When Hustles Flow pt 6

7:30 rolls around…Hi, MA! Hi Rebecca, Trudy says in a low voice as she opens the door to let Connie and Rebecca in. Connie’s parents still lived in the same house she had grown up in. It was a simple modern house, but Trudy (Connie’s mom) was a neat freak and loved to cook. The house always smelled like a mix of fried chicken and cake. “Sup ma” Connie said as she entered. Rebecca is more excited to see me than my own daughter. “What you cook?” Rebecca asked. “Oh that’s why you’re excited to see me, huh Rebecca. The food is laid out in the kitchen.” Trudy directed. As Rebecca exits the room, Connie slides over to her mom whispering, “Ma, are they here?” “Who child!” Trudy responds loudly. “SHH, you know.” “Oh yea they are downstairs, but you know they won’t be trying to have any conversations while the game is on.” Before Trudy finishes her sentence Connie is at the basement door calling Rebecca from the kitchen. Rebecca has just fixed her plate and seasoned it.

She gives Connie a look as if to say girl you crazy, I’m about to eat. “Come on Becca!” Connie exclaimed in a low voice. UGH! Rebecca screamed. As they reached the basement floor the sound of the football game got louder and louder but they didn’t really hear the guys talking. When they reached the bottom of the steps all three grown men sat at the edge of the leather “game couches” as Michael (Connie’s dad) would call them. The basement was unfinished because Michael says he wants it done right. Of course the first steps to finishing it was a burgundy and gold Redskin’s mural on the back wall, a burgundy leather sectional and a big screen TV. “Hi daddy!” Connie yelled over the TV. He didn’t speak just waved his hand as if to say hold on hold on. JJ and his dad didn’t even look up to acknowledge that they had entered the room. Connie and Rebecca just stood there clueless as some guy is running down the field. The motion from the men in the room indicated that this may have been a crucial moment in the game but it was very uninteresting to Connie and Rebecca. Suddenly the men began to scream “UGH…did you see that did you see that!” Michael looks at Connie and screams “did you see that! Uh Yeah daddy!” Connie replies unsure of exactly what it was that was so important to see. Connie was hoping the game would be ending but it was only half time. “Connie B?” JJ says as the game goes to commercial and he notices she’s in the room. “JJ” “Wassup girl!!” nothing much.

Rebecca notices that all eyes are on Connie and JJ so she starts a conversation with Michael as a diversion. So “Mr. Mike how about those Redskins?” That was all she needed to say. He started about the game and what was going wrong which gave Connie a few seconds with JJ. “Its good to see you girl, what have you been up to?” JJ asked. Nothing just working. Connie replies. “You’re teaching right? How do you like it?” “ I like it….I have something I need to talk to you about, do you have a card” “Yeah, yeah, call me and we can meet up” Connie had gotten his card just in time. “JJ the game is starting!” JJ’s dad yelled. “ok I will do that.” “Later daddy” Connie said as she kissed Michael on the cheek. He looked at her with a what are you up to look but was too engaged in the game to try to figure her out. Connie and Rebecca went back upstairs where Trudy was in the living room watching lifetime. Did you get what you needed from JJ Trudy asked. “For now Mama” “Becca lets go!” Connie yelled. Damn it Connie! I’m taking my food with me. Rebecca replied. Cool just bring you a*s on!

After returning home…Connie sat on her bed, took out JJ’s card and stared at it. “Jermaine Grant Jr. Attorney at Law” she said to herself slowly. Part of her wanted to call just to see if he’d answer but it was getting late and he may be married. Connie played the basement scene over and over in her head trying to figure out if he had a ring on. When she couldn’t figure it out she called Rebecca…”What now Connie” Rebecca answered. “Why are you whispering Becca”…look you interrupted my meal earlier, I did my supa savior ho duties for today I am with my man” “Ok, ok Becca don’t hang up…quick question. Make it quick! Did JJ have on a wedding ring? Nah I don’t think so, he was looking good….look I gotta go I can hear my man on the way up the stairs…Becca Becca…hello…hello. Damn her! Connie screams. She looks back at JJ’s card then at the phone. Ugh forget it I will call tomorrow. She turns the light off and tries to rest. RRIIINNNGG the phone rings about 30 minutes later…”Hello” Connie answers half sleep. Uh hey its JJ I couldn’t get you off my mind and I wanted to hear your voice just one more time. Wow JJ I feel the same way. Its been so long since we’ve seen each other. As Connie and JJ were getting into the conversation good there was a loud bang. BANG! Connie panicked and stumbled nervously out of bead with her phone in one hand, JJ still on the line. The banging was at the front door. Who is it? She yelled. POLICE. JJ she said in a trembling voice as she raised the phone back to her ear. CONNIE OPEN THE DOOR. Connie stood at the door with the phone to her ear confused. She could hear JJ’s voice on the phone and on the other side of the door. CONNIE OPEN the DOOR…Connie stood immovable panting…then she hears Jonathan call for her MOMMY…MOMMY. On one side of the door is JJ yelling CONNIE and Jonathan calling from his room MOMMY MOMMY.

Suddenly the police kicks in the door. MOMMY! Jonathan yells once more and finally Connie is awakened from her sleep. Gasping for air, trembling, and crying her eyes begin to focus and its Jonathan at the side of her bed trying to wake her to fix him breakfast. She grabbed him and hugged him. Mommy are you ok? Yes baby…I just had a bad dream. Connie was confused. She didn’t understand what the dream meant but she couldn’t forget about it. It was so crazy that she was afraid to even call JJ. Night fell and it was back to work at the club. The night begins as usual. She would meet Kelly in the bathroom about 10pm to re-up on X. He bartender apron is always loaded and ready to go when the club picks up about 11pm. Connie was feeling like groggy and disoriented all day. The dream really had her shaken up. “Damn b***h what’s wrong with you” Kelly asked. Why do you say that? Connie asked. “Because you look like s**t, maybe you would slip yourself a mickey” Kelly laughed as she walked away from the bar. As the night picked up Connie couldn’t shake the feeling so she decided to take Kelly’s advice. One pill wouldn’t hurt right? Connie grabbed a pill, a cup of water, and downed the pill quick. Within minutes she was feeling better. Making drinks like never before. The night seemed to be going by so fast. “Hennessy and Coke babe” a guy yelled.

Connie fixed the drink and placed the money in the register. Connie? A familiar voice called over the music. Connie turned around slowly. “JJ” she replied with a confused voice. “What are you doing here” she asked. “I’m doing what everyone else is doing.” Suddenly Connie felt very tired she leaned on the closest wall and raised her hand to her brow. She noticed she was sweating really hard. “Connie, are you ok?” JJ called Connie’s knees buckled a little and she stumbled. “Oh my God Connie!” the bar manager yelled. JJ ran to the back of the bar. “I got her I am a friend of the family.” “Connie do you know this man” “Yes” Connie whispered feeling too tired to stand on her own. “I am a friend of the family, thanks I will take care of her” JJ assured the bar manager. He took her to his car and back to his house. “Where am I” Connie stuttered. “You’re at my house, you’re safe Connie B” JJ said with a grin. “You’re dehydrated. Drink this water” “Thank you JJ” Connie whispered still out of it. “I wanted to talk to you about something JJ, but..but…” “SHHH” JJ said placing one hand over her lips. He eased in and kissed her slowly and passionately. Connie suddenly had a spurt of energy as if his kiss had brought her back to life. JJ pulls back lays her down crawls beside her on top of the cover and whispers in her ear…just rest Connie just rest. Connie couldn’t help but to drift to sleep…..