Street Chronicles Girls in the Game (6 page)

“Okay, Li'l Man,” I replied. “But I'm only tolerating her ass for my son's sake.”

I agreed to let things ride without an argument. I didn't even bother telling Li'l Man about the earlier conversation I had with Stacey. I promised him that I was going to chill, so I would; but I still had plans to get her ass. Once things were said and done and I had my son back, I would definitely get that bitch. After I promised Li'l Man that I'd be on my best behavior, we got off the phone.

A
s the weeks passed I got my hustle on in a major way. I was thrilled all my hustles had turned out as planned. Young Boy had started putting out the loot, and, surprisingly, I still didn't
have to put out the ass. All this nigga wanted was a little time and teasing. My strip hustle was coming along better than I had originally expected, too. I know I ain't no ugly chick, but I never knew I could pull in as much money as I was pulling in just from shaking a little ass in some pervert's face.

Dancing wasn't that bad, after all. Guys were excited to see a new face, some fresh meat on display. It didn't take long before I began to build a little clientele. Each weekend I knew there would be at least three guys I could depend on for major loot, and there was one guy in particular I actually looked forward to seeing each weekend—Roc.

Luckily, I was able to get him on the team. Of course, I put in a little work, but it wasn't nearly as hard as I'd expected. It started off with a simple dance; then it turned into dances with a little extra seduction, caressing, and sweet nothings in the ear. Then I pretended to be interested in things about him other than his money. Before long we'd become pretty close—close enough for me to tell him a little about my situation and for him to vow to help, and the good thing was, he agreed to do a little more than just hit me off with loot. He was my MVP.

It was getting closer and closer to T.J.'s date in family court. With the money Stacey was hitting me off on Li'l Man's behalf, the money Young Boy was giving, and the money I was making dancing, I was stacking major loot. I hired the best attorney that I could find. Shit was definitely coming together! The only problem and unfinished business I had was Stacey. Although we both agreed to chill for the moment, neither of us was really feeling the other. And recently the bitch hadn't been bringing my money over as directed. I had some ill feelings toward her from jump, but I had really been building up even more of them for her conniving ass.

After Stacey brought me the first one thousand dollars, as Li'l Man had instructed her to do—and it took her ass two weeks to
nickel and dime me that—I ain't heard from or seen the bitch. At first I was complaining to Li'l Man left and right. He would call her to see what was up, and she was always supposed to be on her way. But after the first few days Stacey didn't show, I knew what the deal was. Li'l Man was sure he could straighten her ass out and she would be bringing me the money, but he was in for a big surprise.

After a week of him constantly calling Stacey and her making false promises, that bitch eventually put a block on her phone. That put an end to all contact. We tried calling her on a three-way a couple of times, but that bitch was obviously hip to that shit, too, because she would never pick up. Of course, Li'l Man was boiling inside, but it was quite comical to me. I was happy Li'l Man finally got a chance to see Stacey's true colors. I couldn't help but tell him, “I told you so.”

“I told you the bitch was shiesty!” I would constantly remind Li'l Man. It didn't take long before my words got in his head, and he began to curse the ground Stacey walked on.

“Man, I should have known what was up with that bitch from the jump!” Li'l Man said, frustrated that Stacey didn't answer another one of our three-way-call attempts.

“Li'l Man, I don't even know why you tripping. I told you from the start that bitch was a hater! But you were so sure she had no reason to hate on me that you wouldn't listen. I read her from the jump. I knew after she gave up the first bit of dough that I wouldn't see her again. That bitch had no intention of bringing me shit else. That wasn't nothing but hush money.”

“You right, baby girl,” Li'l Man finally admitted. ”Now that I think back, there was a lot of little shit she used to say that I should have caught on to. She never wanted you to have the baby. Every day she had a reason why I should make you have an abortion, and believe it or not, the shit she was saying was really convincing.
Then once she knew there was no changing my mind about you having the baby, she turned to convincing me that you were going to use TJ. against me to get whatever you wanted from me. At first I was like, ‘Nah,’ but then she started pointing out how often you called and little shit like that. I eventually fell sucka to that shit, too. I don't know what I was thinking. I fucked up, Tee. You were right. I don't know what else to say.”

Li'l Man had finally seen the light. I never thought I would see the day when he realized his little princess was really the devil's daughter. Now that Stacey had broken the truce, it was time for me to get my revenge, and I knew just how I would go about getting it.

T
iming was everything as I prepared to execute my plan. I reviewed it over and over in my head as I got dressed for court. Constantly watching the clock, I wanted everything to be perfect. It all had to be executed on point to be sure I would never be a suspect in the shit that was about to go down.

Stacey had made the ultimate mistake, and it was time for her to pay. I actually thought about what I might wear to her funeral as I scrolled though my closet to pick out the perfect outfit for court.

What a day, what a day!
I thought, taking a navy blue dress from the rack. I placed it up against me and turned to the full-length mirror on the closet door. I smiled at my reflection as I thought about the joy I'd feel when I got TJ. back and revenge on Stacey. Just then my doorbell rang. I looked over at the clock. It read 8:30 a.m. It was Young Boy, and he was on time, as usual.

He'd been by my side since the first day I told him about losing TJ. He had promised to take me to the court and stand by me before and after TJ. was home. I was actually thinking of making
Young Boy TJ.'s godfather. He'd been the closest thing to a godparent that TJ. had. Hell, he was the closet thing TJ. had to a father. Young Boy was the one putting up most of the money for the lawyer, taking me to see T.J., paying bills, and doing all the things Li'l Man was supposed to be doing. He even paid the damn phone bill Li'l Man ran up with all those collect calls. So in my eyes, Young Boy was more than worthy to be T.J.'s godfather. Shit, I figured Li'l Man didn't bother asking me about that shiesty bitch Stacey being the godmother, so I didn't owe him the respect of asking if Young Boy could be the godfather.

After letting Young Boy in, I went back to my bedroom and slipped on my navy blue dress. I called my people up real quick and gave them the okay before leaving my apartment and hopping in the car with Young Boy. As we drove to the courthouse I constantly checked my watch. The sweet smell of revenge was in the air. At nine o'clock I would be sitting in the courtroom, and that's when the shit would hit the fan. My stomach bubbled with fear as the reality of the events that were about to occur set in. But there was no turning back now. The ball was already in motion.

For the past few days I had watched to see when Stacey arrived and left school. This day she wouldn't arrive. Nine o'clock came and passed. Court began and was adjourned, and as expected, TJ. was returned to me. Thanks to money and people Young Boy knew, I was presented as the world's fittest mother. He arranged for everyone from pastors to doctors to testify on my behalf.

Now it was time to see if Stacey had been dealt with. I had Young Boy stop at a convenience store to grab something to drink, and I used the pay phone there to call my people. I didn't want to use my cell just in case shit got hot somewhere down the line.

I dropped the coins in the pay phone, dialed the number, and let the phone ring. After the second ring, the phone was answered.

“How's the weather?” I asked.

“The weather is lovely,” the male voice on the other end answered.

That was all I needed to hear. After his response I made arrangements to meet him later. We said as little as possible. I smiled and headed back to the car, drinking the Slurpee I had just purchased from the convenience store. I rode the entire way home with that smile on my face. My son was back with me, and Stacey had gotten what she deserved.

Once I got home I invited Young Boy inside. I figured the least I could do was cook him brunch. He'd done so much for me, all the while asking for nothing in return. Once inside my place I turned on the television for Young Boy and headed into the kitchen to cook. From the kitchen I watched Young Boy as he played with TJ. Although he had no kids of his own, it seemed so natural the way he interacted with TJ. It didn't take long before I was finished cooking and began to set the table.

“Yo, Tee!” Young Boy called in a frantic manner.

I rushed over, afraid that something was wrong with TJ. Instead I walked in to see Young Boy's eyes glued to the television. With the remote in hand, he turned up the volume. I listened as they interviewed a badly beaten woman. The reporter stated that the woman's home was burglarized, and she had been assaulted in the process. It seemed that the robbers had gotten away with a number of expensive pieces of jewelry, money, and her new BMWRX5.

“Ain't that yo’ girl Stacey?” Young Boy asked.

It took all I had to keep from smiling as I answered, “Yep.” I paused for a moment, staring at the television. “Oh, well, I guess what goes around carries around.” I said as I walked out of the room and finished setting the table.

A smile crept across my lips as I envisioned Stacey's battered face. She was fucked-up and better off dead, if you asked me. But
I didn't feel the least bit sorry for her. That bitch had gotten what she deserved. She wasn't dead, but she was close to it. She was dead financially, though. I made sure my people stripped her of all the things that made her the prissy bitch she was: the fancy designer-label clothes, the jewelry, the car, and Li'l Man's safe. My people had followed the plan perfectly. Like clockwork, they ran up in Stacey's spot and collected everything, but not before giving her a lifelong reminder, a beating that would always haunt her. I couldn't have whipped that ass better myself. She got a blow for each day my son was away from me.

It took a minute, but I eventually put two and two together and realized that when she failed to convince Li'l Man into making me kill TJ. by having an abortion, that bitch tried to kill him by poisoning him with alcohol. That would have definitely gotten TJ. out of the picture—and me, too, for that matter, considering I probably would have had to go to jail for that shit. But none of that mattered anymore. Her plan failed and mine prevailed.

After eating, I made TJ. a bottle and began to clean up the kitchen. Young Boy offered to feed him as I cleaned. Again, things looked so natural as Young Boy took TJ. into his arms and fed him his bottle. I stood there and smiled at the sight of the two of them, but at the same time I couldn't help but think,
Why couldn't Li'l Man be here doing these things?

Before I knew it, tears were rolling down my face. Young Boy looked up at me standing there.

“What's wrong, baby girl?” he asked.

“Nothing,” I replied, sniffing and quickly wiping my tears away. “It's just that I want the best for TJ., and without a father, I don't know if he'll have it. When I look at you two together, I just think of the things he'll miss out on without an active father.”

“Like I told you before, I got'cha back,” he quickly responded.

Bang! Bang!
Our conversation was interrupted by a knock at
the door. I walked over to the door and opened it. Standing there was Roc, my dude from the strip club. He'd come through just as promised. After Roc shared a little bit about his reputation on the streets with me, I knew he was perfect for this job. It didn't take much game for him to have pity for me. So when I hit him with my plot for revenge on Stacey, he readily agreed—no questions asked!

“Merry ChrisTmas!” Roc said before handing me a duffel bag. He winked and then walked away.

I walked into my bedroom and closed the door behind me, leaving Young Boy in the living room to finish feeding TJ. I put the bag on the bed and began to inspect the contents. I counted twenty-five stacks of ten hundred-dollar bills.

“Twenty-five thousand dollars!” I said softly. I nearly fainted. Stacey had gotten what she deserved, Li'l Man had gotten what he deserved, and I had gotten what I deserved. Now it was time for TJ. to get what he deserved.

I returned to the living room with Young Boy and TJ.

“Everything okay?” Young Boy asked, inquiring about the knock at the door.

“Yes, just perfect,” I responded. “Now, what were you saying before I left?” I asked, attempting to pick up where our conversation had left off before the knock on the door interrupted us.

“I was just saying that I got you and TJ.'s backs,” he replied.

I wasn't really sure what Young Boy was prepared to do for TJ. and me, but I figured this would be the perfect time to formalize his relationship with my son.

“Young Boy, you've been the closet thing me and TJ. have had to a baby father. I know you can't hold that title, but I would like to offer you the title of godfather, if you will accept.”

Young Boy's face brightened as I spoke. “Fa’ sho'!” he replied with excitement. “I love this li'l nigga like he my own already.”

I exhaled. My struggles were finally over, and not a minute too soon. According to Li'l Man, thanks to his parole violation, he would more than likely be behind bars for the next five years. I was not about to wait around for him and continue living the life of some project chick. It took a lot of bullshit to wade through, but I realized that there wasn't shit cute about that kind of life. I wanted more for TJ. I was turning in a new direction. I had gained a motherly bond with my child that I never thought would happen. Having TJ. in my arms gave me a feeling of joy that I'd never felt before. Looking into T.J.'s big eyes made me proud to be a mom. I now looked forward to the dirty diapers, late nights, and bottles of formula. And I'd found a father figure for my son.