Teresa had caught her boyfriend looking at them one time, and that shit got him cut up and put the fuck out sooner than he could unpack his weekly backpack. With that violation, Teresa started hustling right along with them.
Auntie Teresa didn’t give a fuck about what they did as long as she got her monthly payments and flame when they rented their first house together.
Gathering her money up off that floor made her feel good that she didn’t have to ask anybody for shit or sleep in nasty-ass motels again or her aunt’s floor.
Flaming and taking a few shots before work every night made the performance and tolerance for some bullshit with the game go easy, so not giving a fuck about feelings came easy.
When it came to the pole, stage, or what people thought about her, she could care less. Long as I see green and they don’t get in the way of it, I’m good, Queen thought as the sounds continued. Poop. Bang. Poop. Bang, bang, bang, poop. Queen screamed so loud, you’d thought they’d shot her. “Get the fuck down, Samaya,” Queen shouted. Bang, poop. Bang. Poop. Bang, bang. “Queen…stay the fuck down,” Samaya replied. Bang, bang, poop, poop, bang.
When the cars started peeling off, they stood up, slowly looking around to see Rocky standing in the alley, letting his shit ring. Bang, bang. Bang. Bang. Poop. Poop. Bang.
Queen said, “Stay the fuck down, Samaya!”
Rocky said, “Motherfucker! Don’t ever come back here.”
Samaya said, “That’s Rocky shit-starting ass.”
They waited for a few minutes before standing up, but Queen was mad as hell that the only club that allowed them to start dancing so young was owned by Mr. Rocky himself. “Stupid motherfuckers,” Rocky shouted like he had done something striking.
Samaya had her pistol in her hand, but she wasn’t about to get shot or shoot for Rocky’s nasty ass. As long as Queen was okay, she was staying put.
Samaya said, “You okay, baby? Make sure you’re not hit anywhere.”
Queen said, “I’m okay! Are you okay?”
Samaya said, “Yes. Follow me to my house. Always starting shit with his crazy ass.”
*****
When they arrived at Samaya’s place, they flamed and took shots all night, thinking up a plan to get more money.
Samaya said, “I told your ass to start carrying that thang with you at all times. Quit leaving it in the car and house. What good is it if you don’t carry it? Damn!”
Queen said, “They just let loose on his ass. He probably on some fluky shit again.”
Samaya said, “They let that shit ring on each other. I don’t give a fuck. Think it’s time we move around and do some new shit!”
Queen said, “Look at how I’m shaking and shit!”
Samaya said, “That man bought you the gun for safety. I bet he thinks you know how to use it, huh?”
Queen said, “I do. I always forget it in the car. What the fuck is so funny?”
Samaya said, “Your ass lying. Tell me about the frog again.”
Queen said, “Fuck you, Samaya! He did jump across the lake and turn into Merch. That’s how I met Merch. Bitch, I’m not lying. Quit laughing at me!”
Samaya said, “Bitch, a lake though? Every time you flame, yo ass make up shit.”
Queen said, “I should have recorded the shit! You said you seen TT knife turn into a gun, da fuck.”
Samaya said, “I can’t deal with you. Give me the flame, bitch! Seriously, I know you didn’t hear the story I told yo ass. Give it to me!”
*****
That morning, Samaya was taking Queen on a mission to get her right. They flamed, ate breakfast, and flamed again, then headed out flaming.
Queen said, “A gun range, cousin?”
Samaya said, “This will get us right. All that nervous shit gots to go.”
Queen said, “Hit this shit! Let’s go, baby!”
*****
Samaya just stood there laughing at Queen fumbling because she was nervous, but all that shit was about to stop.
Samaya said, “Don’t be scared! Shoot dat bitch then!”
Poop, poop, poop, poop, poop!
Queen said, “Oh my gosh! Bitch, I’m shooting this bitch! You get over here, Trigger Finger Betsy. Let’s see what you do!”
Samaya said, “Girl, please! I was shook last night too! I would have shot back if need to. I knew what the fuck I was doing. Why are we yelling in this bitch?”
Queen said, “That shit was right next to us. Let me shake this shit off. Watch this!”
*****
Queen kept a bag fuckin’ with her friend Merch, and she loved this side hustle that came easier than taking clothes off.
He stayed 100 with her, and she stayed 100 with him, so their sideline business was business only. Being loyal to keep the bag and flame coming in was her main focus and him being happy.
Merch never wanted to get caught slipping by another mothafucker trying to come up, so he made sure they were strapped picking up and dropping off packages to the bank and clientele.
After handling the business, they drove around the lake flaming and listening to music while she slowly massaged his dick with her tongue. Queen made sure her daddy was pleased because he gave her whatever she desired and more from a man.
Merch never tripped about her side hustle being a stripper or asked questions about her family, which turned her on even more. The fewer issues, the better was her way of thinking because that way she didn’t have to think about them.
All she ever wanted was to meet someone as real as him with a lot of money, handsome, and simple with leadership skills. That made her mindset go from caring too much for him and not giving a fuck about bullshit she saw that she neglected herself.
Going from rags to riches within six months; finishing high school; owning a crib, two cars, a storage room with plenty of money; and most of all, being his lady friend.
*****
She chopped it up with her auntie for a minute, deciding on what she should do with her siblings and their living situation.
Teresa said, “The twins can stay with me until you get a bigger house. They’re letting your mom out early because she’s doing well. Hopefully, she doesn’t come with that bullshit ‘I want my kids back’ shit.”
Queen said, “Auntie. Were all grown now, fuck that! I thought you knew where my dad was?”
Teresa said, “He was at the strip club the other night.”
Queen said, “Oh my gosh, Auntie! Why didn’t you tell me?”
Teresa said, “You were twerking all that ass on him.”
Queen said, “Ick, TT. I’m talking about my father, not Merch. Ick!”
Teresa said, “Oh, okay. Could have sworn I heard you calling him Daddy. I know where your father is. Are you ready?”
Queen said, “Yes! Let me roll this flame real quick.”
Teresa said, “I see you’re getting nervous. Just say what’s on your heart.”
Queen said, “What the fuck does my heart has to do with anything?”
Teresa said, “Damn! You’re really messed up, baby.”
They