’bout how I looked like “Tyson on that nigga, son.” I earned my stripes and I kept ’em. But it didn’t feel right.
The whole ride home in D-roc’s car with the bass boomin’, all I could think about was how badly Beezy was getting it for letting me do him like that. All them Squad Six boys came to the conclusion that it wasn’t Squad Six no more; it was more like Team Seven.
Ruby Battel
When that boy strolled in my house looking like a crash test dummy, trying to act like nothing happened, I was ready to go. “Dre, what in God’s natural world happened to you? Look at you. You were fighting! Where was Reggie?”
He looked at me like I was talking to him for my health. He sat there like he didn’t have crusted blood around his nostrils.
“Oh, so I get it. Code of the streets, huh? You’re not going to tell Mommy what happened because you don’t want to be a sissy, huh? I know how this game works, Andre. Don’t forget I married your father. A cut above the rest, Dre! What don’t you get about that? All this foolishness in these streets ain’tfor you. You’re not like these corner boys going nowhere fast in these streets. I’ll make sure of that. So who was it, huh?”
When that boy told me that Reggie and Smoke put my baby and little Beezy up to fighting, my blood started to boil.
When I asked him why he didn’t just come home, I wanted to smack him, talking about how he “couldn’t look like no punk.” I told that little boy, if I hear he’s out there fighting anymore I’m going to punk him and whoever else wants some. It’s times like this that I really just wish I had a little help. Maybe if Eddy would be around more that boy wouldn’t feel like he had to be so damn tough all the time. Lord knows, it’s not easy raising two. It’s just me. Even with the change Reggie drops off over here, it’s hard to make ends meet.
No games. I took the situation into my own hands. The next morning when Andre left for school I called into work and told them I was going to be late. Hell, if them boys are too pigheaded to make peace, I will. See, I know Smoke, his mother and I are actually friends. I remember him when he was just a little stinka butt running around this block. Back when he wasn’t nothing but little Stanley Taylor, Miss Myra’s boy. Now he thinks he can terrorize my baby. Oh, I don’t think so.
And I know Reggie loves Andre and won’t disrespect me. Smoke, or should I say Stanley, he better not make me have to call his mother. He wasn’t afraid of much, but when it comes to Myra, she got that boy in check.
I set out on a relaxing stroll around the neighborhood. Right when I got to the gate I could see Reggie and the rest of his squad hanging on the corner. I saw Reggie looking over. From the look on his face he could tell I was ready to begin acting up. I started in his direction and he left the corner and met me halfway. See, I appreciate the money Reggie gives me, but if he thinks I’m going to let him ruin my baby, he can takethat money and wipe his ass with it. Before I could get a word out he gots to explaining, “Check it out, Miss Ruby. Before you come over here riffin’ and shit, let me tell you. You should be proud! The boy has hands. I mean, hot damn, he served that boy up something proper.”
I took a step back. “Reggie, what the hell do you think this is? You think I’m trying to raise the future Mr. Get Bad? That boy ain’t but ten years old … I’m trying to raise up a good man!”
“And I’m trying to help you, Miss Ruby. You think I started that fight? Naw! Shit, if someone up rocked your jaw then what you gon’ do?”
This Negro must have thought I was one of his little around-the-way hoes. He wasn’t fixing to run that preschool game on me. I told that Negro, “Well, however it goes, I don’t want my child being used as a pawn in your foolishness. Dre came in the house last night looking hurt. I’ve got enough weighing down my heart without
The whole ride home in D-roc’s car with the bass boomin’, all I could think about was how badly Beezy was getting it for letting me do him like that. All them Squad Six boys came to the conclusion that it wasn’t Squad Six no more; it was more like Team Seven.
Ruby Battel
When that boy strolled in my house looking like a crash test dummy, trying to act like nothing happened, I was ready to go. “Dre, what in God’s natural world happened to you? Look at you. You were fighting! Where was Reggie?”
He looked at me like I was talking to him for my health. He sat there like he didn’t have crusted blood around his nostrils.
“Oh, so I get it. Code of the streets, huh? You’re not going to tell Mommy what happened because you don’t want to be a sissy, huh? I know how this game works, Andre. Don’t forget I married your father. A cut above the rest, Dre! What don’t you get about that? All this foolishness in these streets ain’tfor you. You’re not like these corner boys going nowhere fast in these streets. I’ll make sure of that. So who was it, huh?”
When that boy told me that Reggie and Smoke put my baby and little Beezy up to fighting, my blood started to boil.
When I asked him why he didn’t just come home, I wanted to smack him, talking about how he “couldn’t look like no punk.” I told that little boy, if I hear he’s out there fighting anymore I’m going to punk him and whoever else wants some. It’s times like this that I really just wish I had a little help. Maybe if Eddy would be around more that boy wouldn’t feel like he had to be so damn tough all the time. Lord knows, it’s not easy raising two. It’s just me. Even with the change Reggie drops off over here, it’s hard to make ends meet.
No games. I took the situation into my own hands. The next morning when Andre left for school I called into work and told them I was going to be late. Hell, if them boys are too pigheaded to make peace, I will. See, I know Smoke, his mother and I are actually friends. I remember him when he was just a little stinka butt running around this block. Back when he wasn’t nothing but little Stanley Taylor, Miss Myra’s boy. Now he thinks he can terrorize my baby. Oh, I don’t think so.
And I know Reggie loves Andre and won’t disrespect me. Smoke, or should I say Stanley, he better not make me have to call his mother. He wasn’t afraid of much, but when it comes to Myra, she got that boy in check.
I set out on a relaxing stroll around the neighborhood. Right when I got to the gate I could see Reggie and the rest of his squad hanging on the corner. I saw Reggie looking over. From the look on his face he could tell I was ready to begin acting up. I started in his direction and he left the corner and met me halfway. See, I appreciate the money Reggie gives me, but if he thinks I’m going to let him ruin my baby, he can takethat money and wipe his ass with it. Before I could get a word out he gots to explaining, “Check it out, Miss Ruby. Before you come over here riffin’ and shit, let me tell you. You should be proud! The boy has hands. I mean, hot damn, he served that boy up something proper.”
I took a step back. “Reggie, what the hell do you think this is? You think I’m trying to raise the future Mr. Get Bad? That boy ain’t but ten years old … I’m trying to raise up a good man!”
“And I’m trying to help you, Miss Ruby. You think I started that fight? Naw! Shit, if someone up rocked your jaw then what you gon’ do?”
This Negro must have thought I was one of his little around-the-way hoes. He wasn’t fixing to run that preschool game on me. I told that Negro, “Well, however it goes, I don’t want my child being used as a pawn in your foolishness. Dre came in the house last night looking hurt. I’ve got enough weighing down my heart without
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