“Give me the regular”, Ann said shivering.
“We’re out, beat it”, Tariq said.
“What do you mean you are out?”, Ann asked.
“I said we are out, get going young lady”, Tariq replied.
“Please I would do anything for a little bit of it. Can’t you see I’m dope sick. I need it.”, Ann cried out.
“Yes, you sure are dying and if you want to die in peace you better get lost”, Tariq said angrily
Pow pow!! They heard two gun shots from the next block and both bolted for their lives.
Whiles running away, Ann bumped into Drey, one of the most popular and feared drug dealers on the block.
“He..lpp”, she tried talking.
Drey being in the drug game for so many years knew exactly what was happening to Ann.
“Call him”, he dropped a card in front of Ann and left.
“He…llo, Drey ask..ed meee too c..c..all you”, Ann tried speaking over the phone.
“Just text me your address”, the voice replied.
After what seemed like forever to Ann, there was a loud bang on her door. She checked through the window and saw nobody. She crawled to the door with the last energy within her to open her door only to find a KFC paper bag.
“What is wrong with this man?,do I look like I need some stupid chicken”?, fumed with anger she picked the bag and threw it against the wall.
A whitish powdered substance spread everywhere from the bag. She rushed to check the paper bag and there was nothing left.
Arghhhhhh!!!, she screamed whiles trying to gather what had spread on the floor.
Beep! Beep!! “Leave the money under the doormat in front of your door” Jay’s text came through.
For about seven weeks, Jay kept leaving “the parcel” in front of Ann’s door and she also kept paying using her “doormat”. Word on the street said Ann was an orphan so Jay would call to check up once a while and eventually they became friends.
“How was your day, Mr drug lord?”, Ann asked.
“Drum roll please”, Jay replied.
“Wait you remind me of a friend I had some years ago, uhh nevermind,I’m listening”, Ann said
“I also used to have this virtual friend on Facebook who would always ask how my day was and always called me Mr Jayden even though I hate being called Mr” Jay said
“Wait wait! What? No no nooooo, don’t te…ll m..ee Nooooo, Mr Jayden???”, Ann shouted on the phone.
“Huh????? Anna Benita?”, Jay asked.
“Whattt?” Ann screamed.
“Yes it’s me”, Jay said.
“It’s been so long, isn’t it crazy how I still can’t put a face to your name after all these years?”, Ann asked.
“I know. Please don’t tell me you don’t remember how you stood me up the first time we were supposed to see each other”, Jay replied.
“Hmm, I didn’t do that on purpose. My mom had an episode and passed away that night and Iife has been hard. I only find comfort in drugs and that’s what lessens the pain I go through now”, Ann said.
“Wait, are you really doing drug business now? Are you a kingpin or something?”, Ann asked jokingly.
“Yes I am, My dad is a drug lord”, Jay replied.
“What?! How?!”, Ann shouted.
“and he’s getting old so I take care of the business now. I really thought you stood me up the first time we were supposed to meet years ago but now that I know what really happened I’m sorry about everything”, Jay said.
The two were silent for about a minute
“I have to go take care of business, so let’s talk at 6pm tomorrow if that’s fine with you”, Jay broke the silence.
“Absolutely!”, Ann shouted without realizing.
Confused but happy she felt relieved that at least she wasn’t going to be lonely anymore and of course the drugs were going to come in abundance.
The following day came and the 6pm calls became their everyday ritual for 3months.
“Am I crazy? I first found relief in doing drugs and now a drug lord?Gosh, what’s wrong with me? My heart must really be engrossed in drugs to choose a drug lord. I must be crazy, what if he doesn’t even see me like that?”, Ann thought to herself.
“What if Ann sees me as a brother who’s always there for her? But I can’t also hide how I feel about her.It won’t hurt to tell her. The worst that could happen is for her to say it’s not mutual”, Jay thought to himself.
during their usual 6pm phone call
“I have a surprise for you, you might not like it but I still need you to have it”, Jay said to Ann.
“Alright, now I’m curious”, Ann replied.
“Let’s meet at where we were supposed to meet 5 years ago.”, Jay said.
“Finally, I get to put a face to the name Mr drug lord. Alright! It’s a date”, Ann replied.
“Please don’t stand me up”, Jay said jokingly.
“Come on!! I won’t”, Anne replied.
Image is mine