TWENTY
The annoying ring of the doorbell announced Tina. Kimberly could hear the chimes from twenty feet away in the bathroom of her two-bedroom apartment.
“I’ll be right there, bitch,” she said continuing to give her son, Roshawn a bath.
The doorbell rang incessantly.
“I said I’m coming. Wait a minute, bitch.”
Kimberly opened the door.
“Got to go potty,” Tina said and hurried to the bathroom.
“Roshawn, you wanna watch TV, while mommy talk to Aunt Tina? She’s loca, son. What’s up? Why yo gotta to be rushing up in here and blowing up my bathroom?”
“Aunt Tina is very pretty,” Tina said to Roshawn. She jumped in his face and playfully planted a kiss on his cherub cheek. The boy let go with a gleeful and joyous chuckle.
Kimberly joined Tina already sitting at the kitchen table. She gazed at Friends on the muted television set.
“Getting to serious matters, guess who’s coming home today?” Tina asked. The smile enveloped her face and enhanced her dimpled look. Her light brown eyes danced.
“That no-good, nickel and dime, drug-dealing-on-the-corner-cute-baby-daddy?”
“Yeah, girl. That’s the one. Nesto’s coming home. You think I’m happy or what?” A jubilant Tina asked.
“All I’m saying is girlfriend don’t make it too much harder on you. Use protection. I know y’all gonna be fucking like rabbits. And the moment these broke ass niggas leave jail, they wanna come and stay with you, like they at some damn hotel. They don’t want to go get a decent job or contribute to the household. But they wanna get mad and throw blows when you don’t cook, clean and sex their ass off. Like the coochie is part of the release program. My PO sez, ‘I’m released to your care’. My God. Let the nigga know you too can do bad by your lonesome. I used to tell Deja, God Bless his soul. I used to tell his no good ass not to try that shit. It’s the same thing Mr. Nesto gonna be tryin’.”
“Kim, you ain’t even giving the nigga a chance, damn.” Tina walked to the window.
“I did. I’m tired of seeing him use you like his damn floor mat whenever he wants to. You’re the mother of his son. When was the last time his drug-dealing ass bought you or Junior, sump’n, huh?”
“You right, you right…”
“Anything for that matter? Answer that. When was the last time?” Kimberly asked.
The doorbell sounded followed by impatent knocking. Tina went to check.
“Who’s that banging on my door?” Kim asked.
“It’s them DT’s. The white boy told me we could make a deal and help them out. I was thinking that the other one might be your type. He’s tall, black and good looking.” Tina answered peering through the peephole.
“Bitch stop runnin’ your trap and let the dicks in. Fool, you told them you be here or sump’n?” Kim asked and hurried to her son.
“Roshawn it’s a good thing mommy wasn’t smokin’ any weed, cuz this fool done call the police on us. Don’t be scared baby boy. The men won’t bite you.” Kimberly continued as Tina opened the door and both Kowalski and Hall walked inside.
“Good evening ladies,” they both said. Tina bowed and smiled.
“I’m sure it will be.” Tina said winking.
“You got that right, baby. Look at that, we’re already hitting it off just right.” Kowalski answered returning the wink.