Lyfe Changing Read online

  “Oh…ok. Well I suggest you take James with you… then you too can really get creative.”

  “Marisol.”

  “I’m just saying for creative purposes…” She waved up her hands innocently. I shook my head smiling. “Well how about you get creative and round me up some customers?” “Will do boss…” She nodded scurrying out of my office. I thought about James, how kind and gentle he had been with me last night…even his kiss was nice and sweet. I just didn’t understand why I couldn’t feel that connection, that desire that every woman should feel for man. Oh stop it Destiny, I thought. This is a good man here…a good black man…stop tripping and get on the bandwagon. Matter of fact let me call him right now.

  Just then to my surprise my office phone ringed. “Good morning Destiny Witt here how can I help you?” I heard a slight chuckle. “Good morning, your voice sounds just as lovely on the phone as it does in person.” Oh my God it’s him. I wasn’t expecting him to call so soon. What do I do? What do I say? Play it cool Destiny…just play it cool.

  “Hey James…I wasn’t expecting to hear from you so soon.”

  “Why? You didn’t enjoy our date?”

  “No I loved our date…I just hope I didn’t bore you to tears.”

  He chuckled a little. “Trust me the last thing I would ever be with you is bored…I enjoyed myself as well. I was actually hoping we could do it again this weekend.” Uh oh, I thought. I was really looking forward to going up to the cabin. How do I turn him down without looking like a flake? I guess I could take Marisol’s advice and take him to the cabin with me…I’m pretty sure he would love to help me work off this tension. But we have only had one date, I can’t have him thinking I’m some ho he can get his rocks off on. No I just got to come up with something.

  “Well James I would love to go out with you again it’s just that I had pre-planned to go out of town this week end.” There was a slight silent pause which made me wonder did he buy it. “Well that’s fine…we can get together when you come back would you like that?” He said it so smoothly like he wasn’t even worried that I was trying to play hard to get…I found it to be quite a turn on.

  “Yes I would like that a lot.”

  “Good…well then I’ll see you when you get back.”

  “Good bye James.”

  “Bye Destiny.”

  As I hung up the phone to my surprise my heart fluttered. I felt like a school girl who just got off the phone with the high school quarter back. James did have that effect on me; he made me feel special like I was the only one he wanted. After years of being alone it was nice to get that reaction from a man…a fine one at that. Ok…I thought. Take a chance. Destiny…all you do is have to take a chance.

  `

  5

  Time to Go

  Derrick

  It was time…I eased the Nissan a few blocks away from the million dollar estate that I had arrived at. “Got damn!” Was all I could say as I pulled up into Levittown. House after house got bigger and bigger and Julio’s house was sitting right on top of the hill. I instantly grew nervous thinking that there was no way I could get in there without being caught. It looked like this place was on police patrol by the minute…yet this drug dealer was living large up in here…How? Hell if I know. I continued to make my way to the main gate without drawing attention to myself. Just type in the code and don’t look suspicious, I thought. I entered the digits into the security box and slipped on in.

  Julio’s yard was the size of a football field with water fountains, garden furniture and all the works… I thought I was at Donald Trump’s mansion for a minute. I reached the front door and was immediately thrown off by the security cam smack dab in my face but I remembered De and Ray shut them down before they left…good thinking.

  I entered the security code to the house and went on in and if you thought that the outside looked good, it didn’t even compare to the inside. I could tell Julio had an instant fetish for gold. It was everywhere; gold chandeliers, tables, statues. Damn. This shit was bringing a whole other meaning to lap of luxury. I decided to stop idling around and get to work so I could get the hell out of here…I don’t know why but something wasn’t feeling right and better for me to go ahead and get what I came for then to be playing around. I eased up stairs ignoring the expensive paintings hanging on the walls. Last room at the end of the hall, I reminded myself. I paced myself as I reached the double doors that led to Julio’s bedroom. I walked inside and let my eyes scan the room for anything out of pocket.

  It was an immaculate place filled with nothing but finery, from his king sized bed, 100 inch wide screen television, and French wall paintings. I continued with my job not wanting to get further side tracked admiring all Julio’s high priced things…hell I could buy it all myself as soon as I took care of business. I unknowingly stepped on one of his remotes lying by the bed causing a beeping noise to occur. I came to halt getting extremely nervous as to what I had just done. Suddenly the 100 inch TV turned on along with the stereo and DVD player which to my surprise was showing hardcore porn to the fullest. Sounds of roaring music and sex filled my ears blasting from the stereo speakers making a surprisingly good synchronization. Needing to silence all these devices I picked up the remote and attempted to turn everything off, what I did was add to the craziness. The mirror above the bed turned over displaying hanging chains and whips, luminous lights flickered on and off through the room, while I stood in midst of it all as if I were in the twilight zone. “Oh my God…” was all I could say… And I thought I was into some freak shit but this…tops it all. Is that a sex mask hanging up? I asked myself looking at the corner of the room. I shook my damn head…this is some SHIT. I glanced up at the porn playing on the TV and my mind lingered there for moment.

  Finally figuring out how to work this damn remote I managed to turn everything back off and back into its original place. Let me get the hell out of here...I thought. I crouched down to the foot of the bed to get to the safe. I pushed my large body underneath and searched for the loose wood in the center of the floor. On my journey I came across some thong panties and handcuffs. Shaking my head I moved them to the side and concentrated on the task at hand. I knocked on the wood three times and saw where it came loose. “Ah yeah!” I said overjoyed. I removed the square piece of wood and saw the safe. “Damn.” It was perfectly stuck into the floor upward obviously holding some serious amount of money. “Ok….” I said pulling a box cutter and Phillips screwdriver out of my front pocket. “Open sesame.” I had broken into enough gym lockers in my day before I worked my way up to safes. It only took a few loose screws and a couple of twist and turns before my eyes beheld the glory. “Got damn!” I exclaimed. I had never seen so many stacks in my life. Five million was Five million. I slid up my black duffle bag and began to pile away the benjamin’s. “C’mon…C’mon to daddy.” I continually packed the money into the bag; it was so much of it seemed as if it was never ending.

  As I packed the last few bills in I heard the faint sounds of moving around downstairs. Oh hell, I thought. I knew this shit was too easy. I quickly closed the safe, placed the loose wood back in place and crawled out from under the bed. As I stood to my feet I heard the chatting and giggling of a couple downstairs. I could easily make out a woman’s voice and a man’s. Damn is he home already? Ok think Derrick, how do I get out of this? I swooped up the duffle bag and stared at the door. I could hear footsteps coming up the stairs to the bedroom.

  “Ooooh…stop you’re so bad.”

  “You don’t know the half of it…come upstairs.”

  Quickly hiding out into the large upscale bathroom I watched Julio and a blonde woman enter his bedroom. They were kissing and fondling each other as they came through door. Julio was a tall and fit man, with slicked back short black and grey hair and medium tanned skin. His lady friend was your typical blonde, blue eyed, and double D cupped breast escort, exposing all of Victoria’s secrets through her see through dress. “You’re going to rip my
dress.” She whined as Julio fondled her. “I’ll buy you another one…”

  He said with an accent so thick you would have thought he just stepped on American soil. I stood in the huge bathroom of his contemplating my next move. I peered out the window guesstimating how far the jump would be to get to the ground…too steep. I’ll kill myself by the jump alone. I looked back out the door to make sure the two sex buddies were still keeping busy. Julio had removed the blondes top completely, exposing her pink pierced nipples while continuously squeezing her breast. “Get on your knees.” he instructed her. She quickly did as she was told and began to undo his pants. Julio forcefully yanked her hair and jammed her mouth down on him repeatedly. The blonde clung to the side of his Dior dress pants as her head jerked back and forth. Ok…I got to get the hell out of here, I thought. I eased back to the window and attempted to open it...to no avail. Damn did he glue this bitch down with cement? I pulled and pulled but got nothing. There must be some type of lock on it.

  I played around with the hooks causing some unnecessary noise. “What’s was that?” I heard the blonde say. I stood silent making sure not to move. “Be quiet.” Julio commanded. “But I heard something?” “Well hear this.” He said. I continued to try to open the window but couldn’t get any leeway. “This is not going to work.” I whispered. “And I damn sure don’t want to be in here listening to them all night.” I decided desperate times called for desperate measures. I picked up the duffle bag, pulled out the ski mask I had tucked into the back of my pants and put it on. With a flick off the lock on my caliber it was Showtime. I kicked open the bathroom door startling them both. “Alright friends let’s try and make this as easy as possible.” I said holding the gun up to both of them. The blonde slid back against the wall while Julio looked at me like I was crazy. “Who the fuck are you?” He roared.

  Do they always have to say the same line, could they ever come up with something knew...just spice it up, damn. “I’m the muthafucka who has a gun and no patience so do what the fuck I say.” He scowled at me but eased back straightening up his pants. “You don’t even know who you are fucking with do you?” He asked me with a smug look on his face. I laughed. “No I don’t but I’m pretty sure they will tell me at the morgue so keep it up.” I aimed the gun at the blonde. “You …get those handcuffs from under the bed.” Scared to death she looked to Julio for confirmation. “Sweetie what are you looking at him for? I’m the one with the gun.” She nodded and finally did as she was told. Julio never took his eyes of me as if he was studying the man he would soon kill. As the blonde grabbed the handcuffs she looked back to me for further instructions.

  “Handcuff yourself and him to the bedpost.” She unwillingly did as she was told and secured them both to the bed. “I figured I would help get you too started.” I chuckled at him. He smiled at me as well. “You really done messed up my friend.” I secured the duffle bag over my shoulder as I eased out. “Well I’ll take my chances…now you too have a nice night.” I left them in the bedroom and made my way downstairs feeling like a champ. Little did I know a gang full of goons was waiting in the living area playing dice. Damn, damn, damn. I thought. What the fuck I’m gonna do now? I eased out of the way into the kitchen area making sure they couldn’t see me. They continued to whoop and holler while playing around. Ok think Derrick, come on boy think. All I need is a distraction. As a light bulb went off in my head I hid the duffle in the closet and eased on into the kitchen.

  I saw a stairwell to the upstairs and aimed my gun up. Here goes. BANG! BANG! I shot off a few rounds sending the herd of football players running up the stairs. As soon as they were out of sight I quickly grabbed the duffle bag and hauled ass out the house. By the time I got to the gate I heard a few rounds being fired but it was too late… my ass was gone. I made it to the Nissan, threw the bag in the back and sped off. “Wooooooh!” I screamed like I had just won the super bowl… And looking at that five million in the back, I did. I drove quickly and restless unto the highway…knowing I had completed the impossible.

  Destiny

  The background I painted was shaded dark blue giving the strong appearance of the deepest midnight. Dead in the center I tried my hardest to bring my dream man to life; I took a piece of black pastel chalk and began to draw. I outlined the curves of his arms, built a frame for his upper body, and outline the shape of his head, but I could not put a face or appearance to this figure. I stared back at the partially completed canvas hoping to get some answers to my many questions as to what to do with my life. I had come up to the cabin which I had purchased many years ago, mainly to get away and express my creative mind. The cabin was on the outskirts of the city, it was filled with all sorts of art pieces of my work and inspirational collections.

  I sat on a nearby stool and just gazed at the painting while the music of Anita Baker filled my ears. I wanted to solve the mystery surrounding this man in my dreams but I didn’t have a clue as to where to start. The dream felt so real and right. I placed my hand on my chest still feeling his touch from the other night. It scared and excited me all at the same time. What are you doing Destiny? I thought to myself. You came all the way up here for a man who you must have conjured up in your mind thinking he is real because you haven’t had any in a while. I got up from the stool and paced the floors. I noticed the colors from my palate where blending in on my painting shirt, forming a beautiful collision. I stared back at the unfinished painting knowing that there was no way it could be finished tonight. Did I just make this up in my mind? I thought. I shook my head putting myself into frenzy over a fantasy, a figment of my imagination, someone who was not real.

  Yet James was real… as real as it could get. I could still remember his voice sounding so confident and reassured as we spoke over the phone. On paper he was everything I had ever wanted but in my heart I just couldn’t feel him. Well give it some time; it’s only been a few days. I remembered when Lucy, my best friend, told she met her husband Grant. How when she first met him she felt something so strong for him she couldn’t hardly breathe. She loves him so much you could see it in her eyes. I wanted to feel a love like that so bad…but maybe I wasn’t giving myself a chance.

  I’m going home, I decided. Enough of these fairytale shenanigans; It was time for me to get something real. I changed out of my clothes into some jeans and a white tank top. I picked up my still packed suitcase and begun to head for the door. I’ll just head back home and maybe…I don’t know maybe call James. I’m pretty sure he won’t mind hearing from me for a little late night chat. I reassured myself that I was doing the right thing and that I was on my way to true happiness. As I locked up I stared back at the painting one last time before slowly exiting the door.

  Derrick

  “Wooooh! Yeahhhhh!” I was whooping and hollering all the way down the highway. Five million dollars… five fucking million dollars….hell yeah, I thought. In my excitement I was swerving in and out other lanes. “Got damn.” I laughed regaining control of the wheel. I couldn’t believe I successfully robbed that muthafucka’s house with so much money and with a living room full of pit bulls on steroids. If I was excited before I was all the way live now. I had to admit when Julio rolled up into his room I thought that was my ass, but good thing I have always been quick on my feet. I blasted Tupac to the max making my Nissan thunder as I drove. I decided to call up De and Ray and tell them fools we done hit the jackpot. It only took a few rings until one of them picked up. “Well damn boy what took you so long? You was giving us a damn heart attack over here?”

  De scolded. I didn’t even care about his nagging; I was too live right now. “Shiiit don’t worry about that, don’t worry about anything ever again…cause we rich bitch!” I roared into the phone. “You did it for real… you did it?” He asked unbelieving. “Hell yeah I went over there. I had all the codes…did you really think I wouldn’t go?” “Naw man I knew you would go but I didn’t think…oh fuck what I thought! We rich!” We both hollered over the phone feeling
our pockets get a little heavier. “Ok….ok where you at now?” He asked. “I’m on the highway heading back…got to drive a little slow because I’m carrying a heavy bag full of money boy!” I joked. “Well bring your ass on back here we bout to celebrate…I’m a get some liquor over here…some women…some of everything come on over here, we bout to get down.” De declared. I know that’s right, I thought.

  “Well give me about twenty five minutes… I’ll be over there soon. Ok peace.” I hung up the phone and tried to calm myself down, but I was too amped. I bobbed my head to the beat feeling wild and crazy like nothing I had ever experienced before. I had a shit load of money and life was about to get much better. I came around a sharp corner pretty fast; I didn’t pay attention to how hard my foot was on the gas pedal causing me to go even faster. I continued to go down the main road like everything was cool and in attempt to switch lanes I looked back into my review which was blocked by the duffle bag. “Shit” I muttered. I slowed down and reached into the back seat trying to rearrange the bag so I could see. HONK! HONK! In the midst of me trying to move the bag I heard the harsh sounds of a horn honking repeatedly. I looked back to the front of the road and didn’t see anything coming my way. I figured the honking was coming from the behind me.

  I once again reached around to move the heavy duffle bag out of the way. HONK! HONK! After finally getting the bag out of the way I was shocked to see that no one was behind me. What the hell? I thought. I turned back around to the front confused and damn near collided with an incoming semi-truck. “Woaaaah!” I yelled as I swerved into the other lane to avoid the collision. The car swung around repeatedly throwing me against the windshield. I soon drove off the highway into the woods crashing into a nearby tree connected to telephone wiring, splitting the front of the Nissan. Laying back in the driver’s seat I felt blood trickle down my face and arm. I couldn’t move let alone open my eyes. Everything appeared foggy and incoherent; I couldn’t make out anything that was going on. As the dead silence surrounded me I started to hear the faint sound of whispers. They were so low and speaking so fast it was hard to make out what was being said. I tried to open my eyes but could barely see all I could do was sit there and wait… for what I don’t know.