Charge It To The Game Read online

  Taj was six feet two inches with a chiseled and buffed body. He had smooth dark skin, his long and thick eyelashes accentuated his brown eyes. Taj‘s lips were like Denzel‘s and he had pretty white teeth. It didn‘t take long to learn that he also possessed all the qualities I demanded my man to have— style, street smarts, power and plenty of money.

  I reached for my cell phone to call Taj. As soon as I picked up the phone, it began to ring – it was Taj. ―Hey, baby,‖ I said. ―I was just getting ready to call you.‖ ―What‘s really good, ma?‖

  ―Nothing…missing you.‖

  ―Yeah. I miss you, too. Where you at?‖

  ―In the car. I‘m heading to Brooklyn. I gotta meet Black and Pam.‖

  ―That‘s what‘s up.‖

  ―When you coming back,

  Taj?‖ ―I‘m leaving tonight.‖

  ―Good. What flight are you gonna catch?‖ ―I think it‘s leaving Miami at 6:15. But if I don‘t make

  that one, I think there is another one leaving at 8:30.‖ ―Why you don‘t think you can make the 6:15 flight? I need for you to come back home.‖ ―Storm, I gotta make sure dude get on the train and everything go okay…what you mean you needme back home.‖

  I laughed. ―I meant what I said. I‘m missing you big time, baby. You know I don‘t like being alone too long.‖

  ―Oh, so Madison ain‘t keeping you

  company.‖ ―Taj!‖

  ―Well, I ain‘t know…I mean you be giving that dog more attention than me sometimes.‖

  ―Whatever, Taj.‖

  ―Has Rick been keeping in touch with you?‖

  ―Yeah. I heard from him yesterday.‖

  ―A‘ight. Make sure you call him if you need him.‖ ―Okay, I

  will. Oh, did you let him know what time you‘re coming in tonight?‖

  ―Nah, I‘ll call him though. Don‘t worry about that. I got that.‖

  ―All right. Let me go. I‘ll call you later

  on.‖ ―Love you.‖

  ―Love you, too.‖

  * * * When I arrived at Junior‘s, Black, Pam and this chick named Shade was already there.

  ―Hey, what‘s up y‘all?‖ I asked.

  ―Hey, what‘s up, Storm?‖ Shade responded.

  ―What‘s going on girl?‖ Pam asked.

  ―You don‘t know how to speak nigga?‖ I asked Black. ―My bad,‖ Black apologized. Then he directed his attention back to his telephone call. ―Yo, listen I‘ ll hit you back later.‖ Black walked over and embraced me. ―What‘s up baby girl? You looking fine as usual.‖

  ―Thanks, boo,‖ I said. Why y‘all ain‘t get a

  table?‖ ―We just got here,‖ Pam proclaimed. I nodded at Shade then turned to Pam ―What she doing

  here?‖ ―Oh, I ran into her at

  Macy‘s.‖ ―Get rid of her!‖

  Pam gave a nervous laugh. ―You ain‘t right Storm.‖

  ―I ain‘t playing. Get rid of her. You know you don‘t do no shit like that.‖

  ―She‘s taking me uptown after we leave here.‖

  ―Pam what part don‘t you understand? I don‘t care if she‘s taking you to Timbuktu…she ain‘t sitting down eating at no table with me.‖

  Pam caught an instant attitude. I knew that eventually she would. It never failed. Pam always seemed to have a hard time accepting orders from me. I always reminded her that business was business and friendship was a separate entity. I didn‘t get where I was mixing the two.

  ―Well, she gonna have to sit in her car ‗cause I‘m not trying to take no train uptown. It‘s too cold to be riding the train. Are you going back home once you leave here?‖

  ―Unh Uh…I gotta few stops to make. Just make the bitch wait in the car. I mean what‘s the problem? You‘re wasting my time standing here debating over small shit.‖

  Pam walked away, whispered something to Shade, then Shade left.

  * * * ―Pam, we got the work when you gonna get busy?‖ I asked.

  ―Tomorrow,‖ Pam said. ―We doing VA.‖

  I tore off a piece paper out of my Louis Viutton planner and jotted down a few items. ―Here is the list of what I want.‖

  ―Okay.‖

  ―You got your pictures?‖

  ―Yeah. I met up with Juan. He got some phat DLs from VA. Them shits look original.‖

  ―I met this dude the other day that do some good work, too.‖ Black interjected. ―I can give you his number.‖

  ―Ain‘t this your personal list?‖ Pam asked. ―Where‘s the client list?‖

  I dug in my handbag and retrieved the other list of items. ―Here. We need some nice electronics…three plasmas. Jewelry…some nice pieces…especially bracelets. Listen when you go OT, make sure you stop at Tysons Corner at Zella‘s. Ask for Muhammad. That‘s my peoples. He‘s gonna let you do the damn thing.‖

  ―A‘ight.‖

  ―You gonna get 40 off of this. And get yourself a couple of cards when you go to Macy‘s.‖

  ―I‘ma take Shade with me. And I‘ma hit her off with a little something.‖

  ―I don‘t give a fuck if you buy her a car, just bring me my shit.‖ ―Pam, why you fucking with that bitch?‖ Black asked. ―She just trying to get on. Her baby father is on and he ain‘t even fuckin‘ with her.‖

  ―Nah, that bitch gonna earn her keep. Ain‘t no loafing. She gotta get up. She know what time it is. Fuck that. Storm, anything else?‖

  ―We good.‖

  Black clasped his hands. ―Y‘all ready to order? Let‘s eat.‖ Looking at the menu, I said, ―Me, too. I‘m feeling for

  some grits and sunny side eggs today.‖

  ―You the only person I know that will eat grits anytime of the day,‖ Pam said.

  * * * After we ate, Pam got into the car with Shade. Black and I walked to the Park Right parking lot around the corner from Albee Square Mall.

  ―Yo, Storm, I know Pam‘s your girl and all, but you better watch out, ‗cause she got larceny in her heart.‖

  ―I can trust her, Black. She‘s got my back.‖

  ―I‘m telling you Storm…keep your eye on her. I don‘t trust her. That bitch will cut your throat.‖ ―I appreciate you looking out but Pam is cool,‖ I defensively replied. ―I‘ve known her for a minute. She‘s one of the few people Ican trust. She‘s good people. Anyway, so when you gonna have some more work for me.‖

  ―I‘m gonna hit up one of the credit report agencies by the end of the week. I‘ll hit you off by Friday.‖ ―That‘ll work.‖ I reached in my pocket and pulled out a stack of crisp one hundred dollar bills. ―Here.‖

  ―Thanks.‖

  Chapter 6

  I turned over and snuggled closer to Taj, then kissed him on the back of his neck. ―Why are you up so early?‖

  ―I couldn‘t sleep…my stomach hurts,‖ Taj answered.

  I put my hands on his stomach and began to rub it. ―What‘s the matter?‖ ―I think it was that Mexican food we had last night. I can‘t be messing with you, Storm. You always trying to eat different shit.‖

  ―I‘m sorrreee. I thought you like trying different things.‖ ―Yeah,‖ Taj grimaced, ―but my stomach ain‘t trying to have it.‖

  I climbed out of the bed. ―I‘ll go make you a cup of

  tea.‖ ―I don‘t want no tea.‖

  ―Why you trying to give me a hard time this morning?‖ ―Storm, come on now.‖

  ―Come on now what?‖

  ―Okay…okay. I‘ll take a cup of tea. Damn,

  girl.‖ ―And a slice of toast…and some Pepcid.‖

  Taj laughed and yelled out as I walked out the room. ―I don‘t need another mother.‖

  ―And I ain‘t trying to be one. By the way, your mother said to call her.‖

  ―When she call here?‖

  ―Early this morning. She said it wasn‘t

  important…just checking on you.‖

  ―A‘ight, I‘ll call her later.‖

  The phone began to ring.

  ―I can
‘t find the other cordless phone in here,‖ I yelled from the kitchen. ―Answer the phone.‖

  ―It‘s Pam.‖

  ―Okay. I‘m coming,‖ I said walking toward the

  bedroom. ―Here,‖ Taj said handing me the telephone.

  ―Hey, what‘s up?‖

  ―Girl, you know I had mad drama yesterday,‖ Pam

  said. ―What happened?‖ I asked.

  ―I was in Circuit City and opened up a

  joint.‖ ―Hold up…where you at?‖

  ―I‘m on the Turnpike.‖

  ―You ain‘t back home yet?‖

  ―Nah, Shade wanted to stop by her family house in Maryland first. We ended up staying the night there.‖

  ―So you had drama yesterday in Circuit City but you just telling me today?‖

  ―Storm, I tried calling you about five times yesterday.‖

  ―Pam, I checked my voicemails…and I ain‘t have not one message from you.‖

  ―I didn‘t leave a voicemail.‖

  ―Then you didn‘t call.‖

  ―I did call.‖

  ―I said if you ain‘t leave no message, you ain‘t call. And if you couldn‘t reach me on one of the cell phones why didn‘t you try and two-way me? I mean what‘s the point of me buying you all that shit to keep in touch with me if you ain‘t gonna use none of it?‖

  ―I tried to direct connect you…and you ain‘t answer that either. Itkept saying, ‗the Nextel customer you are trying to reach—‖

  ―Whatever, Pam. I‘m not even gonna keep going back and forth with you on this. You didn‘t call and you know you didn‘t!‖

  ―Storm, how you gonna—‖

  I quickly interrupted her. ―I said I‘m finished. Now tell me what the fuck happened at Circuit City!‖

  ―Baby, calm down,‖ Taj whispered.

  ―Like I was saying, I went into Circuit City and opened up a joint. They gave me 10Gs. I bought a 35-inch plasma, and a couple of lap tops. I get to the register…and the bitch was ringing me up and all of sudden, she stopped to make a call. She wearing a funny look on her face and I know her ass is up to something. Then she said she had to verify some information. So, I‘m waiting

  and waiting while she is doing her thing. She was on the phone so long that I knew something wasn‘t right. Next thing you know…I see a fake toy cop walking up front. So I just bounced. You know that ain‘t worth getting knocked for.‖

  ―So wait a minute…you ain‘t get shit?‖

  ―I did…I mean not at Circuit City. But I went to Best and got 10Gs from there.‖

  ―You must‘ve been sloppy, Pam. You let triflin‘ ass Shade through your game off.‖

  ―Storm, come on now, why you trippin‘? Ain‘t shit happen. I got the shit.‖

  ―I’m trippin‘? You know what? I ain‘t even doing this right now. Anyway, what else happened?‖ ―Oh,‖ Pam‘s voice grew with excitement. ―I got 20Gs from Zelle‘s. Muhammad hooked me up! I racked up on some canary diamonds, tennis bracelets…and girl guess what I got for myself?‖

  ―What?‖

  ―Some Iced out boogas for my

  ears.‖ ―Oh, yeah.‖ ―Well, damn, what‘s up with that Storm? Didn‘t you say I could get something?‖

  I chose to ignore her. ―Did you go to Macy‘s and get the gift cards?‖

  ―Yeah, I stopped at Crystal City. I got a stack of ones and few for five.‖ ―I told you to get all of them for five. I ain‘t trying to waste no time with fifty dollar profits. Shit I spend that much on my stockings.‖ I sighed heavily. ―I guess I‘ll see you when you get back.‖

  ―Okay, I should be back around 12. I‘ma drop Shade off, then I‘ll come by your place.‖ ―Nah. Call me first. I don‘t know where me and Taj gonna be today. I might have to just meet you somewhere.‖

  ―A‘ight. Is it still snowing there?‖

  ―I didn‘t know that it snowed. It wasn‘t snowing when I came in last night.‖

  ―Yeah, it‘s snowing here. I think New York supposed to get eight inches or something like that.‖

  ―Oh, that‘s why Madison so quiet this morning. She probably just sitting, and staring out the window.‖ ―You ain‘t take her out for a walk

  yet?‖ ―Nah, I‘m getting ready to do

  that now.‖ ―Well, be careful out there.‖

  ―You, too.‖

  ―I‘ll call you when I get back in town.‖

  ―Hmmm, hmmm.‖ I slammed down the telephone.

  Then I turned to Taj. ―She is starting to piss me off.‖ ―Just calm down. You know what you do when you

  see her, just let her know that you don‘t like the way she

  rolling lately. This is your show. You‘re the maestro of this

  shit. Just put the bitch in her place. I told you a long time ago

  to get rid of her ass. She be trying to take advantage ‗cause

  she know y‘all cool. You need to put that friendship shit aside.

  You can‘t do business and be friends with a bitch. Your shit is

  too tight…she probably hating a little bit, you never know.‖ ―Black told me the same thing the other day.‖ ―What...about Pam?‖

  ―Yeah. He told me to be careful.‖

  ―I‘m not saying all of that. She ain‘t gonna cross you

  or nothing like that. She ain‘t that crazy. But she probably

  dragging her feet a little bit ‗cause she think she got it like

  that. She probably getting a little comfortable you know? She

  see you looking fine as shit sitting on your millions and she

  think you can cross her legs, too.‖

  ―Well, whatever it is, I‘m nipping it today.‖ ―That‘s all you gotta do. Refresh her memory with the

  rules.‖

  The telephone rang.

  ―Hello,‖ I said.

  The caller hung up. I looked at the Caller ID. It read ―Unknown.‖

  ―Who was that?‖

  ―I don‘t know. Those hang up calls are starting up again.‖ ―Yo‘, why you looking at me like that? I ain‘t got nobody calling here hanging up on you.‖

  ―A guilty conscious needs no

  accusing.‖ ―What?‖

  ―You heard what I said. This shit betta not be starting up again.‖

  ―Storm, why every fucking time somebody call and hang up, it‘s my fault?‖

  ―Because that is the shit yourbitches do.‖

  ―Bitches? One bitch…Denise. One mistake that you won‘t let a nigga live down.‖

  ―‘Cause the shit won‘t go away.‖

  ―Storm, I ain‘t talk to that girl in over a year. I wish you would stop bringing her ass up. You letting a bitch fuck up your head!‖

  ―You bought her up…I didn‘t.‖

  ―You ain‘t say her name but you brought her up. Listen, I ain‘t gonna argue with you over something that happened a year ago. I‘m getting in the shower.‖

  ―You ain‘t gonna drink your

  tea?‖ ―You drink it!‖

  I jumped off the bed and wrapped my arms around him. ―I‘m sorry.‖

  ―Let go of me.‖

  ―Taj, I said I‘m sorry.‖

  ―I‘m tired of that shit. I know you had a rough childhood and shit and I try and be patient with you because of that…but you be trippin‘. Your ass is pissed with Pam and you starting shit with me over a hang up call. I ain‘t have nothing to do with that. I told you a hundred times to get call intercept or whatever the hell that thing is. Then you won‘t have nobody calling here with a block number. You letting the bitch win ‗cause you sitting there spazin‘ over it and shit.‖

  ―Taj, baby, I‘m wrong.‖

  ―Storm, you gotta stop with the accusations. I ain‘t out there messing with nobody. That‘s the past. I know I hurt you and I ain‘t trying to put you through that shit again. What we got I can‘t get from anywhere. You gotta trust me.‖

  ―I do trust you.‖

  ―You don‘t.‖

  �
�Can we just forget about it?‖

  ―You can‘t keep bringing that shit up,‖ Taj continued.

  ―I won‘t. I promise. Now let‘s stop talking about it. I‘ma go and take Madison for a walk.‖

  ―I‘ll do it. I looked out the window, its looks real bad out there.‖

  ―Thanks. I‘ll go and make us breakfast then.‖

  ―On second thought, you go ahead and walk Madison and I‘ll make the breakfast.‖

  We both laughed. ―You ain‘t right,‖ I

  said. Taj two-way began to vibrate.

  ―What‘s wrong?‖

  ―Nothing,‖ Taj said while typing. ―Rick wanted to know if I needed him.‖

  ―Where you going?‖

  ―I‘m not going anywhere, Storm. I just two-wayed the man back and told him he didn‘t have to worry about driving me anywhere today ‗cause I‘m chilling with my wife. You see what I mean?‖

  ―Go on and walk Madison.‖ Damn, I am trippin’.

  While Taj was gone, I laid across the bed. I must have fallen asleep. Taj woke me up nibbling on my ear.

  I‘m smiled and pulled him on top of me. ―You back?‖

  ―Yup,‖ Taj got up and pulled me up off of the bed. Come on let‘s go outside.‖

  ―Why?‖

  ―Let‘s go to Central Park. I see all the kids out there playing.‖

  ―I ain‘t trying to watch no kids play, Taj.‖ ―Why

  you be acting like that Storm? Come on.‖

  ―You know I don‘t like snow and I ain‘t crazy ‗bout no kids.‖

  ―And I can‘t understand that shit either.‖

  ―I told you before my mother named me Storm because of a hurricane. She probably ain‘t know what the hell she was doing. Trust me it didn‘t have nothing to do with a snowstorm.‖

  Taj pulled me out of the bed. ―Get

  dressed.‖ ―I‘m tired.‖

  ―I said, get dressed. Come on now.‖

  * * * Taj and I had a good time. We played catch football and made angels in the snow. All the simple things I missed out doing as a child. Sometimes I had a hard time absorbing what a perfect man Taj was. Yes, he had his faults like the next man but Taj Anderson knew how to love Storm Williams. That in itself took perfection.

  ―Baby, you want some ice cream?‖ I called from the bedroom.