SIXTY-TWO
Josephine walked up the stairs because she was familiar with the place. She had been to Coco’s home before and even though it wasn’t her favorite, she climbed the stairs knowing that she and Coco would hang out and chit chat. She also wanted to go shopping. Coco may not dress the part but she knew all the hot spots and had an unbiased taste in style. If it didn’t look good on you, she’d let you know immediately. Unlike my boring ass mother who’s always saying everything looks good on you and buy what you want. Josephine was deep in thought when a couple of kids ran by her.
“Huh! Damn, you guys scared me. Take it easy before you fall, little bad ass boys. Where are your parents?” she asked aloud as she knocked on Coco’s door. Just then the elevator door swung open and two girls, one pushing a stroller, got off. Josephine remembered their faces but she couldn’t recall their names. She knew one was Deja’s baby mother. This must be their floor also, she thought as they walked toward her.
“Hi, remember me from Busta’s thing?” one of the girls asked.
“Yes, right. That’s where we met,” Josephine said and knocked again. She heard rustling from within. “It’s Josephine. Is Coco inside?” Coco opened the door and saw the crowd in the hall.
“Chill, Jo, you crazy ass. Oh, what’s good, Kim. Hi, Tina,” Coco said nodding at the girls. Josephine turned around and smiled. “You remember my friend, Jo, right?” Coco asked.
“Yeah, we were about to...” Josephine started to say when the door adjacent to Coco’s opened and Miss Katie peeked out.
“Why, everyone is here,” she beamed. “Hey, Coco and...?”
“Hi, Miss Katie. This is my friend from school and the singing group, Josephine,” Coco said.
“Josephine,” Miss Katie repeated. “Your face seems familiar. How’re doing, Josephine? Any friend of Coco is a friend of mine. Hey, Roshawn, are you coming to spend the day with Grandma Katie?” Miss Katie bent over and picked up the infant boy.
“Yes, Roshawn is here to spend the day. I appreciate it so much, Miss Katie,” Kim said. “Did you ever meet my friend, Tina?”
“Bring his carriage inside. Nice to meet you, Tina,” Miss Katie said to Kim and Tina. Then she smiled and said, “Coco and Josephine, I’ll see you all later, ya hear. Gotta go take care of my cute boyfriend. Hey, Roshawn, whatcha up to, baby boy, smiling with them big eyes?”
“Bye y’all,” said Josephine as she waved.
“See y’all. I’ll talk to you later, Miss Katie,” Coco said before Josephine walked into the apartment and the door closed behind her.
“I don’t think she heard ya. She was too busy with that kid. Is that what’s-his-face’s baby?” Josephine asked excitedly.
“Who is what’s-his-face? That’s Deja’s son.”
“Yeah, that’s who I meant, Deja. Deja has such a cute little boy,” Josephine said then she glanced around the place. “Damn, Coco, you need to fix this place.” She laughed.
“Very funny, bitch. What ol’ hole did you crawl out from?” Coco asked.
“Whatever, bitch.” Josephine answered and flipped her middle finger.
“Whatever, bitch,” Coco responded unveiling both her middle fingers.
“You know what? It’s all good cause I’m rich.”
“Speaking of rich, did you get the number for Danielle’s mother?” Coco asked and when Josephine hesitated, Coco continued. “You forgot, right?”
“I wasn’t even thinking about that shit when I got home. All I could...”
“Think? You didn’t need to think. You’re walking around with a ten thousand dollar check. What is there to think about?”
“If your mother was riding you all day long then...”
“That’s just excuses, bitch. Speaking of mothers, I need to buy my mom a lil’ Mother’s Day sump’n, sump’n before I forget.”
“Oh really? What’re you getting her? Furniture would be nice. Maybe a nice living room set. Hmm, just what the doctor ordered.”
“See, you’re asking to be kicked out.”
“No, I’m just making gift suggestions.”
“I suggest you keep your damn suggestions to yourself. You brought da weed, yo?”
“Thought you’d never ask. You’re gonna roll, right? Cause you know me when it comes to rolling a blunt.”
“Yeah, I know. You’d rather give brains before you roll.”
“You just take shit I tell you and throw it back in my face. Here, roll this shit already,” Josephine said and threw the bag of weed at Coco. She examined the bag for a few seconds too long for Josephine who stood staring anxiously, awaiting Coco’s approval.
“Aw shit, my girl got the purple stuff. Ahight, Jo. This that shit, yo,” Coco said happily. “We ready for the party tonight, yo. We got enough weed here to last a minute. How much did you spend?”
“I guess it meets your standards, huh, Miss Weedology,” Josephine deadpanned. Coco ignored her and was busy breaking up the buds from the stalk. She slit open a cigar, emptied the tobacco and replaced it with the finely ground from between her fingers. “Anyway, who said I spent shit? That’s from Geo’s stash,” Josephine continued with a smile.
“Oh, don’t tell me that nigga already boned you, girl?” Coco said as she licked the blunt-wrap and sealed it.
“I won’t tell you cuz he ain’t. I wish but I got my period.”
“Thank God cuz I know you’d already give up the chocha,” Coco said as she got down to the business at hand. She ran her fingers over the outside until the blunt was smooth and dry. “Let’s go by the kitchen window and take a few puffs.”
“Look at you. Let me know you smoking in da crib now,” Josephine said as she joined Coco by the window.
“This my spot right here. Madukes ain’t around so I might as well stunt in my own crib.”
“Word,” Josephine said as she watched Coco open the window then light the blunt. She saw someone who had become more important to her while they were apart. Josephine realized she missed not only the camaraderie of the group but the individuals too. Danielle was gone forever, Josephine thought as she watched Coco suck on the blunt, hold her breath then exhale a cloud of smoke. She’d come to cherish more the time spent with Coco. “How does it burn, Coco?”
“Oh, it’s purple haze and it’s good, yo. This da shit. Here, see for yourself,” Coco said holding her breath and speaking at the same time. The whole time smoke flowed in and out of her mouth. It was a difficult act that Coco had mastered. Josephine appreciated it as she tried to do the same thing and wound up choking instead.
“Oh, oh...” Josephine started to speak but ended up in a coughing fit. “You’re right, Coco,” she finally said. “This da shit.” Josephine started to cough again.
“I’ll get you sump’n to drink, Jo,” she said and reached for a glass. She poured the girl some cherry flavored Kool Aid and handed the glass to her.
“Hey,” Josephine said taking the glass. “I’m official in da hood now. Weed and Kool Aid. Thanks, Coco,” Josephine said and gulped.
“You’re welcome, bitch, and don’t get the blunt tip wet. I hate that shit. You ever smoke wit niggas and they gotta slob all over the blunt then try to pass it to you? I be like, you can keep that shit. I’ll be mad if da weed’s da bomb though.”
“Shit, I ain’t trying to smoke wit no nigga that slob. Cuz if you gonna smoke wit him then he’s gonna wanna know why he can’t slob you down?”
“See, you getting ready to start talking all that freaky shit. Just in case you forgot, I’m Coco and not Danielle. You and her might be into that freaky nastiness but I am not,” Coco said. “Look, you let the blunt go dead. I’m a put my sneaks on and then let’s bounce up out this piece and go shopping.”
“Coco, have you heard from Dee?”
“No but did you see that shit about her uncle on the news?”
“What shit?”
“He was arrested on some gun charges and shit, girl.”
“Word?”
“It was on the news all morning. You been under a rock or sump’n, yo?”
“I went home and fell out alright. I put earplugs in my ears and slept with blinders on,” Josephine said. As Coco slipped on her sneakers, Josephine relit the blunt. She puffed and gazed out the window. After a few puffs, she began to speak. “There are a lot of people in this city,” she said. “I wonder what would happen if I go. Nobody would know. I mean, nobody would care.”
“Jo, get away from the window and pass the blunt,” Coco said walking to the window. She took the blunt from between Josephine’s fingers. “Why you bugging and talking all that BS, yo?” Coco asked taking a drag. “Of course, people would care if Miss Josephine Johnson died, yo,” Coco said and went back to making sure the laces on her sneakers were just right. Josephine’s mood was unchanged by what Coco had said. She gazed from the window and saw the mad dash of people seemingly running off to nowhere. Buses, cabs and dollar vans were transporting them with faces of gloom like they were going to their doom. We’re all hypocrites, she thought. She turned to see Coco puffing away.
“Nobody would care, Coco.”
“You’re just saying that because, right now, you mad at your parents, Jo. I’m quite sure they’d at least care about...”
“My mother and father, they’re too concerned about what each other is gonna gain from this divorce,” Josephine said. She reached for the blunt. Coco hesitated in passing it.
“You sure you can handle this, yo?” she asked.
“Word, it’s too strong for me. I don’t need anymore,” she said. Coco continued to puff. “Yo, going through this divorce thing with my parents is like a fucking game. You don’t even know. Wanna see two adults who are supposed to be sensible act the fool? Just get married and after living together over eighteen years, tell the other, ‘You know what? I don’t think this marriage is working.’ Then after awhile, you’ll see what’s it all about. ‘Well, if you’re gonna leave then I want this and I want that’ and back and forth. It boils down to damn material shit and money. That’s why I say they wouldn’t give a shit if I died today. They too busy with their own shit to even so much as care.”
“Here,” Coco said handing Josephine the blunt. “You might need this after all, yo.”
“Yeah, I probably could use some more,” Josephine said and took a pull. She exhaled and realized Coco was standing closer and watching her keenly. “What, I’m violating puff-puff-pass?” she asked Coco and saw her shaking her head. “What? What is it, Coco? My make-up? What’s wrong with it?” Josephine asked.
“I would care, Jo. I would give a fuck if you died today,” Coco said and the girls embraced.
“That’s sweet, Coco. I know we like sisters but you’re not just saying this because of the weed, are you?” Josephine teased. They both laughed.
“Yes, I must admit the weed’s got sump’n to do with it but...”
“You bitch, you,” Josephine said interrupting.
“If you let me finish my statement.”
“Speak to the hand, bitch,” Josephine said and thrust her hand in front of Coco’s face.
“See, you gonna make me have to whip your counchy ass.”
“Counchy, bitch? The word is country, okay.”
“Whatever. Let’s bounce, yo.”
“Yeah, let’s go shopping plus I’m getting hungry.”
“You haven’t eaten breakfast? Me neither.”
“Yo, Coco, there goes your girls. Who’re they again, Fifi and Dodo?”
“Where? What’re you talking ‘bout, girl?”
“Here, out the window trying to get a cab,” Josephine said and Coco walked back to the window.
“Oh, Kim and Tina. What did you call ‘em?” Coco giggled. “Their dresses are so tight, I know they can’t breathe properly,” Coco said as she and Josephine watched from the window.
“Yeah but they don’t care. The men love that shit.”
“Exactly and that’s why they be akin stupid, yo. Walking around switching they asses. They just straight up hos,” Coco said as cabs raced from all over vying to get to Kim and Tina.
“See, she can’t even get into the cab without drawing a crowd cuz her dress is too tight. They thongs are showing.”
“Yeah, but some men think that’s sexy.”
“Who cares what skuzzy men think?” Coco asked and pointed Josephine’s attention to a group running to get the cab door for Kim and Tina. “Do you know that Kim and I used to have a fight every single day for about a month when we were in grade school?”
“Get out,” Josephine declared with a smile. “Did you whip her ass?” she asked as they gathered everything and walked out the door.
“Let’s just say we respect each other’s ability to throw down,” Coco said and locked the door. The girls bounded down the stairs and out to the street. They saw the crowd of people milling across the street from the apartment building. “Oh, there goes Rightchus doing his thing,” Coco said as they walked by. Some guys whistled while others nodded as Coco and Josephine walked through the block.
“What’s he doing? Giving away government cheese?”
“That nigga up to sump’n. Sometimes he be looking out for the dealers and all.”
“Yo, Coco, what’s popping?” Rightchus ran toward Coco and Josephine.
“Yo, let’s see what this fool wants, Jo. You remember him from over by...?”
“How could I forget? He used to be a pest, always begging for dough and running his bullshit ass con games. I have no time for trifling niggas.”
“You sound like he took you for sump’n.”
“What? He sold me and Danielle some fake ass shit for weed. My ass was pissed. It cost me five dollars. We was going in on a dime and this lil’ short ass blue black mothafucka stole our little bit a money,” Josephine said and walked away as Rightchus approached.
“Yo, Coco, your friend ain’t got to go anywhere. She ain’t got to be scurred o’ lil’ ol’ me,” Rightchus said with a chuckle. “Yo, sweetness,” he shouted at Josephine then he turned to Coco and said, “She ain’t trying to hear the pimp in me, huh?”
“Nah, uh uh. Leave that alone. It’s her time o’ the month,” Coco said with a wink. Rightchus gave her dap.
“Ah, I get your drift. So, what da deal? Your man shooting up da place and all that mess last night?”
“Yeah, ain’t it a shame how they let Lil’ Long out already. I know he was doing some shooting but the cops gonna be hiding that because he a snitch,” Coco said.
“Nah, Coco, it wasn’t that nigga. Lil’ Long still locked up.”
“Stop playing, yo,” Coco yelled. Rightchus nodded affirmatively.
“Yo, Coco, I’m telling you, the devil keeps the people illiterate because that’s the only way he can use them as tools and make ‘em slaves. You feelin’ me?” Rightchus was about to fall into a groove but Coco knew she was on another mission when Josephine gave her the eye.
“I ain’t got time to chit chat, Rightchus. I’ll holla at you another time.”
“Coco, I’ll walk wit you to da corner. Niggas busting guns and you and your friend might need some security,” Rightchus said as he walked along with Coco. They both walked to where Josephine stood. “Goddamn, your friend is fine. That’s a sexy ass bitch right there, Coco. Hmm, hmm, hmm. Them jeans hugging those hips oh so right. Oh, it’s ah, what’s-her-name from ‘Da Crew’?”
“It’s Josephine, nigga.”
“Easy now, sis. Why you wanna jump down a nigga’s throat like that?” Rightchus asked, surprised by Josephine’s reaction.
“Rightchus, what did I say? You don’t listen, do you? We just had this conversation so leave her alone, yo. She don’t wanna be talking to anyone right now.”
“No, I’m not talking to...”
“Josephine, chill.”
“I’m chill. I’m waiting on you, girl. We got places to go.” With that, she walked away.
“Rightchus, I gotta be out, yo.”
“Yo, Coco, I’m telling you. Keep your eye out for da jakes. They called Starsky and Hutch, them hip hop po-pos. They down the block right over there,” Rightchus said as he took the cigarette from Coco’s hand.
“Oh, that’s how it’s going down? Fuck da police. I seen ‘em around da weed spot on the south side. Fuck ‘em. I’m out,” Coco said.
“Ahight, peace and tell your friend to be cool when she comes around my part of town,” Rightchus said but Coco was already down the block trying to find Josephine.