Street Soldier 2 Read Free Page A

is in here, but I had a fifty dollar bill in here, too. Either he took it, or you did.”
    I defensively held out my hands. “I didn’t take nothin’. Fifty dollars ain’t enough for me to steal, but I wish the young man was still here so you could confront him instead of me.”
    â€œI wish he was too, but I have a feeling about where my money went.”
    She turned around and I was pretty uptight that she, in her own way, had called me a thief. Not only that, but she didn’t even thank me for giving the wallet to her. I rushed out of my office, hurrying behind her.
    â€œThank you too, you ungrateful ass ...”
    She turned around, halting the word that was about to slip from my mouth. “Thank you for what?” she said. “For stealing my money? Okay ... thanks, Prince Perkins, for stealing my money. I had an electric bill to pay, but thanks to you, this bitch’s electric will be getting cut off.”
    She hurried outside, and only because I was getting accused of something that I didn’t do, I chased behind her, fuming. “Listen, you dumbass-actin’ chick. I didn’t take your money. But since you think niggas ain’t shit, here,” I said, reaching into my pocket. I had a wad of dollar bills that covered several hundreds. I pulled a hundred away from my wad and reached out to drop the bill down her top. “Take that shit and pay your damn electric bill. Make sure you get the money, before it slip through those tiny-ass titties of yours. Be gone, and for the record, yo’ ass ain’t welcome back to my laundromat again. Peace!”
    I walked off and she started laughing. I didn’t see what the fuck was so funny, but maybe she knew, so I asked.
    â€œYou are. Getting all uptight and shit. I was only kidding with you about the fifty dollars, but you damn sure won’t get this hundred back. Thanks, Prince. For my wallet and for my mani and pedicure you just paid for. I’ll be sure to come back and show them to you.”
    This chick was seriously about to get hurt. This is why I didn’t fuck with nobody on a regular basis and it was also why I had so little respect for women. They played too many damn games, were liars, and didn’t know how to keep their big mouths shut. I decided not to waste any more of my time or energy on this chick. This was a wrap, and all I could say was she’d better hope like hell that I never saw her again.

Chapter Two
    Same Ol’, Same Ol’, Some Things Never Change
    Things had settled down at the laundromat, so I stopped by the liquor store to see how things were going with Nate. He said business was booming, and I could tell it was by how many people were standing in line. Nate stood behind the tall glass windows that separated him from the customers on the other side. A cigar dangled from his mouth and he scratched his bald head as he waited for a customer to count out pennies for a can of Stag beer. The customers behind him were frustrated and so was Nate.
    â€œSay, man,” Nate said to the wrinkled-face man. “Why don’t you move over to the side and count out your money? I need to tackle this line real quick, all right?”
    The man nodded his head, and moved over so Nate could wait on the other customers. I’d seen the man in the store before, and nearly everyone knew that he was a neighborhood crackhead. His beady eyes shifted around, and realizing that he was short on money, he asked one of the customers in line for twenty-five cents.
    â€œNigga, back up,” the man shouted. “I can’t stand no beggin’ motherfuckas!”
    Nate just shook his head, and so did I. And unable to pay for his beer, the man walked out the door.
    â€œHis ass always comin’ in here short on change,” Nate griped. “I guess he think I’ma give him that shit for free, but that ain’t happenin’.”
    â€œIt better not be,” I said, smiling