Chapt 6 "The King and I

My first two years at my new school, Martin Luther King High, went by before I knew it. Vanessa, LaDonna and I were in the 11th grade. Regina was in 10th, she never finished the first grade. Her mom was on the run from her abusive dad. So they were constantly moving. Her dad finally caught up with them and killed her mom. He’s doing Life in the Federal Prison. So by the time she got settle in Foster Care she was a year behind in school. We all had become very close during our first two years growing up together. It all changed during our eleventh grade year.

On school days I would get up around six o’ clock in the morning so I could ride with King. He always said the early hustla gets the first dollar. None of the other girls wanted to get up that early. Vanessa was up most of the nights studying. Regina had to get her beauty sleep as she put it. LaDonna was out with her friends all night. So I quickly became King’s shadow.”I got that new Outkast!” King said as he inserted a CD into his car radio.”Fa Real!", I said in excitement. “Ooh play that Rosa Parks, that’s my song!” “Hold on let me see what number it is”, King said while looking at the back of the CD cover. “These cats on some G shit this time, look at this cover” King requested. As I looked at the futuristic designs, I heard a Flick! Flick! Flick! King lit the biggest joint I had ever seen in my life. It look like a finger, I thought. I could smell the piney scent from the cloud of smoke that was starting to fill the car. “Let me take a hit” I laughed. “Hell Naw!” King said through a cloud of smoke coming out his mouth. “I’m grown I can handle it”, I replied. King turned a corner, and parked in back of the local carwash and handed me the joint.

“Why you stop the car?”, I asked. “Shittt! Just in case your ass start trippin and decide to jump out the car”, he laughed. “Wuteva I smoked before”, I said with false confidence. Oh shit alright girl don’t start trippin, Ok, Ok, just take a small hit, I said to myself. As I pulled on the neatly rolled J, my throat instantly closed. Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough! “Breathe Got damn it Breathe”, King laughed. Cough! Cough! Cough! “You good”, King asked. “Wait a minute, Let me catch my breath”, I said handing him back the joint. “I lied I ain’t never smoke before." “Shit Duh”, King snapped. “You almost passed out from a little ass hit”, King hollered. “How you feeling though”, King whispered. “I feel like I’m floating”, I laughed. King turned the music back up and laid back in his seat. It seemed like every note of the music was dancing around inside my head. I could feel the bass from his big speakers in trunk all in my chest. I looked in the mirror on the visor and I couldn’t see my eyes. It looked like I was asleep. I was so intrigued by the light on the mirror; I just kept opening it and closing it, over and over again. “London stop trippin over there and hit this one more time”, King said. I snapped back to reality for a moment grabbed the joint and took a long smooth hit.

“Ah ha, hush that fuss, everybody move to the back of the bus, do you wanna bump and slump with us, we the type of people make the club get crunk!” was blasting from King’s Speakers as we flew down Interstate 285. “King where we going”, I yelled over the music. “I gotta go get my money, business open twenty-four seven round here. “I’m thirsty can we stop by the store please”, I requested. “Aight let me bend this corner real quick”, King said as he drove past a couple of slower moving cars. “Oh shit It’s a Shell Station in front of the spot, I’ll take you over there”, King said. I was never too sure of what King did for a living but from what Vanessa told me, he was a drug dealer. He was one of the biggest around from what I heard. I figured it wasn’t any of my business, so I didn’t ask. It wasn’t until this morning did I actually see for myself what King did for a living.

“Here take this and get whatever you want, and get me a jungle juice”, King said as he got out the car. “You see that house over there with that big ass dog out front?” “Yes”, I replied. “I’ll be right over there, I’ll be back in about 10 minutes, go in the store, get back in the car, don’t move, OK”, King said as he bent down and grabbed something from under his seat. “OK”, I said. King started to walk across the street. I stood there for a minute enjoying the cool morning air just thinking to myself I’m gonna be high as shit in school! I laughed for a hot second, then turned around and walked into the store. DING! DONG! DING! DONG! “Hey pretty girl I ain’t ever seen you around her before”, said an old man sitting at a video poker machine. “Come over here and talk to me for a second.” “I’m busy right now maybe some other time”, I said trying to pay him no mind. The old man got up off his stool and staggered over towards me.

“That will be Four Twenty Five”, said the cashier as I handed him the crisp twenty King had given me. “Brown Sugar let me talk to you real quick”, said the old man who by this time was right behind me. “Stop bothering my customers”, yelled the cashier. “I'm just tryna talk to her”, he replied. “Look old man what u want”, I asked. The old man moved closer as I backed away. He was obviously trying to look down my shirt. The whole time he was talking to me his eyes were on my breast. “Girl I could do all kind of thangs to you” the old man said licking his crusty lips. Is this old man serious? I’m about to throw up in my mouth, I thought. He smelled lick ass and cheese mixed with cheap liquor. “Naw I’m good!” I said as he inched closer to me. “I know you good, but I’m tryna make you great”, he said. DING! DONG! DING! DONG!

“London! What the hell I, what the fuck?”, King yelled as he came into the store. “Nate what the fuck you think you doing?” King asked. The old man straightened up like he just seen his drill sergeant. “Hey King! Wassup man I-I was just asking this young lady here if she could help me with something”, Nate replied. “So what the fuck you need help with?” King snapped as he walked towards Nate.”I know you ain’t in her hitting on my lil sister”, King asked. Wow! he called me his lil sister, I thought. I didn’t have to say a word, I guess by the look in my eyes and the disgusted look on my face, King knew what was going on. “Get over here muthafucka!”, King yelled. Nate began to reluctantly walk towards King with his head held to the ground. “King I’m so sorry, I want never do it again” Nate cried. “You damn right you want, and you done over here, you betta go cop that BS you shoot up somewhere else”, King screamed. “Come on baby, why you doing me like this?” Nate sobbed. “Cause I’m tired of yall old heads hitting on these young ass girls”, King answered. “You a fuckin child molester man, this girl seventeen years old and you what seventy”, King said sarcastically. “Get yo bitch ass out of here!” King shouted as he kicked the old man in his ass and shoved him out the door.

“London you OK”, King said. “I’m OK”, I answered. “Come on I still need to handle some business”, he said. He walked me back over to car, opened up my door and told me to get in. I watched as he walked back across the street, but this time he looked more aggressive. Damn that shit was too crazy!, nasty ass old man!, I thought to myself as I looked around to make sure he wasn’t stalking me. All of the sudden I seen three men exit the house where King was. One of the guys was King. He began shouting at the two other men. Oh Shit!” I screamed as King proceeded to beat down both of the men standing in front of him. I didn’t know whether to stay in the car or run across the street. King stood over both of the men and grabbed a gun out his jacket. All I heard was yelling and curse words. The two men got up and emptied their pockets. King picked up the items the men dropped then started shooting at the ground. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The men ran for their lives.

King walked back over to the car and dusted himself off before he sat down. “King are u crazy!” I screamed. “You almost killed the guys!" “Calm down them clowns need to be rocked to sleep, but I’m not gonna be the one to do it”, he said. “Look in the back seat and get my emergency kit”, he said. I reached in the back seat and there was a bag filled with one hundred dollar bills. My mind began to race. Damn! Where all this money come from? Is this King’s money? Did he steal it from those guys? I moved the bag and grabbed the first aid kit. “Thanks”, King said as he began disinfecting his scratches. I had to ask I was just so curious. And with what I just seen it seemed like the perfect time to be nosy. “King”, I said. “Who money in that bag?” King looked at me and said “That’s my money”, he replied. “King”, I said again. “Look London I sell weed and coke”, King interrupted. “That’s my re-up money”, he continued. “Those clowns tried to skim off the top so I had to deal with them”, King snapped. “I promise you will never see anything like that again.”, King said. “As long as you with me and I got a breath in my body, I will always protect you, that’s my word”. “Anything else you wanna know”, King asked. “No you told me enough”, I said. “Thanks for being honest with me”

King drove down the road to my school stopping about a block away. “Since we partners-in-crime now.”, he said as we both laughed. “I need to give you a nickname.” “How about Lovely London”, I said. “No! that’s even worse than just calling you London”, he laughed. “What’s wrong with my name?”, I asked. “Nothing I’m just saying we all got some kind of nickname”, he replied. “Ain’t your middle name Rose”, he asked. “Yes! but I hate that name”, I yelled. “Nosy Rosy, that’s it, I'm gonna call you Rosy”. he laughed. “OK I can deal with that”, I said. “OK Rosy get your ass out my car!” “I’m not riding through no school zone with what I got in this car”, he said looking around for the police.”OK I’ll see u later”, I said. "No I’ll see you in the morning I gotta make a run out of state", King replied. “OK King be careful”, I said as I grabbed my bag and got out of the car. I watched as he backed up and sped off into the distance. That’s how it pretty much went every morning before school, and I loved it. I never had someone want to show me so much and spend time with me like he did. I’m his little sister and he’s my big brother. It’s the King and I forever...

Chapt 7 "La Donna is Trippin!"

During our eleventh grade year we were all put in the same homeroom, except for Regina. She in the tenth grade homeroom down stairs. Our homeroom teacher's name was Mrs. Adams. She taught at MLK high for twenty-two years AND! She knew Mrs. Millie very well. So you already know what time it was. If we acted up in school, best believe by the time we hit the first step on the porch Millie was at the door just waiting. "La Donna please open up your book and stop talking, "Mrs. Adams requested. La Donna picked up her book from off the floor and placed it on her desk. She never opened it up she just sat their picking at her nails.

About 5 minutes went by when I heard "Quiet!", Mrs Adams shouted. "La Donna Simpson, this is the second time I have had to tell you to close your mouth", Mrs. Adams said in a stern authoritative voice. "Dang Mrs. Adams I ain't even say nothing, I was just looking behind", La Donna replied in a smart ass demeanor. "Well unless you have the ability to read through the back of your head, turn around and shut your mouth", Mrs. Adams answered. The class began to laugh at La Donna. "The next person to make so much as a PEEP! will be staying with me after school, Is that understood?." The whole class except La Donna responding "Yes Ma'am!" "La Donna what is your problem?", Mrs Adams asked." "I don't like the way you always try to embarrass me in front of everybody", La Donna snapped. "Embarrass you?", Mrs Adams replied with the craziest look on her face. "Little girl you are embarrassing yourself!"

Mrs Adams got up from her desk and began walking towards La Donna. "La Donna, I am not going to argue with you today", she said while sitting in the empty seat in front of La Donna. "I'm tired of talking to you" "But Mrs Adams I wasn't even- Mrs Adams interrupted "I said close your mouth, do you see what I mean?," she asked. "At every staff meeting I've been to for the last two years, all the teachers that have had you in the class complain about your lack of ambition and that funky attitude." "I didn't know yall luv me that much to be talking bout me all amongst yallselves and erthang," La Donna laughed. The boy that sat behind me laughed too. Mostly because he was high. "Mr. Charles, since you think somethings funny and cannot follow directions like your fellow classmate here, I'll see you a 3 pm sharp!" Mrs Adams snapped without even taking her eyes off La Donna.

"Girl you are just as smart as anybody walking around this school" Mrs Adams continued. "Why don't you apply yourself?", she asked. "Because this stuff yall teaching me ain't gon help me outside this school." La Donna replied "And NOT having a High School Diploma aint gon help you either!", Mrs Adams said doing her best La Donna impersonation. "Ladonna you have been labeled what they call in the teaching world "UN-Teachable" "UN-teachable, what yall tryna say I'm stupid" La Donna asked crossing her arms together. "No! You are smart La Donna, but you are acting like a dummy.", Mrs Adams replied. LA Donna just sat in silence staring at the wall.

Mrs Adams got up from the desk and walked back over to hers. She grabbed a piece of chalk from off her desk and began to write on the chalkboard. LA DONNA SIMPSON WAS NOT BORN TO BE A DUMMY...She place the chalk in the holder and sat back down at her desk, and continued working on her lesson plans. London looked right in my direction then she turned around and looked at Vanessa, who was seated in the row across from her in the back. I could see veins in her forehead began to swell. Why was she getting upset? , Mrs. Adams is just trying to help her, I thought. La Donna pushed her books on the floor, got up from her desk and began to storm out of the class. "Ms. Simpson if you walk out of my class, you will not be allowed back in", Mrs Adams warned. La Donna open up the classroom door. BAM!! Then slam it as she left. The School's principal decided to give La Donna one more chance because Mrs. Millie ask him too. Two weeks later La Donna was sent to the Brighton Alternative School for troubled youths, because she punched a substitute teacher in the face.

"London!" "London!", Regina yelled while she was walking towards me in the cafeteria. "What Regina?", I replied. I really hated when she brought her loud self over to my table, this girl can run her mouth for days, all she do is talk about boys, I thought to myself. "Girl what do you have on", I asked. "You didn't have that on when I seen you get off the school bus. "Oh you like it?", Reggie bought it for me. "And what did you give Reggie?" I asked. "Wuteva", she replied. "Anyways Girl! The quarterback for the Varsity team said you was cute and he wanted to talk to you. "So why doesn't he come over here and talk.", I replied. "Prolly cuz you got that mean ass look on your face, why don't you trying smiling sometimes?", Regina said. "Aren't you supposed to be in class, tenth grade lunch was over with thirty minute ago.", I asked. " I know I know I'm going but he is really cute and Shit! he is the varsity quarterback what more do I need to say." "Girl you could be home coming queen", She laughed. "Queen London!" "Doesnt that go go together", She asked. "I know what would go good together", I said. "What's that", Regina replied. "Regina and her classroom, BYE! Regina turned around , walked over to where she was sitting which was full of guys on the football team by the way and grabbed her books, and began to walk towards the cafeteria exit. "Where you going sexy!", yelled one of the guys as he undressed Regina with his eyes as she twisted her Georgia Peach out the door. Regina didn't even break her stride, because she knew I was not playing with her.

I can't believe that girl, she keeps her mind on those boys more than she does her education, she does just enough to get by, but that won't last forever, I thought to myself. The group of guys got up from their table and turned in their lunch trays. I was sitting so close the the door I heard one of the guys tell his buddy "She the reason why Regina left ol cock-blocking ass bitch.
I just laughed inside, because I knew the same dudes are going to replace the dudes who currently stand around at the Gas Station all day doing absolutely nothing. They would rather chase tail than chase education. I was turning in my lucnch tray when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and standing before me was the same guy Regina said wanted to talk to me.

"Hi I'm Tayshawn, your Regina's sister London, right?", he asked like he didn't already know. "May I help you?", I replied. "Actually I was just wondering what you said to her to make her get her stuff and leave. "Nothing special, I just got it like that". I replied. "Wow so you got a attitude to match that mean ass look on your face", he laughed. "Why does everybody keep saying that?, I said with a smirk on my face. "Because it's true", Tayshawn whispered in my ear. I started to smile, only because his breathe was tickling my ear. "See you smiling now!" he said as he tried his best to break through my defenses. I don't know what it was but I became really comfortable around him. "So can I walk you to your class", he asked. "I guess it won't hurt", I replied.

Tayshawn walked with me to my locker, and then to my class. "So since we cool now would it be ok if I walked you home?"he requested. "OK, but only half way because one I don't know you like that to show you where I live, Two the lady I stay with will start fussin if she sees me walking up the street with you." "I will never hear the end of it", I said. "OK, I'll meet you out front after school", he said as he ran off to his class. "OK!", I shouted down the hall. I turned around and went into my class, just waiting for the bell to ring.

When school was finally over I ran to my locker and picked up my bookbag. I told the Vanessa and Regina I would see them when I got home, then I went out to meet u with Tayshawn. "I thought you was gonna stand me up", he said as I walked down the stairs towards him."I wouldn't do you like that, I dont play those types of games.", I replied. "Thats good to know, so that means I can trust you", Tayshawn said. "They question is can I trust you", I answered.Do you have something against me that I don't know about or something?", He said. We just started talking today" "I could have pissed you off already", he laughed."Look Tayshawn you a football player, I know you got girls chasing you around all day, but I'm not gonna be one of them.", I snapped. "Two", I continued before Tayshawn interrupted me. "London I just want to be friends." "The girls that chase me, all they see is dollar signs." "They see Tayshawn the football player." "They don't see Tayshawn the person."

As we started walking down the street Tayshawn keep reassuring me that this wasn't a con to get me in bed. "I just want to be friends. Nothing more, nothing less", he said. "Just friends?", I asked. "Just Friends", he replied. I was in shock. I never had a guy just want to be my friend, I thought. It took about an hour for us to get to the half ay point to my house. It usually only took fifteen minutes. We talk so much it seemed time slowed down. Come to find out, we have more in common than I thought.I didnt ride the school bus anymore after one of the girls in my school got raped. The Bus driver didn't even stop the bus to help her. so no more Bus for me. besides most of the drivers were coke fiends King's people sold to. I tried to tell Vanessa and Regina but Regina said she had too many fine boys on the bus this year to miss out. Vanessa was so quiet you barely knew she was on the bus, but she could take care of herself so I wasn't too worried. I enjoyed getting the fresh air anyway.

"OK, this is far enough, thanks again Tay", I said. "It's cool anytime", he said as began to walk around the corner.I began walking down the street, it took me 5 mins to reach my house when I turned the corner, I stopped. There was abrand new BWM pulling up in our driveway. The bass from the car was hitting so hard I could feel it in the ground. When I looked over toward the porch I seen Vanessa and Mrs. Millie sitting on the porch. I wonder who is in that car, maybe wann king's people. Naw they knew better than to come by the house if he wasn't there and I didn't see his car parked on the street, I thought to myself wiping the sweating from my forehead. Oh yea, I'm about the three shades from black now!! All of the sudden the car's passenger side door opened. I couldn't believe my eyes, out steps La Donna. Here comes the drama...