A Hustler's Wife Read online

  THE JUMPSUIT

  Yarni gave Cara a ride up to McGeorge Toyota to pick up her car. Whenever they were together they always laughed and joked. They were "tell-it-like-it-was friends," as her and Zurri were also. There was a difference between Cara and Zurri's friendship with Yarni. Although Cara and Yarni hung out more than she and Zurri, she always felt closer to Zurri.

  Yarni said, "I can't believe that Bengee's been dead for a year."

  "I know time flies right?" said Cara. "Do you remember when Bengee flew us to New York? Didn't we have the best time?"

  "We sure did," Yarni responded slowly.

  "Yarni, you miss Bengee don't you?"

  "Honestly?" Asked Yarni.

  "Nah, tell me a lie, yeah honestly!" joked Cara. When Yarni still didn't respond. Cara questioned, "Did I touch a soft spot? I am sorry if I did." Yarni didn't respond. They both were silent for a minute.

  Cara asked Yarni sympathetically, "Yarni, what are you thinking about?"

  "How come everybody I love has to be taken away from me under the hands of another man? I mean my father, Des, my grandmother, Castro and now Bengee. I mean Bengee was out of my life before he died, but I am mainly speaking on Des. I love him so much, and it seems like they're never going to let him go. Am I supposed to be lonely forever? Then it seems as though when I meet somebody else, they aren't worthy, and I'm the last person to figure that shit out. Why?" Yarni continued,

  "Do you think somebody could've put a root on me so I won't have a companion?"

  Cara responded, "Yeah, you definitely had a lot going on in your head. I don't think it's nothing against you per say, no offense you promise?"

  Yarni responded, "No offense taken, so give it to me real." Cara went on, "As far as Des, I think he was on his way to jail when you met him. The police wanted him long before you even came into the picture. The reality of it is, Des was notorious. He did a lot of blatant things, and he covered up his madness well. Des was a real 'gangsta'. He moved in silence and violence. So, police could never catch him slipping. So, they played dirty with him, and you just happened to be the love of his life. Yarni, it's just a part of the game. As far as Bengee, he just started getting money out of control and it went to his head, and the way he was living, the streets weren't going to tolerate it much longer anyway. I'm just glad you left when you left."

  "Yeah, you're right," agreed Yarni.

  Cara told Yarni, "Well, at least they can't hold Des forever." Yarni pulled in the parking lot at McGeorge Toyota; Cara noticed that her car was parked out in the visitor spot.

  "Yarni, by the time I pay for my car. I should be on my way; I'll call you later." She shut the door and Yarni pulled off.

  Yarni was running into the Lucky's convenient store to play some numbers, when her cell phone rang. It was Cara.

  "Hey girl, what's up?" Cara said.

  "What ya need?" Yarni asked, as she passed the lotto card to the clerk in the store. A man spoke to Yarni, she gave him a fake smile.

  "Damn baby, you walked right in front of me," the man said.

  "Excuse me, I didn't notice you standing there," Yarni said apologetic.

  "That's because you're too busy on the phone." He added.

  "That's why you can't pay attention." She shot him a look, then she spoke into the phone, "Now, what were you saying, Cara?"

  "Who was that?" Cara inquired.

  "Some rude ass nigga," Yarni said as she walked out of the store, holding the phone to her ear. As she was pulling off, here comes Mr. Rude running over to her car. Yarni blows into the phone as she sees him racing to the car.

  "Should I roll over this joker or what?" Cara laughs as Yarni breaks and rolls down her window.

  "You walked right out of the store, paid the lady and forgot your lotto tickets. I told you that phone really got your attention."

  "Why thank you, Mr. Attentive," Yarni said in a sarcastic way.

  "Not a problem, Miss Preoccupied." Then Yarni noticed his presidential Rolex on his arm and as she eased off the brakes, she looked in her mirror to see what he was driving. Just then, Cara asked, "What is he driving?"

  "An Expedition. It's chromed out... I think he got TV's in it too." Yarni responded.

  "VA tags or out of Towner?" asked Cara.

  "This joker is local," said Yarni as she threw in a disappoint-ing giggle.

  "Keep it moving then," responded Cara.

  "Anyway, what are you into, girl?"

  "Nothing much. I want to know if you want to go out tomorrow tonight, you know, grab a couple of drinks, mingle and maybe meet some guys. Who knows?" Cara said.

  "No, I don't really feel like being bothered."

  "Yarni, every since you got your job, no, way before that, when you started messing with Bengee, we hadn't been out to a club, so tomorrow we're going out, my treat."

  "Nah, I'm not really feeling the club," said Yarni.

  "Come on, you might meet somebody. You need to get out and meet some new people, plus you getting your hair done tomorrow anyway," said Cara.

  "I'll go with you, but I am not interested in meeting any man in a club. Any man hitting on something is not going to be at the club looking for a woman."

  "O.K. what are you wearing?" asked Cara. "You know you can't wear any of your business suits you wear to work."

  "Yeah, I know," responded Yarni. "I guess I'm going to have to go to the mall to buy me something to wear."

  "Make sure it's sophisticated as well as sexy. You've been dressing so conservative lately."

  "Yeah, whatever," said Yarni as she hung up the phone.

  The next morning was Yarni's day off. She got up, took a shower, dressed and headed out.

  When she got in her car she called over to Cara's mother's house. She informed her that she needed to have her Godson, Lil Ronny, ready because she was running late and was going to only blow the horn.

  After dropping Lil Ronny off, Yarni went to beauty shop. Co-Co did her hair in spiral curls. The way each curl hung down complimented her round, fat face. Yarni went to the mall after she left the salon. She went to "Up Against The Wal"l in Cloverleaf Mall. As soon as she walked through the door, Tonya, the saleslady, flocked to her. She knew one thing about Yarni.

  Yarni was going to spend her money and tip her for helping her as well.

  "Hey girl," said Tonya.

  "Hey!" Yarni said, "What y'all got in new?"

  "We got a lot of stuff, but we haven't put it out yet." Tonya went into the back and brought out all the new things in Yarni's size that hadn't hit the floor yet.

  "Yarni, you going out tonight?"

  "Maybe, girl, I don't know." Yarni never told anybody her exact moves ever since the kidnapping. She knew nobody could really be trusted.

  Tonya told Yarni, "Well whatever you buy, I won't put it out on the sales floor until tomorrow or so, so you won't have to worry about nobody having the same thing on that you are wearing."

  "Good looking, Tonya, but I don't want you to get into any trouble. If somebody else gets the same thing, they won't be able to freak it like me anyway."

  "Yeah, you right. They'll get the four hundred dollar outfit and put some $10.00 Payless shoes on with it," Tonya said and they both laughed. Yarni picked out a few things that she wanted to try on. As she breezed through the store, she noticed three dudes throwing things on the counter. She didn't make eye contact with any of them. They were all too loud for her. Plus, she knew they hustled.

  As bad as I want to holler at a hustler right now to help me get into my condo, I'm trying to do the right thing. I've had enough of that lifestyle.

  Yarni glanced at one through one of the store mirrors standing in the middle of the floor. He was counting a wad of cash.

  That's a damn shame. Why would you even have all that money on you like that? Shoot, you at the mall buying clothes not buying a yacht. I betcha he lives right at his momma's house, no game plan, nothing going on, just flossing until the Feds come. See, he's the worst kind of hus
tler, all that money and don't know "what" to do with it. He needs a sister like "me" to show him what to do with that cake. Buy some property, with property comes capital, with capital comes credit, and with credit comes mo' money. Even though all that money looks good, and it damn sure would expedite my process to getting into my condo. On the other hand, easy come, easy go. On that note, I'll keep working my 9 to 5, to get mines the right way. That way, can't no brother try to come with some Indian giving type drama or worse, the Feds come trying to confiscate what's mines. I'll pass this time. Boy, he better be glad that I'm trying to stay away from that lifestyle because he would definitely be my target. Anyways, let me go and try this stuff on.

  Yarni went into the dressing room. Tonya told her to come out and show her the things she tried on. Tonya continued to look around the store to see if there was anything Yarni might've liked that they had missed.

  Yarni came out of the dressing room to show Tonya everything. Tonya hyped her up about each outfit she tried on. She worked on commission and she knew how Yarni spent money when she came in there. Yarni was more likely to buy since her hair was done. That alone added a touch to any outfit she tried on. Yarni usually didn't try on clothes unless her hair was fixed.

  She felt she wouldn't be able to get the full affect of the outfit.

  Yarni decided that she was going to buy two of pair Parasuco jeans and the little T-shirts to match for kick around days. She also bought two other outfits. She debated back and forth on whether to purchase this Guess leather jumpsuit that she wanted.

  When she came out of the dressing room from trying it on, Tonya boasted about how good it looked on her. She even called over another sales associate, and they both agreed. The loud guys were quiet and looked in astonishment. Everything paused when she looked in the three-way mirror. It was $430.00. It definitely looked nice on her. It fit her like a glove. Guess was something that she really didn't care for anymore, but this jumpsuit, she really wanted. She didn't care whom it was by. It wasn't something that she'd wear to "Diamond's and Pearls." She dressed up when she went out. It just wasn't the affect she was trying to get tonight. She needed the other outfits for kick around. She knew that the jumpsuit was something that would hang in her closet. But at the proper time and place, and no doubt, with the right shoes, she knew she could turn heads, and have mouths dropping.

  She said to herself, This jumpsuit would really come in handy for knockout purposes only. Then, she reminded herself, I am closing on my condo in a couple of months, I work a 9-5, no ballers in my life to supply my extravagant spending habit.

  Which was really more important? The furniture at La Difference that I am saving for or this jumpsuit? She tried to convince herself that the jumpsuit was an investment. She reasoned with herself that she could charge the jumpsuit. Then she asked herself, Self, what sense does that make, to wear something that I haven't even paid for and would still be making payments on it long after I've already worn it? That's only making a crazy bill for what, when I got plenty of shit in my closet now running over.

  With this $430, I can buy my washer for the condo, Gloria isn't going to be allowing me to be running back and forth over there using hers. I can't see the Laundromat in the vision at all. On that very note, Yarni laid the jumpsuit on the side of the counter. She started to tell Tonya to put it on hold just so no one else would have it. She turned to the guys, "I apologize for holding the line up." She grabbed her bags and walked out of the store.

  She looked at her watch. She knew she still had to go to Regency Square to Cashe, she knew for sure she'd find something in there. She started eliminating things she could wear at home so that she could go back and get that jumpsuit. She could not get her mind off of that jumpsuit.

  As she walked towards the mall entrance, she heard somebody calling out her name. She turned around and it was Tonya.

  She was running over to Yarni with a bag. She peeped in the bag.

  Lord, thank you so much. It was the jumpsuit in the bag. She couldn't believe it. Did Tonya give it to her? She knew she didn't pay for it. Tonya saw the expression on Yarni's face.

  "The dude name Rich brought it for you," Tonya explained.

  "He said you looked so nice in it and he wanted you to have it."

  "Girl, who is, Rich?" Yarni asked with a puzzled look on her face.

  "The dude walking down there, with the umm, Timbs on and the butter soft leather coat to match," said Tonya.

  "What's his story?"

  "He's loaded, I mean caked up! I haven't really heard any gossip or anything about him. But I do know, he comes in the store a lot, but never with a female, no wedding ring, and never made a female purchase until now. I think he's very available, annnd... a potential 'vic' for you." A "vic" is a victim, someone a gold-digger considers a sucker for her to get a substantial amount of money from.

  Yarni looked sad when she told Tonya, "Thanks, sweetie, but, I've got to catch him, because I can't accept this from him." She took off walking quickly trying to catch up with the dude and his crew. They were walking in the opposite direction than she was going. She was a few feet behind them. She called out,

  "Rich.... excuse me, Rich" just then he turned around and stopped. "Can I speak to you for a minute, please?" Damn, he looks so familiar. I don't know where I know him from. Ooh, ummp, ummp, ummp, Lord, he smells good I wonder if that's Joop? He was clean cut, fresh haircut, and his fingernails were dirt free and manicured. Timbs were smacking new.

  The first thing Yarni looked at was a man's shoes. She felt like if his shoes weren't right, then he'd never come correct.

  When Rich gazed int her eyes, he thought to himself, damn she looks good with her hair like that. Ummp, Ummp Ummp, she is sexier than I remembered.

  He looked at her as she spoke, "Thank you soooo much for the jumpsuit. And...and," She took a deep breath then continued, "as much as I would like to, I can't accept this." He said with the most sincere look on his face. "Yes you can, and you will because I am not taking it back. I want you to have it."

  "You have to take it back," She said with the most sincere look on her face. Yarni extended her hand. "Baby, I'm no Indian-giver, and frankly darling you're straight insulting me." He stressed to her by shaking his head pushing the bag back to her.

  "You don't understand, I really can't accept this and...and, you're making this very difficult for me," Yarni was almost unsure what she was saying herself.

  "Look, there are no strings attached, so please just take it. It's my pleasure. I needed to make someone's day, and it happened to be yours today. Now why make such a big deal?" Asked Rich.

  Game, Game, Game! Would you listen to this game he's kicking to me. "I have my own personal reasons, and nothing in life is free, and if much is given, then much is required." Yarni said.

  "I am insisting that you keep the jumpsuit, baby. I would feel totally disrespected if you even asked me to take it back again." He then walked away with his tons of bags in his hand, leaving Yarni standing there speechless.

  He knew that he'd see Yarni again. After all, this wasn't New York. This was Richmond, a town where everyone basically knows everyone or knows someone who knows that person.

  Yarni tried to figure out where she knew him from, but she couldn't. She had no clue. On her way to Regency she tried to remember each and every one of Des and Bengee's friends to try to see if maybe she'd seen him through one of them. That wasn't it. She wondered, Maybe I know him through Uncle Stank. No, that wasn't it either.

  Yarni went to Regency Square Mall, bought a pants set from Cashe, and then decided against wearing it. She wore her Coogi dress with the hat to match, that she'd brought from New York when Bengee sent her. That was a year ago. A lot of styles and fads got to Richmond a little slower. She'd never worn it before.

  The dress and the hat were a big hit that night. No other females had on anything Coogi. Coogi had just hit Richmond. There were a few ballers in the club wearing Coogi sweaters.

  THE BIG PA
YBACK

  As Yarni, Cara and Stephanie sat at the table, Cara whispered to Yarni, "Don't look now, but you ain't going to believe who's here?"

  "Who, girl?" Yarni blurted out.

  "Girl, Rallo."

  "Stop playing," Yarni said as she took a sip of her drink.

  "Don't look, but he's on his way over here now." Cara said.

  Rallo walked up to the table bling-blinging with a nice, expensive Cubian Link necklace and an iced out cross on his chain, a big baguette pinky ring, creme linen suit, some colorful shades of brown, gator shoes and, some Cartier glasses.

  "What's up, Cara? Hey, Stephanie." Both of them said "hi."

  "Yeah, I just want y'all to know that I'm buying everybody at this table drinks except you," pointing to Yarni. Yarni laughs.

  "Rallo, I don't need you to buy me a drink. I can buy my own. I am glad that you're in a situation where you can buy somebody a drink, cause not too long ago, I heard you couldn't even buy yourself a snickers bar, let alone, somebody a drink." On that note, Yarni got up and when she walked past Rallo, he grabbed her arm.

  "Don't try to get slick out the mouth, because I made you." Rallo said.

  "You made me? Yeah, right." She smacked her lips. Yarni leaned over and said, "I'm happy for you and your new found fortune. And you would like to think you made me, but guess what, baby? I played you." She smiled and proceeded to the ladies room. Cara came in behind her.

  "I told him that if he couldn't buy all of us a drink, then I don't want any," said Cara.

  "By all means, if that nigga is paying, drink him up under the table! And order some chicken baskets too." They both laughed and walked out of the bathroom.

  As they walked out of the restroom, "Let me put this bug in your ear." Cara said as she put her hand up to Yarni's ear. "Girl, Rallo looks like he back on, getting money. You should holler just to get some quick loot out of him. You know he's always peeled cash off to you. Shit just play with him." Yarni never responded.