Big Moe
“I’m sorry, G-ma. I was supposed to protect them. I let you down. Don’t worry, because on everything I love, I’mma make every last one of them pay…in blood!”
I’mma goon ass nigga. I rarely show emotion, but this summer by far was the worst for me. I lost both of my niggas. My cousin Boogie and JR were like brothers. We grew up in the same house. I’m the one who turned them on to getting money. I trusted them, I loved them, and now they are gone. I’m about to go on a murdering rampage. How the fuck did all this shit go down like that?
We were robbed twice by the same people. The nerve of them lil mafuckas. Fucking kids! I’mma kill them and they mama for having them, and they fathers for not flushing they bitch asses.
I got something for that bitch Boo, too! Snake ass hoe! I thought that hoe was official. This is a small world. I really don’t think she knew what her peoples were into, but I don’t give a fuck. Everybody involved is gonna die.
For now, I’m lying low at my aunt’s crib. It kills me to have to look in my cousin’s face. She’s fourteen, and JR and Boogie were everything to her.
“Ramone, can I live with you for the school year?”
I love how sweet she is. “We’ll see. I’mma see if yo big sister gon let us crash over east with her.”
My cousin Mia lives on 81st and Burnham. She’s low-key over there doing her thang. I need to be in that hood, but in the cut so that I can find them mafuckas who took our shit. JoJo going to school over there, and will keep me in the shadows, but I can find out where them little bitches hang at. I swear, I’mma kill em’ slow and painfully.
“JoJo, you hungry?”
“Yeah.”
I pulled away from the cemetery and headed towards Leon’s Barbeque Rib joint on 79th and Stoney Island. My mind was racing a million miles an hour. The only thing going through my mind was revenge. “JoJo, go in and get me a rib tip and fry dinner. Don’t forget ---”
“I know your pineapple wildwood pop.”
JoJo
What’s up y’all? Things should be simple for me. I’m fourteen and I don’t know how I’ve made it through all the bullshit that I’ve been through.
My mom died when I was a baby. My G-Ma, my sister Mia, and my brothers raised me. JR and Boogie spoiled me. My sister Mia showed me the girlie things. My cousin Ramone taught me how to fight the lil boys, and my G-Ma taught me how to cook, clean, and iron.
They say death that comes in threes. Well, I lost my G-Ma, Boogie, and JR. Ramone ain’t good at the soft sentimental stuff, but he is my rock right now.
I’m about to start my freshman year and I can’t wait. I wanna move over east with my sister Mia. It’s some cuties in her hood. I need to show these hoes over here what flawless looks like – at 5’3 I weigh 150 pounds.
I inherited my family’s hazel eyes. I wear my hair short. I look older than fourteen. You can’t tell me shit. But don’t let the cuteness fool you. I’m ‘bout that life. I fight better than most dudes do.
Growing up in the Cabrini Green projects taught my young ass a few things. I want better for myself. I know getting my education is the key to my future. I just like to have a little fun in the process.
“Let me get two rib tip dinners with fries, no coleslaw, and two pineapple pops.”
As I wait for my food, I turn to my left and see this boy I know from my sister’s hood. “Hey, Lil Man.” He walks towards me with a huge smile on his face. “Sup, JoJo. What you doing over east?”
“Bout to go see if Mia gon let me go to school over here.” He smiled even harder. “Aww shit! Come fuck wit cha boy.”
I look at the boy walking up on our conversation and I must admit, this nigga was cute as shit. “Lil Man, who is this?”
“Aw my bad. This my homie, Young Meech. He go to my school.”
“What up, Young Meech?” He looks me up and down while licking his lips, causing butterflies to swarm in my stomach.
“What’s good, Shawty?” Before I can say anything else, here come Ramone’s cock blocking ass. “JoJo, I told you to come get some food, not to be a hot ass. Who the fuck is these lil niggas?”
I roll my eyes and made the introductions. “Ramone, this is Lil Man and Young Meech. They live around Mia’s house.”
He looks at Young Meech. “Ah, lil nigga, you look like my man’s that got killed a few years ago.”
Young Meech’s face turns sour in a matter of seconds. It was almost as if he was mugging Ramone. “The only nigga I look like is my pops.” Ramone takes a step back and looks him up and down. “King Meech yo daddy?”
I look back and forth because I can feel the tension building up fast. “He was my daddy. How you know him?”
In a matter of seconds, Ramone’s mood changes dramatically. “I used to do business with him. It’s a shame what happened to him.” He looked at me. “Get the food, and let’s go, NOW!”