It is What it is: A Hood Love Story

by B. , Ivory

  A New Me

  Things had been going really good between Ty and Nice. She couldn’t believe it after all the frogs she had to kiss she finally found her Prince. And she definitely had her share of frogs. From a nigga that wanted to beat on her, to another that totaled her car with a bitch he was cheating on her with in it, then both of them sued Ty’s insurance. And another one that stole her credit card and ran it up going shopping for his kids and baby mama’s, she could go on and on, Ty had been through it all.

  Then she tried to switch it up told herself she wouldn’t date anyone but a professional, being that she had graduated with her MBA she wouldn’t date anyone who didn’t have the same level of education or better. Any man without an education or career had proved to be bad news in the past. She soon found out that you can’t judge a man’s character by his occupation or education. A no good man was a no good man, no matter their education, net worth, or race. Take Douglas for instance.

  Nice didn’t wake up every morning dress in thousand dollar suits and work in corporate America but that didn’t matter. Ty was able to look past that because of the way he treated her. Truth be told she had never been loved like this before. The attention and affection he gave her sometimes seemed unreal. He was so different from the men she dealt with in the past, especially Douglas. Nice never degraded her about her weight or body type. As a matter of fact he praised it. And when he made love to her he never forgot to tell her how beautiful her curvaceous body was. Her imperfections like the little bit of cellulite on her thick thighs, or stretch marks on her hips didn’t seem to matter or phase him, as a matter of fact when she tried to hide them he kissed her directly on them. Ty was in deep, she only hoped this wasn’t short lived. She knew this was new for a dude like Nice who was known to be such a womanizer, but he seemed by all accounts to have this special soft spot for her.

  It was early morning and Nice was at the 6 burner state of the art stainless steel stove cooking up his girls some pancakes. Yes that was her baby; he was out of town on business for about a week, week in a half sometimes every month, or every other month. Ty hated it but Lucky and Keema assured her it’s something that you just sorta get used to. When he was back home it was all about his girls, and he didn’t hesitate to cater and spoil both Ty and Ky. While Nice was cooking Ty and Ky sat at the huge granite island in the kitchen coloring, Ky shocked both Ty and Nice with a question neither of them were prepared for.

  “Ty Ty can I call you Mommy? All my friends have a mommy and Mia don’t let me call her mommy.” Ty looked up from the coloring book at Nice to see if he had heard what Ky asked her. He most certainly did because the look of shock on his face was evident. Ty could understand Ky’s want for normalcy to have someone to call both Mommy and Daddy but this was a very touchy subject. She wanted to tread lightly and not create any drama between Mia and herself. Ky was such a pretty little girl; Ty couldn’t understand anyone not being proud to have Ky call them mommy. Ky looked up at her with the most innocent eyes and Ty could not find it in her to say no. “Ky, listen, baby you don’t have to call me mommy. You have a mommy and that’s Mia. But if you want to call me mommy while you’re over here with your daddy that’s fine with me as long as it’s okay with your daddy.” Ky looked over at her father with excited eyes “Can I Daddy?” Nice was kinda put on the spot not knowing what to say at first. He looked from Ky to Ty. He was kind of scared, what if things didn’t work out between himself and Ty? He didn’t want to confuse his daughter. “Yeah it’s okay baby. Here eat your food Princess,” he said trying to change the subject quick.

  That was two weeks ago, and Ky had been calling Ty Mommy ever since, to Ty’s surprise it felt natural. She couldn’t explain it but she didn’t feel weirded out about it at all. Ty looked over at Nice with goo goo love eyes as she had a quick flash back of the pipe down he gave her less than a hour ago in the shower as Kynah watched Saturday morning cartoons. Both Ky and Ty were laying in his custom King sized bed. Ty knew she had an appointment at Mika’s salon that morning but she just couldn’t find the strength after that romp in the shower to get up, she was worn out! Nice on the other hand seemed to get fully energized afterwards as if he drank two Red Bulls, and now he was dressed and on his way into Philly. Nice caught the look Ty was giving him and nodded his chin at her with a cocky smirk on his face.

  “Baby girl when you getting up? Don’t you have a hair appointment?” “Uhh, I’m tired, it’s your fault,” Ty whined. Nice chuckled as he bent down and nibbled on her neck. “Get up baby girl you gotta make that appointment cause ya shit is wrecked. It look like you stuck ya hand in a outlet and got electrocuted, it’s over here, it’s all over there,” Nice joked. “Oh unh, unh no you didn’t go there!” Ty screamed throwing a pillow at him as he kissed a laughing Ky on the cheek and left.

  Nearly two hours later Ty sat in Mika’s chair trying to psych herself up to go through with what she was doing. Ty had come in the shop for a full makeover. After all these years she was finally going to part ways with her long tresses. Ty had to almost beg Mika to cut her hair. Mika felt a bit attached to Ty and Lucky’s hair, she felt as if she had done it for so long and helped it grow to the length it was she didn’t want to cut it.

  Ty assured herself she was doing the right thing. Her hair would be going to a good cause. She had Locks for Love on standby to accept her donation so she felt good about that. From the first snip and drop of her hair Ty’s eyes watered up. “I can’t believe I’m doin this!” Mika shrieked. Ty looked up to see chicks in the shop looking on as if she were crazy. She wasn’t at all. Ty told herself she wanted a new her, she wanted new everything, a new look to go with the new love in her life, along with the new dick in her life.

  The end result was perfection. Mika really put it down. Ty’s hair cut was hot. It made Ty look so sophisticated and chic. She went with an asymmetric bob short in the back but not too short, right at the nap of her neck, with very long bangs in the front so it left Ty with more styling options. Her hair had so much body and volume to it. The cut really fit Ty’s face and personality. When Ty put on her Marc Jacob frames she knew she had definitely picked the right style. “Now that’s what the fuck I’m talkin bout! Looking good Mama. I got skillz,” Mika boasted. Ty smiled and took off her frames. “I love it Meek, Meek.” “You look pretty Mommy,” Kynah said looking up at Ty with wonder. “Thank you baby girl.” Ty noticed the way a couple of chicks looked over when Ky called her Mommy, then whispered to one another but she didn’t care. “Mommy can I get my hair done? I wanna have it long all down.” Ty looked over at Ky with panic. She thought having Ky’s hair out was too grown. And that scared her. Ky would look like every pedophiles fantasy with her hair flowing all down her back. “Unh, unh no you can’t have your hair out. I don’t know if your Daddy would like that.” Ky’s hopeful smile turned into a frown. “How about some curls? How about we put a ponytail in front and some curls in the back.” Mika suggested a compromise. Ky shook her head eagerly anything sounded better than having these pigtails to her.

  Ty’s phone went off, and she knew it was Nice because Beyonce’s Ego was his ringtone, her heart started racing. “Baby girl what up? Where you at? I need the keys to the Ducati; I left them in the Range.” Ty was pushing Nice’s Range that day. She rolled her eyes. She hated that Nice was still riding; she got nervous every time he got on a bike. “Kamar you not about to go riding is you? You know I hate when you get on those things.” “Yeah I’m going riding, Ma I took a lil spill on the bike that ain’t gonna stop me from riding.” He hated when Ty made a big fuss about him riding motorcycles. “I’m still in the shop.” “You ain’t done yet?” Nice asked incredulously. “Damn what Mika doing? Y’all chicks be in there running y’all mouths too much. Tell Mika to do less shit talkin and more hair.” Ty cracked up, Nice was such an asshole. “Whateva, baby the truck out back, so come get the keys.” “Yeah a’ight,” Nice said before hanging up.

  Twenty minutes later Ty’s phone went off a
gain and it was Nice. “Ma you still not done?” “Nope,” Ty lied nervous about what Nice would think about her hair. “I wanna see you right quick. I miss you,” Nice said. Ty blushed after hearing that. “Baby I thought you were going riding. Why you bothering me?” “Ty I can’t get five minutes?” Ty laughed. “No baby my hair not done.” “Damn tell that man to stop hounding you, he straight drawling, you can’t even get your hair done in peace. Ty what you do to that nigga?” Mika said playfully. “Tell Mika to go head wit that shit! And stop houndin them high school playgrounds for them young niggaz,” Nice shot back. Ty nearly fell out the chair with laughter. “Ty come grab this food I got for you and Ky. Tell Mika greedy ass I got her something too.” “Actually baby I’m done, I’m just waiting for Ky to finish up. I’ll be out in like five minutes, is that alright with you?” “Five minutes?” Nice asked incredulously. Ty laughed “Bye Kamar” she said shaking her head and hanging up. That man is a mess.

  Ty stepped out of the shop hand and hand with Ky. Nice was out front talking to some dude when he turned around and spotted them both walking out. He had to do a double take he almost didn’t recognize his baby, she looked absolutely beautiful. Ky took off running towards him jumping into his arms. “Aww Baby girl your hair looks pretty.” He told Ky as she looked up at him beaming. Ty just stood there nervous not being able to read Nice’s expression, that’s one thing she hated about Nice; she was never really able to read him. She didn’t know if he would hate or love it. She took him to be just like most niggaz who seemed attached to long and flowing hair. Mika and everyone else inside her shop watched on out the full view windows of her shop. Nice walked up to Ty still holding Ky in his arms. “Ty, damn, you look beautiful.” A slight smile spread across her face. “You like it baby?” She asked touching her hair nervously. “I love it.” He said leaning in to tongue her down right there in front of the shop. Mika looked on in adoration; the whole scene was too cute. They looked like a little family, a little happy one at that. “Go head Ty!” Mika yelled. Mika saw chicks in her shop making faces like Ace Ventura. They were holding their tongues now cause they knew better than to pop off in her shop, but she would bet her last dollar they would have a whole lot to say later.

  The three of them ended up in Kennsington park. Nice drove out on his bike while Ty and Ky met him there in the truck. They had brought Ky’s bike along and she was riding through the park. Although she had on her helmet and elbow pads Ty was still screaming after her to be careful. Nice had to tell Ty to be easy, Ky would be okay. How did she expect Ky to learn how to ride without training wheels one day if she was too afraid for Ky to ride with them? Ty wasn’t paying Nice any mind she just didn’t want her baby to fall and get hurt or worst bruised up. “Ky baby slow down!” Ty called after her. Nice looked over at Ty and just chuckled.

  Ty and Nice were walking hand in hand through the garden which was in full bloom on this spring day. The park was known for it’s garden which was one of the best gardens in the city, people even had weddings in the gardens. Ky was riding in front of them when they suddenly heard ice cream truck music. “Mommy Daddy I want ice cream!” She screamed taking off full speed towards the ice cream truck. “Kynah! You know better.” Nice said with the bass of a stereo in his voice, stopping her from riding out into the main road.

  “Oh hell the fuck nah! What did Ky Just call that bitch?” Trichelle Mia’s right hand screamed. Mia was sitting in Kennsington Park with her girls Trichelle and Tee waiting on a nigga she met at the club a week ago. He was already nearly 15 minutes late and she was pissed. Mia thought she was far to fine to wait on any nigga. If this was any other time Mia would have been on the bullshit immediately. She would’ve ran across the street to fuck that bitch up and Nice too. But right now she needed a fix something awful and she was out of all her favorite candy. Mia blew hot air as she watched Nice and some random bitch trout around the park with her daughter eating ice cream, walking hand and hand and kissing all in public. The sight made her want to throw up in her mouth. “Girl if you want to go run up on that bitch and set shit off I got you.” Trichelle said reaching over and grabbing a half empty bottle of Ciroc to use as a weapon. “You know how this nigga be acting up, so just go run over there bust that bitch shit then we’ll deal with him afterwards,” Trichelle said. “Fuck that hoe nigga and that bitch he wit for now, trust they gon get theirs,” Mia said. “Umm that couldn’t been me. Ain’t no nigga gonna disrespect me like that. Him and that bitch would catch fade, early!” “Tee stop being such a fuckin instigator, you know you wouldn’t do shit, cause ya baby father would beat the shit out of you,” Trichelle spat. Seeing how hard Mia was taking it. She didn’t think it was right for Tee to rub it in. Mia lifted her hand from the steering wheel leaving a wet spot, her palms were sweating excessively. Mia broke out into a light sweat. “Damn it’s so fuckin hot in here,” she spat even though it was the perfect spring weather she leaned over and blasted the AC. Mia wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and noticed her stomach started to tighten and feel as if she were cramping. She reached over grabbing her Prada handbag rummaging through it trying to locate what she was looking for. Finally she found her MAC eyeshadow case; she flipped it open and looked in it finding what she already knew nothing. Mia would discreetly store coke in the container. Mia didn’t know what was making her sicker seeing Nice all over this bitch or the fact that she needed a fix. She was pissed she was going to have to be reduced to copping herself which she hated doing because she thought she was too good to. She was a high siddity coke head. Plus it ran the risk of someone knowing her baby daddy and going and telling him. Now she knew Dean was holding, and holding that premium shit that’s the only reason she was sitting here waiting on him.

  The BK Way

  Dean sat up the street looking at his Rolex intentionally making Mia wait. This was all a part of the game you made bitches wait and depend on you. Mia was a certified banger but she had an insatiable appetite for coke and sex. Once Mia was high she talked; she talked about her baby father who was funding and supporting her life style, that Benz jeep she was pushing, and that nice little comfortable crib she was living in out in Jersey was all funded by him. The more Mia talked the more Dean believed that her baby daddy could be the caper he was looking for, that one big one that would put him in retirement. Plus he needed a place to lay low since he was so hot from that last job that he pulled in VA. The last job ended up with him having to leave both the bitch and the nigga she set up stankin. Dean had to laugh to himself as he thought back on it. Poor sucka for love ass nigga with the last breaths he took was more worried about the bitch that set him up life than his own. His last words were begging to spare her life instead of his own. Dean hurried up and put a bullet in that nigga head just for being so stupid then bodied that bitch too, no witnesses.

  He and his crew had the best jobs in this world they weren’t about pimping the streets and flipping birds they flipped bitches. They got to the weakest part of a nigga his bitch or a bitch that was in some way apart of his life whether it be a wife, baby mama, or daughter. They got in their ear, dicked them down crazy and had them flipping and switching sides on the very niggaz that fed them. It was amazing what a bitch would do for a nigga who kicked some suave, finesse pimp shit to them. Some of the niggaz out here who was getting money crazy had the wives at home with the lowest self esteem. No matter how bad a bitch was on the outside most likely she was feeling like shit inside. It seemed as if the niggaz who were the most papered up had the unhappiest wives. It was a no-brainer considering with more money came more problems, one problem being other bitches.

  So what did Dean and his crew do? Make a bitch feel special; bring them on that honeymoon phase. When really all they wanted to know is where the nigga that was taking care of them lay his head? Where he stashed his work? How much was he holding? And what the security codes to the safes was? The job was one of the easiest jobs in the world. Most niggaz that were getting it and really getting it, tend
to be the most neglectful to their wives. I mean it comes with the territory, why be faithful when you got so many options? If a nigga was really getting paper then it was always a slew of women ready to throw the pussy at him no matter how he looked, Leaving wifey feeling neglected, salty, damaged, insecure and vulnerable. And that leaves room for niggaz like him and his crew to move in on a chick. Whisper all them sweet nothings in a her ear, promising a better tomorrow, letting her know he would never treat her like her man do, because he loves her. Bring her on trips, have that bitch sneaking out on her man, even fucking in his bed. Buy her gifts then slowly convince her that the one way you can be happy as a couple is if you run off together, but first you need to have enough money to get away and live comfortably and that’s where Daddy’s money comes into play. This shit was really easier than taking candy from a baby. Dean and his crew weren’t soft niggaz by any means so if bodying a nigga came into play well it’s all an occupational hazard. Sometimes they had to body a nigga especially if they thought the nigga would come back three times harder if they ever caught up with them.