Bread: A Hood Love Story

Gabrielle (V)

June 9th

5:36pm

 

My father and I pulled off the highway, about to enter the city of Compton. I shook my leg in anticipation, excited and a little bit nervous at going back home. I mean, things are way different than when I was 12. I have no idea what to expect.

          As my father drives down my aunt's street, I look out the window. Abandoned buildings and run-down liquor stores were up and down the street. Lights from a bar further down the way blink on and off, and all kinds of Cadis and Bentleys drive up to the entrance. There were guys making deals and girls on the corner; all your typical hood stuff. It seems a little more... dead. This definitely looks different from what I remember.

          My father pulls up to the second to last house on the block, and I see my cousin Nelson sitting on the porch waiting. He stands up when he sees us pull into the driveway.

          I squeal in excitement (yeah, that's kind of my thing), and I start rushing to get my bags together. I can't get out of this truck fast enough.

          My dad leans over and gives me a kiss on the cheek.

          "Love you, Gabs. Call if you need me, alright?"

          "Bye Daddy, love you too!" I give him a hug. I hop out of the Escalade, barely able to stand still I'm so excited. I wave my dad off as he drives away. Then I hear Nelson call me.

          "Ay Gabs!"

          I turn around and immediately I'm crushed in Nelson's embrace. Damn, this boy must have been working out!

          "How you been Gabs?! I haven't seen you in a minute. You look good!"

          "You don't look so bad yourself!" I laugh back. And he really didn't. He'd gotten lighter since I saw him last, and his hair grew out into a black, curly mess on his head. He had on a black tank, to show off his muscles I'm guessing, and dark grey sweats.

          "We better get inside. This is not the place you want to be at."

          He gets my suitcase and I follow him into the house, feeling right at home immediately. I look around, taking in the cozy atmosphere. I even see notches in the wall from when Nelson and I would measure our height when we were little. God I missed this place.

          "Where's Auntie? She's usually the first to greet someone at the door." I ask as we head upstairs to his room.

          "Oh she's out getting shit for dinner. It's early, but she got work tomorrow. You know she wouldn't miss you coming back for the world." He chuckles. "So what brings you back here G? Life got too good out there in West L.A?" He puts my bag down next to my old bed by the window. It still has the lavender purple sheets on it from when I was here last.

          I shove him. "Oh shut it, Nelly." I laugh when he glares at his childhood nickname. I always call him that, even though he hates it.

          "Anyways, remember Ms. Watson? Her son got shot a few nights ago, and she didn't want me at the retreat the church was having for her, so my dad dumped me here." I explain, unpacking my things.

          He tenses at the mention of Ms. Watson's son and goes silent. I wonder what that's about? I give him a look, but then I shrug it off. Maybe they didn't get along that well.

          Nelson then looks at me confused. "Can't you have stayed by yourself though?"

          I stop what I'm doing as I answer his question. "Nelson, you know why I can't do that." Tears pool at the bottom of my eyes. I hate that I still cry over this... I'm too sensitive for my own good.