Chiraq XI

Chapter 11

Big Shorty went to his room to grab enough clothes for the weekend from his closet. He placed the gear neatly into his overnight bag, then shuffled through a few c.d.'s that were on his night stand. After finding what he wanted and stowing them in his overnight bag, he went and stood next to the front door. Waiting for his grandfather to come. "The first thing I want to do is get something to eat", said his grandpa while he was digging in his pockets for his keys. "I'm starved", his grandpa declared as he put a hand on Big Shorty's back, directing him down the stairs. "We'll stop by Maxwell's to get a few polishes", he added.

They pulled out of the garage in his grandpa's Lincoln. Big Shorty popped Tupacs c.d. into the player and suddenly profanity filled the car as Big Shorty nodded his head to the beat. CLICK!! Went the eject button as his grandpa ejected the c.d. from the player. He then grabbed the c.d. and flung it out of the car and into the traffic. "Hell naw! What the hell you doing? Don't put that crap in my c.d. player!", his grandpa yelled. Big Shorty's eyes ballooned as he looked through the rear window at the shattered c.d. as the sun reflected off the many pieces laying in the street.

He turned back to his grandpa and said, "That was 'Hit 'Em Up by Tupac, grandpa". His grandpa kept his attention on the traffic as he spoke, "This c.d. is for jazz and dusties only, youngsta. You do that again and you'll be walking". Big Shorty looked at his grandpa with an open mouth and then said, "Thanks a lot, grandpa. That c.d. cost me fifteen dollars". His grandpa's attention was fixed on the road and he didn't pay what Big Shorty was saying any mind.

It was a hot, summer day. Victoria blinked from the shine of grandpa's Lincoln towncar that was made more intense by the sun. She sat on the porch in front of her house wearing a wife-beater and plain red shorts. Her daughter, Helena, stood next to her playing with her Barbie doll. Victoria said, "Thank you for dropping Tyrone off, father", as they came near. His grandpa was welcomed by Helena as she embraced his coat-tail. "Grandpa!", she giggled. He bent down to kiss her forehead. Helena was thin with long hair that was tied into two braids. She was wearing an outfit that matched Victoria's.

"Let me give my precious grand-daughter a few dollars", he said as he turned around and then kissed Victoria on the cheek. "I ordered a pizza from the "Home Run Inn" to be delivered. A deep dish with Italian sausage with extra cheese", Victoria said. Grandpa spotted a roach on the wall inside the house, so he stepped inside to kill it. Then he stepped out of the town house and turned to his daughter and said, "I got to make it back to the wife. You know how she is". He looked Victoria squarely in the face. Her eyes expressed everything that needed to be said. "Here's a little pocket money for you", he offered. She took the money and nodded, "Thank you, father".

Big Shorty rushed to his room to find everything exactly the way that he left it the last tie he was at home. Big Shorty's Nintendo was still laying on the bed. He yelled from the top of the stairs, "Helena! Let's play super Mario brothers!" Helena scurried to the top of the stairs with a smile on her lips. "How's my little sister been doing?", he said. Helena hoggishly took possession of the game controller which was laying on the bed. Big Shorty flicked on the raggedy black and white television. There was a hangar where the antenna used to be. "I can get to level three, but I can't beat the dragon", she said. Big Shorty winker at her and stated, "I will show you how to beat him and then I'll show you the way to get a hundred men!"