Peaches “n” Cream
By: Radona Hines – Realigion
Mafia Life Entertainment
Acknowledgement
First and foremost, I would like to thank my father God in Heaven for blessing me with the ability to write creatively. I love you and I thank you for allowing me to turn my dream into reality.
I would also like to thank my manager and friend, Tony Mouton of Mafia Life Entertainment for the love and support he’s given in the making of this book. I want to thank all the women at Lane Murray Prison Facility for encouraging me to keep pushing even when I had a writer’s block and wanted to give up. I truly appreciate all the support you guys gave me. God bless you. To my brothers Sylvester and Jabari, two of the Realest niggas I know, this one’s for you, we did it! From this point on we gone be alright, hold ya head.
Much Love and Respect. C.R.E.A.M!
I dedicate this book to 3 special little girls, Jada Shaunte Hines, Mariah Raychelle Hines, and Madison Nicole Hines. Mommy loves you guys and I’m sorry for the time I had to be away, but what the enemy meant for bad, God has turned around for our good (smile). To Gail and Edem Udosen whom always accepted me and my kids with open arms in spite of. My brother Quaylon, I love you. My family Angelique, Joshua, Lydia, Kenah, Sylvester, Courtney, Jay, Jabari, Jamie, Cheydrin, Kindle, Keisha, Benjamin, Ray, Bubba. My big cousin Michelle one of the baddest females in Houston forever knocking doors down in the Galleria, never missing an Award Show letting the world know Houston is Hot! Honey and Tracie I love you guys, Tracie we still the Aldine click! Sharita, you know we Joe Louis kids for life. To the Jones and Walker Family (RIP Jericho), all of us who grew up in Acres Homes, I love you guys. To my Aunties: Gloria Smith, Brenda Howard, Katherine Stewart, Ella Pearl Veal (RIP), Beverly Webb), Carolyn Young, Alice Jones (RIP), and Ida Mae Ball (RIP), Chris Gordon (RIP): I love you all so much. RIP in peace to Margie Gail Hines, Janie Faye Hines, Steven Hines, Devlin Howard and Joseph Kennerson: Family members who were dear to me but are now in that Paradise in the sky.
Special Thanks to my Aunt Trina one of the realest females I know. Thank you for never turning your back on me while I went through the storm. I will always love you. Trina and Radona Gorillas!
Thanks to my friends Deitra Holcomb, Iesheia and Avery Ayers whom never stopped believing in me.
Becky Lee, I love your crazy butt thank you for staying down. Nicola, I love you and the special sisterly bond we share. Lola Shelton Jones a phenomenal women of God, thanks for keeping me encouraged. My church home Now Faith Ministries being lead by a wonderful man of God Apostle Reginald Rice who keep me lifted up in prayer.
Big upps to all my peeps who live by the creed “Failure is not an Option” therefore they doing what it takes to keep them and their families feed. Much love to my friends. Shalita, thank you for showing me the true meaning of a friend. Alesha one of the flyest white girls in Aces Homes. Wendy “Diamond” It aint a dance floor or mic you haven’t wrecked. What’s good Toya, holdin it down on that Southside with my nieces Aleriyah and Deja. Kimberly Turner, a very intelligent strong black women, thanks for introducing me to Corporate America. To my friend DeShawn Chapel “Twin” I love you and I value our friendship, thanks for staying real. Anna Hola Mami, stay real.
Lakeeta Cadore much love. Last but not least thanks to all my haters, way too many to name but you know who you. Thanks for every time you doubted, judged and talked down on me. I guess no one ever told you what God has for me no man can take. I went through the fire and came out breathing fire. I’m a dragon. (lol) You be blessed.
Chapter 1 – 1998
Peaches posted up in her front yard combing her Barbie doll’s hair while conversing about how much she hated boys with her two friends, Keisha and Michelle. At the young age of 12, neither of the girls showed any interest in having a boyfriend. Unlike her friends, Peaches was shapely; she was petite and already started to develop breasts and hips like her mother Janice. Aware of how much older this made Peaches look, Janice kept her daughter’s long bra-strap length hair in lots of pigtails and made sure to dress her in clothes two sizes bigger.
A rowdy group of the neighborhood kids passed by staring at Peaches and her friends. Jarvis, a boy from their class smiled devilishly at Peaches while throwing his football to another one of the boys. Peaches rolled her eyes so hard her eyeballs hurt. Michelle swiftly walked over to the fence enraged. “Don’t look at us stupid, ugly ole boy!” she shouted rolling her neck. “Shet up, dummy, I wasn’t even looking at yo bald headed self,” the boy replied. “Yo Mama bald headed, Jarvis!” Keisha cut in. “Yo Daddy,” Jarvis shouted back, now standing directly in front of the fence trying to get right up in Michelle’s face. Peaches ran over throwing her doll on the ground. “Jarvis, you betta get away from my yard before I tell my mama!” she yelled. “I don’t care, tell yo mama” Jarvis shrugged. Peaches turned towards the front door and shouted as loud as she could, “MAMA!” Jarvis and his friends’ immediately broke out running away. Seconds later Janice stepped out onto the porch. “What is it girl, I’m cooking, you know yo Daddy gone be pullen up in a minute and this chicken ain’t even done,” she fussed. “Jarvis and nem was messen wit us,” Janice glanced down the street seeing the kids running up the road. “Come on in the house, I don’t know why that boy’s mama won’t put his lil bad butt on medication.” The girls snickered at Peaches, who waved goodbye, following Janice inside the house.
Peaches helped her mother finish cooking; then went on to the living room to watch Fresh Prince of Bellaire, kicking back in her Daddy’s lazy boy recliner. During the commercials she envisioned what it would be like to be rich and live in house like the one on ‘Fresh Prince’. She lived in a simple two bedroom wood framed house with her Mother and Father. The home had a small living room, one bathroom, a tiny kitchen and a fenced-in front and back yard. Janice made minimum wage, working for a nursing home, while her father Ray worked at an Auto Auction as a mechanic, bringing in enough income for his family to live comfortably, and still have a little extra cash to play with. Ray made sure his two favorite girls were taken care of, by any means necessary. Ray was as dark as midnight, while Janice had a light complexion, giving Peaches a beautiful caramel skin tone. Janice walked into the living room taking a seat on that couch, glancing over at Peaches who was comfortably reclined back in Ray’s chair. “Girl get yo narrow behind outta Ray’s chair and sit in this couch or on the floor.” She smacked her lips pulling the lever to close the chair up, and then sat next to her mother. Moments later Ray came strolling thru the front door singing, “I’ll always…come back to you!” verses from a song by the Isley Brothers, Voyage to Atlantis. Peaches danced toward Ray singing as well. “I’ll always, come back to you.” Peaches was a daddy’s girl. She admired him for everything he was, a wonderful father, husband, a strong black man who didn’t run out on his family, like most of the other dad’s in her hood.
Ray wrapped his arms around his daughter and place kisses all over her pretty face. She smiled big exposing her famous dimples. Ray glanced over at Janice who was deeply into watching a weight loss infomercial. Over the years Janice’s sexy size figure had turned into a rotund size sixteen. Ray flopped down in his recliner, propping his legs up while watching his wife jot down the 1-800 numbers from the screen. Soon after she got up and greeted Ray with a kiss. “You tired Baby?” she asked, rubbing his head. “Than ever, shidd, seems like I worked on a million cars today and that ain’t including trucks.” Peaches slid Ray’s shoes off and massaged his feet as she did everyday. “What’ cha cook?” he asked. “Fried chicken, beans, cornbread, cabbage, rice and gravy,” gladly announced Janice. Peaches butted in speaking loudly, “and Daddy I made the Kool Aid just like you like it with a whole lot of suga,” she said proudly. “That’s my girl,” he smiled with a wink of the eye. Janice twisted her face, “Peaches, quit all that loud talken, didn’t I tell you that’s ghetto!” “Well, we live in the ghetto,” Peaches protested. Janice walked down to the end of the recliner where she sat still rubbing Ray’s feet. She placed one hand on her hip and pointed her index finger in her daughter’s face, “Don’t get yo butt whipped showen out in front of your Daddy, you hear!” Peaches put her head down and mumbled, “Yes Ma’am.” “Now come on and help me fix these plates,” Janice ordered, wanting to whip her butt right then, but knew Ray would simply stop her. She would save that ass whippen for another day. “I don’t know what’s getting into her tail.” Janice said to herself.
After dinner, Peaches followed Ray to the living room to fix the broken air conditioner that sat in the window and asked, “Daddy, why boys act so stupid all the time?” “What boys you talkin bout?” Ray asked, grabbing a screw driver from his tool box. “Jarvis ugly self passed by earlier and he was starring at me like he crazy or something, make me sick, huh,” she said, smacking her lips. “The boy might like you…see Peaches, when boys Jarvis’s age, like a girl, they act silly because they don’t know how to say it….” “I don’t like that boy, I don’t like no boys!” Peaches replied defensively. “You saying that right now, but when you get older, believe me, that will change, ask your Mama,” Ray laughed. “Unk-unk, I never want a boyfriend,” she argued. “Okay, good, cause you can’t have one right now, anyway.” Janice stepped into the room holding a comb and brush and said, “Peaches, come get ya hair combed for when I drop you off at Mama’s house tomorrow, cause she say if it ain’t combed she cutten it off.” “Daddieee,” Peaches whined. Ray glanced back at his wife, “Yo mama betta not cut my baby hair.”
For once, Janice combed Peaches hair in two pigtails and put rollers in them for curls. Peaches was shocked that her mom didn’t give her the usual 6 to10 ponytails. “Mama, why you didn’t put all them plats like you always do?” Peaches asked, playing her Gameboy. Janice tied a head scarf around Peaches head to keep her hair fresh while she slept. “Cause you getting older now, but don’t think you grown” she mouthed before popping Peaches on the behind. “Now go to bed”
The following morning Peaches lay in her white princess-styled daybed covered with a Barbie comforter. She dreaded having to spend the day at Grandma Ida Mae’s house while Janice and Ray went to the Casino in Louisiana to do a little gambling. Ida Mae acted as though she hated Peaches sometimes. She never hugged or kissed her like the grandmas’ on TV. Instead, she cursed at her for any and everything she did wrong. Peaches had to walk on egg shells around her. Ida Mae was always anxious to whip her butt. Janice opened Peaches room door and instantly got mad. “I know she ain’t still sleep,” Janice yelled, as she stormed into the room, snatching the cover from over Peaches’ head. “Girl get up and get dressed, we gotta leave in the next hour and you’re still laying yo lazy behind down,” she hissed. Peaches grunted, “I don’t wanna go to Grandma’s house, she don’t like me, why can’t I go with you and daddy, huh?” she protested sitting up folding her arms across her chest. “Hush yo mouth, mama loves you, don’t ever let me hear you talk like that again either” Janice fussed, heading to the closet grabbing a yellow baby tee, some white Capri’s, and some yellow flip flops. She unrolled Peaches hair and tied yellow and white ribbons on her ponytails. She starred at her precious daughter who was almost thirteen but still acted like a little girl. Ray had her spoiled rotten. Janice was glad she wasn’t fast like some of the other little hot mamas in the hood, but it was still time for her to do a little growing up. Ida Mae constantly stressed to her that Peaches was too spoiled. That was one of the main reasons she didn’t particularly care to deal with Peaches. She didn’t believe in spoiling children.
Once dressed, Peaches pouted as she strolled into the living room behind her mother, hoping to get her dad’s attention. She flopped down on the couch with her lip poked out. Ray stepped in the room spraying cologne on his clothes. He glanced at his daughter seeing her disposition. “What’s wrong, baby girl?” Peaches, glared in Janice’s direction and rolled her eyes, “I wana go with ya’ll” “You can’t go with us baby, but when I come back we can go to the movies, awight!” Peaches slightly smile, “Alright Daddy.” Ray dug in his pocket and pulled out a wrinkled twenty handing it to her. “Here, don’t spend it all at the candy lady’s house.” “I won’t,” she smiled, tucking the money in her pocket. “You need to stop acting like a baby, you about to be a pre teen” Janice mouthed. Ray scooped her up in his arms, “That’s alright, this is my baby,” he said, kissing her forehead.
Chapter 2
Janice and Ray waited until Peaches was all the way inside the door of Ida Mae’s house before driving off. Peaches unknowingly slammed the door as she entered the four bedroom brick home. Ida Mae worked for the same nursing home Janice worked for, yet she had been there for 10 years verses Janice’s 2 years.
Ida Mae sat on the couch folding clothes, watching Imitation of Life. “I know damn well you ain’t slamming my damn door, heffa.” “No, Ma’am, that was an accident” “Um huh, better be, go put yo stuff up in Ashley’s room and don’t bother none of her stuff, she should be back in a minute. “Yes Ma’am,” Peaches replied, heading to her cousin’s room. Ashly was the same age as Peaches, yet the girls were nothing alike and hardly ever got along. Ashly was what the old fold called “Grown.” Her mother, Stacy, was in prison for forgery, leaving Ida Mae to raise her and her 5 year old brother, Joshua.
Peaches was sitting on Ashly’s floor playing with her Barbie dolls, when Ashly walked in an hour later. Ashly was tall and skinny with the inherited family hips. Her skin was dark and flawless, while her hair hangs on her shoulders. Like always the shorts she wore were extremely tight and skimpy. Her halter top hugged her flat chest. Ashly smacked her lips and flopped on her bed as she pulled her sandals off. Just then her little brother busted thru the door, “Grandma said you better clean that kitchen before you leave this house again,” Joshua shouted before licking his tongue. “Get out my room,” she yelled. “You can’t make me,” he teased. Ashly quickly snatched up her sandal and threw it almost hitting him in the head. Joshua slammed the door laughing. Peaches laughed as well. Ashly glanced at her, annoyed that she still played with dolls at her age. “Girl you too big to be playing with dolls, what’s wrong with you?” “Ain’t nothin wrong with me, what’s wrong with you?” Peaches snapped. Ashly glanced at Peaches breasts and a bit of envy come over her. She had been wishing her breasts would sprout out for the longest; she was tired of stuffing her bra. Ashly asked, “How you got them titties, you been letting somebody suck’ em or something?” Peaches corrected her, “Eww, you nasty…they just grew one day for yo information.” “You got a boyfriend yet?” Ashly asked, pretty much already knowing the answer was no! “Nope, I don’t won’t no dumb boyfriend.” Ashly shook her head. “You are so retarded!” “Don’t know and don’t care,” Ashly replied filing her nails. Lamar was Janice’s twenty-year-old brother who did nothing but smoke weed, eat and play video games all day. Ray referred to him as a free loading, mama’s boy. Peaches didn’t want Ashly to be mean to her all day so she decided to get on her good side by helping her with the dishes and offering to buy them both candy from the neighborhood candy lady; every hood had at least one. The girls finished the dishes and headed out to get their candy. On the way there they come up to a house with a group of older boys hanging on the front lawn smoking weed and drinking. As soon as the girls were directly in front of the mailbox, a tall lanky boy with long braids approached them. His chest was bare exposing about ten tattoos. The biggest one read “Acres Homes” in Old English letters. “Wass up, Ashly, where Lamar punk ass at?” he asked. Ashly started blushing, being in Warren’s presence made her panties wet. He was a well known street hustler at the young age of 17. “He at home, prolly playen on that playstation 2.” Warren pulled his cell phone from his hip, “What’s ya’ll phone number?” “281.999.5407,” Ashly spit out without hesitation. Warren dialed the number then glances over at Peaches who seemed apprehensive twirling her curls. “Speak to Lamar?” Warren spoke into his cell. Peaches nudged Ashly in the side. “I’m ready to go” she whined slinging her hair off her shoulder. “Hold on, dang,” Ashly snapped. “Say Lamar… this Warren, yeh, you can’t hide bitch, I want my money no later than tomorrow!” Warren demanded before closing the flip phone dismissing the call. He went in his pocket and grabbed a wad of cash. He then peeled two twenties off his stack. “Thank you lil mama” he said handing Ashly a twenty and attempted to give the other twenty to Peaches, but she declined. “No thank you, I’m not supposed to take stuff from strangers,” she told him. Warren couldn’t help but smile at her. Innocence was something rare in the hood, he thought. “My bad, cutie,” he winked, handing the money to Ashly while taking a glimpse at Peaches’ breasts. “Warren, bring yo ass on and get away from that jail bait, nigga,” one of his friends yelled from the domino table. “Ay ya’ll be good,” he said before jogging back to his podnas.
Ashly was on cloud nine walking back to the candy house. She rubbed the 40 dlollars on her chest and neck. She thought about lying to her friends tell them Warren asked her to be his girl. She would be envied by them all, she laughed to herself. Peaches stared at her wondering what was so funny. “You weird…why you rubbing that money on you like that?” she asked. Ashly twisted up her face, “I’m weird…you the one weird but I ain’t even going there.” Ashly knocked on Miss Josie’s door, seconds later it opened. “What’cha need?” Miss Josie asked Ashly until she notices Peaches, “Hey pretty girl, I ain’t seen you in a minute, how yo mama doing?” “Fine,” Peaches smile coyly. “Look at that hair, it’s so long and healthy, yo daddy gone be fighting them boys off you with a baseball bat.” Ashly sighed, “Can I get a sour pickle and a grape cool cup?” Miss Josie ignored Ashly’s rude behavior and asked Peaches what she wanted. I’ll take a lemon cool cup and a bag of hot fries Miss J,” Peaches said modestly. “Okay, Sweetie!” Miss Josie eyeballed Ashly as she headed off to get their stuff. “Fast ass hefer,” she thought to herself. Peaches left Miss Josie’s singing her daddy’s favorite song by the Isley Brothers. Ashly hated all the attention Peaches was getting today. She had even caught Warren checking her out a few times. “Can you shet up!” Ashly said walking on side of Peaches. Peaches rolled her eyes and continued to sing. “You think you all that Peaches!” “You the one think I’m all that!” “You ain’t no better than me, don’t nobody care about you having yo mama and daddy or that you got long hair and titties, you still ugly!” Ashly scream in her face before storming off ahead of her. Peaches continued to walk at her same pace singing; she was used to her cousin getting mad at her for no real reason, other than the attention she attracted. By the time she arrived back at her grandma’s house, her uncle Lamar was standing on the lawn smoking a blunt. Peaches walked over to him munching on her cool cup. Lamar was tall and skinny with the same light complexion as Janice. His hair was always the same, a nappy short afro with a pick stinking out of it. “Hey Lamar…” “Don’t ‘hey’ me; did you give Warren this phone number?” He fussed before taking a long drag on his blunt, followed by a cough. “Nooo,” she mumbled. “I already dealt with Ashly so don’t lie cause she already said ya’ll did” Peaches was in awe. “She the one did it; I didn’t say nothin to that boy!” Lamar had a sinister look on his face. Peaches didn’t see Grandma Ida’s car in the driveway, which made her a little, scared of what he my do to them without the protection of their grandma…. Regardless of how she beat their asses she never allowed anyone else to harm them. “Where Grandma?” she asked. “Went to the grocery store!” “I guess I’ll let you make it this time,” he said. Peaches exhaled happy to be off the hook. “Peaches, go look on my dresser and bring my cell phone,” Lamar told her.
Ashly’s room door was closed as Peaches passed by to get to Lamar’s room. She covered her nose as she entered in smelling funky shoes. As she searched the dresser for the phone, she ran across some naked pictures of a girl who looked like she could have been about 15. No sooner than she’d flipped the pictures over, Lamar came in the room. “Ay I got it, it was in my pocket” “Okay” she laughed as she headed for the door thinking Lamar must have been too high. “Peaches come here right quick” she turned around and went over to him where he sat at his computer desk. “What’s wrong?” She asked. He reached for her arm and gently pulled her down onto his lap. “Ain’t nothin wrong, I want you to see something on my computer.” “Okay.” Lamar fiddles around with the mouse as they both stared at the screen. “Just hold up my computer’s kinda slow,” he said. Suddenly, Peaches started feeling uncomfortable as she felt Lamar’s penis rise against her butt. She attempted to get up. Lamar wrapped his arm around her waist. “Naw, don’t move, I almost got it” he whispered, as his penis hardened. He slid his hand underneath her baby tee until he retrieved one of her firm breasts. Peaches flinched. “Uncle, what are you doing?” She whispered feeling embarrassed. “Shh, I’m gone make you feel good,” he moaned rubbing his free hand between her thighs. Peaches was in a state of shock. Again, she tried to get up but Lamar held her tighter and more aggressively this time. “Stop tryna get up, shit!” He pulled her shirt off and placed kisses on her breasts. Tears begin to welt up in her eyes. He then pulled her pants off and whispered in her ear, “Now go lay in my bed like a good girl” Peaches slowly climbed in bed, feeling scared and disgusted. After 30 minutes of straight torture, Peaches slowly got dressed and proceeded towards Lamar’s door to leave the room. “Peaches,” he spoke stopping her in her steps. She turned around unable to look him in the eyes; therefore she stared at the floor waiting for him to speak. “If you tell anybody, I swear to God, I’ma kill yo lil asss, awitht!” Peaches nodded and proceeded to leave the room.
Chapter 3
It had been a month since Peaches had been violated by her uncle. Her hurt had turned into anger. She hated Lamar, but even more she hated Janice for making her go to her Grandma’s house rather than with them. “It’s all her fault,” she constantly pondered. No matter how many baths or showers she took, she still felt nasty and dirty. Peaches lay in bed starring at the ceiling. She knew she was supposed to be up getting dressed for school, yet she didn’t care. She’d taken down the two French braids Janice did in her hair the night before therefore her hair was all over her head and now tangled. Janice fixed a cup of coffee as she waiting for Ray to finish getting ready for work. She was certain Peaches was already up so she didn’t bother going to check and see. Instead she sat doing her morning ritual, drinking coffee and reading the Houston Chronicle. Ray strolled in sporting his uniform with keys in hand. “Let’s go, baby,” he told Janice, scooping up her coffee and taking a sip. Janice hollered for Peaches yet didn’t receive a response. Both she and Ray headed to her room. Janice was fuming seeing that Peaches was still in bed. “Why tha hell you ain’t ready for school girl?” She hissed, storming over snatching the covers off her daughter. Peaches lay in her panties and sports bra which pissed Janice off even more. Peaches quickly snatched the covers out of Janice’s grip and wrapped it back around her. “‘Cause I don’t feel like going to school,” she replied with attitude. Janice was appalled hearing her child speak to her that way. Peaches had never before told her what she didn’t feel like doing. Janice pulled off her shoe and began hitting her all over. Peaches jumped out of bed and without even thinking twice pushed her into Ray. “Leave me alone!” she yelled at Janice. Ray held onto his wife’s arm who was trying hard to get at Peaches. “Oh, bitch, you grown now, I’m gone show yo ass….Ray let me go right now, got-damn-it!” “Janice calm down, she’s just a child, she yo child… now maybe something is wrong with her, you need to talk to the girl,” Ray mouthed. Janice settled down and turned towards Ray aggravated that he was taking up for Peaches after she’d just disrespected her. “I can’t believe you Ray, what that girl needs is a good ass whipen, fuck a talk!” Janice said before storming out the room. Peaches stood breathing heavily while tears clouded her eyesight. The second Ray walked towards her the tears flooded her cheeks. He wrapped his arms around his child wondering what had gotten into her. “What’s wrong with you, baby girl?” Peaches wanted to tell Ray what Lamar did but she was too ashamed. “I just don’t feel good, daddy.” “You know you can’t be putting you hands on yo mama, Peaches… “I’m sorry, daddy,” she cried. Janice blew the horn letting Ray know she was ready for him to drop her off at work. “Lay down, you can stay home today, but pull yourself together and make sure you apologize to yo mama.” Peaches nodded her head but had no real intention of apologizing. The hate for her mother was growing every day.
Janice was silent as Ray drove her to work. She had nothing to say to him since he had taken up for Peaches once again. Janice had already made up in her mind, she as going to get Peaches for old and new. Her daughter would think twice before ever tryna step to her. Peaches spent the rest of the morning lying on the couch watching TV shows. She was enjoying Jerry Springer when the phone rang, “Hello” she answered. “Peaches!” Grandma Ida Mae spoke, enraged. “Yo mama told me what’cha did and you’d betta be glad I wasn’t here cause I would have tore yo ass up and been ready for yo daddy to say something!” Peaches sat hearing Grandma Ida, yet still listening to Jerry Springer. Grandma Ida’s idle threats meant nothing to her over the phone. “Do you understand me, gal?” Ida Mae yelled. “Yes,” Peaches mumble refusing to say ‘yes ma’am’. “That’s ‘yes Ma’am’ to you.” “Hello, Hello, I can’t hear you, the phone is messin up,” Peaches lied before slamming the phone down and turning the ringer off. She then headed to the kitchen to fix a bowl of lucky charms. After eating she combed her hair in a ponytail and threw on some jeans and t-shirt then went outside to sit on the porch. Laddin, one of the hood’s hot girls, walked in front of her house smoking a cigarette. She was only 16 years old stacked up like a stallion. Laddin had smooth black skin and sexy slanted eyes which always attracted grown men. She kept her hair sewed up in a jet black 16-inch weave making her look even older. Today she was rockin a skin tight pair of guess jeans and a hooded guess shirt with a pair of 4 inch heels. Laddin had dropped out of school a few months ago and started hanging with some older girls who danced at a strip club called Harlem Nights. Peaches smile at Laddin and turned her head. “What’s tha dealio, Peaches?” Laddin hollered over some loud car music that was passing by. “Nothin!” “Why you ain’t at school, you pulled one of my numbers!” Laddin laughed inviting herself inside the gate and joining Peaches on the porch. “No, I was just sick today,” Laddin gave her a ‘yeah, right’ look, “You sho don’t look sick,” she said. Peaches didn’t comment. Laddin took a drag of her cigarette and spit on the grass. “My auntie suppose to be signing for me an apartment in Arbor Oaks this week; she say she don’t want me running the streets.” “You have a job to pay for it?” Peaches curiously asked. “Sort of, I been doing these private shows for these men, the money I make is pretty good.” Laddin dug in her knock off Fendi purse and pulled out a pen and paper jotting her number down. “Here, that’s my cell phone number; call me if you ever wanna spend the night at my apartment, chic. I gotta go.” Peaches tucked the number in her pocket watching Laddin leave. A few minutes later she was back in the house lying in bed. Her depression returned as she reflected back on what Lamar did to her. She thought about the tingly feeling that made her legs shake. She rolled over and rocked herself back to sleep hoping the sleep would nullify her pain.
Janice and Ida Mae pulled in the driveway of Janice’s home still ranting on and on about Peaches. As Janice stepped out the car Ida Mae stopped her “Call me if you need me for that husband of yours, now go show that child who her mama is.” “Alright mama, I’ll see you tomorrow,” Janice replied closing Ida Mae’s car door. Janice proceeded inside the house and headed straight to her room to take off her scrubs and threw on a t-shirt and a pair of loose shorts. She needed to be comfortable for what she was about to do. She grabbed an extension cord from the closet. Janice thought about the night she crept up in Ida Mae’s house late one night after a party. Ida Mae was waiting in her room with an extension cord. She beat Janice real good. From then on Ida Mae didn’t have anymore trouble out of her. Janice pushed the door open to Peaches room where she slept soundly. Janice then rushed over and snatched the covers off. Peaches didn’t have time to get up when Janice swung the cord hitting her on her legs, then her chest and her thighs. Peaches was about to get up and run when Janice put all her weight on top of her pinning her down. “Get off me,” Peaches screamed struggling to maneuver Janice’s knees from her arms. “Naw, you bad, get me off you,” she said punching Peaches in the face; her jaw was aching with pain. “I hate you, I hate you, you fat bitchhhh!” Peaches screamed at the top of her lungs. That only added fuel to the fire. Janice wrapped her hands around Peaches throat and squeezed. “Oh, you grown enough to curse at me” Peaches couldn’t breath however her arms were pinned down so she couldn’t remove Janice’s grip from her throat. She starred at Janice as her eyes began to bulge, then they slowly began to roll back, indicating she was losing consciousness. Suddenly, Janice’s motherly instincts kicked in, she released Peaches’ neck and got up, surprised at her actions. Peaches slowly sat up coughing and spitting. She eyeballed Janice with bloodshot red eyes. The side of her face had already begun to swell from the punch. The bruises from the extension cord were visible and Janice was sure they’d be worse in the morning. Janice thought she would feel good after she showed her daughter who was the boss, instead she felt worse. She was out of character listening to her mother. Peaches wasn’t a bad child. What had she done to her baby? She rushed out of the room in tears.
Ray came home around 6 o’clock as usual. He walked inside the house expecting to find his girls sitting together under the TV, but unfortunately the living room was empty. He passed threw the kitchen only to see an empty stove as well. Something had to be wrong. “Janice,” he called out, entering his bedroom where Janice was sleeping. She woke up at the sound of his deep voice. “What’s up, why haven’t you cooked, baby?” “Where’s Peaches?” “Ray, I whipped Peaches, I wanted to teach her a lesson about pushing me, but I think I went too far” That was all Ray needed to hear, he hurried to Peaches’ room like a bat out of hell. He found his daughter lying in the dark with her eyes fixed to the ceiling. Turning on the lights his heart skipped a beat seeing one side of her face swollen and bruised. He went over and lifted her from the bed only to find more marks, bruised and scratches all over her body. Peaches moaned in pain. “I’m sorry baby, daddy is so sorry,” Ray told her, carrying her to the bathroom. He ran some warm bath water with plenty of Epson salt before placing her inside the tub leaving the bathroom in pure fury. Janice was standing in the kitchen about to start cooking dinner when Ray ran up on her yanking her arm. “You call that a whipen? You damn right you went too far Janice, that looks like abuse, don’t you know them white folks will put you in jail for what you have done. You better be glad I don’t hit women, ‘cause I swear!” Ray bit down on his bottom lip. Janice hung her head and wiped the tears in her eyes. “I didn’t mean to go that far,” she cried. Ray was silent for a minute. “You know what, I can’t even stand to look at you right now, and I think it’ll be best if you go to Ida Mae’s tonight.” Janice lifted her head, “What?” “You heard me Janice; I don’t wanna look at you.” “You putten me out of my house?” She yelled. “You better be glad that’s all I’m doin’.” Janice pushed him from in front of her. “Fine, take her side like you always do, Ray, you got her so spoiled that’s why she feels like its okay to put her hands on me….” “It’s not about taking sides Janice, when are you gonna realize Peaches is your daughter and not your competition!” Ray yelled back following her to the bedroom. “Whatever, I’ll be out of your house in a minute” she said packing her suitcase. Thirty minutes later she was heading to Ida Mae’s in a cab.
Chapter 4
Two weeks had passed since the beating. Peaches had missed a whole week of school. Ray sending her to school with all those bruises was a sure way to have CPS in their life. Janice was still pissed about Ray making her leave; therefore she refused to come home. Peaches didn’t care; she didn’t miss her mother one bit. In fact, she was enjoying the house with just her and her daddy without Janice and all her nagging. She sat in her history class listening to Mrs. Povack talk about the Alamo when her thoughts drifted. She thought of her mother and father wondering if Janice would ever come home. Ray had been walking around like a sad puppy since she’d left. This was the first time in years the two had been apart. As much as Peaches didn’t want her mother to come home she hated seeing her father hurting. “Can you repeat what I just said Ms. Smith?” Mrs. Povack said to Peaches standing aside her desk. Peaches let out a sigh sitting up straight in her desk. “No, I can’t” Peaches replied. “And why can’t you?” “‘Cause I wasn’t listening, obviously!” The class burst into laughter. “Ms. Smith step outside, please,” “Mrs. Povack said. Peaches nonchalantly stood up and proceeded to the hallway leaning against one of the lockers. “Breeana, what’s going on with you… you have a lot of work to make up and here you are day dreaming in my class; your grades have dropped tremendously these six weeks. Is everything okay at home?” Mrs. Povack questioned. “Yeah!” Mrs. Povack placed her hand on Peaches’ shoulder; “If ever you need someone to talk to, I’m here.” She nodded before heading back inside her classroom.
Peaches got off the school bus and strolled up the street with her friends Keisha and Michelle. She hadn’t been in the mood to play with them anymore. Her days consisted of school, TV and sleep. While walking down the street that girls approach a burnt orange Caprice sitting on Choppa’s. The bass was hitting so hard their ears rang. Laddin leaned against the car sippin from a Styrofoam cup. The driver switched Master P’s Ghetto Dope cd to UGK. “Come here, Peaches” Laddin yelled. Michelle grabbed Peaches baby doll dress just as she was about to cross the street to go over to Laddin. “Yo mama gone get you for talking to Laddin, you know she mess with all them boys”
“Forget my mama, I hate her,” Peaches mouthed snatching away from Keisha. “We ain’t gone be yo friend no more if you talk to her; she nasty.” “I don’t care.” Peaches rolled her eyes and crossed the street to where Laddin was. Laddin laughed at the driver exposing her top and bottom gold grill with crushed diamonds. Peaches glanced at the driver and tried to remember where she had seen his face before. Then she saw the tattoo on his chest that read Acres Homes and it came back to her. “Wass up, Peaches?” Laddin said in a slurred tone. “Hey, what are you drinking?” “That purple stuff, courtesy of my podna, Warren, here” Laddin said pointing to the driver. Warren leaned forward from his seat, “Ah, was tha deal lil mama, you Lamar kinfolk, huh?” “Yeah,” Peaches said dryly wanting to gag at the sound of Lamar’s name. Killa Kyle sat up from the passenger seat glaring at Peaches. Her hair was neatly pulled back in a ponytail. Her baby doll dress hugged her chest and flared out at the bottom stopping right about her knees. “Say who is that Laddin?” Kyle asked. “Nigga, nobody for you she ain’t nothing but a baby,” Laddin told him diverting her attention back to Peaches. Kyle lay back in his seat and continued flipping thru his phone. “So, what you doing tonight, playing with your dolls?” Laddin teased. “I don’t play with dolls no more, I’m probably gone just watch some movies with my daddy.” “We about to go ride around, hit some corners, you wanna floss with the big boys and girls or yo mama gone be trippen?” “My mama don’t stay with us right now and my daddy is at work till 6, so let’s ride.” “Well, come on let’s ride.” Peaches felt like a superstar around in Warren’s slabbed out ride. They drove around the hood hitting Warren and Kyle’s licks. In the midst of the ride Laddin passed Peaches the cup of codeine she was drinking. Without hesitation, Peaches took a big gulp. “No Peaches, sip on it, you suppose to sip drank, crazy girl,” Laddin laughed hitting her blunt. Peaches was enjoying the stress free atmosphere as she leaned back in the seat staring out the window. She had never been in such a fly ride. Seeing some kids from her school, she leaned up in the seat making sure they notice her. Soon after the codeine started hitting her, she yawned repeatedly while her eyes dropped down low. Laddin picked up on her disposition and decided to drop her off at her house before she was too far gone and would have to be carried into the house.
Peaches staggered inside the house about 10 minutes to 6. She was high as a kite with the appetite of ten girls. She headed straight to the refrigerator. While leaning over searching for something to munch on Janice appeared right behind her. Peaches dropped the pack of Oreo’s onto the floor startled by her presence. “Where have you been?” Janice questioned. “Riding with my friend, Laddin,” Peaches slurred, feeling way too good to argue with her. Janice smelled the weed and felt her blood pressure rise. ‘Why are you hangen with that girl Peaches? She way to fast for you; what you having sex now, too?” “I was just riding with her, dang all you do is fuss at me!” “Was you smoking weed?” “NO!” Peaches yelled. “Get out of my face Peaches, just go to your room before I end up putting my hands on you again. Janice was tired of all the animosity between her and her baby. She missed both her and Ray dearly. Life without them seemed meaningless. Peaches grabbed the pack of Oreos from the floor and proceeded to her room. She slammed and locked the door behind her turning the radio on. She placed her Brandy CD in and laid down in bed chewing her cookies. She sang along with the song, Have you Ever. She was cool, calm and collected. With not a care in the world, she closed her eyes with cookies in hand, fully dressed, Peaches was out like a light. Lamar knocked for what seemed like 45 minutes trying to get in his sister’s house, Ida Mae insisted he go there after someone called the house threatening to beat Lamar’s ass for stealing their red nose pit-bull. He was supposed to be at Janice’s house hours ago and was just now showing up at 3 o’clock in the morning. Lamar beat on the door louder until he heard footsteps. He flicked his cigarette onto the lawn knowing his sister didn’t allow smoking inside the house. Janice peeked out of the curtains before unlocking the door and letting him in. “Boy, why are you just getting here?” She fussed. “Man I fell asleep at my homeboy’s house watching the game” “Well you should have stayed your behind over there, rolling up in here like this is yo house, don’t make it a habit,” she said sternly walking back to her room happy that Ray didn’t wake up. Lamar grabbed the remote and flipped thru the channels. When he came to an X-rated move on Showtime, he turned the volume down, so Janice and Ray wouldn’t hear the moans. He patted his back pocket for the last of his cocaine hoping he hadn’t lost it. Once recovered he did 3 lines finishing the rest of the powder pack off. He whipped the residue from his nose with the back of his wrist. He felt like a bolt of lighting had just gone threw his body. He grabbed his piece as the two ladies on the TV had him aroused. The coke always made him horny but watching the flick made it exceedingly worse. He slid his hand inside his jeans and massaged his penis, hoping to satisfy his hunger.
Peaches slowly opened her eyes feeling sluggish. The only light she could see was the blue flashings lights from her radio as the sounds of Brandy came thru the speakers. She rolled out of bed and hit the light switch noticing she was fully dressed in shoes and all. Oreo cookie crumbs were all over her bed. She thought back to Laddin and the purple stuff she drank. Dang that made me sleepy; she pondered looking at the time on her clock. It was 3:35 a.m. She pulled her baby doll dress off and threw on a white gown. She then pulled off her shoes and slipped on her house slippers needing badly to use the bathroom. After hitting the power button on her radio she unlocked her door and stepped out into the hallway. As she headed to the bathroom, she stopped by her parent’s room to check the status. She quietly peeped thru the door. Ray was in a deep sleep snoring, one of his more annoying defects, while Janice lied across his chest sleeping as well. Peaches was glad her mother didn’t give her the third degrees for hangen with Laddin and coming home high. Maybe she could learn to love her mother again. Maybe they could be a happy family again she thought as she slowly and gently closed the door smiling. She proceeded to the bathroom. She was just about to enter when she heard noises coming from the living room. She must be trippen, she thought, knowing she just saw both Janice and Ray in bed. Maybe mama left the TV on. She made a mental note to turn it off upon leaving the bathroom. Soon after using the toilet, she washed her hands and went to the living room. No sooner than stepping inside she made eye contact with Lamar. Her heart skipped a beat. She immediately turned back around trying to avoid him. “Ay Peaches, where you goin?” Lamar whispered. “Back to sleep,” she said annoyed. Lamar rose up almost falling and went over to her. The instant he touched her shoulder she pulled away. “Lamar, don’t do that.” He yanked her arm, “Oh you try’na show out cause we in yo house,” he reached into his pocket and pulled out a switchblade, pressing the tip of the knife against the tip of her nose. “Remember what I told you, I wasn’t playen girl.” He whispered with a crazed look on his face. “Now let’s go to your room” Peaches didn’t know what to do. She wanted to yell for her daddy but what if Lamar was serious about killing her? What if her parents didn’t believer her? Her 12 year old mind was in overdrive as she slowly walked with Lamar holding her arm. Once they made it inside her room Lamar locked the door. He walked over to the CD player and pressed power turning the Brandy CD back on. “Take that shit off” he demanded fondling his penis. Peaches stomach began to turn. She had a bad feeling in her gut yet she still did as she as told and stripped down naked. The tears fell repetitiously. Lamar led her to the bed and ordered her to spread her legs as he walked to the dresser grabbing some Vaseline. Ray’s eyes shot open wide from a deep sleep. He rubbed them alarmed by a dream he had. He picked Janice’s head up and gently laid it on the pillow. He sat up rubbing his head as the awkward feeling wouldn’t seem to go away. He walked to the kitchen and grabbed a soda from the refrigerator. Maybe a little TV will ease my mind, Ray thought. On the way to the living room, Ray remembered his wife’s brother was supposed to be spending the night. Janice didn’t tell him the real reason her brother was staying but Ray knew that boy had gotten into something. Lamar had been a problem child ever since Ray could remember. Ray’s thoughts were dismissed when he saw the X-rated movie. He reached on the couch to get the remote when he noticed the empty powder pack. He knew exactly who it belonged to when he saw Lamar’s tennis shoes. Ray looked around wondering where the boy was. He rushed to the bathroom to find Lamar and cuss his ass out for bringing drugs into his home. The bathroom was empty. Their house was small therefore Ray knew there was only one other place he could be. Ray was fuming. I know this boy ain’t stupid enough to bring drugs around my baby girl. As Ray approached Peaches’ room door he heard soft music playing but what caught his attention was the smell; it was a smell he knew all to well. Ray turned the knob but the door was locked. He gave the door one hard kick and it flew open. As soon as Ray hit the lights he thought he was still dreaming. Lamar was butt naked on top of his daughter. Lamar was so high he could barely see straight. He focused in on Ray’s face and almost had a heart attack. Ray ran over to the bed and picked him up throwing him into the wall breaking the mirror. Peaches lay in bed screaming loudly waking Janice up. Janice jumped out of bed running to Peaches’ room only to find her husband stomping her naked brother while Peaches was balled up in the bed crying. “Ray, Ray!” Janice yelled trying to pull him away from the beating he was giving her brother, who tried to shield his face. Ray dropped to his knees and wrapped his hands around Lamar’s puny neck strangling him with everything inside of him. Janice shouted and beat Ray in his back as hard as she could “Ray, please!” she pleaded. But Ray couldn’t hear her anymore, everything was turning black. All except the image that he’ll remember for the rest of his life, Lamar taking his daughter’s innocence. Janice realized that Lamar wasn’t resisting anymore and knew then that he was gone. His eyes stared into space. Janice fell to the floor kicking and screaming. How could this have happened and why? She thought. Peaches sat in bed rocking back and forth crying. Her heart hurt, not for herself, not for Lamar, but for her father. She knew from this point on every thing was about to change and would never be the same. The person who loved her more than anyone in the world had done something that could separate them for a long time and who was partly to blame in her mind, her!
Chapter 5
“2005”
Seven Years Later
“Who is it?” Laddin yelled as she lay comfortably on her couch tucked underneath a blanket trying to get some rest after a long night at the club. She had just fallen asleep when she heard the loud knocking at her front door. She glanced around the room hoping Peaches was around, but to no avail. Laddin walked over to the door stretching; wearing nothing but a white wife beater and a pink thong. She swung her 16-inch black deep wave weave to the right side of her shoulder and side peeped out the blinds. She opened the door yawning as she headed back to her comfort zone. Warren and Killa Kyle followed her inside both taking a glimpse of her big round black sss. The boys were use to it. Laddin had been dancing for the past 5 years while Warren and Kyle hustled from the same club she worked selling powder, weed, XO’s and wet. She treated them like her big brothers. “Always’s got’cha ass out, huh?” Kyle commented. “You know I stay down for the cause, nigga,” Laddin hopped back on the couch and covered up. “Where ya’ll comin from?” she asked, fluffing her pillow. Kyle sat at the dinning room table while Warren went to the kitchen and grabbed a box of Cocoa Puffs from the top of the icebox, heading to the table taking a seat next to Kyle. “Shit, handlin business,” mouthed Warren, pulling a pound of weed from the cereal box. Kyle was already bussin down swisher sweets ready to roll up. “Where ya lil people at?” Kyle asked. “Who, Peaches?” “Yeah, she stay here now?” Warren jumped in. “Yeah, she can’t deal with her mama and grandma no more, they be on her ass all the time and her grandma retarded ass blame her for her daddy killing Lamar faggot ass.” “That was fucked up what that hoe ass nigga did to his own niece; Realtalk, shit, if that was my daughter, I would’ve did the same thang!” “How much time did they give her old man?” Warren asked, firing up one of the blunts Kyle had just finished rolling. “If I’m not mistaken…45 years and that’s messed up, I mean he was only defending his child, this system is a joke,” Laddin said, “That’s bullshit, they always railroading a nigga,” Klye commented licking the cigar. “So where lil mama at right now?” “I don’t know she might’ve walked to the store” Laddin yawned. “She dancing, too?” Kyle asked. “No, she work at the cellphone store.” “How old is she now?” Warren asked. Laddin was sleepy and irritated and the boys weren’t making the situation any better. “Dang, what is this 21 questions…she just turned 19 last month now leave me alone, I’m sleepy ole half raised bastards,” she yelled, throwing the cover over her face ending the conversation. Warren sat blowing his blunt as he flashed back to he first time he saw the little girl in his mama neighborhood. She was so innocent. Lamar bitch ass got what he deserved; Warren pondered choking on his sweet.
Within a 2-hour time period Kyle and Warren had rolled 100 sweets and bagged 80 quarter packs of dust. Warren rose up from the table and brushed the weed from his Coogi jeans and onto the floor. He was about to sweep it up when the front door slowly opened. Kyle pointed his 9 milly towards the door. Peaches laid eyes on the gun and screamed waking Laddin up. ‘What tha fuck?” Laddin groaned. “Oh, shit, my bad, lil mama,” Kyle mouthed tucking the gun back in his pants pocket. “I’m good,” Peaches said, feeling a bit embarrassed by her outburst. She threw her purse onto the end table and flopped down next to Laddin on the couch. “Where you been girly, I was meaning to call yo cell but I was tired” Laddin yawned. Warren stared aimlessly at Peaches whom had really grown a lot since the last time he’d seen her the day she rode around in his backseat with Laddin sippin drank. She now stood about 5’7” and was thick with a perfect coke bottle physique. Dressed in some casual white fitted pants, her ass sat up plump while a black fitted botton-down shirt complimented her C-cup breasts and flat stomach. Her long, cold black hair was pulled back in a sleek ponytail. She was gorgeous. “I heard Dillards was hiring so I went and put in an application,” Peaches told Laddin. “Why do you need a second job?” Laddin questioned. “So I can try to buy me a car and get my own apartment, I don’t wanna be freeloading forever.” “Peaches you know I don’t mind you living here as long as you want.” “I know but I don’t want you to get tired of me and we end up fallen out; you know 2 women can’t live under the same roof and remain friends,” Peaches laughed. Laddin threw her arm around her friend’s shoulder, “Peaches I love you girl, I promise I will not get tired of you, I mean I been putten up with yo big head ass for the past seven years and ain’t got tired yet, have I?” Peaches smiled, “No, friend.” “Alright then, we family now…speaking of which, you remember my play brothers, huh?” Laddin said, leading Peaches over to Warren and Kyle. Peaches immediately made eye contact with Warren. He wasn’t lanky anymore. He was indeed sexy standing 6’2” with one of those ‘I went to prison and hit them weights’ type of bodies. His dark brown skin had even more tattoos and instead of his braids he now had a fresh bald fade. Kyle on the other hand was tall, black as midnight with a cute baby face. His hair was fro’ed out since he hadn’t had time to get it braided today. He was once cut and fine and in a way he still was, if you didn’t mind the balla belly. “Say ya’ll let me