DOPE BOY CHRONICLES – EPISODE #1.9 – PARANOIA AND THE BREAKDOWN

We’d left the movies and were on our way home. “Sway, I need to drop you off, baby. I’m gonna go and meet up with my guy. You don’t mind waiting for me, do you?”

“Are you going to be safe?”

“Yeah, these are my peeps. I’ve been fucking with them for a good while.”

“I’m scared, Andre.”

“No, nothing to be scared about. Just chill and I’ll be back in no time, okay?” She stared out her window. “Come on, don’t do that. I promise you have nothing to worry about.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m positive.”

I’d left Sway at the room and headed East to a Chevron near Shiloh Road.

I went in and paid for some gas. As I pumped, my connect pulled alongside, we did our thing, and he was gone. I placed the cap back on, got in, and drove away.

I took a quick sniff of the coke through the packaging, checking for potency before shoving it down into my underwear, nesting it high between my inner thigh and my nut-sack.

It’s not the best place to keep coke. Your body temperature, if warm enough, will make it soft and humid, but I was heading straight home with no stops.

It racks your nerves when you’re hot. You begin to imagine scenarios where, if being pulled over, how you’d run at least far enough to toss the shit out. Knowing you would probably be arrested anyway for evading the police or whatever list of charges they have on the books, it would still be better than being caught dirty.

I always make sure that I obey and observe every street sign and maintain the speed limits.

I pay attention to my surroundings, watching everything, but at the same time, trying to not let paranoia build.

A dealer with any sense or at least half a brain is always paranoid. But there is a fine line. You can’t be so nervous and on the edge that you freak the fuck out. It’s an art.

I’d pulled up to my place, looking around before exiting my car. As usual, I’d made a beeline to the entrance, only using my periphery to keep a lookout for anything unusual. The object is to make it inside. There, you are in full control again.

Sway and I were sitting at the kitchenette table when I placed the bag of coke onto it.

“That’s it?”

“This is a half ounce or half an onion.” I loosened the knot and opened it. I grabbed one of the lumps. “When I crack this open, I want you to see something.”

I held the broken piece close to her eyes. “You see that shine? If you ever hear them say fish scale, this is what they’re talking about. See how it looks like the scales of a fish?”

“It’s shiny.”

Using my finger, I removed a speck of cocaine the size of a skin pore. “Stick out your tongue.” I placed it on the very tip and waited for her reaction.

Sway tasted and swallowed. She looked to me. “I can’t feel my mouth… I can’t even feel my throat.”

I grinned. “That’s that good shit. It’s straight off the brick. Anything better than that, you don’t want to serve it.

“And you’re only going to get that from an ese, never the brothers.

“A brother will start out good, but sooner or later, he’s going to fuck you. The prices are going to start creeping up, your bag will be light, and then he’s going to drop some low-quality shit on you.

“With the Mexicans, I don’t even weigh it. I already know it’s on point.”

Sway was full of excitement. “I want to do something. How can I help?”

“Do you know how to break it down?”

“To make rocks?”

“No, for the nose.”

“Can you teach me?”

I retrieved a tablespoon, a bowl, my tea strainer, digital scale, and my baggies. I placed it all in front of her.

She quickly picked up the strainer. “You use this to make it into powder, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Can I try?”

“Okay. Let’s start with some of the shake from the bottom of the bag. Take your spoon and scoop some out.” Her hand shook nervously. “Hold on… What happens if some of it falls out?” She shoved it back in. “It’s alright, we’re just going to take a little bit at a time.” Sway moved carefully. “Good. Now, with your other hand, hold your strainer over your bowl.”

“And pour it in?”

“Yes, nice and easy.”

“I did it!”

“Now we’re going to take the back of the spoon and mash it through. Go back and forward, twisting or whatever is good for you. Just be careful because if we knock it over, we’re out of a lot of money.”

Sway peeked into the bowl. “I see it! It’s piling up!”

“Don’t get too close. You’re going to inhale it.”

Sway was fixated and meticulous. I watched as she completed the entire half ounce.  “Now what?”

“Now we bag up. Half grams for forties and one hundred bags. I make my hundreds at one point three grams on the scale. That way, I don’t have to make balls. I can just combine three one hundreds.”

“Hold on…” Sway made a quick run to the bathroom and back. She was blowing into a wrap of toilet tissue.

“You know why your nose is runny, don’t you?”

“No… Really?”

“You have the drips.”

“I didn’t even do any.”

“You don’t have to.”

Sway watched closely as I bagged and weighed the first forty. “Aren’t you supposed to cut it with baking soda or something?”

“I could. There’s plenty of shit to cut it with. But I don’t.”

“Can’t you make more money though?”

“I charge more for quality.”

“Ah… That way, you only see people with a lot of money who are not going to argue over price. You’re very smart, Andre.”

Creole Gaudet

If you enjoyed this content and would like access to all my books, stories, and series episodes, please visit my Patreon page.

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.

DOPE BOY CHRONICLES – EPISODE #1.8 – COULD BE A WRITER

It was 5:08 p.m. when we pulled away from Knockout Sports Bar. “Sway, I still haven’t seen the new ‘Bad Boys’ movie. You down?”

“I would love that!” She beamed. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve been to the movies.”

“Here.” I handed her my phone. “Check and see what time it’s showing. I usually go to the Cinepolis.”

“That’s expensive.”

“Will you stop counting my money, woman?”

Sway laughed. “Hold on…”

“That reminds me, I have to score some more shit real soon. I’m getting low.”

“Ooh, are you getting a lot?”

“Just a half.”

“Half a kilo?”

I chuckled. “Fuck no!”

Sway stared blankly. “I thought you would like…buy a whole thing.”

“I never keep more than I can flush down a toilet.”

“I guess that makes sense… I thought dealers bought big amounts.”

“And they get caught up, too. I’m not trying to be that guy. I’m taking my time.”

“But don’t you save money when you buy in bulk?”

“Yeah, I may pay more now, but imagine trying to get rid of half a bird when your door is being kicked in. How much of a loss would that be?”

“I see what you’re saying. That’s way smarter.” She looked to the screen. “Okay… We have plenty of time. The next one starts at 6:15.”

“Perfect, we don’t have to rush.”

Sway jogged through the radio stations. “I like this, Andre.” It was Selena Gomez’s ‘Lose You To Love Me’. Sway joined in, muttering the lyrics.

“Let me hear what you got.”

“Right now?”

“Sure.”

“Okay…” She cleared her throat, focused, and came in on the next verse. Sway was pitch-perfect. I listened until the end. She turned to me. “What do you think?”

“What do I think?! You’re incredible, Sway! You actually can sing! Wow!”

“Really, Andre?”

“I got fucking chills. Baby, you can make it for sure! Believe that!”

“I need some work, though.”

“Sway. That’s okay. All singers need work.”

We’d parked on the second floor in the garage from the Victory Park street entrance, finding an empty spot in a corner.

We’d exited the elevator on the seventh floor.

After purchasing our tickets, we still had about thirty minutes to kill. We took a couple of seats at the bar and ordered drinks.

Sway looked at me, smiling. “Just because I ordered a root beer didn’t mean you had to. You can get whatever you want.”

“Nah, I’m good.” She leaned over, placing a kiss on my lips.

Our seats were in the first row. When fully reclined, it was as if we were next to each other in bed.

Sway looked over to me. “So… What did you want to do when you were young?” She whispered. “I’m sure it wasn’t to be a dope boy.”

“I had the idea of being a football player, a running back. I went out for the team and quit the first day of practice.”

“Why? What happened?”

“I got hit so fucking hard, I woke up on the bench looking up at the coaches and the trainers. Motherfuckers kept asking me if I was okay and telling me to shake it off.” Sway was beet red in tears, laughing. “When I finally got to my feet, I removed the pants, cleats, shoulder pads, and all the rest of that shit and left it right there. I never looked back.

“My English teacher thought that I could be a writer or a journalist. I’m pretty good.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I won awards. I would have had to have gone to college, but I’d made up my mind that I was never going to put myself in that kind of debt. That’s a ripoff. All that for a job starting at fourteen or fifteen dollars an hour. It would take me nearly seven years to pay that shit off, all while living in poverty. Fuck that.

“I’m going to be my own boss and start my own business one day.”

“Like what?”

“I’m not sure yet. I was thinking about a restaurant, but it’s hard to make it in that.

“I’m leaning more towards auto detailing. Maybe start with a van and do mobile at first. Then I can get a shop. From there, I can get some contracts for industrial vehicles like trucks and tractor-trailers.”

Sway moved closer. “I really like that idea.”

“That’s my top choice… I don’t want to be in this dope game forever.” I looked to Sway. “The way you can sing, though, maybe we should build a recording studio.”

“We, Andre?”

Creole Gaudet

If you enjoyed this content and would like access to all my books, stories, and series episodes, please visit my Patreon page.

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.

DOPE BOY CHRONICLES – EPISODE #1.7 – “SADIE PERSSON IS MY NAME”

JANUARY 26, 2020

KNOCKOUT SPORTS BAR – NORTHWEST HIGHWAY – 3:30 p.m.

Sway and I had decided to check out Knockout Sports Bar for some eats. I was having the Knockout Burger, and Sway was trying the Uppercut. We’d sat across from each other at a table near the window.

“Where did you get the name Sway?”

“I didn’t like my real name, so I started telling people to call me Sway.”

“What is your real name?”

Sway lowered her head. She smiled… “Sadie.”

“Sadie?”

“Yeah, I was named after my grandmother.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

She looked to me. “Sadie?! You have to ask what’s wrong with that?!”

I laughed. “That’s a beautiful name…if you weren’t a white girl and it was like 1846…and you were a slave on a plantation.”

She pouted. “Oh, stop!”

“I’m just playing. What’s your last name?”

“Persson.”

“Sadie Persson.”

“That’s me.”

“Can I ask you something else? It has nothing to do with your name… If you don’t want to talk about it, I’ll understand.”

“I’ll tell you anything, Andre; whatever you want to know.”

“How exactly did you get caught up with Mandy and Rosebud?”

“Oh… Well, I was working… They came in and were looking all fly, like stars.”

“Where were you working?”

“At Twin Peaks, as a server. Every time I would check on them, Mandy would ask a lot of questions. And when she found out that I wanted to sing, she told me that they had a record label and were looking to sign new talent.”

“You sing?”

“I do a little something.”

“Okay… I want to hear some of that later.”

“I told them that I was just starting out and I needed training, and then Rosebud said that they had all that and a studio I could work out of. He showed me pictures of them popping bottles with Yeezy and Pharrell.”

“Was it in a public place or like a club or something?”

“Yeah.”

“Motherfuckers like that spend all their whore’s money to hang out with celebrities and use that to go back and show how big they are.”

“At the time, I didn’t know that.

“So, I went to the studio and he had his producer playing some of his tracks. But they weren’t good at all.

“I asked Rosebud, and he said that it was just something to see what I had and that he had top-notch producers coming in to see me.

“He told me that I had the look to sell millions. All he needed to do was put a package together and develop me.”

“Did he bring anyone in?”

“Yeah… They were all pretty good and professional, too. He said that we needed to keep working until we came up with a hit, something he could bring to Yeezy or Pharrell. So we were recording all day, every day; even into the night.”

“What happened to your job?”

“He said that I needed to make a decision. If I wanted it, really wanted it, I had to devote one hundred percent.”

“You quit?”

“Yes.”

“How did you support yourself?”

“He took care of everything. He had me stay with Mandy at her place.”

“Where were you staying before?”

“At home. I’m from Lewisville.”

“Everything sounds good so far. What happened?”

“Well, Mandy woke me up one night. She told me that Rosebud was going crazy; that he was pissed off.”

“At you?”

“At everything. He was looking at how much money he was spending and that I was taking way too long to develop, and that he was out of a lot of cash.”

“Ah… Here we go.”

“At first, it was like all I had to do was hang out with Mandy, and she was going to fuck a few guys right quick to get the money for me for Rosebud because she didn’t want me to not realize my dream. She had me as a lookout to make sure the police weren’t riding around and to be there in case one of the tricks started tripping or try not to pay her.”

“She was doing all this for you.”

“Right? So then one day she wasn’t feeling good and was on her period, so she needed me to take her place.

“I told her I wasn’t going to do shit. She had the wrong girl.”

“In comes Rosebud.”

“She texted him and he was like, there in five minutes.”

“Where was this?”

“At the Delux… He came in yelling and throwing me around the room. He beat the shit out of me, Andre. I thought he was going to kill me.

“He was trying to make it seem like I was using him and that he was trying hard to make me a star and that I was ungrateful. He pointed out that even Mandy was doing everything she could for me and that it wasn’t even her fucking dream.

“What’s so messed up is that I knew he was fucking with my head, but I was still buying into it.”

“That’s how they do, Sway.”

“After that it…” Sway stared into nothing. “I was a virgin. I’d never been with a man before. I was saving myself for the right guy, but my very first experience was with a fucking trick. An old, stinky, bearded white meth-head for like eighty fucking dollars. That was all I was worth…”

“Sway… Look at me.” I reached across the table, taking her hand. “I’m going to tell you something and I don’t want you to ever forget it.” She looked me deep in my eyes, never blinking. “You’re still a virgin. What happened to you was not your will. You were a captive. There’s a difference. You were not in control of that situation.

“It’s a new day. This is a new start.”

Creole Gaudet

If you enjoyed this content and would like access to all my books, stories, and series episodes, please visit my Patreon page.

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.

DOPE BOY CHRONICLES – EPISODE #1.6 – DEMI IS A FRIEND

It was about ten minutes to three when Demi arrived.

As usual, she’d sent a text saying that she was pulling in, and I’d gone down the stairs to the back entrance to let her in.

As soon as I opened the door, Demi started. “I’m about to lose it on these bitches, Andre. They’re adding to the gray hairs I already have creeping out of my damn head.

“I’m sorry for being so late, but…that last girl, I’m going to strangle her. She got into this big argument with her customer over little to nothing, then he got mad, and no one got tipped. You believe it?

“All that for nothing. I’m trying to teach them. When I was dancing, we had respect for the customers. That’s your money. That’s how you get paid. You don’t fuck that up.”

We entered my floor. “A heads up. I have company.”

Demi paused. “It’s not anyone from the club, is it?”

“No, it’s a friend of mine. She’s staying for a few days.”

Sway stole her eyes away from the TV as we entered. I introduced. “This is Sway. Sway, this is Demi.”

“Aw, she’s beautiful. Much prettier than Holly or that Jeanice.”

Sway looked to me. Demi continued. “It’s nothing, just some of the girls at the club asking me about Andre.” Demi turned to me. “I know, I talk too much.” She grabbed the forty sack from the kitchenette table, replacing it with two crisp twenties.

I relaxed next to Sway as Demi removed a cut straw from her bra. She dipped into the baggie, drawing a pinch for each nostril. “Whoo shit! Is this new?”

“It’s the same. I’m getting low, though. I have to score soon.”

Demi looked to Sway. “So where do you dance, pudding? I can’t place you. Have we met?”

“I’ve never danced before.”

“Oh, darling, I’m sorry. When you’ve been in the business as long as I have, you think every pretty face you see is dancing.

“If you ever want to, come work with us at Big John’s. I’ll teach you everything. I’m old and retired now, I’m just a waitress, but I still know the game.” Demi smiled. “Easiest money in the world for a pretty girl like you. I can set you up with my best clients. No dick sucking or fucking. I only work with gentlemen.”

I cut in. “Yeah, we’re going to get settled for now. She has some things she wants to work out.”

“Okay, let me know, or just send her over to me. I’ll get her on, day one. We’re in Fort Worth, so she won’t have to worry about all that Bio-Verify bullshit like Dallas.”

Demi stood. “Well, I’m on my way. Gotta go let the dogs out and then I’m going to take me a long hot bath.”

She looked to Sway. “It was a pleasure to meet you, pudding.” I stood in the doorway as she walked away. She turned and whispered. “I like this one. She’s fucking gorgeous.”

“I know.”

I closed and locked the door. “So, who’s Holly and Jeanice?”

“They work at the club with Demi.” I returned to my place next to her.

“That much I know. But who are they?”

“Nothing for you to worry about.”

“You’re sure?”

“Sure, I’m sure. I met Holly through Demi… It was business, and she then… It seemed like she flirted… Jeanice talked about going out to the movies, but nothing happened.”

“Why not?”

“Well, I sent them both a text. Holly replied with only a hello. I sent her another one the next day, and she didn’t text me back. Jeanice never replied at all. So, that was that.”

“Good for you.” She took my hand. “You don’t need to be chasing bitches.”

“You’re okay?”

“Yeah.” She looked to my head. “You got curly, wavy hair, but you’re black.”

“My mother was mixed.”

She ran her fingertips through it. “Why don’t you let it grow out?  Like, let it come down.”

“Like Priest?”

“That would be so fucking hot. I’d fuck you every day.”

“You could do that now.”

“That sounds good.”

“You’re smelling all pretty. I’m going to go and take a shower.”

“You need any help in there?”

“I got this… I can take it from here.”

“Ha, ha, you’re so clever.”

When I came out, Sway was under the covers and sound asleep. I brushed my teeth and put the cash and coke away for the night.

I turned off the lights, got into bed, and placed the remote on the dresser after flipping off the TV.

I settled into my pillows, relaxing. I looked over to Sway. Her back was towards me. The light pouring from outside created a halo over her. She was the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen, and here she was, right next to me.

I knew to make it work, I’d have to play it just right. Be me, and hopefully we’d be able to accept each other for who we are.

Maybe we could be great together.

As I drifted, I imagined Sway and I covered with diamonds, riding in a brand new Mercedes or maybe a bright red Bentley Coupe.

We’d have all new clothes and the best meals prepared for us by the best chefs. We’d live in the most expensive apartment in Dallas. Maybe a penthouse.

I was suddenly shaken from my thoughts. “No, fuck no.” I looked to Sway. She was talking in her sleep. “I said fuck no! And fuck you!”

She began throwing her arms and kicking her legs. I sat up, looking over to her. I could see her eyes moving from side to side under her lids.

A primal scream emitted from her lungs, echoing off the walls. “I’m not doing it anymore! I don’t care what you do to me!”

I shook her shoulders. “Sway. Wake up, baby. You’re having a bad dream.”

She opened her eyes. “Rosebud!” She jumped from the bed, taking defense with her back to the wall.

“No, baby, it’s me. It’s Andre.” I leapt to the floor.

“Stay away from me, Rosebud. I left you, and I’m never coming back to work for you again. Where’s Mandy? I know she’s somewhere hiding.”

“Sway… Baby, you’re dreaming.”

“Get her out here, too. She needs to hear this so she can know. No fucking more. I mean that fucking shit.

“I’m in love now… Something real. You wouldn’t understand this…”

I stepped to her, wrapping her tightly into my arms. “Sway, it’s Andre, baby. You’re just having a bad dream, that’s all.”

“Andre…?”

Creole Gaudet

If you enjoyed this content and would like access to all my books, stories, and series episodes, please visit my Patreon page.

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.