Copyright ©2020 by Creole Gaudet. All rights reserved.
No part of this chronicle may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system – except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine or newspaper – without permission in writing from the publisher, Creole Gaudet.
MARCH 6, 2020
HOME – 12:17 p.m.
I awoke to an empty room. I looked for a note or at least something that would clue me in as to where the girls were.
After a squat on the toilet, I took a shower and brushed my teeth.
Normally, I would have grabbed a handful of Oscar Mayer sliced turkey from its container, slammed it between two dry slices of bread, and followed it with a tall glass of orange juice.
Not having a kitchenette was making an apartment sound better and better. I couldn’t wait for more of Sway’s cooking.
I flipped on the news, and what I heard set me back on my ass. I had been wrong; totally wrong. I’d just learned that we already had the virus in the United States since January.
I got dressed, some casual jeans, a shirt, and tennis shoes. As I stood in the mirror, the door opened. It was Sway and Cami.
“Where you two been?”
“Shopping.”
“Again?” I searched. “I don’t see anything. What’d you get?”
Cami smiled warmly. “Something for you.”
“For me?”
Sway added. “Cami got you a present.”
“Oh, thank you…” I peeked. “You’re hiding it behind your back…? Am I supposed to guess what it is?” I joked. “It’s not a Bentley.”
Cami reached, holding out the Bachendorf’s bag. Her face was solemn, emotionless.
“Wait… Is that what I think it is?”
“She bought you the Rolex, Andre…with the money she got from her customer last night.”
I looked to Cami. I looked to the bag. “Are you two serious? This isn’t a joke?”
“Look at it! Take it! That’s where we were. We just left the Galleria and came straight back.”
I stood, taking Sway’s hand. “Come with me.” I led her out the door and down to the end of the hall.”
“What’s wrong, Andre?”
“What’s wrong? You have to ask what’s wrong?”
“Yeah, I’m asking you what’s wrong.”
“Why did you let her spend money on that?”
“What do you mean?”
“What I mean is that we’re low on cash as it is. We’re going apartment shopping today. And this fucking virus shit is here.”
“But, you said that it wasn’t.”
“I was wrong. A man in Seattle had the shit back in January. This is February. The shit is fucking here!”
“But that’s in Seattle, baby.”
“It’s a virus, Sway. If that shit spreads like they’re saying it can, we’re all fucked. We’re going to need as much cash as we can get our hands on. Don’t you see?”
“Okay, I get what you’re saying. That’s if it happens that way. But she’s got another ten thousand after this weekend, remember? We can save that.”
“Sway… Okay, I get what you’re saying, but I’m going to need you to look at the big picture here. And I respect your hustle. It’s beautiful. You’re right, there is way more money in this than I can even dream of while selling coke at the level I’m at.
“But, baby, if they start shutting everything down…”
“I know, you said that the clubs are going to be closed…”
“You don’t believe me!”
“I’m not saying that.”
“Yes, you are!”
“I’m not! I just think you’re overreacting a little.”
“Okay, alright…”
“Baby, don’t get an attitude, please.”
“Uh-huh. I just know what I have to do, that’s all.”
“What…? What are you talking about?”
“I’m going to have to do me and make sure that your dumb ass is taken care of because obviously you’ve lost your motherfucking mind.”
We broke into laughter. “Fuck you, Andre!”
“That’s right. And don’t be begging for my snacks either. I’m getting a motherfucking safe and I’m locking all my shit up.
“You don’t get any cookies, chips, soda… Not even a piece of chocolate.”
“Okay. I get it. You’re looking out for what could happen. I respect that, baby. I’ll follow you, you know that… But you’re keeping that watch.”
“Why? You can return it right now and get that money back. I haven’t even opened it yet. And why would she do something like that?”
“Let me put it to you this way. She could have easily taken off with the twenty thousand dollars that this trick is giving her, right?”
“True… Most bitches would have.”
“So, it must mean something to her, right?”
“Okay, I’ll give you that.”
“Andre, Cami has never had the opportunity to ever give something to someone who meant something to her.
“You represent good. She’s never seen that in a person. You didn’t judge her. You took her into your home with no expectations. You saved her from another abuser. You’ve given to her, and this is her way of giving to you. She wants to show you appreciation.”
“But why a Rolex? So expensive…”
“Because she knows you liked it. She’s not even looking at how much it costs. She doesn’t care.”
“If I don’t accept it, it will hurt her, won’t it?”
“Hurt her… It may destroy her. You have to accept it.”
Creole Gaudet
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