A Hustler's Protege

04 The Notice

-Davon
"Aigh, I'll get at you man" I took Kash business card and looked down at it as I walked away.. "So who was that?" I looked up and seen Tony, first thing I thought was fuck! "Just some guy I met, he cool what you doing down here anyway?" The look on Tony face wasn't pleasant and I knew he wasn't buying it at all. He shook his head and grabbed my shirt pulling me in front of him.

-Tony
As my brother stood in front of me and lied to me, I knew he was up to no good. I got tired of always bailing him out of shit, he get into trouble and feel like no one else will be affected by it. We made our way back home but before proceeding I decided to pull him back and have a talk with him. "I hope you not messing with this cat, he's bad news Davon." The look on his face I just knew he didn't want to listen to anything I had to say. "He's just this guy I met on my way home, he seemed cool and plus bro he offered me a chance to make some money I can get you on, you know how bad we need the money." I couldn't believe half the shit my brother was saying, the fact he sounded real hype about it gave me a disgusting feeling. "Dee.. That's Kash... He's a well known dope dealer around Baltimore he's bad news bro, I just don't want you to get caught up in some shit that either one of us will regret". The look in his eyes, I just knew he didn't care Davon going to do what he wants, who am I to stop him? But I'm always on his ass about everything it's just hard to maintain when he's so hard headed.

-Davon
"Okay Tony.. I hear you, can we go inside now?" When he nodded I was relieved I got tired of hearing him lecture to me about the same shit. He always want to do what's best for me, but yet here we are watching our mother struggle to make ends meet, nobody in this house is holding a job. Having to call our aunt every first of the month just so our rent is paid, having to call our grandma to make sure our electricity is on luckily my mom gets EBT or we would've been eating noodles and water everyday. Tony never understood me, I know I make some fucked up choices but who is he to judge? His shit barely right himself. "Dee... Where's the milk?" I stepped out of thought when I heard my momma voice, talk about fucked up choices instead of me going to the store, I made a choice to go see Raven and forgot all about the milk. No wonder my pockets were still jingling of change.. "Ma I'm sorry I-I forgot ..." When those words escaped my mouth I just knew I was going to get a good cursing out.

- Monica
"Lord boy what the hell did I send you down there for? To goof around with money I had to scrape up to get? Gimme my change" lord this boy is going to be the death of me... Hell all of my children going to be the death of me, raising four kids is tough especially a mother with no income or education. I had all my children young, and dropped out of high school when I was only 15...worse mistake in my life. I'm still surprised my mother even wants anything to do with me, these kids are a pain in my ass but I love them and they love me; I try to make sure that I don't let my emotions show in front of them, but damn that's almost hard to do. "Momma I got the mail" I looked up and seen Jazmyne bringing me bundles of mail, mostly junk mail and bills. I ran across the last piece of mail that had a yellow envelope, I slid my finger across it to open it up, as I opened it I gasped with disbelief... It was an eviction notice from my landlord, we had merely 30 days to have our stuff packed up and find somewhere else to stay. I just covered my mouth and swallowed hard and held back the tears that wanted to flow, there was no way I was going to show my kids this or have them worry about it. "Ma, what was that letter for?" My daughter came from behind me looking at me, I just caressed her pretty face and smiled "nothing but bills baby the usual" I slipped the notice under some books on the table and walked outside to light a cigarette.

-Taivia
I just stood there eating my sandwich watching my momma actions, I may not know much but I do know when there is something wrong with my mom. "Tai what you wearing tomorrow?" I just paused and looked over at my twin from the hallway, she was in our mom room going through the closet looking for stuff to wear. The whole twinning thing was cute when we were 6 but I'm older now and I just want to rock my own style not walk outside and have someone who by genetics already look like me, but also dress like me. Thank god we don't wear uniforms..

-Jazmyne
"I don't know Jazz, just find you something" I just sighed and flopped on the bed, staring at the closet. I love my sister, I love to dress alike I feel it signifies our unity plus we're the only set of twins at our school, I just want us to flaunt together.. But nowadays it's like she wants to do her own thing now, I sometimes feel like I'm losing my sister and she doesn't even know it.