Hood Ornaments

Dell was mad because he felt like he wasted Trudy’s money by going up to the school. He was initially excited when he spoke to the counselor about what he wanted to do. Unlike what Man said on the way home from Illinois, the lady actually knew what she was talking about. She explained to Dell that he should utilize the Community College to take all of his standard pre-requisites and some of his electives. She then explained to him what electives would transfer to the teaching program. She then took the time to explain the teaching programs from the local universities to Dell. It wasn’t until Judy was helping Dell with his application that they ran into the snag.

“I am going to need you to sign right here, so we can request a sealed copy of your high school diploma along with your transcripts. This way you don’t have to keep running back and forth between us and the school. Especially on a day like today,” Judy lowered her voice to a whisper and leaned into Dell so only he could hear, “It’s hot as balls out.”

Dell gave Judy a polite chuckle but then leaned in closer to whisper to her.

“Thank you Ms. Judy, but I can’t sign that see, I didn’t graduate yet. I was supposed to graduate, but I missed so many days they’re talking about summer school.”

The once pleasant Judy started to initially look slightly annoyed, but then she reached into her drawer and pulled out a different folder of papers.

“Okay Mr. Martin is it? You have one of two options. You can go to summer school and get your diploma and come back here when you do. Or you can register for our G.E.D program, take the test, pass it and you can register for classes once you do.” She explained as she handed the manila folder of papers to Rondell.

Dell looked uncertain, “Just like that? I can get a fake ass…I mean a G.E.D. and then register for college to become a teacher?”

Judy smiled, “Ironic, but not uncommon. Some of the worst students made the best teachers.”

Dell’s uncertain face turned into a certain scowl.

“Not saying you were a bad…” Judy started to correct herself, but then Dell let her off the hook.

“Nah, you aiight Ms. Judy, I knew what you meant.”

“Oh good,” Judy actually sounded relieved, “Take the paperwork home, fill it out, and come back here to me with a check for seventy-five dollars and we can get you registered to take the pre-exam to see if you need additional tutoring.”

“To be honest, it’s been a long day, can I just fill this out and pay you now? I have a debit card,”

Dell asked and it was granted. He would take the pre-G.E.D exam the following Monday.

The cab turned down Tori’s block as Dell called Tony.

“Yo bamma, where the fuck you at?” Tony hissed into the phone.

“Look don’t be mad at me, blame Ms. Trudy, she sent me grocery shoppin.”

Dell’s replied exhausted.

“Fuck, you call to brag?” Tony snipped.

“Nah, dude. Can y’all come out and help with the groceries?”

“Oh, aiight bet.”

Dell had to laugh. It was comical that one mention of food could change a growing boy’s whole disposition. Shortly thereafter, the trio came barreling out of the front door and over to the trunk of the cab. Dell passed the driver the fare through the small plastic window in the back and told the driver to keep the change. He then joined his friends to help carry in the groceries.

“So you all enrolled now, kid?” Tony asked as he handed out bags to Dell and Malik.

“Nah, I gotta take a couple of tests first, I’ll be aiight tho.”

Dell’s attention turned to Leek as they walked towards the side door, “Leek who all them dudes that be hangin at the corner store?”

Leek raised his eyebrow, “With Platypus?”

“Yeah.”

“Ill, I hate Platypus,” Tori said frowning up her entire face.

Tony chuckled as he took the only bag Tori was carrying.

“Why what did he ever do to you?” Although he was joking both Tony and Dell waited anxiously for her response.

“I dunno, Tone I just don’t like the way he always stares at me when I go to the store.”

“Yeah well, I told your ass you shouldn’t be goin to the store alone.” Tony said matter of fact.

“Jesus, Tone I grew up here. I’ll be aiight.”

The quartet entered Trudy’s kitchen and started putting bags on the table and chairs. Dell began putting the refrigerated items away as he addressed Malik again.

“Yeah Leek who are them other nuts I saw with Platypus today?”

“Was there a dude in a dusty Phillies hat?” He asked handing some produce to Dell who nodded his reply.

“Well that’s Pop-Pop.”

“Cliff?” Dell asked in an octave higher than normal.

“Yeah man. Cliff.”

Tony was putting bread in the breadbox when he spoke up.

“Yeah, I know Cliff. He lets everyone think they call him “Pop-Pop” cuz he’s quick to pull out a gun. Truth is he has two grandkids, twins”

Tori spoke up, “How old is Cliff?”

Tony replied, “Like thirty-two.”

“Wait? How old is his daughter?” Tori asked with disgust on her face as she began opening cupboards to put other things away.

“Maria is fifteen,” answered Dell.

“That’s just gross,” was Tori’s only response.

“What I find odd is Cliff is still out on the street,” Dell said.

“Yeah well, that’s your uncle for you,” Malik replied.

“Wait, these bammas work for my uncle!!!? Who are the other two?”

“If dude was wearin a throwback, his name is Will. But I dunno that much about him. And the Ceelo Green lookin bamma is, well was Mike-Mike’s little brother. He dead now.”

Trudy entered the kitchen and it got quiet immediately,

“Oh don’t get quiet on my account and thank y’all for putting up the groceries after y’all were down there painting all day. Y’all hungry?”

“Oh Ms. Trudy,” Tony interrupted, “You don’t have to cook in this heat.”

“Boy, I wasn’t gonna cook. I was gonna turn on the air and order a couple of pizzas. Y’all three can go get it while Tori takes a shower.”

Tori left the kitchen. The boys went out the side door to walk down to the pizza spot.

“My question to Dell is why you wanna know who these ducks are? Is there a problem?”

Dell shook his head, “Nah, they just grittin a little too hard for my liking, that’s all. Don’t worry bout it.”

“They ain’t shit to worry about no way.” Malik responded.

But somethin in Dell’s gut told him otherwise. Their conversation continued as they walked toward the pizza shop.

“I’m not understandin the beef Platypus has with me. I don’t affect his life at all.” Dell remarked to anyone who had some insight.

“He may be worried about the connection you have with Sticks. Worried you gonna take over his spot,” Tony answered.

“Nah, he was workin for Sticks before Dell decided to get in then get out,” Malik added, “It might be some jealousy shit. Sticks may even be feedin into it.”

Dell’s face frowned up with confusion, “For what though?”

“Cuz he can,” Malik said with a shrug.

As the trio approached the pizza shop, Tony nudged Malik with his elbow and muttered under his breath, “There they go now.”

“I see em,” Malik muttered back as he put his forearm in front of Dell, “Just chill.”

Dell squinted and shrugged, “I ain’t sayin shit unless they do.”

Congregated on the pizza shop corner was Robert, Clifford, Will and Bill. They were all dressed in the same uniform as Dell and his crew. Except for Malik, who for whatever reason, had on a long black t-shirt. Malik and Tony were splattered with paint as they parted the neighborhood hoodlums like the Red Sea to enter the store. Dell followed behind them. No one uttered a sound, but the glare Malik gave Platypus said enough. Tony came out first, followed by Dell then Malik holding the pizzas. Platypus smirked.

“Tell your lady I said hi.”

Dell and Tony immediately converged on him which caused Cliff and Will to circle around them. Malik stepped back in the store, put the pies on the first little table by the door, and then came out lifting up his shirt to expose the piece tucked in his waistband. This caused Cliff and Will to take a step back.

“Good. Now play fair fellas,” Malik ordered

“Fuck you talkin to bamma?” Tony hissed at Platypus.

“Not chu, Tone. I was talkin to Nephew over here.”

“Me?” Dell asked with genuine confusion. A sick smile came over “Platypus’” face as he asked, “Yeah, you hittin Tori ain’t chu?”

All hell broke loose after that. Tony took Platypus and shoved his head clear through the bottom screen of the pizza shop door. Malik, glared at Cliff and Will, and they took off running down the block followed by a slower Bill. Dell then grabbed Platypus by his belt loops dragging him out from the screen door and across the sidewalk into the street. The owner of the pizza shop came out waving a gun. Tony and Malik put their hands in the air,

“Look, I don’t like that motherfucker either,” the owner said, “But take that shit away from my store.”

“My bad Bobby, my bad,” Malik said as he put his piece away He eased his way past the owner to grab the pizzas, handed them to Tony, then whistled for Dell to stop stomping on Platypus.

The trio were walking up the front walk of Trudy’s house again making their way to the side door when Tony spoke up, “Yo Leek, I ain’t know…”

“Wasn’t sposed to know Patna; but chu welcome.”

“Chu know it ain’t the end of this?” Dell said emphatically.

“It is if you tell yo uncle. He’ll handle it,” Malik answered as he opened the screen door and the trio went inside to the freshly clean, smiling and hungry Watts women.

Dell went into the pantry and got out the paper plates, cups and napkins and dealt them out across the table. Trudy grabbed her plate, a few slices and poured some Pepsi into an ice filled tumbler and excused herself to her room. Tori, had a scowl on her face as her frowned eyes looked at Dell’s bruises and scratches. Tony and Malik were piling pizza on their plates oblivious to what was goin on. As soon as Tori heard her grandmother’s bedroom door click shut, she flung her empty paper plate at Dell like it was a Frisbee.

“Are you gonna fuckin tell me why your knuckles are all cut up and bleeding? And can you please wash your hands before touchin anything else in this kitchen?”

The only way Dell acknowledged he heard Tori was the fact that he went over to the sink to wash his hands. The sound of the paper towel ripping off of the roll was excruciatingly loud. Everyone in the kitchen waited with bated breath for Dell’s response,

“How the fuck does Platypus know who you are?!”

Tori’s frown changed to one of confusion, “Huh? What are you talkin bout Dell?”

Dell flung the plate back at Tori, “Don’t play stupid Tori.”

“Watch yourself, Dell.” Tony said with a mouthful of pizza.

“I’m not playin stupid. I am assuming he knows me from school. We even had an art class together but it’s not like I spoke to him or anything.

The guys shifted their eyes back and forth between one another looking for the right thing to say. Tony then looked at Dell and was the first one to break the silence.

“He disrespected you Tori,” he said as he shrugged his shoulders.

Tori glared at Dell and stood up to meet him at the counter where he was leaning, “So you beat him up?”

Dell pointed to Tony with a pizza crust.

“He put him through the pizza shop door.”

Tori gasped and shot a look at Malik that substituted many cuss words; to which he could only respond, “Nothin but the necessary force was used Tori. We ain’t crazy.”

Tori just sucked her teeth, grabbed a few slices and plopped back down at the kitchen table.

“That remains to be seen.”

Malik added,” But to be on the safe side, if you gotta go to the store, make sure you take one of us wit chu.”

“Un-fuckin-real” Tori muttered as she took a bite of her slice and glared at her three hoodlum ass friends.