MONFUA
I had arrived at the Zoo on time. The rain had eased up somewhat, which was good because I had brought my bike, which seemed to be the same as the other guys', judging by their bikes, which were lined up near the entrance.
When I stepped inside, everyone turned to face me.
“What? You niggas staring like you got something to say,” I snapped.
Chill, we were all told to come, not just you. Peanut signed.
Instead of replying, I signed back. Were they talking about me before I arrived?
Before Peanut could respond, Chevy walked around in front of everybody. “We don’t do that shit in here,” he paused and turned to Peanut. “We respect each other. Peanut, if you got something to say, say that shit. Nobody is judging you.”
Peanut nodded. “Tha-tha-thanks, Chevy,” he stuttered.
Clap! Clap!
Chevy clapped so loud it echoed through the warehouse.
I stepped closer to everyone when I saw Foe on the other end with his upper lip curled up.
Chevy stood in the middle as we all circled him.
The door swung open, and we all turned to see who it was.
“Shit, my bad, Chev. I’m here,” Dio said.
“That drive from the school ain’t no joke. Sup y’all. Fuck wrong with Foe?”
Chevy pointed at him, “Come here.”
Once Dio stepped into the circle, Chevy started, “Tonight we’re going to hash some shit out.
The one thing I stand on is family. Before any of you niggas try to say something smart.
When you’re raised without a family, it’s something you long for, and if you haven’t been in those shoes, yo ass bet not say shit. ”
“Nah, for real,” Dio chimed in. “Ayo, why am I here? I could be laid up with my girl doing some—”
Chevy cut his eyes at Dio. “Nigga watch yo tone about my daughter.”
Zu laughed. “Chill nigga they’re grown.”
Chevy’s eyes landed on Foe, then on me. “It seems like some niggas don’t know what grown looks like, Foe, Monfua. You niggas out here fighting?”
I cleared my throat. “Man, I don’t have time for this shit. It’s not like you niggas respect us anyway.”
Chevy’s head snapped my way, “Who said that? Let me tell you a little about myself. I’m not a nigga that beats around the bush. If I didn’t want you around, you wouldn’t fucking me here. I don’t fuck with niggas I think are lame, hence Soho.”
Sash stepped forward. “Be easy on them.”
Zu pulled her back. “They wanted in let them get this lesson.”
Beans ran his hand down his face. “Why did you choose us? From what I can see, Sash convinced you to take us on.”
Chevy turned toward Beans. The way he looked at him was different. “The one smart mouth ass nigga of the bunch. Sasha did put y’all on, but I,” he pointed at himself. “Choose you because I see something in each one of you.”
“Amen!” Preach said.
“Well!” Diamond added.
Beans stared Chevy down because he wasn’t buying it. “If you say so. The OGs need to start acting like we’re part of the crew.”
That’s when Foe stepped up, “Fuck is that supposed to mean. Nigga you’re new, act like it.”
I stepped forward. “Ease up on my boy nigga. I told you once.”
Dio came in between us. “Hell nah, we’re not doing that. Both you niggas better learn to get along. I’m not about to be riding here every other weekend to play babysitter for you niggas. What the fuck is the problem?”
Mali began laughing. I knew he was only laughing because he was drunk. Dio nodded slowly as he walked over to Mali and hit the shit out of that nigga. “Laugh at that Nigga!” he barked.
Rat-tat-tat-tata at! Rat-tat-tat-tata at!
Everyone turned back toward Chevy, holding the choppa.
“What the fuck is wrong with you niggas? We don’t fight each other.
We are a fucking family. Nobody in this bitch is better than the next.
Either y’all figure this shit out, or I’m going to start hanging niggas new or old.
Foe! Monfua! Figure this shit out now. It’s about to storm and I got a wife and kids to get back to, but we’re not leaving this muhfucka until you do. ”
Streets walked up to Chevy. “Let them race it out. Whoever loses apologizes first. We end that shit tonight. I like the Zoo, but I have way too much shit going on to be a part of a group that can’t get along.”
Chevy nodded slowly. “Let’s ride!”
Here it was, I was about to race a nigga who kicked my fucking door in and pulled a gun on me all for a woman who didn’t even want me.