Brooklyn, page 20
Brooklyn chuckled. “First of all, nobody was taken advantage of. And, no. That’s not why. She just mentioned that she thought we had a lot in common. She said you’re too smart to be in this game.”
“She said that?”
“Yup.”
“Wow. That’s a big compliment coming from Stacey.” He drank some of his grape juice. “I never saw myself doing this,” he admitted. “This was my brother’s lane. When crack hit the block, niggas made a lot of money really fast. It got us out of the projects. He bought my mother her first car, made sure we had what we needed. Then he got knocked. I was finishing high school. Moms had trouble keeping up with the bills. So, I went to Stacey and asked her if I could take Dawan’s place. She told me no at first.”
Brooklyn was surprised by that.
“Said I wasn’t ready. But I went back so many times that she started sending me out of town like she has you doing now.” He looked at her, impressed. “But I didn’t come to her with my own money like you did. I had to work my way up. Took me a while. But I’m doing alright for myself now.”
“How much longer you planning on doing this?” she asked.
“Hard to say.” He wasn’t sure when he would stop. The game had become so ingrained in him at that point that he wasn’t sure if he could ever completely leave it behind.
“What would you do if you weren’t hustling?” Brooklyn asked.
He exhaled deeply. “Real estate.”
Brooklyn folded her arms across her chest. Now she was the one impressed. “Really? You would sell real estate?”
He shook his head. “Buy it, mostly. Like strip malls, office buildings, mansions, and that type of thing.”
Brooklyn clapped her hands playfully. “I saw how good you look in a suit. So I can imagine you getting all dapper and being a boss!”
He popped his imaginary collar. “Exactly. How about you? What you gonna do when you meet your goal with Stacey?”
She thought about it. “Maybe open up a hair salon and barbershop all in one. Upscale and fancy, but also cozy and relaxing.” Brooklyn could picture it the more she spoke about it. “I would paint the ceilings, serve wine and beer, and the whole nine yards.”
“Sounds dope. I can rent you a spot in one of my strip malls.”
They clinked glasses.
“I’m gonna give you a ride back to Stacey’s,” he said. “I have some business to handle with Wally today.”
Brooklyn nodded.
He paused before standing up. “I think Stacey’s right about us making a good couple. What you think?”
She smirked, pausing before she answered. “I think so, too.”
They got into Hassan’s car and had only driven a few blocks before he pulled into the driveway of a yellow house with white shingles. Brooklyn looked at him, confused.
“This ain’t Stacey’s building.”
Hassan nodded. “I know. I need to make a quick stop.” He got out of the car before Brooklyn could reply.
Frowning, she got out and followed him to the door. He rang the bell and winked at her.
“Don’t be nervous. Mom’s gonna love you.”
“Your MOTHER?” Brooklyn swatted him on the arm. “Why didn’t you tell me that’s who we came to see?”
“Relax!”
Brooklyn could hear loud music playing from a radio inside the house. She raised her eyebrows at Hassan as the sound of a woman’s loud voice drew closer to the door.
“What you doing ringing the bell, Hass? You lost your keys again? I ain’t gonna keep giving you keys if you—”
The door swung open and a petite older woman with a pixie haircut like Toni Braxton stood staring at the two of them through the screen door with her mouth agape.
Hassan chuckled. “I didn’t lose my key, Ma. I just didn’t want to walk in unannounced without letting you know I have company.”
She looked Brooklyn up and down, curiously. “Who is this?”
“This is Brooklyn.” He put his arm around her shoulder.
Brooklyn noticed how young his mother looked. Clearly, Hassan’s mother was making the same observation about her.
“How old is she?” Skepticism was written all over her face.
“Ma! Let us in.”
She unlatched the lock on the screen door and stepped aside as they entered. Brooklyn’s heart pounded nervously in her chest, and she forced a smile. Up close, Hassan’s mother looked even younger. She wore a white T-shirt, a pair of denim shorts, and some gold doorknocker earrings. She stood with one hand on her hip batting her eyelashes at Brooklyn.
“Nice to meet you, young lady. I don’t mean to be rude. I’m just trying to understand what my son is up to.”
Hassan kissed his mother’s cheek and smiled at her.
“You always think I’m up to something.”
“That’s ’cause you are.” She turned to Brooklyn, sizing her up once again. “Brooklyn,” she said. “That’s your name?”
“Yes.”
“That’s where you’re from?”
Brooklyn nodded. It was true, she reasoned. That was where she had been born. It seemed smart to withhold the story of her Staten Island ties. At least for now.
“How old are you?”
“I’m eighteen,” Brooklyn lied.
“Mm-hmm.” Hassan’s mother rolled her eyes as if she didn’t believe it. But she didn’t press the issue. “My name is Candy. Come in here and make yourself at home.” She led the way into her living room.
Brooklyn followed her, looking around as they walked. She was impressed by how well decorated the place was. On the outside, the house hadn’t looked like much. But inside it was plush and well furnished. A large curio in the hallway was full of crystal figurines and framed photos of the family. The living room was decorated in jewel tones with large plants all around.
Candy walked over to the stereo system and turned the volume down.
“Come on! Sit down.” She gestured with her hands impatiently.
Brooklyn and Hassan sat down on the couch. Candy sat in a leather recliner facing them.
“We can’t stay long,” Hassan said. “I gotta make a run with Wally today, but he’s still hung over from last night.”
“What happened last night?” Candy asked.
“Roscoe had a little get together for Carla’s birthday.”
Candy’s eyes widened. “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have went with you! Was Tawana there?”
“No,” Hassan said, shaking his head at his mother. “It wasn’t a big party. Just a handful of us young folks having a good time.”
Candy sucked her teeth. “I’m only sixteen years older than you, boo. Mama’s still young enough to hang!”
Hassan laughed at her, and Brooklyn watched them, smiling. She could tell that he enjoyed his mother’s youthfulness and that the two of them had an easy, almost sibling-like relationship. Nothing at all like the one she once had with her own mother.
“Tawana is Wally’s mother. When her and my mother get together, there’s usually a lot of drama.”
“There’s usually a lot of FUN!” Candy corrected him. She turned her attention to Brooklyn. “So, are you my son’s girlfriend now? Is that why he brought you over here to meet me?”
Brooklyn chuckled and looked at Hassan. “Yeah. I guess so.” She saw a school picture of him framed on a nearby wall and gestured toward it. “What was Hassan like as a kid?” she asked.
Hassan groaned.
Candy laughed. “He was a handful! Always curious about everything, following his older brother around. He’s the middle child, so he’s sneaky. He liked to dig around in closets and drawers and find stuff he had no business finding. Like weed and money and shit like that.”
Brooklyn laughed. “Okay. So, he’s nosy.”
“What’s your story?” Candy asked, bluntly. “Who’s your family?”
“My family and I don’t get along. I left home the minute I got the chance.
“Why?” Candy pressed. “Where do you live now?”
“With me,” Hassan answered for her. “That’s why I brought her to meet you. Brooklyn’s with me now. You’ll be seeing her a lot.”
“Mm.” Candy looked Brooklyn up and down. “What part of Brooklyn are you from?”
Brooklyn stammered a little. “Um … I’m not really from Brooklyn. I was born there. But I grew up in Staten Island.”
Candy clapped her hands, dramatically. “I knew it. You don’t act like girls from Brooklyn. You’re not tough enough. No offense. Girls out there have more grit. You seem like you came from a small town. I’ve never been to Staten Island before. But from what I hear, you might as well be from Arkansas.”
Brooklyn laughed. “It’s not that small. But you’re not that wrong either.”
“I know that’s right.” Candy huffed. “You’re living with my son now, huh? What happened with your family?”
Brooklyn didn’t want to answer. But she didn’t want to be rude. So, she gave Candy an abbreviated version of the story.
“My family is churchgoing and strict. They were going to kick me out. So, I left before they had the chance.”
“Your young ass ran away from your churchgoing family to be with my son?”
“Ma!” Hassan covered his face with his hand.
Brooklyn nodded. “Not just to be with Hassan,” she corrected. “I had to get out of there anyway.”
“So, you were out there cutting school and acting grown?”
Brooklyn admitted that she was.
“So, they were right about keeping a close eye on you. They just wanted to keep you from getting yourself in trouble.”
“Ma,” Hassan said again. “Leave it alone. I just wanted you to meet her. I didn’t bring her over her for questioning.”
“It’s okay,” Brooklyn said, smiling. “I like people who speak their mind. That’s why I had to leave home. I couldn’t be myself there. But I’m not a bad person, Miss Candy. You’ll see.”
Candy nodded. “Well, it’s clear that my son likes you.”
Brooklyn was comforted by that. “I like him, too.”
Candy didn’t respond right away. She eyed both of them carefully before a slow grin spread across her face.
“Okay, Miss Brooklyn. If you’re cool with Hass, you’re cool with me.”
Their conversation was interrupted when a younger girl walked in and rushed toward Hassan. He held his hands up in front of his face, defensively, as she rained down blows on him. She wasn’t hitting him hard, but the frenzy sent Brooklyn sliding to the other side of the sofa.
“Yo! What’s your problem?”
“Where’s my twenty dollars?”
Brooklyn looked at Candy, confused. Candy laughed.
“This is my daughter Laray. They play like this all the time.”
Brooklyn smiled and watched the siblings play fight. Hassan pulled Laray onto his lap and started tickling her, mercilessly.
“Stop, Hass!” she protested.
“Nah, you started it!” He mushed her hard and sent her tumbling to the floor.
She kicked him and snatched his wallet from the pocket of his hoodie.
“Chill, Ray!”
She ignored him, rifled through the bills in his wallet and pulled out a crisp fifty. She tossed the wallet back in his lap and smirked.
“You bet me that I wouldn’t pass that history test and I did! So, now I’m taking the twenty dollars you owe me, plus interest.”
“What kind of interest rate are you charging?” Hassan tucked his wallet away quickly. “You took fifty.”
Laray looked at Brooklyn and waved.
“Hi. You’re with him?” she asked.
“Yes. I’m Brooklyn. Nice to meet you.”
Laray smiled. She looked at her brother. “She’s cute. What’s she doing with you?”
“Stay out of grown folks’ business, KID,” Hassan teased her.
“Still smarter than you,” Laray shot back.
“You’re lucky I got somewhere to go. I’m gonna come back later and take back all the clothes I bought you. You can use your fifty to buy new ones.” Hassan pretended to be mad, but Brooklyn could tell he was joking.
“Before you go,” Candy said. “Let me get some money for the light bill.”
Hassan groaned a little. “Ma, I just gave you money.”
“I spent it on the cable bill. Come on now! Stop acting all stingy and shit.”
Hassan sighed heavily, pulled his wallet back out, and tossed it to his mother.
She caught it in midair. She opened it up, pulled out a handful of bills and tossed it back to him.
“Stop acting like I ask you for money all the time.”
“You don’t?” he asked, rhetorically.
She chuckled. “No! And if I did, I earned it. Being your mother wasn’t cheap. Feeding and clothing you was hard.” She tucked the money under an ashtray on the table beside her. “Anyway, thank you.”
Hassan looked at Brooklyn, his expression blank. “Let’s get ready to go.”
Brooklyn nodded.
Candy rose from her chair and smiled at them. “Okay, Miss Brooklyn. Take care of my baby. I’ll stop by later this week and take you out to lunch. Just me and you.” She shot a glance at Hassan.
He smiled and shook his head, helplessly.
“Okay,” Brooklyn agreed. “Thank you.”
They rose to leave. Laray took a step closer to Brooklyn.
“I like your outfit,” she said.
Brooklyn smiled at her. “Thank you. We should go shopping one day.”
Laray smiled back. “Cool.”
As they left the house, Hassan held the door for Brooklyn. Once in the car, they talked about the encounter while he drove to Stacey’s apartment.
“They’re so nice!” Brooklyn said. “Your mother seems like a lot of fun.”
He nodded. “Too much sometimes. She’s ride or die for real.”
Brooklyn couldn’t imagine. She looked down at her hands.
“You should have experienced my family. They’re the complete opposite of yours. My mother is so uptight and fake. My father put all these unrealistic expectations on us and made it impossible for us to be real with him. I wish I could have been myself around my family like you are. Your mother knows everything about you, and she has your back. Your sister and brother depend on you. In mine, it was every man for himself.”
He glanced at her. “Your parents were probably hard on you. I think they wanted the best for you, though.” He turned his eyes back to the road ahead. “Giving a kid too much freedom and responsibility ain’t always the answer. I used to wish my moms would be more like yours. Not the fake part. But the parenting part. We had to figure a lot of shit out on our own. My mother was always partying. Revolving door of boyfriends. The one she has now is a loser just like the rest of them.” He shook his head. “You should try to fix everything with your family.”
Brooklyn stared out the passenger window. “That will never happen.” She shrugged. “And I’m cool with that. I’m sure that to you my family doesn’t sound so bad. But, trust me, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”
Hassan didn’t respond immediately. They drove in silence for a while with the radio playing in the background. When he got his words together, he spoke at last.
“I know you gave up on your family and all that. But I like you because you’re different. You didn’t grow up running the streets and all that. Your father was hard on you. That’s what good fathers do. They keep their daughters from getting smutted out. And they teach their sons how to be men. I think he had good intentions. He just went about it the wrong way.”
“Honestly, I adored him until he turned on me. All these years, I looked up to him. Even though I knew he wasn’t perfect. I thought he loved me unconditionally. But I was wrong. Good fathers don’t despise their daughters and throw their sons out in the street.”
Hassan decided to let it go. It was clear that Brooklyn’s mind was made up and she had no intention of reconciling with her family.
They got to Stacey’s apartment and Brooklyn climbed out of the car.
“I’m gonna go get Wally and make this run. You want me to pick you up afterward?”
Brooklyn thought about it. She had gotten comfortable at Stacey’s place. But she didn’t want to overstay her welcome. “Yeah,” she said. “I’ll pack a bag.”
He nodded. “Cool. See you in a little while.”
Brooklyn liked him. She could tell he was nothing like Alonzo. Hassan listened to her. He asked her questions that made her think. He challenged her without pushing too hard. As she knocked on Stacey’s apartment door, she realized that her advice had been solid. Hassan was a good guy, and they could make a great team.
Stacey opened the door and Brooklyn entered the apartment.
“Welcome back,” Stacey said, smiling. “I see you and Hass hit it off. That’s a good look.” She sat down on the couch. “You got the chance to meet Carla and Missy. So, what’s it gonna be? You joining the hustlers’ wives club or you still on your grind?”
Brooklyn laughed and plopped down across from Stacey. “I like Hassan. But I’m still focused. How soon can I get back on the road?”
“Next week!” Stacey clapped her hands excitedly. “Let’s get this money!”
CHAPTER TEN
New Levels
Time seemed to pass in the blink of an eye.
Now that she was fully immersed in Hassan’s world, his friends and family had adopted her as one of their own. When she wasn’t wrapped up in his arms or helping him count money and strategize, she spent the bulk of her time with his mother and sister, and even accompanied Hassan on a visit to a prison in upstate New York to meet his incarcerated brother. Dawan looked like an older, rougher version of Hassan and had seemed happy to finally meet the new lady in his brother’s life. The visit had gone by so quickly that Brooklyn hardly realized hours had elapsed.
Stacey, Carla, and Missy became her only friend circle, sharing a sisterhood centered around their individual relationships with Wally, Roscoe, and Hassan. Brooklyn was on cloud nine. The sadness that had shrouded her so relentlessly had finally begun to wane. Hassan watched as the bond between Brooklyn and his sister Laray deepened over time. It wasn’t lost on him that Laray was about the same age as Brooklyn’s sister Hope. He watched the love and care Brooklyn showed Laray and knew that it was a reflection of how deeply she missed her own family.
“She said that?”
“Yup.”
“Wow. That’s a big compliment coming from Stacey.” He drank some of his grape juice. “I never saw myself doing this,” he admitted. “This was my brother’s lane. When crack hit the block, niggas made a lot of money really fast. It got us out of the projects. He bought my mother her first car, made sure we had what we needed. Then he got knocked. I was finishing high school. Moms had trouble keeping up with the bills. So, I went to Stacey and asked her if I could take Dawan’s place. She told me no at first.”
Brooklyn was surprised by that.
“Said I wasn’t ready. But I went back so many times that she started sending me out of town like she has you doing now.” He looked at her, impressed. “But I didn’t come to her with my own money like you did. I had to work my way up. Took me a while. But I’m doing alright for myself now.”
“How much longer you planning on doing this?” she asked.
“Hard to say.” He wasn’t sure when he would stop. The game had become so ingrained in him at that point that he wasn’t sure if he could ever completely leave it behind.
“What would you do if you weren’t hustling?” Brooklyn asked.
He exhaled deeply. “Real estate.”
Brooklyn folded her arms across her chest. Now she was the one impressed. “Really? You would sell real estate?”
He shook his head. “Buy it, mostly. Like strip malls, office buildings, mansions, and that type of thing.”
Brooklyn clapped her hands playfully. “I saw how good you look in a suit. So I can imagine you getting all dapper and being a boss!”
He popped his imaginary collar. “Exactly. How about you? What you gonna do when you meet your goal with Stacey?”
She thought about it. “Maybe open up a hair salon and barbershop all in one. Upscale and fancy, but also cozy and relaxing.” Brooklyn could picture it the more she spoke about it. “I would paint the ceilings, serve wine and beer, and the whole nine yards.”
“Sounds dope. I can rent you a spot in one of my strip malls.”
They clinked glasses.
“I’m gonna give you a ride back to Stacey’s,” he said. “I have some business to handle with Wally today.”
Brooklyn nodded.
He paused before standing up. “I think Stacey’s right about us making a good couple. What you think?”
She smirked, pausing before she answered. “I think so, too.”
They got into Hassan’s car and had only driven a few blocks before he pulled into the driveway of a yellow house with white shingles. Brooklyn looked at him, confused.
“This ain’t Stacey’s building.”
Hassan nodded. “I know. I need to make a quick stop.” He got out of the car before Brooklyn could reply.
Frowning, she got out and followed him to the door. He rang the bell and winked at her.
“Don’t be nervous. Mom’s gonna love you.”
“Your MOTHER?” Brooklyn swatted him on the arm. “Why didn’t you tell me that’s who we came to see?”
“Relax!”
Brooklyn could hear loud music playing from a radio inside the house. She raised her eyebrows at Hassan as the sound of a woman’s loud voice drew closer to the door.
“What you doing ringing the bell, Hass? You lost your keys again? I ain’t gonna keep giving you keys if you—”
The door swung open and a petite older woman with a pixie haircut like Toni Braxton stood staring at the two of them through the screen door with her mouth agape.
Hassan chuckled. “I didn’t lose my key, Ma. I just didn’t want to walk in unannounced without letting you know I have company.”
She looked Brooklyn up and down, curiously. “Who is this?”
“This is Brooklyn.” He put his arm around her shoulder.
Brooklyn noticed how young his mother looked. Clearly, Hassan’s mother was making the same observation about her.
“How old is she?” Skepticism was written all over her face.
“Ma! Let us in.”
She unlatched the lock on the screen door and stepped aside as they entered. Brooklyn’s heart pounded nervously in her chest, and she forced a smile. Up close, Hassan’s mother looked even younger. She wore a white T-shirt, a pair of denim shorts, and some gold doorknocker earrings. She stood with one hand on her hip batting her eyelashes at Brooklyn.
“Nice to meet you, young lady. I don’t mean to be rude. I’m just trying to understand what my son is up to.”
Hassan kissed his mother’s cheek and smiled at her.
“You always think I’m up to something.”
“That’s ’cause you are.” She turned to Brooklyn, sizing her up once again. “Brooklyn,” she said. “That’s your name?”
“Yes.”
“That’s where you’re from?”
Brooklyn nodded. It was true, she reasoned. That was where she had been born. It seemed smart to withhold the story of her Staten Island ties. At least for now.
“How old are you?”
“I’m eighteen,” Brooklyn lied.
“Mm-hmm.” Hassan’s mother rolled her eyes as if she didn’t believe it. But she didn’t press the issue. “My name is Candy. Come in here and make yourself at home.” She led the way into her living room.
Brooklyn followed her, looking around as they walked. She was impressed by how well decorated the place was. On the outside, the house hadn’t looked like much. But inside it was plush and well furnished. A large curio in the hallway was full of crystal figurines and framed photos of the family. The living room was decorated in jewel tones with large plants all around.
Candy walked over to the stereo system and turned the volume down.
“Come on! Sit down.” She gestured with her hands impatiently.
Brooklyn and Hassan sat down on the couch. Candy sat in a leather recliner facing them.
“We can’t stay long,” Hassan said. “I gotta make a run with Wally today, but he’s still hung over from last night.”
“What happened last night?” Candy asked.
“Roscoe had a little get together for Carla’s birthday.”
Candy’s eyes widened. “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have went with you! Was Tawana there?”
“No,” Hassan said, shaking his head at his mother. “It wasn’t a big party. Just a handful of us young folks having a good time.”
Candy sucked her teeth. “I’m only sixteen years older than you, boo. Mama’s still young enough to hang!”
Hassan laughed at her, and Brooklyn watched them, smiling. She could tell that he enjoyed his mother’s youthfulness and that the two of them had an easy, almost sibling-like relationship. Nothing at all like the one she once had with her own mother.
“Tawana is Wally’s mother. When her and my mother get together, there’s usually a lot of drama.”
“There’s usually a lot of FUN!” Candy corrected him. She turned her attention to Brooklyn. “So, are you my son’s girlfriend now? Is that why he brought you over here to meet me?”
Brooklyn chuckled and looked at Hassan. “Yeah. I guess so.” She saw a school picture of him framed on a nearby wall and gestured toward it. “What was Hassan like as a kid?” she asked.
Hassan groaned.
Candy laughed. “He was a handful! Always curious about everything, following his older brother around. He’s the middle child, so he’s sneaky. He liked to dig around in closets and drawers and find stuff he had no business finding. Like weed and money and shit like that.”
Brooklyn laughed. “Okay. So, he’s nosy.”
“What’s your story?” Candy asked, bluntly. “Who’s your family?”
“My family and I don’t get along. I left home the minute I got the chance.
“Why?” Candy pressed. “Where do you live now?”
“With me,” Hassan answered for her. “That’s why I brought her to meet you. Brooklyn’s with me now. You’ll be seeing her a lot.”
“Mm.” Candy looked Brooklyn up and down. “What part of Brooklyn are you from?”
Brooklyn stammered a little. “Um … I’m not really from Brooklyn. I was born there. But I grew up in Staten Island.”
Candy clapped her hands, dramatically. “I knew it. You don’t act like girls from Brooklyn. You’re not tough enough. No offense. Girls out there have more grit. You seem like you came from a small town. I’ve never been to Staten Island before. But from what I hear, you might as well be from Arkansas.”
Brooklyn laughed. “It’s not that small. But you’re not that wrong either.”
“I know that’s right.” Candy huffed. “You’re living with my son now, huh? What happened with your family?”
Brooklyn didn’t want to answer. But she didn’t want to be rude. So, she gave Candy an abbreviated version of the story.
“My family is churchgoing and strict. They were going to kick me out. So, I left before they had the chance.”
“Your young ass ran away from your churchgoing family to be with my son?”
“Ma!” Hassan covered his face with his hand.
Brooklyn nodded. “Not just to be with Hassan,” she corrected. “I had to get out of there anyway.”
“So, you were out there cutting school and acting grown?”
Brooklyn admitted that she was.
“So, they were right about keeping a close eye on you. They just wanted to keep you from getting yourself in trouble.”
“Ma,” Hassan said again. “Leave it alone. I just wanted you to meet her. I didn’t bring her over her for questioning.”
“It’s okay,” Brooklyn said, smiling. “I like people who speak their mind. That’s why I had to leave home. I couldn’t be myself there. But I’m not a bad person, Miss Candy. You’ll see.”
Candy nodded. “Well, it’s clear that my son likes you.”
Brooklyn was comforted by that. “I like him, too.”
Candy didn’t respond right away. She eyed both of them carefully before a slow grin spread across her face.
“Okay, Miss Brooklyn. If you’re cool with Hass, you’re cool with me.”
Their conversation was interrupted when a younger girl walked in and rushed toward Hassan. He held his hands up in front of his face, defensively, as she rained down blows on him. She wasn’t hitting him hard, but the frenzy sent Brooklyn sliding to the other side of the sofa.
“Yo! What’s your problem?”
“Where’s my twenty dollars?”
Brooklyn looked at Candy, confused. Candy laughed.
“This is my daughter Laray. They play like this all the time.”
Brooklyn smiled and watched the siblings play fight. Hassan pulled Laray onto his lap and started tickling her, mercilessly.
“Stop, Hass!” she protested.
“Nah, you started it!” He mushed her hard and sent her tumbling to the floor.
She kicked him and snatched his wallet from the pocket of his hoodie.
“Chill, Ray!”
She ignored him, rifled through the bills in his wallet and pulled out a crisp fifty. She tossed the wallet back in his lap and smirked.
“You bet me that I wouldn’t pass that history test and I did! So, now I’m taking the twenty dollars you owe me, plus interest.”
“What kind of interest rate are you charging?” Hassan tucked his wallet away quickly. “You took fifty.”
Laray looked at Brooklyn and waved.
“Hi. You’re with him?” she asked.
“Yes. I’m Brooklyn. Nice to meet you.”
Laray smiled. She looked at her brother. “She’s cute. What’s she doing with you?”
“Stay out of grown folks’ business, KID,” Hassan teased her.
“Still smarter than you,” Laray shot back.
“You’re lucky I got somewhere to go. I’m gonna come back later and take back all the clothes I bought you. You can use your fifty to buy new ones.” Hassan pretended to be mad, but Brooklyn could tell he was joking.
“Before you go,” Candy said. “Let me get some money for the light bill.”
Hassan groaned a little. “Ma, I just gave you money.”
“I spent it on the cable bill. Come on now! Stop acting all stingy and shit.”
Hassan sighed heavily, pulled his wallet back out, and tossed it to his mother.
She caught it in midair. She opened it up, pulled out a handful of bills and tossed it back to him.
“Stop acting like I ask you for money all the time.”
“You don’t?” he asked, rhetorically.
She chuckled. “No! And if I did, I earned it. Being your mother wasn’t cheap. Feeding and clothing you was hard.” She tucked the money under an ashtray on the table beside her. “Anyway, thank you.”
Hassan looked at Brooklyn, his expression blank. “Let’s get ready to go.”
Brooklyn nodded.
Candy rose from her chair and smiled at them. “Okay, Miss Brooklyn. Take care of my baby. I’ll stop by later this week and take you out to lunch. Just me and you.” She shot a glance at Hassan.
He smiled and shook his head, helplessly.
“Okay,” Brooklyn agreed. “Thank you.”
They rose to leave. Laray took a step closer to Brooklyn.
“I like your outfit,” she said.
Brooklyn smiled at her. “Thank you. We should go shopping one day.”
Laray smiled back. “Cool.”
As they left the house, Hassan held the door for Brooklyn. Once in the car, they talked about the encounter while he drove to Stacey’s apartment.
“They’re so nice!” Brooklyn said. “Your mother seems like a lot of fun.”
He nodded. “Too much sometimes. She’s ride or die for real.”
Brooklyn couldn’t imagine. She looked down at her hands.
“You should have experienced my family. They’re the complete opposite of yours. My mother is so uptight and fake. My father put all these unrealistic expectations on us and made it impossible for us to be real with him. I wish I could have been myself around my family like you are. Your mother knows everything about you, and she has your back. Your sister and brother depend on you. In mine, it was every man for himself.”
He glanced at her. “Your parents were probably hard on you. I think they wanted the best for you, though.” He turned his eyes back to the road ahead. “Giving a kid too much freedom and responsibility ain’t always the answer. I used to wish my moms would be more like yours. Not the fake part. But the parenting part. We had to figure a lot of shit out on our own. My mother was always partying. Revolving door of boyfriends. The one she has now is a loser just like the rest of them.” He shook his head. “You should try to fix everything with your family.”
Brooklyn stared out the passenger window. “That will never happen.” She shrugged. “And I’m cool with that. I’m sure that to you my family doesn’t sound so bad. But, trust me, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”
Hassan didn’t respond immediately. They drove in silence for a while with the radio playing in the background. When he got his words together, he spoke at last.
“I know you gave up on your family and all that. But I like you because you’re different. You didn’t grow up running the streets and all that. Your father was hard on you. That’s what good fathers do. They keep their daughters from getting smutted out. And they teach their sons how to be men. I think he had good intentions. He just went about it the wrong way.”
“Honestly, I adored him until he turned on me. All these years, I looked up to him. Even though I knew he wasn’t perfect. I thought he loved me unconditionally. But I was wrong. Good fathers don’t despise their daughters and throw their sons out in the street.”
Hassan decided to let it go. It was clear that Brooklyn’s mind was made up and she had no intention of reconciling with her family.
They got to Stacey’s apartment and Brooklyn climbed out of the car.
“I’m gonna go get Wally and make this run. You want me to pick you up afterward?”
Brooklyn thought about it. She had gotten comfortable at Stacey’s place. But she didn’t want to overstay her welcome. “Yeah,” she said. “I’ll pack a bag.”
He nodded. “Cool. See you in a little while.”
Brooklyn liked him. She could tell he was nothing like Alonzo. Hassan listened to her. He asked her questions that made her think. He challenged her without pushing too hard. As she knocked on Stacey’s apartment door, she realized that her advice had been solid. Hassan was a good guy, and they could make a great team.
Stacey opened the door and Brooklyn entered the apartment.
“Welcome back,” Stacey said, smiling. “I see you and Hass hit it off. That’s a good look.” She sat down on the couch. “You got the chance to meet Carla and Missy. So, what’s it gonna be? You joining the hustlers’ wives club or you still on your grind?”
Brooklyn laughed and plopped down across from Stacey. “I like Hassan. But I’m still focused. How soon can I get back on the road?”
“Next week!” Stacey clapped her hands excitedly. “Let’s get this money!”
CHAPTER TEN
New Levels
Time seemed to pass in the blink of an eye.
Now that she was fully immersed in Hassan’s world, his friends and family had adopted her as one of their own. When she wasn’t wrapped up in his arms or helping him count money and strategize, she spent the bulk of her time with his mother and sister, and even accompanied Hassan on a visit to a prison in upstate New York to meet his incarcerated brother. Dawan looked like an older, rougher version of Hassan and had seemed happy to finally meet the new lady in his brother’s life. The visit had gone by so quickly that Brooklyn hardly realized hours had elapsed.
Stacey, Carla, and Missy became her only friend circle, sharing a sisterhood centered around their individual relationships with Wally, Roscoe, and Hassan. Brooklyn was on cloud nine. The sadness that had shrouded her so relentlessly had finally begun to wane. Hassan watched as the bond between Brooklyn and his sister Laray deepened over time. It wasn’t lost on him that Laray was about the same age as Brooklyn’s sister Hope. He watched the love and care Brooklyn showed Laray and knew that it was a reflection of how deeply she missed her own family.
