Read Online Only the Strong by Jabari Asim - Free Book Online Page B

face.” “That’s who you were, Lorenzo, not who you are.”
    â€œThen, there’s Fish—”
    â€œYou think Fish got killed just because you went to see him? You weren’t the only one there.”
    â€œI know. It just got me thinking.”
    â€œYou been thinking on this a while, from what I can tell.”
    â€œWell, I’m thinking on it more. If I care about you like I say I do, why do I put you in danger by being with you?”
    Pearl rolled her eyes. “You sound like a dang fool. This is North Gateway.”
    â€œMeaning?”
    â€œMeaning I face a little more danger every day as these neighborhoods change. We all do. People talk about Vietnam. They should spend some time north of Delmar. At the supermarket on Easton, a snake came out of the collard greens and bit a woman on the neck. A tree branch fell in the Clark Elementary schoolyard, crushing a little girl. It ain’t just crime, Lorenzo. It’s death, and it’s been hanging around more and more since the fires. Sometimes I feel funny walking from my job to the bus stop, like somebody’s watching me. And that’s the nice part of town. You can’t protect me from every little thing. But loving me means doing the best you can.”
    â€œI’m still trying to figure things out.”
    â€œAfter three years together?” Pearl got out and shut the door. She turned and leaned in the window. “It’s easier when you pay for it. Isn’t it?”
    Guts got no sleep. He ate nine eggs and a box of bacon for breakfast. He washed it down with a quart and a half of milk. Hygiene was a half-hearted affair. His head and upper lip, normally shaved, each displayed a thin layer of shadow. His beard, usually kept somewhat in check, was bushier than usual. Bits of food glinted in it here and there and remained firmly nestled as the day progressed. Guts was wondering if the folks at White Castle had given him decaf coffee by mistake when Playfair poked his head in the office.
    Guts tried to be perky but couldn’t quite pull it off. “What do you say, Play?”
    â€œNothin’ to it but to do it,” Playfair replied. He lowered his voice. “Look here, I have to pull your coat again. Remember that leather blazer I let you have for half price?”
    â€œYeah,” Guts said. “I remember you had a trunk full of ’em but only one XXXXL.”
    â€œUh-huh. That baby was so rare it could have been a collector’s item. I’m guessing it was custom-ordered by some defensive lineman somewhere.”
    â€œSounds about right,” Guts agreed. “It’s a little bit roomy even on me. Wait, don’t tell me you got hold of another one.”
    â€œNaw, nothing like that. It’s just that I would know that jacket anywhere on account of it being so unusual. I was rolling down Lexington over there by Kingshighway and I spotted it on a pile under a window. A whole lot of extra-large stuff, if you know what I mean.”
    Playfair watched as the reality of Guts’s situation settled upon him. “Lexington near Kingshighway? Damn!”
    Playfair stepped aside as Guts blew past him. The big man raced to his car without so much as a nod at Shadrach and Cherry as they huddled over their dominoes. “What’s up with the boss?” Cherry asked.
    â€œMy man’s business is literally in the streets,” Playfair explained. “I think he’s on his way to clean it up.”
    Pearl was tossing the last of Guts’s belongings out her apartment window when he roared up in his car. He got out and hollered up at her.
    â€œPearl! What are you doing?”
    â€œThat’s the same thing you asked me last night,” she shouted back. “And once again I’ll say to you, what does it look like I’m doing?”
    â€œSweetheart, let’s not be so public about this.”
    â€œI ain’t paranoid like you, Lorenzo. Have