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.
HOME – MIDNIGHT
We’d stacked the loot into a heap on the coffee table. Sway was edging and facing as I did a count. “From what we sold and what you got off Mandy, we got about fifty-eight hundred right here.”
“How much do we have altogether?”
“You mean from what’s in the bank and everything?”
“Yeah, like where are we?”
“With this, what’s in the bank and what we already had, we at about ninety-six or something.”
“Plus, we have those hundred bags.”
“And the forties you made for Demi.”
“We should be good, right? Until I go to work.”
“I’ll look for another plug, though. I might be able to find something.”
“Baby, don’t go searching for trouble. Stay with your hookup. Why take that risk? You said yourself that the quality won’t be there.”
I softened. “When are you talking about starting?”
“As soon as it’s okay with you.”
I leaned back. “I’m not even sure if I want you to, but I’m learning that once you’ve made up your mind, it’s made up.”
Sway grinned. I continued. “So like, what the fuck am I supposed to do all day? I’m ’bout to run out of coke to sell in a day or two. And you don’t even want me to pick you up or drop you off.”
“Just relax and do whatever. You’ll find something to keep you busy.”
“Hustling! That’s what keeps me busy. All day, every day. I’m a hustler and that’s what I do, Sway.”
“Hustlers need a break sometimes. You like the movies… The classics and old school. Hang out at the Angelika. Take the train.”
“Now you’re trying to be funny.”
“No, I’m not. I’m being real. Enjoy yourself.”
“So while you’re dancing and bringing in the only money we’ll have coming in, I’m supposed to do nothing and watch movies all day.”
“I can get you a PlayStation or one of those game things.”
We broke into laughter. “Now you’re…”
“Yeah, I’m being funny… But let’s look at it like this. You’re the head of the house. They are things that need to be handled, right?”
“Bet.”
“Be out handling that… Depositing the money. Making sure the bills are paid on time. Bring the car in for repair…”
“You’re looking at this like it’s a business.”
“And you’re the CEO.” She paused. “Just give it a chance and see how we do. If you change your mind, by that time I’m sure your connect will be back.”
“What about outfits? What are you going to wear?”
“To work in?”
“Yeah, we have to get you geared up, right? You can’t go in there looking like a clown. You have to represent. This is a business!”
Sway smiled. “We can go shopping. But I don’t have to have everything right away… Just enough to get started, and I can…
I threw up my arms in mock protest. “Here we go again…”
She laughed. “I’m sorry. I just don’t like to spend when you don’t have to.”
“Fuck that!”
“Alright.”
I switched gears. “So, where did you get those hands. I didn’t know you could scrap like that.”
“I studied Karate since I was young… Made it all the way to my brown belt.”
“That teacher must have been white.”
“Japanese… From Japan.”
“Hold up. So your parents wouldn’t let you take gymnastics because the teacher was black, but they let you do Karate with a Japanese teacher?”
“My dad doesn’t have a problem with Japanese or Asian people. He respects them. He thinks that they are smarter. He just hates blacks and Mexicans.”
“Huh?”
“It’s the reason he put me in Karate. He figured if I knew Martial Arts, I could protect myself…”
“Against blacks and Mexicans?”
“That.”
“Let me ask you something. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, okay?” Sway nodded. “Did you tell Rosebud and Mandy how racist your father was?”
“Yes.”
“So when they exposed you. Did they…?”
“Let him know that Rosebud was black?”
“Yeah…”
“Made sure he knew.”
“Damn, that’s fucked up.”
“I think I know where you’re going.”
“I’m horrified at the thought of it, Sway. It can’t be.” She wiped a tear from her cheek. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“No, you’re making me better.” She readjusted, sitting up straight. “It was bad enough that I was in the trouble I was in… They would have taken me back in, no problem. Would have gotten me the help I needed… Some counseling to get my mind right.
“Then, back in school and I would have been on my way. The perfect American girl who was a victim who’d overcome all odds and still made something of herself.
“But no… Because I was kidnapped and was being abused by a black man, that fucking somehow made a difference to them. How fucked up is that, Andre?”
“I have no words.”
“But I have you, though. I know that. That’s all I need.”
Creole Gaudet
Feeling generous? If you enjoyed this content, please consider leaving a tip in my Cash App or Venmo. Thank you.
