Page 17 of Gang of Roses: Dice

That feisty woman who could pray for you one minute and cuss your ass out the next slowly became a shell of herself. Granny Day used to say everybody had a number and had to be ready when God called. What she couldn't accept was the way some people got called home. Two years went by like that, and on the exact same date, we were putting Granny Day in the ground. She died from a broken heart. We did everything we could to lift her spirits, but nothing brought her out of that darkness. I remember us just sitting with her and listening to her pray. I guess she was getting right with God. When we graduated, Coca left to travel the world, and I grew numb. That was until I met Kash in college, and we later met the sisters at a local bar.

“Glo. Glo. Glo.”

“Huh?” I finally said. I’d heard him, but I was too far in thought.

“You left me.”

I blinked and looked over.

Coca was rocking side to side with tears running down his face.

I wasn't much of a crier. I zoned out instead.

And I was grateful he had pulled me back.

“I'm good, Coca. Let's eat.”

“I hate when you do that.”

“Do what?”

He sniffed and wiped at his face.

“Glo, you know exactly what. As much as I fuss about wanting some excitement around this bitch, this ain't the subject.”

“Thank you.”

I was grateful that he dropped it. If Coca had picked today to start with me about this, I would have been back out the door and riding back up that long-ass road.

“You hurt?” Revv asked, and I knew we had to change the mood in here and quick. This little boy was so emotionally aware that it scared me at times, because it reminded me of Granny-Day.

“No. Mommy is okay. Just thinking.” I got up and took him to the living room, where his large playpen sat, and put on his favorite cartoon before walking back to the table. The good thing about this place is its open floor plan.

“When we leaving the damn wilderness, Ace Ventura?”

“Hoe, you draggin’ it.”

“Girl, our asses gonna be the ones dragged if we don’t get the hell off and up here. I get why you brought this beautiful home, I really do, but its location is flatlining my pretty ass.”

“Damn, it’s really that bad?”

When I looked at Coca, he didn't answer. Instead, he hit me with a series of rapid blinks like I had lost my mind, which translated to, Girl, if you don't stop playing in my damn face right now.

“Well, good for you. I’m ready to shake for a bit.”

“Bishhhh, don’t play with me.”

“Nah, I’m serious. I’m going to still keep the place for a getaway spot once we finish our final job.”

“For who? Take me back to the city, hunni! Speakin' of the city, me and The Problem need for you to break us off with some money. It's about that time we adjust our asses back to general population. We got some shopping to do. We been in the hole too long.”

“The hole? Yo’ ass so dramatic, but I gotcha.” I said while rolling my eyes.

“I’m deprived. As a matter of fact, don’t mention any D’s around me, hooka, I start having all kinds of withdrawals. Look, I’m itching now,” Coca said, holding out his arms as if he was really breaking out in hives.

I laughed. I wasn’t even going to entertain Coca today. I decided to move this conversation right along.

“You need help.”