The Grove Chronicles

Chapter 20

The New Year began, 1991. Students had returned back to school after Christmas break. Esmyra was at her locker, cleaning things out, after hoarding since September. " Hey My-My boo!" Her friend Traci screeched.  " Yo..."  " Whats up sis, look like you bout to murder some damn body."  "I'm just purging..." " New Year, new start ya know."  " I hear that, can't even front." 

Esmyra then sighed slamming her locker shut." " Adios mio this is torture!"  "What now girl?!" " I miss Chuck...." Traci grunted. " Girl I done told you, aint no nigga should be on yo mind like this, unless he yo husband."  " Especially not Chuck."  " His puppy eyed ass, probably lookin at other hos." " I'm surprised he aint got multiple baby mommas already.: 

Esmyra looked Traci up and down, understanding her friends help, yet irked at her assertion of Ezail," " I guess Traci man....."  " I miss his raspy voice, smelling his Bijan cologne, his neck kissing, the way he licked near my- " " Okay bitch!" " Whoa!"  I get it!' Traci smirked. 

" Okay, I'm just sayin yo." Esmyra leaning against her locker." " Ima say this, cuz my older girl cousin told me somethin I'll never forget....."  " Men act like dogs, cuz they don't wanna be hermit crabs." All that male driven testosterone, gotta be let loose sometimes." " Its only natural they roam around."  However, find what makes him come back to yo ass, I promise, that boy will be dancing for treats." 

" How?" " What do you suggest?"  " Cook or clean for him?" " T, we only in high school."  Traci then rolled her neck.  My-My you " only" live once...." " See, he a dog, but a good dog, with a tremendous heart."  " Can't say that about many men, ya feel me? 

Esmyra shrugged absorbing her friends words. " Makes sense, I think." " Naw don't think ma, be confident, Chuck fittin to see it."  " Damn girl, yo ass need to write a book for real." Esmyra impressed with Tracis monologue." 

"Shit girl, I hate writin."  "Love talkin though." " Speaking of talkin." Esmyra laughed. " Here come Selena. " Wasup chica's!" "Selena skipped to join. " Yo girl, goin through a crisis right now." Traci now puckering her lips. " Uh-oh, trouble with Mr. Harris?"  "No!" " We just needed a break...simple." Esmyra now  digging in her ear. 

" My-My you're loco..." " Don't sweat over Chuck." " Maybe he's stressed himself... I don't know ." Selena shrugged. " Stressed about what?" Traci pondered. " Nigga just started puberty 3 years ago. he aint got nothin to be stressed about." " Shut up girl! Esmyra cackled. " Look, he's my first love...." " Things are gonna be testy, y'all stop worrying. " 

" Okay Ms. I'm in love ,do you." " See y'all mita mitas later!" Traci waved walking off. " Bye girl!" Esmyra replied.   

During that same morning, Snuff and Ezail, were driving towards Springfield to meet with a coke connect. Ezail was actually making good grades, so missing school wasn't gonna fade him. Snuff dropped out in 9th grade, to take care of his son. Which was all the more reason for the I.S.S. gang to expand and make more money. 

Finally after the 20 minute drive, the two teens finally arrived. They admired the luxury penthouse in the downtown area.  " Man this shit is laid out." Ezail beamed. " Hell yeah nigga....." " A nigga need somethin like this fo sho." While hopping and getting off the elevator, they approached the connect's door.  

Snuff knocked emphatically. "BOOM, BOOM BOOM!" " Yo who is it!? " Ay it's Snuff!"  The door flung open, with a tall Puerto Rican man appearing.  He then patted Snuff and Ezail down and nodded in approval to let them see the big boss.  Upon entering the room, a smaller Puerto Rican man, with a bald head wearing a green satin robe, sat at a huge granite desk. 

"  Senor Morgan, como estas?" " Wasup  Gato?"  " Glad to see ya, please sit. " " Who's your homie?" " This like my little brother right here yo, real solid nigga ya heard?" " Mmmmm, what's your name slick?" Ezail puffed his chest out. " Everybody call me Bubba man." " Well nice to meet you Bubba."   " This is serious business amigo, will it seem like too much?" 

" I'm a serious young man...." Serious as cancer." Ezail bluntly stated.  Gato was impressed at Ezail's boldness. " Okay.....good." " So Snuff, I hear you want to be involved in the market" " Now is the time." " The Colombian Cartel is already generating 6.8 billion dollars throughout the US alone, it'll be very wise to dip in."  " Naw I hear dat."  " I'm a firm believer in, havin it while it's hot." Snuff replied.  

Gato folded his hands. " Good to know." " Having said that, I'm offering 25,000 for 1 key, you  know, just to get the feet wet a little bit."  " Works for us." Snuff agreed. " Good, I'll take 70 percent of the cut, for other matters.... ie ,  my own connect....... shit my lifestyle... as you can see."  

Ezail nodded. " Sounds good but not great, I mean make no mistake, I understand." " This is off consignment......" The more money we front ourselves, the cheaper the brick, correct?" " Just makin a observation is all. " Gato poked is bottom lip out nodding, impressed with Ezail's street smarts. " Smart kid indeed," " However, you sure you two, can move a substantial amount of weight throughout the Grove?" 

" Fo sho...." Snuff answered. We already took over new gang territory on the Westside.." " Not to mention, we'll have no real competition, other than some smaller knucklehead gangs..... but fuck em". Ezail added.  

" Sounds great homies."  " It's a deal..."  "  Mr. Morgan, Mr. Bubba, me proud to be my district distros." " Preciate it papi." The 3 men shook hands, striking up a business relationship. Many other dealers tried before in The Grove, including the aforementioned G-Block. In spite of that, the new jacks were set to take over. 

 Snuff and Ezail headed back home feeling good. " Can't believe we did it boy!" Snuff said blasting the song Brooklyn Battles by Master Ace. " Fuckin right nigga!" " The world is ours!" Ezail said giving his boy pound. Right then and there, the climate of Cedar Grove changed forever. 

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