Page 7 of Juice

“Nari!” My mama yelled, jarring me from my dream.

Sitting up in bed I pulled my sleep mask off. “Huh?”

“Yo ass about to be late for work!”

Swiping my phone off the nightstand I checked the time and groaned. “Shit.” Pushing the covers back I stood from the bed and popped my back. I didn’t leave the club until six. After shutting down for the night, I counted my tips, cashed out, and helped clean the club before hopping in my car and coming home.

I didn’t have to be at the club until one, so I didn’t mind sticking around this morning. Judging by how drowsy I felt I was starting to regret that shit. Meandering into my bathroom I cutthe shower on before standing at the sink to wash my face and brush my teeth.

After securing my shower cap over my ponytail, I hopped in the shower and let the steamy water pelt down my back.

“You working all night tonight?” My mama asked after barging into my bathroom.

“I’m working until five for one of the girls then I get a break and don’t have to be back until nine.”

“Oh okay.”

“Why? What’s up?”

“Lariah gone need a way from work and I won’t be back in enough time to get her.”

Lariah was my little sister. When school started back, she got a part time job at the sneaker store in the mall. She was a sophomore in high school and wanted to make her own money. I felt exactly where she was coming from. We weren’t rich by far but my mama never let us go without.

Now that I was in college, I didn’t want her having to overexert herself trying to pay for stuff for me, she’d done enough. I went to school on a full ride, so tuition wasn’t a concern of mine. I was old enough to be able to buy my necessities so that’s how I ended up at Stax.

“What time she get off?”

“Three.”

“Shit.” I groused. “Chucky not gone let me leave early since I picked this shift up. If she can camp out until I get off, I’ll go grab her.”

“I’mma text her and let her know.”

“Okay.”

“How was last night?”

“It was cool. A different vibe than the day shift.”

“Better money?”

“Much better.” I laughed.

“Good. As long as you keep them grades up you won’t hear my mouth.”

“Thank you, mommy.” I sang.

“Ummhmm. Don’t forget your sister.”

“I won’t.”

After telling me she loved me and how proud she was of me, my mama left out the bathroom, leaving me to finish getting dressed. When I finished with my shower I slipped on some tights and a t-shirt and stuffed my uniform in my duffle bag.

Tonight, was going to be another busy night and if shit went how last night did then I was expecting to go home with a few thousand. By the time I was leaving my mama had already dipped out. So once I’d locked up the house, I hopped in my car headed to the club to get my first shift over.

“Nariah, what you doing here?” Shunta asked as soon as I stepped into the back.

“Remember I was telling you I picked up a shift for Chantelle.”

---