Page 85 of For the Love of City
I held out my hand in gratitude, and he took it. “‘Preciate it.”
“It’s what we do. Now, help me lift this muthafucka up so we can get him in the trunk. This is just the first round of the night.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Street Symphony
JURY
“EXCUSE ME, YOUNG man.”
I looked up from the text my brother had sent me about how these niggas had failed to get shit done with City. That nigga that we’d sent to watch City had given us the intel that he’d be at the mall. Somehow, them niggas ain’t reported back and now we were on high alert. The lady in front of me was older, with long salt and pepper hair. She looked nice but I wasn’t in the mood to be nice to anyone.
“What can I help you with?
She pointed to one part of the parking lot with a sad look on her face.
“There is a very large box inside of my car and I need someone to assist me with it. It’s a return and none of the people inside will help me get it out. They say something about liabilities. Now you look like a nice strong young man that was raised right. Do you mind helping an old lady for a few minutes?”
I glanced around because I was just trying to run into this store and then head out. Being a good Samaritan wasn’t in my nature and not something I would normally think to do. “I’m sorry ma’am I’m really not trying—”
She looked crestfallen and then looked around the parking lot like she was trying to find someone else. I did the same and saw that no one else was around.
“Oh, it’s okay, sugar. I’ll look around and see if I can find someone else to do it. No big deal. Thank you so much for takingthe time to respond to me.” The woman gave me a squeeze on the hand before she turned to walk away.
I felt bad because I knew they had plenty of people to help this woman inside but refused. I hated to see older women treated poorly and it would’ve bothered me all night if I didn’t even think about helping her out. I started to walk after her and hoped she didn’t get spooked by me following her.
“Hold on! My granny would probably pop me with a wooden spoon for telling you no.”
She smiled kindly and to be older she was a really pretty, kind looking lady. “Well, I’m not her but I can say that if one of my grands behaved that way I would have a bone or two to pick with them as well.”
Her voice was lightly chastising me and I felt like I deserved it. I needed some good karma for the shit I’d been doing. Not that I regretted any of it, but I should probably balance out the hell we’d been causing. Between shorting our artists and the money we’d been paying out from getting sued, things were tight. Hell, I was going to stop by the gas station later and play the Georgia lotto. Something had to give.
“Forgive me my mind is on something else. Where did you say your car was?” I glanced around looking for an old ass Buick or a town car: the old lady classic cars of the world.
“It’s right over here…I’m sorry what did you say your name was darling?” She held on to my hand as she pointed to a mid-sized SUV.
I smiled and placed her hand in the crook of my arm as we walked toward her car together. “My friends call me—”
“Well, I’m not one of your little friends am I? What did your people name you? Your mama?” That grandmother tone was again in her voice and it caused me to smile.
“Oh, Justin.”
“Well, Justin, I’m Matilda.”
“Matilda? That’s a name I haven’t heard in a while.” We were walking slowly over to her car as we chatted with each other.
“It’s an old family name. Honestly, it probably came from some white folks.” She patted my arm in that same grandmotherly fashion.
“You’re right. Now, which car do you need me to get something out of?”
Her kind eyes smiled at me and made me feel good about helping her. “Oh, it’s this little SUV over here. I have to park at the front of the parking lot because these old bones aren’t what they used to be. I don’t understand why they keep it so dark over here, though.” Her tone was nervous like she was having second thoughts about being in a darkened parking lot with me and I felt bad. Instead of being offended I just wanted to hurry up and help her out so that she could feel at ease.
“Yeah, it’s not that safe but I wouldn’t let anything happen to you, Ms. Matilda.”
“Thank you, darling, but you’re right. It’s not safe. Not one bit. I didn’t even want this car. My children seem to think that since I’m getting a little older they felt like I needed something a bit bigger. But I always say if you’re afraid I can’t drive anymore shouldn’t they just drive me everywhere?”
She was giggling and I had to agree with her words. Old people were more dangerous behind the wheel and people needed to have their asses sitting at home and not on the road.
