It was just before sunset, and Maggie was trolling Kensington Avenue for business. She passed old buildings occupied by shady businesses. The whole city seemed to be in a state of hopelessness. People came and went, and the city just got older and more decrepit. The structures continued to stand, but only because they were made of brick and mortar. Paint peeled from the buildings; black grime from city living and neglect covered the red brick. The sidewalks were an obstacle course of uneven cement slabs. Yet no one seemed to notice. Kensington’s residents were poor, stoned, or homeless. None of them had asked for the life they lived. It was as though hell had seeped up from the bowels of the earth and covered the city like a wet wool blanket.
Maggie watched two other hookers walking toward her. The larger girl, Legacy, wore her jeans two sizes too small, strangling her large thighs and making her belly plunge over them in a blob of fat and flesh. Her tight, fake-leather jacket grabbed her just above the belly button, which accentuated the extra pounds of flesh around her middle. The smaller girl, called Froggie, had her hair pulled back in a tight bun, a hairdo that put far too much emphasis on her bulbous nose and buck teeth. Maggie knew the girls were hookers who used drugs heavily.
As Maggie got closer to them, she could see the craziness in their eyes. They strutted aggressively, and she sensed that they were going after someone. When they were almost upon her, Maggie stepped to the side, closer to the building, to let them pass. But they didn’t walk by. Legacy landed the first punch in Maggie’s gut.
“You stealin’ our dope, bitch? You think ’cause you white and tight it give you a right to take shit from us?” Legacy accused.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t steal anything,” Maggie gasped.
“Fuckin’ liar,” Froggie rasped in her deep, dark voice. “We gonna fuck you up.”
“I didn’t steal anything!” Maggie wailed.
Legacy punched Maggie again, just skimming her cheekbone. On instinct, Maggie began to flail her fists at the larger girl. She managed to connect with Legacy’s collarbone. Froggie grabbed a handful of Maggie’s hair and pulled her down to the ground. The two girls began to kick her, and Legacy dropped on top of Maggie and held her down while she punched her. Maggie continued to kick at them, keeping her hands up to cover her face. She squirmed, wiggled, and bucked to shake Legacy off, but her sheer weight kept Maggie pinned in place.
As the girls beat on her, a crowd began to close in. Men were laughing as other hookers looked on, just shaking their heads. Some of the strung-out girls yelled, provoking Maggie’s attackers to continue. The noise from the crowd was deafening to Maggie. Then, a distinctive voice cut through the onlookers. It was growing closer, and it was really, really angry.
“I will fuckin’ kill you whore bitches,” Juju barked, as she stood over the rubble of bodies.
Legacy looked up and stood quickly. “Who the fuck you talkin’ to, skank?”
Juju went into her stance—arms spread, hands wide open, palms facing Legacy. She put her dominant leg behind her and leaned into her left leg. “Leave her alone,” Juju warned.
“Are you kiddin’? Who you think you scarin’, trash?” Legacy sneered and moved toward her.
Juju closed her hands into fists but didn’t budge. Legacy charged at Juju with her hands in the air, ready to deflect Juju’s fists. When Legacy was close enough, Juju planted her left foot and brought her right foot forward, connecting with a front kick between Legacy’s legs. The large girl went down to her knees, and Juju nailed her in the face with one blow. Legacy was lying on her side on the verge of unconsciousness when Froggie began a slow growl at Juju.
Froggie sprang off Maggie and attacked Juju head on. Juju was rattled by the unexpected assault. She stumbled backward. Find your center, she reminded herself, and calmly went back into her defensive position. When Froggie was close enough, Juju lifted her back leg, swept it around, and knocked Froggie’s legs out from under her. Froggie dropped to the ground on her left side. She tried to spring up again, but Juju locked her fingers together and brought her hands down hard on Froggie’s forehead.
With Legacy and Froggie sprawled on the sidewalk like road kill, Juju rushed over to Maggie. The crowd continued to hoot and holler as Juju knelt next to her. “Are you OK?” Juju asked.
“Who, me? Sure, I was just about to kick their asses when you showed up,” Maggie said with a weak smile.
“Come on,” Juju told her, helping her up from the ground.
Once they were away from the crowd, Maggie asked, “Are you crazy? Do you know the shit storm you just brought on yourself?”
“Fuck them, Maggie. Once I heard you were getting your ass whooped, which, by the way, you were; I didn’t care what happened. Anyway, those pricks don’t scare me,” she stated.
“I know, Juju. But you know how the hookers operate. If they get the others against you, it could be trouble. Hookers fight hookers, and dealers fight dealers. I don’t have to tell you. Now what are we going to do?” Maggie asked, relieved that Juju intervened, but fearful that her friend would face retribution.
“I’ll figure something out. Don’t worry about it,” Juju said confidently.