Hood Lemonade Jamika's Vendetta (11 page)

“But I don’t want to see a mirror, Grandma. I know my hair is a mess.”

“Shhh, baby.”

Marjorie handed Jamika a mirror. Her reflection resembled something from a horror film. Jamika’s face had gashes and wounds where the glass sliced her face. She was stitched up in at least three different places. One of her eyes was half-closed and bloodshot, and her top lip was badly swollen.

Her stomach swirled at her reflection. She began to yell, “Why me? Why me? Why does everything bad always happen to me?”

Marjorie went over to hug Jamika. She then told her, “Meek, this will all heal. It’s going to take some time, but you won’t look like this forever. I’m going to sit right here with you until you soak all this in. Then, we’ll go to my apartment and I’ll cook you up something really good.”

Jamika watched as her grandmother turned the lock on the hospital door and placed a towel beneath the door. She couldn’t help but smile when she saw her grandmother pull out a marijuana joint wrapped in 1.5 cigarette paper. She lit it. She inhaled the smoke and passed it to Jamika.

“But, Grandma…”

“Don’t you ‘but Grandma me. There isn’t anything wrong with smoking a little reefer. I’ve been smoking since before I was your age. The secret is that you do not let it control you, and no one needs to know that you do it. Now, go ahead and hit that. That is good, natural herbal medicine right there.”

Jamika had always known that her Grandma Marjorie was cool. She could tell her anything, and she never judged her or made her feel like she was a bad person. She had been living with Marjorie for a while and loved living there. Jamika would keep the house clean while Marjorie worked and in the evenings, they would talk, play cards, smoke joints, and watch television sitcoms. Marjorie was helping Jamika’s wounds heal physically and mentally.

One day, while Marjorie was at work, Jamika heard the bells of the neighborhood ice cream truck. She hadn’t been outside since she’d moved in. She was embarrassed by the gauze that she still wore wrapped around her head and face. Yet, she wanted an ice cream cone so badly; she could taste it. She decided that it wouldn’t harm anything to run out to the truck and come right back inside.

Just as the truck was leaving, she reached it to make her order. She reached in her pocket to get out a dollar and a hand that was the exact color of her own, reached out and covered her hand. She heard a voice say, “I got it.” Jamika looked up to see a handsome, young man smiling at her, and handing over a dollar to the ice cream truck attendant. She instantly felt ashamed and wished that she hadn’t come outside.

“Thank you…uh…for the ice cream,” Jamika said.

“No problem,” he said.

Jamika noticed that the guy looked vaguely familiar. She could not place him in her mind, or think of where she might have met him before. Jamika realized that she was staring at the guy and figured she should say something.

He was the same dark brown as Jamika, but with islander features, sensitive eyes and short dreadlocks that looked exotic. “I like your dreads, they’re cute,” Jamika complemented him sincerely.

“You’re cute,” he returned quickly.

Jamika could see right through him. She knew that all men were the same, and she told herself that she would never let her feelings get caught up again. Besides, how could he call her cute? Only her eyes and nose were visible through the bandages. Jamika decided to call him on it.

“I might look like a monster under this. How can you say that I am cute?”

“Hmmm…well, I really hope that you don’t. The last time I saw you, you were beautiful. You were the absolute definition of a Nubian princess. I knew that it was you, simply by the way that you walk. I could never forget that sexy ass walk. Frankly, I always hoped that we would meet again.”

So she did know him from somewhere. “Excuse me, but have we met?” asked Jamika.

“Yes, about a year and a half ago. Your friends and family were throwing you a surprise party. Your cousin, Kenya or Kiyah, something like that, invited me. I saw you two earlier that day in the mall.”

“Oh yeah, I remember now. That was my cousin, Kita. You didn’t have dreads then though. I think we danced together that night at the party,” Jamika remembered.

“Yes, we danced and you had some moves too. I wanted to talk with you more that night, but some light-skinned brother seemed to have caught your attention. You know, once that happens, us midnight brothers don’t stand a chance.” Jamika could not help but to smile at that. “You know what they say,” he continued, “if it’s meant to be, it will. Isn’t that ironic, here we are.”

“So,” Jamika began, “you believe in destiny. Do you believe that our paths are already made?”

“To a certain extent, yes I do. Of course, we are free-willed creatures, but certain things in life we cannot avoid. It’s meant for us to experience them, to learn from them.”

“Is that so?” asked Jamika, impressed. She was beginning to feel comfortable speaking with him, without realizing it.

“Of course, that’s so. That is why we are standing here having this conversation right now.” He paused for a moment to let that last remark tantalize Jamika’s mind. Then he changed the subject. “You live around here now?”

“No. I was in a bad car accident,” Jamika lied, “I am just staying here with my grandmother until my face heals. I got cut up pretty bad.”

“Listen, no amount of cuts could steal your beauty. You got that real shit, inner beauty. And those damned eyes; you’ll drive a brother insane.” Jamika felt a soft tug in her stomach. She never met a man that expressed himself this way. She tried to tell herself that she did not like this guy, but the truth was that the sparks were flying. Jamika felt she’d better get away from him quickly.

“Well, I’m going to get back inside. What’s your name?” Jamika asked.

“It’s Deonte, but everyone calls me Dee. Let’s see… if I recall correctly your name is Me-Me or something to that effect,” he said charmingly.

“Wow, you really have a great memory. My family and close friends call me Me-Me, Meek or Mika, but my real name is Jamika.”

“What should I call you?” he asked with a serious, intense look.

“Whichever you like,” she said, afraid to allow her eyes to meet his.

“Well, I want to call you my lady, but I know that’s going to take some time.”

“More time than you have, I’m sure. But, we will see each other again, if…it’s our destiny.” Jamika then turned and walked away and into the house with a silent, hidden smile.

Chapter Thirteen

The last few months had made Deonte and Jamika inseparable. He’d started to stop by to keep her company some days while Marjorie was at work. He was always the perfect gentleman. Deonte was extremely sensitive, just like his eyes implied. Yet, he was smart, attentive and romantic. Jamika had agreed to be nothing more than his friend.

The bandages were finally off and Jamika looked like herself again, with the exception of a small, distinctive scar beneath her right eye. Deonte told her that the scar enhanced her beauty and gave her a mysterious edge. Jamika had since left Marjorie’s, and was back at home with Felise, Ed and Rasheeda.

Jamika and Rasheeda were folding clothes and talking. “I missed you, Meek,” said Rasheeda.

“I missed you too, lil sis. You’ve been okay, haven’t you?” asked Jamika.

“I guess, but I don’t like Ed. He makes me sick.”

“Why?” asked Jamika.

“He and Momma fight sometimes. I am afraid that he is going to hurt her,” she said.

“Why haven’t you ever said anything before now?”

“I don’t know,” Rasheeda said, looking down at the floor.

“Well, I’ve been back for over two weeks, and I haven’t ever heard them fight.”

“Don’t worry, you will,” Rasheeda said softly.

Jamika could tell this was really upsetting to her little sister. “Well,” Jamika started, “I can tell you one thing. You don’t have to worry about him hurting Momma with me around, okay?”

“Okay, Meek.”

“I love you, lil sis.”

“I love you too, Meek.” They hugged and Jamika wondered if there was anything else her little sister might not have been telling her.

That same night as if it was somehow pre-planned, Jamika was awakened by loud yelling. Felise and Ed were having an intense argument. Jamika glanced over at Rasheeda, who was still sleeping peacefully. She listened closer to the yelling and realized that the argument was about her.

Ed shouted, “Her ass be walking around here with booty shorts and them little short ass skirts. She need to get some class about herself. You should have left her with your mother; they are made for each other!”

“Look,” yelled back Felise, “this is my daughter, and this is her home too. You do not realize how much shit that girl has been through, way before you came into the picture.”

“You are always making excuses for her!” he yelled.

“You are always coming down on her!” Felise yelled back.

“Cause she isn’t nothing but a little druggin’ whore!”

“Oh hell naw! You know what, you go live with your fuckin’ mother then,” Felise shouted angrily.

“What?” Ed asked surprised by Felise’s outburst.

“You heard me,” Felise did not back down. “Get your shit and leave; I am tired of your shit!”

Ed paused for a moment and then realized he couldn’t say or do anything more at this point to change the situation. That was it. “Oh, I’ll leave. But, you need to be worried about getting tested, while you’re busy throwing me out. I’ve been HIV positive for two years.”

“What did you just say?” Felise figured she must have misheard him.

“Yeah, see if another man wants you now,” Ed stated sternly.

“You son of a bitch!” shouted Felise.

Jamika could hear glass shattering. She ran from her room to see Felise and Ed fighting like two heavyweights in a title bout. Jamika started to hit and punch Ed also. Together they kicked and pounded him until he curled up in a ball on the floor. Felise suddenly stopped attacking him, dropped to the floor and began to cry. Jamika stopped then also, and began to hug her mother. She also began to cry.

“I’m so sorry, baby,” Ed said, close to a whisper. Ed slowly rose and walked out without looking back. Jamika ran to the door and locked it behind him. Felise started to cry harder. Her whole body shook from her cries.

Jamika asked, “Ma, are you all right?” It hurt Jamika to see her mother in such devastation.

“I really hope so. I really, really hope so.”

At that moment, they heard a loud, breaking sound. They ran to the front of the house to see Ed throwing cement bricks through the front windows of the house. His eyes were full of rage. He yelled out, “You infested bitch! I will kill all of y’all in that house before I let you leave me.” He moved from window to window around the house, breaking them. The only room spared was the girls’ bedroom. They could hear sirens approaching.

Ed tried to flee, but was quickly apprehended and bought back to the house. The police had arrived unbelievably quick, and Jamika silently thanked whatever neighbor that must have phoned. The officer put Ed in the back seat of the police cruiser and approached Felise and Jamika. “Is anyone injured here?” the officer asked.

“No, but I would like to press charges in regard to the damage to my home,” Felise said. It always amazed Jamika at how well-spoken her mother became when she needed to be. Jamika figured that was where she got it from. She could fit in around the hood or in the suburbs. Felise had taught that versatility by example.

“We will get to that in a moment. Is the little girl that called us all right?” the officer was asking. Felise and Jamika simultaneously looked towards the girls’ bedroom. The door was slightly cracked open. Rasheeda finally stepped out, eyes wide and teary. Jamika ran to her younger sister. She thought to herself about how she had promised her that she’d protect her. In all actuality, Rasheeda had done the protecting that night. She had been the smart one. “It’s all over, Sheed. It’s all over. You did real good, real good.”

***

Approximately a year later, Jamika was busy packing her clothes to move in with Deonte. Since Felise found out she was HIV positive, she had become impossible to live with. She started smoking marijuana joints like a chain smoker, escalated to snorting cocaine, and was now using crack cocaine. She’d lost her job of over ten years.

Marjorie had taken Rasheeda to live with her about two months earlier. Deonte had been there to help her through this time, and she’d somehow become his girlfriend, despite her resistance. He had asked her many times to move in with him. Jamika finally decided it was best that she take him up on his offer. She did love the nights she spent at Deonte’s. He was a hopeless romantic, and an excellent cook.

The only thing that bothered Jamika was that she still did not know what Deonte did for a living. He’d buy her really expensive gifts, was always taking trips and his house was extravagant. He drove a new BMW, 700 series. Whenever she asked him about it, he would charmingly change the subject. She thought that he dealt drugs, but she’d never seen him turn a deal, and he just didn’t fit that profile.

After packing up all of her things into the car, she went to let Felise know that she was leaving. She tapped on the bedroom door. “What? Damn!” Felise shouted.

“I’m leaving now, Ma. I’ll call you later, okay?” Felise did not answer. Jamika stood by the door a moment, waiting for a response but none came. “Talk to you later, Ma. I love you,” Jamika said.

Jamika knew that Felise did not want her to leave, but she couldn’t stand to sit around there and see her mother this way anymore. It was greatly affecting her. She’d been so involved in looking after her mother and the house, that she missed graduating high school by two credits. She’d have to attend summer school in order to get her diploma.

She’d been accepted into two universities and received a performing arts scholarship, and then had not finished high school. She loved her mother dearly, but had to think of her own future as well. She knew that she could not get her thoughts together living at that house, seeing her mother that way. She would attend summer school at the high school nearer to her mother’s house, so she could stop by to check on her daily. Then maybe she could find a way to concentrate on her studies.

Deonte lived in a huge, waterfront two-story, six-bedroom house, with a swimming pool. She parked her old Buick next to the new BMW. She grabbed two of her bags and headed for his front door. She couldn’t believe that she was actually going to live with a man.

She rang the doorbell. Deonte answered in a silk robe. He took the bags from Jamika and placed them on the floor. Jamika was turning to go and get more things from her car, when she noticed the banner Deonte had on the wall that read, “Welcome Home”. Jamika noticed that the lights had been dimmed, and little scented candles had been placed throughout the home.

She saw that two, tall, red candles adorned the dining room table, along with a chilled bottle of some type of expensive champagne, whose name she could not pronounce. There were table settings for two. Tracks from R. Kelly’s “12 Play” filled the house. She looked over at Deonte, who held a shy, genuine smile. “What are you up to, Dee?”

“Pleasing my lady, that’s all,” he said. “I know that it was hard for you to leave your mother. I want you to feel at home. I ran you a bath to relax in while I finish dinner.”

He led her to the master bathroom, where he’d filled his oversized, Jacuzzi tub with hot soapy water and scented rose petals. “I’ll be back, go ahead and get in. I’m going to check on dinner.” Jamika undressed and slid slowly into the hot, relaxing bath. This was just what she needed. Deonte was so good to her; it was unreal. This reassured her that she was doing the right thing by moving in with him.

Jamika closed her eyes and thought of how lucky she was to have Deonte. She’d never experienced the things he did for her, and hoped that it would always be this way. She opened her eyes when she heard him enter the bathroom. He held two genuine crystal flutes, filled with champagne. “Let’s celebrate,” he said, giving her one of them.

He removed his silk robe and exposed his nakedness. His broad chest, muscular arms and six-pack abdomen were enhanced by his long, hard penis. The sight of it enticed Jamika, as she started to rub her vagina underneath the water.

“Let me handle that for you,” Deonte said seductively, climbing into the oversized, Jacuzzi bathtub with Jamika. She opened her legs to comply. Deonte reached over and fondled her beneath the soapy water. “Stand up, let me see that beautiful body. Come here,” he directed her.

She stood before him in the tub with her vagina in his face. He adored it for a moment as if it was a piece of art, then kissed it like it might leave. He separated the lips to easily find her clit, then he grabbed her ass and exhaled as his tongue explored her. He was hungry for her and licked with long, moist strokes that would pause with tender sucking.

Jamika’s legs shivered and her eyes rolled back as he devoured her. He felt her shaking and told her to bend over the tub. He proceeded to eat her from behind, licking, sucking and slurping like it was the best thing he’d ever tasted. She could no longer hold back, as an orgasm exploded, sending her into mild convulsions.

Deonte smiled, satisfied that he had pleased her. He sat back in the tub with an alluring smile, the head of his penis protruding through the surface of the soapy water. Jamika’s insides thumped at the anticipation of feeling him inside of her. She straddled him, her moist vagina welcoming the stiff hardness penetrating it.

She began riding him slow, wanting to feel every inch of him as she rose and then lowered her ass repeatedly to the rhythm of his appeased moans. He sucked on her nipples, while rubbing her clit as she rode him. So many of her erroneous parts being stimulated at one time, made her escalate, no longer wanting to be slow or gentle.

She banged her ass up and down on his legs, causing waves in the bathtub. She could feel his penis in its deepest position inside of her. She tightened her vaginal muscles and clenched down on him, allowing him to feel the depth of her.

“Get up! Get up!” he yelled through gritted teeth, not wanting to ejaculate inside of her.

Jamika snatched herself off of him, just in time to watch him go into mild convulsions of his own. “That’s what I’m talking about,” she said knowing that she’d put it on him.

After the bath, her hunger was satisfied with filet mignon, garlic parsley potatoes and a fresh garden salad. Then, they again made love for most of the remainder of the night. Jamika seemed not to get enough of his touch, his smell, and the way he felt inside of her.

The next morning, Jamika was up early. She didn’t want Deonte to think she’d be lazy. She did the dishes and cleaned the house of the previous night’s escapades. She cooked scrambled eggs with cheese, smooth thick grits, beef link sausages and buttered toast. She took a plate to the side of the bed and kissed Deonte softly on the lips to awaken him. He opened his eyes slowly as the aroma of the hot breakfast tickled his morning hunger. His face lit up with a smile as he realized Jamika had made him breakfast in bed. “Give me a kiss.”

“No way, you got to do something with that morning breath  first, it’s screaming!” Jamika teased jokingly. They both laughed. “Eat up, I have to get ready. I have to go and sign up for summer school today.”

Deonte looked a little disappointed and said, “Baby, can you sign up tomorrow? I thought I would show you what I do today. I know that you’ve been wanting to know.” Jamika suddenly felt excited. She’d wondered all this time how he made such a great living. Signing up for summer school could wait one more day.

After breakfast, they showered together and dressed. “Are you ready?” Deonte asked.