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The store was about a twenty minute drive from her spot in traffic. I played my music low because I wasn’t sure if she liked old school rap like I did. Kharti hated to hear that shit and often complained when I played 5th Ward boys through my speaker. I didn’t know if Toya felt the same way as her friend until I looked over and saw her bobbing her head to Pussy, Weed, and Alcohol, finishing some of the lyrics.
“What you know about this?”
“Willie D? That was my mama’s favorite rapper.”
Her and I both laughed at that shit.
“What did Mama know about Willie D?”
“She said she went to school with him at Forest Brook. She never failed to remind us of how she knew someone famous. But we always listened to H-town music. Screw, Lil Flip, Big Hawk, Fat Pat’s first album is one of my favorites.”
The corners of my mouth dropped because I was impressed.
“Alright, so you know a little something. You're nothing like your friend who's version of knowing Houston music is Beyonce, I see.” I looked away from the road towards her.
“Oh, yeah. Me and Kharti are different in many ways.”
“I see you're cultured. I need that in my son’s bloodline, so that’s a good thing.”
She caught my eye and didn’t look as scared as she had the few times we’d met.
That’s what I was here for, to chip that shy shit away inch by inch.
We didn’t speak much about anything else after talking about music, but that was because I put on a station of popular Houston music and it coasted us from her apartment to JJ’s shop.
When we pulled up, we got out, and I led her through the door, reminded of just how packed that place was. There was appliance stuffed damn near everywhere he could fit one. Washers and dryers lined the walls, refrigerators stacked side by side, and boxes piled so high in some spots they almost blocked the view.
Most of the shit in here was stolen, but that wasn’t my concern. They had good appliances for a decent price, and that was all that mattered to me.
I let Toya take her time looking around. I wasn’t giving my input on anything because she was the one who had to live with it. She ended up choosing a black Maytag washer and dryer. I’m sure the set was brand new because it still had plastic covering the glass.
“Okay, we got the AJ Madison set. Is that all I can get you two today?” JJ asked, rubbing his hands together, happy about the $700 sale.
I looked over to Toya.
“Is that all you need? They got plenty of shit in here.” I scanned across the packed ass store.
She seemed hesitant to speak at first.
“Just tell me what you need, mama.”
“Well. I mean. The deep freezer we have in the kitchen isn’t good and doesn’t keep anything cold anymore,”
“Then let’s get you a new one. I’m sure it’s one up in here for you.”
“There is for sho. Walk this way with me, pretty lady.” JJ took off before us, going back to the section where he kept the deep freezers.
I stayed at the front of the store while they picked out a freezer for Toya. I set everything up for delivery and install later which was JJ bringing everything in a beat-up box truck and one of the users out back hooking everything up.
We left out and got back in the car, and I started the engine.
“You hungry?”
“Yeah, but I’m okay. I can eat something I have at the house.”
“Oh, some of that spoiled ass food in that deep freezer? I asked if you were hungry. I’ll get you something to eat, my treat.”
“I’m okay with Whataburger or something like that on the way home.”
