The Ex Factor: A Novel

by Whitaker, Tu-Shonda

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “And I expect you to apologize, understand?”

  “Yes.”

  “School is for you to learn, not fight.”

  “Yes. I'm sorry.”

  Kree hugged Jamal, he ran his hand over his braids and noticed that they needed to be done. “Grab your jacket, man.” Jamal ran and grabbed his Power Rangers jacket.

  “Man if you don't put that back…” Kree laughed. “Where's your goose-down vest I brought you?”

  “In the closet.”

  “Well put it on and let's go. We need to get our hair braided.”

  “Is it ai'ight”—Kree turned to Imani—“or his father gon' mind?”

  “Don't be smart.”

  Imani stood back and watched Jamal's face light up as Kree grabbed him by the hand and they walked out. I'ma dumb bitch, she thought to herself, how the hell did I fuck that up?

  … … …

  “YO, IMANI,” SABRENA yelled while banging on the door.

  “Wassup?” Imani opened the door.

  “Come upstairs.” Sabrena popped her lips. “I got some smoke.”

  Before Imani could answer, Walik walked up behind Sabrena. “Excuse me, big gurl.”

  “Oh hell no.” Sabrena turned to Walik. “I'ma bit sick of yo' evicted ass!”

  “Shut the fuck up!” Walik snapped, pointing his hand in Sabrena's face.

  “You shut the fuck up! My cousin told me that yo' crazy-lookin' ass along with yo' crazy-lookin'-ass gurl and her fifty-five kids got put the fuck out, which must be the reason you been over here beggin'.”

  “Walik.” Imani couldn't believe it. “That's why you came over here? You stupid no-good ma'fucker, don't even think you movin' back in this piece.”

  “Who the fuck you talkin' to?” Walik pointed in Imani's face. “I'm yo' fuckin' man. I been with you for ten goddamn years and you let your girl try and play me? You better get her the fuck out my face before I fuckin' smack the shit out of her.”

  “Do it, boo,” Sabrena dared Walik, “ain't nothin' between us but air and opportunity.” She cocked her neck to the side. “Bring it.”

  Imani stepped between them. “Brena, calm down. Let me talk to him for a minute, please.”

  “You can talk all you want, but you need to check this niggah, 'cause I ain't in love with his ass, I will stab him.”

  “Sabrena,” Imani said sternly, “I'll be upstairs in a few. Please take it down.”

  “Yeah, ai'ight.” Sabrena sucked her teeth and walked toward the elevator while Imani and Walik walked inside the apartment.

  “What you want? I need to do something.” Imani sucked her teeth.

  Walik squinted. “Why is you actin' like this? Yo, I know I've done some fucked-up shit.”

  “Oh, you know this?”

  “Yeah. And I'm willing to change.”

  “You're willing to change? So if I ask you something you'll tell me the truth and won't lie.”

  “Yeah, baby,” he assured her, “anything you wanna know.”

  “Did you marry Shante?”

  Walik didn't answer.

  “You can't hear?”

  “Listen, a minute ago Shante and I caught a case together.”

  “What the fuck you mean a minute ago?”

  “The last charge I caught, she was with me. I took the rap.” Instantly Imani's heart felt like it was oozing out of her chest cavity. “I was pregnant with your child and you wouldn't even claim your own shit, but you take the rap for her?”

  “Only so the feds wouldn't make her testify against me.”

  “You caught state charges. I was the one who got caught with your federal shit.”

  “You don't have a record, shit, you were considered a minor.”

  “Ten thousand dollars and a crooked lawyer later, ma'fucker. Walik, just go home. Go somewhere and just leave me alone. Please.”

  Walik grabbed Imani by the waist. “I love you.”

  “Well,” she pushed his hands off her, “don't love me no more.”

  “All I have to do is be faithful.” He pulled her back into his embrace.

  “Faithful.” Imani twisted her lips giving him the screw face. “It's so beyond you being faithful. I just wanna be at peace. I don't want to be with you. Damn.” She pushed him in the center of his chest. “Just go home!”

  “Go home? You don't wanna try anymore?” Walik was taken aback. “Wassup with that?” He placed his hand under his chin. “Oh I get it, you fuckin' that Rican niggah, right? You fuckin' him?”

  “Go 'head, Walik!”

  “You got my son around his ass?” Walik took his index finger and pointed into Imani's forehead, causing her neck to jerk back.

  She slapped his hand. “Keep your fuckin' hands off me!”

  “What you gon' do? Karate-chop me?”

  “Go home!”

  “Don't you wanna love me again?”

  “I don't wanna love you. I just wanna leave you.”

  “What you sayin'?”

  “I want it to be over. You make me fuckin' crazy. Get … the… fuck… out!”

  “Get the fuck out? Is that how you talk to that niggah? Is that what you say when you suckin' his dick?”

  “Walik, just go home.” Imani turned to open the door. Walik walked up close behind her and yanked the back of her hair, pulling her to the floor.

  “I'ma beat yo' ass!” He snatched his belt from around his waist and slapped her across the face with it.

  Somehow Imani was able to grab the end of the belt long enough to get off the floor. “What the fuck is wrong with you? I don't want you!” she screamed, her face feeling as if the belt had snatched off a strip of her skin.

  The apartment was dark and Imani's eyes darted around the room. Trying desperately to find a way out, she thought about running down the fire escape, but remembered that she had it blocked by the air conditioner. “Walik, please,” she begged. “Please.”

  “Please what? All these fuckin' years I was with you, bitch! And you think just because you get a new niggah, I should fuckin' go away. I ain't goin' nowhere, bitch!”

  “Go home, Walik! Goddamn, can't you just leave me alone?”

  “Hell no, I ain't good enough no more? You got this li'l DJ niggah and you got this niggah around my son.”

  “You didn't spend no time with your son. He needs a father, Walik, and you ain't it!” Imani reached for her cell phone. “I swear to God if you don't leave I'ma call the police.”

  “Oh, now you gon' call the police on me?” Walik rushed toward Imani and slapped the cell phone out of her hand. He grabbed her by the hair and dragged her across the floor. Her follicles felt as if they were being snatched out. She could feel the roots ripping away from the scalp as clumps of her hair tangled between his thick fingers. “You stupid bitch! You think you just gon' fuck around and leave me. It ain't over until I say it's over!” He grabbed the belt off the floor and again slapped her with it, the buckle splashing in her face like water.

  “Awwwwllllll!” she screamed, her eyelids feeling as if they were being forced shut. Struggling to fight back, Imani started swinging her arms wildly, but instead of seeming to gain control she appeared to be drowning while doing backstrokes. “I'm begging you to get off me. Please,” she cried. “Okay, okay we can work it out. Anything you want. Anything.”

  “Too late!” Walik kicked Imani in the neck. “I should fuckin' kill you!” She closed her eyes as the pain of his steel-toed-boot felt like a boulder crushing her vertebrae.

  “I got something fo' yo' ass, bitch!” Without warning Walik took Imani and swung her across the room.

  She took her arms and covered her face as she slammed into the wall.

  “Watch this shit, bitch!”

  Imani struggled to get off the floor as Walik kicked in her bedroom door. He snatched all her clothes out the closet. “I bought this shit, bitch! I did! Me! Not that new niggah!”

  “Walik, please,” Imani begged, her vision comin
g and going. She knew she was bleeding but she didn't know from where. “Walik, what are you doing?”

  His arms were filled with her coats, pants, shirts, and dresses. He took his foot and kicked the air conditioner out of the window; it made a loud thud as it fell back on the fire escape. Imani put her hands to her head and started to scream, “What are you doing?” She grabbed the tail end of one of her coats but Walik yanked the coat so hard that she cracked the glass in the window as her shoulder slammed into it. Walik threw her clothes on the fire escape, some of them flying over the ledge and floating in the air like parachutes. He turned around and kicked Imani out of his way. He opened her dresser drawers and took out her bras, her panties, and all her other clothes, throwing them onto the fire escape. Once he was done he reached for the lighter fluid that Imani kept on the windowsill for when she and her girls grilled food.

  “Walik,” Imani said, exasperated, “what are you doing?” She grabbed him by the arm. “Please stop.” He pushed her back and she fell onto the bed. He took the lighter fluid and shot it onto her clothes. He placed one foot on the window ledge so he could completely empty the bottle. Once he was done, he struck a match and set all her clothes on fire.

  As he turned around, Imani took the folded metal chair that she kept in her bedroom and slammed him across the head with it. Walik stumbled as he lost his vision. She hit him again, causing him to fall to the floor. She could see her clothes going up in a single stream of smoke before turning black and exploding into flames.

  “Imani?” Sabrena and Tasha knocked on the door. “What the hell is going on in there?”

  Imani slammed the chair against Walik's head again. Blood was everywhere. As she began to take another swing, he charged toward her, knocked her on the bed, and punched her in the face with a closed fist.

  The room smelled of fire as the flames snuck in through the cracked windowpane. Quickly the curtains caught on fire, causing the bedspread to ignite. Walik yanked Imani off the bed, pulled her into the living room, and left her lying on the floor.

  Walik knocked Tasha over as he ran out the door. Immediately Tasha and Sabrena ran in and spotted Imani on the floor, drifting in and out of consciousness.

  “Imani,” Sabrena cried.

  “We gotta,” Imani struggled to say, “get outta here…”

  “Sabrena!” Tasha screamed, pointing to Imani's bedroom where flames were soaring out. “Let's go!”

  Tasha and Sabrena each picked Imani up by an arm and ran out the door with her.

  Before they could think to call for help they could hear the sirens blaring outside. People were everywhere as they exited the building. Imani started coughing. She could barely see as Sabrena and Tasha carried her toward the EMT workers. Once the workers spotted Imani they lifted her out of the girls' arms and placed her on the stretcher.

  “I'ma kill that niggah,” Sabrena said to Tasha.

  … … …

  “MAN,” KREE SAID as he and Jamal walked around the corner to Imani's building, “your mother is gon' be so mad that I kept you out this late …” Kree's speech started to slow down as he looked to see the building on fire. He looked around for Imani but didn't see her. Once he spotted Sabrena, he grabbed Jamal's hands and rushed toward her. “Where's Imani?”

  “Walik.” Sabrena started crying. “I left them downstairs and some shit jumped off.”

  “Where is she?” Kree panicked.

  “In the ambulance. We gotta go with her, they're getting ready to leave.”

  “What's wrong with my Imani?” Jamal said, crying.

  “It's gon' be all right,” Kree assured him. He looked at Sabrena. “Can you drive?”

  “Tasha can.” She pointed.

  Kree tossed his keys to Tasha. “My truck's around the corner, meet me at the hospital and take Jamal with you.” He jumped in the ambulance with Imani. The sirens started blaring as they took off.

  (Starr)

  BBETTY WHITE'S Tonight Is the Night flowed softly from the Bose speakers in Starr and Red's bedroom ceiling, as the disco ball, which doubled as a light fixture, sent metallic streaks across the room.

  The black leather chaps that Red wore hugged his thick thighs, while the spiked leather suspenders enhanced the tiny balls of salt and pepper hairs on his chest. He snorted and licked his lips, “Is ya ready for Pa-pa Red, girl.”

  “What you say, Daddy?” Starr growled, wearing a crotchless red leather leotard, while cracking her whip and stretching her legs out as if she was doing a warm-up exercise. “Ask me again,” Starr said, as she did a ballerina spin into Red's arms.

  “Girl.” Red looked into Starr's eyes. “I want you to spank Pa-pa Red good.”

  “Well she ain't gon' have to spank you,” Mama Byrd yelled through the door, “ 'cause in a minute I'ma kick ya ass. I been listening to you growl, snort, and crack them whips all night long and I'm tired. Now instead of fuckin', you need to be answering this damn phone that won't stop goddamn ringin'. Old lady can't even shit in peace… dumb-ass, dry-ass pussy li'l dick bitch!”

  “All right, Mama,” Red said.

  “I got yo all right, motherfucker. And the next time I feed Chocolate Thunder some recharged Duracell, don't y'all knock on the bathroom door! Jack ass! Now answer that damn phone 'cause it's ringing again…show off!”

  Starr rolled her eyes at Red. “I'ma ignore her, so just let me answer the phone. Hello?” she said into the receiver.

  “Ms. Starr!” Tasha screamed in panic.

  “Who is this?” Starr asked. She looked at her clock and saw that it was midnight. She turned to Red, “You ain't give this number to no groupies, did you?”

  Before Red could answer, Tasha said, “This Tasha, Ms. Starr,” she started to cry, “Imani's in the hospital.”

  “What?”

  “Yes, Kings County.”

  “What happened to my baby?”

  “Walik. Walik beat her and set her apartment on fire.”

  Starr threw the phone across the bed. “I got to go!” She looked at Red. “My baby, Imani, my baby's in the hospital! Walik beat her and set her apartment on fire!”

  “Oh no!” Red jumped up and started to panic. He fumbled around the dresser for his car keys. Afterward, he and Starr, still dressed in their leather bondage outfits, flew down the stairs.

  Mama Bryd was on her porta-potty in the living room as Starr and Red stormed past her, “Well damn, Red, I ain't never seen so many bubbles in one ass!” Mama Byrd screamed behind them.

  … … …

  STARR STARTED TO hyperventilate once she got to the hospital and Tasha and Sabrena recapped for her what happened. Jamal was crying so bad that his eyes were swollen. People passing by were staring at Red and Starr, but nobody in their immediate circle had noticed because they were so upset.

  “I got to see my baby,” Starr cried.

  Kree, who'd been in the emergency exam room with Imani, walked into the lobby. Instantly he spotted Starr and Red and couldn't believe his eyes. What kinda nasty shit?! Kree walked over to them. Before he could whisper to them about their clothing the doctor walked over. “Just want you to know, she has a broken arm and collarbone. She has serious brusing around her neck and across her face, all of which will heal. I will need to keep her for a few days, though. She's sleeping right now, and that's what I want her to do. You can see her for a few minutes, but just so you know, her hair is pulled out in a couple of places.”

  “Is my Imani gon' die?” Jamal cried.

  “No, young man.” The doctor squatted down to face him. “Not at all.” He stood up again. “The police are over there,” he pointed, “and they would like to get a statement from everyone.”

  “To hell with the police,” Starr said, “I need to see my baby.”

  “Right this way.” The doctor pointed.

  “Well, I'm tellin' it all,” Sabrena said, wiping her eyes, “every bit of it. I didn't see him beat her but I know he did it and I know for a fact he set that damn apartment on fire.”<
br />
  Kree didn't say much. He stood with his arms folded. “Yo,” he said, “watch my li'l man real quick. I need to go take care of some business. Call me if Imani needs anything before I come back.” And he took off.

  (Monica)

  “KAYLA!” MONICA SCREAMED. “How many damn times have I told you that when you're on your period you have to turn around and look at the toilet seat for blood? Stop being so fuckin' nasty!” Monica wanted to slap Kayla upside her head. She understood that Kayla was young and had to learn to care for herself when her period was on, but damn, how many times did she have to keep telling her the same thing?

  Monica rubbed the sides of her stomach. She'd been feeling pain all day, but tried to dismiss it as normal uterine cramps. She didn't have enough energy to sit down and figure out why it hurt so bad; she just prayed she wasn't in labor. Monica barely had any money to buy the few supplies she had. And she wanted desperately to hold on a little longer until her disability kicked in. Then maybe keeping money wouldn't be so difficult.

  Ever since the girls moved in, her house had been turned upside down … and now that the honeymoon of visiting Aunty Monica versus living with Aunty Monica was over, the girls became more consumed with where their mother was and when she was coming back. Not to mention, Monica was starting to feel resentful. She was having her own baby and Is it too selfish, she wondered, to want to keep it that way? Is it too much to ask that my child be afforded the privilege of being the only one, instead of one among many? Besides, these were her nieces and not her daughters. They were Celeste's and Sharief's responsibility, and it seemed that neither one of them wanted to do shit.

  “Monica,” Sharief said, walking into the kitchen and feeling Monica on the ass, “I'ma get some tonight?” He rubbed his nose into the side of her neck, something that used to drive her wild.

  She looked at him and rolled her eyes. “If you don't get the fuck out my face!”

  “Goddamn.” Sharief smirked. “What's wrong?”

  “I'm tired and I'm ready for your children to go home to their mother.”