I was parked outside of my grandma’s house
that I’d recently gotten rebuilt into a four-story family home. With the way they were gentrifying Acres Homes, the property value was skyrocketing, and I figured that she might as well have a new crib, if she was gonna fork over that type of bread for property taxes, anyway. Now her shit was laid out, and I’d built tall fences around the property to make it safe, whenever we decided to chill in the hood.
Periodically, I’d let a select few come through and see me, while I was at my grandma’s and QT was one of the ones. I’d told him that I wanted to holler at him, and that he could pullup. And just like I thought he would, that nigga took his time. So, he pulled up to the gate, just as I was about to back out.
187
Shit was different now, since I was no longer his supplier. I was officially out the game, and QT was just my brother-in-law.
“Nothing too much.” I told him as I stroked my waves, and took stock of the cup of liquor he was holding. “Where you coming from?”
“Shit, The Ghettos.”
“Yeah? Y’all was getting started early ‘round that muthafucka, huh?” I guessed, smelling the weed and liquor seeping from his pores.
“Hell, yeah.”
“Shit, what was the occasion? Was it somebody’s birthday?” “Nah. That nigga Too Low just got out. So, everybody was
outside, catching up and shit.”
The back of my neck went icily cold, as I cynically laughed. “Nigga, you said that shit all casual like.”
He lazily grinned. “Shit, how was I supposed to say it? You know that I fucks with Too Low.”
I nodded. “I hear you.”
“And you and that nigga used to be cordial at the least.” “We was.”
“So, why do it feel like it’s smoke?”
I shrugged. “Cause I’ll never be sleep at the wheel. Besides, you think that nigga wanna keep it player, and shake my hand?”
“Nah.” He shook his head, while rubbing his chin hairs. “Matter of fact, hell nawl. That man aint fucking with you.”
“Okay, then.”
He licked his lips. “But I’m saying, though. You took that man’s gal. So, he got every right to feel some type of way. You, on the other hand, don’t really have a reason to have a problem with him.”
“Shit, you talking like you think that your sister should’ve stayed with him.”
He shook his head. “I aint say all that. Cause I’m her brother before anything. And I see this shit for what it is. You handling your business with her, and I haven’t seen her this happy in a minute. I salute you for that. But two things can be true at once. You the better option for my sister, but Too Low really loved her too. I mean, I aint never even seen that nigga cheating or nothing. They was different. So, I know that he’s hurt. And if I say that I fucks with the nigga, then I can’t just pretend that he wasn’t done wrong. But if anybody is to blame, then it’s Babi. She knew that she wasn’t happy with that situation, and really should’ve broke up with the nigga, before it even had to come down to her cheating. And now you probably feel uneasy, cause you aint never dealt with Babi, while that nigga is free. But you gotta eat that, cause you compromised your peace of mind to take another man’s woman.”
Nodding, I licked my lips. “I hear you. And I respect your stance. You aint gotta pick a side. Grown men don’t partake in the bullshit.”
He nodded. “I feel that. But what you wanted me to pull up for?”
“Cause,” I sighed. “I heard about that situation at the carwash, and I just wanted to chop it up with you about the moves you making. Your sister was talking my ear of, going on and on about you. She’s scared that shit is gonna get hectic and you gone fuck around and get yourself hurt.”
“Yeah, she called me, preaching and shit. And just like I told her, I got this shit under control.”
I sighed.“So,whataboutoleboy?”
“Shit, that nigga disappeared, they say.” His eyes widened, letting me know that he was saying something without saying something.
“No bullshit?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I feel like the streets is too wild to let viable
