Ninety-Nine Problems by Gloria Dotson-Lewis

Author:Gloria Dotson-Lewis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Children & Teens
Publisher: Wahida Clark Presents Publishing
Published: 2011-12-18T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

Vince thought today would be the perfect opportunity to get Tameka back over to the crib. His mom had recently switched shifts, so she was up and gone before Vince’s alarm sounded. He called Tameka on her cell last night.

“You gon’ come hang out with me tomorrow?” Vince asked. “My moms will be at work.”

“I can’t, boo. I have a test to take tomorrow.”

“Your teacher will let you make that up another day. I want to see you.”

“I wanna see you too, but I can’t tomorrow. This teacher don’t play no make-up mess,” Tameka smacked her lips.

“You sure I can’t change your mind?” Vince pleaded.

“I can’t, Vince,” Tameka whined. “I’ll make it up to you another day, okay babe?”

“Yeah, you better. Hit me up later,” Vince said before hanging up.

It was almost time to leave for school. Vince knew he had to take Crea and Fiona, even if he didn’t plan on staying. He wasn’t feeling classes, so he decided to call Marcus to see what he was on. Marcus cut school at least two times a week, so he always knew where the “cut-out” would be held. A group of kids took turns hosting cut-out parties. There would be no parental supervision, but lots of girls, alcohol, and video games. Most days were fine, but every once in a while things got out of hand. One day a neighbor called the police, and when they showed up, all twenty students ran to the back door, trying to escape. They had no clue that a patty wagon was waiting for them outside. Vince was glad he had an exam that day because he too would have been there.

“What up, man? Anybody having something at their crib today?” Vince asked when Marcus answered the phone.

“And you know this man…” Marcus said in his best Chris Tucker voice. “I have some business to take care of first so meet me in the parking lot after third period.”

“Cool.” They both hung up.

At 10:20 a.m. Vince met Marcus outside the school. They headed toward Marcus’s car.

“Man, I still can’t get that kid from the park out of my head. I’ve been tripping on that ever since it happened. He was just playing in the park, man. He didn’t deserve to get shot down like that.” Vince shook his head.

“Don’t let it get to you, man. I ain’t sayin’ it ain’t messed up, but you know how it is around here. That park is a war zone.” Marcus opened his trunk, pulled out a towel, and started wiping his06 Monte Carlo, custom painted midnight blue and sitting on twenty-twos.

“Man, Money, this is a nice ride.”

“Yeah, this my baby here,” Marcus said. “I gave my cousin $500 to put the title in her name.

“Dang, man, where you get that Rockefeller money? Somebody died in the fam’ and left you some stacks?” Vince walked around Marcus’s new car nodding his head.

“Yeah, right. All my fam’ live in the ‘jects. So if any of ‘em had money to leave me, I’m sure they would’ve got out the ghetto a long time ago.

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