First Monday In August

Tyeese began her trek up to what everyone knew simply as The Shack. The dirt road next the railroad tracks was lined with cars from locals to the visitors. Some found it good enough to say they were there without having actually been there inside of the party.
Those who recognized her swagger spoke out of the darkness. All she saw in the direction of said voices were the embers of whatever they held in between their fingers. She spoke none the less. A “wassup” or “how about it” peppered here and there.
There was a line that lazily wrapped itself around the small building. The smell of beer, food and the slight sting of hot sauce wafted past her nostrils on ribbons of the late night summer wind. At first it offended her, but then, suddenly, made itself at home. All the way to her bones. Dreams of leaving always flew from her lips. Sometimes in anger. Sometimes in sorrow. And sometimes in the far away look of a little girl with high goals set for herself. Whatever she decided to do with life, she always envisioned she’d be good at it. But when she got down to the meat of the matter, she knew this was home. This is what she knew. And she would miss it dearly, daydreaming at that moment what it would be like to return later in life as she made her way to the door.
Guys from out of town cat-called as they watched her hips sway past them, creating a breeze as if she was Mother Nature in the flesh. Never looking in the face, the ass is what was always noticed first. To the coochie-hungry young brothas trying to be players, decked out in their Sean John or Phat Farm, the face came next. Now, if they weren’t attracted to the face, but the ass they still admired, then that young lady turned in to prey. Whethershe wanted to be or not.
Now the ladies, they were a fashion show on their own with their share of designer labels tucked, tied, or painted on their bodies. They were just as hungry. One clique Tyeese knew of very well of which the ringleader had designs for Turk. She as well as her clique of concubines, were all about the almighty dollar. If you so much as walked like you were broke, they didn’t give you the time.
Tyeese enjoyed people watching. Especially at times like these. For she had the audacity and clout to just walk right on by them and make her way inside and without paying to boot. Sometimes she relished in the tongues she heard click whenever she did this. But this also meant she had to always watch her back. Regardless of who said they had it, she was taught to always have her own. But nothing was never said because Bear,
who had that name for good reason, worked the door. Nobody questioned anything Bear did or said.
His deep voice could be heard above the bass spilling from the door, “Hey girl, how are you tonight? You lookin’ mighty fine there. You late if you wanted to get your flirt on. Your boy already up in here.”
He enjoyed a full bodied laugh that came in sonic waves.
Tyeese retorted, “Yea, Yea Bear you just mad cause you can’t get it. You know this is all his even when I get my flirt on.”
“Sssk, girl please.” he spit out as he continued to chuckle.
“You know good and damn well he ain’t about to let you and Taira sit up in here tonight by yourselves for too long. Especially you. That dude will smell you soon as you walk in. Watch. I think I just saw him walk around the right towards that corner behind the DJ table. And Taira should be right inside. She’s been buggin’ me about yo’ ass all night. Phew, I feel like the frigging postman. You lucky you’re my boss’ baby sister. Go
around to the left and you may get to chill without boyfriend interference for a minute, have some free drinks, smile and wave at they ass when Turk come take a seat, like you always do.”
Bear was a comedian and could always get a genuine laugh out of Tyeese.
“Boy you are a mess! I may do no such thing! Thanks. You know you do it because you loooovvve me and I love ya back. I’ll send a couple of those free drinks your way. Okay?” she held her hand to her chest dramatically as she said this.
“Yea right, girl you know I’m on the job and I take that shit seriously. Make that two rum and cokes and ya got me.”
They laughed and looked out at the line that stared back at them, eager to get inside this den of definite temptation. Tyeese, bored with her game of bet I can make you mad first with the chicks she knew didn’t like her, she decided to mosey on in.
Taira ran up to her best friend. Her entrancing hazel eyes were all bugged out as she spoke above the noise, “Girl, where in tha hell were you? I’ve been looking all over for you!”
Tyeese calmly stared at her and said, “I had some business to tend to, damn.”
“Well, whatever sis, I have our usual table in the back.”
Tyeese smiled and replied, “And I have the trees for us to burn.”
The club was crunk and packed tighter than a Cuban cigar. The cement walls that were unpainted during non-business hours, was a myriad of colors from the strobe lights that were strategically placed to give a kaleidoscope effect. It was, by law, too small to have so many folks inside, but the owners didn’t care. As long as you had three dollars at the door and no weapons you were welcomed with open arms. Mama May ran the kitchen and she was no joke. Will cuss you out quicker than you can say boo for whatever reason she felt your behavior warranted. She didn’t take no mess and anything that jumped off outside when things shut down didn’t last too long either. Tyeese stood near the entrance a moment to give her eyes the time to adjust to the darkness a night club brings. All she could see were blinking lights and the figures of bodies, hot and sweaty from shaking what they mama’s gave them. Dudes leaning up against the wall as if participating in an unorganized police line up. There were also dark corners where couples went to make deals with the devil in all kinds of ways. The two ladies made their way through the crowd as all eyes were upon them. Some looks were out of admiration, but others were out of hate. Turk watched as his queen strolled past his line of vision. He didn’t know what it is about her that had him straight hooked. But every time her face fell upon his sight, her beauty made him pause. He watched her strut her sexy ass in those hip huggers he loved to see her in. She even had on a small t-shirt that showed a bit of her belly. A belly that was muscular but still had a feminine roundness he loved to kiss. Continuing his personal torture, he stared from across the crowded room. He also noticed the dozens of other eyes watching her walk as well.
He smirked to himself as he thought, “You fellas can look all you want, but when it’s all said and done, she ridin’ out with me.”
Settled at their favorite table, Tyeese pulled out the herbal serenity she had been waiting to smoke more of all night, as she and her partner in crime enjoyed the bird’s eye view of the club. The smoke she enjoyed moments before, was only an appetizer to her.
With determination to enjoy a night of laughs at the usual goings-on a Friday night could offer, all remnants of what she had seen were a distant memory, for now.
Just as Bear predicted, Patrice the waitress sauntered over in a pair of red stiletto heels, they were so red you could tell in the dark.
She leaned down so she could be heard, “Hey, that dude over there wanted me to come take you and your friend’s order.”
Tyeese looked over her shoulder and spotted a handsome ebony skinned young man who slightly dipped his head of waves her way. His full curvaceous lips rose slightly in what she would consider a good effort to smile slyly.
Giving him her signature look, she stared back boldly with a smirk of her own.
She responded while never losing eye contact with old boy, “Okay, I’ll take a Hypnotiq with pineapple juice.”
Taira piped in, “Mmmm, I think I’m in the mood for one of those tonight myself. Make that two.”
Snapping her fingers, Tyeese remembered, “Oh yea, and tell him I also have a dear friend of mine who is working the door and might be thirsty too. If he would be so kind as to oblige my request, we’ll accept his offer for a drink.”
Patrice stood back and laughed while saying, “Chile, you ruthless. Like I used to be. I’ll be back with your drinks because I‘ve seen him before. He gives pretty ladies like ya’ll
whatever they want. I’ll make sure Bear gets his rum and coke.”
While they waited on their drinks, the DJ decided to change the mix all the way up with some DMX. Every head in the place bobbed in rhythm to the beat that had them unified. If you listened hard enough, you could hear voices perform the lyrics as if they
were on stage in front of millions themselves. Being able to see the miniature dance floor, there were even those who swore they were in the video that very moment. By the time the song hit its last chorus, Tyeese and Taira had their drinks and their backwood rolled just right. They laughed at the scene before them. She noticed Turk begin to make his way to the table. She figured he had a good day with his crew. He was looking too good in his freshly pressed jeans, his crisp white T-shirt, and his newest pair of Air Force One’s. He walked up to the table and Tyeese stood up to hug her man. She kissed him as he pulled her closer into his embrace.
He whispered seductively, “Hey Baby. I’ve missed you.”
Her body always tingled whenever he looked at her in that way. She thought back to the day she first met him. She was only thirteen years old and was just beginning to figure out the strength of her curves. She and Buck were sitting on the porch when Turk ran up to tell him about something going down. She knew he didn’t like her around whenever he handled “business,” but she couldn’t move. That is, not until she was sure she’d made eye contact.
A small town had the advantage of where everybody knew everybody. And Tyeese knew who Turk was the first time she saw him. She’d heard bits and pieces about his past, mainly stories of how his father used to beat his mother. He was a beautiful-handsome, just like his father used to be. What Tyeese didn’t know at the time was that not just good looks had been passed down to this man’s son. What lurked beneath his handsome smile and his infectious laugh would be hard for him to keep at bay as time went on.
The feel of Turks’ tongue on her neck brought her back to the present. He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the dance floor. To get there, she had to pass playboy who bought her the drink. She smiled sexily, lips barely parted, slightly turned in the corners and waved as Bear said she would. The DJ began to play a hit by this new chick, Ebony Eyez. It was her theme song for the moment, so she had to shake something to that.
Dancing as sexy as she thought she was, Tyeese turned her back to Turk and began to wind her body seductively to the floor. Homeboy who bought the drinks boldly looked on, enjoying this personal show this pretty young lady had decided to give him. It didn’t matter to Tae that she had a man. Yea, he knew the dude, Turk.
He thought to himself, “Hmm, I didn’t know he was showcasing like that. She is a dime times ten. Hmm, mm, mm. Damn shame, she with the wrong brotha. I wonder if he treatin‘ her right.”
Turk enjoyed the tease he thought was all for him. He turned her around so he could see her face. Her lidded eyes met his for moments that seemed to slow time.
Roaming to her lips, he leaned into her again and tasted her sweetness. After being around a bunch of hard legs all day, a soft body like hers was just the welcome mat he needed.




After the club, everybody crowded into Waffle King. Not because they were hungry, but to see and be seen. Buck breezed in to find his sister and his lady seated at their usual spot. He had just returned from Jacksonville. He was flying high on the money he made. You’d think some celebrity had been spotted with the way people shouted his name as he walked through the diner.
“Hey! Buck! Wassup boy! Holla at me folk!”
Forever careful, her never spoke, just gently threw his head back in acknowledgement. Those who knew Buck, knew his style. That’s just who he was. All about business and always on his own lookout. He kept his eyes straight ahead of him, upon the face of Taira. Both ladies were just happy to see him back safely and in one piece.
He sat down and gave his lover a kiss. He couldn’t wait to get her home and give her what he knew she wanted by the way she greeted him, hungrily.
The lust in her eyes read, “Feed me, and I’m not talking about waffles either.”
Turk turned to his mentor, boss, and best friend, “Did everything go okay?”
Buck responded by flashing his Colgate smile and a slight nod of his head. Looking over at his baby sister, he could tell she was in a good mood. Or so it seemed. There was a small snag in the back of his mind that told him to take a second look. But, as long as she was happy, he was always fine. Even though he never had a nine to five, he worked hard at keeping his promise. It was a promise made to their father before he took his dying breath.
He would give his own life to keep her safe and well-taken care of. It wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for his sweet pea.