I heard faint music approaching and I instantly knew it was Brat. I stood up and watched her blue impala approach me. I opened the door, threw my tote in the backseat and sat down in the front. Brat flashed me a welcoming smile.
"Thanks girl." I said.
"It's no thing. What's been up?" She asked
I turned my attention towards her and dramatically titled my head.
"Girlllll. What hasn't been up? Mostly my mom and dad. The usual." I explained.
"I was trying to sneak in the crib to pack my bags. Praying to God I wouldn't be noticed. At first everything went smooth, then I heard my mom check him about some other bitches that were picking with her on social media and shit. He's denying the whole thing, claiming she's tripping. She eventually asks to see his phone, and he wouldn't budge. From what I heard, he tried to get past her, but he wouldn't let her. He slapped her hard as hell because she called him a pussy. She was asking why he always does this, but he yelled over her and told her to shut the fuck up. This shit isn't right." I said shaking my head ashamed.
Brat absorbed the information without judgement as she usually does. She was clearly frustrated.
"Your daddy be tripping man. What the fuck you gone do? I'm bout tired of this shit!" She expressed.
I mean, it wasn't like I hadn't thought about this time and time again. I knew my dad had to be eliminated one way or another.
"I don't know." I confessed. I felt responsible to have a plan, but I didn't.
"I don't know, but I know I have to get to some money. Maybe that way me and my mom could get our own place. He's been controlling her transportation to work, even though she owns the car. I need a job to be able to match my mother's income so we can be on our own."
Brat shook her head in agreement.
"When we get home we are going to apply for jobs together. I could use money too. I know with us havig a job at the same time, and hopefully at the same place, will do wonders for us. We are going to figure something out. Shit has to change." She said.
I was fueled and excited to hear the passion and dedication in her voice. With Brat as my support system, I knew I could do what I needed to do.
I was eager to gain some independence. I felt like a job was the exact thing I needed. I was determined to work really hard to provide a better life for my mother and I. I felt a deep sense of relief and serenity. The environment I'm in really dictates my mood. Since being out of the house I felt peaceful. I had not a care in the world. I knew everything was straight for a moment.
We finally arrived at Brat's house. It felt like a second home to me. We hopped out the car and entered her front door. I slipped my shoes off, and she did the same. We grabbed a couple of snacks. I grabbed a rice crispy treat and goldfish, brat grabbed a family sized bag of chips.
I followed Brat up the stairs as I listened to the sound of the chip bag rustle. The stairs squeeked gently as we finally made it to her bedroom. She turned the TV on, and we got comfortable.
"I know you're about sick and tired of your dad. What you trying to do?" She asked stern faced.
"Shit, good question. I don't know." I paused "I just know he has to get the hell out my mama's life."
"Period!" She added. " Look, I know some niggas that can take him out. Like real talk." She confessed.
I shook my head violently almost involuntarily.
"No no no no no. You know Nut is with all of that shit too! I'm not trying to have no kind of war or nothing."
" I get what you're saying sis, but the police obviously has been no help up to this point. There's not much your mom can do legally to protect herself without becoming a target. I'm just saying it ways to get him elimated." She said matter of a factly.
Her words resonated like daggers in my subconscious. The truth hurts. She was right. I had a perfectly good opportunity to get my father gone, but I didn't want to. I had a bad feeling. I didn't want to be involved in anything like that. Deep down inside I know I don't want the man dead. He can go to prison for sure, but death, I can't wish it on anybody. As terrible as people are, I don't wish death on anyone.
"I know. I know. Thank you Brat. I'm going to keep that noted for real. I appreciate it. Right now, I'm going to try do it my way. I want to make some money and make sure me and moms is straight." I replied.
Brat signaled that she understood.
My curiosity couldn't help but to wander. I quickly envisioned a life without him in it. It made my heart smile. Perhaps that would be a piece of what heaven feels like. I snapped out of it.
"Wellllll, let me at least see who you're talking about." I teased, all the while serious.
Brat shot a devious grin.
"Girl, you swear you can't help yourself." She laughed.
"Look him up on insta. His name is Johnny boy."
I quickly retrieved my phone and attempted to search. Of course multiple profiles popped up. I handed her my phone for assistance. She quickly found the correct profile.
I had seen Johnny around plenty of times. Hell, everybody knew him. I didn't know much about him personally. I just knew he was a hood nigga. Definitely not anyone I'd be trying to hang around.
"I'm about to go grab something to drink. You want something?" I asked as I continued to browse Johnny's page.
"Yeah a water is cool."
My face was fully planted into my phone. I damn near missed a step walking down the flight. As I continued to scroll my confidence grew. Johnny looked like he could handle himself. Johnny knew hella people. Maybe he really could do some damage to my dad.
I grabbed Brat's water as promised and grabbed a lone Lipton tea I came across. I proceeded to head back to the room. I tossed Brat her water. I was relieved to give it to her because my fingers were beginning to chill.
"I'm going to keep Johnny in my back pocket. He looks like he gets shit done."
"And you know he does!" Brat added.
"Anyway, where are you trying to apply?" She diverged.
I appreciated that she didn't push the issue. She wasn't going to press me about anything .
"Anywhere I guess. I was thinking a nursing home or fast food or something. We don't really have a lot of options." I joked.
"True. I think I can get us into the movie theater though. I know this one girl who can put a word in for us."
That didn't sound like too bad of an option at all. Especially considering the fact that I'd get discounted tickets and snacks. I could stay up on all the new movies.
"Girl you always got some kind of hook up. Secret agent ass."
Brat stopped sipping her water to prevent choking. She managed to maintain herself and smoothly swallowed the water. She let out a hefty laugh.
"Shut the fuck up. It pays to know people. You need to get your lame ass out here. You be acting like you ugly or something."
"It's not that. I just don't vibe with people like that."
"If I were you I would. Maybe it could take the stress off of thinking about your mom and stuff. But it's not my life." She shrugged.
Maybe I'd get out more, but that was the last thing on my mind. It's crazy because I have so much freedom. I could do whatever I wanted to do. I choose to uphold my morals though. I'm really a good sweet girl. Even though my environment is fucked up. I tried my best to not let it define me as a person.
"Let's apply online. That way by the time I hit her up, the application will already be done and she'll know we're not bullshitting."
Sounded like an awesome plan to me.
"Hand me my laptop sis. Where else you want to apply." She asked.
I grabbed her laptop that was sitting on a nearby dresser.
"I don't know. Pizza Hut." I said seriously.
She cackled like a witch.
"You really kill me. You swear it's Pizza Hut. Why out of all things Pizza Hut?" She jokingly ridiculed.
I couldn't help but to laugh myself.
"Bitch I don't know. You asked. Pizza Hut is good as fuck." I laughed.
She didn't have any further rebuttals. We'd spend the next two hours switching back and forth between applications, making sure everything was just right.
A small step towards fixing everything. I felt so good about myself.