Sweet Lick

All together wicked and graceful, is me. I kick my ride under my feet, and get going.

As one should, I give my “skateboard” respect. It’s more than that and has taken me more places than any dull moving contraption could. It’s my ride, a sweet thang.

Feeling the grip tape under my beat up and dingy custom vans from a while back, I’m floating through the street. The breeze passing by kissing and hugging my face, jacket unzipped and dancing like a cape in the wind behind me. Almost makes me forget the task at hand.

Ben Renaldo. My lick for the night.

I’m a 22 year old woman. A hustler from the butt-crack of Dade county. I ain’t bad, and don’t take from those who don’t deserve it, but Ben Renaldo is different.

Ben was a sly and grimy boy. Yes, 17 year old boy. But he was devious. This little snot booger, broke my little sister’s heart. But not only did he not stop there, he spread disgusting rumors about her as a power move. The crazy part of it all is Harley didn’t even tell me, I heard of it at the local nightclub.

That night:

“My man,” a tall and slender guy with a spiders’ nest for hair, greeted another with a prolonged handshake.

“Yes sir, what’s happening today? It’s been wild with the serving on my end. But I’m pulling in green by the buckets.”

I sit quietly and natural by the bar, sipping my sweet drink. These men are so close, it’s like I’m sitting with them.

“Shoot, nothing really, I can’t complain. But man, listen. My lil bro was tellin’ me ‘bout this thot going to his school, Harely. She’s a senior. I heard she gets real nasty.” He lets out an ear rattling chuckle.

My eyebrows furrowed with anger and concern. I just know they aren’t talking about my baby sister.

“Dawg, Ben lies all of the time. I bet she a shy fly.” says the other man.

And that’s when I knew. I can’t blame trash for being trash. Just the one spreading it.

**

Riding down the garbage-filled dark road, half-working lampposts flickering the last of its life onto the streets, I’ve arrived.

I take off the draw-string bag attached to my back and sit behind a rusty, old car. I rifle through my bag for my small black notebook, checking my details.

• Flashlight
• Firework
• Matches
• Serving is wild, lots of money in “buckets” amount
• 1945000 chestnut Ave.
• Violate Ben Renaldo’s house

A house with paint peeling apart at the edges, and grass creeping it’s growth up the sides of the house. Clutter and old kids toys piled up outside and on the porch of this place.

Stairs that looked like they would swallow the next foot that dared put pressure on its rickety boards. I silence my breathing so much the only sound from me is a heartbeat.

Creeping stealthily, I’ve reached a window in the back of this house, the lights were on in the room and three people populated it.

Ben, and the two guys from that nightclub.

I watch as they put loads of all sorta bills like twenties, fifties, and hundreds, into a wheelable suitcase. It was tiny.

I let them continue until they’re almost finished, thinking of what to do. Then, dynamite.

I creep with every step, making my feet light on the ground, to their electric box. The high dewy grass licked my tights, making my calves wet.

Opening the box, I wonder, should I cut the wires, or turn the switches off? Well...they’ll be broke. I’ll go with the switches.

I switch them off one by one, almost like a game. As expected, they all scream like little girls. I snicker to myself in such a situation, anymore noise they would hear me.

Next, I take out my little black notebook and rip out the pages I had written on.

I kiss my little book goodbye with a whisper, “Really gonna miss ya.”

I pull out the small sphere of a firecracker from my bag. Don’t be fooled. This baby cries very loud.

I light the firecracker and run to the other side of the house, throwing my notebook so hard against the window, it breaks. Then gracefully, I toss the lit baby through the window.

While that unfolds I run back to the room they all had previously been in. My plans are going through so smoothly yet the hard part is coming.

I clutch the windows frame and shove the window up, quickly grabbing my small flashlight and shining into the room.

No one is in here, but the suitcase was. I hoist myself up onto the cill of the window and stretch my body until my fingers wrap around the handle of the suitcase.

I hear a loud, BOOM! Then, screaming.

“Yo there’s someone here! Split up!” yells one of the men.

My heart beats frantically as my anxiety sets in.

I snatch the suitcase and fall off the cill. Dazed for .5 seconds I realize I need to get a move on. The noise I make no longer matters.

They don’t know the money’s gone yet, I have a sliver of time. I get off my ass and get to running. Retracting the handle I carry it like a case, grab my ride and race down the opposite street I came from.

Once I’m a few streets down, hearty uncontrollable laughter streams out of my mouth. Can you tell I’m experienced? Imagining their anger makes me want to pee my pants from amusement.

**

Mission successfull. I’ve gotta call Harely. It’s the next morning and it seems as though none of those dimwits caught on. I had been counting all night, and the amount was an astounding twenty thousand dollars.

First I’m gonna take her out of that school and she’ll finish at home. I know she wouldn’t mind with all the fun we’ll be having.