turned the stun gun off, then handed it back to her.
âIâll let myself out,â I said as I started to move past her.
âI wasnât going to zap you, Viviana. I was just playing around. You didnât have to jump me like that,â Toya griped.
âWhat do you mean, you werenât going to do it?â I glared at her, confused by what she was saying.
âI wasnât going to electrocute you. I only wanted to scare you into giving me any money that you may have taken,â Toya confessed as she walked back into the room. She opened up a closet door and removed a foldaway playpen for Junior. I went over and helped her set it up.
âObviously, you didnât take any of the cash. Other people Iâve worked with have always taken a little something for themselves. Whenever I pull out the stun gun and pull the trigger a few times, I get the money that theyâve taken from me.â Toya placed her son safely inside the playpen, then walked back over to her bed and sat down. âSo, why didnât you take any of the money?â
I shrugged and said, âThe thought never crossed my mind. Iâm sorry that you didnât trust me.â I glanced down at my watch to see what time it was. âItâs getting late.â I turned and made my way toward the front door. As soon as I pulled itopen, Toyaâs palm landed flat against it and slammed it back shut. I looked at her.
âIâm sorry. Iâve always had a hard time making friends. Iâve been through a lot of stuff, okay? And the minute I feel like someone is trying to take advantage of me or disrespect me I have to handle my business. Do you understand what Iâm saying?â
I took a step back and chuckled. âWell, youâd better learn how to fight better than you just did in there.â
Toya sighed. âYou caught me totally off guard. You fight like a guy. Where did you learn how to move like that?â
âMy dad. He taught me a lot of stuff when I was younger,â I answered.
âWhere is he now?â Toya asked, touching my shoulder.
âI donât want to talk about it,â I immediately replied.
âOkay,â Toya said, easily dropping the subject. She handed me one of the cell phones sheâd lifted and asked me to hold it. I looked at it for a moment and was about to flip it open with my other hand, but Toya held on to my wrist and asked me a question.
âDo you think you can figure out the pass code to the phone?â she asked, directing my attention back to the phone.
I looked at it again and said, âI donât know.â
âThatâs okay. We donât need to figure out the pass code in order to sell it. Let me have it back.â I handed the phone back and Toya draped her arm over my shoulder. âDo you think you can teach me some of those moves though?â she asked with pleading eyes.
I paused in thought for a moment and then smirked. âIcan show you some stuff, but itâs not like Iâm some kind of martial arts expert.â
âI donât care. You know enough. I want you to teach me how to avoid getting all of my hair pulled out.â Toya looked in admiration at my hair and touched it briefly.
âI need to get it cut. I have a ton of split ends,â I said, running my fingers through it.
Toya took my hand into her own and began walking backward, tugging me along to come back to her room with her.
âAre you sure that weâre cool?â I asked her suspiciously.
âYeah, I wonât mess with you unless I plan to really throw down.â Toya smiled. âI need someone like you. You can hold your own. Question is, can you keep your mouth shut if you get caught?â
âIâm not like that. I donât snitch,â I proudly said.
âOkay. I believe you. Now, letâs just put this incident behind us. The Puerto Rican Day Parade is coming up. There is a lot you have
âIâll let myself out,â I said as I started to move past her.
âI wasnât going to zap you, Viviana. I was just playing around. You didnât have to jump me like that,â Toya griped.
âWhat do you mean, you werenât going to do it?â I glared at her, confused by what she was saying.
âI wasnât going to electrocute you. I only wanted to scare you into giving me any money that you may have taken,â Toya confessed as she walked back into the room. She opened up a closet door and removed a foldaway playpen for Junior. I went over and helped her set it up.
âObviously, you didnât take any of the cash. Other people Iâve worked with have always taken a little something for themselves. Whenever I pull out the stun gun and pull the trigger a few times, I get the money that theyâve taken from me.â Toya placed her son safely inside the playpen, then walked back over to her bed and sat down. âSo, why didnât you take any of the money?â
I shrugged and said, âThe thought never crossed my mind. Iâm sorry that you didnât trust me.â I glanced down at my watch to see what time it was. âItâs getting late.â I turned and made my way toward the front door. As soon as I pulled itopen, Toyaâs palm landed flat against it and slammed it back shut. I looked at her.
âIâm sorry. Iâve always had a hard time making friends. Iâve been through a lot of stuff, okay? And the minute I feel like someone is trying to take advantage of me or disrespect me I have to handle my business. Do you understand what Iâm saying?â
I took a step back and chuckled. âWell, youâd better learn how to fight better than you just did in there.â
Toya sighed. âYou caught me totally off guard. You fight like a guy. Where did you learn how to move like that?â
âMy dad. He taught me a lot of stuff when I was younger,â I answered.
âWhere is he now?â Toya asked, touching my shoulder.
âI donât want to talk about it,â I immediately replied.
âOkay,â Toya said, easily dropping the subject. She handed me one of the cell phones sheâd lifted and asked me to hold it. I looked at it for a moment and was about to flip it open with my other hand, but Toya held on to my wrist and asked me a question.
âDo you think you can figure out the pass code to the phone?â she asked, directing my attention back to the phone.
I looked at it again and said, âI donât know.â
âThatâs okay. We donât need to figure out the pass code in order to sell it. Let me have it back.â I handed the phone back and Toya draped her arm over my shoulder. âDo you think you can teach me some of those moves though?â she asked with pleading eyes.
I paused in thought for a moment and then smirked. âIcan show you some stuff, but itâs not like Iâm some kind of martial arts expert.â
âI donât care. You know enough. I want you to teach me how to avoid getting all of my hair pulled out.â Toya looked in admiration at my hair and touched it briefly.
âI need to get it cut. I have a ton of split ends,â I said, running my fingers through it.
Toya took my hand into her own and began walking backward, tugging me along to come back to her room with her.
âAre you sure that weâre cool?â I asked her suspiciously.
âYeah, I wonât mess with you unless I plan to really throw down.â Toya smiled. âI need someone like you. You can hold your own. Question is, can you keep your mouth shut if you get caught?â
âIâm not like that. I donât snitch,â I proudly said.
âOkay. I believe you. Now, letâs just put this incident behind us. The Puerto Rican Day Parade is coming up. There is a lot you have
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