Afterburn

“Humph, that’s a surprise,” I said sarcastically.

Truth be known, the Eagle was played out before it’d ever gotten started. For years, I’d been anxious to get in there to see what all the excitement was about. Once we were of age, Chance and I made a beeline for the place. The inside was barely bigger than my living room and the place smelled like funk. Instead of chanting that song “Ain’t We Funkin’ Now?” by the Brothers Johnson, they needed to be chanting, “Ain’t we funky now? Ain’t we funky like you like it?”

“Rayne, I need a favor,” Momma whispered into the phone like she wasn’t alone.

Not a big surprise either. Momma was still basking in all of her whoredom. That was the main reason I’d left Birmingham. Her reputation was rubbing off on me. Guilty by association and all that jazz.

“What’s the favor, Momma?”

“I need to borrow a thousand dollars.”

“A thousand dollars. Geesh, Momma, for what?”

“I’m two months behind on my rent.”

I held in the expletives bouncing around on my tonsils. If nothing else, I still showed my mother respect; even when I didn’t respect her actions.

“Why haven’t you been paying your rent?”

“Truck won’t give me any cash. He claims I’ve been cheating on him.”

“Have you?” I asked as serious as a heart attack.

“No, I ain’t been cheating!” She was raising her voice and I felt a migraine coming on. “I treat Truck like a king! He’s just acting silly!”

I was anxious to get off the phone. “Momma, I’ll wire you the money Monday morning. I have to go now.”

“Thank you, baby.” She giggled, her voice returning to normal. “I know I can always count on you.”

I only wished I could say the same.

“Goodnight, Momma.”

“Goodnight, baby.”

A thousand dollars. One thing was sure; Momma had no apprehensions about asking me for money. I definitely needed a drink after that one. I went into my kitchen and hooked myself up with a rum and Coke.

I decided to do my laundry instead of waiting to do it on Saturday morning, as customary. By the time I finished up the second load, The Wire was coming on HBO. I’d barely sat down, prepared to get my drama on, when my phone rang again.

“Hello.”

“Hey, Rayne. It’s me.”

“Me?” I asked sarcastically. The nerve of some men to think they’re the only one calling.

“This is Conquesto.”

“Oh, hey.” Half of me hoped he was calling to break the date. After the comments Chance had made, it had gotten me to thinking. What if he wasn’t my type? “What’s going on?”

“I was calling to ask if we could head out a little later tomorrow than planned. I need to handle something about eight and I probably won’t be able to scoop you up until about nine-thirty.”

“Nine-thirty is fine.”

“Okay, cool.”

I heard him sighing through the phone and a noise like water running. No this fool was not taking a leak while he was talking to me on the phone? Five seconds later, the toilet flushed. Damn him!

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Rayne.”