Ghetto Girls

Coco continued walking up the block toward the apartment building that was now home to another Wake. She heard the hushed tone of the street’s voices. Another one bite the dust. Then rumble, rumble and Coco was staring at Deja’s son along with his mother and her friends. Tears were in Kimberly’s eyes.

The words came from behind her. She realized there were two girls back there who weren’t just mourning. Oh shit, she thought, her eyes were on the angry Kimberly and the fatherless boy at her side, eating candy.

“Yo, you think I knew about any of this shit? That’s why you brought these bitches to jump my ass, yo?” Coco lashed out. She was angry, but she tried to control her temper. She felt a hefty shove from behind. She fell against the wall.

“Ain’t no bitches here but your silly ass, bitch. You best chill, fore you get your video-mug ripped wid fucking tribal markings, bitch,” someone said from behind her.

“Leave her alone. Leave that girl alone, you big cowards,” Miss Katie hollered from her window.

She threw pots and utensils at the girls who threatened Coco. Coco jumped away from the wall, ready to fight. She hugged the little boy when her attackers ran away, shouting insults at Miss Katie.

“Come on, take him. I had no beef with you or his father. And I didn’t know what the fuck was up wid him and Bebop.” Coco turned her voice down for the seemingly scared little boy. “Go to your mother, sweetheart. She needs you.”

“Let’s go Roshawn. Come to mommy,” Kimberly shouted and he let go of Coco and ran into Kimberly’s outstretched arms.

“Yeah, I’m alright. I’m fine. Thanks Miss Katie, for looking out. I certainly don’t need no ass-whipping.”

Coco dropped her voice on the last phrase, walking into the building. Miss Katie met her at the top of the stairs.

“You better get right inside and see about your mother,” she said. “She slipped out earlier today.” Miss Katie didn’t need to finish. Coco darted into her apartment. She was still trying to unlock the door when Miss Katie called out, “She’s in there with someone.”

Coco caught the horrible stench of burnt plastic when she opened the door. She headed straight for her mother, who stood in the hallway.

“Why couldn’t you wait?” Coco shouted. She wasn’t fully conscious of the presence of the stranger.

Mrs. Harvey was disheveled. Her hair looked as if it had not been combed for days. She stared at Coco with eyes that seemed red and fiery. Through parched, gray lips, she croaked something unintelligible. Coco looked where her mother’s shaky finger pointed. A man came out of the bathroom, zipping up his pants.

“Can you excuse us, please?” Coco asked. He walked into the kitchen and pulled out a chair.

“Listen, you lil’ bitch, me an’ your mom got some unsettled shit to deal wid,” Mrs. Harvey’s crack-smoking partner said, his voice urgent with anger.

Coco turned and stared at him. Nice homecoming, she thought. She gritted her teeth, ready to lash out.

“Now, you better listen da fuck up—” Coco’s retort was cut off by her mother, who emerged suddenly from her crack-blurred mindset.

“We have nothing to settle,” she said. “Just do like my daughter says an’ git da fuck outta here.” Mrs. Harvey threw the round glass vial, with the crack still cooking, to the floor at the man’s feet. He dropped to the floor and scavenged through the residue, burning his fingers. He shouted as he shuffled out the door and his voice carried from the stairwell to the apartment.

Miss Katie shut her door and walked into her apartment, shaking her head. Coco did the same and turned around to confront her mother. Why, why? She wondered. Her mother was half-lying on the sofa. She seemed to be asleep.

Coco shook her head at the thought. The incident brought back memories of Bebop’s death. Coco headed for the bathroom. Was her mother, cracking with Rightchus too? Coco wondered as she turned on the shower. I’ll recommend a cold shower to my mother. After showering, she walked past Mrs. Harvey, who remained motionless.

“That shit must’ve been sump’n else, or you’re outta practice, Ma. Ma, get up and take a shower. Ma, c’mon now. Stop laying around, mother.” There was no response. A look of disgust spread across Coco’s face. “I can’t believe you went out an’ did this shit to yourself. I don’t believe it. Now get up.” Coco shook her mother’s unresponsive body. The woman fell to the floor, with the thud of a tree hitting the ground. Coco gasped in fear.

“Miss Katie, please open up. It’s my mother. It’s my mother, Miss Katie.” Coco, in a T-shirt and boxers, clutched at her throat in panic.

Miss Katie grabbed two jars from a black bag as she told Coco to phone for an ambulance. She went across the hallway into the stench of burnt plastic. Miss Katie quietly said a prayer.