A Bittersweet Hood Dilemma: A Naptown Love Story Read online

  “Tassana is going to fuck y’all up. Kauzie, you doing too much nigga. Tokyo already going through shit. She don’t need that on her plate. You fucking her then going home to her sister? I’m not feeling this shit here,” No Hands fussed.

  “AMEN!” I said.

  “Shut the fuck up, Tokyo,” No Hands scolded me. I didn’t have a comeback.

  “This ain’t got shit to do with you,” Kauzie said to No Hands.

  “Nigga, all three of us go back to the sandbox. This has a lot to do with me. You fucked her in my crib. Y’all broke my fucking sink. I just got it fixed from when Kyree and I broke that shit last week,” he fussed.

  “I’m sorry,” I said to No Hands. I stood up then kissed his cheek.

  “So, you just going to put that nigga dick on my cheek? Damn it, you know it’s hard for me to wipe it off,” No Hands said walking into the kitchen as I laughed.

  “I’ll pay for the sink, I apologize,” Kauzie said. I went upstairs to the room I kept some of my things in. I took a shower, put on a yellow and white mid-sleeve maxi dress, with a pair of white Old Navy flip-flops in the closet. I stood up in the mirror fixing my hair. A few of my braids fell out. Kauzie pulled my hair out. I felt where the braids fell out at and got madder. I had small bald spots.

  I stormed out of the room then down the stairs. Kauzie was cleaning up the bathroom.

  “You gave me bald spots!” I screamed at him. I pushed him then he slipped on the floor. I laughed at him because his long legs were stretched out into the hallway.

  “FUCK!” he said as he pushed himself up. He stood up towering over me.

  “I have bald spots, Kauzie,” I said, as he looked through my braids.

  “My bad shorty,” he said tying them up like he did his dreads. He tapped me on the ass.

  “There you go. Problem fixed. You can’t even see that shit,” he said. I crossed my arms grilling him.

  “Come on, Tokyo, damn, I apologize. It was either that or me screaming like a batty bwoy,” he said smiling.

  “I’m hungry,” I said looking away from Kauzie. His stare always caused me to look away.

  “Let’s go to Island Cuisine,” I said rubbing my stomach. Island Cuisine was one of the restaurants Kauzie’s parents owned. It was a forty-five minute drive from Annapolis to D.C., but it was worth it.

  “Let me get my keys,” Kauzie said. He had a white Audi with white rims that he kept at No Hands’ house. He didn’t want Tassana to know how much money he and his brother’s shop was bringing in. I remembered No Hands telling me a while back when I first saw the car, that Tassana was draining Kauzie’s pockets. But he wanted a high-maintenance broad and that was exactly what he got.

  I opened the backdoor for No Hands. He grilled me and I laughed. No Hands knows he couldn’t stay mad at us long.

  I sat comfortably in the front seat. My phone rang and of course, it was Darrion. I tried to hit ignore, but Kauzie saw it anyway.

  “What the fuck does he want? Why is he still calling you? Is he the reason you had condoms in your purse? Who are you fucking?” he bombarded me with questions.

  “You are one pussy-whipped ass nigga,” No Hands said.

  “Shut the fuck up, No Hands,” Kauzie said getting pissed off. No Hands chuckled.

  “We can talk about this later,” I said. He snatched my phone away from me then put it in his pocket. It doesn’t make any sense how possessive he was.

  “You get it back later,” he said turning up his system. We pulled up to the restaurant an hour later because of the traffic.

  I helped No Hands get out of the car, and Kauzie held the door open to the restaurant, for us.

  When I walked inside, I felt like I was on an island. The music it played and the tropical plants that decorated the restaurant, gave you a tropical feel. Kauzie’s mother, Patra came out of the kitchen carrying two plates.

  “There she goes. I was getting worried about you. That’s how you treat your old lady?” she asked setting the plates down at the table. She kissed my cheek then hugged me.

  “I have been busy,” I said blushing.

  “The lies you tell. You can’t be too busy hanging out with these two knuckleheads,” she said smiling. She kissed No Hands’ cheek.

  “Where’s Pops at?” Kauzie asked his mother.

  “He is in the back,” Patra answered.

  “Come with me chile and talk to me,” Patra said beckoning me to come to the back with her.

  We sat down at a small table, as she looked at me then smiled.

  “So, you and Kauzie have sex?” she asked me. I put my head down.

  “No need fa dat chile. I knew it was going to happen. So, talk to me, Tokyo. How do ya feel?” Patra asked me.

  “Guilty,” I said with tears stinging my eyes.

  “Do you regret it?” she asked me handing me a napkin.

  “No. That’s why I feel guilty. My life is a mess. I don’t have a job, my ex-boyfriend won’t let me be, and Kauzie’s feelings for me are showing at the wrong time in my life. I’m so vulnerable right now. I’m in love with my sister’s man,” I said as my voice trembled.

  She grabbed my hand from across the table.

  “Tassana is a good woman even with her faults. But I know love when I see it. Tassana doesn’t love my son. A happy man sleeps home every night. Kauzie has slept in his old room in the past few months, more than what he did when he was living there,” she said in her heavy accent.

  “I know he isn’t happy. I also know that I can never be with him like that,” I said. She laughed.

  “Silly gyal. If we followed all the rules, we will never be happy. Some rules are made to be broken. He isn’t married. If they were married with children then that would be a different dilemma,” she said.

  Kauzie’s father came out of the kitchen dancing and singing. He was full of life. I think Kauzie took after his mother with his bossy and demanding ways. Kauzie’s father, Izaiah was very handsome. Kauzie looks exactly like his father; the only difference is that Izaiah’s grayish, thick, curly hair told the truth about his age, although he looked younger in the face. He was very tall, but was a bit on the slim side.

  “Cherry-top, what yah doin here gyal, you came to dance?” Izaiah asked me. I laughed wiping my eyes.

  “What my pretty gyal crying for? Want me to kick some ass. I still got it,” he said.

  “He is slim like a praying mantis. He isn’t kicking nobody’s ass,” Patra said laughing.

  “You tell me I’m skinny now. Wait ‘til later old lady,” Izaiah said.

  “You see what I’ve been putting up with for forty-four years? This mon is crazy. I think he is going senile.” Patra stood up from the table, and Izaiah pulled Patra to him grinding into her.

  “Dance with me woman,” Izaiah said making Patra blush. She pushed him away. I walked to the table that No Hands and Kauzie sat at. They were stuffing their faces.

  “Greedy asses,” I said. No Hands used fake prostatic hands that have some type of motion sense. It could pick up what he wanted. It was the same color as his skin, and when he had them on you couldn’t even tell they were fake. I know they cost a grip but the city paid for them.

  “Why don’t you wear those more often?” I asked eating off Kauzie’s plate. Patra always gave Kauzie enough so that I can eat off his plate. She had been doing that for years.

  “When I’m out and a broad wants to holla at me, I want her to see me for me. I don’t have time to be giving women false hope that I can finger pop them when I know I can’t,” he said.

  “Kauzie, mon,” Izaiah said putting him in a headlock.

  “Chill out Pops, I’m eating,” Kauzie said.

  “Pernell, what’s smoking mon? I got some island blaze in the back,” Izaiah said referring to weed.

  “Oh, yeah? See, that’s what I’m talking about,” No Hands said wiping his mouth as he got up from the table.

  I chewed my jerk-chicken while Kauzie stared at me. He scooted closer to me
then whispered into my ear. “So, when are you going to teach me how to make love to your pussy with my mouth?” he asked me then licked my ear. A piece of my jerk-chicken went down the wrong pipe. I started choking.

  He gave me some water then patted my back.

  “Nigga, are you high? Don’t ask me nothing like that,” I said pushing him. He laughed then licked his lips. His dog tags clanked together as he pulled my chair closer to him.

  “I bet you taste like coconut milk,” he said sliding his hand up my dress. I smacked his hand away.

  “Will you stop that shit? Lick Tassana’s cat. I’m sure she is dying for it,” I spat.

  “Tassana’s pussy has been contaminated. Besides, the scent of yours drives me crazy,” he said. I almost fainted. Thank God for the table I could hold on to.

  “You are complicating things and I want your bitch ass to stop,” I said pushing him. He pinched my nipple, as I looked around to make sure we weren’t being watched.

  “Watch your tongue, shorty. You complicated things when you put on that dress that hugs your curves. You know niggas are suckas for maxi dresses,” he said wiping his mouth.

  “Nigga, you know I look huge in this shit,” I said laughing. He squeezed my pouch. “My mama always told me that the fat carries all of the flava. I’m not worried about that,” he smirked. I fell over laughing.

  “Tell me anything, Kauzie,” I said chewing on my rice.

  “You can’t let Darrion go because he eats your pussy?” Kauzie asked me.

  “I did let him go. He eating me out has nothing to do with it. You are jealous, aren’t you?” I asked him. He didn’t answer me. He shook his head instead.

  “We crossed the line, Kauzie. Let’s talk about how we betrayed my sister. Darrion eating my twat has nothing to do with anything,” I said.

  “What is there to talk about? I have feelings for you. You have them for me too. We always had a connection and over the years, our connection grew. But I don’t want to talk about that. Let’s talk about some real life shit. What are you doing when you finish your diploma program?” he asked me.

  “Take a few college courses,” I said.

  “Why not draw and paint? You loved that shit. I got the painting you did for me four years ago in the shop. A lot of customers asked me where I got it from,” he said.

  “Being an artist is just a hobby,” I said.

  “It’s a gift. You can sell them. Have an online website to sell your work. You have a creative mind, Tokyo. There is way more to you than some hood talking female,” Kauzie said. That’s why I love him. He saw a person in me that everyone turned a blind eye to.

  “I don’t have the money to buy the supplies,” I said.

  “That’s why you stopped? You could’ve asked me,” he said getting pissed off.

  “I’m not your woman. You can’t keep coming to my rescue,” I said.

  “That’s what I’m supposed to do,” he said then smirked.

  “You want me don’t you?” he asked me leaning back in his chair crossing his arms.

  “You are toooo damn arrogant,” I said.

  “I know you want me, Tokyo. Your pussy was creaming before I even went in. When I was in you, I felt it. The way you moaned my name I could hear it. You have been wanting it just as much as me,” he said.

  “Take me home. You are ruining our friendship,” I said to him.

  “I’m ruining our friendship so we can build something better. What’s wrong with that?” he asked me. I said goodbye to Kauzie’s parents then stormed out of the restaurant.

  I waited around front until Kauzie and No Hands walked out.

  “You are always being dramatic. Chill the hell out sometimes,” Kauzie said.

  “Punch that nigga in the face. He will leave you alone,” No Hands said. His eyes were bloodshot red.

  Kauzie pulled up to my building and gave me my phone back, finally. I kissed No Hands cheek then got out. Kauzie got out too.

  “Where my kiss at? What’s up with you?” Kauzie asked me.

  “I’m tired. And I just want to go to sleep,” I said.

  “Whatever, I’ll holla at you later.” He got back into his car then pulled off. I walked into my building. It was another dirty diaper in front of my door, so I knocked on Kiwanna’s door.

  She opened her door with rollers in her weave, with a short tight black dress on. Her face was halfway done up. It looked like she was about to go out. The way Kiwanna fixed herself up when she went out, you wouldn’t think she was trifling and had a lot of kids.

  “What now?” she asked me.

  “I’m going to give you ten seconds to get that nasty ass diaper away from my door. If you don’t, I’m beating your ass. I’m serious too,” I said with my hands on my hips.

  “Oh, so now you want to be cute. Wasn’t I banging on your door so you could keep the noise down? You were fucking and my kids were trying to sleep,” she spat.

  “Bitch, your kids are never asleep. What I do in my home is my business. If you can hear it that’s your business. But when I come home and shit is in front of my door, that’s a big ass problem. I been letting you slide, but today that shit STOPS,” I said.

  “I’m not scared of you, Tokyo. These little bitches around here might be scared of you but I’m not,” she said stepping out into the hallway.

  “Are you getting the diaper or not? That’s all I want to know,” I stated.

  “NO. Bitch, you get it. You work at Burger King. I’m sure they had you cleaning the toilets too. Don’t act like you are not use to seeing shit,” she yelled pointing in my face.

  WHAM. I struck Kiwanna in the face. She grabbed my hair but that didn’t faze me, as I continuously connected my fist to her cheek.

  “Oh shit. Kiwanna getting her ass beat,” I heard a guy say. People started coming out of their apartments as I whipped Kiwanna’s ass. Kiwanna’s daughter, Faronda started pulling my hair.

  “Get off of my mama,” the six-year-old said. I slammed Kiwanna against the red brick wall inside of our building. She dug her nails in my face. I banged her head against the wall and her rollers flew everywhere.

  “Talk that shit now bitch.” WHAP. I hit her again then someone pulled me off of her.

  When I got into my apartment, I paced back and forth. I was so mad that I didn’t realize the person who pulled me off of Kiwanna was standing there with me. It was Darrion’s punk ass.

  “What the fuck are you doing here?” I asked him.

  “We need to talk,” he said.

  “About what bitch? Now you want to talk after you showed your ass the other day. You put your hands on me to please your bitch. What the fuck do you want, Darrion?” I asked him.

  “I want to work it out with you,” he said. I laughed so hard I fell on the couch.

  “Nigga, are you smoking bath salts or something? Are you on PCP? Nigga, I don’t want you,” I said holding my stomach as I laughed. Darrion stood there with sad eyes. I know he loves me but I also know he doesn’t love me enough.

  “Darrion, honey, you are late, very late. I’m talking about eviction notice type of late. I’m not worried about you. Tokyo doesn’t want a hoe ass nigga. What can you do for me at this point? Not a damn thing. I caught a charge behind you. I live in this dump because of you. I lost my job because of you. All of my problems are because of you. We ain’t working shit out,” I said.

  “Baby please, I need you. I’m not happy. Keshawna was a mistake,” he said.

  “You knocked her up by mistake too?” I asked him flicking through the channels.

  “That shit just happened, Tokyo,” Darrion said.

  “When I gave myself to you, I thought that you were going to be the one who made me happy. I thought you would be the one that my father would approve of. I should’ve known you wasn’t shit when I left my home to be with you. I haven’t spoken to my parents for years. I was young and didn’t know any better. They knew you wasn’t shit and they tried to warn me. You ain’t shit, Darr
ion,” I said with tears running down my face.

  Darrion kneeled down in front of me.

  “I’m sorry, Tokyo. I always took you for granted. I have been sick without you. I cannot go an hour without calling you. I just need you back,” he pleaded.

  “You hurt me,” I said.

  “I know and I’m sorry. I won’t do it again,” he said. He slid his hand up my dress pulling on my panties.

  “What are you doing?” I asked him.

  “I want to just taste you,” he said pulling my panties down. He slid me to the end of the couch then lifted my dress up. He spread my legs then sniffed my pussy.

  “Damn, you smell good. I miss it,” he said sticking his long thick tongue into my hole. My pussy clenched as Darrion sucked on my clit. His head game was through the roof, but the dick he could keep to himself. He was a quick pumper.