Cinnamon by Marvlous
Cinnamon
A Story
By
Marvlous Harrison
Copyright 2009 by Marvlous Harrison
Cinnamon
Chapter 1
“Shush stop making noise girl,” the old man told the young girl as he struggled with her.
“No…please…not tonight. I still hurt down there,” the young girl pleaded as she struggled to get loose.
“Keep still now, damn it,” the old man demanded.
“No…please,” the young girl begged in a low voice as she fought to keep him from hurting her again.
“Didn’t I tell you to keep still?” he asked her rhetorically as he slapped her across the face.
“Ouch,” she managed to let out as he used his free hand to muffle her cries.
“You always gotta put up a god damn fight,” he said as he forced himself on her. In an instant he had her night gown up and her underwear down.
“Please…no,” she cried as he penetrated her. He continued about his business as if he didn’t hear her pleas or see the tears of agony and pain fall down her face. “Ooouch…it hurts too much,” she cried hoping he would be sympathetic.
“So keep still and it won’t hurt so much,” he told her. She tried to keep still, but with her only being 11 years old and he being well into his 30s there was no less painful way. Knowing her cries could be heard he tighten his grip over her mouth as he pumped away. When he finished, almost 20 minutes later, he was sweating profusely and out of breath. He wiped the sweat from his brow as he pulled his pants up.
“I know I don’t have to tell you what’ll happen if you tell your momma now do I?” he asked the terrified little girl. She quickly shook her head no. As he left the darkened room she grabbed her underwear and put them back on. She then balled her self up and pushed herself as close to the bedroom wall as possible before crying herself to sleep.
“Kisha, girl what’s wrong with you?” Kisha’s mother asked.
“Nothing momma,” Kisha quickly answered. She was too afraid to tell her mother what her stepfather was doing to her last night because of the threats he made.
“So why you walking like that?” her mother pried.
“I…I fell and hurt myself at school yesterday,” Kisha lied.
“So how come I didn’t notice it last night?” her mother asked.
“By the time you came home I had already soaked in a hot bath. When I woke up this morning it started hurting me again,” Kisha told her.
Her mother looked at her suspiciously sensing that she was lying. “Girl you better not be out there running around with them dusty ass boys! You hear me?!” her mother asked threateningly.
“Yes momma,” Kisha answered quickly.
“Good, now go on before you be late for school,” she added. Kisha rushed out of the house before she was subjected to further inquiry by her mother. She wanted to tell her what was happening, but she was too scared. She didn’t want him to hurt her mother; she was all she had.
“Aye Kisha wait up!” Leroy yelled out to Kisha, whose thoughts were still on the night before. Leroy was one of her best friends; he protected her from the bullies at school.
“Oh Onezy…I didn’t hear you,” Kisha said as he caught up to her. Onezy was his nick name. Everyone called him that because he was the only boy in a family of 4 girls. “Dang girl, you act like you going deaf or something,” he said playfully.
“I’m sorry I was thinking about something,” she told him.
“About what?” Onezy asked nosily.
“Nothing important…don’t worry about it,” she lied. He knew what that meant. “He touched you again?” Onezy asked her in a low voice. Kisha shook her head yes and he hugged her.
“Why you don’t tell your mother?”
“He told me if I do he’ll hurt her,” Kisha said confiding in him.
“Well you got to tell someone.”
“I will,” she said flatly. He knew she wouldn’t tell anyone so he left it alone.
5 Years later
Kisha was walking home from high school with Onezy when her step father came around the corner. He was staggering and reeking of alcohol. “How come you ain’t in the house yet?” he asked her with an attitude.
“I’m on my way now,” she answered with a slight attitude. Onezy, who had gotten taller over the years, poked his chest out.
“Who this, your little boy friend?” Kisha’s step father asked as he tried his best not to sway.
“No, this my friend Leroy. He live not far from us,” Kisha answered.
“You like my baby girl?” he asked Onezy with a drunken smirk.
“Nah, she like a sister to me. I just be looking out for her,” Onezy answered.
“So why you swelling all up like I done stepped in yard or something?” he pried sensing Onezy didn’t like him.
“Because I know what you be doing to her and I don’t like it,” Onezy answered in a low, but intimidating voice. Kisha looked on nervously as the two came face to face. “Onezy no…it’s okay. Come on let’s go momma’s waiting for me,” she told her stepfather as she tried to separate the two.
“She told you I touched her? She’s a damn liar!” he told Onezy defiantly.
“No she not! You look like a dirty old man,” Onezy told him bravely.
“Yeah, you like her. I could tell it in the way you talking. You ready to believe anything that lying little bitch tell you,” he told Onezy.
“You better watch who you talking about,” Onezy warned him.
“Oh…so you don’t like me calling her names, huh? You ready to get your ass whipped for that little bitch?” he asked Onezy with a smirk. Onezy took one swing knocking Kisha’s stepfather flat on his back.
“Damn!” he screamed as he went down. Onezy quickly began stomping him repeatedly until Kisha pulled him off.
“Fuck that…let me go!” Onezy demanded as he snatched away from her grasp. Kisha used all her strength to push Onezy off of him.
“Come on lets go before somebody call the cops!” Kisha told him as she pulled on his arm.
“If you ever put your dirty ass hands on her again I’ll kill you!” Onezy threatened him as he lay on the ground.
“Come on!” Kisha pleaded. The two fled down the block as Kisha’s stepfather struggled to get off the ground.
“Why did you do that?” Kisha asked as they hurried to Onezy’s house.
“‘Cause what he doing to you ain’t right!” Onezy told her.
“I know but my mother…,” Kisha said.
“If he do anything to you or your mother I’ll kick his ass again,” Onezy promised her. She didn’t say anything because she was too afraid.
“You coming in?” he asked her still angry and hyped up from the fight as they came to his building.
“Yeah…for a little while. I want to make sure everything is okay before I go home,” she told him.
As they walked into the building Onezy asked her, “you think he’ll call the cops on me?” a little nervous now that he had the time to think rationally.
“I doubt it. He don’t like cops,” she assured him.
“Good.” Onezy didn’t say anything but Kisha’s stepfather was right; Onezy did like her. He knew they would never be together in that way so he opted to keep it to himself.
“Is your mother home?” she asked as they walked up the stairs.
“Nah, she’s still at work. I think only my older sister is home,” Onezy told her. “Oh okay,” she replied flatly.
By the time Kisha left Onezy’s apartment it was well into the evening and it was dark outside. She knew her mother was home by now and she hoped her stepfather hadn’t told her what happened. As she neared her apartment door she tiptoed hoping to hear what was going on inside before she actually went in. When she didn’t hear anything she put her key in and unlocked the door. As soon as she walked in she saw her mother sitting in the living room with tears in her eyes.
“Kisha!” her mother called out.
“Yes momma?” Kisha answered nervously.
“Come here…right now!” she demanded. Kisha reluctantly went to her knowing her stepfather told.
“You let your little boy friend beat on Willie?” she asked Kisha.
“No...I tried to pull him off him,” Kisha said in her defense.
“Why did you even let them fight?” she asked.
“I didn’t know they was gonna fight momma. Willie came around the corner drunk and the next thing I knew Leroy knocked him down!” Kisha explained.
“But why? Why he wanna fight Willie?” she asked trying to understand what was going on.
“I’ll tell you why,” Willie said as he made his way out of the bedroom. “Her little boy friend didn’t like the idea of another man talking to his girl.”
“You and Leroy messing around?” she asked Kisha.
“No momma,” Kisha answered quickly.
“Yeah you are. Your fast ass probably out there fucking too,” Willie told her. “That’s not true!” Kisha snapped.
“So why did he get mad at Willie for talking to you?” her mother asked already believing Willie. Kisha didn’t know what to say. She desperately wanted to tell her mother the truth, but was afraid of what Willie had said every time he raped her. Willie stood in the door way waiting for Kisha to respond.
“I’m talking to you girl!” her mother snapped.
“Leroy…he…he hit Willie because he found out what Willie been doing to me,” Kisha finally admitted.
“Girl what you talking about?” her mother asked confused.
“When he get drunk he come in my room and do things to me while you sleep,” she explained as the tears began rolling down her face.
“What?! You lying little bitch! I clothe you, I feed you and this is how you thank me?!” Willie screamed furiously as he came near Kisha.
“Kisha don’t tell lies on him like that! Willie’s a good man!” her mother cried. “But momma I’m not lying,” Kisha said saddened.
“You are too lying!” Willie screamed.
“You the liar Willie; you been raping me ever since I was 9!” Kisha screamed finally fed up with keeping his secret.
“Kisha, you can’t be lying on Willie like that and staying in my house. I’m just not gonna let you do it!” her mother told her.
“You mean you gonna believe him over me momma? Your own daughter,” Kisha asked as the tears fell harder. She couldn’t believe her mother would take Willie’s side and not believe her.
“I ain’t ever touch you girl!” Willie said vehemently.
“You did too; that’s why Leroy kicked your ass!” Kisha yelled at him. Kisha’s mother stood up from the chair she was sitting in and smacked Kisha across the face. “Momma,” she cried from the shock of the blow.
“You watch your mouth in my house!” she demanded. Kisha, holding the side of her face, couldn’t understand why her mother didn’t believe her. She stormed into her bedroom and quickly gathered some things and left. “And where do you think you going?” her mother asked as she walked out with her bag.
“None of your business!” she yelled before she ran out.
“Let her go. She’ll be back once she calms down. She not a baby anymore no one is gonna cater to her!” Willie told Kisha‘s mother.
Kisha ran to the first place she knew to go to, Onezy’s house. She knocked on the door hoping he would answer, but when she heard his mother coming to answer the door she turned to leave. “Kisha?” Onezy’s mother asked as she went down the stairs.
“Yes ma’am,” Kisha answered stopping dead in her tracks.
“What’s the matter baby?” she asked.
“Nothing ma’am. Um…is Leroy home?” she asked as she fought to hold a straight face.
“Yeah…hold on,” Onezy’s mother said as she went into the house to get Onezy. When she returned with Onezy at her side Kisha was sitting on the steps with her head hung low.
“Aye…what happened?” he asked knowing things must have went from bad to worse once she got home. She didn’t answer and when he sat down on the step next to her she immediately cried on his shoulder.
“She didn’t believe me,” Kisha wept.
“Damn,” Onezy said in a low voice as he tried to comfort her. “So what you gonna do?”
“I’m running away,” she answered.
“Where you gonna go?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I’ll sleep on the streets if I have to but I‘m not going back there,” she answered.
“What? You can’t do that,” he protested.
“Well I don’t have any where else to go,” she said.
“Well I’ll go with you to make sure nothing happen to you,” Onezy told her. “Your momma will kill us both,” she told him.
“No she won’t; she’ll understand,” he said trying to convince her.
“No it’s okay I’ll be fine. I have a little bit of money saved up. I can use it to get a room somewhere. Maybe go to my aunt’s house in Virginia,” she told him.
“Hold on I’ll be right back,” he said as he jumped up. She looked at him confused as he ran inside the house. He returned a few minutes later with a fist full of money. “Here take this.”
“What’s this?” she asked.
“It’s my allowance. I’ve been saving it, but you can have it,” he told her. “No…I…I can’t,” she stuttered.
He shoved the money back in her hand and said, “Take it, you gonna need it.”
She reluctantly took the money as she thanked him.
“Onezy, is everything okay?” Onezy’s mother asked from the door way.
“Yes ma’am,” Onezy said as Kisha prepared to leave.
“Call me when you get to your aunt’s house,” Onezy told her. She gave him a tight hug and left not knowing if she would ever see him again.
******
“Hey you okay?” a nicely dressed man asked Kisha as she sat on the bench fighting to stay awake.
“Yes sir…I’m fine,” Kisha replied demonstrating she had good manners.
“You sure because everyday I see you sitting here on this same bench,” the man asked with a warm smile.
“Yes I’m sure,” she answered.
“Listen, you look like you could use some help. How old are you?” he asked her. “I’m 18 sir,” Kisha lied hoping the gentleman wouldn’t realize she was younger and call the police on her.
“18 huh…you hungry?” he asked. Any other time Kisha would’ve said no but she had been on the streets for close to a month and her money was dwindling down to nothing fast even though she did everything she could to cut corners.
“Yes,” she finally answered in a low voice.
“Me too; let’s go get something to eat,” he told her. Kisha reluctantly got up and left with the polite man.
‘If he tries anything I’ma scream my head off,’ she thought. The man could see Kisha was a little hesitant even though she had started to follow him.
“It’s okay I don’t bite,” he told her playfully. When Kisha smiled at the joke he said, “See it don’t hurt to smile sometimes.” He then led Kisha to a fast food restaurant not too far from where Kisha was sitting.
“So how long you been on the streets?” the man asked Kisha as she wolfed down her food. Although he told her she could order what ever she wanted she only ordered a hamburger and French fries so she wouldn’t appear greedy.
“About a month,” Kisha answered between bites.
“How you hold up out here for so long?” he asked.
“I was staying in a motel room until two days ago when my money got low,” she answered honestly. He sat there watching her eat as he studied her. “I thought you said you was hungry too?” Kisha asked as she realized that he was barely touching his food. “Oh I am. I was just watching you eat that’s all,” he said as he picked up his hamburger and took a bite. “So what you gonna do for money?”
“I don’t know. I guess get a job or something,” she answered honestly.
“Maybe I can help you out,” he told her. Kisha was too busy finishing up her meal to comment. “Would you like to work for me?”
“Huh…you offering me a job mister? I don‘t even know your name,” Kisha asked in disbelief.
“Oh, I apologize for my bad manners. My name is James,” he told Kisha as he extended his hand to her.
She politely took his hand and shook it as she replied, “My name is Kisha.”
“Nice to meet you Kisha. Now, do you wanna tell me why a pretty girl like you staying on the street?” James asked inquisitively.
“It’s a long story and you probably won’t be interested,” Kisha said politely.
“Try me,” he said with a warm smile.
“Me and my mother had a fight over my stepfather,” Kisha said giving James the short version without the gory details.
“I’m sorry to hear that. So, are you interested in working for me?” James asked with out prying into Kisha’s life story.
“What do I have to do?” she asked.
“All you have to do is clean up my apartment during the week and some days during the weekend when I have parties,” James explained.
“How much do it pay?” Kisha asked.
“$150 a week,” James answered.
“When can I start?” she quickly asked.
“How about today?” James answered.
“I guess so. I mean I don’t have anything else to do,” Kisha told him.
“Good; here’s my address. Come around 4. If I’m not home one of my girls will let you in,” he told her as he jotted his home address down on a piece of paper. Kisha took it and looked it over. “You know how to get there?”
“Yes,” Kisha replied.
“Good; I’ll see you later then,” James told Kisha as he got up from the table. He went in his pocket and handed her a $10 bill for the meal. “Well Kisha it was nice meeting you and I’ll see you this afternoon,” he said as he got up from the table never finishing his food. Kisha couldn’t fathom why a perfect stranger would be so nice to her. As James left the restaurant Kisha hurried up to pay the tab so she could call Onezy. She hadn’t spoke to him in several days and wanted him to know she was fine. He had been worrying about her lately and even spent the night with her in the motel room a few times to make sure she was safe.
Kisha exited the train station on the corner of James’ block and looked around at the neighborhood. She wondered what kind of work he did to afford to live in such a nice area. She quickly found the building and walked inside. She was nervous when she rung the intercom and was about to turn back.
“Can I help you?” a female voice asked.
“Yes…I’m here to see James,” Kisha said politely.
“Take the elevator to the penthouse,” the female instructed her.
“Okay,” Kisha replied courteously as she headed for the elevator. ‘Wow the penthouse,’ she thought as the elevator door closed. As she rode the elevator up to the penthouse it stopped on one of the floors. An older, white lady got on the elevator and when she saw Kisha she immediately clutched her purse. With Kisha being young and naïve she didn’t understand the white lady was afraid of her.
“Nice weather we’re having,” the white lady said trying to make small talk so she wouldn’t appear shaken.
“No not really. It’s kinda chilly out now,” Kisha replied. The white lady smiled politely and looked at Kisha with a very peculiar look as if she was analyzing her.
“Do you have family in this building?” the white lady asked Kisha.
“No, I’m here to see about a job,” Kisha replied happily.
“A job? You look a little too young to be working,” the white lady said as the elevator came to a stop. Kisha didn’t reply because she knew the lady was right; she was too young to be working.
When the elevator arrived at the penthouse Kisha planned on going right back down stairs but the elevator door opened up directly into James’ apartment. “Can I help you?” a scantily clad young lady asked her.
“Uh,…I…um…I’m here to see James,” Kisha stuttered nervously.
“Oh, you must be the new girl. Come on in,” the young lady said with a warm smile. As Kisha walked inside the lavish penthouse she looked around trying to get a better look at the apartment. “I’m Ryn, I’ll help you get settled.”
“Wow, this a nice place,” Kisha said amazed. Ryn knew James had a habit of finding very young girls and putting them to work for him. “Um do you know what he wants me to do?” she asked Ryn.
“All he said is that you was coming by and he’ll be here later on to meet you. If you want you can just sit and relax until he gets here,” Ryn told her. Kisha sat down on a sofa that sat against the wall and next to a window. She watched attentively as half dressed girls came and went from the apartment often dropping off money and often just sitting down to relax. Some of them even spoke to Kisha, but mostly just to find out what she was doing there. Ryn had to chase those ones away.
Kisha was sitting on the sofa for over an hour when the elevator opened up and James stepped off. He had the swagger of a millionaire and the bravado of a street hustler. “Hey what’s going on?” he asked Ryn as he walked over and gave her a hug. She tried to kiss him on the lips but he quickly turned his face allowing her to kiss his cheek.
“The new girl is here,” Ryn told him.
“So I see,” he said grinning from ear to ear. “I hope you didn’t have a problem finding the place,” James said as he walked over to Kisha.
“No, the directions was easy,” she replied smiling.
“That’s good,” he said as he noticed she had all of her belongings with her. “If you want you can keep your bag here for safe keeping,” he suggested.
“Um…okay,” she agreed.
“Aye, put her bag in the closet for her,” James instructed Ryn. Ryn took Kisha’s bag and as she walked off James said, “What I basically need is someone to run my errands for me and to keep the place nice and neat.”
“Okay,” Kisha said more than happy to do the job.
“I guess right now you can go pick up my dry cleaning from across the street,” he told her.
“Okay,” Kisha said as she headed for the elevator.
“Just let ‘em know you came to pick up Big Daddy’s suits if he gives you any problems,” James told her.
“Okay,” Kisha said. As she stepped on to the elevator she asked her self, ‘Big Daddy?’
Kisha returned 30 minutes later with James’ dry cleaning and as she walked into the apartment she noticed that it appeared to be empty. “Hello?!” Kisha said aloud checking to see if anyone was present. When she didn’t get a response she walked through the penthouse checking the bedrooms one by one. There were three in all; two of which were the same size and a master bedroom which was twice the size of the other two. “Hello?” she asked as she entered the master bedroom.
“Who’s out there?” James asked from what appeared to be a bathroom inside the master bedroom.
“It’s me, Kisha. I have your dry cleaning,” she told him from the door way. “Okay, just put it on the bed. I’ll be out in a minute,” James told her.
She did what he said and as she walked into the bedroom she couldn’t help but be in awe at the way the master bedroom was decorated. It was basic in a sense, but at the same time very tasteful. In the center of the room there was a round, king sized bed adorned with white silk sheets and a white fur bedspread. There were six pillows on the bed, all goose feathered with red silk cases. There was also a large white area rug on the floor that stretched out beyond the large bed. Unknown to Kisha was that the area rug was genuine mink fur. There was a floor model television a few feet from the bed with a build in DVD player. She wondered what kind of movies James watched. All of the curtains in the windows were white matching perfectly with the bed. As she admired the master bedroom she heard the shower cut off. She quickly placed James’ suits on the bed and ran out the room. She went back out to the sofa that she had been sitting on when James came home.
James exited the bedroom in a tailor made, grey pinstriped suit and matching grey alligator shoes. He was fixing his cuff links when he asked Kisha, “Did they give you a hard time?”
“No sir,” she said respectfully.
“Good; I need you to run a few more errands for me later on but mostly for groceries. I’m having a big party here tonight,” James told her.
“Okay,” Kisha replied sheepishly. As James fumbled to get his diamond cuff links on Ryn appeared from the master bedroom dressed in a skin tight red mini skirt with matching stiletto and fish net stockings. Kisha watched in awe of the beautiful lady.
“Here daddy, let me help you wit that,” Ryn said as she reached out to fasten his cuff links for him. James saw how hard Kisha was staring at him and flashed his trade mark smile.
“Have you ever been in this section of The Bronx before?” he asked Kisha breaking her gaze.
“No sir,” Kisha answered.
“It’s a nice area. Too many white people though, but other wise it’s a good place.” “There you go,” Ryn said as she finished fastening his cuff links.
“Thanks baby. Why don’t you go in there and get my jewelry for me,” he told her. “Which watch you wearing?” Ryn asked.
“Bring me my Rolex,” he answered.
As Ryn walked back in to the master bedroom Kisha asked him, “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, shoot,” James replied.
“What kind of work do you do?” she asked inquisitively.
“You sure you wanna know the answer to that?” he asked.
“Yes,” she answered.
“I’m a pimp,” he told her. ‘So that explains all the half dressed ladies!’ Kisha thought to herself.
When she didn’t say anything he added, “But don’t worry I’m not into pimpin’ young girls.”
“Huh?” she asked shocked.
“Nothing’, it was just a joke,” James said as Ryn returned with his expensive jewelry. As he put it on he told Ryn, “Make sure you give her some paper so she can go shopping.”
“Okay daddy,” Ryn said.
“Okay y’all girls take it easy,” he told them as he headed for the elevator.
“What time will you be back daddy?” Ryn asked him. He looked at her with a menacing look and didn’t answer her. Ryn knew she had over stepped her boundaries. The elevator door opened up and as James stepped on he smiled and said, “Ladies,” as the door closed.
“Is he really a pimp?” Kisha asked Ryn once they were alone.
“Yeah,” Ryn replied flatly as she looked for something to keep her busy. Ryn could tell by Kisha’s look that she was mesmerized by James’ aura. “He’s one of the biggest pimps in the city,” she added before going to get some money for Kisha to go shopping with.
When she returned she handed it to Kisha and told her, “Don’t let the smooth look fool you. He’s one of the coldest niggas out here.”
“Huh?” Kisha asked confused.
“I see that look in your eyes. I had that same look when James took me in. It’s the look of innocence and stupidity all mixed up into one. You do what you came to do and that’s it,” Ryn told her bluntly.
“Yes ma’am,” Kisha said respectfully.
“And don’t be ma’amin’ me. I ain’t that old,” Ryn told her with a slight smile. “How old are you?” Kisha asked her.
“I’m 24,” Ryn answered. “You know what, I’m going shopping wit you so you’ll know what we like around here.”
“Okay,” Kisha said as Ryn grabbed her purse and house keys.
******
When James returned to his apartment Kisha had already straightened up in preparation for the party. “How did things go?” he asked her as she sat on the sofa reading a magazine that was laying around.
“Everything went fine. Ryn went with me grocery shopping to show me the kind of things you like. I got most of it but they didn’t have some of it,” Kisha told him. “Okay,” he replied as he removed his jewelry. He didn’t like wearing his jewelry around the house.
“Um, how long will you need me to stay for?” Kisha asked as he walked to the master bedroom. She could tell James had to really think about it because he had never really planned a set hours of work for her.
“Uh…I guess you can leave now if you want. I won’t need anything else today,” he replied.
“Okay,” Kisha said as she got up from the sofa to get her bag.
James watched as the young girl prepared to leave and as she waited for the elevator he asked her, “Where you staying tonight?”
“I’m not sure. I guess I’ll go back to the motel I was staying at before,” Kisha answered honestly.
“I tell you what, since I’ll need you in the morning you can stay the night here.”
“That’s okay, I don’t wanna be in the way,” Kisha said declining the offer.
“You won’t be in the way. I have a extra room with a television in it and as long as you don’t mind the noise from the party you’ll be fine,” James told her.
Kisha thought about it for a second knowing she really didn’t have enough money for a room but figured since she was expecting to get paid in a few days everything would be fine. “That’s o…,” she began when James cut her off.
“Listen, there’s nothing to think about. Take your things in the room so you can relax. If you want I’ll give you a few dollars so you can go get you something to eat. You can take a nice hot shower, and have a comfortable bed to sleep in tonight,” he told her.
Feeling pressured Kisha reluctantly agreed. “Okay.”
“Good,” James said.
Kisha went into the bedroom and sat on the pink canopy bed and looked around the pretty room. Although it wasn’t decorated as beautiful as the master bedroom it was still 100 times better than what she was used to sleeping in; even before she left home. As she got up from the bed to take a look out the window Ryn appeared in the door way. “James told me to take you shopping. Hurry up so we can go,” she told Kisha. “Okay,” Kisha said as she placed her bag at the side of the bed and hurried up to catch up with Ryn.
“Damn that was fast,” Ryn said no less than ten paces from the bedroom door. “All I had to do was put my bag down,” Kisha said with a nervous smile.
“Well let’s get going then. Shit I have a party to be at tonight and I need to look good,” Ryn told Kisha. Kisha didn’t know what the fuss was over with Ryn needing to be ready for the party, to her Ryn looked more than fine. “Okay daddy we’ll be back in a little while,” Ryn told James as they walked to the elevator.
“Okay,” James replied.
In seconds the elevator door opened up and the girls stepped on it. “What size you wear?” Ryn asked as the doors closed.
“Um…I’m not sure. My mother usually buy my clothes for me,” Kisha said.
Ryn gave Kisha a good look up and down and said, “You can’t be no bigger than a 2 maybe 3. I know where we can get you some nice jeans and blouses.”
“Thank you,” Kisha said graciously.
“Shit don’t thank me thank Big Daddy. For some reason he took a liking to you. But then again he has a habit of picking up the under privileged,” Ryn told her. Kisha didn’t realize it was a put down.
“Is this your car?” Kisha asked as they got into a powder pink Cadillac Coup Deville.
“It sure isn’t the mail man’s even though he mighta paid for it,” Ryn joked. “Enough of the bullshit sweetie; you ready to go get you some clothes?” Ryn asked changing the subject as she brought the car‘s engine to life.
“Yes,” Kisha answered shyly. Ryn pulled off into traffic driving just as crazy as she spoke to people.
With in minutes they were down town entering Manhattan’s shopping area with little conversation between them. “So are you gonna tell me what happen between you and your mother?” Ryn asked finally getting to the question she’s been dying to ask.
“I really don’t wanna talk about it,” Kisha said in a low voice.
‘Fuck this shit,’ Ryn thought. “What happen, your momma get high on dope or something?” Ryn asked prying.
“No she’s a god fearing woman. She would never do anything like that,” Kisha said.
“So what is it she caught you with your boyfriend or she won’t let you have one?” Ryn asked pushing her luck with a smirk as if she had been down that road before.
“No it wasn’t that. My step father…,” Kisha said before going silent.
Immediately a light bulb went off in Ryn’s head. “Your step father touched you?”
Kisha slowly nodded her head yes. Ryn knew from first hand what the experience was like.
She took a good look at Kisha as if she was analyzing her. “She didn’t believe you did she?” Kisha shook her head no. Ryn, as if she was hit with an instant flashback from her childhood, said, “I know how you feel. Most of the girls in my line of work been there and then some.” Ryn had gotten the information she was looking for so she left Kisha to her thoughts as they finished the short trip to the clothing store.
“Come on out that dressing room girl so I can see how you look!” Ryn demanded as Kisha took her time trying on the outfit that Ryn had picked out for her. Kisha finally came out walking awkwardly in high heels with a naive smile on her face.
“Look at you looking like you on the come up!” Ryn said complementing Kisha. She wasn’t yet 17 and her body had already started to take shape causing the tight jeans to hug her perfectly.
“I can’t walk in these,” Kisha said in a low voice referring to the heels.
“Don’t worry about that girl I’ll teach you,” Ryn reassured her.
“I think I need a bigger size pants,” Kisha said.
“Girl, no man like a girl in baggy pants looking like they could be his,” Ryn said schooling her. Kisha knew deep down inside she liked the clothes but she wasn’t quite comfortable with her sexuality yet; she was still a tomboy at heart.
“Let me fix this for you,” Ryn said as she adjusted the shirt allowing it to show off some of Kisha’s belly. “There you go. How you like that?”
“It’s nice,” Kisha replied.
“Let me get this here in pink, black, red, and navy blue if you have it,” Ryn told the sales lady.
“The tops are $15 a piece,” the sale lady told Ryn.
“Bitch I didn’t ask how much they cost!” Ryn snapped. Kisha’s face blushed with embarrassment. “These damn white folks always thinking a bitch ain’t got no money,” Ryn said angrily.
“You really don’t have to have to go through all this trouble for me,” Kisha said. “Girl don’t mention it. Big Daddy said to take you shopping and that’s what I’m doing. Besides it’s his money anyway,” Ryn said cracking a smirk.
“How come you call him that?” Kisha asked naively.
“What…Big Daddy? ‘Cause it’s his name. That’s what every body calls him on the street,” Ryn told her.
“Here you go Ms.,” the sale lady said as she handed Ryn the shirts she asked for. “About damn time. Now let me get these jeans in black and hot pink,” Ryn told the sale lady. As the sales lady left to retrieve the jeans Ryn told Kisha in a hushed voice, “Girl you can’t ever let people talk to you like you ain’t good enough. I don’t care how bad your day is or how much money you got. You keep your head up just the same.”
By the time Ryn and Kisha returned to the penthouse James was already in the partying mood. They stepped off the elevator carrying numerous bags on cloud nine; it was just what Kisha needed.
“It look like y’all bought the store,” James said over the music.
“I got her some stuff and of course I had to get me something too,” Ryn told him with a seductive smile.
“Yeah I bet,” James said sarcastically.
He took a good look at Kisha and asked her, “you get everything you need?” “Yes,” she replied timidly.
“That’s good,” he said as he walked over to the stereo and turned it up louder. “This the jam!” he screamed over the music. Kisha watched with a smile, mostly due to the fact that loud music wasn’t allowed in her house. As he danced alone the elevator door opened up and two of James’ other girls entered the penthouse.
“Ah shit the party done started!” one of them said as she threw her hands in the air, dancing over to James. She put her arms around his neck and danced closely to him.
“I hope you got some paper for me,” he told her.
“You know I do daddy,” she said with a smile.
“So lay it on me,” James said. Kisha watched as the street walker dug in her bra and removed a large wad of bills.
She handed it to James and he thumbed through it quickly. “It’s only $150 here.”
“I know Big Daddy but the damn police was out there running us off the corner like they didn’t get their payoff this week or something,” the prostitute explained.
“Well don’t worry you got a little more time to get back out there and get that paper,” James told her.
“But daddy…,”
“But daddy my ass; you know better than to come up in here wit short money. Now get the fuck back out there and get that money before you blow my high,” James told her coldly. The prostitute, who looked like her world was crushed, turned around and headed for the elevator.
“What’s up wit you; how much you got for me?” James asked the other girl. “I got $300,” the prostitute told James timidly as she dug in her bra for the money. James took the money and thumbed through it briefly.
“Aight; Kisha this is Jade. She part of our family,” James told Kisha introducing the two.
“Hello,” Kisha said shyly.
“What’s going on sugar?” Jade asked unimpressed with Kisha.
“So what, she’s a new girl?” Jade asked.
“Nah, she’s not here for that. She here to help out around the house,” James told her.
Jade looked Kisha up and down and said, “Shit I don’t know why we need another bitch for that.”
“‘Cause he said we do,” Ryn told Jade in Kisha’s defense as she returned from the master bedroom.
“I was just asking that’s all,” Jade said quickly backing down from Ryn.
“And y’all ain’t gonna be giving’ her a hard time either,” Ryn said firmly. Kisha looked on at the whole debacle shocked. She couldn’t understand why Jade said what she said. Ryn gave Jade a stink look as if she was waiting for her to say something back. When she didn’t Ryn told Kisha, “Why don’t you go take your things in the room baby girl.” “Okay,” Kisha said sheepishly.
Kisha went in the bedroom and dozed off. When she awoke it was more than 2 hours later and the music from out side her bedroom where penetrating her serenity. She was parched, but was hesitant about going out to get something to drink. She laid there struggling with the idea of actually going out and seeing the pimps and hustlers party with one and other and began to feel like a child whose parents were partying and locked her in her bedroom. ‘I’m going,’ she thought as she got up from the bed. She opened the bedroom door slowly and instantly the music got louder. She crept out into the living room and was shocked at how many people were actually there. In all there had to be at least twenty people. She walked slowly taking in the scene, curiously watching everyone. “Hey there, you coming to join the party?” a sharp dressed man asked her. She could tell he was obviously drunk and it instantly gave her flash backs of her step father. “Um…no…I um…I was just gonna get something to drink,” Kisha managed.
“I got something for you,” the man said as he handed Kisha a flask.
“No thank, you I don’t drink,” Kisha told him.
“What? Shit everybody drink when they here!” the man told her over the loud music.
When he reached out to grab hold of Kisha she quickly said, “My sister is gonna be mad if she see you putting’ your hands on me.”
“Girl, who’s your sister?” the man asked.
“Ryn,” Kisha replied.
“You mean James’ old lady? Girl why you ain’t say so? Go a head about your business,” the man said. Kisha quickly walked away before the man had a chance to change his mind.
As Kisha walked through the living room she couldn’t help but notice how everyone was dancing, drinking, and using drugs. She knew for a fact the smell of marijuana was in the air, but she wasn’t sure what the white stuff was that some of them were sniffing. Some people had it either on a plate, a mirror, or an album cover continuously putting their face into it and inhaling.
“Aye you okay?” James asked scaring her half to death.
“Yes,” she said as if she got caught seeing something she had no business seeing.
“I know you ain’t come to join the party?” he asked jokingly.
“No, I came to get something to drink,” she answered.
“Good ‘cause this ain’t your kinda crowd,” he told her as he stepped to the side so she could walk by. He watched as she walked briskly to the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with a tall glass of juice. He watched her closely making sure she didn’t stop or get harassed by anyone. Kisha knew she was being watched so she made it her business to return directly to her bedroom but when she walked pass the other bedroom she couldn’t help but notice that people were in there having sex.
“Oh my god,” she said in a hushed voice. It had to be at least six people in the room at once. She didn’t know who the people were but she did recognize two of the girls, Jade and Starr. As she continued to walk by she also saw Ryn was in the room but she was just watching.
Chapter 2
“Aye get up. I need you to make a run for me,” James told Kisha as she lay on the sofa watching television.
“Okay,” she said jumping up immediately. She followed him into the bedroom where Ryn was lying in the bed naked. She watched as James went into his closet and removed a large, metal safe. He used a small key that he had concealed in his hand to open it and she saw the safe was full of money. James took out $1000 from the safe and counted it to make sure it was a $1000 even though it was already separated.
“Listen here, I need you to take this cash over to Macomb’s Bridge. There’s gonna be a guy waiting for you in a black car. Give him the money,” James instructed her.
“Okay,” Kisha said shocked that she would be carrying so much money. “How will I know for sure it’s them? Should I ask him his name?”
“Nah don’t ask any questions. Just give him the money,” James told her.
“Okay,” Kisha said.
“Listen I’m putting’ a lot of trust in you. Don’t mess this up,” James told her. “Okay.”
“Okay now,” James said flatly as he handed her the money. Kisha took the money and left the room. She went into her bedroom to get her jacket and by the time she came out Ryn was waiting for her still naked.
As Kisha put the money into her jacket pocket Ryn stopped her. “Come here, let me show you how to stash it.” She opened up Kisha’s jacket and placed the money at the small of her back along her waistline. Since the money was neatly stacked, bound by a rubber band and in an envelope the money stayed in place perfectly.
“Now you go straight over there and make sure you don’t stop to talk to anyone. And if anyone try to rob you, you take off as fast as you can. You hear me?” Ryn asked making sure she understood her instructions. Kisha quickly nodded her head yes.
“Okay sugar, now you be careful out there,” Ryn told her.
Kisha left out the building making sure she wasn’t being followed. She had been working for James for more than two months and the mere fact that he trusted her with that amount of money meant a lot to her. She was starting to find her place in her new family. She had even become so engrossed in her work with James that she had stopped calling Onezy as much as she used to. Mostly it was because he constantly harassed her about living with a pimp.
Kisha caught the first taxi that stopped for her. “Take me to Macomb’s Bridge please,” Kisha told the driver as she closed the taxi door behind her.
“The Harlem side?” the driver asked making sure he was going to the correct place.
“Of course,” Kisha snapped.
“Take it easy sweet heart, I was just making sure I was taking you to the right place,” the driver explained. Kisha sucked her teeth at the idea of the taxi driver questioning her. Kisha didn’t realize it but her infatuation for her new found friends were beginning to change her attitude for the worst.
Kisha stared out of the window of the moving taxi watching the city blocks move by at high speeds.
“What side you want me to stop on?” the taxi driver asked as they neared the bridge.
“Over on the right,” Kisha said as she came back to reality.
The taxi driver pulled over on a nearly deserted block and as he did so he asked her, “It’s empty over here; you need me to wait for you?”
“Yes please,” Kisha answered as she saw the black sedan pull up.
“Just make sure you hurry up ‘cause I don’t have all day,” the taxi driver told her.
“Okay!” Kisha called out over as she rushed to the waiting car.
As Kisha neared the sedan she saw two white men sitting inside who appeared nervous. The driver reached inside his jacket and pulled out a police man’s badge.
“Hold it right there!” he ordered Kisha stopping her dead in her tracks. “Did James send you?”
“Y…y…yes sir,” Kisha stuttered.
The cop stuck his hand out the window and said, “Okay, give it here.”
Kisha quickly reached into her jacket to remove the envelope as the officer kept his hand gun trained on her cautiously. When she noticed she removed the envelope exercising a little more caution. “He…he…here you go sir,” she stuttered.
The officer snatched it and briefly looked inside making sure it was what he was expecting. “You tell James I said stop sending his whores and start bringing the money his self,” the officer barked at Kisha.
“Oh no sir I’m not a….,” Kisha began when the officer drove off leaving her in mid sentence. Kisha stared at the leaving car in shock before returning to her taxi.
“Back to where I picked you up from?” the taxi driver asked Kisha as she got inside.