Lovely Vines. Tondria Leatrice
said, “Y’all tripping! I’m just trying to step out and see the scenery.”
Mac said, “I’ve never seen you do anything but study, fam. I always looked up to you.”
Skunk said, “What’s your plan for your graduation party, bro? You know our moms doing the formal shit for us on the beachfront.”
Ishmael said, “Haven’t thought about it. We should do something in the new spot. Bro, take this shit! I’m high as hell.”
Merch said, “I saw your girl Jill at the club the other day.”
Ishmael said, “She said she started working more, but not at a damn strip club. Good looking, bro. Acting like she too good for that life. Always putting the other females down.”
Merch said, “Well, her ass and boobs were all out just like the other chicks.”
Ishmael said, “You don’t have to lie to kick it.”
Merch said, “These females lie and be sneakier than us.”
Ishmael said, “I guess she thought I’d look at her differently if she danced. Being sneaky doesn’t get any respect from me.”
Tee said, “Watch who you give respect. Everybody doesn’t deserve it, or your time.”
Merch said, “You sound like my pops. He always told me, ‘Listening and observing can tell you a lot about people. Most of all, keep eye contact,’ so, moving around comes easy for me.”
Ishmael said, “Pops said, ‘If you have to second-guess, you don’t need them around you.’ That’s why I don’t bend my rules.”
Tee said, “My uncle, the truth! Don’t stress the brain. Use it for productivity.”
Isaiah said, “Productivity has been good to our family.”
Ishmael said, “All my friends get treated the same. Regardless if you’re going to school, working a nine-to-five, or a stripper. A liar, I can’t do.”
Merch said, “Bitch doesn’t have to front to be treated.”
Tee said, “Face value ass!”
Mac said, “All that laughing shit got y’all wasting the flame. Fam…do you miss playing ball?”
Ishmael said, “Hell yeah! Six weeks left of physical therapy, then I can practice again.”
Skunk said, “His ass was trying to dunk, for them face value—ass cheerleaders, and broke his damn ankle at practice.”
Ishmael said, “My shit was sprung, bro. Quit adding shit! Bro ass, a comedian.”
Skunk said, “The way you fell on the floor and rolled around, I thought the whole leg was gone.”
Ishmael said, “I’ll get up with y’all tomorrow. Jill is coming through!”
Isaiah said, “Be careful with her lying ass.”
Merch said, “Well, I’m trying to go be productive in some guts…Call y’all tomorrow!”
*****
“See, I told you, bitch,” Queen whispered as she ducked down in the back seat. “Why are you ducking? They can’t see you,” Toonie yelled. “Follow him,” Queen shouted.
Samaya said, “They can’t see or hear us, silly. How do you know where they live?”
Queen said, “Long nights and days. With plenty of flame, snacks, and tissue.”
Toonie said, “Didn’t know I was coming out to play hide-and-seek without getting tagged. Quit calling me for this shit, Queen!”
Queen said, “You need to get out of the house and live a little bit. I was going to introduce you to Tee, but Merch didn’t hit me back.”
Samaya said, “You play all day, Queen. Why Tee?”
Queen said, “She likes chubby boys! Plus, he’s making money.”
Toonie said, “I don’t like fat boys! Drop me off, Samaya!”
Queen said, “He ain’t fat, fat! His stomach healthy, though.”
Samaya said, “Aw, hell naw! Bitch, you’re silly…Toonie, he is okay looking.”
Toonie said, “Girl! I don’t give a fuck, fuck! I don’t want a man… Besides, I met someone anyway.”
*****
After everybody left, Ishmael called for Jill to come over so she could play on the pole for him.
They sat around, watching videos and looking over some of the papers found in the file cabinet.
Jill said, “Where did you get this from, Zaddy?”
Ishmael said, “In the building we purchased. I kept this one to look over, the rest are—”
Before he could finish his sentence and tell her the bank bought most of them, she cut him off too quick.
Jill said, “There’s more of these? Wow! How many?”
Ishmael said, “Yeah. Someone is looking them over for me. What’s up with all the more and many questions?”
Jill said, “Just curious! This file alone is worth two hundred thousand. If the person is alive and wants to repurchase it, that’s good, Zaddy. One question. Did all the files look like this?”
Ishmael said, “No. I see you know your shit. Bring your smart ass over here, Professor Jill.”
*****
That morning Ishmael went to the club to meet up with Rocky before handing him the signed papers.
He wanted to see if Merch was right about the profit it’ll bring, and from what he saw the property value was already down.
He sat in the parking lot, waiting for Rocky taking notes on what he thought would be excellent for renovating.
After waiting fifteen minutes, he got out and walked around the outside of the building, looking for cracks in the foundation.
He noticed there were a few other bars on the block that weren’t as big, but they were updated.
As he walked by the side entrance, he noticed that the building was attached to an empty, abandoned building in the back.
When he turned around to go back to his truck, he noticed a woman coming out of the side door.
Ishmael said, “Hello. Is Rocky in there?”
Woman 1 said, “Hi. No, he’s not. He should have been here ten minutes ago.”
*****
Rocky said, “I thought he was going to bring his other brothers. They’ll be here tomorrow.”
Man 1 said, “I saw a few of them the other night spending that bread. How many is it of these pretty modeling-looking muthafuckas?”
Rocky said, “Stay put! I’ll be right back.”
Rocky walked over fast, so Ishmael couldn’t see which car he came.
Rocky said, “What’s up, Ishmael? Sorry about that. I was running late.”
Ishmael said, “What’s up? I was just about to call you. Time is money, man. Maybe you need an assistant.”
Rocky said, “I do! She’s busy this morning gathering information for me. Let’s go through the front so you can see the entrance. Then we can come out the side.”
Ishmael said, “The purpose for you selling? If you don’t mind me asking. Let me see the other building.”
Rocky said, “At my age, I’m ready to retire and travel, young man. I didn’t know that the back was my property.”
Ishmael