Streets of New York. Mark Anthony

hurry. You moving like you pregnant,” Squeeze said to her.

      “Oh no, please don’t say that. I just pushed out one more of your boys, my ovaries are not rested enough. Give it some time. I’m just tired. I’ve been the one taking care of your hard headed sons.”

      “I’ve been here helping.”

      “True, only for the past month or so, that’s the most I’ve seen of you. The world must be coming to an end.”

      “When I’m not here, you got your mother. She’s always helping you out.”

      “Ahight, ahight stop complaining. I’m in the car and my seatbelt buckled now go, Omar.” She laughed and Squeeze had no choice but to smile.

      “Funny, very funny, keep it up and see if you go to the mall.”

      “Okay, I promise not to call you Omar ever again. I promise Mr. Epps. Squeeze you gotta take me to the mall. You know how good it feels to walk around and smell…What?”

      “See, you broke your promise already.”

      “How?”

      “Cuz Epps is part of Omar.”

      “Alright, I promise not to call you anything other than baby, if you take me shopping at the mall. I’m free - no children to bother me.”

      Squeeze smiled and she continued. “I’ll just call and tell mom that I’ll be later so she won’t worry.” She attempted to use her phone but realized instantly that there was no charge on the battery. She turned to her husband and said: “Squeeze lemme borrow your phone real quick please.” Before Squeeze could direct his wife as to which of his three cell phones to use, she arbitrarily picked the one with unanswered messages. “You better answer all your fan calls O. I’m sorry,” she laughed.

      “Here use this one, smart ass,” Squeeze replied smirking and redirecting his focus to the road ahead.

FOR EVERY ACTION THERE’S A CONSEQUENCE

      Lindsay heard her cellphone ringing as she drove home. She slowed her mind enough to answer. Wishing that Squeeze’s number would appear on her caller ID made her so excited, her heart palpitated. His presence had left her with a giddy feeling, she was riding high. Reality check: Mother again. “Hey mommy, I gotta call you back I’m driving home.”

      “Lindsay have you been drinking? You sound like you drunk or you found Jesus. You best slow your role, girl.”

      “Mommy, you worry too much. I’m alright. I just wanna get home early to fix up the place a little.”

      “Why, are you expecting your main Squeeze to come by?”

      “Mommy, gosh no. I didn’t tell you? Some of the girls from my class are dropping by to discuss accounting problems. Everyone likes my place.”

      “Oh you’re hosting a party for the students of your favorite class?”

      “Sump’n like that.”

      “In that case have fun. I was gonna suggest we go out for a little mother and daughter dinner but since you’re busy and all. I mean you’ve been moping around the place and keeping me up on the phone. It’s a good thing you’ve got friends coming by. You need other human contact besides your mother.”

      “Mommy don’t send me on a guilt trip. I said I’ll come by and get you tomorrow, and we’ll have a nice mother-daughter dinner okay?”

      “Whatever you say. I’m not livin’ on your promises because you said the same thing yesterday. Now its tomorrow and you’re sayin’ the same thing again.”

      “No mommy for real, for real, I’ll be there tomorrow. I gotta go, I got Five-Oh on my ass.”

      “Get yourself one o’ them no-hands jammy.”

      “Yes mom got to go, bye.”

      “Drive safely, Lindsay. I’ll talk with you tomorrow.”

      Lindsay stepped on the gas in her haste to get home. It was a good thing she had done what she did, even though Squeeze was kinda angry at least she got to see his ass. He was angry as fuck, she thought as she maneuvered the car.

      It had been a good trip because she was sure Squeeze wasn’t dead and he would be coming through later tonight. She was sure of that. He always come and see her when she did something wrong.

      It was always worth the make-up after he had shouted her down and scolded her. After that he would spank her naked ass with his bare hands. Lindsay smiled and pumped the radio volume. Lindsay thought about how she loved the sting his big hand would cause. She sang along to a remix by Mario featuring T.I. and Jada Kiss. Lindsay blasted the speakers of her car loudly as she chanted along.

      “Baby you should let me love you let me love

       You should let me love you give you everything…”

      Lindsay was in a good mood even though she knew it came at some type of price tag. She felt it was worth the toll. The BMW sped along crossing from BK to Queens, Lindsay mentally counting down the hours before she would see Squeeze. Before she realized, Lindsay traveling exclusively in a state of elation reached her apartment building. She guided the car into a parking space, raced out the parking lot and skipped onto the elevator whistling happily.

      There was pep in her step and a smile from ear to ear, which she shared with neighbors walking by. In the lobby, she saw a face that was familiar. It was Malik’s cousin. Strange, Lindsay thought.

      “What’re you doing round here?” She asked and tried to hug the teen. He looked at her but didn’t answer then he backed away. Lindsay moved on. Maybe the jerky boy knows someone in this building. He was nervous, like I caught him creepin’ or sump’n. Their family is so large that they be knowing people from all over the city, Lindsay thought and kept moving.

      She walked to her apartment and opened the door. Her whole body shook like she had just seen a ghost. Lindsay rushed to try to get back out the door. The teenage boy she’d passed in the lobby was standing outside her door. He pushed her back inside the apartment and yelled.

      “This da bitch who set up Malik. This bitch is Squeeze’s down-bitch.”

      Lindsay heard the door slam and the teenager speaking but did not understand much of what was said. Even though it was all Spanish, she was sure she heard him say the name Squeeze. In a hot New York minute, it dawned on her that this was some type of a setup and she could be a victim. She looked into the face of the guy who answered. He was smiling as he spoke.

      “Really, not bad. Too bad this girl is pretty. But that bastard Squeeze must die and if she has to die also, then so be it.”

      Again Lindsay didn’t understand what was being said. But she heard Squeeze’s name dropped. What could they want; what was this about? She dared to ask.

      “Look I don’t know what this is all about but you got the wrong place. The Spanish family lives a couple doors down to the left. I’m black alright, and I know people who know some people who can clear up all this mess. If y’all don’t get your asses out of my…” Someone pulled out a gun and Lindsay froze. “Ah…there’s no need for no shooting,” she breathed. The surprised Lindsay decided that it would be easier to be cooperative. “You can take whatever you want. I have some dough stashed in the kitchen. I’ll get it and give it to you. Then you guys can leave.”

      The fat guy laughed out loud and she knew he was making fun of her. Lindsay knew she had a gun hidden in the kitchen drawer. She really was too nervous to even shoot it. Pooh had shown her how to hold it. She’d never fired one before. Squeeze made her keep the gun, just in case. Lindsay gave up on her scheme when she heard the fat guy speak.

      “If we wanted to take anything we don’t need your permission.” He growled. Then he