When We Were Young

Chapter One

Hazel in her outfit at the club.

It was about 9 o'clock pm when I brought my 3 year old son Harlem over to his baby sitter.

Harlem

As I made my way to the strip club where I am a bottle girl, I blasted music. When I got there, I went right into the dressing room and I put on my outfit. I went to check in with Big Tone and found out I was working VIP tonight. I took a couple orders and brought them out, everyone was friendly and nice for you know being their to watch women dance naked on poles. As I was giving them their bottles someone new walked into their section.

When he walked into the section, I seen the last person I thought I'd ever seen in my life, Hakeem Brown. By the way my name is Hazel Black, I am 20 years old and as you know I have a 3 year old son named Harlem. I met Harlem's dad at the beginning of my junior year. When I got pregnant with Harlem it was the middle of my senior year. Unfortunately when I got pregnant, I told Harlem's dad and he didn't believe that my son was his. We had only slept together about 3 times and he didn't believe that was enough to get me pregnant.

Hakeem

Since he never believed me he refused to be involved in his sons' life, therefore I stopped trying to get him involved. I haven't seen Hakeem Brown in 3 years.. He is Harlem's dad, and I am praying to the lord he either doesn't recognize me or just doesn't speak to me.

The guy who I had learned his name was Ahmad said "bro! Hakeem! Do you want anything to drink? We got the sexiest bottle girl serving tonight!"

He didn't see my face but he said "can I get a water?"

I nodded and walked down there. I brought it back up and gave it to him. I said "there you go."

He said "thank you gorgeous.. hey wait you look familiar?"

I said "sorry, you don't. Ahmad if you need anything press the button, enjoy you your night."

I walked around and got a couple of more people bottles before Ahmad buzzed for me again. I went up there and I seen him whispering then he said "here she come be cool, be cool."

I said "did you guys need something else?" As I went over his shoulder to press the button.

Ahmad said "ya name?"

I said "my name's Honey."

Then one of the dudes said "we ain't ask ya stripper name?"

I said "and why I gotta tell you my government?"

Ahmad said "cause you lowkey familiar to all of us.. you grew up around here?"

I said "407 born and raised."

One of the friends who I figured is named Shawn said "you kinda look like the one jawn? Lightskin matter fact she might've been mixed. She was a twig though and you kinda slim thick so I don't know. Shit what was her name y'all?"

Ahmad said "she had long ass hair right?"

Shawn nodded and said "yeah, she graduated with us."

Then the friend who hadn't been speaking the whole time, Karon, said "awh that bitch Hazel." Which I turned my head at but no one peeped.

They were all like "ohh yeahhh!!"

Shawn said "she was always cute but just too skinny for me."

Ahmad said "facts she didn't have no ass or tittys. Yeah never mind there isn't anyway that was you ma."

I laughed a little and looked down at my feet. Then Hakeem said "she had a lil sum plus a good personality."

I rolled my eyes at that a little, because he saying that like he wasn't acting like I was some crazy bitch a while ago.

They went on for a little bit about how that couldn't have been me until I finally spoke up. I said "shit it's been 3 years and niggas still remember me, cute. I may have been a twig back then but having a baby gets you thick in all the right places."

Hakeem looked up and looked at me in my eyes with a questioning look. I just rolled my eyes and walked away. I was popped at that point. Like what the fuck is wrong with them. I just thought it was funny a little how it's been 3 years and I'm still one of the topics to discuss. I went around helping people and so far had made a little over $1000 in tips. Eventually their VIP section cleared except for one person. Hakeem said "wassup Haze.."

I said "it's Honey and can I help you?"

He said "what you doing working here?"

I said "getting money so I can provide for my son."

He said "oh ok."

I said "yeah."

Then he said "alright we'll hopefully I see you around sometime."

I just said "ok," then watched him walk out.

While I cleaned up their section I noticed a $800 tip with a note on it that said sorry and then I finally clocked out. I gave Big Tone his money and then left to go pick up Harlem.

When we got home it was 3:00am and I laid him in bed with me then took a shower and passed out next to him.