The Grove Chronicles

Chapter 8

" Esmyra, I love baby girl, but you are loco!" " We can't shop lift Heezes, my dads friend is the manager!" " If we get caught, we are toast!" Heezes was a popular clothing store in the mall , for young people. Esmyra shook her head. " Sel, you gotta stop stressing mama." " I scanned the day to day operation." Security take a break every half an hour, not to mention they always guard the register, more often than not." "Piece of cake."  " Shit, I don't know...." " How are we gonna steal from the same store we frequently  shop at?" 

" Girl it aint about stealing..." " The rush you get from snatching and running.. is almost like sex.... well nah maybe not that great, but you get the point." Esmyra explained, while pulling some shoes out her closet. Selena  then let out an huge sigh. " Well, it's your call,oh fearless leader."  " I swear if we get caught, I wont be able to lose my virginity with no boy, because my father will ground me for life! 

" This bitch is such a drama queen I swear!" Esmyra thought to herself.   

Back on the West side, Ezail lied supine on his bed, headphones on, blasting the song "Jackin for Beats" by Ice Cube. Suddenly a animal started lickikng his face. " What the hell, is goin on here?" A Rottweiler puppy kept licking Ezail's face with it's wet tongue. " Yo...... where you come from lil boy?" Ezail then second guessed, and lifted up the puppy's leg, looking under. " Oh sorry...... girl.'  " You a chubby lil thang huh?" " Pookie poo." A second later, Aunt Wandie appeared in the doorway. " So Bub do like your summer surprise?" 

Ezail looked buffudled, yet happy. " Well... yeah, but.... I thought you aint like dogs?" " No I don't, but brother Downer's dog had puppies, and since he  offered to sell them at a low price, I told him I'll take her any way." " Yo that's wasup, thanks auntie." " You're welcome now......." "What are you gonna name her?  " Uh. Ima say......  Nya." Wandie's face furrowed. " Oh really? " Why Naya?" 

" Yo bust it auntie... " I was reading this story about a African King and Queen." "His Queen  Naya was fierce, loyal and smart. " " Hopefully the dog will be the same." Ezail shrugged. " Interesting explanation."  " Make sure you take care of her....... " She needs 24/7 care. " Wandie instructed.   

At Heezes, the two teens were plotting, ready to snatch whatever they wanted in sight. Selena's heart was beating like a drum in marching band. " 'I'm telling you My-My this is crazy." she whispered. Esmyra huffed. " Girl shut up!" " The more scared, the more of a screw up can happen!' " I don't care, this is crazy!" Selena whispered back. Like Esmyra predicted, a security guard was on break, during the store's slow hours. 

" Alright let's move yo. Esmyra instructed. The girls crept in the store acting casual, but alert. " Yo Sel get me them shorts right there." Esmyra pointing to a short denim skirt. " This ugly thing?' " Get the tye dyed instead." "Girl whatever, just hurry up."Selena then saw a pink bikini she liked. " I wonder If Kyle would love me in this?" she smiled. 

Both of them were deadpan on taking so much, and putting them in bags, neither was focused on there surroundings." Oh shit who's that?" Selena whispered.  A store clerk came approaching, but couldn't really see the girls as they crouched down. " Yo Sel, let's bail." " Hey you kids get back here!" As the clerk yelled out. Esmyra and Selena just giggled and dashed to the exit.  

" Yo I told you that shit would be a rush!" exclaimed Esmyra, as the pair stopped at the food court Selena  then shrugged. " Well.... we got a lot of things." " Hell yeah bitch, nothing to it."  "Look let's spilt up." suggested  Esmyra. " Why?" " We didn't rob a bank." Selena shot back." True, but the word is gonna get out,that two  shop lifters made a move...." " Can't make it obvious."  Esmyra explained. 

Okay cool, I'm heading home." " Call me later please." Selena stated getting up. " Got you, don't worry." As Selena left, Esmyra needed to use this restroom. " Gotta piss like a bitch." While finishing up, washing her hands, some familiar faces walked right in. " Thought you could avoid me forever huh?" It was the girls from the mall picking on Esmyra. Esmyra then turned around and huffed. " Tessa what you want?"  

" Word around the neighborhood, is that  you can whoop my ass." " Tuh!" " I wasn't even thinking about you." " News flash..... Nobody cares about you......" " Not even your parents, I mean.......  after all you're adopted."  Tessa then shoved Esmyra into the sink. " You got a slick mouth Ivanez!" " Too bad your hot shot boyfriend can't save you!" Suddenly, another girl who was with Tessa, lunged at Esmyra. Esmyra maneuvered then head butted the girl.... instantly blooding her eye. 

Three other girls then jumped on Esmyra. Pulling hair and blows landing on each other occured. Esmyra put up a fight swinging a hundred miles per hour. However all five girls  were just too much for her. Suddenly an older lady walked into the  bathroom. " Hey you girls stop that!" " Get off her now!'  

" Let's get out of here guys!" Tessa said  running out. The older lady helped Esmyra off the ground. " You ok honey?" "I'm fine." " I'm fine."  " Maybe we should notify law enforcement, put those ruffians in the slam huh?" suggested the woman. Esmyra grimaced. " No please ma'am  I'll be known as a snitch."  " Well honey your face is bruised up ."  

Esmyra sighed. " I know you're trying to help, but I'm fine Miss." " I need to be leaving." Esmyra gathered her bags, dashing out the door. " Poor thing." blurted the woman. 

Ezail sat on the front step playing with Naya. " What chu doin girl?" Ezail said laughing poking her wet nose. Right then, a car full of G-Block members rolled by. " Ay Chuck, fuck you!" " Nillie ass nigga!" Ezail just shook his head, not paying the situation any mind . Suddenly the  white 1982 Cadillac Coupe De ville reversed on the street. " Hey boy, you hear me talkin to you?" 

Ezail looked up at the soldier in the passenger seat. " Man, Bird I ain't even on it like that yo......." " Leave me be." Bird was about to get out of the car, when in a whim he closed the door shut. " Good evening ma'am, how are you today?" 

Wandie had appeared right on the door step. " I'm fine baby." " I don't want no trouble now, you hear?" " Yes Ms Wandie, take care." The young men sped off. Ezail chuckled to himself. " Bunch of lames yo." " Lord have mercy them fools be no good." " Pants hangin low, doin nothin." " Anyway, the phone is for you boy....."  Ezail leaped. " Word?" " Who?" " That spanish little thing, Esmalla or somethin..... " Just come take the call..... Bring Naya with you."  Wanda insisted 

Ezail picked up the house phone. " Yo what's good baby?" " Chuck I gotta see you, asap." Esmyra sounding doleful. " Babe what is it?" " Talk to me." " I can't fully explain, please come see me." Ezail felt worried. " 

At the park, Ezail noticed Esmyra sitting on the bench, head down, leg jiggling. Esmyra looked up, jumping to Ezail's arms. " Oh baby thank God!" Ezail gazed at her face. " Wait, what happened to you?"  " Fucking Tessa man!" " Wait who Tessa?" Esmyra balled up her fist. " Tessa Colon from King Road !" " Her, Liza, Marcella, Tina, Constance all jumped me!" " Fucking weak bitches man! 

Ezail squeezed her fo a hug. "Oh boo...... damn.... come here." " Karma gonna come they way, best believe." Ezail said nodding his head. " Great, so send the crew after them." Esmyra clamoured. Ezail sighed. " My-My I said Karma is comin they way..... nothin bout retaliation." "Plus, how I'm gonna get some boys to stomp some girls ?" " Like I said let Karma get them ho's." " They coward's not you."   

" Fuck, Bub I can't back down." " Tessa been working my nerves since the sixth grade."  " Never liked her tall bucked tooth ass."  

Despite not wanting to go to Esmyras house, Ezail decided she needed some aid and went anyway. " You got some witch hazel or somethin?" Ezail asked. " I don't know... don't think so..." " Well gotta find somethin to help them scratches  and bruises ."  " Can't have my baby all marked up like that." 

"Oh shit!" Esmyra quickly ran to the window. " Papi home already!?" Eduardo had shut his car door walking swiftly up the walkway. Esmyra scurried to find Ezail. Bub hurry up and find something, my dad is here!" " Matter fact, go hide!" Ezail came appearing in front of Esmyra. " Well babe, I found some peroxide." " Fuck that Bub he gonna see you!' 

"  Maybe it's time I meet yo pops." " Can't hide forever."