My name is Almond Parrish and this is my story (and I'm sticking to it). I'm 20 years old, in college full time and work part time at a clothing store owned by my uncle. His daughter, my cousin Layla, also works there, too. This was one of our usual Friday evenings.
*music playing in the backgroud*
Layla: You going to the club this weekend?
Almond: Girl, I dunno. The club scene is so lame.
Layla: Yeah, I feel ya. But what else is it to do on the weekend?
Almond: Chill from working all week!
Layla: True that! But have to do something.
Almond: Cuz...we go through this every Friday night.
Just then, a customer walked up to the counter.
Layla: You ready to check out?
Dude: Yeah, shawty.
She took the clothes from him and started to ring him up. The guy looked over at me.
Dude: Ey, don't I know you?
Almond: Naw, I don't think so.
Dude: Yeah......you used to go skating over on the East Side.
Almond: Man, that was years ago.
Dude: But I remember your face.
I rolled my eyes and turned around to grab a bag to hand to Layla.
Dude: Um, um, um. Yeah, you the same girl.
I gave the guy a dirty look. Layla just stood there and laughed. She handed him his bag and he left, smiling at me on his way out.
Almond: Ughhhh!
Layla (still laughing): That was funny as hell!
Almond: Like hell it was.
Layla: Girl, you do have an ass on you.
Almond: Well, so does my mama so I guess I got it from her!
At that time, another customer entered the store. He walked over to the counter where Layla and I was standing.
Guy: Hey.....where y'all jeans at?
Layla: Here, I'll show you.
She came from around the counter and showed the guy where the jeans were located. I checked him out. He was average height, light skinned, medium build and hair braided to the back. I could tell he had several tattoos. He also had two diamond studs glistening in his ears. Layla walked back to the counter, grinning.
Almond: Oh man. What is it?
Layla: Girl! That nigga is FIONE!
Almond: Stop being all hot in the ass.
Layla: Whatever! Did you see him?
Almond: Yeah, I seen him. He straight.
Layla: He got that sexy thug shit going on. Ummmm! And he smell good!
Almond (shaking my head): Just calm down, cuzzo.
Layla: Here he comes!
Old boy was walking back to the counter and laid down two pairs of jeans.
Almond: I got this one.
I rang him up.
Guy: So how you ladies doing tonight?
Layla: Oh, we good.
Almond: This your first time in here?
Guy: Yeah. My guy was telling me about this place.
Almond: Really? That's what's up.
Guy: Y'all got some nice shit.
Layla: I know because this is my daddy's store.
Guy: Oh, no doubt? Well, tell your daddy he got this on lock.
Layla: I surely will, pimpin!
Almond (shaking my head again): It's seventy-four, fifty.
He reached in his pants pocket and pulled out a wad of money. He handed me a hundred dollar bill.
Layla: Damn, papi! You doing it like that?
Guy (laughing): If you say so, ma.
Almond: Here ya go.( I handed him his change. Our hands touched slightly)
Guy: Hey, yo, thanks, shawties. I'll be back to holla at cha'll.
Layla: Yeah, make sure you do that!
Almond: Come back.
We watched him leave the store. I shook my head again.
Almond: You really need to stop flirting with every nigga that come up in here.
Layla (trying to look all innocent): Who? Me?
Almond: Yeah....you. Or I'm telling Uncle Ricky.
Layla: No, don't do that! He'll get in my ass!
Almond: Exactly.
yeahhhhh gurlll BUMP DIZ one _________________
I Aint ya 50 Cent, I aint ya Eminem, I aint ya Jigga Man, I'm a real woman
A star in the makin. Lettin Mah rhymes flow, maybe youll see me on TV one day!
aiighte den _________________
I Aint ya 50 Cent, I aint ya Eminem, I aint ya Jigga Man, I'm a real woman
A star in the makin. Lettin Mah rhymes flow, maybe youll see me on TV one day!
At ten o'clock, we closed up the shop and locked up. I dropped Layla off at home and I went home. I had my own apartment. Layla still stayed at home, rent free. My uncle has a huge house and all of his kids still live there. The oldest is 22 and in college. That would be my cousin Lorenzo. The other two are ages 16 and 18, DeMarco and Deanna.
It felt good to be home. I could relax and unwind. I threw a bag of popcorn in the microwave and flipped threw the channels on the tv. I found something interesting on.
I don't have a boyfriend. The last one I had, we dated all through high school and he went away to college. After a while we just drifted apart. He still calls me every now and then. We try to remain friends.
*phone ringing*
Almond: Hello?
Khalil: Hey, bay.
Almond: Oh, hi Khalil.
Khalil: I was just making sure you made it home safe.
Almond: I'm good. So, how was school today?
Khalil: It was alright. I had a test today.
Almond: I bet you did fine.
Khalil: I don't know.
Almond: Oh, I'm sure you did. You're smart.
Khalil: Well, thanks. So how was work?
Almond: It was okay.
Khalil: And Layla?
Almond: Well, you know how that girl is, with her fast self.
Khalil (laughing): Yeah, I know. So, when are you going to send me some pictures?
Almond: When I take some up to date ones.
Khalil: Yeah.....all I have is old pictures of us.
Almond: Oh, well you better throw those away.
Khalil: Uh uh. Why would I do that?
Almond: I was just saying something.
Khalil: I am going to keep them.
Almond: Your new girlfriend may not approave of you holding on to pictures of your old girlfriend and yourself.
Khalil (laughing again): What girlfriend? And if I did have a girlfriend, these pictures aren't any of her business. I'm not getting rid of them for anyone.
Almond: Awww.....that's nice to hear.
Khalil: These are good memories. I can't part with that.
Almond: One day you might.
Khalil: No time soon, bay.
Almond: Oh, okay. Glad to know that. So when are you coming home?
Khalil: Soon. Summer break is in three weeks.
Almond: Oh, good.
Khalil: We have to do something.
Almond: Yeah, of course.
Khalil: Have you been behaving yourself?
Almond: What do you mean?
Khalil: You know what I mean, bay.
Almond: Nope, really I don't.
Khalil: Have you been going out?
Almond: Not much.
Khalil: With men, I mean.
Almond (chuckling): I can't believe you asked me something like that, Lil.
Khalil: I just need to know.
Almond: Why do you feel that you 'need' to know that?
Khalil: Because.
Almond: Oh my goodness. Because what?
Khalil: I still care about you.
Almond: Okay, but we decided to go our separate ways.
Khalil: I know but the idea of you and another man would hurt my heart.
Almond: I'm not desperate like my cousin.
Khalil (laughing): Okay, I feel better now.
I laughed. We said good night, then I went to bed. Even though Khalil and I weren't officially a couple anymore, I still loved him and I missed him a lot. _________________ Striving for da best, how U doin?
A few weeks passed by. I was covering the counter while my cousin was on a break, which usually took longer then it was supposed to. I was trying to put something up on the shelf, but it was too high for my short arms to reach. I heard the bell ring, as it did when someone entered the store. I tried to turn around but almost fell off of the ladder.
Voice: Yo, hold up!
I heard a voice from behind me. The ladder suddenly stopped whobbling and stood still. I was able to look down at the point. It was that guy with the braids and diamond earrings in his ears.
Almond: Oh my goodness. Hello.
Guy: What's hood, lil mama. If I ain't grab this ladder, you'd be hurt.
Almond: I know. Thanks so much.
Guy: Fo sho.
I started to climb down. We stood face to face.
Almond: I'm glad to see you back. Anything I can help you with today?
Guy: No doubt. Told ya I'd be back. I wanna check out some more of y'alls jeans.
Almond: Oh yes. We have some new ones that just came in. You may like them. I have to go to the back. Give me one minute.
Guy: Aiight.
I went to the back and looked through the boxes on the floor. I picked up one and brought it out front and set it on the counter. I pulled out a pair and held them up.
Guy: No shit.....
He took the jeans and looked at them.
Almond: You like?
He knodded.
Guy: Fo sho! These are ill right here.
Almond: We have some other ones.
I pulled out a couple pair and showed them to him.
Guy: Aiight...... these are hittin. If you got my size then I'll cop all three of these.
Almond: What you working with?
Guy: 34, 32
I looked at the tags.
Almond: Yep. You're good. Want me to ring these up?
Guy: Fo sho.
I scanned them and started bagging them up. I told him the total and he pulled out a wade of money again and handed me a crispy $100 bill. I started to hand him his change but he shook his head.
Guy: You can keep that for yaself.
Almond: Oh, no. I can't do that.
Guy: Naw, go on head. Thanks for hooking me up.
Almond: Just doing my job.
I could feel myself blushing. He smiled at me as if he could tell also.
Guy: Hey, girl. What's your name, anyway.
Almond: Almond
Guy: Oh, no doubt? That's unique. I like that.
Almond: Thank you. What about you?
Guy: You can call me Mar.
Almond: Okay. Got cha.
Mar: Well, lil mama. I'll be hollering at cha.
Almond: Yes, come back.
He smiled again.
Mar: Fo sho _________________ Striving for da best, how U doin?
I came home from another long day of both school and working. I was hungry but I was too tired to eat so I laid down on the sofa and closed my eyes. I was doing too much and it was starting to get to me. On top of that, final exams were coming up and I really needed to study. I was so looking forward to summer break before I had a break down.
The next day at work, I asked my Uncle Ricky if I could have the weekend off. I was worn out.
Uncle Ricky: Sure. I told you I don't mind you taking off as long as you're not making a habit of it. I'll just ask one of your cousins cover you. They're not doing anything but messing up my house.
Almond: (laughing) Oh, thanks. I appreciate it.
Uncle Ricky: Sure thing.
I sighed of relief and stood behind the counter. Layla came in through the front door. Uncle Ricky looked up from taking inventory and rolled his eyes.
Uncle Ricky: What time were you supposed to be here?
Layla: Oh, hey Dad. Four-thirty.
Uncle Ricky: What time is it?
Layla: I dunno.
Uncle Ricky: It's four forty-five.
Layla: Oh, sorry Dad. I was trying to fix my hair.
Uncle Ricky: I don't care what you were doing. Your butt was supposed to be here at four-thirty!
Layla: Gosh, Dad. I said I was sorry.
Uncle Ricky: I got a trick for you though. I bet you better not take your ass out to no damn club this weekend or it's going to be me and you.
Layla: Dad! That's not fair! I'm grown!
Uncle Ricky: Well, if you are so grown, why are you still living at home, with your grown ass! This is a place of business. Just because you are my daughter does not make you exempt from the same rules that apply to the other employees. Do you understand what I'm saying?
Layla: (sighing) Yes, sir.
Uncle Ricky: Now, you heard what I said. You better not take your ass to no got damn club this weekend! Now play with me if you want to, girl!
He closed his notebook and walked to the back of the store. Layla stomped her feet on the ground.
Layla: He gets on my nerves!
Almond: (smiling) Well, you are still living at home. What do you expect?
Layla: So what! He treats me like a child!
Almond: Then move out!
Layla: Then I'll have to pay bills!
Almond: (shaking my head) Oh my goodness. It must be nice.
Layla: Anyway....... has that dude been in here lately? I haven't seen him.
Almond: Who?
Layla: That sexy thug ass nigga with the braids.
Almond: Oh, Mar. Yeah, a few times.
Layla: Damn, you know his name?
Almond: Yeah, he told me.
Layla: Mar.....that is kind of sexy and mysterious. I like it!
Almond: (shaking my head again) I just know you do with your hot ass.
Layla: He better come in here today. I'm going to get those digits!
Almond: (laughing) Oh, well then. I hope he comes in too so I can see this. _________________ Striving for da best, how U doin?
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