There was an awkward silence momentarily.
“I just moved out here recently. I was just checking out the center, trying to see what kind of activities it offered to the kids.”
“Do you have any children that you’re planning on bringing here?”
“Well I do have a son, but he’s in N.Y. with his mother. The reason I’m interested is because I was considering getting involved. You know like fund raisers, talent shows, cookouts for the kids. Stuff like that.”
“Oh” she stated. “That’s a wonderful idea. But right now we are fighting to keep the center open. The budget that we have is barely covering the expenses. On top of that we may not even have operating capital for next year. We can’t get the kids off the streets and into the programs in here,” said Liza.
She looked truly heartbroken. K could tell by the way that she was watching the young fellas on the court that her position here was much more than a job. She cared for every child that came through those doors as if they were her own.
“I got some ideas and I’m pretty sure that if we put our heads together we could fill this place up and invite some of those bigwigs down at City Hall to come check it out.”
He saw that he now had her full attention. Someone that was willing to help her with her first love. She became excited.
“Do you really think so? I’ve been trying to get some help for months but nobody seems to care. If we could show them that this place can keep more kids off the streets, I think they may even increase our next year budget.”
He also asked that if she was free for dinner, maybe they could talk over the details. She respectfully declined due to the fact that she had to pick up her boyfriend who worked as a front desk clerk at the Red Roof Inn out on Airport Road. K told her he completely understood, but then she quickly added,” If you like, you can pick me up here tomorrow at 12 for a strictly business lunch,” with a smile.
K looked at those pretty eyes and got lost in her catlike stare.
“ ’ll see you tomorrow at 12.”
On his way out and as she was locking up for the day, He saw Mattie and Reebie slowly ride by, both giving him icy glares as he was smiling a goodbye to Liza. He knew Reebie was taking Mattie to work in the hooptie he brought her, but they didn’t stop or wave. No sign of recognition at all. As he was pulling out of his parking spot driving the truck with his music turned up, He saw Liza smiling at him shaking her head as she climbed into her two year old Altima. He knew she was thinking,
Just then K’s cell phone rang.
“I see your making some new friends,” said Mattie with a slight attitude.
“Yeah, I told you I was thinking about doing something with the youth center. That was the director. Her name is Liza.”
“Yeah that’s cool. Look, me and Reebie made plans to go to NY after I get off work. We gonna stay at one of her girlfriends apartment and go to Webster Hall. You don’t mind do you honey?”
She knew that he knew all kinds of crazy and freaky shit went down at this club that catered to every crowd except individuals they considered thugs and would turn them away at the door. He knew that she was also going, only to be spiteful.
“Nah love, do ya thing. But today is only Thursday, “he paused and considered reminding her that it was kind of early in the week for a weekend outing.
”You know what, never mind. Call and let me know you aight, if you get a chance. Aight, peace.”
K already knew what was going down, but at the time he was smashing so much new pussy, it didn’t affect him either way. Or so that was what his ego said. But his heart loved Mattie’s trifling ass and that’s all there was to it. So K punched up one of his replacement lickers on his cell and hit the liquor store. He went and snatched up this little thick cutey, and bounced to his down low spot.
CHAPTER 14
After a few weeks of planning K, Liza, and a couple of other business owners came up with a plan to generate funds to keep the youth center open, create activities for the kids, and for K to be involved in something positive. The plan included basketball tournaments similar to the Rutgers Tournaments in NY, or small scale And1 tour. He also included three talents shows which the winners would be awarded a small recording contract under a new independent record label that he’d started, called BIG $TAXXX ENTERTAINMENT. The deal included an official contract, with free studio time, and 1,000 promotional CD’S. To top it off, after all the 18 and unders had their fun, they planned to throw parties that he would promote, in the 1500 capacity youth center, selling food and drinks in addition to the guaranteed house packer, a $500 grand prize Thong contest.
Darkside was handling the street side of things, so K was putting in a lot of time with Liza event planning and as to be expected feeling her more each day. They put together and printed up flyers as well as organized OUR YOUTH ARE THE FUTURE slogan car washes, where customers got 10 % off all basketball, talent shows, and party tickets with a car washing. During this time Deondre, Liza’s boyfriend, had started giving her a hard time about all the time she was spending with that drug dealer as he had put it, and making her life more difficult.
They’d spoke about it and she assured K she could handle the situation. She said that she trusted him and would demand if necessary, the same consideration. K agreed, but still offered to talk to him if she thought that it might help, but she assured him she could handle her situation.
He began to really enjoy being around the youth center kids all the time. Their first event kicked off and was an overwhelming success. There were 16 teams all from surrounding areas. Half indoor, half outdoor tournaments on 2 regulation full courts. K had his boy Cowboy a.k.a DJ Meltdown come through and spin the wax for the event. There were cuties out pushing strollers, mothers and children, dressed in their best. 6 grills were going with ribs, burgers, chicken, steaks, and hot dogs. Garbage cans filled with ice and canned sodas. Game participation was limited to the youths only, between the ages of 12–18, to be sure that it would only involve kids that qualify for youth center activities.
They let the youth center moms who had become increasingly more involved, handle the food prep, and the collection of all the proceeds. K and Mattie arrived just as the first game was ending, and when Liza noticed them she made her way over with her boyfriend Deondre. All The time that K and Liza had been collaborating on projects, K and Deondre had never met. K knew how he felt about their interaction, but he’d noticed he had on a smug type of smirk once they approached. He brushed it off.
“K and Mattie, this is my boyfriend of 4 years and soon to be fiance Deondre. Deondre, K and Mattie, “said Liza.
As far as K and Liza knew, these were first introductions… or so they thought. K reached out and shook his hand. But afterwards Deondre’s and Mattie’s intro was an awkward one. It was like they had already met before.
“Do you two know each other?” Liza asked in a tone that made K a little uneasy.
Mattie just smiled and said,” You know I’m a dancer at a club. I meet many, many men, but just as quickly forgot about them.”
” Liza lets go to our seats, the next game is about to start,”
Deondre respond hastily.
K just looked at Mattie and shook his head in disbelief.
“What?” she questioned.
He just shrugged his shoulders and said, “nothing”.
“I know you feel like I aint shit because of what happened when you were locked up. But what’s done is done.”
Just then he lost it, but K knew he had to keep his composure in front of all those kids and parents. Through clenched teeth he told her, “You spiteful, cold, heartless bitch! You know I’m far from blind or stupid, but you continue to play your little mind games. You know at one time I loved you more than life itself, but the wall you put up, makes it impossible for a man to keep his heart open to someone like you.”
