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.
JANUARY 29, 2020
PLANNED PARENTHOOD – 2:30 p.m.
Sway and I had passed all our tests and were perfectly healthy. After congratulations and a brief consultation, we were out.
GOLD TOWN CABARET – 3:06 p.m.
We’d ordered and were eating lunch when Sarah and Natalia came over to our table. Sway was enjoying a chicken salad, and I was face down in a double burger with fries.
Sarah had just tucked away six forties she’d scored from Sway when suddenly, all our attention was grabbed.
As if shot out of a cannon, James came running through the double doors of the VIP. He was leaned over, ducking, protecting himself from Robbie’s flailing roundhouses.
She was quickly snatched off her feet by Romero, which sent her into overload.
She threatened, pointing to everyone in the room. “I’m telling on all you motherfuckers! When I’m through, vice is going to shut this whole fucking club down! Believe that!” She tussled, scratched, clawed, and was gnawing and biting like a mad woman as she was dragged away.
“What the fuck? I thought that bitch was fired.”
Sarah turned to me. “She was. They let her come back today.”
“How fucking stupid was that? Now we’re all… I’m out.” I tossed two twenties onto the table and grabbed Sway’s hand. We headed quickly to the car.
My paranoia was already kicking in as I backed out of the parking spot. “Andre, do you think she’s serious?”
“Yes.”
“She really would do that?”
“Yes.”
“But this is one of your best spots…”
“It was one of my best spots. We’ve just lost about sixteen thousand dollars a year, Sway.”
HOME – 3:30 p.m.
We were in bed, relaxed and watching TV. Sway was snuggled and had made a few passes, but I’d pretended I was asleep.
From the corners of my eyes, I’d peeked and observed as she moved about the room. I’d almost laughed aloud when she’d angrily cursed at herself after spilling some soda from her cup onto the front of her shirt.
HOME – 5:45 p.m.
We were both awakened by my text alert. “Is everything okay, baby?”
“Yeah, that was just Dan. I’m going to hook up with him in a couple hours.”
“Are you hungry? We have plenty of food left… I can heat something for you. It won’t take me long.”
“You would do that?”
Sway sprang from the bed and darted to the bathroom. She peed, brushed her teeth, and washed up before hurrying to the kitchen.
She’d made me a plate and was pouring me a tall glass of iced tea when I took my seat. “I wanted some of that dick, but you went to sleep on me.”
“I’m sorry… I don’t know what the fuck came over me. I guess I was really tired…”
She glanced at the clock on the microwave. “Do you have time?”
“Right now? I don’t want to get started because I know I’m not going to want to stop. We need that money too…especially after what happened today, you know?”
“That’s alright, I’ll have you all to myself later on tonight.”
“You know you will.”
CHEVRON – NORTHWEST HWY – 10:10 p.m.
I began to think about Sway and how I played her off the way I did. But my plan needed to work flawlessly. I had to avoid her advances until tomorrow. Tomorrow was going to be our day. A day that we would remember for the rest of our lives.
I was snatched from my thoughts by the loud music and the roar of that Ferrari.
I stepped out and walked to his side. Dan was smiling as usual. I dropped the hundred bag into his palm. He slid me the rolled bill. “It must be nice to live like you do.”
He beamed. “Andre, I’m not going to bullshit and lie to you, brother. It is nice being me.”
“So you’re not going to tell me how money isn’t everything and that true happiness comes from within?”
“Only a rich person with guilt would try and sell that to someone. I have none, Andre… And I’m sure my family has a dark past. No offense to you…and please don’t take it to heart, but I wouldn’t be shocked if they’d made money off your people. But again, I have no guilt.”
“I admire your truth, though.”
“My truth, your truth. Truth is truth, brother. This is a capitalist society, Andre. That’s the truth. That’s what it’s all about. This is America. We’re all capitalists. It’s the only way we achieve wealth.”
“I’m not sure I agree with all that, Dan. I have a conscience. I would actually feel guilt.”
“Andre…”
“What?”
“Andre.”
“What, Dan?”
“You’re capitalizing off me, brother. Do you have any guilt on your conscience or a soft spot in your heart for my addiction? Think about it.” Dan chuckled wildly as he paddled into first gear. He sped away, smoking his tires as he approached the curb. He looked back. “You’re coming up, brother. I believe in you.”
Creole Gaudet
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