A Dollar And Dream. Carl Weber

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СКАЧАТЬ scratched his head then reached into my pockets, pulling everything out. “Let’s see what he’s got, Bubba.” He thumbed through the contents of my pockets. “Eight hundred dollars. Rent receipts…” He stuffed the eight hundred in his pocket. “Two lottery tickets. What the fuck you got these for?” He laughed and tossed them on the floor.

      “A dollar and a dream,” I said sheepishly, and he laughed.

      “Yeah, well, you better hope your dream comes true, ’cause if you don’t have my money by Monday, you gonna be dreaming permanently. Do I make myself clear?”

      “Perfectly.” I nodded.

      “Let ’im go, Bubba.”

      Bubba did as he was told and I went crashing down to the floor again.

      “I want my money on Monday night, Rodney. I’m not playing with you.”

      “I’m gonna have it, Red,” I told him as he headed for the door. “I promise. I don’t care if I have to rob a bank. I’m gonna have your money for you on Monday.”

      “You better,” he growled, “or you’re gonna be pushing up daisies on Tuesday.”

      5

      Katrice

      I was so pissed at Jordan. I couldn’t go back into the apartment, even if he wasn’t there. Just the thought of having him walk through the door and having to look into his face made me sick to my stomach. I decided to go upstairs and see if Kerri had at least part of her rent.

      “You okay, Kerri?” I asked softly as I tapped on the door.

      “Yeah, I’m cool,” she said, and opened the door.

      I followed her into the candlelit room. “Candles? And Luther? What was the occasion?”

      “Happy Broke-as-Hell Night.” She lifted a glass of wine in the air in an imaginary toast. She tilted it back and drank it all in one swallow. I knew she was down. Kerri hardly ever drank.

      “I take it that it wasn’t a happy celebration?”

      “No, it wasn’t. Want a glass of wine?” She stood up. “I sure need a refill myself.”

      “What the hell? Yeah, bring me some. Hell, bring the whole bottle,” I told her.

      “My girl!” she yelled as she went into the kitchen. “Where is the love of your life tonight?”

      “Went to the Quick-Mart.”

      “What? He trying to win the big jackpot, too?”

      “What jackpot?”

      “Girl, you know the lottery jackpot is fifty million this week. That’s why the lines have been wrapped around the building at the convenience stores. You didn’t know?” She sauntered into the room carrying the bottle of wine and two glasses.

      Kerri was a very attractive girl. She reminded me of one of those video chicks. Not the ghetto-fab ones, but the classy model type. She kept her long, thick hair in a ponytail piled high in the middle of her head and her face had that high-class look—almond-shaped eyes, full lips. Her body was to die for. I still didn’t understand why she couldn’t find and keep a good man. She was really nice, smart, and funny. Maybe there was something to her that I didn’t know about.

      “I didn’t notice, I guess. Too much other stuff going on in my life.”

      “Join the club,” she said, and filled our glasses.

      “Look, Ker. I know your luck these past couple of months has been just as bad as mine, but I really gotta have your rent money.”

      “I’m trying, Trice. I damn near had it tonight, but I lost my head.” She slumped back on the sofa.

      “What happened up here?” I asked her out of curiosity.

      “You know that older dude Charlie I been messing with?”

      “Yeah. The one that said he wanted to marry you.”

      “Uh-huh.”

      “What about him?”

      “Well, I decided to break him off a li’l something real good. Then I was gonna hit him up for some money for the rent.”

      “The way y’all were moaning and groaning, it sounded like you were breaking him in two.” I laughed.

      “I worked it. I know I did. Hell, he even went to the ATM to get the money for me.” She sighed.

      “He got you the money? Then you should be straight. Gimme my money, girl.” A smile came over my face.

      “I didn’t finish. While he was gone—get this, girl—his motherfuckin’ wife called.”

      “Shut up! That nigga was married? He’s been coming over here for, like, months. I thought y’all were doing a’ight.” I couldn’t believe it. Men are a trip. I knew I’d seen this man come over all times of the day and night. Shit, we even double-dated a couple of times. You never would’ve known that he was married. He sure as hell hadn’t acted like it.

      “Can you believe this shit?” She turned her glass up again. “And at first he tried to deny it, but then he just left when I told him I was gonna call the cops on his ass.”

      “So that’s why you was cussing his ass out? We heard you yelling and him leaving,” I told her.

      “What are y’all, professional eavesdroppers or somethin’?”

      “No, but when your ass is loud, and you are loud, we can hear everything, and I do mean everything.

      “So what about the money? Did you at least get the money?”

      “Hell no. I wasn’t thinking. I kicked his ass out before I got the money. Now I got no man and no money.”

      “I feel for you. Men are dumb,” I said, thinking about my own situation and referring to Jordan.

      “Don’t I know it. But I’m on a mission. I am gonna hook me a real man.”

      “A fine man,” I added, still thinking of Jordan and his sexy chocolate self. Lord knew my husband was a loser, but he was beyond fine.

      “A nice man.”

      “With a steady J-O-B. Don’t forget he gots to have a job.”

      “No doubt, no doubt. And know how to romance me.”

      “And make sure he don’t live with his mama.”

      “And he gotta satisfy me in more ways than one. He gotta go downtown!” Kerri stood and danced provocatively as she sang. I nearly fell off the sofa with laughter.

      “And no baby mama drama!” I reminded her.

      “And СКАЧАТЬ