Page 169 of Not My Type
Mi love fi see har excited enuh. The way her face lights up? Yeah, I could get used to this. “As usual mi a go spoil yuh... which car yuh want mi drive today Mami?”
She taps her chin, eyes moving from the Jaguar to the Audi. She points at the Audi. “This one babe.”
When mi reach a the party mi a go link Thomas because mi wah him set up some lessons fi har. I help her up in the Audi then a thought comes to my mind.
“Come over yer so mi wah see what you can do.”
“Fi drive?” her lips falls open, a smile creeping out.
“Yuh seh yuh uncle teach yuh sup’m so fawud... show me,” I challenge.
She hesitates, but curiosity wins, and she comes over as I slide out of the driver’s seat. I drop into the passenger side, getting comfortable while she buckles up. I start breaking down the basics—gear, brakes, steering—and she listens, nodding like she’s taking it all in. Let’s see if she really have it.
“Nickoi this a yuh Audi enuh what if..” she starts.
“If yuh crash it. Mi fix it a mawning. Hush up,” I say, cutting her off before she can complain.
She’s nervous at first, moving the car slow like we heading to a prayer meeting. When we reach the gate, it opens automatically, and she peeks out before finally pulling off. She drives too careful. She know har thing still, but Jah know, her driving would put anybody to sleep.
“Yuh can press the gas likkle bit enuh,” I tell her and she starts moving a little faster.
After a while of her driving she starts getting comfortable and I take the time out to build a spliff. She nuh that bad she just love doubt harself. When I’m done making the weed I take out my lighter and light it. Then I drag the spliff, exhale and look at her. Mi nuh fi a smoke around har enuh. Chro mon so many adjustments. I put it out and hold it between my fingers then my phone rings.
I answer. “Yow?”
“Weh yuh deh pon mi Don?” Gutta asks, my eyes on my woman, focusing on the road.
“Mi soon fawud,” I tell him.
“Arite bro G,” he hangs up.
I put the location on the GPS so that mi can relax. Cyaa’ bother wid eh wul heap a chatting fi a give directions. Lazy. After fifteen minutes of driving we’re finally there. Masicka’s Whites blasting through the large speakers already getting me hype.
“Pull over..” I coax. Mi know she cya manage fi park the car. I push it in park, she climbs in the passenger side and I slip into the driver’s seat.
I park the car between two other cars and glance at her. “Yuh soon reach this level Mami but yuh drive good.”
She giggles. “Mi know a couple things here and there,” She more than can get the car. Yah. She can get more practice after. We get out, her hand already in mine. I lead her through the crowd.
“Real bad man party!” Gutta chuckles, sitting on a plastic chair with food in his hands. I spot Teyanna, Gutta’s girlfriend.
“Yah mi killa! Yah mi killa! Yow tun dung eh volume mi G,” Gutta’s eyes on the selector as he takes the microphone.
“Mi nuh 3 have nuff things fi say enuh but eh wul a we know how the loyalty come dung a’ready and mi just wah gi’ the Don a special welcome cause if a never fi him we wouldn’t start make all a this... unuh know wah mi mean. Big up to Prezi weh always deh deh fi wi yuh zi mi? And big welcome to the Don wifey,” he proclaims, eliciting a chorus of laughter from the crowd.
Zara’s smile grows. “Aww thank you!”
“Yeah mon but yuh know nuff a we yasso never have nutt’n a live fa and Prezi give we a chance yuh zeen fi change wi life and help wi family... and mi know him nuh 3 love the light and thing but big up to the Don!” Gutta chuckles. The others cheer.
“One Don. Any other Don a Clarendon!”
I walk up to the mic, dap them up and take the mic. Zara walks beside me, her arms around my torso.
“Yuh right when yuh say mi nuh like the light,” I start and they chuckle. “But respect and mannaz to everybody weh deh a foot. The wul thing a fi unuh yuh zimi... just my way fi show unuh seh mi appreciate each and everyone of you... so just fulljoy unuh self and maintain the good vibe sed way,” they bursts blanks.
“One family!” I say and they repeat it.
“When did you start being a Don?” Zara’s eyes on me once we walk away. I take a deep breath.
