Free Her Sweetest Revenge (Delphine Publications Presents) by Author Saundra Page A

casual.
     
    “I don’t know, but you already know they ain’t gon’ talk about that until they have some proof. And you know ain’t nobody from the hood gon’ give them that. Luscious didn’t even report that shit, I’m sure. But the streets is talkin’, and the word is somebody gon’ pay for that. So you know what that means.”
     
    “ Have you heard anything about any suspects on who did the robbery?” I asked casually.
     
    “ Nope. At this point, everybody’s a suspect. That’s why niggas been getting blasted.” Rochelle pulled out some Certs and popped some in her mouth.
     
    “ That’s crazy.” I shook my head in fake disbelief.
     
    “ Mya!” Momma came out of her room yelling.
     
    “ What?” I said irritated without turning around to face her.
     
    “ Hey, Mrs. Marisa,” Rochelle said.
     
    “ Hey, Rochelle. Mya, you got any money? I need to get me some Newports.”
     
    “ Nope.”
     
    “ Ain’t you been doing hair? Don’t lie to me, girl. All I need is some Newports.”
     
    “ Look, I told you I don’t have any money. And if I did, I wouldn’t give it to you.” I caught an attitude.
     
    “ You wouldn’t give it to me? What the hell does that mean? I been taking care of you since you was shittin’ up diapers. And you wouldn’t give me four stankin’ dollars? Well, ain’t that a bitch.” She really got upset.
     
    “ All right,” I said impatient. “I will get you some Newports. But I ain’t giving you no money. I’ll go out and get some. Come on, Rochelle, let’s walk over to the store.” I bent down and laced up my shoes.
     
    “ And make sure you pick up that mess before you leave,” Mama said, pointing to the leftover hair I used to do Monica’s hair.
     
    I rolled my eyes and started gathering up the hair with Rochelle’s help.
     
    Walking to the store everything looked peaceful, which kind of relaxed my nerves. Everybody was hanging on the block, even my brother Li’l Bo. I started to scream at him, but I decided to chill since I had shit on my mind.
     
    “ So what’s up with the money, Mya? A week has passed since you were supposed to pick it up. And you ain’t said nothing, plus you been acting funny.”
     
    I stopped dead in my tracks. I knew she would ask at some point. I just didn’t know when. But I guess now was as good a time as any to continue with my lie.
     
    “ I got it.”
     
    “ You got it? Well, when did you get it, and how much?” Rochelle fired questions at me. “And why you ain’t happy?”
     
    “ Calm down, Rochelle. It seems to me you’re happy enough for both of us,” I grinned. “I am happy and nervous. I don’t know what to do with all that money. I haven’t even told Li’l Bo and Monica about it,” I confessed.
     
    “ You haven’t? When are you going to tell them? And you still haven’t told me how much money you got. I thought you were my best friend, but you’re holding out on me. What’s up with that, Mya?” Rochelle played at being mad.
     
    “ I’m not holding out. I just haven’t told you. I was afraid you might lose it. You know how excited you get about anything that glitters.” I stopped for a few seconds. “But the amount was about a hundred thousand,” I lied calmly. Rochelle stopped, almost in slow motion. She looked at me in disbelief and screamed.
     
    “ Oh my Goddd!! Mya, you rich, girl!” Rochelle jumped up and down and grabbed me in a big hug.
     
    “ Shhh, girl!” I looked around and put my hand over her mouth. “Girl, you gone tell the whole projects and get me robbed. Calm down; it’s only money. Besides, I wouldn’t want Li’l Bo or Monica to find out from anyone but me.”
     
    “ Why haven’t you told them? You can’t keep this a secret from them.”
     
    “ I know. I just gotta get used to the fact that I even have all that money first. I already safely put it away. But having that much still makes me nervous.”
     
    “ Nervous? It should make you happy as