Free Shortie Like Mine by Ni-Ni Simone

cute.”
    â€œNo.” Her face was lit up like Christmas. “I’ma tell Cousin Shake I got a job and I start today. This way I can spend a few hours with my boo and be back home before Mommy gets here.”
    â€œAnd what if Mommy asks you about this job?”
    â€œI’ll just tell her I quit, that fast food wasn’t my thing.”
    â€œShe’ll never believe that.”
    â€œYes, she will. You gon’ let me wear it or not?”
    â€œGo ’head, but if you get caught, don’t put my name in it.”
    â€œI’m not the snitch in the family.” She rolled her eyes at me.
    â€œWhatever,” I said as me and Shae watched her get dressed.
    Once Toi was done hooking herself up like she really had a job, I opened the door and Cousin Shake and Man-Man practically tripped over each other as the drinking glasses they had in their hands rolled across our bedroom floor. “You were listening at my door?”
    â€œYou opened that door,” Cousin Shake said, “like you was ’bout to do something.”
    â€œI can’t believe you were listening to my conversation.”
    â€œWe weren’t listening to your conversation,” Cousin Shake insisted. “Man-Man said he heard something about Toi having a job, so I figured I needed to check this out, especially since Grier done kidnapped y’all lil’ love life. Over there on Nye doing naked cartwheels in the middle of the street, actin’ like you come from a pack of wild dogs. If I was ya mama, you wouldn’t never come off punishment.”
    â€œSmell me?” Man-Man smirked.
    â€œNerd.” I growled at Man-Man.
    â€œ ’Least I ain’t a dog, booty scratcher.”
    I wanted to smack him. “Whatever. I’m going outside,” I said, slapping Man-Man in the back of his head.
    â€œAnd I’m going to work.”
    â€œYou go on to work then, baby,” Cousin Shake said, extremely nice. “Who woulda ever thought that lil’ Kim would come outta jail and get a job?”

    Since October was still warm, everybody from around the way was outside. Music was blasting from all different directions and cuties were just about everywhere. Shae and I sat on my porch, watchin’ the cars that rode by. “Yo, wasn’t that Dollah?” Shae said to me. “On that motorcycle?”
    â€œGirl, please. Do not mention him.”
    â€œDid you ever find out what was up with Dollah and Deeyah?”
    â€œNo, and who cares?” I said.
    â€œI was curious.”
    â€œWell Deeyah knows Josiah and Dollah hate each other, so why would she even go there?” I know I was sounding like a hypocrite, but who cares?
    â€œThat’s Deeyah. Anyway, did you hear about Tynasia?”
    â€œTynasia, Toi’s friend Tynasia?” I asked.
    â€œYeah, they still girls?”
    â€œAs far as I know.”
    â€œSo what happened?”
    â€œI heard she’s pregnant ... and word is, that baby daddy be kicking her butt.”
    â€œStop lying,” Shae said, surprised. “I’d heard that but I didn’t believe it.”
    â€œAnd you know Habiba, that used to go to Tech last year?”
    â€œWell, she stole Hafisa, who went with Shabazz, her man. And guess what?”
    â€œWhat?!”
    â€œThey both pregnant at the same time.”
    We both laughed.
    â€œThere ya go, girl.” Shae wiped tears from her eyes and nodded her head toward Ki-Ki who was coming up the block.
    â€œShe ai’ight,” I said, shielding my eyes from the sun.
    â€œYeah, she ai’ight, as long as she’s by herself. Otherwise she’s a follower.”
    â€œWassup?” Ki-Ki asked as she stood in front of my porch. “I see y’all over here kickin’ it. Y’all comin’ to the game tonight?”
    â€œAnd you know this,” I answered.
    â€œFor real, I think Central gon’ freak Newark Tech