The Neighborhood Hope Dealer

The Neighborhood Hope Dealer #Watty2019

The Marathon Clothing... 

Nipsey had his whole family riding on over to their store. His lil daughter Lil Nippi hugging her daddy around his neck from her backseat. He patting her tiny hands. She smiling the whole time. His sister Samia in deep thought. How much work she about to get done for the family store. As soon as those doors open, she going straight to the dressing room to try on what she taking back home. Nip and Lawn, his new business partner had some inventory paperwork to fill out. He brought her onboard and she anxious to show Nip she will be good for the team. 

Lil Nippi spoke up... 

"Daddy, I know where I am. I'm on Slauson and Crenshaw."

"That's right baby girl. You were born in South Los Angeles just like your daddy"

"Will I ever own a clothing store like you daddy" 

"This is your store"

Lil Nippi was glowing. Imagining she about to work in her own store just like her daddy's dream was when he was only thirteen. She only five

"I beat you in our dreams and goals daddy. I'm just five"

"Yes baby girl you beat daddy. I got started late" and he and his daughter both laughed at that together

"But daddy, you got a head start in your record deals. I haven't began to write yet. Teach me some songs OK?" 

"Sure sweetheart. You know daddy got our photo of my parents and me when I was younger than you. I think I was two and having my second birthday. Cake everywhere. "

"That's my favorite photo of my daddy. Of you at two. You were younger than me at the time. I was still in Heaven as a baby waiting to be born. You were waiting to meet my mommy so you could watch her tummy get big from kissing you"

"Oh my goodness" her daddy turned around to put his sister Samia in check

"You been teaching my child where babies come from?"

"Yeah, she ask all the time. What you want me to say? That her mommy swallowed a hot air balloon?"  

He shook his head and Lawn his new business partner was blushing

They pulled up to The Marathon Clothing ... 

Nobody could get out before the CD finished it's instrumental, but daddy calls them his Hipstrumentals. He sells them along with his mix tapes to keep the store able to buy his designs. That's the part of the business lil Nippi will have to learn about. Hopefully when she is thirteen. 

"Daddy, I wanna go back to Africa. I think all the people that were brought over here for slavery should be offered to go back home. I think government should be made to pay for it too" 

Nip turned around to stare at his little sister yet again. 

"You been teaching her about becoming an Activist too huh?"

"She ask alots of questions Nip. Whatcha want me to say? That she don't know that you are half Eritrean ? She wants to learn more about her culture"

"Daddy, why we don't have any African clothing in our store? Are you just for the gang members?" 

Oh he was really livid upon hearing that question

"Where you getting all this from, Lil Nippi ? " 

He really got his hands full with her being so intelligent for five years old 

"It's your music daddy. I'm pumped. I feel the Mother Country when I listen. I wanna get my allowance and send it back home. I heard you want to open up a Marathon Clothing store in my grandfather's Eritrean country. That's so sweet daddy. You going to be remembered for that. I got some good genes. While but what happened that my Moma don't?"