Young-Minded Hustler Read Free

boy.”
    Shy rushed over to her friend to see if she was okay. Cherise felt dazed and lay still to keep B-Boy from putting hands on her in anger anymore. This was not the first time B-Boy hit Cherise; however, it was the first time Shy was witness to it. Shy was infuriated with B-Boy and wanted him to know it. For a year Shy had become a sounding board for Cherise’s complaints about B-Boy and his abuse of her. Shy sat through countless late-night phone conversations listening to Cherise cry and complain about her juvenile-minded boyfriend cheating on her. There were times when Shy found herself in fights with girls who targeted Cherise because of B-Boy. The first few times B-Boy mistreated Cherise, Shy told her to break up with him. The advice only caused a strain in the best friends’ relationship. Cherise’s crying about B-Boy became routine after a couple of months and Shy learned to keep her opinion to herself.
    â€œMan up, nigga! What’s wrong with you? Since when do you feel cool popping off in front of my girl like that? I told you about this shit,” Melvin fumed.
    â€œYou ain’t got to come out-of-pocket on me like that.” B-Boy threatened, “You need to be checking your girl and that bullshit she spitting.”
    â€œWho the fuck you talking strong to?” Melvin asked. He walked up on his friend and stared him down, waiting for his response.
    The look in Melvin’s eyes told B-Boy that giving the wrong answer would result in something he did not want to happen. B-Boy grabbed hold of his senses and calmed down before things got out of hand.
    â€œMan, it’s not even like that. My girl in here trying to disrespect me in front of her friend and shit. You know I ain’t got no problem with Shy,” B-Boy explained.
    â€œMelvin, this shit isn’t right, he didn’t have any reason to put his hands on her,” Shy fumed. “Come on, Reese, let me help you into the bathroom and put some ice on your lip.”
    Shy helped Cherise to her feet and led her into the bathroom before leaving the room in search of some ice. After filling the ice bucket, Shy returned to find Cherise alone in the room, and helped her nurse her bruised cheek.
    â€œThank you, Shy. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
    â€œYou don’t have to thank me. I’m not doing anything different than what you would do for me. But, Reese, why do you put up with his laying hands on you?”
    â€œHe doesn’t mean to hurt me. He really does love me and he’d do anything for me.”
    Shy looked into Cherise’s eyes, trying to find some sign that her friend believed what she’d just said. All Shy found was an empty spirit looking back at her.
    â€œCherise, you can’t possibly believe that. If he loved you so much he wouldn’t cheat on you, lie to you, or ask you to put your life and freedom on the line just so he can do whatever his heart desires,” Shy preached.
    â€œIt’s not even like that. I have to hustle in order to eat. My parents don’t give a fuck about me and you know it. Besides you, B-Boy is all I have, and doing a few things for him is a small price to pay,” Cherise explained. “You don’t know how it feels to fall asleep at night to the sounds of your mother getting her head beat in by her flavor of the month. After my father left to be with his new family, he never looked back to see if I was still breathing. I don’t have a mother with a good job or an older sister to borrow clothes and money from like your spoiled ass do. I love B-Boy and he loves me too, that much I know for sure. I know he’s not as perfect as Melvin but he’s mine, and nothing and nobody is going to change that,” Cherise spat angrily, “including you.”
    Shy’s jaw hit the floor as she stood in disbelief listening to Cherise rationalize getting the shit slapped out of her. Her feelings were hurt by