Lessons From A Hidden Treasure: An Interlude

by Antoinette Sherell

A gradual smile lifted Treasure’s stuffed cheeks. Shabu’s adoration for her sister warmed her heart.

That very smile once convinced Treasure not to snitch when he stashed his weapon in the boxed items she was carrying into her new apartment. It also warned her Pierre was trouble to steer clear of.

A foreign emotion obliterated her appetite to where she couldn’t consume another bite.

awwww. My girl treasure jealous

“Deal. Do you know how to fight?” Toot tossed that out before bowing her head, tapping her coffin-tipped nails against her phone screen.

Toot ass is up to no good

I’m not saying we’ll end up tussling with anyone, but I need to know what I’m working with since I don’t have Tima with me. If something pops off, am I fighting five girls alone, or can I trust you to have my back?”

Stop being so damn scary and look at me, accessory.”

Pierre is hell for calling this girl accessory

“And the first time she met yo ass, you were getting hemmed up by the boys after dumping a dirty piece on her. She should be scared of you, muthafucka.”

Tell em shabu

The most they can do is teach you how to end up niggaless and miserable.”

“Yea, but you know women looking for sponsors age in dog years. They ain’t got shit to offer a nigga after twenty-five.”

“If I could give you something better than a time machine, would you take it?”

The day I get that call ‘bout you, is the day I’ll forget every good part of myself that Whoop brought out of me, on gang. Saving you is saving us, my nigga.”

Even the times she believed he didn’t hear her praying outside his room door while the house slept; he did. He never interrupted because her faith kept him alive.

You did what you had to do. I bet she won’t pop that big dog talk anymore, knowing she can’t back it up. Her mouth was running at full speed, but those hands were power walking.

“Clearly you can’t because all I saw was him dragging you like a fucking rag doll. How was I supposed to know you were the Los in the situation?”

“This isn’t a joke, Pierre.” “I know it’s not! You almost got that nigga smoked out of his boots, Toot.

His unhealthiest addiction were women who did the most, from their yobbish

“I heard that about chicken noodle soup, too, but when’s the last time you ate that shit, Treasure? My sauce is better. Now, let me teach you how to smoke this bad bitch, Mary Jane.”

“Nah, I didn’t, but we’ll just say I saved and fed you in the twenty-third hour. I got to you just when you thought that life was over.”

“Ya fucking right. I can’t let you go hungry out here in this cold ass world. I’m gon’ supply you with whatever you need to survive out of the nest, bird.”

“Yea, that’s yo shit now. My pretty lil’ birdie I saved in the twenty-third hour. Welcome to the fold, Bird.”

“Two fingers. We tap ‘em twice to the front, once on the back, and then we lock it in.” He linked their pointer fingers together as she beamed. “Two fingers and three taps ‘cause we met in the twenty-third hour. That’s ours, so don’t go sharing it with nobody else.”

“Don’t worry about that other nigga. The only one you need to know about is Pierre.” “The one behind the mask.” He sighed. “Yea, Bird. The one most people will never get to see.”

Just do me one favor if y’all mess around. Please, don’t get pregnant or let him ruin our friendship. You’re the closest I’ve been with another girl outside of my sister.”

“We gon’ feed each other. Our shit has to go both ways or you gon’ end up looking for food off an empty plate. I feed so many mouths, you gotta check in and make sure I ain’t starving, aight?”

“I’m the type he never told you about. The one that comes in and fucks up your life in the best way possible. The one that’s probably not good for yo ass, yet nothing but good shit comes out of fucking with him.”

“What’s there to get? You’re my pretty bird, and I’m helping you strengthen those wings.”

“I can’t find a time machine, and no one else will for you either. Life happens, and this shit changes so fast sometimes that it’s hard to keep up. You gotta keep moving forward.

Since I can’t give you back your old life, I gotta make you wanna be here with us. I gotta make you want to live in the moment, Bird. You promised to let me try, right?”

give you butterflies?” “Fuck nah! Real niggas don’t get butterflies. We get—” “The feels,” she finished, and

“Well, keep those winged insects in check because that isn’t flying anywhere near me.”

“That was your first mistake, thinking you can’t get any nigga you want. You gotta walk ‘round this bitch like you’re the shit, Bird. Even on them days you think you aren’t.”

Everyone saw his kinfolk as a jokester, but Relic knew better because he long ago realized Pierre bottled up his emotions until he snapped. His young bull was a fucking monster, just like him. It was the main reason they clicked.

“What, you think snitching on the next bitch gon’ clear yo pussy of its crimes?”

“Hell, nah. Put those childish ass chips back and get some hot fries like a real nigga. If you pick up the wrong kind, I’m leaving yo ass right in this store.”

By that morning, she learned not to wait on or for a man. It was equivalent to begging for sheer disappointment.

“You see how quickly you forget about me?” “Never that. My lil’ birdie stays flapping around in my head. I wonder where you’re at, what you’re doing, and if you’re safe. I bet you was thinking about me, too.”

“I don’t know. Ask me again when these shotguns wear off.” “Oh, so you want to be sober when you lie straight to my face?”

“Damn, Bird! What you trying to do, crawl into my fucking skin? You must’ve missed me.”

“Yea, Bird. I be wondering if you’re good at faking it, too.” He fell out of character with that allegation.

“I think, damn, she looks at me with stars in her eyes like I can’t do no fucking wrong. How long before reality sets in and that look is gone? That shit makes me anxious, ‘cause I know I’m gon’ fuck it up like I always do.”

believe you wouldn’t fake the funk, Bird. You’re too real and don’t give a fuck what nobody says or thinks.”

You ain’t got no taste, but I’m gon’ make sure you look right. Make bitches drop their jaw since they’re sleeping on you like you’re ugly or some shit.”

“Is my child’s mother the reason you got this in your head?” he countered, tugging on her crisp braids before strolling past her. Treasure followed as he nagged, “I don’t like that you let a bitch make you change yourself. I don’t care who the fuck it is.”

“Because I pay attention, even when you think I ain’t,”

“Because you’re with a big stepper that handles shit, Bird. Stop overanalyzing everything when you ain’t got to.”

Treasure couldn’t decide whether the drugs or Pierre caused her dazed state as she floated on cloud nine the entire time.

The only certainty she had was that both were addictive, and she’d have a hard time kicking her habits once she went off to college.

I just want to vibe. Are you rolling or folding?”

“The safest you’ll ever be is with me, Bird. Remember that.”

“You know what a twin flame is?” he asked, and her head tossed. “They say it’s someone you have this instant connection with the moment y’all meet. You can’t explain the shit, but you just feel tied to ‘em like they’re the other