Free White Lines by Tracy Brown Page A

hadn’t said anything to her. Not a word. In a way, Jada had wanted her mother to reach out to her somehow. To hug her and say that she would help her get clean. But as usual, Edna was unwilling to help her daughter. And now Jada really felt alone in the world.
    Two days later, Jada was pacing in the apartment, wondering howlong it would be before Charlie came back. He hadn’t come home the night before, and Jada hadn’t been high in far too long. Shante had gotten arrested for stealing, which left Jada with no partner in crime. Her friend’s arrest made Jada hesitant to do it herself. More than anything, Jada feared going to jail. And that fear was only bolstered by Shante’s predicament. To make matters worse, Lucas was nowhere to be found. She searched frantically through the pockets of Charlie’s clothes and in the cushions of the sofa, to no avail. When he was leaving the previous day, Charlie had told Jada that he couldn’t give her any money. He said that he had bills to pay, that his wife needed money for his kids. Jada had never even known he
had
kids, but all of a sudden his kids needed money. She wasn’t concerned about all that, though. All she wanted was to get high. She was alone in the house with no means of getting her fix.
    Charlie finally came home at nearly two o’clock that afternoon. Jada was thirsting for a hit.
    “Damn!” she said, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. “I was dying for you to get back, Charlie. Can I get something? I need it.”
    That’s when Charlie saw his opportunity.
    “I think I might be able to help you,” he said. He stroked her ass as he said it. He looked at her, still pretty, even after all the abuse she’d put her body through. He sighed. “I like having you to myself, Jada. You’re my favorite girl. But you got a habit I can’t afford to keep supporting.”
    Jada looked like she was surprised by his words, but she knew in her heart that he was right. Her habit had ballooned out of proportion. “So how can you help me?” she asked. She prayed that he wouldn’t suggest rehab, like Rico had. That’s not the kind of help she wanted. All she wanted was some help to stay high.
    “Kelly, my wife, she can set you up on ‘dates’ with men. They can help you make money to feed your habit.”
    Jada let his words sink in. She thought about being a call girl or some kind of prostitute. She thought about Shante’s advice about the “power of the pussy.” She wondered how much she could make. “I don’t know. I don’t know if I can do that every night. I don’t want to be fuckin’ with dirty men—with strangers. They could be psychos.”
    Charlie nodded. “I understand that, and I’ll keep it real with you. You’re a star, baby girl. Even though right now you got a real jones for that crack, you’re still pretty. You look good naturally. You’re a freak in bed. You’re a high-class bitch. Don’t ever let a nigga tell you that you ain’t worth nothing. I almost wanna keep you for myself and let you shine. But you’re worth more than what I can give you. I can’t afford you. You need to work what you got, and Kelly can help you do that.” Charlie was being truthful. It pained him to turn the sexy young lady out. Jada had given him some of the best sex he’d ever had. But it was time for him to make back the money he’d invested in her.
    Jada thought about it. Charlie could see the look of anguish on her face as she considered his words.
    “Let me call Kelly over to talk to you. I’ll let her tell you like it is. And then you can see what you wanna do.”
    Jada nodded, and off he went to retrieve the phone. She sat, and took another hit, while Charlie arranged for his lady to come and add another worker to their stable. Kelly was there within the hour.
    “This is Jada.” Charlie finally introduced the two women. Kelly looked Jada up and down, thinking that Charlie sure had chosen a pretty one this time. Jada seemed nervous in the presence