Chapter 17
Crew
When I pulled up to my mama's house, all of my sisters were sitting on the stoop, cackling and drinking Cut Waters. These hoes were probably drunk as hell this early in the day, doing nothing productive while running their mouths.
“What up, little big bro?” My older sister said as I approached the steps.
“Why are you hoes out here getting drunk this early? Get out of my way.”
“What’s wrong with you? Is it because Hov’s party got shot up last night?”
“See, that’s why I don’t go to shit like that.” My sister Porsha added.
“Porsha, you didn’t go because your ass wasn’t invited. None of you were, it was a classy event.”
I laughed when they rolled their eyes.
“We all know why we weren’t invited,” Jasmine added.
“Why?” I asked because I was intrigued by what they had come up with. Having sisters was what first showed me how petty women can be. They will put two and two together and get five if they want to.
“Because of Hov’s wife. I heard that she’s controlling and didn’t want any outside bitches at the party.”
“Mmmhmm, and I heard that she put a root on that nigga.”
“Yeah, you know she did. Hov wasn’t even checking for Cashmier like that, and then all of a sudden, he gets married to this random bitch who isn't even all that. Tuh." They hating asses all started smacking their lips.
“Have y’all ever heard of having good pussy? It will make a nigga do things he never thought he would.”
“Oh, I know. My baby daddy will crawl to Harlem on his knees for big moose." My sister Porsha said spreading her leg up in a heel stretch. That shit disgusted me enough to end this conversation entirely. My mama is a pretty classy lady, but she raised some straight up hood rats.
“Any way, is someone in here with Mama?”
“Nobody is right now, but she is waiting on her man to come through.
"Good, where y’all kids at?"
"They are down the sidewalk building snowmen with Abby Smith's kids. Today was the first day that it wasn’t as cold as a panda bear coochie out here.”
“Alright. Well, I am going to give y’all some money. Get away from here and take their little asses to the arcade or something.”
“Why do we need to take them somewhere? Why can’t we just take the money?” Jasmine said, reaching her hand out.
“Don't take this money without taking them to the arcade, and I’m not playing with y’all. Let those kids have fun. Do something with them instead of sitting up getting drunk on this cheap-ass shit y’all drinking.” I slapped the can out of my sister's hand.
“Crewshon, you are so stupid! Why would you do that? I’m drinking this!” She picked up the can and still kept sipping it.
I pulled out a stack of money and thumbed out six hundred dollar bills for them.
They got up off the steps, went in the house, grabbed their purses, and left out quickly.
Once the stoop was clear, I walked inside and called out for my mama.
“Mama!”
“Yes?”
“Where are you?”
“In the restroom, trying to figure out where my brush is. One of the girls must’ve moved it from the spot it’s supposed to be in. They frustrate me.”
I walked into the restroom behind her and saw the green hairbrush that she brushes her hair with sitting on the top shelf.
I handed it to her, and it was honestly amazing to me how my mother still cared about how she looked, even though she couldn’t see herself.
If I ever lose my eyesight, I won’t give a fuck about my lineup or shit else.
“Where are you planning on going today?”
“I am going to go have a little tea with Gio this afternoon down the street at that Soul Tea place. He said he wanted to take me out somewhere, but I told him I didn’t want to go far, and he picked that place.”
“I know it’s not far, but you don’t know anything about that nigga to be going anywhere with him, Mama. Why would you want to leave with him? You know I will take you where you want to go if you want to get out. I’ve told you that time and time again.”
She sighed and sat the brush down on the counter.
“Son, don’t tell me we are going to go through this again. I like him. He's fun, and he’s doing things with me to make me feel like a normal person again. Why is that so hard for you to understand? There is no hidden agenda with him. Stop thinking that, baby. Mama is going to be okay.”
I only shook my head because she couldn’t see me.
“Whatever you say. How long until he gets here?”
“What time is it? I left my watch on my bed.”
“It’s one o’clock, Mama.”
“Then about thirty minutes. He said before 2:00.”
“Alright. I’m going to go out in the living room and chill.”
“Okay, son.” I kissed her on the cheek and walked away.
I went into the living room and then into the kitchen, where my Mama had a bottle of water sitting on the table.
It wasn’t mine, but I grabbed that shit and chugged the fuck out of it.
All that drinking I did last night and then having sex till the early morning had a nigga thirsty as hell.
But even still, the thirst didn’t take away the feeling inside me.
My insides felt like they were on fire waiting on this nigga Gio.
Not even the water could put that shit out.
I sat on the couch, waiting with The Parkers blasting loud on the TV, and waited, and waited until there was a knock on the door.
“Crew, can you get that, please? I’m putting on my shoes,” she called out.
“Yeah, I got it! Just stay back there and take your time.”
I jumped up from the couch and answered the door.
Standing in the doorway, almost as tall as me, was Gio punk ass. He had cut his hair down slap bald, trying to look cleaned up like he was a good man and not a snake ass bitch.
“Yo, what up, playa?” he greeted me, sticking his hand out.
“Don't, what's up, me nigga. I heard what type of nigga you really on, and I ain’t fucking with that shit.” My pistol in my back pocket felt like it was burning a hole in my back.
“What are you talking about?”
He tried to play crazy, but I didn’t even respond. I just grabbed the nigga and snatched him into the house, slamming him against the wall.
“Yo! You tripping, Crew. Take your hands off me.”
“Shut the fuck up, nigga.”
I pulled my gun out of my back pocket and shoved the steel straight under his chin.
“Crew?” my Mama called from the hallway.
I wasn’t supposed to grab him up in here, and the plan was to lure him out of the house before I collared him up.
I just couldn’t help myself. Looking at this nigga face gave me a feeling I couldn’t fuckin stand.
A feeling I just had to get off my chest with bloodshed.
“Crew baby, was there anybody at the door?” My mama asked again.
“Yeah, Debbie, it’s me!”
“Nigga, didn’t I tell you to shut the fuck up?” I pressed the barrel under his chin even harder.
“You are tripping, Crew!”
He replied, and my mama finally came around the corner.
“Crew, what the hell is going on?” She asked, panic rising in her voice.
“Mama, this doesn’t have anything to do with you. Me and this nigga about to go for a ride. Just sit down and relax. I’ll take you to get some tea tomorrow.”
“Why, tell me what’s going on in here!”
“He has a gun on me!”
“A gun! Crew, have you lost your mind?” I could tell her face was balled up even though I wasn’t looking in her direction.
“No, this nigga lost his fuckin mind coming over here knowing what he's trying to do behind my back. I’m about to show you how the fuck I get down. I’m not Hov. I won’t stop shooting when I miss.”
“Well, okay then killer. You are a killer, then kill me right here in front of your fuckin Mama and spill blood on her floor like a monster.”
“You think I won’t, nigga? Paying somebody to clean that shit up won’t be nothing to me.”
I cocked the gun, ready to blow this nigga head off right here since he was calling my bluff. That was the worst thing you could do to a nigga like me who hates to lose. I hate to be called out like I’m pussy when I’m the furthest thing from that.
“Mama, go back to your room. Let me handle this nigga.”
Gio started laughing in a grimy, nervous laugh that pissed me off even more.
“Mama, go back to your room!
“Crewshon no! Please don’t do this!”
“Mama, go to your room!” I yelled at her louder than I ever have in my life.
“No, I am not going to my room! You cannot murder him, Crew!”
“And why the fuck can’t I? Because he's been over here macking your ass!”
“No Crew! You can’t do that because he is your father!”
“What?”
“Gio is your dad! This is the man you’ve been wanting around for your entire life! Please don't do this, Crewshon! Please!”
To be Continued.
On Me 2: Crew’s Story