heard my lead teller say as I walked up.

  “I’ve been coming in the branch every week at 4:00 P.M. with the same request. This isn’t anything new. I want my hundreds. And I want them now,” Maria demanded as she looked me up and down while clenching her Chanel purse.

  For the next ten minutes, she gave me a lecture about how much she and Mr. Biggs had invested with the bank, as though they were our only big clients. Believe me, we had other clients with much more than Mr. Biggs. As my temples tightened, I decided to call another branch. Fortunately, they had those precious brand new hundreds Maria so desperately needed.

  “I’m going to have to go to another branch to get the money for you, Maria. It will take me about thirty minutes. Is that okay?” I asked, hoping she would decline my offer since she had dinner plans.

  “You’re ruining my dinner plans, but I will wait. I’m sending you to teach you a lesson. I’m sure the next time you will be prepared,” Maria barked.

  I didn’t respond as I walked out of the bank. My assistant manager and I drove to the other branch. When we returned, Maria made me personally count each bill into her hand. I developed a terrible migraine from the fiasco, and decided to go home. I quickly straightened my desk and packed up my things, then headed out the door.

  “Smile, baby girl. It can’t be that bad.” I looked up to see a familiar face. I instantly recognized the little cutie I’d met the night before. He was passing by as I was heading out the door.

  “Yes, it is.” I nodded smiling.

  “Aw. You need a hug, sweetheart?” The cleaning guy smiled, showing his perfect pearly whites.

  “I need a hug, foot rub, and an Excedrin,” I vented.

  “Don’t you have a man to do all that for you?” he asked right away.

  “I don’t see how that’s any of your business. But if you must know, yes, I do have a man,” I replied, even though I was lying through my teeth. I was not about to admit how alone and desperately single I really was. Shoot, I wished I did have a man to go home to on tiring days like today.

  “I know you’re lying, but it’s cool.” He smirked, “I can afford to give you that hug now, but I’m gonna have to owe you that foot rub.”

  “Nothing is this world is free. What are you going to expect in return?” I quickly responded, knowing the business of give and take.

  “You won’t owe me anything. You’ve already paid me with your smile. I really needed to have a beautiful woman smile at me today, so you can say we’ll be even. Your smile will carry until tomorrow. Problem is, what am I gonna do when I need my next fix?” He gave me a mischievous smile, then continued, “I’m gonna need to see you every morning for that.”

  “And how do you plan on making that happen?” I asked, curious to hear how this guy would respond. His words were so corny, but his swagger was adorable.

  “Well, I was thinking. You could give me your number. Then give me your address. Then I’ll stop by every morning, give you a call, and tell you I’m outside. Then you could just stick your head out the window and smile.” We both burst out in laughter. This guy was hilarious!

  “I can’t give you my address, but I will take your number.” Although I knew deep inside that I had no intention of calling this guy, there was no way I could tell him no. He was so sweet and charming. After all, he did put a smile on my face.

  “Okay. What’s the number?” I pulled out my BlackBerry Curve, and entered his number as he called out each digit.

  “What’s your name, baby girl?” he asked.

  “Tanisha. And yours?”

  “Breeze.”

  “Breeze?” I giggled. I could only imagine where such a name came from.

  “Yep,” he said proudly, like he wasn’t ashamed to have such a foolish nickname.

  “Okay, Breeze. You have a good evening.” I wrapped up our conversation.

  “You do the same,” he replied.

  After a few steps, I heard a call. “Yo, Tanisha!”

  I turned around to see Breeze standing with his arms wide open. “You forgot your hug!”

  Although it was tempting, I didn’t go around hugging perfect strangers, so I politely declined. “Thanks for the offer, but I’ll be fine. Maybe next time.”

  Chapter 3

  Apple of My Eye Mr. Biggs

  Of course my princess, Maria, is worthy of a man’s faithful love, but I am such a great man that I feel it is only fair to spread myself around. So that’s why every time I visit the bank, I make sure to give all the ladies a little taste. Sure, it is fun flirting with the different women there, but there is one of them in particular I have my heart set on, and that is Tanisha. Her innocence, professionalism, and extreme patience turn me on. Not only that, the woman is sexy as hell. She has a perfectly round booty with a cute little waist and thick thighs, and her breasts are the perfect size for me. I could close my eyes and feel my big, strong hands gripping those beautiful globes. Sometimes it even irritates me when Maria gives her a hard time. I think deep down inside Maria knows I have a thing for Tanisha. Hell, I am a man who believes you can have as many women as you can afford. Looking at my bank account, I can afford a whole army of women.

  I’ve always been a ladies’ man. I come from a long line of pimps and players. All of my uncles have plenty of money and women, and even my brothers do too. I guess I followed in their footsteps when it comes to the women, but instead of beating them, and mistreating them I am always more of the charmer. My oldest brother was one of the biggest dope dealers in Baltimore when we were younger. He had so many women he didn’t know what do with them. Hell, it was one of his women I lost my virginity to. I came home from school on my sixteenth birthday and walked in my bedroom to find one of his girls on my bed, ass naked with her legs cocked open. “Happy Birthday,” she sang as soon as I opened the door. I remember it like it was yesterday.

  Although I love the ladies and love spoiling them even more, I demand loyalty and respect. I am sure to keep my woman in line, but I do it using the correct means.

  “Was that really necessary, honey?” I asked Maria as we drove toward the oceanfront. Since she insisted on waiting for new hundred-dollar bills, we’d missed our dinner reservations downtown, so I had to make new ones near the oceanfront.

  “Of course it was. They have got to learn to be prepared for my arrival,” Maria said, as if the world stopped for her.

  The sound of my ringing phone interrupted our conversation.

  “Biggs,” I answered.

  “Sorry to bother you. I know this is usually your dinner time with the family, but I got a little piece of information you may want to know,” Mannie said.

  “Yeah? And what is that?” I wondered what the hell could be so important that Mannie had to call me outside of working hours. All my men knew I had certain hours of operation. Unless there was an emergency, no one was to call me outside of my working hours. I know the streets never close, but, through the years, I had put in enough time and dedication, and now I had my top soldiers to run my business so I could afford to set my hours.

  “Breeze is home.”

  I was silent as I took in this bit of information. I’d hoped that I would receive that information from Maria and not off the streets. Now I had to wonder what she had to hide.

  “A’ight. Keep watch and let me know what’s up,” I said, then hung up the phone.

  “Maria.” I glanced over at her sitting comfortably in the passenger seat of my BMW 750.

  “Yes?”

  “Is there anything you want to tell me?” I asked, giving her the opportunity to tell me about her husband’s release.

  “What do you mean, Biggs? Is t
here something you would like to know?” Maria said, full of attitude.

  “This is not the time to sass me, woman,” I said firmly to let her know I was serious.

  “Well, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “You think you should have told me about your husband being home?” I said calmly as we pulled up to the restaurant.

  “No, because that’s very insignificant. But if you must know, he is home and I have talked to him. I simply told him me and the kids have moved on, and that I want him to give up his parental rights so that you may raise them. I laid down the facts,” Maria said, then looked in the mirror and applied her lip gloss.

  “That’s my baby girl. Keep daddy happy. Next time just make sure you keep daddy informed. I don’t want to hear shit off the streets. I want to hear it from my woman. You understand?” I was proud Maria did what she’d planned for years, but, at the same time, I had to let her know that nothing happened without me knowing about it first. Now that that was discussed and over with, it was time for some good old Atlantic Ocean seafood. Maria, the kids, and I, pulled up to valet parking, hopped out of the car, and headed into the restaurant.

  Chapter 4

  Time For a Change Breeze

  “Here you go, son,” the boss man said as he handed me my very first check.

  “Goddamn, man. It’s about time,” I mumbled as I reached out for my pay. I hurried to open my check.

  I was finally getting some money of my own. My hourly wage was ten dollars. I had worked forty hours a week for the past two weeks without getting paid yet. Apparently, we got paid weekly, but they hold on to your first week’s check when you start a new job. I am not used to having to wait for my money like that. After I involuntarily donated to somebody name FICA, Medicare, and the state of Virginia, I barely had enough to buy a pair of Gucci sneakers. At this point Gucci, Louis, Prada, and all the fine things I was used to were all mere memories. I might as well have been working for free. For the first time in my life I understood what Ma meant when I would hear her say, “I work my behind off every day tryin’a make a dollar, but instead I get paid in nickels and dimes.” Not to mention, I would have to pay a fee to cash this little-ass check when I took it to the check cashing spot. Nevertheless, I took my check and rolled with it. Even though I personally couldn’t do much with that little money, it was enough for me to grab a few things for my kids. I strolled through Lynnhaven Mall to see what kind of stuff I could pick up for them.

  “My little nigga is gonna love these,” I said to the cashier before handing her the money for the new Jordans I’d just purchased for my son. These shits were hot. I just hoped I had copped the right size for him. I hadn’t seen him in years, but Ma had his size from the last time the “mixed-breed bitch” let her see her grandkids, so I bought it the next size up.

  After leaving Kids Foot Locker, I visited the toy store and grabbed a few dolls for my Kaylen. Then I stopped by the cell phone booth and purchased a cheap little Boost Mobile. I wasted no time calling Maria.

  “Hello?” she answered right away.

  “What up, Maria?”

  “How did you get my number?” she questioned.

  “I could say fate. You know God don’t like ugly. Or maybe you shouldn’t put your shit in your pocket without locking it.” I tried my best to stay calm while speaking to her.

  “Okay, whatever. So are you calling to take me up on my offer?” Maria said in a condescending tone.

  I wanted to say, “Fuck no,” but instead I laughed and said, “Are you serious? You want me to let a next nigga raise my kids? You really expect me to sign over my rights for some two thousand dollars, Maria? I’ve lost a lot of things but I refuse to lose my kids. I ain’t have no control over the other things I’ve lost, but I can do something about this shit. I’ll do whatever it takes, Maria. Even if that means I have to drag your ass to court.”

  “First of all, in order to do that you would need to hire an attorney, which requires money, which you don’t have. So what are you going to do, Breeze, get a court-appointed attorney? You would never win! Ha, ha, ha, ha!” Maria laughed in my ear like she took me for a fucking joke.

  “Oh, so I’m a fucking joke now? What’s a joke to you is death to me.” I tried hinting to Maria my kids were serious shit to me.

  “Is that a fucking threat, Breeze?” Maria yelled.

  “Take it how you wanna take it. All I’m saying is I gave you all I had. I loved you and gave you everything you ever wanted or asked me for. I busted my ass to make you happy, Maria. You can’t tell me you don’t remember none of that. It’s always been all about you, even when you turned your back on me while I was in prison. None of that shit matters now. If you have ever loved me, even in the least bit, I’m begging you, please; just let me see my kids,” I pleaded.

  Fortunately, after all that arguing and begging, Maria agreed to let me see my kids at Mount Trashmore. I can’t lie, that shit made my day. To see my kids again made the two weeks of slaving and cleaning well worth it. I couldn’t wait to get to the park to hug my children tight, and see how much they’d grown and what they looked like.

  I arrived at the park thirty minutes early, anxiously anticipating the arrival of my children. My heart pounded as I saw Maria and the kids walking toward me. My mind was racing. Will my kids remember me? Do they even know I’m their father? And what about Maria…How am I suppose to deal with her?

  “All right, let’s get this over with. I have a spa appointment and I can’t be late,” Maria said as soon as she walked up.

  “Wow! After over three years without contact—no visit, no phone call, not even a letter—that’s the first thing you say to me? How about ‘how you been, nice to see you,’ or something?” I screwed my face up and shook my head at Maria’s evil ass.

  “Whatever. What would be nice is getting a full body massage, facial, and body wrap instead of me wasting my time with you. I don’t even know why I agreed to come here. But since I’m here, you have thirty minutes with the kids.” She was sure to make it clear she’d rather be doing other things than be here with me.

  Ignoring Maria’s comments, I directed my attention toward my children.

  “Man, y’all are so grown up.” I greeted them with hugs.

  A cold chill went down my spine as my kids turned back to look at Maria to make sure it was okay to hug their own damn father. I was their own flesh and blood, not that Mr. Biggs nigga. Putting my anger aside, I didn’t hesitate to pull out the stuff I bought for them.

  “The kids won’t like these things. You should have asked me before buying…Excuse me, you probably stole it. You know you’re broke. They’re into Nintendo Wiis, DS games, and PlayStation 3,” Maria stated.

  After that bitch opened her mouth, I was afraid the kids wouldn’t want what I bought, but, to my surprise, they did love their gifts.

  “Wow! Jordans! My friend Nicolas has all the Jordans but Mom wouldn’t buy me any. She said they were for ghetto kids. I told you they were cool, Mom!” Jaden said full of excitement. That put a permanent smile on my face. At that very moment, I felt like I was on top of the world.

  With time ticking, I quickly took the kids over to the play area and played with them for a while. Just when we were really bonding and having fun, Maria brought her ass over tapping her diamond-faced Rolex watch.

  “Your time is up,” she shouted.

  “Okay, kids. Time for you to go. Daddy will see you later,” I followed the guidelines Maria set, in hopes that she will allow me to continue to visit with my children on a regular basis.

  “Where are you living now? How will I be able to reach my kids?” I pleaded with my wife.

  “You have a number for me. What more do you need?”

  “Yeah, but you won’t answer, Maria. I had to call for days before you picked up. Can I buy the kids a cell phone at least? I just want to be able to speak to them on a daily basis and see them at least once a week.” I pleaded with my wife from hell.
r />   Maria refused to give me any contact information, and refused to allow the kids to have a cell phone. I had to wonder, What the fuck did I do to make this woman hate me so much? I no longer put up a fight. I just let Maria have her way, and ended the argument. In order to speak to my children, I would call her every day a hundred times a day if I had to.

  I gave my children a final hug, and watched as they walked away with their mother. A sudden sadness fell over me as I realized I didn’t know when I would see my kids again. Maria had truly turned into a coldhearted bitch. Had she always been like this and I never noticed? I didn’t understand how this could be the same woman I had fallen in love with. Damn, maybe I had been blinded by love back in the day. Either that or her nice attitude had been bought with my money. Then it dawned on me that maybe she’d always been this way and I was too caught up with my own shit to notice it.

  After leaving the park I headed home. I’d had a long day and I was tired.

  “My baby got his first real paycheck today,” Ma announced as soon as I walked in the house.

  Damn, I should have never told her when I was getting paid, because I knew she would be looking for a handout, I thought as I attempted to walk past her and head to my bedroom.

  “The electric bill needs to get paid today, Breeze. You can go pay it at the nearest grocery store,” she urged, handing me a piece of paper with the account number jotted down on it.

  “Ma, I spent all of my money,” I admitted.

  “On what? I hope it wasn’t for that mixed-breed bitch.”

  “No, I bought a few things for the kids. Before I knew it, the money was spent.”

  “Breeze, that was rightly dignified; but where you rest your head at needs some help too. Damn it, I was counting on you to pay this bill for me,” Ma explained while pulling out a cigarette, then rubbing her temples.