Chiraq XIV

Chapter 14

"Wake up, Tyrone! It's time for breakfast!", Helena shouted as she nudged her head through the crack of the door while holding her Barbie doll. She stared at her brother for a moment, then slowly back out and walked down the stairs. Big Shorty roused himself out of bed, still feeling the sensation of the throbbing pain from his fresh tattoo. "I'm still high and sure is hungry", cut into his thoughts as he sat on his bed and stretched his arms and legs.

He felt somewhat paranoid about his mom eventually finding out about his tattoo. "She'll kill me! Hell, grandma will too!", he considered. He ran to the bathroom to shower and rinse off the dried up blood from his back. He spun around in front of the mirror to see his tattoo and how it looked on his physique. He moistened it with Vaseline and got dressed carefully. Big Shorty went downstairs and threw his arms around both his sister's and mother's shoulders.

He picked Helena up off the ground and swung her around in the air, her legs swinging like a doll. "My little sister, just as cute as ever", he said as he put her down and eyed his mom's belly. "And who might you be in there?", he asked politely. Victoria grabbed his hand and placed it up against her belly. "Me and Lane are tying the knot!", as she turned her eyes to the kitchen that was laid out with breakfast. They sat at the table to say a few words of grace before breaking bread.

They were sitting at a card table that was covered with a plastic cloth. On the table was a fresh pitcher of mild, scrambled eggs with cheese, French toast, and fried baloney. As they all began to eat, Victoria paused and looked over to Big Shorty and stated, "You don't have no business out there gangbanging. Running around wearing blue and black like the rest of your pissy-tailed friends and wannabe-Gangsta's!" She had been worried, but had tried to not let herself on.

"Look, here comes grandpa!", said Helena as she pointed her finger out the window in the direction of the car that was parking. Eddie was suited, coming back from church. They all just watched him walk towards the house. Big Shorty then got up and ran upstairs to get his overnight bag, as Victoria met his grandfather at the door. "I want you to know that I appreciate you bringing Tyrone over to the house", Victoria said as she smiled and meaning every word. His grandpa winked at her and had an old grin on his face.

"It's cool with me. How did everything go?" She then crossed her arms in front of him and said, "Everything went well, father. Your grandson went out and played with his friends and got high." She leaned in closer to her father's ear and continued, "I will have to sit him down and have a little talk with him." Upstairs, Big Shorty passed his dresser and grabbed his cell phone. "I'll be right down, grandpa!", he yelled from the top of the stairs. Then he checked to see if he had everything, then he flew down the stairs like a tornado.

While looking down at him, his grandfather said, "We're going to the Race Tracks to bet on a few horses!" Outside, Big Shorty tossed his overnight bag over into his grandpa's Lincoln, then turned to wave good-bye to his mother and sister. His grandpa couldn't drive fast enough for Big Shorty. At his grandson's urging, his grandpa blew the horn at several people, motioning for them to get out of their way. The twenty or so minutes that it took them to get there seemed more like an hour to Big Shorty.

While still in the car and looking for a parking space, they could hear the Announcer's voice echoing out to the parking lot. "We have all of the famous horses! We have American Saddle Bred, European War Horses, Bulle Rock who was imported from England, and we have Eclipse, the White Stallion, and many more!", the announcer exclaimed. They finally found a parking space and Big Shorty opened the car door while the car was still in motion. "Grandpa! I want to bet on the White Stallion!", Big Shorty said as he slammed the door and ran inside, although he waited patiently at the ticket booth for his grandfather.

The announcer chimed again, "Hurry up, purchase your winning tickets. Everyone hurry, so you can win the prize money!" "I'm betting Bulle Rock", said his grandpa. Big Shorty hurriedly walked to the outside to see the race with his grandpa on his heels. "That's it for the tickets!", the announcer said over the loud speakers. They made it to the wooden fences to watch the metal gates fly open. "A-a-a-a-n-n-n-d-d-d they're o-o-o-f-f-f!!!!", yelled the announcer as thousands of excited racing fans cheered for their favorite horses.

"Go, White Stallion!", cheered Big Shorty. The horses galloped into the first turn of the track as the crouching jockeys steered for position. "He's not going to beat Bulle Rock!", said his grandpa. The European War horse was burgundy and of more than the usual height. Advancing the other horses as it's tongue hung along the side of it's jaw, just striving to the front of the race.

"European War horse takes the lead and wins! Why would anyone bet on another horse? His name speaks for himself!". the announcer proclaimed. Big Shorty and his grandfather stayed for a few more races, then before Big Shorty knew it, the sun had begun to set. "It's time to go home. Your grandmother is waiting on us", said his grandpa. With that they left and headed back home.