The Neighborhood (Urban)

The Porch

"Took you long enough." Jonell sucks his teeth when I pull up to Tanya's place. He was holding Emmanuel who was crying his little eyes out.

"Aw my lil stinks." I coo and take him from Jonell's arm. Emmanuel begins to calm down. "What'd you do to my Godson."

"Nothing! His ass been miserable ever since he woke up from his nap" Derrick sucks his teeth. "Tanya needa start paying us fo' watching him."

"Shut up, Derrick." Angela says. "Tanya needs our help so we there to help. You don't need the money."

Derrick sucks his teeth and takes a sip of his drink. "I'm just saying, the lil bastard a lotta work."

"Well the way you go around fucking these broads, you could use the practice. I'm waiting for the day one of your hoes knocks on your door talmbout she pregnant." I joke, causing everyone else to laugh and agree.

"Jo, that's yo brotha too so I know you ain't talking. Dace be with these hoes too and the minute one of em' start talmbout she pregnant," He points a finger at me. "Yo ass gon' be a auntie."

I shrug and push him out of the chair and sit down. "None of my business, it's none of my business." I sing.

"When's Tanya's shift done?" Sierra asks. We all shrug.

Tanya worked at a CVS that's by the mall. But, for extra cash she strips. It was really sad seeing her have to do that to help out her and her son.

She lived her on her own. Her mother left them when she was very young, and her father re-married when she was eighteen and wanted to move to New York. Tanya didn't want to go because his new wife made her father bougie and she didn't like her vibe. So, he disowned her and she's been on her own ever since.

Sometimes, the boys put together money and give to the girls, but they give more to Tanya. But, that money only lasts for a while, so she still works hard.

"I really wish she didn't have to strip." Khalil shakes his head. "If you know Tanya, you know she isn't some cheap hoe. But, she seen like dat' and it's sad."

"And Jamal bitch ass don't do shit. You better get yo cousin, chief." Angela warns Khalil.

"That nigga is not my cousin. He ain't my family." Khalil shrugs and downs his Hennessy.

Jamal was Khalil's step-mom's, sister's son. He never claimed him as his blood or anything. Jamal was always moving funny, but he officially cut him off when he started doing Tanya dirty. My boys are all about us girls and they family, and no one messes with us.

"Anyway, you still gotta get him. You know, I saw him the other day with some ugly hoe." Angela says, shaking her head. "I care about Tanya too much to tell her."

"So, you rather her out here looking stupid?" Sierra butts in.

"Y'all know I love TT, but she knows how stupid she looks. She knows Jamal be doing her dirty so no need to inform her whenever we see him being a dog." I say. "She knows, shits just tough."

"All I know is, that nigga better start showing her some bread or he about to get fucked up and that's real talk." Jonell says, clenching his jaw. "I've watched shawty cry over that nigga and fight that nigga for two years, he gotta do better."