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A Hustler's Wife Page 4
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He watched her as she sashayed. The further she got down the street, the more he genuinely wanted her. Not for sex, but just as his own personal teddy bear, so to speak. She was everything he wanted in a female. She had the right build, not too big or too skinny. Her facial features were O.K., but she had the cutest dimples. She wasn't any beauty queen, but she was beautiful in her own way. She had long flowing black hair and a caramel complexion with no acne. Even though she was 15, he definitely liked her style.
As Yarni walked in her door, the phone rang.
"Look, I want to take you to the new Jean Claude Van Dam movie this coming Saturday." She felt like she wanted to just drop the phone. She couldn't believe this 21-year-old-man wanted to take her out. All kinds of things started running through her mind. What am I going to wear? How am I going to wear my hair? Most importantly, how am I going to convince my mother to agree to let me go out with him?
She thought of every possibility and tried to think of ways to go about this from every angle. I could say I am going to the movies with Melanie, but then she's going to want to talk to Melanie's mother and insist on dropping us off or picking us up.
I could say that it's a school function, but she's involved in every school outing. She came to the conclusion that her mother may let her go with a 17 year old, but definitely not a 21 year old.
That was a dead issue.
Yarni finally persuaded Gloria to let her go to the movies with her "friend" who she'd been talking to on the phone for months, and she told her mother she'd even been meeting him at Skate Land for the past couple years. She also told her mother that he was sort of like a big brother to her. So, her mother would not look at it as a real date. Now she knew that Gloria would want to meet him, and he would have to come in and meet her before they left.
Yarni knew Gloria was having company on Saturday night, and would be more lenient with her guests there. She told Des to pick her up at about 6:30, and he agreed, but he called at seven that evening. Saying that time had got away from him. He had gotten caught up gambling, but he was on the way. For a minute she thought he was standing her up. It couldn't be real, that she was going out with this big wheel.
When the doorbell rang Yarni hurried from upstairs to try to get to the door before Gloria could get to it. Yarni had to admit that she looked very cute. She had on tight fitting black leather pants, a black, red and white shirt, some red leather tall riding 9-West boots, and a red leather jacket.
Gloria rushed into the foyer, looked out of the window to the burgundy on burgundy rag topped Lincoln Continental with the slant back, parked outside with the "True" spoke rims along with the Vogue tires on it. She invited Des in. When she saw him with a huge diamond in his ear, Gazel sunglasses, and exquisite ostrich skin leather coat with the cowboy style hat, belt and shoes to match, and it wasn't that imitation stuff either, her first thought was "Oh, hell no, my daughter is not going anywhere with this gangsta looking cat. Bottom line." But that was before he spoke in that civilized manner that mother's love. He made direct eye contact with Gloria while extending his hand to greet her. "I am so pleased to finally meet Yarni's mother. Yarni has a lot of good qualities, and I can tell that she must have inherited them from you. Would you like to come along with us? We are going to see the new Jean Claude Van Dam movie. It had a good newspaper review," Des said.
"No, Sweetie," responded Gloria in an equally civilized manner. She thought to herself, that was a nice gesture. He has good manners and he looked me in my eyes while he spoke to me. Hummm, I have raised Yarni with certain morals and principles, and I trust her. She knows if he acts a fool that I am only a phone call away. Yarni's mind is set on going on this date. She inspected him from head to toe, and I can understand why. He is definitely a cutie.
"Sweetie, you all go and have a nice time," Gloria said.
"Is 11:30 O.K. to have her back?" Des wanted to do everything right.
"Yes, Sweetie, that'll be fine." That impressed Gloria. Yarni peeking from around the corner was bedazzled, as well. Des knew it would put Gloria more at ease.
Gloria went in Yarni's maize and hot pink room to get her.
She handed her three dollars in change and two twenty-dollar bills. She put her hands on a strand of Yarni's hair that was out of place, fixed the out strand, and grabbed Yarni under her chin.
"Rule number one for Dating 101. Never go anywhere without your own money in your possession. Don't let him know that you have money, but keep your own stash in case he acts a fool.
And if he does, there's enough change for you to call me. I gave you the change because rule number 2 states, never go on a date without change. You may need to use the phone to call somebody. You understand? Now I am going to be here all night, if you need me, baby. You look beautiful." She kissed Yarni on the forehead.
As Yarni was about to turn to walk out of the door, Gloria called out to Yarni and Des, "Wait a minute, smile! I have got to get a picture of my baby's first date." Gloria flashed them with her 110 camera.
Oh, my God I knew she was taking all this too well. She just had to embarrass me, by snapping that stupid picture. She is so dramatic and sentimental. I am so glad I did not inherit that trait from her. She always has to overdo it. Like she just could not settle with giving me one dollar of change. She had to give me three dollars of change. The phone is only 20 cents. Now I got all this change weighing my pocketbook down. Don't she know I am smart enough to just call her collect.
Gloria watched from the house as Des opened the car door for Yarni. Tears begin to roll down Gloria's face because reality sank in, her baby, the one she'd given birth to, which seemed like just yesterday, was growing up. As Gloria looked on watching them drive off, a time line of events in Yarni's life from birth up to this point flashed through her head.
They got to the movie 20 minutes late, which was fine by Yarni. She was fascinated with just being with Des. He was very serious, and to her, he seemed a little uptight. The movie was over at about 10pm. He knew they were working with little time.
He stopped by his apartment on the West end. It was something out of a magazine to her. Yarni's mother had a bunch of antique style furniture, but Des apartment was very modern. Everything in the apartment was black; black leather sectional sofa, a large picture of a black panther on the wall in the living room. The tile in the kitchen was black marble. The cabinets and counters were a marble print as well. All the walls throughout the apartment were mirrored. Yarni was intrigued by his style.
He cut the T.V. on and sat on the arm of the sectional. She sat in front of him. He just stood there. She asked him, "Are you going to give me a hug, or real gangsters don't hug." He stood up in front of her and put his arm around her, but never responded to the comment. She tried to kiss him, but he turned away, so she kissed him on his cheek, and she could feel his penis getting hard. At that point, he looked at his watch.
"It's almost eleven, I've got to make one stop, and I gave your mom my word that I'd have you back by 11:30." He grabbed her jacket, held it up in front of him so she could slip her arms into it, handed Yarni her barrel shaped Liz Claiborne purse and opened the screen door for her so they could exit the apartment.
They were off.
The ride back to Yarni's house was silent, besides the radio playing, "All Alone You Off On Your Own Girl" by Al B. Sure.
She wondered to herself exactly what his thoughts were. Des was so mysterious. I wonder, why he didn't try to make a move on me? I can't believe that he was a perfect gentleman. Would he ever see me again? Is he not impressed with what I wore? Is it my hair? She had her hair in a flat wrap, hanging real straight with the ends bent. What is it? He pulled into the 7-11 convenient store.
"You want something out of here?" Pointing to the store.
"No, but thank you anyway." He ran in and left the car running. He was back in a flash. He came back with 2 bouquets of flowers. He gave her one and placed the other bouquet on the back seat. I wonder whom the other one is f
or? The nerve of him to go in the store and buy his other chic some flowers while he's with me! It must be some tramp he's going to go and screw since he can't screw me. It's all too good, though. He probably thinks just because I am young I won't know what's going on. I am not going to say anything though. I am going to go ahead and play along with his little games, as simple as that.
They arrived at Yarni's house. He grabbed the other bouquet of flowers. He walked her to the door. Des presented Gloria with the flowers. Oh, this young boy got his stuff together trying to flatter me, huh? Gloria thought to herself, loving the attention, but not wanting to display loving it too much.
"Thank you, Mrs. Pitman, for allowing me to spend time with Yarni." As he sat down in the Victorian style chair in Gloria's living room, he said, "I was wondering if you'd allow me to take Yarni out again to dinner tomorrow night because we didn't really get to spend a whole lot of one-on-one time together?"
"Oh, and why was that? You picked her up at 7:15, and now it's 11:20." Gloria was anxious to hear his response.
Using his hand to explain. "Well, see, at the last minute my grandmother called requesting a ride to Bingo. I had to stop her at Kmart to get a marker because she left her Bingo bag at home, which put me way behind schedule. Yarni and I could not go to dinner as we planned after the movie because we had to pick up my grandmother from Bingo and drop her off at home. And initially, I told Yarni we were going to do dinner and a movie. I am a person of my word, and I'd like to keep my word with Yarni, if you'd allow me to."
He seems like he has good characteristics, but at the same time this is my baby, my only daughter, and I got to monitor him closely. Gloria looked into Des' eyes because she wanted to see the expression on his face when she gave him her response.
"No, tomorrow night is not going to be good." Des looked at Gloria.
"O.K., Mrs. Pitman, I'd like to thank you for the time you have allowed me to spend with Yarni tonight," Des said in a calm tone. He stood up to shake her hand. "It was a pleasure meeting you."
"Des, you are most welcome to come over tomorrow night.
We have cable television. You all can watch a movie and order a pizza, and maybe I'd consider allowing you to carry Yarni to dinner next weekend." She had to play it slow.
"That'll be fine. Good night, Mrs. Pitman and Yarni, I will speak to you tomorrow." Gloria then started feeling like he was a good kid at heart. She decided that she wasn't going to judge the book by its cover.
As Des drove back across town to the crap house to try to win back the $22,000 that he'd lost earlier that evening, he came to grips with the situation. Yarni was what he'd longed for.
She was going to be his. He knew that she was not of age. He was also aware that there was a certain set of rules he'd have to follow concerning her mother. He'd have to cater to Gloria.
Kissing ass wasn't something that he was good at. He never had to cater to anybody, man or woman. Not even his own mother, whom he loved very much. As bad as he felt, he wanted and needed to have Yarni as a part of his life. He'd have to play up to Gloria.
Gloria was an excellent mother. She had always taken a part in every activity and function in Yarni's life. Yarni was Gloria's everything. Gloria was an active parent in every organization in Yarni's school, as well as in any other extra curricular activities Yarni participated in. Everyone was envious of the role Yarni's mother played. She was "super mom." As a matter of fact, Yarni had been looking for an eligible bachelor to befriend her mom so she could focus a little less on Yarni's life.
Yarni and Des started seeing each other regularly. Every morning he would take Yarni to school. Of course he was on his way in from gambling and hustling all night long. Des would sleep while Yarni was at school. He stressed school and its importance to her and would never let her skip school to be with him.
One day at Des' house they were watching "Krush Groove" on tape, and she asked, "Des, why do you stress school so much to me? When you don't even go yourself?" Des was shocked at her question. He turned to look at her and spoke from his heart. "Look, baby, I inherited this life, you haven't and I won't let you. You think I like this lifestyle?"
"Sure looks that way to me!" She said softly and slowly.
"Well, baby, you're wrong."
"Then why do you do it then, if you don't want to?" Des took a deep breath, then got up and got his brother's picture. "This is my brother, Les, he was a real O.G. doing it up.
He never let me get involved in the drug part. I only watched while he babysat me while our mother worked 3-11, second shift. He dropped out of school when he was in the seventh grade because our mother was forced to work her ass off to take care of us. He began providing everything for us. He taught me the game, never ever allowing me to put my hands on any drugs.
When I got to eighth grade, no longer was anything handed to me. I had to work for mines, counting the money and studying anything pertaining to investments." Yarni listened attentively.
She had heard Des mention his brother Les, but never had she got any details from Des only that he and his brother were very close.
"Well, when I was in tenth grade, my brother took a bullet for a little girl who was riding her bike when some dudes came through the 233 projects trying to do a drive by." Des paused for a moment. Yarni put her arms around Des. She could see the hurt and the anger in his eyes. He continued. "So, once he was buried he still had a lot of loyal men on his team, and a lucra-tive empire, so rather than let it all fall, I was convinced by my homeboy, Slim, to take it over. So, I stepped up to the plate, and kept shit rolling."
They both were quiet as she continued to scratch all over his back lightly with her fingernails.
"Did they ever catch the boys who did the drive-by?" Des looked at Yarni as if she had asked a stupid question. "I was out there that day. When I saw my brother fall to the ground, I just grabbed a pistol and ran out there and started fucking gun-ning. If you recall, the 233 only got one way in and one way out, right?" Yarni nodded in the positive. Des continued, "Well, when they realized the entranced was blocked off, they couldn't get out, so they hopped out the car and ran across the street to the school trying to get to those apartments. Baby, we hunted them niggas down and shot them making them squirm to their last breaths."
Des went into silence for a minute. Yarni, judging by her sheltered life, should have been scared of him, but this only excited her. Des sharing this side of him made her want him more.
"Baby, I apologize. I know I shouldn't be telling you this, but you asked and I had to give it to you real." He was surprised that she wasn't alarmed or in shock.
"So, baby, this is why I want the very best for you. I mean I graduated from high school and I have even taken some classes after, but due to my lifestyle I couldn't stay focused. You are very dear to me. I want you to have the best education. Because an education can get you a long ways." Yarni was very intelligent, and he was going to see to it that she didn't lose focus. He started rewarding Yarni for any good work or grades she got in school. He would give her all kinds of expensive gifts. Gucci book bags with a purse to match, every color leather coat and suits, trench coats, as well as short jackets. The jewelry he gave her was on the level of Gloria's jewelry, if not classier. It wasn't long before Yarni had jewelry on every finger stacked. Two and three rings on some fingers.
Gloria started questioning all these exquisite gifts. On the one hand, she was relieved that she could finally get to do some things for herself. Gloria always poured all of her money into Yarni. She wanted Yarni to have the best of everything. She secretly felt guilty that Yarni had to grow up without a father, which is why she went overboard and spoiled Yarni. For the first time in years, Gloria started doing things for herself. Yarni even slipped money into Gloria's jewelry box where she kept her money. It was the only way she would ever get Gloria to take money from her. But still, Gloria asked Des to tone down the gifts. He wouldn't, and just kept them coming. Now, it had been six months they had been fait
hfully together, and Gloria had a certain amount of respect for Des because of his concern for Yarni's education. This is what kept her allowing him to see her daughter. The way he diligently took her to school and picked her up. And before he would take her on any dates, he'd question her about her homework and would get permission from Gloria.
Their six month anniversary was a few days away. Des and Yarni were in his car on the way to drop her off at school. Des turned down the music from the cassette tape playing, and glanced over at her, as he turned into the school parking lot.
"What do you wanna do for our anniversary?" I thought you'd never ask, she thought.
"Do you have anywhere in particular you want to go?" Des asked
Yarni smiled. She looked directly into Des' eyes as the car stopped at the student drop off point. She knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to ask.
"Des, the only place I want to go is in your arms, while we make passionate love." Thrown off with her answer Des swerved the car, letting off the brake by mistake.
"Baby, listen, I want you to be sure you are ready for that because once you lose your virginity, it's something you can't go back and get."
"Oh, I am ready. I want to consummate our relationship.
Every time I hug you, kiss you, look into your eyes, I know in my heart that I want you to be the first person I experience everything with. I want you to be my first, my everything, my all. I always think of the presents and gifts you give me. I think of all the extravagant gifts I'd like to give you. I'd give you my life if I could, that's how deep my love for you flows. You've earned my heart; through all the times you've been there and been so patient with me. I am not just speaking on the gifts. I'm talking about your genuine concern for me, the way you go beyond the call of duty for me and my circumstances. My virginity is price-less and I'd like to give it to you." The school bell rang and the car behind them honked the horn. She simply said in an energetic tone, "Baby, gotta go. See ya this evening." She kissed him;