3 months has passed since the incident. D'Asia has been staying with me and grandma. She decided on abortion. She was very emotional about it for about month or so. She just started to come around. I made sure I was by her side every step of the way. Through the tears, the rants, the laughter that turned to tears I was there for it all.
My grandmother was so happy to have another female in the house. She taught D'Asia how to knit and sew. She taught her how to cook. Saturday became my favorite day because they will play music and cook up some good eats.
We haven't heard from my mother or her husband since the incident. My mother haven't called any of us. Which didn't bother me none. But, I knew it bothered D'Asia a little. Her and my mom used to be tight at one point. So I knew it was going to take time to adjust. A neighbor told my grandmother they saw my mother with Charles about 3 weeks ago. That said enough for me. I didn't want no ties to that woman. I wonder how my grandmother was taking it.
I would hear her sometimes at night talking to her friend Ms. Gale about how she feels like she failed with her daughter. But, she was going to make it right with me and D'Asia. I hope she wasn't blaming herself for my crappy mother's actions.
School was starting back up. I was somewhat excited. Only because my summer was boring. My friends from school were away. Raymond aka Ray was away at summer camp. My friend Tyler aka Pumpkin was at his mother's house in the suburbs. And my other friend Tiwa aka TiTi went to visit family in the islands with her mother and grandmother.
Today I was going to see Ray who just got back from sleep away camp. He was about a week earlier than usual. He told me to meet him at the park cause he had to tell me something. As I was getting dressed, my grandmother was coming in my room.
"I'm about to head to work. Where you going?"
"I'm going to meet Ray at the park."
"Ray? He back from camp already?"
"Yeah."
"Hmph...I hope he ain't get in no trouble." She mumbled.
"You come back up in this house no later than 6 in one piece. You hear me?" She said in a stern tone.
"Yes mam."
"D'Asia tells me anything different you both getting whooped!"
"How I get in this?" She yelled from her room.
I chuckled.
"Yes grandma. I love you."
"I love you too baby. D'Asia! I'm about to go to work! Let me tell you something" she said walking to D'Asia's room.
I laughed knowing she was about to give the D'Asia the same talk.
I left out of the apartment and headed down the stairs, out the building. I said hello to the neighbors in front of my buildings before heading off to the park.
I pulled up to the park to see Ray playing basketball on the courts with some older boys. The boys looked about 16-17. Raymond was kind of tall for his age. It's like when he turned 13 he just shot straight up. I hope I had that same growth spurt when I hit 13.
I sat on the metal benches and watched them play. I watch Ray guard one of the teens who had the ball.
"Yo! Come on! You gonna let that lil nigga guard you like that?!" One of the teens yelled.
I chuckled as Ray stole the ball, cross two other teens and slam dunk on one of them.
"Dammmmn!" I yelled in unison with the other teens on the court.
"That boy is nice!" I yelled!
Ray looked my way and started grinning.
"You already know!" He yelled back to me.
The teens he was teammates with were dapping him up as he walked over to me. We did our personal handshake.
"Yooo that play was tight!" I said.
Raymond was sweaty and out of breath. He was standing on the bench with his hands on his hips.
"Good looks bro. Yo, let's walk to the corner store. I need water." He said breathlessly.
"Aiigh." I said as we started walking across the street to the corner store.
As soon as we got in, Ray threw both of his arm out to the side embracing the AC.
"Oh yeah ock?! You got AC in this bih?" He yelled out to the dude working behind the glass.
"Yeah yeah man! You like?"
"Hell yeah!" He said heading to the fridge to get the water.
"Good! Then you and your friend should buy lots of stuff!"
I laughed and shook my head as I got me 3 bags of chips. Ray came back with two Gatorades, two bottles of water and mad bags of chips. I looked at him like he lost his damn mind.
"$17.00." The ock said.
"Yo I got it bro bro." Ray said pulling out this roll of money.
I looked on in awe. I couldn't believe he had all of that money. Now, the next question is where he got that money?
He peeled off $150 out of the roll and handed it to him.
"I don't need change. The tip is for the AC." He winked.
Ock smiled and nodded while taking it.
"Good looks my brotha!" He said as we walked out the store.
We walked back to the park and sat on the benches. I looked at Ray as he started downing his red Gatorade. I couldn't believe he just paid $150 to the Ock like it was nothing. I needed some damn answers!
"Ray."
"Hmm?" He said with Cheetos crumbs around his mouth.
"What the hell was that back at the store?"
"What? I tipped him for AC. Like I said." He shrugged.
I gave him the straight face as he wiped his mouth and looked back at me with a sly grin.
"Yooooo I got mad shit to tell you bro." He laughed.
"Deadass you do!" I said laughing with him.
"Aiight boom. So, while I was in camp I linked up with this new kid. He just moved to NYC from LA. He had on some fly ass gear. So you know I had to ask right? Long story short he put me on game about how he gets his bread."
He started patting around his pocket and pulled out this little bag with pills in it.
"I started selling them to the older teens on the camp. And to some counselors too. I was making hella bread bro."
I looked at him with my mouth slightly opened.
"Dammmmnnn."
"Yeah man." He nodded putting it back in his pockets.
"So that's why you home early?"
He nodded.
"Yeah. Got caught slipping. Not gonna lie."
"Yoo what your pops said?"
He sucked his teeth and waved me off.
"He don't even know. My brother came and got me. I told him what wassup. All he asked for was a portion in sales and he wouldn't tell our pops." He shrugged.
I shook my head not surprised his father didn't know. Ray's father raised Ray and his older brother Reggie by himself since their mother up and left them when Ray was about 6 years old. He started an auto repair shop and barely had time to deal with Ray and Reggie leaving all of the adulting to Reggie.
"Damn. I don't even know what else to say." I said.
"Look Dee. The main reason I wanted us to link is because I have a business idea. I honestly don't feel like it will work without you and Pumpkin's help." He said in a serious tone.
I looked at him and nodded.
"Wassup. What's the plan?"
"I was going to wait until Pumpkin got back. But, I'll tell you now. So you see how I paid the Ock about $150 right?"
I nodded.
"Well, let's call it like a down payment for future endeavors. I gave him that money to secure a spot to sell from."
I felt my eyes light up in understanding. I nodded reassuring him.
"So, if I continue doing that without stepping on toes I believe me, you and Pumpkin will be making bank before summer rolls around again."
I pondered over what he said. The idea doesn't sound too bad. But, I knew it was going to be way easier said than done. Also, I don't know the ins and outs of the drug game. I actually didn't know anything about it. I don't know if Ray does either. But, he's sure is a fast learner. It's not like I was in desperate circumstances for money. So, I don't know what will motivate me to get into this deal. Except for the fact that Ray is my best friend and he clearly trusts me enough to come to me with this plan. He could have left me out of it and made the deal with Pumpkin if he didn't believe I could help.
"You know I gotchu." I said dapping him up.
He smiled and returned the favor.
A week later, me, Ray and Pumpkin was at the park talking about the plan again.
