Read Online Going Broke by Trista Russell - Free Book Online

asked.
    â€œSavvy is going to have to start helping.”
    Since my brother moved to Atlanta five months ago, he still acted brand-new. I hadn’t seen him in over a year, and hadn’t heard from him in about a month.
    â€œHe’ll be getting a phone call from me this evening. I can’t do everything all by myself.”
    â€œAnd your student loans, credit cards, and other bills?” Nat was starting to stress me out.
    â€œDamn, Nat. I know what I owe. Fuck the student loan people.” I sighed. “And Chase Manhattan, Sears, and Discover can kiss my ass.”
    We all laughed.
    â€œJust promise me that if you need anything you’ll ask me,” she said.
    â€œNat, it’s not that serious.” I giggled.
    â€œI didn’t say that it was.” She smiled at me. “Just promise me.”
    â€œOkay.” I gave her a crazy stare. “I cross my heart.”
    â€œWell, at least you’ll be in the Bahamas this weekend.”
    I had totally forgotten. “That’s right.”
    Nick joined in. “When are you leaving?”
    â€œFriday morning.” Now I did have something to smile about.
    â€œGood for you,” he said. “For how long?”
    â€œI’ll be back next Friday.” This vacation was coming right in the nick of time.
    I was grateful for Nick and Natalya. They were too sweet, spending not only the entire day at my place on Sunday, but also another night. My best girl had already gotten me through my first day, so I took two sleeping pills and vowed that tomorrow would be the second day of the rest of my life.

“No one can earn a million dollars honestly.”
    â€”William Jennings Bryan
    Bank Statement # 4
    Account Balance: $2,027.92
    Â 
    Â 
    I woke up around 6:00 to lock up after Nat and Nick left for work. It was Monday, and that meant Friday was only four days away, so I stayed up and started packing. I didn’t care if it was hurricane season. I could almost hear the Bahamas calling my name, and I was answering, “Hey, mon.”
    I called the landlord about changing my lock then double-checked my checkbook, but the balance wasn’t changing. After Damian wiped out my account, I’d be left with just a thousand dollars.
    I checked my orders for both websites, and there were only three picnic basket orders and seven trip queries. This wasn’t bad, but with things going the way they were, it wasn’t enough. “I have to start advertising,” I said to myself.
    My ghetto style of advertising was paying a few crack addicts a hundred dollars apiece to stand on various street corners and hand out a thousand flyers each. I couldn’t even afford to advertise at my own radio station. Mr. Motes wasn’t letting anybody get away with anything close to free.
    Around noon my phone rang. I said, “Hello?”
    â€œWhat’s up, sexy?”
    I didn’t recognize the voice, and the caller ID wasn’t telling me enough. I hit the mute button and made Oprah’s guest be quiet. “Hello?”
    â€œWhat’s up, sexy?”
    â€œWho is this?” I was nervous.
    â€œThis is a very damn sexy man.” He laughed. “You know how I know that you’re sexy?” He didn’t wait for my answer. “’Cause I’m your sexy-ass twin brother.”
    I was able to breathe again. “Don’t scare me like that.”
    â€œI wasn’t trying to scare you. I thought you’d be flattered.”
    â€œMaybe last week, but not today.” I turned the television back up.
    I didn’t feel like telling the story again. “Damian and I aren’t together anymore.”
    â€œThank God.” He laughed. “Is Tupac really dead this time, though?” He was referring to the one other time we split.
    I sighed. “Thanks for the comfort.”
    â€œYou know I could never stand him.”
    Yes, I did. Savion made that known, and Damian didn’t