was all up to her now.
“I got it right here, the best thing for you…”
Ms. Harvey had heard it before. The counselors had tried to prepare her for moments like this. Couple weeks in a residential and a few months in an outpatient program had saved her life. The last time she binged, her heart had literally stopped. She didn’t want to binge.
“Nothing good happens after midnight,” she whispered.
Ms. Harvey could hear the counselor’s voice buzzing in her head. She remembered all the steps to maintain her sobriety. Trying to walk the walk, her strut slowed. She felt the yearning overtaking her senses and soon it was no use running. Too weak to fight, she stopped, looked at the pitcher and gave the proverbial nod.
A few minutes later, Ms. Harvey and a couple of her drug-related friends were coughing up a storm while sucking the crack-pipe. Sweat drained profusely from her pores as the rock went from yellow to bright red. She puffed, took a breath and inhaled deeply,.
“Ah yes, I’m ready to get it on…” she hissed, exhaling fumes as her mind raced and her hips swirled to a pulsing reggae beat in her head.
Later she was so high, a man she met through one of her drug relations easily forced her into the bathroom. In no time, Ms. Harvey’s panties were off and she got busy, giving it up. They fucked until Ms. Harvey was left squatting, immobilized on the toilet seat. She was completely unaware of time. After urinating, she stumbled off the seat. Her legs were weak and her mind was moving slow. She stood on shaky legs, examining a dismal expression in the bathroom mirror. She had to get away, quickly. Ms. Harvey fixed her clothes ran out the bar and hastily made tracks to her apartment.
Inside the familiar littered haunts, she stood in front of her bathroom mirror. Ms. Harvey wiped away her tears. Shame clouded her thoughts. Her smile was twisted when she thought about the graduation earlier. She was proud to watch her daughter walking across the podium. The feeling of pride overtook her. Suddenly, as if struck by a blast of energy, she jumped and raced out the bathroom.
Ms. Harvey ran to the closet and removed her daughter’s graduation gown. She put it on. It swallowed her emaciated frame. She placed the hat and tassels across her face and walked back and forth, pretending to receive her diploma. Then a slow realization hit her hard. She’d cheated. The thought bowled her over onto the sofa. Her stare became fixed on the television. Coco must not find out, she thought. Ms. Harvey jumped up, stripped and got in the shower. She scrubbed herself and then rushed to fix her hair.
Coco always up in my business. I gotta clean up real good.Her thoughts put haste to her actions as she started putting furniture and pillows back in place. Ms. Harvey wandered about the apartment, brushing the furniture off. I need some rest, she thought, picking up the pipe and turning the lighter on high. She puffed hard, sucking on the stem in her quietness.
Ms. Harvey plopped down on the sofa and picked up the remote control. She was about to turn on the television when the ringing phone startled her. She stared blankly at the instrument. Perspiration formed on her brow and her lips went dry. The ringing continued louder. What if it’s Coco? The thought was stuck in her head, echoing loudly like a broken record.
Licking her dried lips, she watched wide-eyed as her heart pounded and the phone continued ringing loudly.
“Hello…” she breathed, nervously cradling the phone too close to the side of her face.
In an attempt to hear better what was being said, Ms. Harvey adjusted the instrument. When she heard the screaming on the other end, Ms. Harvey became anxious.
“Hello. Hello. Who is this? Slow down and talk…”
Ms. Harvey held her breath and fearfully listened to the caller. After a few minutes, the phone slipped from her grip. Her body crumpled to the floor. She was staring at the ceiling and her head was shaking side to side. Ms. Harvey opened her mouth but no sound came. Her lips were ashy-gray and dry. Ms Harvey pulled her hair and kicked her legs then stared off as if hypnotized by a beam of light. She finally let out a loud, blood-curdling, guttural wail.
“What did she say?” Deedee asked anxiously.
“I don’t know but I don’t think she took it very well,” Josephine answered, staring at the cellphone in her hand.
Deedee lit another cigarette and they smoked while waiting outside the hospital.
“Do you think Coco’s gonna pull through this one, Dee?”
“You know her better than me. I mean you’ve known her longer and...” Deedee sucked on the cigarette and passed it to Josephine. “One thing I know for sure, she’s a powerful sister and a real fighter.”
“Yeah, I know. Coco was a… is a great sister,” Josephine said.
“I don’t know why he had it in for Coco so much.”
“Crazy ass, he was trying to kill everyone he came in contact with.”
“One thing I’m happy about is he’s dead. Eric killed that nigga’s ass fer sure,” Josephine said.
“My uncle didn’t kill him. The detective did,” Deedee said immediately.
“I was ducking and running to see what happened to Coco. I didn’t know it was the detective who shot his ass. How Eric wind up with the gun in his hand?” Josephine asked.
“The detective gave it to him after he shot Lil’ Long.”
“Why’d he do that?”
“I don’t know. I know my uncle did not shoot anyone.”
“You sure it wasn’t Eric? The detective took him—”
“I am sure. I saw the whole thing. He’s completely innocent,” Deedee said emphatically.
“My bad. I just thought it was him that’s all. I was busy trying to help Coco,” Josephine said.
“We better get our stories right. You know the police is gonna be questioning us next,” Deedee warned.
“Yeah, I’ll say what you told me. You ain’t gotta worry ‘bout me saying a thing. It’s about whether or not Coco’s gonna live, right?”
“Yeah, that’s what’s it’s all about,” Deedee said. The emotion running through her mind made her sound even more concerned.
“Shit man, I still haven’t gotten over losing Dani. I can’t lose Coco too…” Josephine’s voice trailed and she started crying.
“Yeah, how could anyone forget Dani?” Deedee asked, her mind drifting.
Coco, Danielle and Josephine were all gifted singers and dancers. Coco was special. She was tough but had opened up and shared more with Deedee than any of the other girls. Ever since they met on that ominous night outside the club, their friendship had blossomed to incredible heights.
Da Crew was Danielle—rich, spoiled, sexy beautiful and talented. Josephine was coy and smart. Her dad was a lawyer and her mother a doctor.
