Grand Opening: A Family Business Novel by Carl Weber & Eric Pete

Author:Carl Weber & Eric Pete
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2015-08-25T05:00:00+00:00

Big Shirley

31

“You can barely see them anymore,” Little Momma exclaimed as she applied makeup to cover the scars on my face. Of course she was exaggerating, but I had to admit it looked better than before.

It was just nice to finally leave the house for a night, and the fact that it was First Friday made it even better. On the first Friday of every other month, the Duncan Brothers put on a big to-do. The whole black side of town showed up, gathering ’round to watch cock fights, dog fights, and more importantly, people fights, along with music, dancing, and fireworks. It was the only time Sam shut the place down for a few hours, including Christmas and Thanksgiving. It was usually held in an abandoned lot over on G Street, but today they were holding it behind their new gas station as part of their grand opening.

“Let’s go!” Big Sam hollered up the stairs, and the bunch of us girls padded down, each of us trying to outdo the others. Sam had one of the boosters come by with new outfits, and all us girls were allowed to pick one for tonight. See, this was our chance to meet and mingle with some of the men who wouldn’t be caught dead up in the house—that is, until they saw firsthand what we had to offer. Sam wanted us to look good for the potential customers. We had to look better than their wives.

We showed up in a caravan of seven cars, and when we stepped out and followed Sam to our seats, heads turned.

I hadn’t been by the new Duncan brothers’ gas station yet, but I was impressed with the way they had things set up when I got there. They’d put up a boxing ring in the back, with plenty of chairs and bleachers, and a dog–and cock-fighting pit a little further back. Larry’s girl NeeNee had a rolling barbecue trailer where she had a couple of guys working the grill while she sold plates at a real profit. And let me tell you, she could cook. Hell, there was a line all the way around the building. Then there was a stand set up where Lou’s cousin Harold and some white-looking guy were selling beer and sodas at twice the regular price, and those Negroes were still buying them. Oh, and let’s not forget Larry and Lou, who were working the crowd, taking bets. From the looks of things, they were all making money hand over fist.

“The twins will cart any of you and your tricks back to the house, so remember, you’re not here just to look cute and to spend my money. You’re here to meet new customers and to make me money. Now get to work,” Sam barked at us as he took his seat. I’d learned to sit directly behind him, because you always got the good gossip first, not to mention you were out of his line of sight.

“Damn, he’s fine!” Little Momma, who was sitting to my right, murmured under her breath.

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