Chapter Nine
Gettin’a Rep
It was month later and two weeks fresh off his latest punishment, Jose Torres Jr. sat inattentively during his final class of the day. He attended a strict parochial school. Jose was agitated and seemed more interested in his watch than the curriculum. It was geography, but Jose Jr. kept his eyes on his watch. Glancing at his wrist for the umpteenth time, he began quickly packing his textbook in his book bag.
Even though it wasn’t time to go, Jose Jr. jumped out of his seat, disturbing the class in the process. The teacher, Sister Saunders looked up at him. She stopped the class, and addressed him.
“Mr. Torres, where do you think you are going? Class is not yet ended,” she said, looking at her watch.
“Excuse me, Sister, no disrespect. But school is over,” Jose said, holding up his wristwatch.
“Young man, please sit down. School isn’t dismissed until the bell sounds. And according to my calculations you still have several more minutes left. Please be seated so I can continue on with my lessons plan for those students who are interested in learning—”
The bell rang, interrupting the teacher. She stared menacingly at Jose Jr. The rest of the class started to laugh. The teacher quickly addressed the class.
“Please make sure you read chapter twelve. That is your homework assignment. Tomorrow you will be quizzed on what you have read.”
Jose was already out the door, he hadn’t heard a word she said. He was running out the schoolyard and already waiting to pick up Maria. A few seconds later, she joined him and they started their journey, walking home.
In no time flat they were back home in the projects. Jose was busy getting out of his school uniform. He slipped on a pair of blue jeans complete with a black hoodie. Maria remained fully dressed in her parochial school attire. Taking off her shoes was as comfortable as she got. While sitting in the living room she saw her brother quickly trying to duck out the door.
“And where do you think you’re going?” she asked.
“Shut up!” Jose snapped. “Who you think you are? My mother or sumthin...?”
They were just about to engage in a big argument when suddenly their father walked into the apartment. Maria jumped into his arms.
“Daddy…”
“Hey princess… Jose where’d you think you’re going?”
“Oh, hey dad, I was gonna ask you if I can go to the library?”
“For what…?” Jose Sr. asked with a suspicious scowl on his tired face.
“I’ve gotta use their computer to check on some research for a social studies paper I have due next week.”
“I bought a brand new computer, what do you’s think it’s for? Just to download songs, instant message your friends, go on Myspace and watch videos on Youtube huh? If you gotta go down to the library then why the hell did I buy it for then? It was for schoolwork, things like this research…”
“Daddy, I use it for that,” Maria chimed. “Unlike some people…”
“Dad, the information I need is only found at the New York City’s public library online data base. You have to physically be in the library and use one of their computers to access it.”
“Oh alright, I guess you’s can go. But why don’t you’s bring along your sister so she can keep you’s company.”
“Dad, I don’t need no company. I see her enough... Plus, she’s not even dressed. And you know Maria,s she’s a girl and she be moving too slow. She’s gonna hold me up. Then she walks real slow… Can’t I just go by myself?”
“Forget you, Jose. I hope you can’t find what you’re looking for and you fail. Then I’d really laugh. Ha! Ha!” Maria chided.
“Maria, that’s enough. That’s not cute,” Jose Sr. cautioned.
Jose Sr’s expression hardened when he heard the animosity in his son’s voice. He didn’t like it one bit. All he ever wanted was for his kids to be close. Outside of him, they were all that each other had. If he only they could realize it. He wanted them to build a bond. God forbid something was to happen to him, he hoped that they would be there for one another. Whether his fears of disunity were real or confirmed, it didn’t matter. His children’s bickering was a major cause of concern.
“Alright my princess, stay home with papi. Go ahead,” Jose Sr. said, following his son to the door. “You shouldn’t act like that toward your sister. It ain’t like you two come from a big family. It’s only you and her. There’s no reason for you to be carrying on like that.”
“Okay dad,” Jose said, walking out the door.
Out on the street the evening air was becoming cooler. Jose slung his hoodie low on the left side of his face. He was headed towards the horseshoe driveway. Jose slowed and changed his bop when he saw a group of teens.
“What up Jose?” they greeted.
“We ‘bout to go puff this L.” one of them said. “You wanna be down.”
“Yeah, why not?” Jose answered.
Jose walked over and gave a familiar dap to all the teens. Then they disappeared inside a building free from prying eyes and the police. One of the teens pulled out the blunt, and said, “Yo Jose, you wanna spark this shit up my nigga?”
Jose Jr. stared at the blunt long and hard before giving an answer. Before he could comment, another blunt was brandished.
“I ain’t waitin’ on y’all. I got my own trees,” one of the other teens said, immediately lighting the blunt.
He had a strong pull on it, and exhaled a cloud smoke. He inhaled deeply again, and passed the blunt to another teen, who started puffing. Two blunts were in rotation, and full fledge smoke session was going down. The blazing blunt finally reached Jose. He nervously took it and fumbled the hand off, causing the blunt to hit the floor.
“Damn yo you comin’ in here and fuckin’ shit up already, huh?” one teen asked. “Everything was goin’ good ‘til we passed the damn blunt off to your clumsy ass.”
“Don’t let the blunt drop in no piss, nigga,” another teen said.
“Hurry up and hit the blunt, Jose. Other niggas in the cipher. Is you scared or what?” another asked.
“Yo, if he don’t want none of that, pass it here, my nigga,” a teen yelled.
“Nah skip him, give it here, I’ll show him what to with that,” another laughed.
“Yo, this nigger too scared his pops gonna find out!” someone said. “Don’t worry we won’t tell on you. We’ll keep that on the low-low,” he laughed.
They all joined in laughter at the red-faced Jose’s expense. He looked around them taunting him and flipped.
“Shut da fuck up! I ain’t even thinking about my pops. And what he don’t fuckin’ know ain’t gonna fuckin hurt him!”
“Alright, stop frontin’ and smoke that shit,” a smiling teen prompted Jose.
Jose stared at the blunt. Finally, putting it to his lips he inhaled too hard. Too much smoke, too fast, too soon, left him coughing and clutching his throat. Jose was coughing so hard, his face got redder and his eyes became inflamed. It appeared he was about to pop a few blood vessels. The teens burst into uncontrollable laughter. Caving in under peer pressure, Jose became the brunt of their jokes.
“Gimme that shit ‘fore you bust a blood vessel and bleed to death,” one of the teens said, laughing.
“Yeah take that form that novice before he kill himself,” another teen laughed.
“Here, you can have this shit! I don’t want anymore,” Jose said, coughing and holding the blunt like it was a time-bomb.
His head exploded even after Jose gave up the blunt he continued gagging, choking, and was totally disorientated from the weed. Doubled over, saliva was drooling from Jose’s mouth. Another teen walked over, and started patting him on the back. The others were puffing, and their laughter rang loud in the lobby.
“Damn, Jose sound like he gettin’ ready ta die over there,” one of the teen observed, laughing.
“This nigga’s a new jack. I can tell by the way he coughing,” a teen said, trying to sum it up.
They continued the cipher, smoking and getting high without Jose. He was chewing on a piece of candy offered by someone.
“Let’s go check out some girls,” one teen suggested.
“Yeah, let’s go over to the center,” another said.
“I’m about to go upstairs and play Madden, my niggas.” another joined in.
They were surprised when the building door suddenly swung open. Melquan and Mike Copeland walked into the lobby. The teens held their collective breaths, when Mike Copeland instinctively reached for his nine millimeter under his NY Yankee warm-up jacket.
Fear swept through the crowded hallway. Both Melquan and Mike Copeland quietly surveyed each of their faces. Jose Jr. attempted to straighten up. The gun in Mike Copeland’s grip held the teens in check. Melquan sniffed the air.
“I know y’all lil’ niggas ain’t up in my buildin’ smokin’ no weed, now?” Melquan shouted. “I better not catch any a y’all violatin’ like this, ever. Don’t none of y’all even live in this building.” Melquan looked at all their faces before saying, “Get fuck up outta here!”
Jose tried to run off with the rest of the crew, but started in a coughing fit and was unable to flee the scene. Melquan approached Jose with a look of concern.
“Hold on Mike,” Melquan said, walking to Jose. “You a’ight, shorty…?”
“Yeah, I’m good,” Jose said.
“Fuck is all that coughing about then?”
“I guess some smoke went down the wrong way,” Jose said, trying not cough.
“How about this…? Maybe your young ass shouldn’t be smoking.”
“Yeah, I guess you right…”
Melquan stare caused Jose top straighten up. Embarrassment crossed his face when he saw the wrinkle of a smile on Melquan’s face. He looked away, keeping his head straight ahead.
“Yo, what’s ya name?”
“Um… Jose.”
“Jose, you seem like a smart kid right? So what the fuck you doin’ hangin’ out here with these knuckleheads in this buildin’?”
“I live around here. They’re my friends. I’m from da projects too. Just like you,” Jose said, nodding his head.
“Hmm really…?”
“Yeah, those kids are my friends. I used to go to school with them, and grew up in the same building with some of them.”
Melquan stared at the now relaxed youngster and was able to see his face. He recognized him immediately.
“Oh…yeah, now that you said that, you do look familiar. Don’t you be with this lil’ girl all the time…?”
“Yeah, that’s my sister—”
“Yo Mel, we ain’t got time to be playin’ social worker gettin’ familiar with everybody in homies family… My nig, I’m dirty. Let’s get da fuck up outta da lobby,” Mike Copeland said, moving closer to Melquan.
“You’re right. Jose, do me a favor and leave ’em knuckleheads alone. They’re goin’ nowhere fast. Believe that! Now go on home.”
Jose walked out the building and looked back just before the door slammed shut. He saw Melquan standing there steadfastly looking at him. It was as if he knew Jose would look back, Melquan was waiting to stare him down. Something about this kid told Melquan this wouldn’t be the last time their paths would cross.
