Clemency. ✓

18

Shawn Carter,

"How you doing, bro?"

I finally had some time outside of class to come see Malik in jail. It's really been a while since I could see him. I've been so busy trying to pay bills, be a father to Shai and make sure Dria and Grant have been situated. I don't really have to do much for Bey. She's just there for me when I need her and vice versa.

"Chillen, bro. Wassup witchu?" He grinned with his mouth full of silver.

I shook my damn head, "Nothing much, man. You been good in here?"

"Hell nah." He mumbled. "These niggas got me fighting and shit. Got me sentenced for longer in here."

"Why?" I asked. "Why you fighting?"

"Cause these niggas was trying me." He said. "Ion wanna talk about that shit though. I'm good, whatchu been up to?"

"Tryna getcho bitch ass outta here. No wonder I can't do it."

"I told you to leave that shit alone. Leave me in here. Ion care. You just take care of errbody, you feel me?" He asked.

"Yeah." I mumbled.

"So everybody good?"

"Depends." I said. "I can't lie. We in a bit of financial struggle with me losing my job and Dria being the only one working. I don't see it getting no better cause she been stressing a lot lately with being pregnant and still having to work. It's a lot going on right now."

"Oh," He paused. "What about Unc?"

"That nigga ain't got no money." I mumbled. "He living there for free."

"I got a money stash in the bottom of my closet. It's like a good $100,000 in hundreds and ten dollar bills. If you need that shit, go for it bro. That's what I keep it down there for."

"Where you get it from?"I asked.

"Don't worry bout all that, man." He said. "Get the money if you need it bro."

I nodded my head.

"Where you gone go when you leave here?" He asked.

"Shai is with Dria for today, so I'm going to meet them at her doctor's appointment in about two hours. She can be a handful. Then imma go pick up my last check and then I'mma head to Bey's new apartment."

"I thought you was helping her move in?" He asked.

"How would you think that? I haven't talked to you." I said.

"I know people, nigga. I know everything you do." He said. "Just like that bitch ass nigga Brandon coming for you. You want me to get some people on him?" He grinned.

"No, leave him alone, man. You stay in here. Not out there cause you don't know anything that is going on for real, aight? I'm serious."

"Aight, I hear you, bro."

"Malik." I said sternly. "Don't!"

"I'm not." He chuckled. "I'm chillen."

"Aight, don't play." I said.

He began to laugh, which scared the hell outta me. I didn't say anything cause I really wanted him to drop the thought from his brain.

After talking a little more, I decided to go ahead and pick up my check from Mr. Knowles's office. No one was there except the my ex-supervisor, Reggie.

"How are you, Shawn?" He asked. "I hate that I didn't get to say goodbye before you were let go."

"I'm good, how are you?"