Streetlife

3 - Tess' Story

TESS POV

"This is it? Where the fuck is the rest of it?" Warbucks says as we are inside his Lincoln as he just finishes counting the money I made, which again wasn't much. I look at him knowing he is angry, beyond words as I'm sweating a great deal and his eyes grow darker and harsher.

"Are you fucking DEAF!! HUH?!!!!" He bellows as I nervously fold and unfold my hands.

"No, I...I can go back out. I can make more Mi...Warbucks." I slip up as his eyes glare at me and I'm not sure if he will strike me again or what. But he is silent which is always very scary for me because it means he is very, very angry as he places the money in his pocket not giving me a dime of it and signals Bruce to drive off.

The short ride back home leaves me a bundle of nerves as I play with my fingers, and I know well enough not to look at Mike. When I first started to work for him five years ago when I was 19, he was so kind. He was gentle and really sensitive as well as understanding. He was someone I could talk to, or so I thought, and I had even told him I had a child I was forced to give up. He took me all over the city. He wined and dined me and spoiled me with clothes and jewelry. He even let me call him by his real name, Mike, and I fell for him. I fell very hard for him, and I thought he felt the same.

But, he didn't and I found out the hard way. And the next thing I knew he was threatening to knock all my teeth out, and had become one of the meanest and harshest people I had ever known and had broken my heart. It was like a switch went off, and he had only gotten worse especially once Lena arrived and that alone prompted me to get high even more.

I didn't blame Lena, and she actually became my best friend and sister, and I loved to do her beautiful hair for her. This was my fault, how I became too much for him, and I dug this hole myself by being too needy, something I quickly learned was NOT about to fly with him.

As I come out of my mind I notice we are nowhere near 42nd and my apartment, as I now panic and look at Mike as the car stops.

"Get out." His jawline is harsh as my stomach drops.

"Wh...What?"

"I said get out! You fucking deaf or what?!"

"But...But this is Hell's Kitchen, Warbucks. I never work this. I...I thought Olive and Kristine worked it. I don't know this area and..." He grabs my jaw and holds it so tightly as my eyes start to burn and his eyes are cold and dark. And I'm scared. "Warbucks, please..I..."

"I've had just about enough of you wasting my FUCKING TIME." He growls as his grip tightens even more on my jaw as I feel tears spring to my eyes. "You washed up fucking junkie tramp. You wanna keep messing with me, and my money, huh? Do you want to live? Do YOU?????"

"No..I...I mean, yes, I want to live! I don't...I try, Warbucks! I really do! You know me. It's just raining, and it makes it hard, and..."

"ENOUGH!!!!!!" He hollers now as I swallow back hot tears now fearing him and shaking even more. "Let me tell you something ok, and you listen good and hard you fucking cunt."

I nod my head as his grip is even stronger as he pushes my head against the window almost slamming it as his face moves closer to mine.

"You're gonna get your washed up ass out my Lincoln and make my money. Twice as much as you were supposed to last night. And you're gonna get it. I don't care what the fuck happens to you out there, you can get stabbed, mugged, raped I don't give a shit. But you gonna get my money one way or another because the next time you come up short, I'm gonna break your fucking legs off and you're gonna end up on the street like your junkie ass mother. Now get the fuck out of my car you nasty ass fucking tramp! And take a fucking shower!"

His voice is mean and cruel as I grab my purse and step out into a giant puddle of water as I close the car door behind just in time for the Lincoln to drive off, leaving me out here in the pouring rain. I can barely see in front of me as it is now down pouring like crazy and my hair is a rats nest.

I allow the tears to flood my cheeks, blurring my vision as I realize that the beautiful leopard print outfit Julius had designed for me is getting ruined along with my makeup. I was exhausted from last night, I was starving, and I just wanted to lay down. I was so sick of being afraid of Mike and I was so sick of him treating me like garbage. But what choice did I have, working for him was all I had and well, he wasn't that bad. Maybe, maybe it would get better.

As I walk down the sidewalk of Hell's Kitchen, an area Warbucks knew I hated, trying to dodge the trash, I hear a crack as my ankle goes outward and my heel breaks as I let out a cry and I fall to the wet pavement. Right now I wanted a hit so damm badly just to get through this horrible, horrible day that I knew was only going to get worse as my makeup runs down my face and my afro because an even frizzier disaster.

"Lady, are you hurt?" I hear as I didn't realize just how hard I was crying, and I look up to see Antonio, one of my best friends from high school I hadn't seen in years. He looked very different as I see he has make-up on and a wig with a sparkling gold dress. What in the world was he doing out here?

"Tess?????? Is that you????? OH MY GOD!" I take his hand as I nod and sniffle trying hard to contain my tears.

"Antonio?" I manage as he helps me under the awning of a nearby bodega.

"What in God's green earth are you doing here, baby? Jesus, you look terrible! Oh baby girl, did you break your foot?" He quickly kneels down to examine my now swelling ankle.

"I...I hope not because....because I need to work, and I need to somehow get...get my shoe fixed," I say as my friend quickly stands to hit feet. I had not seen Antonio since 9th grade before I dropped out and it wasn't as if I wanted to go around telling people I was a hooker. But based on how he was dressed it didn't seem I needed to be embarrassed, and I remembered how terribly he struggled with his own family issues and sexuality in school. But I never forgot about him, ever as he had always encouraged me to do better, but sadly I had not.

"No way, no how. Let Miss Marfley help you, baby. Come with me!" He swiftly picks me up as he carries me inside and up the steps to what must be his apartment and sets me on his couch as I continue to shake. He quickly gets a towel while and comes back with a pair of sweats and a tshirt that must be his.

"Get out of those wet clothes. Let me go make you some tea and bring you a bag of peas for that ankle.

"Where's...where's Miss Marfley?" My teeth chatter as he pulls off his wig and sets it neatly in a box as he looks over at me. What could I say besides nothing, he already knew I could see it.

"Oh honey, that's me. I'm Miss Marfley. It's my stage name, but I'm still Antonio!" He waves his hand as I nod and sit forward trying to unzip my soaking wet dress, my fingers shaking.

"Here, let me," He quickly hurries over to help me out of my dress as I begin crying again. "What happened to you, Tessy? I'm worried! I haven't seen you in ten years and you look like a skeleton! Are you, are you living with your Mama still in the Bronx?"

"Oh no..no way. I, I don't know. I'm so embarrassed," I wrap my arms around myself as he wraps me in a giant towel.

"Don't do that. Just don't. You know I could never stop loving you, baby," He is soft and gentle, and although I have so many questions for him, I still feel safer than I have in such a long time. Antonio knew me, once upon a time, and knew me well. If only he wasn't seeing me like this.

"Th...thank you," I stutter out as he helps me finish dressing before propping my foot up on a pillow on his couch.

"Oh baby, always," he walks away to grab the peas and I lay my head back and let the tears flow once more. I am trash...pure trash, and I know my days on this earth are numbered now that I am not making the money Warbucks demanded I make. What the hell am I going to do?