Her Sweetest Revenge (Delphine Publications Presents) (9 page)

“
All right,” I said impatient. “I will get you some Newports. But I ain’t giving you no money. I’ll go out and get some. Come on, Rochelle, let’s walk over to the store.” I bent down and laced up my shoes.

“
And make sure you pick up that mess before you leave,” Mama said, pointing to the leftover hair I used to do Monica’s hair.

I rolled my eyes and started gathering up the hair with Rochelle’s help.

Walking to the store everything looked peaceful, which kind of relaxed my nerves. Everybody was hanging on the block, even my brother Li’l Bo. I started to scream at him, but I decided to chill since I had shit on my mind.

“
So what’s up with the money, Mya? A week has passed since you were supposed to pick it up. And you ain’t said nothing, plus you been acting funny.”

I stopped dead in my tracks. I knew she would ask at some point. I just didn’t know when. But I guess now was as good a time as any to continue with my lie.

“
I got it.”

“
You got it? Well, when did you get it, and how much?” Rochelle fired questions at me. “And why you ain’t happy?”

“
Calm down, Rochelle. It seems to me you’re happy enough for both of us,” I grinned. “I am happy and nervous. I don’t know what to do with all that money. I haven’t even told Li’l Bo and Monica about it,” I confessed.

“
You haven’t? When are you going to tell them? And you still haven’t told me how much money you got. I thought you were my best friend, but you’re holding out on me. What’s up with that, Mya?” Rochelle played at being mad.

“
I’m not holding out. I just haven’t told you. I was afraid you might lose it. You know how excited you get about anything that glitters.” I stopped for a few seconds. “But the amount was about a hundred thousand,” I lied calmly. Rochelle stopped, almost in slow motion. She looked at me in disbelief and screamed.

“
Oh my Goddd!! Mya, you rich, girl!” Rochelle jumped up and down and grabbed me in a big hug.

“
Shhh, girl!” I looked around and put my hand over her mouth. “Girl, you gone tell the whole projects and get me robbed. Calm down; it’s only money. Besides, I wouldn’t want Li’l Bo or Monica to find out from anyone but me.”

“
Why haven’t you told them? You can’t keep this a secret from them.”

“
I know. I just gotta get used to the fact that I even have all that money first. I already safely put it away. But having that much still makes me nervous.”

“
Nervous? It should make you happy as hell. I know it makes me happy. I know Li’l Bo and Monica will be too.” Rochelle had a grin on her face so wide it looked like her face was going to pop. “I know your dad is happy Big John showed up with that money.”

“
Yeah, he is,” I lied with a grim smile on my face.

“
OK, look. You have to tell Monica and Li’l Bo soon. Maybe you should take them out to eat or something and do it,” Rochelle suggested.

That sounded like a good suggestion I thought as I stopped walking to face Rochelle. “Yeah, I think that’s what I’ll do. I’ll take them out later today and tell them. That way, if they get too excited, my momma won’t hear. Rochelle, thanks.” I gave her a fake push while we continued to walk.

“
Now what are you going to do for your eighteenth birthday?”

“
Oh snap, Rochelle. Girl, I forgot all about my birthday, I’ve been so busy.”

“
Mya, how you gon’ forget your own birthday? I didn’t forget. It’s next Saturday, and we gon’ party.” Rochelle threw her hands up in the air.

“
No, doubt,” I smiled. “I
know
we gon’ party.” I got hyped.

“
Damn right. And you’re gon’ spend some of that money to go shopping too. I don’t wanna hear shit, and do your hair. You’ll be the main bitch that night. You only turn eighteen once, so it’s on.” Rochelle gave me a serious look to make her point.

She’s right, I only turn eighteen once, and with all the drama I’ve been going through the last four years, I deserve to celebrate my eighteenth birthday. And that’s just what I plan to do. As for shopping, I haven’t done that in a while so it should be interesting. Not only am I going to go shopping for myself, I’m going to take Li’l Bo and Monica on a shopping spree. Spending money ain’t something we’ve been accustomed to in the last couple of years, but I’m pretty sure we won’t screw it up.

Chapter 15

“
Give me that bread back, Li’l Bo. I had it first. You know I had it first,” I heard Monica scream at Li’l Bo when I entered the front door.

“
I don’t know shit. If you had it first, why didn’t you eat it?” he asked calmly.

“
Because I went to the bathroom. Now give it here.” Monica snatched the bread out of his hand. The bread crumbled when she snatched it. “You see what you’ve done? Now the bread is torn up. How am I supposed to eat it?” Monica continued to yell at him.

“
Why don’t you ask yourself that, since you the one snatched it?” Li’l Bo started laughing.

I stood back in silence and watched them argue. They have been arguing like that since I became too old to argue with Li’l Bo myself. So now I get to sit back and referee their petty bullshit arguments. Monica always wins because Li’l Bo always lets both of us get our way in the end. Just when the argument was over Momma came out of her room.

“
What is going on in here? Why all the hollering?” She headed in the kitchen.

“
It’s
him
,” Monica pointed her finger at Li’l Bo.

I started laughing out loud, and Momma turned around. “What’s so funny? Don’t you hear them in here about to kill each other?” she asked.

“
Yeah, and can you believe over some bread?” I answered still laughing.

“
It ain’t funny, Mya. He knows I was about to make a sandwich with that bread,” Monica pouted.

“
Stop whining like a baby. The next time you take the bread out use it. Females,” Li’l Bo breathed out loud.

“
Whatever, boy, get yo—”

“
Hold it.” I cut Monica off before she could say anything else. “Could both of you stop about that damn bread. We can get more bread. As a matter of fact, both of you get dressed. We going to the store,” I ordered them.

“
Why are we going to the store? I don’t feel like it. Besides, I just took my clothes off. If you lookin’ for me, I’ll be in my room trying to beat the next level on my game.” Li’l Bo walked off.

“
Li’l Bo,” I yelled, “boy you better get dressed before I act a fool,” I warned him.

“
I’m already dressed,” Monica smiled. “All I have to do is put on my sneakers.”

Li’l Bo gave both of us a malevolent look before going to his room to get dressed.

“
Speaking of the store, did you get my Newports?” Momma asked. In the mix of everything I had forgotten all about the Newports that Rochelle and I had walked to the store to pick up. I reached inside my pocket and handed them to her.

“
Thanks,” she smiled as she grabbed the pack out of my hand. “You taking your brother and sister to the store so you must have some money. Why don’t give your momma some, because I sure could use it.”

“
I already told you I don’t have any money. Now I got you those Newports just like you asked.”

“
I know that. I just thought you had some money. If you ain’t got no money, why you going to the store? You better not be on no stealing shit, because I ain’t coming down to Juvenile to get your asses,” she warned.

“
Who gon’ be stealing?” I fired back at her.

“
I’m just telling ya,” she frowned at me and lit a Newport. I hardly even recognize this mother in front of me. She has changed so much since my dad left. Feeling sorry for my own mother I decided not to argue with her today.

“
Yeah, I hear ya.”

Li’l Bo came out of his room with a look that said, “Let’s go now.”

“
We’ll be back later if you still here,” I said before we headed out the door.

Chapter 16

Once outside the apartment we started walking like we’re going to the store, but I decided to take a detour. I speeded up my walking pace and stopped in front of Li’l Bo and Monica.

“
Let’s stop a cab.”

“
Stop a cab for
what?
” Li’l Bo looked at me like I have only one eye. “Mya, what’s up with you today? You got us out here walking in this damn heat like we going to the store. Now you talkin’ about let’s stop a cab.” He started walking again. Monica looked at me confused.

“
Look, Mya, are we going to the store or not because I’m hungry? I ain’t got time for this neither.” Monica looked defeated as she ran her hand through her braids to get them out of her face.

I turned around and waved a cab down that happened to be passing by, and it actually stopped. I can’t help but think this must be my lucky day because it’s rare to get a cab to even slow down in the Brewster. I stepped off the curb up to the cab.

“
Where you headed, little lady?” the male cabdriver asked me. I almost threw up before I could answer because his bad breath slapped me in the face.

“
Downtown,” I was able to answer before having to catch my balance.

“
They with you?” He looked past me and pointed at Li’l Bo and Monica.

“
Yeah,” I answered.

“
You got money?”

“
Uh-huh,” I answered, sick to death of his killer breath.

“
Then hop on in.”

I opened the back door, and Li’l Bo and Monica hesitated for a minute. “Would y’all get in the cab,” I said in a demanding tone.

As soon as we all piled inside the cab, the driver took off like a bat out of hell. He didn’t even give us a chance to put on seat belts. By the time we hit the interstate headed downtown we had all settled comfortably in our seats. I, for one, was just hoping the driver kept his damn mouth shut since I had come up close and personal with his foul breath. To be honest, the whole cab smelled just like his stank-ass breath. So him not talking only eased the funk just a little bit, but just my luck, he didn’t stay quiet for long.

“
Where ya headed downtown, little lady?” he asked while looking through his rearview mirror, which had me worried since he was driving like a bat out of hell.

“
Not sure yet; just keep driving.” I looked over at Li’l Bo and Monica who were quiet as hell.

“
Where would y’all like to get something to eat from downtown? Like what restaurant?” I asked them hoping to get a response.

“
You got some money?” Li’l Bo asked, giving me a suspicious look.

“
I asked what did you want to eat, didn’t I?”

“
I want a greasy burger with mustard and pickles,” Monica said, without a doubt.

“
Yeah, that does sound good.” Li’l Bo cosigned with a slight nod.

“
A’ight, bet. You know there’s only one place to get that downtown. Aye, driver, you know where Motown Café & Grill Burgers is?” I asked.

“
Absolutely. I’ll have you there in five.”

We pulled up in front of Motown Café, and I paid the cabdriver and we got out.

“
Thank God! I thought we’d never get outta that stanky-ass cab,” Monica revealed taking a deep breath. Li’l Bo and I started laughing.

We stared at Motown Café for a while before going in. This place brings back memories for us because my dad used to take us here all the time for burgers. A waitress seated us and took our orders. After she left the table Li’l Bo started with the questions.

“
OK, Mya, what’s up? How you gon’ pay for all this? And after all that food I just ordered I don’t plan on running up outta here. Not today. So you better have a better plan or some money,” he informed me.

“
Don’t worry about that. I got money, so you can eat your food in peace. Monica, you can order dessert if you want.”

“
Now
that’s
what I’m talkin’ about,” Monica said without questioning anything. But I decided to go ahead and fill them in on our new financial gain before the food arrived.