From Ratchet to Riches Read online

  “Shit. Hitting a few blocks…. Aye Mecca, I love when you wear yo hair curly like that. You look all exotic and shit.” Jay responded, looking Mecca directly in the eyes.

  “Awwww thank you. I hate it.”

  Mecca stared at the ground and fidgeted with her fingers, feeling very much uncomfortable. It wasn’t necessary Jay’s comment that made her feel that way. It was compliments period that always made her feel uneasy.

  “Yeah, bitches don’t be wearing they real hair these days. Niggas get tired of pulling strings of loose hair out they beard and shit.” Jay laughed, followed by Capone.

  “Anyway.” Kay smacked her lips, directing the attention on the porch back to her.

  Mecca knew her girl was salty about their comments because she stayed with at least four bundles in her head. If Mecca had the money to buy weave, hell, she would too. Little did Jay know, wearing that curly ponytail wasn’t a choice, it was mandatory.

  Feeling like the conversation took an awkward turn, Mecca tried to think of something to say but came up empty. So instead, she stood to her feet to leave. She needed to brainstorm more ideas with Danielle on ways to come up with money for an abortion.

  “I’ll be back y’all, I gotta go and…..”

  The loud sound of police sirens blaring through the air caused Mecca to not only pause her words but freeze in her tracks. She looked on as a police car damn near jump the curb, forcing the kids playing nearby to scatter quickly.

  “They on bullshit and I’m dirty.” Capone’s deep voice finally spoke.

  Mecca and Capone’s eyes locked, but she quickly looked away. There was something about Capone that made her nervous. It was obvious that he was a bit older than them and into the streets, just by the way he carried himself. Capone seemed chilled and laid back. The type of person who only spoke when spoken to. He was easy on the eyes but nothing to go crazy about. Capone was what they considered medium-ugly. He wasn’t a pretty nigga with gray eyes, but he had just the right amount of swag to make up for whatever he lacked in looks.

  “Aye Kay, let my cousin use your hallway to stash his shit.” Jay requested.

  “Stash his shit? Hell nah. My mommy and daddy would kill me.” She winced.

  Mecca, Capone, and Jay’s eyes all landed on Kay who stood firm with her hand on her hips. She wasn’t lying; her parents didn’t play when it came to things such as that. Regardless of how loose their daughter was, Kay was scared as fuck of her parental.

  “Mannnnn, I’m about to bail on they ass.” Capone stated as he turned around nervously.

  “You good, give it to me. I’ll hold it for you.” Mecca shockingly replied.

  Capone wasted no time going inside his pants and handing over three medium size bags of what looked like cocaine. Mecca didn’t know much about drugs, but she knew enough to know that crack came in a rock form and what she was placing in her bra was pure powder. The only way she remembered that was because of Whitney Houston and her famous rant that “crack was whack!”

  “Let me see some ID. What you doing over here? CAPONE?” One of the officers asked as him and his partner pinned both Capone and Jay against the gate.

  “Why y’all always fuckn with me Ritz?” Capone hissed, glancing over at Mecca who began walking off.

  Mecca heard them bickering behind her as she marched down the street to her house. It was clear that the officers and Capone were familiar with each other, which only peaked Mecca’s interest even more. But now was not the time for her to be trying to figure out their connection. She had drugs in her bra and a pregnant teenage sister who she still had to deal with.

  10

  Danielle woke up the next morning feeling sick to her stomach. She hadn’t had any morning sickness prior to finding out she was pregnant, yet now, she had the urge to throw up. Since returning home, neither Dame nor Melissa bothered her, which she was happy about. She had been really focused on keeping a close eye on Yana. After finding out about Dame’s perverted ass, she hadn’t taken her eyes off of her little sister. Yana slept in the bed with her and went everywhere she went. Danielle did the same with Coby because nowadays, those sick bastards didn’t have a preference and she wasn’t willing to take any chances.

  “Yana and Coby, if y’all wanna go to the park, y’all better hurry up.” Danielle yelled as she walked out of the bathroom for the fourth time that morning.

  ‘‘Don’t be yelling in my damn house and yo ass bet not be pregnant….. hmph…. Don’t think I haven’t noticed all that damn throwing up ya black ass been doing.” Melissa hissed from her seat on the window pane.

  “Oh… NOW…. You wanna notice something.” Danielle said under her breath or so she thought until she seen Melissa leaping at her in full force.

  Being as slow as she was, Dani was able to move out of the way just in time, sending her mother flying against an old China cabinet that used to belong to Madea.

  The loud bang must have startled everyone in the small apartment because they all came flying out of the rooms, including Dame.

  “What the fu-fu-fuck goin’ on here?” he stuttered, causing Danielle’s eyes to roll in the back of her head.

  “This bitch just pushed me.” Melissa lied, her wrinkled dark finger pointed in Danielle’s direction.

  Everyone looked at her, but no one said anything, obviously not buying Melissa’s bullshit.

  “Yana and Coby, y’all ready?” Dani asked before grabbing the both of their hands and walking out the door.

  “Hold up, I’m coming with you.” Mecca called out as she sprinted to catch up to them.

  The neighborhood park was located at the end of their block, which was actually only about six houses down. Danielle and Mecca walked slow while Yana and Coby raced to see who could reach the swing first.

  “So, you ready to stop lying?” Mecca broke the silence and asked out the blue.

  “Girl, lying about what?” Dani questioned, clearly annoyed.

  “Who you pregnant by, please don’t play dumb.”

  Danielle knew she wasn’t off the hook with Mecca and her twenty-one questions even though she had stopped asking of lately. It had honestly seemed to Dani that her big sister was in her own world, dealing with her own shit. She came in the house the day prior acting all sneaky and shit. Dani wanted to question her then, but she didn’t want to spark up any other unwanted conversations.

  “SO NOW YOU DON’T HEAR ME?!” Mecca practically yelled, snapping her out of her trance.

  “Girl, first of all, who you hollering at? You not my fuckn momma.” Dani stopped in her tracks and snapped.

  “Nah, you need to calm all that loud rah rah shit down cuz you ain’t gon’ do shit.” Mecca snapped back, stepping into Danielle’s face.

  The two sisters mugged each other. The bridges of their noses touching, both of them waiting for the other to make a move.

  “Aye Mecca, Capone was looking for you.”

  Both sisters’ eyes shifted from each other to the porch they were standing in front of.

  “Aw… what up Darrius?” Mecca spoke to Kay’s big brother.

  Danielle hadn’t even noticed that they stopped in front of Kay’s house to argue. She was kind of thankful that Darrius had interrupted when he did because she didn’t feel like fighting Mecca. It had been a while since the sisters had went to blows with each other, simply because they were busy fighting everyone else. Dani and Mecca learned how to fight from fighting each other. Madea used to always say they got that trait from Melissa. She too was a fighter, hence the reason she was always jumping at her daughters.

  “Yeah, like I was saying, Capone and Jay slid through here looking for you earlier.” He repeated.

  “What about Jay?” Kay appeared from the doorway and asked, stepping onto the porch next to her brother.

  “Damn yo lil uglass thirsty.” Darrius barked, frowning his face up at his sister.

  Both Danielle and Mecca laughed before Mecca told him to tell Jay to ring her bell when he come back ov
er there. Unlike normal teenagers, the Young sisters didn’t have cell phones. Danielle would bet her last dollar, if she had one, that they were the only people on their block without phones. Danielle’s friend Stephany’s little sister, who is seven, even had an iPhone.

  Darrius nodded his head, confirming Mecca’s request before he disappeared into their house.

  “So, who is Capone and what he wanna holler at you about?” Danielle challenged, placing her hand on her hips.

  “Mind yo business Danielle.” She replied, staring her down out the corner of her eye.

  “Nah. Nah. Nah. Remember, we are each other’s business. Or does that just apply to you when you all in my shit?”

  “Look, if you must know, yesterday Jay and his cousin pulled up talking to us. About ten minutes later, some plain clothes pulled up too, fucking with them. Jay’s cousin expressed how he was dirty, so I offered to hold his drugs for him and now….”

  “And now you a trap queen?” Danielle cut her off and asked, causing Kay to curl over in laughter.

  Dani could tell by the look in Mecca’s eyes that she wanted to laugh too, but everyone knew that Big Bad Mecca had to play her role.

  “Girl fuck you!” was the next thing that rolled off her tongue before she too laughed.

  After the three ladies settled down, Mecca went ahead and continued the story.

  “So yeah, I hid the drugs in my bra. Took them home and hid them there.”

  Danielle could tell by the look on Mecca’s face that she had more to say, but whatever just caught her attention had disabled her words. Turning around to follow her sister’s eyes, Dani noticed it was a black Porsche that seemed to have caught her eye. Unable to see past the dark tint, Dani decided to be patient and wait until the mystery person revealed themselves.

  “Ain’t that Capone?” Kay asked with squinted eyes.

  “Yupppp.”

  Mecca’s slurred words caused Danielle to raise an eyebrow as she watched a tall, medium built, dark skin man head their way. Up close, he actually looked better than he did far away. His complexion and head full of waves put you in the mind of rapper Meek Mill.

  “Just who I wanted to see.” He stepped up to Mecca and said, getting a little too close for Danielle’s liking.

  Knowing she didn’t need to say anything because her sister wouldn’t have a problem checking him, Dani calmed down. Only to be surprised at the look in Mecca’s eyes; it was like she was welcoming him in her space.

  “Ummmm…. I got yo stuff, let me just walk down to my……”

  The sound of tires screeching and a loud crash halted all movement on the block. Screams could be heard from near the playground. Within those screams, Danielle could hear her name along with Mecca’s being called out. Danielle’s heart stopped when she spotted Yana running down the block towards them frantically crying with no Coby in sight.

  11

  Mecca laid in the bed and listened to both of her little sisters’ weep. It had been two days since Coby was killed in that hit and run. The day it happened, both Mecca and Dani rushed over to his small lifeless body that laid in the middle of the street. Mecca knew the moment she looked at her baby brother that he was dead. She wanted it all to be a dream but the ache in her heart was too real for any of the shit to be fake. Different voices screamed out for someone to call an ambulance, but nothing or no one was moving fast enough for her. Kneeling down to his side, Mecca noticed Coby’s head leaking blood. She then looked at his chest, which was still. It was at that moment that she knew for a fact he was no longer breathing.

  “MECCA MOVE!”

  Mecca felt a pair of hands usher her off to the side. Those same hands knelt down and picked up Coby.

  “Wait… you shouldn’t move him.” Ms. Williams from down the street stepped in front of him and protested.

  “Move the fuck out my way. We not finna sit here and wait fifteen minutes for no ambulance to come.” Capone’s deep voice rang through the streets.

  Without saying another word, Ms. Williams moved out the way and allowed Capone to proceed.

  “MECCA COME ON!” Capone yelled out again, carefully placing Coby’s small body on the backseat.

  “Take Yana to Kay and have someone bring you to the hospital.” Mecca yelled back to Danielle as she sprinted to the car.

  Remembering the events from that day caused Mecca to cry. Their entire household had been a wreck. She never thought it was possible for things to be more fucked up than they already were, but she was wrong. Outside from her siblings being distraught, Melissa was taking it hard as well.

  It was no secret that if she had to choose a favorite, it would be Coby. Everyone loved his cute chubby face with those huge bubble eyes to match. Mecca laughed to herself as she thought about the last conversation they had when there was a knock on their bedroom door. All three girls looked up and then at each other. It was unlikely for anyone to knock on doors around there, especially when Melissa was known for bussing in rooms.

  “Hey y’all. It’s Kay. Can I come in?”

  The sisters all still remained quiet as if they were debating on letting her in or not.

  “Come on.” Yana’s soft voice spoke up first, welcoming Kay inside.

  “I was just stopping by to check on y’all. The front door was open, so I let myself in.” she slowly spoke.

  “It’s cool. Thanks for checking on us best friend.” Mecca replied.

  “No problem. My parents said y’all welcome to come over anytime for anything.”

  Instead of replying, Mecca shook her head up and down while Dani verbally replied.

  “We really appreciate that Kay. Thanks.”

  Kayla stuck around for another five minutes before she went back home. The entire North Lawndale neighborhood had been by to check on their family. Bad news traveled fast. People they hadn’t heard from in years were showing up. People they had never seen before. People who knew Madea and Melissa expressed their condolences as well. The love was all good, but everyone missed Coby. Their household had been turned upside down in a blink of an eye.

  Standing to her feet, Mecca let out a long sigh as she looked around the dump she called her bedroom. Glancing in the corner, she spotted one of Coby’s red toy trucks and broke down into tears. For the first time ever, she understood why Danielle tried to kill herself. Death seemed easier than dealing with the loss of a sibling, but she knew that was still the punk way out. Mecca knew she still had Danielle and Yana to look after so she dismissed that silly idea and began cleaning up. After picking up a few things, Danielle got up and grabbed the broom while Yana put away her dolls. The three sisters remained quiet as they straightened up.

  Once they were done in the bedroom, they hit the living room to do the same but paused when they noticed Melissa on the couch.

  “You think she sleep?” Yana questioned first, tip-toeing towards their mother.

  “I hope she dead.” Danielle huffed under her breath.

  Mecca gave her the side-eye before clearing off the coffee table, which was filled with past due bills and more junk. She was mentally drained and tired of everything. Mecca knew this wasn’t the life for her and with that, she had plans on changing it.

  “I gotta find my baby something to wear.”

  Both Mecca and Danielle paused all movement and looked at the couch.

  “I gotta find my baby something to wear.” Melissa repeated again, this time slowly sitting up from the stained couch.

  “What you talking about?” Mecca quizzed, looking at her mom sideways.

  “Coby. I gotta find him something to wear to the party.” Melissa replied.

  “Party?” Yana walked back into the living room and repeated.

  “What party?” Dani chimed in and questioned.

  “The one today at Chuck E. Cheese, it’s his birthday.”

  All three sisters stood in the same spot, each of them giving off their own confused look. No one knew what Melissa was talking about ,but truthfully, it was s
tarting to wig Mecca out. Since the day Coby was killed, Melissa had been relying on drugs and liquor more than normal.

  “You mean his funeral?” Yana walked closer to their mother and asked.

  The word funeral sent chills down Mecca spine. No one had spoken of a funeral, but it was inevitable.

  “Speaking of funerals, don’t those things cost like a fortune? You got life insurance on us?” Dani turned and asked her mom.

  The look on Melissa’s face let them know that she didn’t. In fact, she was so high right then and there, Mecca wasn’t sure if she even knew what they were talking about. The girls had seen their mom high before, but this was a new level of elevation even for her.

  Her once pretty hazel eyes were sunken into her face. For her to be only thirty-one, she looked to be knocking on fifty. Mecca remembered the photos Madea showed her of Melissa in her younger days; even after her and Danielle was born, their mom was truly a bad bitch. It wasn’t until she started dealing with Dame, after Yana was born, that things got bad. She was even doing drugs when she was pregnant with Coby, which is the reason his father is absent.

  From the stories Mecca heard, Melissa ran off all four of her baby daddies. She could hear Madea now on the phone gossiping to Ms. Williams while she sat on her plastic couch in her dingy nightgown.

  “Chillllllleeeeee, I have no idea where I went wrong with that one. Nicole and Raymond turned out fine. It’s that damn Melissa who ain’t got no sense.” Beverly fussed before putting out the Virginia Slim Menthol cigarette into the glass ashtray.

  “And I tell you what, she bet not bring her ass back in here with no mo kids and think Imma raise them. It’s bad enough Mecca and Danielle live with me. Hell, Yana and the new baby always here like they do too.”

  Mecca watched Madea’s body language change from the spot in the hallway she was eavesdropping from.

  “Youse a damn lie…. I ain’t pacify that girl. I did what any other grandmother would do, I got my grandbabies out of a fuck’d up situation. The only blame I take is being too consumed at work and not keeping a closer eye on my twelve-year-old that was out here fucking…. Cuz if I had, I wouldn’t be sitting here raising her fifteen and sixteen-year-old.” Madea snapped.