Cleanin' Up The Hood

Problems and Solutions

Look, college girl, but a freak on the weekend (on the weekend)
Eat that dick up even when I'm going vegan
He be trippin' on me and I know the reason (I know the reason)
I gotta break up with my nigga every season
Real hot girl shit, ayy, I got one or two baes (whoa, whoa)
If you seen it last night, don't say shi-

"Some  hot girl summer this is."

The screen door closed behind Vee. Dressed in an Upstate Tee and jean shorts, she sat on the stone stairs of her family's home with her laptop in tow. 

"Alexa, play On and On."

The blue speaker beside her beeped twice.

"Playing On and On by Erykah Badu."

Soon, Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj were replaced by the sultry voice of Miss Erykah Badu.

Granted, Vee loved her some Meg and Nicki she really wasn't feeling it today. 

In fact, ever since the whole chase down through Vinewood a week ago. Vee had been quiet and a reflective. Vee figured that the nagging thesis topic for her online class had been the cause of it. But, something told her it was more than that.

The subject had to do with the psychology of problem-solving and how the steps are interwoven in everyday life. 

It was an easy topic, but something was holding her back. She crossed her legs and leaned back with a soft sigh thinking back to last week about the phone conversation she had with CJ.

"Hell, yeah. That's my daughter. You beat the fuck out him."

"You already know pops. That Johnson blood ain't nothin' to fuck with. We got the payment and a little bit more from him. I bet his ass won't hold out no more."

Vee had her airpods in as she stood over the stove conversing with Cj. She flipped over her burger patty. She was feeling pretty confident after the hot shower. Zay had left to take the money they had gotten from Vonnie after he tried to run off. She figured he'd be back soon.

Vee paused for a moment.

"Hey pops?"

"Yeah, wassup?"

"When am I gone see you again? It seems like you been in hiding forever. Shouldn't we be trying to find out who shot up the memorial and who shot you and Uncle Sweet? Havin' me shake up spots for short change doesn't seem like it will get us any closer to an answer. I gotta get back to school soon. I can't stay here forever, but I don't want to leave you here knowing that it's a target on your head. Just give me a name. I promise I can handle it."  

There was a long pause before Cj let out a sigh.

"Vee, shit then got too complicated-

"I'm not a fucking child. I'm sick of hearing 'shits too complicated'. Damn, can I get a straight answer? A hint? A message in the sky? A pigeon Shit nigga, somethin'?"

Cj laughed from the other line.

"You just like your moms. You know that? I swear, I miss her. You know, the way she was before...she got on that shit."

"Yeah me too."

Vee flipped her burger and quickly changed the subject.

"Pops? Do I get a hint or nah?"

"Problems don't always have an easy solution Vee. Sometimes you have to work on a side quest or two before you eradicate the main problem."

Ever since their conversation, Vee wondered what the hell was she even doing. After getting her virtually nowhere closer to whatever the hell was going on, Cj went on and on about the next couple of places her and Zay had to collect payment from.  

None of the individuals tried to run off as Vonnie did, but Vee couldn't help but wonder how this would help anything. Hell, honestly she couldn't even say she knew where the money went towards after it left their hands. It wasn't going back into the neighborhood because it was still run down and shitty. People were still dying, CJ was still only God knows where. And the Ballas still outnumbered them and were still having kids slang crank like boomerangs. 

Joyous cries of the neighborhood children caused her to look up from her laptop.

"Dang Zay, you play too much!" 

For the first time, Vee had seen Zay crack a genuine smile. Laughter followed.

"Hey, I told you if you got smart. I would spray y'all."

Zay had been washing his car prior to Vee arriving outside to get some fresh air. It seemed like a group of kids had gathered around him to admire his car and or to listen to what he had to say.

"Zay, you gonna let me shoot your gun one day. I know you got one. I'MMA  be on these boys like bada-AH!"

There was another roar of laughter when the same kid with the fade and black airforces was hit with a bigger blast of water. 

"Aw, man Zay! What was that for?!" The boy cried out sputtering.

"That's for being stupid. The last thing you need to worry about is shooting a gun, Travis. What you need to worry about is shooting ball when you get out of middle school and shooting your shot to these girls."

The group of boys let out of chorus  of "yeahs".

Vee scoffed and rolled her eyes. 

I guess he over there training a mini-puppy pound.

"Actually," Vee announced loudly standing up from the porch. She set her laptop on the stoop and walked over to where the group of boys and Zay stood.

The group of young boys went quiet and Zay raised an eyebrow. 

"You want something?" he asked with curiosity. She smirked lightly. "Nah, I just want to add something in," she responded glancing around from child to child.

"Worry about getting out of here too. The first time to go badadapap on somebody," Vee demonstrated shooting a gun at the younger boy before continuing "is the first time you get put into a web of shit that will take YEARS for you to undo." she finished.

Zay nodded in agreement.

"Hell yeah, shit that will have your kids' kids' stuck in a continuous loop of getting rode up on and killed. Listen to her, stack your money the right way and get the hell out the hood."

The kids were quiet thinking about what was said to them before another boy spoke up.

"But, what if you have to shoot somebody that's givin' your mom crack and beating her up? " The boy asked. He bit the inside of his cheek in anger as a fire lit in his eyes.

"What if the police not doing anything to stop him either?"

Zay and Vee exchanged looks. 

"Then, you tell Zay and me. We'll handle it."Vee said suddenly speaking up. "Ain't no sense of you fucking up your future for anyone."

Zay nodded agreeing with Vee.

"I'm going to put some more clothes on. Be ready to ride out. We'll handle getting money from the bodega to my pops men later,"Vee replied before going back towards the stoop. She grabbed her laptop and headed in the house.  She saw much of herself in that kid before her mother got strung out on dope and messing with the wrong people got her to where she was at now.

"When I get big, Ima shoot everybody that ever sold my mama crack."

Sometimes you have to decide which problems you wanted to make solutions for.