Chiraq XII

Chapter 12

Big Shorty noticed the cell phone that he had gotten through a trade with a crackhead. It was still on his dresser, in the same spot next to the bags he had used to bag up his product. He stared at the phone and the baggies on his dresser, he wasn't about to let the lightest remembrance of hustling perish. He noticed that he was smelling like his grandpa's expensive cologne. He liked the smell and thought it accentuated his neatly ironed khakis and crisp white cotton shirt.

"I miss you being here, Tyrone", his sisters voice edited his thoughts. "There is this boy who keeps teasing me at school", she revealed. Big Shorty became hot under the collar and showed his anger as he asked, "What did he say?" Helena sat looking at her brother for a moment, surprised by his quick anger. "He says things like I'm so skinny that I can hula-hoop a cheerio", she said. Big Shorty walked to the top of the stairs and yelled, "Mom". Victoria was still sitting on the porch. Big Shorty could see her from where he was standing at the top of the stairs. "What's this I hear about someone harrassing my little sister? I'm going up to that school and check that fool!", he retorted.

Victoria looked back up the stirs with eyes that showed her seriousness as she said, "No you're not, Tyrone. I will handle it". Big Shorty slid down the railing of the stairs and stumbled to his feet at the front door and said, "I'm going outside, mom". Big Shorty vanished between the alleyway of the townhouses. He walked past a group of girls that were gathered together playing double-dutch and hop-scotch. Then he spotted Day-Day as he swung open the door to his caprice. he showed his moral qualities by signaling the "Pitch Forks" to Big Shorty.

"What's up little nucca? Where you been hiding at?", Day-Day asked. Big Shorty flashed the "Pitch Forks" back at Day-Day and said, "I'm living with my grandma over on 79th and Halsted. I'm going to school on 92nd and Buffalo". Day-Day frowned and said, "Nucca, you to to Thorpe with all the Lords and Stones. What you flipped?" They stared at each other for a moment, then Big Shorty hopped into the passenger seat and replied, "Heck naw, I'm Gangsta until the world blows up!"

It only took a few minutes to pull up at Dinky-G's parking lot. Day-Day turned the knob to his bass to full blast, then back down again to get Dinky's attention from the townhouse. They saw the curtains part and Dinky-G's eyes dart towards the car. "Look at this fool", said Day-Day as he pointed out with his fingers, throwing up the "Pitch Forks" and laughing. Dinky-G had opened the curtain to display himself in full view. He turned to show his scrawny back, on which he had tattooed a big six-point star and the word "Gangsta" in old English letters.

Dinky-G left the window and appeared at the front door. He proceeded away from the townhouse, leaving the door open. He was dancing to T.I.'s "You Don't Know Me". "What's up, Gangsta's?, Dinky-G announced while shaking their hands. "Real Gangsta's got this!" Dinky-G smiled as he turned to show them an up-close view of the six-point star tattooed on his back. he marveled at their admiration as they looked at his back. "You need one of these, Big Shorty, if you want to represent, and that's real talk!", Dinky-G boasted. Day-Day dapped Big Shorty on the chest with the "Pitch Forks" and said, "That's the business".

They piled into Day-Day's car to go to Jello's house. "I got to have that tattooed on my back and "Pitch Forks" too", Big Shorty guffawed. He looked at Dinky-G as somebody who had clout because of the fancy tattoo that he had gotten. They pulled up around the corner of Jello's lot. They waved up their "Pitch Forks" at Jello, who was standing on the porch smoking a Hydro wrapped in a blunt. They stepped out and smelled the stickey-icky. Dinky-G was out of the car first. He nodded to Jello and said, "I was just showing off my back piece you tatted on my back. Pass the Dro'".