The Diamond Syndicate

“Enough with the smart-ass remarks, Tammy!” Diamond had had enough of Tammy roasting her on having sex with the young dealers. Sometimes Diamond wished she never confided in Tammy. But, really, she didn’t have a choice. Tammy did live on the first floor and often parked her wheelchair in front of the window, watching all that went on out front, so she knew just about everyone and their business. In fact, nothing got past her.

Diamond took a sip out of her glass and smacked her lips on the cheap wine.

Tammy noticed the expression on Diamond’s face. She could see Diamond was deep in thought and wasn’t in the joking mood, so she decided to stop teasing her.

“Well, Diamond, you know there are some people out there who don’t have nothing, so I think we should be grateful for at least being able to receive any type of assistance.”

Diamond snapped out of her thoughts. “To hell with that! Do you know I had it going on not too long ago? I didn’t ever have to want for nothing, and technically I still don’t. But I’m high maintenance and these niggas ain’t got enough to keep me laced. Shit, I had niggas that would peel off paper to me like they manufactured money in their bathrooms. Now I can’t get none of these old, cheap, limp-dick niggas to hit me off ’cause they broke. That’s why I mess with them young boys, because they would give up knots in a heartbeat. They appreciate me, Tammy. They appreciate the way I ‘pop this coochie,’ as you say it.”

Tammy shook her head at Diamond. She was fed up with hearing how Diamond used to have it going on. Diamond lived a good life and she didn’t appreciate it. In fact, Diamond didn’t need to be on welfare, but she used the system because she could. Tammy had learned to appreciate life and the blessings that came her way. She couldn’t understand most women and their complaints. Diamond’s complaints seemed so silly to her. There were more important things than living a lavish life.

“So what are you gonna do?” Tammy asked her friend, deciding to humor her. “You don’t want to work, and you can’t find a man to take care of you like you want. It sounds like you’re looking for a handout.”

Diamond shot Tammy a look of contempt. “Wait a minute, Tammy. I don’t look for no handout from no one. I can’t help it if niggas fall all over me.”

Tammy decided to let the issue rest as she so often did. Diamond would never face the truth about herself. “I didn’t mean it that way, Diamond.”

“Oh, ’cause I was getting ready to say”—Diamond finished her glass of wine and reached for the bottle to pour herself more—“I do got an idea that could make us both some money, though. I mean, hell, you struggling too, and you by yo’self.”

When Diamond got pregnant with Dante, she was livid. Having a baby would not only mess up the perfect figure she had, but would throw a monkey wrench in the whole program. Diamond felt a baby would cock-block any and all victims in her sick circle.

But the man who she was pregnant by wouldn’t allow her to get an abortion because he promised to take care of her and Dante. And she believed him. After all, she didn’t have any reason not to. He was the one who she spent most of her time with because he dropped the most cash on her. But he met his untimely demise by committing a murder and being sent to jail for life, leaving Dante fatherless and her penniless. Diamond even tried to date while being pregnant with Dante. But no one would touch her with a ten foot pole. One, because of her being pregnant and two, because of who the father was. Diamond despised him for going to prison. She felt he betrayed her.

After Dante was born and his father in prison, Diamond had to get back out in the streets and nab other potential victims so they could take care of her and now her son.

Tammy reached for the bottle to refill her glass as well. “What are you talking about, Diamond?”

“OK, listen.”

Diamond moved her chair closer to Tammy and leaned in like she had some juicy gossip to tell, and Tammy leaned forward, eager to hear what she had to say.

“I was thinking about opening up another claim,” Diamond said.

“Huh?”

“Another welfare claim. I was thinking about opening up another claim so I can get two checks and more food stamps.” Diamond smiled like she had just made a great announcement.

Tammy was taken aback by Diamond’s proposal, but she made sure to keep a poker face, not wanting Diamond to know she disapproved. Tammy was older than Diamond and had done her best to live an honest life. She’d had her ups and downs and didn’t claim to be an angel, but she didn’t want any part of what Diamond had just proposed.

“Diamond, how do you suppose you gonna pull that off?”

“Oh, I got a way I can get it off,” Diamond said matter-of-factly.

“Ooookaaay. You gonna tell me, or do you think I’m that damn stupid to go in on a scheme and not know what the hell the plan is?” Tammy took a sip from her glass.

“I’m gonna get my caseworker to help me out with it.”

Tammy began to cough as she choked and gagged on her wine. Her fat belly shook like Jell-O with each cough.

Diamond patted her on the back. “You all right, girl?”

“Yeah, I’m OK. Eh-hem!” She cleared her throat.

“So what do you think?”

“Um, I don’t know what to think, except how you gonna get your caseworker to agree?”

“Chile, please.” Diamond waved a hand and sat back in her chair. “That chick is young and dumb. She is so green, I can get her to do anything. Hell, she struggling herself to take care of her kids, and she work for the system. Plus, we go out to the bars together from time to time.”