Mi Corazon

During my teenage years the arrival of summer were some of the most important, fun and also very dangerous times in the lives of young men. I’ve had many wild and crazy adventures in my teenage years. It seemed at the time that there was always something new and exciting whenever spring came around and we were ready for our final weeks or week of classes. I could always depend on a few things to happen  
1. my homey’s Leroy aka Skipper and Dean aka Fahred, we called him because he had an elongated head with a very large forehead, ived upstairs in my building and their mom Lola would rent a car for the entire summer for Skipper the older of the two. I can also count on my other homey’s to come by our high school to pick us up at the end of classes. My crew, was legit. Almost everyone who attended our school hung with a crew, very rarely you would see anyone hanging out by themselves. We were in essence Badboys and although I never sold drugs or jux anyone, cause I’ve always worked for whatever I wanted, I kept my status as one of the realist niggas. I was not one to hesitate to throw down with anyone who wanted to start some shit with me or my peoples. Ratchet knife, two fifth, three eighty or baby uzi, I was that nigga you never wanted to fuck with. Heck my entire crew was not to be fucked with. Two days before school was ending in the summer of nineteen eighty eight we got word that the Deceptacons, a gang which originated at Brooklyn Technical High School was coming to our school to rob motherfuckers. Our school had some of the flyest dressed students anywhere in the five boroughs. My crew always dressed fresh to death. Nothing but silk and linen in the late spring and early summer. Shoes of choice were Bally, Travel Fox, Clarks, Gucci, Red Wings, British Walkers, and Polo. We wore the hottest fashions. Polo, Le Tigre, Lacoste, Izod, Benetton, Sergio Tacchini, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, MCM, Fendi, Velour track suits and sneakers from all the major urban brands. I mean we were like a freaking walking high end department store. The Americans and Latino students fancied much of the same but sneakers on their feet was more of their thing. Jordan’s, Reeboks, Saucony’s, Asics, Nike, Adidas, Pumas and British Knights.          
            
I knew chicks who boosted mad shit from Macy's, Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom, Century 21, Lord & Taylor, Paragon and Barneys New York. They would also lifted Shearling and leather coats from the merchants on Delancey Street.            
           
Many of them went to my school. These ladies were quick and stealthy and would bring some of the merchandises to school if you requested it. They would wear the stolen sweaters, shirts, tracksuits and coats over their clothing. I would usually dress light and once I handed them some dough they would go into the ladies bathroom, take the gear off and hand it to me in a paper bag in the hallways or in whichever classroom I was in.            
           
Yeah our high school was always ripe for the picking. However no gang would dare fuck with anyone at George  W. Wingate High School because everyone knew what would happen. My crew like Wu-Tang was nothing to fuck with. The bad people for some reason kept their distance except for this one time. A few days before the end of the school year, we got word that the Deceptacon gang was coming to Wingate on the last day of school to jux niggas. We put the word out to our associates that there might be some trouble. Thankfully on that day. The day the Deceptacons were to appear, they did not, but we decided to keep waiting until all the students left the school block. The front of the school was packed with cars lined up from corner to corner. Oscar, a quiet, shy and handsome looking homosexual student with pimples and bracers walked up to me shaking like a leaf. “Twin I know you strapped, can you walk me and my friends to the corner of Rutland and Albany. Why I asked. “ Cause we’re scared about the Deceptacons coming to the school.”            
I said okay I’ll walk y'all but you gotta hook me up with Trina. Trina was Dominican and bisexual and bad from head top to shoe ground. She had that light golden brown complexion niggas drooled over, ran track and was tall. She stood about five feet, seven inches in height, had flawless skin, slender with a fit upper body and had nice sized boobies. Her bottom half though was even more ridiculous. Thick thighs, bow legs and a serious onion booty. All her clothes were fitted. Her shape was off the chain. But she seemed to always have an attitude. I guess she was turning mad chicks out and niggas was getting upset about it. They would harass her sometimes. A few time I caught them and started swinging. She never spoke allot, she would just say thanks twin then she’d bounce.  
    
“Okay I’ll hook you up with Trina, only because you always stick up for people. When Papito was gonna kick my ass cause I look in his direction you stepped in, showed him the strap and told that nigga this shit is not happening.” Well you know, people are people, that hating stuff gotta end or we’ll all end up shits creek, nah meen. As we reached Rutland Road and Albany Avenue I saw my cousin with her girls coming out of the Bodega on the same corner. Ginger is allot like me. She’s headstrong, smart and quick witted, and is always down to handle shit if anyone decided to start some. Light skin and beautiful with jet black hair and a slender frame, Ginger was the kind of cousin that whatever I needed that other chicks couldn’t get me, she could. And if she could not get it herself, she knew someone who could and always did. “What’s up cous’ you remember my home girls Diamond, Golda, Tasia Sweets, and Vixen.” Yeah, hi ladies, how y’all doing? Oh’ were doing fine twin, how are you? That was strange, y’all answered at the same time, lol. “Hello Trina”, Hi Sweets.” Wait a minute, you two know each other? “Yeah said Tasia, “we grew up on East 96th Street before I moved to Empire Boulevard and Troy Avenue.” Say word, Trina responded “word.”            
           
“Thanks for walking us twin, our bus is here.” No problem, have a great day. Before they crossed the street to get on the bus Oscar slipped me Trina’s number and said “piece of cake, she told me she really likes you but was afraid to talk to you cause that chick Gina you use to fuck with hates her gusts, and she’s really not into any kind of drama.” Cool, good looking money.            
           
Ginger and her girls was snacking on Hot Fries, Onion Rings and sipping on Snapple Ice Teas. Ginger also had four Pennacool Italian Icees/popsickles in a brown paper bag. “So Cousin did the Deceptacons ever show up?” No Ginger, no one showed. Golda, removing a big head spliff from her mouth, yelled out “See, those niggas know what time it is.” This was Ginger first and last year at my school. She had transferred from another High School cause she had some issues and got booted out. I guess she came to Wingate cause she knew she would be safe, cause her cousins and their crew were holding shit down. I love my cousin but she is an Aries like myself and can be hot headed and stubborn, however I was without a doubt both thrilled and happy to have had her at my school even if it was only for the school year. Ginger was a straight up G though, and I loved her to death. She gave no fuck when it comes to greasing her face and swinging them hands. She always walked with a small tub of Vaseline. She was always ready and never fronted. If I wanted her to handle a chick she’d do it without asking for a reason. And vise versa, she knew she could count on me and no one ever fucked with her except one time. That motherfucker left School and never came back.            
           
A few weeks had past and Trina and I were really getting to know each other. We spent allot of time going to the movies and eating at Red Robins in King plaza. Sometimes I would treat her entire family to a movie. Trina lived with her dad and two younger siblings. Her mom passed away from a drug overdose when she was eight years old. Her old man took it extremely hard and became overly protective of his children. The very first thing he wanted to know when we met was, am I a drug dealer or hung around drug dealers. Trina was yelling “oh my God Papi, why you asking him stuff like that for, this is so embarrassing.” No sweat Mr. Rodriguez, no I’m not a drug dealer and my friends are not either. I’m a DJ and I work at a catering hall when I’m not playing music. “Good cause if you did sell drugs I’d have to kick your lil black ass and tell you not to come near my carino, mi vida ever again.            
           
Half way through the summer of nineteen eighty eight, Trina and I still had not been intimate and I was getting a little bit anxious and wanted to find out what was the problem. We had made plans to meet on a Saturday but I paged her the Friday night and told her my friends were taking me out to Long Island to a cookout. “Where?” She messaged back. I have no idea, I have not hung out with them in a minute and they said it’s because of you. Also I should stop acting pussy whipped, man up and hang with the crew for at least a day. I guess they miss me. “Okay, I spoke with Sweets today and she asked me to go hanging out with them too on Saturday. I have no idea where they are planning to hang out and told them that I had other plans. I guess I’ll call her back and accept her invitation.” Okay, lets link up later Saturday night if that’s cool with you. “Yeah, that would be great.” Ps. I was planning to give you some nookie on Saturday. I figured I made you wait long enough, and you are being so patient and all, never stressing or nagging me, I love and appreciate that about you.” You’re welcome.            
Saturday came, my twin and friends are headed out to a cookout. We are six cars deep, two Cressidas, three Acura Legends and a 300 E, Mercedes Benz. We hit the Long Island Expressway at about two o’clock in the            
afternoon and by the time two forty five appears on the clock we are at our destination. We arrived at the house which was located in a cul-de-sac in a quiet upper middle class neighborhood. It had a big front lawn with a white fence around it. About half and hour later to my surprise we were greeted by my cousin Ginger, her home girls and Trina. Somehow we all ended up at the same cookout. I had not seen Ginger since the last day of High School and was happy to see her again. Trina grabbed me by the hand and yanked me close to her. Her eyes sparkling like the Bvlgari Serpenti Forever emerald green studded shoulder bag in the bright summer sun, her light brown sugary coated skin smells sweet like cantaloupes at a farmer’s market. The scent of coconut and pineapple emanating from her reddish frizzy curly hair. “Hola Papi.” She kisses me with her soft bright pink lips. She has the prettiest sweetest mouth I’ve ever tasted and makes everything better just by being wherever I am. Wah gwan sugar dumpling. “Aiiee, you know I love it when you call me that papi.” Yeah I know I replied. She smiles brightly and hugs me tightly. I can hear her inhaling my cologne. “God papi, you smell really really good.”Don’t I always. “Yeah but is that a new fragrance.” Yes it is mi corazon.  “Ha ha ha, your Spanish is improving papi.” Yeah, I’ve been brushing up on what little I’ve learn from my Spanish classes.            
           
Now whenever I write a short story I tried to incorporate a lesson from my youth so that others can learn from my experience and avoid some of the pitfalls of not being a Troublesome youth but what they call a Badboy or a Gully gutter Negro.            
           
“Hey Cous”, I heard the words but it was being drowned out by the whirling blades of a low flying passing helicopter and the rumbling sound of a motorcycle. “ Hey cous, there it goes again but it sounds too faint and the revving motorcycle noise got louder as the helicopter disappeared from the neighborhood skies, and the closer it rode into the cul-de-sac until it stopped. Finally a tap on my right hand, oh hey sup Ginger, you okay. “No, I’m not fucking okay. I can’t believe this motherfucker.” Which motherfucker? “That motherfucker on the motorcycle with the white chick on the back with matching biker jackets on.” Okay, who is he? “He’s my ex, the one who beat me up and put me in the hospital.” What, wait a minute, who did what, where and when did this happen? Yeah he beat the crap out of me, I spent two weeks in the hospital about a week after we last saw each other.” Why didn’t anyone tell me about this. “I guess they figured you would do something and they didn’t want anything happening to you, like being in jail.” Excuse me Trina, I pulled Ginger to the side. What the fuck happened, why did this nigga beat on you like that? She just stood there looking like she’s deep in thought. “Fuck that shit, get your boys and jack that nigga for his shit.” I’m not about to jux no one until I know the entire story. “Yo I know where all the nigga spots are, just get your boys.” Ginger this is heavy weight territory. I’m asking you what happened, what cause him to put his hands on you? She turned and disappeared with her friends and Trina. I was heated, my hands resting on my waists, thinking. I decided not to tell my twin brother and my breddrens anything until I get the full story from Ginger.            
             
Eight o’clock came, the golden hour cast a beautiful warm tint on the neighborhood. I was posted up on the Mercedes with Trina standing between my legs. She was wearing a fitted white v neck t shirt with dark blue skin tight low rider cut off jeans shorts and a pair of black and white Vans high top sneakers. Captivated by her Beauty and gorgeous bronze colored prized Stallion legs, I self acknowledged I am forever fortunate to have someone very special. Her ears deck out in eight diamond stud earrings, four on each side. Her stomach ripped and muscular, her waist thin and tight. My cocks starts to harden. “Damn papi chulo, I want it really, really really bad. She is such a tasty morsel for hungry eyes to feast upon. “Papi can we go I want you to lay me down and make love to me.” Okay babes, let me get the keys from Blacka. I left Trina and went to the back of the house, got the keys then exited. I looked up at the sky because the golden hour sunlight became very diffused turning overcast and it began to rain.. Where would you like to go baby. “Anywhere with you papi.” We hopped into the 300 E and headed west on the Long island Expressway. Trina smells so good, her perfume mixed with the scent of the marijuana stained leather interior created a new fragrance. Mi Corazon, “si papito.” You still love sweets don’t ya? I mean I know you told me she was the chick that popped your cherry when you were fifteen, then broke your heart when she dumped you for her man Lo Lyfe Marcus, but every time you see her I notice how your cheeks glows rose blush. “I mean I’m not going to lie to you papi, I kinda do have feeling for her still.” We get down sometimes if we’re both single, so it’s really hard not to still have feelings, it’s like we are always drawn to each other. She knows me like no one else, we shared our first kiss at age thirteen, defended each other when chicks would tease and threaten us about being different.” I’m jealous, I admitted to her, but not in a bad way. Damn Trina I wish I had someone to love me like that. “What do you mean papi?’ To love someone and to have someone love me that much that I can’t seem to get them out of my system. “One day you and I will be like that way and even more baby.”            
           
Hmm, I think I should take this exit off the L.I.E. “What for papi?” To call Tasia Sweets and ask if she wants to join us, I said laughing. “Aye Conio! why do guys always fucking wanna get in bed with me and another chick when I tell them I’m bisexual. I told you I only did that shit once with Sweets and Marcus, why you gotta bring that shit up.” “Puta madicon, stop the fucking car and let me out.” haha, laughing I grabbed her left hand and started kissing from her fingers then all the way up to her neck, mi corazon, I kid I kid. “You better be.” She sat silent turning to the right staring out the window with her arms folded. Mi corazon, I gentle pinched the side of her waist. She stuck her middle finger up to my face then opened her hand waving all five finger in front of my face. What is that, are you trying to tell me something without speaking. Well I don’t understand sign language mami chula. “Yeah cabron, as in Talk to the hand.” Oh okay I see, you showing me your ass now huh! I opened the glove compartment and pulled out a shiny glitter gold box with a big bow on top. “Oh my goodness papi, what’s in it?” It’s for you mi corazon, to show you that no one has ever meant this much to me. “But papi we’re too young to get married.” Ha, gurl you so crazy! Trina opens the box and pulls out a platinum chain with a diamond heart pendant. Tears flows from her already gorgeous eyes, filling them with liquid joy. She turns towards me. I switch the cassette player off to the radio. She sobs while resting her head on my right arm. She looks up at me and then as if we were suspended in time, the magic happened. That motherfucking magician of heart pounding, slow grinding, ass grabbing, tongue kissing, m-o-t-h-e-r-f-u-c-k-i-n-g baby making music Keith Sweat song came on and at just the right time.            
           
“Mmm, oh¡­            
My, my, my, my, my, my baby            
You're mine, mine, mine, mine            
I'm gonna love you right, girl            
You may be young but you're ready.”            
           
Trina felt the heat. I felt her small but long finger groping my third leg. Breathing heavily she kisses and suck on my neck, then the side of my mouth slipping her tongue inside. Muah, muah, mother-fucking muah’s sounds sounding good like a motherfucker. She puts her fingers in my mouth then licks and sucks on them, like I’m finger licking good, god dammit. I fucking love you papi. “I’m yours, whatever you want I’ll do. Let's turn back and get Sweets.” We can invite her some other time baby, tonight it’s all about you and I. “I really mean it papi, I fucking love you so much.” My thoughts runs wild, my neurons are firing at off the chart levels. The L.I.E. is lit up with headlights, taillights and brake lights looking like a night scene in a panoramic photograph shot wide open with an F1.4 lens. The lights of the cars on the express seems larger than life itself, big round colorful beautiful bokeh balls pulsating going from large to small and vice versa  followed fby ast moving light trails in suspended animation of bliss. The sound of rain drops all around us resonates, enhancing the sensual sounds our lips and mouth makes. The collaboration is destine to debut number one on the hot and very sexy music charts. Trina is without a doubt the sexiest, most sensual woman I have ever known. To be seventeen and to experience this kind of passion with someone this beautiful, faithful, loyal, kind, caring and extremely loving is something that puts me ahead of the game. Nigga’s in their thirties have never experience such sensuality. Oh Shit, damn sugar plum. Her moist mouth wets me, sluuuurp! I grab her head, the sight of her shiny tongue ring excites me. I kiss and suck on her bottom lip and stick my tongue down her throat. Wait till we get to the hotel baby, are you trying to make me crash.            
           
It takes us an hour but after crossing over the Manhattan bridge we finally make our way into Midtown Manhattan. We ended up at the Radisson Martinique Hotel on West 32nd Street and Broadway. While driving across the bridge I also kept thinking about Ginger and her ex man. Something was off about the whole situation. Why did she not want to explain what went down. She seemed more upset at the fact that the two of them had on matching leather biker jackets than the violence he unleashed on her. Still, I was too heated and I wanted to lay between Trina’s golden thighs to vent my anger and frustration. Licking her pretty pink lips watching them glisten with sweet saliva matching the luminance of her platinum nose ring and stud septum set nose piercing made my heart flutter. She holds my hands and I in return wrap my arms around her small waist, squeezing and rubbing her sides. Pulling her close to me tasting her moist lips. The loud smacking sound of our lips got the people in the lobby attention. Mi corazon is beautiful like an Elfin princess portrayed in neon lights on Broadway. Our lips slowly peels off each other making a wet muuaah sound as they separate. Oh my God Papi, this hotel is nice. Aiieee I’m sooo freaking            
excited, I’m going to make love to you like no one ever has and never will.” Shiiiiiid, say no more mi corazon.            
           
About a year later I was buying takeout food at a nearby restaurant on Utica Avenue when I heard a group of men talking. The conversation happened to be about a certain person being killed during a shootout with rival drug gang member somewhere in Virginia. When I heard one of the men mentioned Ginger's ex nickname, I called her right away. She seem genuinely shocked and hurt. I could hear her voice crackling as if she was holding back tears. I guessed she had no idea. She said goodbye then hung up the phone. Love can be confusing, sometimes very hurtful, but love should never mean having to say goodbye forever due to violence.            
           
I called Trina after, told her what I heard and that Ginger hung up the phone sounding hurt. I also asked her if she wanted to have my baby. “Boy you so crazy, we still in High School and my Papito would kill us both.” But mi corazon, me love you long time. “First of all I’m Dominican okay, so don’t be talking that oriental kaka to mi papi.” I bet you waving your index finger, swaying your neck from side to side and got that pretty mouth of yours looking all twisted up don’t ya. Ha haha ha, we laughed out loud together. I gotta go mi corazon. “Okay love you papi, be safe okay.”            
           
Okay!