Urban Fiction: Just a Week Ago, the Paper Boy, 360°

JUST A WEEK AGO

Chapter One

1998 Charleston, South Carolina

The bass dropped low and began to rumble as the song played on. The car exited the interstate, when the younger of the two brothers spoke.

Yo Sa, stop by the movie theater.

What for? Savon replied as he lit the blunt hanging from his lips.

With a smirk on his face as an answer, Ra-Born said, It’s Friday night and Belly playing at the Plex.

Pulling into the parking lot of the movie theater about eleven. They realized it was empty of people and a good surveillance system. So they went window shopping. Then he saw it. A GS 400 sitting on 20’s.

Damn Sun, that’s my shit right there! Ra-Born screamed in Savon’s ear, Yeah, that’s about 10 g’s right there if Rico fuck with it. He continued.

Savon didn’t say anything after he mentioned Rico’s name. His cousin’s man from Atlanta got a chop shop and be buying joints at a good price.

Damn Savon, what you gonna do? Ra-Born asked clutching the pulley and other tools of the car jacking trade.

Yo, let’s ride around and make sure the coast is clear before we get at it. Savon said before handing him the blunt he was smoking.

So, he rode around and spotted three more whips worth getting if the GS had a lizzy. When they got back on the side of the theater that the Lex was on, Savon killed the lights and pulled beside it.

Ra-Born, try not to make any noise Sun. Savon told Ra-Born as he jumped out his whip.

Ra-Born played it smooth and acted like he bumped the car by mistake to see if it had an lizzy on it, but after three tries and no alarm went off, he quickly went to work on the back driver side window. Savon heard the window shatter and seen Ra-Born jump in. After that, the car came to life.

Yo! Sa follow me! Ra-Born yelled pulling out the parking lot.

Savon got behind him quick, police around here run tags for fun.

Damn Sun driving like he in NASCAR or something, Savon said to himself while blinking the lights to get his attention.

Ra-Born take it to the house until we can find out what the deal is with Rico. Savon told him after he followed Ra-Born into a gas station.

They pulled around the store and headed back to the house. Savon was three cars behind Ra-Born all the way through the small city of Goose Creek, but when they had open roads Ra-Born punched the 50 thousand dollar car and the tail lights got smaller and smaller.

They pulled into the driveway at the house to see everybody was gone or in bed. The house was dark as hell, but Ra-Born got the lights on in the car and was going through the trunk.

Savon! Ra-Born called.

Yeah? He answered, walking to the woods behind the garage.

Look. Ra-Born said dangling the keys in front of him.

So you didn’t have to pull it?

Nah, I don’t think I could have anyway, the key look like some high tech shit. He said giving Savon the key to examine.

Damn, This shit is hotter than pumping weight in front of the police station. Savon said jumping in the cab of the GS and feeling all the butter soft leather under his finger tips.

Yo, check this out Sun you gonna love this. Ra-Born said holding the muzzle of a stocky automatic 40 caliber.

Oh shit Sun, that’s mine. You got the 380 last time. Savon said taking the burner from him and checking it out.

Nah playboy you can have the 380 this shit looks like me. Ra-Born said reaching for the gun.

Aight, I’ll let you get it, but I want the rims before we take it to Rico.

That’s peace. Ra-Born agreed taking the roscoe and putting it in his waist line.

You think Pops gonna say something if he see the car? Savon asked, to see if his little brother is on point.

Hell yeah, what the fuck you think he slow or something? Ra-Born said, closing the trunk. But I told him I’m buying a car after I save enough money and pay off some bills I got. Ra-Born thought to himself that that won’t hold water with his Pops. Then he said, I’ll tell him I rented it.

Yeah that smells a lot better than that shit you was spitting. Savon told him while laughing under his breath.

But check it, I’m gonna get some grub, I’ll see you in the house. Ra-Born said picking up the screwdriver, then as an afterthought don’t eat all the food Sa. Ra-Born yelled as Savon went through the back door of the house.

Beep, Beep, Beep … Sa, your beeper going off in the room Ra-Born said coming back in the front room with Savon.

Did you look to see who it is getting at me before you left? Savon asked while watching music videos.

Nah. Ra-Born mumbled as he fell into the sofa.

I hope it ain’t no nigga cause I don’t feel like fucking with anybody. Sa said jumping up and headed towards the room.

Walking in the dark and being quiet as possible, he grabs his beeper off the dresser and click it to see the number.

Damn, I forgot all about it. Savon thought rushing to the phone and dialing the number. After four rings, Hello. The voice said sounding very unfamiliar.

Yeah did somebody beep Savon? Sa asked.

Hold on. The voice said, calling out loud Did somebody beep a Savon?

Yeah. Came the response, but before he could say anything a sweet voice came on the phone, Savon, you forgot about us? Tina asked, with a sweet voice spitting rough words.

Nah, I had to pick Ra-Born up from work at ten then-Sa said before getting cut off by Tina.

Fuck Ra-Born, I been waiting for you all night to take me to the store to get your son some diapers, but now you want to fuck with Ra-Born and spit some corny ass excuse to me and think it’s all good! Tina said spitting her words out like venom.

Tina, look, I don’t feel like this right now-Sa said before getting cut off by Tina again.

Tell me Sa, what the fuck you feel like when your son is crying for food and what not, tell me how does that make you-Tina screamed before getting cut off by Savon this time.

Aight tell me what you need and I’ll go pick it up and then come pick you up and take you home. Sa said making every word taste like shit when he spoke it.

You know Kason miss you, Tina said sensing the tension that grew over their last words.

How’s he doing? Savon asked all in one breath.

Oh, he said ‘Dada’, Tina told Savon walking away from all the commotion going on in the room, and he getting bigger and bigger everyday.

Check it, I’m going to the store to get what you need as soon as you tell me then I’m coming to get you and Kason. Savon said throwing the beeper back on the dresser. After Tina finished calling out the list for Savon he asked the next logical question.

Tina, where the hell are you? He asked as he folded the list of items Tina asked for.

I’m at my uncle’s house out in the country. Tina said slowly because she knew it was a half hour ride from Savon’s parents’ house.

Damn, shorty you need this ASAP? Fearing she say yes.

Yes. Tina confirmed.

Aight, I’m on my way, Peace. Savon said thinking of the long ride ahead of him and hanging up the phone.

Savon went into the front room to tell Ra-Born he’s out, but Ra-Born was knocked out on the sofa sleeping.

Ra-Born, wake up Sun, I’m bouncing. Savon told him as he shook him awake.

Yo Sun what about the car? Ra-Born asked coming fully awake.

Leave it alone until I get back, I’ll be back in about two hours. Then we can get together about that whip. As Savon was walking out the door, Ra-Born jumped up and started towards the GS as well.

Savon was pushing his Camry down hwy 52 towards the city of Moncks Corner to pick up the things Tina asked for. He got his sound system thumping the hot new track from his out-of-the-trunk record company Light House. His head nodded the infectious beats and ill lyrics that put food on his table and put clothes on his and now his son’s back. Thinking to himself how he came up in the last year from throwing parties to putting out music. Shit I hope Ra-Born shit sells. Nah, fuck that shit, that’s my ace right there I can count on him.

Savon thought pulling into the parking lot of Wal-Mart. Damn, why I let him steal that car?

Ra-Born pulled out five minutes behind Sa. Feeling like a king in the grey on grey GS 400. Turning up the system in the car he sped out the driveway towards his man’s crib. Pumping his fist and bouncing to the music, he pulled in front of Big Mike’s trailer punching the horn. Lights came on and Big Mike stuck his head out the door into the headlights of a car he did not know. Who the fuck Big Mike asked himself as he walked towards the car with his hand in his pants gripping his burner.

Man what the hell you did now? Big Mike asked seeing Ra-Born, then jumped into the passenger seat of the car.

Nah, nah nigga I told you I was gonna buy me one, but no you want to hold your nuts on me all the time. Ra-Born said trying to be as serious as a heart attack.

Nigga you did not buy no car with a fucking busted glass in it. Big mike said pointing to the window Ra-Born broke out earlier to get into the car.

So what, you got me. Me and Sa caught it at the movies tonight, he said "you know niggaz be stunting trying to out do each other so the broads will sweat em.

Yeah nigga always fronting, Big Mike said like your crazy ass.

Oh, you got crazy ass jokes don’t you. Ra-Born said putting in another CD.

Nah, all I’m saying is you couldn’t wait to front in ya Lex right- Big Mike said getting cutoff by Ra-Born.

Sun, I came to ask you if you riding this weekend or what?

Hell yeah! You already called Rico? Big Mike asked.

Nope, we gonna set everything up for the trip later or tomorrow. Ra-Born answered.

Well, I’m down for whatever my nigga, and I’m down for you to fill me in tomorrow when you got everything squared away. Big Mike said getting out the car and closing the door.

Aight, I’ll call you tomorrow Sun, peace. Ra-Born said putting the car in reverse.

Oh yeah, nigga you could have just called. You fronting motherfucker! Big Mike yelled as Ra-Born back out the drive way and turned the radio up until the bass line in Jay-Z’s Hard knock life had the small house rattling.

Savon raced down hwy 52 doing the dash. He felt himself falling asleep so he lit the other half of the blunt he had in the ash tray and turned the radio all the way up. Damn, shorty uncle gonna be on some bullshit. Savon thought. That nigga be getting it with all that gambling and bootlegging. Tina’s uncle is Willis. He’s an old playa that use his house as a social club. Savon turned down the music as he turned down the dirt road to Uncle Willis’s house.

Tina! Uncle Willis yelled seeing Savon’s car turning in the yard and parking.

Yes? Tina answered getting Kason stuff together, and going to see why her uncle called her.

Savon just pulled in, are you leaving? Uncle Willis asked dipping in his pocket for something or another.

Yeah Savon taking me and Kason home and I’ll be back in the morning. Tina replied as Savon walked through the door.

Well, go get the cash box so you can go. Willis told his niece,