Page 17 of Standing In The Sun

“Aye, let me get two of them chicken plates!”

“I needbothAlfredos… one for me, one for my girl.”

“Oouuu, she got garlic bread too?”

Ahvi moved fast, her hands steady, and her heart pounding. Not from nerves, but from relief. Every plate sold was money she needed. Rent wasn’t an option anymore. She’d already gotten the notice taped to her door, staring her down like a death sentence. Two weeks, and she’d have to be out. That meant storage fees, gas, and food for Kamari. Hustling wasn’t a choice. It was survival…an instinct she was thankful to have been blessed with.

By the time the crowd thinned, her trunk was damn near empty, and her pockets were full enough to buy her another day of peace. She exhaled, shaking out her tired hands before shutting the trunk.

Now, it was time to get her son since her sister claimed she wanted to sleep in tomorrow. Ahvi wasn’t tripping because Kamari wasn’t Butta’s responsibility and anything her little sister did for her son was always appreciated.

Now that Ish was gone, Butta was all she really had. Her mama, Sheena wasn’t reliable and had too much on her own plate to assist with her oldest daughter’s issues. Ahvi didn’t have any hard feelings for the woman that birthed her. If anything, she respected that Sheena was who she was to her core—never switching up or putting on a front. Ish taught her to love her mama regardless. He drilled it into Ahvi’s head so even if she wanted to hate her, she couldn’t.

With the window’s down, the humid air did little to cool her body from standing around all night. Still, it was better than nothing.

Sheena lived in the hood, the east side of Jade City to be exact, in old houses that some foreigner who never laid eyes on the property owned. All they cared about was that the rent was paid on time. With most of the tenants being on government assistance, that was guaranteed.

People were still outside with her mama and her crew being among them. “You can get out!” Sheena called out when Ahvi pulled up.

Ahvi only waved because she was too tired to even pretend to care about whatever her mama was talking about. She sent a text to Butta letting her know she was outside and to bring her baby. Subtly, she cut her eyes to her mama’s porch, seeing the table and group of people surrounding it. One thing Sheena was going to do was put together a card game and make some money from it. That had to be where Ahvi got her hustle from. A slight smile appeared on her face, leaving just as fast as it came.

Butta stepped out with Kamari already bundled in her arms. “He been asleep since ten,” she whispered as she carefully buckled Kamari into his car seat.

“Appreciate it,” Ahvi sighed, reaching in the back to brush her fingers over Kamari’s soft curls before Butta closed the door.

“You good?” Butta leaned into the car through the passenger door, eyes scanning her sister’s face.

Ahvi forced a smile. “Yea - just tired.”

“Aight. Call me if you need anything.”

Ahvi tossed her hand up at her mama before pulling off, ready to get in bed. She hated having Kamari out so late but that was just their reality. It would’ve been nice if his daddy could’ve gotten him for the night, but that was asking God for too much of a miracle. She felt she had a better chance, asking him to bring her daddy back.

The drive home was quiet with only Kamari’s little snores filling the car. She pulled into the driveway. Ahvi cut the engine off and stepped out, moving quickly to unbuckle her son. He stirred but didn’t wake up, his head resting against her shoulder as she carried him toward the front porch.

Then she heard quick, heavy footsteps behind her, making her heartrate speed up.

Before she could turn, something cold pressed against the back of her neck. “Aye, run that.”

Her stomach dropped. Kamari shifted in her arms, completely unaware of the danger.

“I got my baby,” she stated the obvious, her voice steady even though fear clawed at her throat.

“Then don’t do nothin’ stupid.” The man’s breath was hot against her ear. His voice was impatiently rough. “Purse.”

Heart hammering, Ahvi adjusted Kamari just enough to slide her purse off her shoulder. “Please, just let me get inside?—”

“Nah, fuck that! Give that shit up now or you won’t see tomorrow.”

Her hands shook as she held out her purse. The man snatched the bag, rummaging through it before grabbing the money she made for the night. It was like he knew she’d had a good night from the way he stuffed the money in his jeans.

“Go inside,” he ordered, stepping back - gun still aimed. “And don’t turn around.”

Tears burned her eyes as she gripped Kamari tighter and stepped toward the door. The second she got inside, she locked the door behind her. Her legs shook as she pressed her forehead against the wood.

She cried hard, holding Kamari to her chest. She was relieved that she and Kamari were safe. But she was angry that everything else was gone. Yet again she took one step forward just to be knocked a hundred steps back.

four

---