Page 25 of Meek: Chasing That Gangsta Love
I noddedmy head still holding the steering wheel with one hand noticing the bruise on her leg. “And are these niggas beating on you?” I asked.
“Some of them.”She shrugged. “But it’s not a big deal, sometimes I deserve it with this mouth of mine.” She said really believing that shit.
This shit was sad,it’s a lot of young Kisha’s and Mya’s out here going through the same shit. I dug into my pocket and peeled off five more twenties. “Here, keep this.” I put it in her hand. “And Kisha is a little under the weather right now but I’m sure she’ll be happy to hear from you. Just give her a couple of days.”
She lookedat the money like it was a million bucks. “Thanks Meek, Kisha was right about you; you do have a good heart. I’ll catch up with you later and I’ll bring your jacket back whenever I see Kisha again.” She smiled. I didn’t understand how any nigga could hurt her either; she was pretty and innocent looking just like Kisha.
I satin the truck watching her until her bus pulled up. She waved bye right before she got on and just like that, she was gone. I felt sorry for the girl. I didn’t mind giving her that money cause I knew what it felt like to starve. I drove back to thehouse and found that Reesie was still sleep but Kisha, she was up sitting on the bed and looking out the window with her knees pulled all the way up to her chest.
I noticedthat she did her hair and let it flow down her back. I was glad to see that she finally did something with herself and actually had the strength to get up. This was progress. She looked over at me and smiled. “Hey Meek.” She used her hand to pat the spot next to her. “Come.”
I walked overand sat down. “How you feeling?” I asked her.
“This morning isthe first morning that I actually didn’t vomit.” She said looking at my bare arms. “Where’s your jacket? It’s cold as hell outside.”
“Well,I ran into somebody at the store. A girl named Mya, and she looked like she was having a rough time, so I gave it to her, and I gave her a ride to the bus stop after she told me that she was your friend from the group home.”
“You found Mya?”She dropped her legs letting them dangle from the bed. “Oh my God, how is she? Did you get a number? What do you mean she has it rough?”
“Calm down.”I laughed. “Let her tell you. I gave her the house number since she didn’t have a phone and she’s going to call you in a couple of days.”
“Wow.”She replied. “I can’t wait to talk to her. You have no idea what that girl’s been through. See, the system is all fucked up Meek. They take us away from the ‘so called’ fucked up environments and place us with kids who’ve been through the same shit as you or worse. The only person I clicked with was Mya because everybody else was traumatized just like we were and there was absolutely nothing we could do to help each other. Like seriously, what the fuck did they want us to do? Compare notes? It was crazy.”
“I understand Kish,but leave that shit in the past or you’ll never move on.” I told her.
“Easier said then done Meek.I personally think I should go see a counselor one day. In eighteen years, I’ve been through way too much. I’m gonna go to school and get a degree. I’m gonna be a great motivational speaker one day and share my testimony; watch and see how my story can help so many other girls in my situation. There’s a lot of me and Mya’s out there.” She said.
That’scrazy how I was just thinking the same thing on the ride home. I was glad to see the old Kisha coming back around. I couldn’t stop staring at her, I couldn’t believe this was the same girl from a couple of years ago. Shit really did change.
She peepedme looking at her. “What’s wrong Meek? Why you looking at me like that?”
I hadto snap out of it and catch myself. My girl was right across the hall sleeping. “Nothing.” I said. “I’m about to make breakfast real quick. Are you gonna try to eat? Don’t make a nigga cookthis shit if you gon’ play cause I can make enough for me and Reesie.”
“I’m eating.”She smiled with those sparkling eyes. “Just let me know when it’s done.”
I walked outand went to prepare my meal. I threw some butter in a skillet and tossed some diced onions in the pan right before seasoning some ground turkey and throwing it in the pan as well. When the meat browned, I poured the oil off of it and added some scrambled eggs and cheese to the meat mixing it all up. I made a pot of cheese grits as well with some honey butter biscuits on the side. Yeah, hood shit.
Sittingat the table eating together wasn’t as awkward as I thought it would be, this was the first time all of us had done that shit since Kisha came. She mostly secluded herself to the room because she never felt well. She was cursing me out for not giving her, her way and then apologizing for it the next day.
“How you feeling Kisha?”Reesie asked her stuffing her mouth with a spoonful of grits.
“I’m feeling fine today,thanks for asking. I’m just taking it day by day.”
“Well good.”She smiled and looked at me. “You hear that Meek? She’s doing just fine so I hope I don’t hear any excuses tonight baby.”
Kisha wasn’t payingReesie any mind as she struggled to eat the baby plate I fixed for her.
“We gon’talk about this in a few Reesie.” I told her not wanting to discuss this shit in front of Kisha.
After breakfast Kishawanted to get out the house so that’s what I did and tagged Reesie along. We ended up at the park down the street. It was pretty outside, and the sun shined down on the city, but it was still cold, she made sure that she dressed warm. I stood back and let her do her thing and get the time that she needed until it was time to go. She walked in front of Reesie and I while I held Reesie’s hand and walked behind.
“She seemslike she’s real cool Meek.” Reesie said.
“She is,she’s even cooler once you get to know her.”
“Yeah,I can’t wait for her to actually open up so I can find out what all the hype is about.” She chuckled but I knew she was serious. I didn’t blame Reesie for feeling a twitch of jealousy toward Kisha. The girl was beautiful all around.
“Don’t belike that Reesie, I keep telling you that you ain’t got shit to worry about.” I assured her.
