The Grove Chronicles

Chapter 30

Esmyra walked out of the Jamacian food joint, despite Eduardo's orders not to go. In her hands was a container of jerk chicken , rice and vegetables. While turning the corner, some girls in purple stood on the sidewalk laughing and play fighting. Esmyra tried circling around the group, however Pumpkin stopped her. " Ayo, little mama hold up!" Esmyra took a step back. " Hey, is there something I can help you with?" 

" Yo name is Esmyra?" " Uh...yeah..." " Why?" " Nah, I heard you was nice wit yo hands.' " Heard Patrelle got her ass nearly killed." " Well she deserved it....." " I told her to back off my man.' Esmyra rolling her neck. Pumpkin then laughed. " Sprung off of Chuck I see..." " That boy be mesmerizin these girls." 

" Well I'm his one and only, forever."  The other Killo Trae members giggled at Esmyra's  statement. " Alright baby girl relax." Pumpkin shaking her head. "I don't want Chuck anyhow ..." " He like my little brother, shit been that way since grade school. " Anyway, I think you should be down wit us, now what I'm sayin?"  Esmyra's scrunched up. "Really?"  " Who are y'all?" " Killo Trae Divas mama's..."

 " I'm Ashanti aka Pumpkin, the leader and general."  " Killoton Street and Traemont Ave be our territory." " Basically we a girl version of I.S.S. "  "Oh.." " Well.... I don't think Bub wants me in a gang..... " He'll probably hit the fucking roof." Esmyra explained. 

" Girl,  he ain't yo husband." " Gotta make yo own decision's."  " Yeah, I understand, but he trying to protect me from the streets." " Listen, the streets can be a little rough but it ain't even deep." " If anything gets outta hand, you get us for protection." 

Esmyra thought long and hard. " Ok I guess i'm down." " I don't mind having other friends to hang out with." " A'ight bet, you officially one of us now." The two young girls shook hands, before Esmyra walked away.  

Back on Floradale Drive, Esmyra noticed her uncle Mario's car in the driveway. " Shit, what the hell is he doing here?" While opening up the door, she raced upstairs to hide the food from Eduardo.  " Esmyra!"  Marie, come down here!" 

" Fuck man!" she thought. Trotting down the stairs, she sighed walking into the kitchen, where Eduardo and her uncle Mario sat.  " Yes papi?" " Mamita where have you been?" " After school helping out one of my teachers." Eduardo moved his foot up and down, pondering. " Well,  I guess it's great to be helpful."  " I was getting worried about you." 

Mario got up, eager to hug his niece. " Hey mama, beautiful like your mother!" Esmyra rolled her eyes, fake hugging him. " Gee... thank you." " Girl got so tall on me, what height are you now?" " 5'6?" " No.... 5'4......why you want to know?" Esmyra now annoyed. " Hey, I'm just making conversation baby." Mario grinned. 

" Listen, dinner will be ready soon mamita." " Uncle Mario's new lady friend, and daughter are coming to join us. " How old is she?" " She's about your age....." Mario answered. " Whatever...." " I'll get ready and clean up." Esmyra sighing heading upstairs.  

Cornell and Stacey were on a dinner date at Red Lobster. Cornell chowed down on some garlic cheddar biscuits. " Damn boy slow down." Stacey giggled. " Girl, these are the holy grail...."  Cornell retorted. " Okay I get it, but slow down you.... pig."  While enjoying his meal he saw a person, who would make his stomach turn. Jab and a bunch of other teens, came approaching the table.  " Hey wasup cousin." Jab remarked at Stacey. " Oh hey Daniel." she said standing up hugging him.

Cornell was now baffled. " Yo cuz, call me Jab......." " Daniel is my slave name." Jab puffed. "Shut up fool." Stacey shaking her head giggling. " Oh Cornell, this is my cousin Daniel, Daniel this is Cornell."  " I know this dude..." " Trust me everybody know Mr. star linebacker." Jab said in a patronizing manner. 

Cornell lifted up his glass of fruit punch with fury.  "Not everyone.... at least not well." he said looking away. " Anyway, what's up with you cousin?" Stacey wondered."  " Aw nuttin much, just makin new friends is all."  Stacey scanned the Seville members, before poking her lips, in indifference. 

" Okay......" " Be careful out there, grandnana be worried bout you." " Grandnana been paranoid for a hot minute now, ain't so worried."  Jab shrugged." " Alright now, be safe." Stacey waved him off. " Yeah you too cuz." Jab then took one of Cornell's biscuits while winking at him, walking away. 

" That fuckin boy I swear..." Cornell shaking his head. " I can tell y'all not friends....." Stacey observed.  " Hell naw." " Rather feel the flames of hell fire." " So what happened?" " We never got along, simple."  " Well, Daniel never been perfect."   He had to watch his father beat his mother a.k.a my aunt." " I don't think he ever experienced peace." Stacey sighed. 

" Sad but, I still don't care for his personality, regardless...."  Cornell shrugged. Well anyway, you still ain't answer my question from earlier......  Stacey stated. " Is sex something that should be done before or after a commitment?" 

" Uh I say before." Cornell answered. " Why?" " Gotta test drive the car before you invest." " Ah, excuse me Mr. Rockman..." Stacey put her hand on her hip. " Yes their needs to be an emotional connection involved, however the main problem in a relationship is communication, mainly sexual communication." 

" If we can't please each other or fail to do so after trying, what's the point?"  Stacey sat silent for a minute. " I guess...." " My whole perspective is, If we can't repair each other's spiritual's essence, then sex don't matter." " Sex in my eyes is a privilege, not a necessity.' Cornell them shrugged his shoulders. " I understand."  " Can't really disagree, I feel as though, sex is just our main primal instinct." 

" Agreed, but as a man, it's important to control your urges." " What, it's a thing to fuck everything in sight?" Stacey questioned. " No, but again I think if we can have a healthy sexual connection, things will fare better." 

The challenged each other for a few minutes, while chowing down on their main meals. One thing for sur,e is that the two teens had a mature outlook on compatibility, compared to the others.