Kareem’s alarm clock blared, awakening him and his dorm mate. He had possession of the keys to his Upper Eastside digs, but he was strictly forbidden to live off campus for the summer session. Kareem was glad that he was awake because the nightmare that he had had frightened him. He could not believe that the man that visited Dre was the same man that had handed BG money to give to Dre moments before Dre arrived to the Sears parking lot. Kareem wished that Dre hadn’t taken the visitor outside, so that he could have heard the conversation. He popped the security video that he swiped from the mall security office into his VCR to be sure that the man at Dre’s apartment and the man in the video were the same, for the tenth time. He began to wonder was the man a cop? A co- conspirator? Or was he a complete fraud? Kareem knew precisely what to do to find out who the man was. He called, Ravonne Lemmelle, cousin and attorney at law.
Kareem wrapped up his call and decided that he needed to get out and play a while. All summer he had been stuck on campus and bound by a 2 a.m. curfew. It had been hectic, but he would make up for the lost time during the two week break coming up. He would also move out of the dorm and, against his better judgment, take Toi with him to co-habitate.
The rules of the dorm had an advantage, though. He worked on opening his clothing store, and launching his clothing line. He sketched quite a few pieces to present, Bjorn Prodigy to the world, and make it a household name in a decade. He even had developed the company’s motto: Many men are born. Few are Bjorn Prodigy.
His debut men’s wear line would take high-fashion street wear to a whole new level.
After he showered, he left the dorm room and hailed a taxi. He was eager to get to GQ. Each year the magazine honored the “Woman of the Year” and that year it was Donatella Versace, for her edgy new gothic “DV” line. In the taxi, he called his brother, and when the phone was picked up, he heard Amare screaming.
“Why is he screaming like that? Does he want to be breast fed? You two better not be torturing my nephew. Where’s Dre?” He asked laughing.
Dre had already picked up the other phone, and said, “What’s good?” He was chuckling, but said, “Don’t mention breast to my girl. Her titties are sore.”
“From you, or the baby? Better not be forcing him to watch you fuck her, either. Listen, I am going to the Victoria Secret’s yearly fashion show tonight. You have to come up now, if you wanna go.
“Damn, I’m busy tonight. I gotta pass.”
Kareem knew what kind of business that Dre had to handle and he wanted to tell his brother to get out of the game, but he knew that Dre was stuck. He told him, “I have tickets to a Tyra after party. You can’t pass up on that.”
“Naw, I can’t, homey. Wish that I could.” “You’re a lame.” Kareem barked and hung up.
***
Kareem stared at a huge work load when he had the receptionist put Toi through.
“Kareem, I know you are busy...”
“That’s why my cell is off.”
“And that is why I have the office number.” She snapped back. “The contractors called and wanted to know what color you want the kitchen. Apparently, they are just getting around to handling the jobs that you requested, because they procrastinated since they knew you had to live on campus.”
“Tell them very light green.”
“Light green will be sexy with a paisley print of green, black, and silver.”
“Sounds cool. I have to go, though.”
“O...Kay,” she said, softly. She hated when she was second to his job. GQ was not even a job, it was an internship for crying out loud, she thought. Something that he could quit as far as she was concerned. “I love you.”
“Ditto!”
“Ditto, my ass. I love you.” “I love you, too, Toi.” Without a reply she hung up.