Chapter 5
“Both of you get the fuck up with your bad asses!” my mom screamed, while coming in our room.
“Ma, chill I’m tired ass hell” I said.
“Boy you better watch your fucking mouth before I see about it.” I turned over in my bed to go back to sleep, my moms started kicking me and Kre’s bed, “get up for real” mom said.”
“Whats good auntie?” Kre asked sitting up in his bed rubbing his eyes.
“Your mother called from prison last night, Kre.”
“Ok!”
“Boy it’s Saturday and she want me to bring you to see her today.” “She been locked up for 6 years and all of a sudden she wants to see.”
“First, off boy she is your mother, second I told her how you and John John been running the street all this summer, ya’ll must think I’m stupid, I hear what ya’ll do in them streets, Kre.”
“I thought you was gone be a good roll model for Lil John John, that’s why I took you in but I see that ya’ll days are numbered.” “So, I told your mom she might need to see you before you end up getting killed before she gets out of prison.” “Now get ready so I can take you because we are leaving in an hour.”
“And what does this got to do with me?” I ask mom. Cuz I was ready to go back to sleep.
“Boy, your ass about to get kicked out because your school called and told me you ain’t show up for not one summer school class.” It took her the whole summer just to find out I ain’t attend summer school. I thought.
“If you stay back this year that’s on your stupid ass, you gone be 19 in the 8th grade,” mom said, Kre started laughing. “What are you laughing for boy you don’t even go to school.”
“Auntie schools don’t pay you money so school ain’t for me” Kre told mom while getting ready to leave. John John said
“Can you please get out my room with that emotional shit, Slap.
“Boy you come out ya mouth wrong again your going be in them streets with your basehead ass daddy” my moms told me and then left the room.
“Yo, Kre she ain’t have to say that about my pops, shit she the reason he on the dope, yo she left my dad for some fake ass lawyer and my dad was so fucked up he just got on the dope and could not get back on his feet.”
“Don’t worry about it Lil cuz we our own men.” Kre said.
After Kre left with my moms I was just about to dose off to sleep, beep beep beep, Fuck, man I said to myself as I grab the beeper. I got my cordless phone off my dresser and dialed the number on my beeper. After three rings,
“Yo what good?” Who beeping me on the am like this I said,
“Dam bad ass this Big Boo.” “
My Bad Boo whats hood?” I say.
“Yo I got some info my dude” Big Boo said.
“Yo, speak on it, I told him.
“Check it last night some nigga’s name Mike Mike pulled up in a Black Lexus with about three nigga’s in it, they pulled up to the green store asking nigga’s do they know a John John or Wine,” Boo said.
“Yo, did nigga’s tell them about us or what” I said.
“No nigga ain’t no rats in this hood but come to find out Mike Mike is Tim’s older brother, and Mike Mike just got out of prison a week ago, and the nigga on some Crip shit too, bad ass.”
“He jumped out the ride last night with a blue flag hanging out the back left pocket,” Boo said.
“If you find out where son be at make sure you get at me Big Boo”, I said on the phone.
“I got you but tell ya sister Redd I still love her even though we broke it off” Boo said.
“I got you homie” “one” and I hung up. As soon as I put the phone on the dresser, I went under the bed, grab my shoebox, and got my .38 out and put it under my pillow. I tried to go back to sleep but this nigga Mike Mike was in my thoughts heavy. Yo fuck that Crip nigga, he can get got like his brother I told my self. I grabbed my phone and dialed my shorty Chelle number, after three rings.
“Hello, whats good mama Dee where Chelle at?” I said.
“Hey John John you need to talk to that girl, she keep bugging me about school clothes,” Moma Dee said.
“I got you ma.”
“Ok hold on”, I heard mama Dee scream for Chelle to pick up, seconds later.
“Hello.”
“What’s hood boo.”
“Hey baby what you doing?”
“Shit just waking up but what’s good,” mama Dee, “say you crying about school clothes.”
“Yeah, boo cuz school start back next week and I’m trying to be fresh, baby,” Chelle say.
“Look boo I got you, I’m about to get dress and call a Taxi then we gone hit downtown and lock the mall down.”
“Ok, baby I’m gonna be ready, so let me jump in the shower real quick.”
“Ok boo give me like a hour”
“I love you, John John John John.”
“Yeah you better,” and I hung up. I grabbed my shoebox, got a dutch out and dime bag of weed, and twisted up, nothins better then wake and bake. I grabbed my matches off the dresser and fired up. I took five good hits and put it out cuz I wanted to be wavey, not bent. I had to be on point at all times with this nigga Mike Mike looking for me. I grabbed my .38 and walked to the bathroom in the hall to take a shower and brush my teeth. Ten minutes later, I was back in my room, sat on my bed, and called a Taxi. Kre’s and I room was small with two beds but the room was on point, we had all types of Tupac and Biggy posters. I fucked with Tupac and Kre loved Biggy Small. I walked to the close for an outfit; I pulled out my black and white dope man Mike (Cortez). My black Jonny Blaze shorts and my black and white Raiders Jersey, with the Raiders cap. I walked to my dresser and put my chain around my neck and put my beeper on my hip and my .38 on my waist, grabbed my shoebox and counted out $800 dollars, and grabbed a couple more .38 bullets, and walked downstairs. I went to the kitchen and got a coffee cake and walk out the front door.
“What’s up lil bro?” my sister Redd said, when she saw me.
“Wud up fam?” I said. I gave Artie dap, nodded my head to Alweedy and went to hug my next-door neighbor Sisda that’s what I call her. They all were out on the front stoop smoking haze. “Dam John John who you all fresh for,” Sisda said.
“Shit, just about to hit downtown”
“Where is that nigga Wine at?” I ask everybody.
“You know Wine ain’t no early bird” Shaweedy said.
“Yo, lil bro why you never bring your girl around?” my sister Pooch said.
“Sis it’s to crazy around here, she a school girl I said”, then my Taxi pulled up front.
“I’ll holla at ya’ll,” then jumped in the Taxi. I gave the Taxi driver Chelle address then killed the coffee cake I was eating. Minutes later we was pulling up in Lil Brick projects, wait right here, I’m coming right back I told the Taxi driver then jumped out, I walked up to the building and saw Red , RahRah, Shameed, and Brandy on the front stoop. I gave them nigga’s dap and ran up to Chelle’s apartment. I open the door and Chelle was already dress and ready to go, we left and jumped back in the Taxi and told him downtown and I passed his money through the window. We pulled up downtown in front of Dr. Jay’s, we got out and entered the clothing store.
“Chelle just get what you need boo, I got you I’m gonna hold you down.”
“Thank you baby.” Chelle coped her some Air Jordan’s, Air Maxs and a pair of Reeboks Classic’s, she got her a couple of jeans, shirts and socks, after like an hour she spent like $500 dollars.
“Chelle are you ready now? cuz I’m hungry ass fuck, yeah boo we can walk to White Castle on Market Street.” I paid for the clothes and shit and we walked out going towards Market Street.
“John John you know I’m going to Westside High this year, this my first year of high school,” she said while we were walking.
“I’m still in Camden Middle off 18th Ave and I plan to ball out this year I” told Chelle.
“John John are you even planning on going to college someday?” “To keep it G Chelle, I don’t think I’ll ever make it out the hood,” I said while adjusting some of Chelle’s bags I was holding.
“I’m going to get a college degree in Business Management and get my mother out the hood,” she said while we walked up to White Castle the fast food spot.
“That’s real Chelle, word I said,” trying to open the door with one hand with some bags in the other hand.
“Thank you John John,” as always White Castle was packed, after 15 minutes we ordered some food and went to the back to eat. Chelle grabbed my face and kissed me hard.
“What was that for” I ask her.
“You my Winnie the Pooh Bear John John.”
“Come on boo why I can’t be your Mack Daddy,” I said laughing. “Boy you stupid I ain’t no hoe I’m a princess,” she said while eating her food.
“I know Chelle don’t I treat you like one” I ask,
“Yeah John John you do, you are different from these other boys, but you just stuck in the hood. Kre, Wine, you and the hood is.”
“I got it.” I told Chelle.
An hour later after we talked and ate we was back walking downtown. I stopped in front of Elegant Creations Jewelry Shop on Main Street, as soon as we walked in some white lady said, “may I help you, or you’re looking for ya’ll parents.”
“No, lady I’m here to get a nice gold necklace for my shorty right here” and pointed at Chelle. Chelle was smiling from ear to ear, “and whats your price range” the lady said.
“From like $100 to $300.” I told the lady take me to the desk and pulled out a nice heart golden locket.
“Oh, baby I love that right there” Chelle said. The lady put it around Chelle’s neck and on the real it had my shorty on point. The sales lady said it cost $225 dollars, please please, John John I love it Chelle said mad happy. I pulled out like $300 and paid for the locket and Chelle jumped in my arms. Thank you, John John, I love you, I love you too. Chelle screamed, and then we left the store and walked towards the park that’s downtown. We sat and talked for like two hours all hugged up and shit. As Chelle and I were kissing, my beeper went off. Beep, beep, beep, I grabbed my beeper and saw it was my house number. Chelle let me walk to the pay phone and make a call real quick. I walked to the pay phone at the park and called my house, after four rings Kre answered, you what’s good. Yo, this John John Kre wud up I said? Lil Cuz auntie and I just got back and it’s some serious shit I got to holla at you about. I need you at the house like ASAP me and Wine already waiting on you Kre said. Yo, say no more I’m on the way. I walked up to Chelle, look boo I got to go, I’m gonna put you in a Taxi and I’ll call you later but I got to leave asap.
“Ok John John just make sure call me, we picked up Chelle’s bags and walked to main street and I waved a Taxi down and paid him to take Chelle home. I walked down Main Street and pulled out my money and seen I only had $ 5.00 left. Dam, Chelle milked me I thought, being loyal to her might pay off in the long run. I waved a Taxi down and said Hunderton Street and he pulled off, five minutes later, we came to a stop light at Morris Ave a block from my hood and then I jumped out the Taxi and took off running. Two minutes later I’m walking through the back door of my mom’s apartment, I walk up to the room and see Kre and Wine smoking and talking. Yo, what’s good ya’ll I said jumping on my bed to sit down. John John I had a long talk with my moms and we got real emotional to fam but I ain’t seen her in six years son. I tried to act hard but I really miss her son, but she got a ten year bid but only gone do eight years her release date is April 10th 2000, son. But this what fucked me up John John, she told me how she got locked up Kre said. Nigga what happen, I said. I might not know Auntie Ann like that cuz I was only seven years old when she went down, but I never saw Kre like this so I knew shit was real. What happen Kre I said. She picked her boyfriend up from Prince Street in her car, they pull off and for some reason they got pulled over by the police, at sometime while they was riding her boyfriend put a gun under her seat and two oz’s of heroin under the seat, the police finds the gun and dope and ask who’s this belong to and her boyfriend said, it ain’t mine. Dam that’s fucked up I said. But they put it on my mom cuz the car was in her name, and they locked her up but she get a bond and call her boyfriend and ask him to bond her out, the nigga start laughing and hung up in her face. Who was her boyfriend was? Yeah this what’s gone trip you out Lil Cuz. Her boyfriend name was Toney Williams. Oh shit son that’s Tone? Yeah that’s that nigga. So how we gone play this fam cuz that’s our moneymaker. Fuck a moneymaker he took my moms from me. Dam fam I’m wit you on this loyalty is everything, so what’s good I said. You know he keeps weight in his desk so we can kill two birds with one stone. Rob son and dead the nigga I say.
“Let’s go pill a ride and then handle this dude” Kre said, cocking back his 380. We left the house, walked down Hunderton Street and cross South Orange Ave, and walked to Pathmark parking lot. I turn around cuz we heard loud music coming from a car; it was some nigga with some dreads driving an all white Nissan Maxima with Black BB’S. He parked the car in the parking lot and walked in the store. We walked up to the Maxima and Kre went in the driver window with the jimmy and popped the door, the alarm start screaming. Kre popped the doors for me and Wine, we jumped in and in seconds the car started after Kre did his job, and we pulled off out the parking lot. Right when we was making a right out the parking lot, I see some lady pointing at us with the Pathmart security next to her. Kre hit it son the lady ratting on us. Kre hit the gas hard doing like 40mph and made left on South Orange Ave doing 20mph, then hit it hard, almost hitting a car and then made a right on Hunderton. I looked back yo we good son. Now lets go handle Toney Kre said.
Twenty minutes later, we were pulling up in front of Toney’s Body Shop but we parked the car in the front. We jumped out and walked to the shop, make sure ya’ll don’t touch shit Kre told me and Wine. We walked in the door what’s good ya’ll Mark said, Toney in the back we walked to the back and opened his door to his office with my shirt, not to leave finger prints, but Tone was on the phone, I closed the office door, when Tone got off the phone, Kre spoke. Yo, Tone we been stealing rides getting you good money but we trying to see good money to. We trying to cop weight and push our shit Tone, Kre said. What ya’ll know about weight Tone said pulling out two oz’s of white powder. Kre start smiling and pulled his 380 from his waist and pointed it at Tone. Tone jumped up and Kre said “This for my mother bitch and shot Tone in the chest, Boom, Toney fell back in his seat, Boom, Kre shot Tone again hitting him in the face knocking him out the seat. Kre ran to Tone’s desk with his back pack and threw them two oz’s in the backpack. I pulled my .38 cuz I knew Mark was on his way, the office door opened. Shut the fuck up and lay down I told Mark while pointing the .38 at his head. I looked towards Tone’s desk and see Kre putting what look like a half of key of dope in his backpack. I looked at Wine and see the scary look in his eyes, yo Kre hurry the fuck up fam. Seconds later we was running out the shop and jumping in the Maxima. Kre grabs the flathead off the arm rest and start the Maxima up , then we pull off. We stayed quiet for some minutes, we were riding back in Newark, and Kre gave me his backpack. Lil Cuz put that on your back, I grabbed it and put it on. We turn on “Newton Ave and pass Newark police. I tried to look str-8 ahead when they passed us, I looked back and see them hit a u-turn. Oh shit son they turned around, nigga I know Kre yelled at me. Kre hit the gas and the police hit the lights, it was on. Kre was doing like 80 mph down Newton Ave in my head, I’m like we got mad dope, two guns and one might be a murder weapon and we in a stolen car. Just the guns by itself gonna be ten years I thought, five years each, and if Tone’s dead that’s life and the half key of dope might be 10 to 20. Damn I thought, that’s life plus 30 years, Kre turned right on 18th Ave damn near losing control of the car, I look back and see the police still on us, “push this bitch Kre I tell him, scared out my mind, just thinking in my head was all this shit really worth it, life plus 30 years, just to get a little money. At 13, I just knew my life was over with, I thought about Chelle, I thought about Cali in Juvy Hall who taught me about loyalty but failed to tell me the flip side. I said a little prayer to God to change my life if he get me out this shit. Right then Kre make a sharp right on Elizabeth Ave. doing like 30mph. We ran through a red light, I just closed my eyes and when I opened them I looked back and seen the police car run the light but got side swiped by blue Van, Kre made a quick right and then the first left, and pulled up behind the church off 18th, we jumped out, ran to the side of the church and jumped the side gate. After I got over the gate I made sure I still had my banger, I was gonna toss the gun but with the beef we got out here, I need that on my hip at all times. We ran all the way to Hunterdon Street to my moms spot. We walked in the door after giving dap to everybody on the stoop. Damn, where ya’ll niggas just ran from Alweedy said. I heard police sirens in the distance, we rushed up to the room, I closed my room door after we came in and all three of us changed clothes. Kre grabbed the backpack and duped it on the bed, the 2oz’s and half key of dope came out. Kre is that coke or heroin? Kre said that is heroin Lil Cuz and this is at least worth $30,000 worth of dope Kre said let’s roll a fat one to our come up cuz we ain’t turning back from here fam. We twisted one up and smoked and talk shit for the rest of the night, before I fell asleep I was in deep thought about what happen earlier. I asked God to get me out that situation and he did but just that quick I put God out my situation. I thought to myself, crazy right. But I just ain’t ready to fall back I thought before I fell off to sleep. That night I had a crazy dream, to this day I’ll never forget it. It was pitch black and I could not breath that good with something pulling me down, I was calling my family, my mother, my sisters, even God but they never came. And then I stop breathing and jumped up out my bed sweating real bad. The dream felt so real.
Next Day
After waking that morning from the bad dream, I was sweating so bad I walked to the hallway bathroom and took a long shower, in the shower I was really trying to understand my dream and just thinking about life. I wanted out but my loyalty to the streets is all I know. Knock, knock, fucked my thought’s up. Yo, I’m in the shower I yelled to my sister Redd, she walked in and sat on the toilet to pee. Nigga you ain’t said shit I got to pee. Do you even drink water fam cuz yo pee is rocking (smelling)? Fuck you John John while getting up and walking out the bathroom. I got done washing up and went back in my room. I hate when Wine sleep over cuz he snore to loud. I stepped over Wine that was sleeping on the floor and went to my closet to get dressed. I put on my blue Tommy shorts, all white T- shirt and my blue and white New Balance shoes, grabbed me the half blunt of gangsta off my dresser and fired it up. I hit it hard hoping it take away all the stress that was building up in me. I looked at Kre sleeping in his bed, hit the blunt, and blew the weed smoke in Kre face while he was sleep, seconds later, he started smiling, and I pass him the blunt. Damn how long you been up Lil Cuz Kre asked, shit about 30 minutes, had a fucked up dream woke up sweating and shit and I got up and hit the shower. You know sometime dreams mean shit fam, Kre said while hitting the blunt. A Lil Bro somebody at the door for you downstairs my sister Pooch said, as she came in my room getting the blunt from Kre. Who it is sis I ask, nigga I don’t know I never seen old boy before that’s why I ain’t let him up, Pooch said. I got up off the bed and walked downstairs and opened the front door, I could not believe my fucking eyes. Oh shit, what’s really hood Cali, I said while hugging my nigga from Juvy Hall. What’s bracking fool Cali said, shit nigga when you get out of Juvy Hall I ask while closing my front door. I got out today fool. My moms’ boyfriend dropped the charges and the state had no case, so they released me early this morning. But as soon as I get to my moms spot on Prince Street, I see my moms boyfriend. I still ain’t get over him beating my mom so I found your address you gave me before you left Juvy Hall. I called a Taxi and gave him your address and now I’m here. Damn Son I got so much to tell you. Come on Son and I took Cali to my room and then close the door after I told Pooch to get out. Yo Kre this my homie Cali from Juvy Hall. What’s good Son, Kre said dapping Cali up. What’s bracking fool?
“Yo, my Lil Cuz John John told me so much about you Kre said, you trying to smoke I asked Cali while twisting up a blunt. Hell yeah fool. I started telling Cali all the shit we done got into since I got out of Juvy Hall, but left out the shit about Tone. Yo Cali me Kre and Wine got this YCP Young Crack Pushers going hard my dude, you trying to rep it with us I ask Cali. John John no disrespect fool, but I bang Westside Piru. I only push the line with that, nothing more, nothing less Cali told me. That’s real I said while passing the blunt to Cali, I kicked Wine on the floor, yo get the fuck up Son, you wilding, still kicking that sleep shit. Chill John John, Wine said while getting up off the floor.
“I know ya’ll niggas ain’t smoking in my house” my moms said, coming in the room. Ok, ma we out I said grabbing my .38 off the dresser to hide it from my moms. I grabbed some money out my shoebox and then we left to go outside and finish smoking. We kicked it on the front stoop with Sisda. Cali and Sisda was talking while me and Kre and Alweedy played close to the wall for $5.00 a play. Close to the wall is a game we play in the hood, whoever gets the coin closest to the wall wins. Hell ya nigga Alweedy that’s me I said picking up $15.00. We was facing our building with our back to the street. Yo Cali ya’ll over there kicking it like you been knowing Sisda. Kre threw his coin close to the wall, then I threw mine, and then Alweedy. Yeah got ya’ll niggas this time Alaweedy said, cuz his coin was closes to the wall. Boom, Boom, tet, tet, Boom tet, shots just start going off. I dove to the ground, Kre ducked by the stoop and pulled his 380. I looked toward the street and seen the black Lexus just turning off our block, then it hit me about Tim’s brother Mike Mike. I looked to the side, see Cali on the ground not moving at all with blood coming from his back, neck and head, Noooo, I screamed, and ran to Cali. Yo, John John, Wine got hit Kre said. I look over at Wine and seen Wine holding his leg and arm crying. My moms and sister bust out the front door. Boy, oh my God, oh my God my moms’ said when she seen Cali’s body. I can’t do this God I got to get out this hood my moms said. Kre ran over to me, yo John John the police on they way, we got to be out, Kre said while pulling me. Pooch make sure Wine get to the hospital I told my sister, then me and Kre took off running towards Morris Ave with murder on my mine.
