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.
GALLERIA – 3:29 p.m.
“Here’s thirty-five…” I handed the stacks to Sway. She quickly dropped them into her bag. “Get Cami whatever she needs and take her to the Apple store and let her pick out an iPhone.”
Cami grinned. “An iPhone?! Sweet!”
“I know you two are going to be all day… I’ll be walking around, window shopping, I guess.”
Sway laughed. “Okay. We’ll look for you when we’re done.”
It was a few hours later when I’d found myself seated in Bachendorf’s with a Submariner on my wrist. I always wanted one as an entry-level everyday watch, but I had to keep my priorities in check. I had a family business to run.
The saleslady was very patient and professional, even suggesting payment plan options. I thanked her for her help.
As I exited, Sway and Cami were standing, waiting.
Sway smiled. “Watches, baby?”
“Just looking, that’s all.”
Cami cut in. “What were you looking at? A Rolex?” She peered into the store.
“Yeah, but not right now. We have to make sure you two are together first. Those watches will still be there.”
I looked to Sway. “How’d we do?”
She handed me five one hundreds. “Not bad, there were sales too. She got a lot of shit.”
“Did you get anything for you?”
“Nah, nothing caught my eye.”
We watched as Cami entered the store, approaching the saleslady. “What is she doing?”
“She’s just super-friendly like that, that’s all.”
“I’m hungry. What about you?”
“I’m starved. I’m sure Cami is too.”
KNOCKOUT SPORTS BAR – NORTHWEST HIGHWAY – 7:16 p.m.
We were seated, having our usuals, when Sway received a text. “It’s the club, Cami. Your customer is coming back in tonight. He wants to see you again.”
“Really? He wants to see me?”
“Yes, Holly’s going to text me with the details… He may want you to go out of town or something.”
“Huh?!”
“I guess on a trip, maybe…? Hold on, this is her now.” Sway scanned. “He’s going to Vegas this Saturday, and he wants you to go with him.
“It pays twenty thousand with ten up front tonight.”
“Twenty thousand?! That’s a lot of money, Sway! What do I do? I don’t know what to do?”
“You want to go?”
“I don’t know. How long for?”
“Saturday and you’ll be back on Monday. Three days.”
“I don’t even know him like that.”
“He’s a VIP member in good standing. I don’t think they would send you with a crazy motherfucker.
“He may not even want to fuck. He probably wants an arm-piece while he gambles and hangs out with his friends or associates or whatever.”
Cami grinned. “Like a bitch that just looks good and don’t say shit.”
Sway laughed aloud. “Exactly! Keep your mouth shut, bitch, and you’d better not make eye contact with any other motherfucker in here with a dick because it’s going to crush my ego and you’re going to be on the first flight out!”
Cami looked to me. “What do you think, Daddy? Should I go?”
“I think you should do what you think is best. You’re eighteen, but you’re smart. You can handle yourself, right?”
“I can.”
“Alright. That’s that.”
HOME – 9:17 p.m.
I was watching the world news as the girls prepped in front of the mirrors, adjusting their hair and putting final touches on their makeup.
“I’m seeing this virus shit again, Sway.”
“Huh?”
“The virus I was telling you about.” She came over, resting a hand on my shoulder. “It’s getting worse. Like that shit is a global health emergency now. Three thousand people have died already.”
“Here?”
“No, around the world.”
“That’s fucking crazy… Do you think it’s coming?”
“I’m sure they’ll do something to try and contain it. But how do you stop a virus? Unless you have a fucking vaccine… And they’re saying that will take more than a year to make.”
“Crazy…”
“If it hits here like in China and Italy, they’re going to have to shut everything down.”
“What does that mean?”
“Like…the whole country. Everything. We’ll all have to stay inside and not be able to leave the house.
“That means that nobody will be able to go to work… No sports, no restaurants, no clubs. You won’t be able to work either. Wherever you have to be around a lot of people, they’re going to shut that shit down.
“We have to think about this, Sway. Really think.”
Creole Gaudet
Feeling generous? If you enjoyed this content, please consider leaving a tip in my Cash App or Venmo. Thank you.
