Sagacious scandals, p.1
Sagacious Scandals, page 1
Sagacious Scandals
Junie Carpenter Series, Volume 1
D'Lashelle Porter
Published by L.A.L.A. Enterprise LLC, 2020.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
SAGACIOUS SCANDALS
First edition. December 1, 2020.
Copyright © 2020 D'Lashelle Porter.
ISBN: 978-1734650402
Written by D'Lashelle Porter.
Also by D'Lashelle Porter
Junie Carpenter Series
Sagacious Scandals
Persistent Pandemonium II (Coming Soon)
Meticulous Maneuvers III (Coming Soon)
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Also By D'Lashelle Porter
Dedication
Sagacious Scandals (Junie Carpenter Series, #1)
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
PART 2
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 39
CHAPTER 40
CHAPTER 41
CHAPTER 42
CHAPTER 43
CHAPTER 44
CHAPTER 45
CHAPTER 46
CHAPTER 47
CHAPTER 48
CHAPTER 49
CHAPTER 50
PART 3
CHAPTER 51
CHAPTER 52
CHAPTER 53
CHAPTER 54
CHAPTER 55
CHAPTER 56
CHAPTER 57
CHAPTER 58
CHAPTER 59
CHAPTER 60
CHAPTER 61
CHAPTER 62
CHAPTER 63
CHAPTER 64
CHAPTER 65
CHAPTER 66
CHAPTER 67
CHAPTER 68
CHAPTER 69
CHAPTER 70
CHAPTER 71
CHAPTER 72
CHAPTER 73
CHAPTER 74
CHAPTER 75
CHAPTER 76
CHAPTER 77
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Further Reading: Persistent Pandemonium
Also By D'Lashelle Porter
About the Author
To all my single parents in the struggle, when your back is against the wall stand tall and learn how to Leave A Legacy Always.
PART 1
Matthew 6:7-8: When you pray, do not keep talking on and on the way ungodly people do. They think they will be heard because they talk a lot. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need even before you ask Him.”
CHAPTER 1
I was incredibly glad it was Friday because I needed a couple days to collect my thoughts. I had to let my children know that once again their mother and only soul provider is unemployed. I was not sure when I would tell them. Maybe I'll tell them in the morning or Sunday after church. I just don't know! What I do know is, at the age of 35, approaching a new millennium, my life should be in better order than this.
As I'm leaving the gym, I hear a text message chime on my phone. Looking at the text, I see it’s my girl NeShawna, who I refer to as NeNe. Her text reads: hey girl, call me you have got to come out with me this weekend....
My thoughts are yeah right. I'm broke and jobless. Why would I go out to party... no thank you. I think I'll be having a pity party at home alone instead of out partying like I don't have a care in the world.
Before I can get home to answer her text, my phone is ringing and it's NeNe. Man, this girl, she ain't gonna stop bothering me until I answer the phone or reply to her text. I might as well get it over with.
“Hey girl what's up? I just left the gym. I'm driving right now. I was going to hit you up in a minute. I got your text about going out.” I stated answering the phone.
“Yeah, come on out with me tonight,” NeNe replied.
“I just got a call from the temp agency a couple hours ago informing me that my services were no longer needed at the temp job I've had for the last three and a half months. I really don't feel like going out shaking my grove thang, like I don't have a care in the world. I just lost my job and don't know when Im’ma have my next paycheck,” I say all in one breath.
“Girl that's really messed up, I hate to hear that, but you know you’re my girl and I got you. What do you need gas for the car or food? You need your gas or electric bill paid? I got you! Just come on out with me and forget about the cares for a minute and just have a good time.”
“No, I don't need any of that paid, but I appreciate your offer.”
“So, come on out with me tonight, we’re having a Jokers Wild Party and tomorrow night is the Biker Bash.”
“Okay now, you know I don't know what any of that means and it sounds awfully down and dirty. I'm not sure if I want to get involved. You know I'm smooth jazz all the way,” I say to NeNe.
“What I do know is, that you know how to shake your grove thang, get it in, and have a good time, so stop acting stuck up. Don't have a personal pity party because of the funk you are in right now, let it go just for a couple of days and worry about it another day,” NeNe retorted. NeNe continued to rattle on about going out. “You know I have been trying to get you to come out with me now for a while, so it sounds like this weekend is a good time.”
“Well what is a Joker's Wild and the Bikers Bash? I still don't know what you’re trying to get me into,” I ask her.
“A Jokers Wild it's just another name for card games or just card night. People pay to get in the game and the winner takes half the pot and half the pot stays with the house. There are refreshments, finger foods, and drinks of course. Then tomorrow is the Biker’s Bash, where we all come out and rep’ one another, flash our colors, drink, and have a good time. There is going to be a DJ there and vendors set up selling patches, vibrators, and other trinkets. I'm telling you girl; you’re going to have a good time. You need to come out, meet some fellas and some of my crew,” NeNe insisted.
“Did you not hear the part of my conversation where I said I was just fired? I do not have money to blow right now.”
“You can get in for free,” NeNe continued her persuasion.
“Where is it going to be at?” I asked. I’m rolling my eyes at the phone because I am not excited about this conversation.
“The Joker's Wild is going to be at the club house for The Real Rider's. There’s no cost to get in. Everyone will be playing spades, bid wiz, dominos or yahtzee. You just play what you good at and you can win half the pot. The Biker Bash is going to be at the Old Nickel n Dime Club. There will be free drinks Saturday night because another MC club is sponsoring The Lady Hustlers’ drinks, so you don’t have to worry about spending money to get yo’ drink on and I’ll pay your entry fee. If you don't want to come tonight, I might give you a pass, if you tell me you'll come Saturday night.” She was really pleading now and this was not her first or second time trying to get me to come out with her biker club.
“Okay, okay, I'm thinking maybe Saturday then, not tonight I haven't cooked for my children. I still need to soak a little bit in my sorrow. I haven't played bid wiz or dominoes in years, plus, spades are so boring. What are y’all colors again? Do I need to wear y’all colors cause’ I'm going to be hanging with you?”
“Our colors are black and red, but you do not have to rep our colors if you don't want to, it's up to you. So, if you don't want to come tonight it's cool. I'll give you a pass, but tomorrow have yourself ready by 9 p.m. We will have a table set up with snacks. If you want to bring a dish, a $5 pizza, some soda, or paper plates stuff like that you can but again you don't have to. Be ready to have a good time, okay girl! Don’t play me. Im’ma call you tomorrow about 5 or 6pm and I'm going to expect you to have the same answer that you have now.”
“My word is bond. I will be there. Don't have me change my mind because you keep pressuring me. Have a good time tonight girl, win some money,” I say to my over excited friend.
“Alright Twin holla.”
Twin was my nickname. I didn't use it very frequently. Only certain people knew me by that name. I do not have a twin. My twin is in the stars, my zodiac sign is Gemini which is a twin. I acquired the name Twin back in the day when me and my old high school crew use to get down and dirty. They came up with the name Twin for me because they said my personality would flip-flop in an instant and being a Gemini it kind of stuck. I still say that’s my name when I don’t want to use my government name.
CHAPTER 2
My son and daughter are very good kids, th ey don't give me too much trouble. I love them dearly, will do anything for them, and anything to help secure a good future for them. I do not want them to make the same mistakes that I have made regarding my education, job-hopping, and unsuccessful relationships. I really want them to always focus on their education, what they want to be in life, and who they want to be. They need to make sure there is a plan a, b, c, and d. If one plan doesn’t work out, they always have a back-up plan, or they can work both plans at the same time. I’m not sure how I want to tell them about my joblessness. Maybe we'll do pizza and a movie, or I'll see if they want to go out to a movie and I will tell them during the ride there. I don’t mind spending on them, I’m just careful about spending unnecessarily on myself.
My 15-year-old, son Jewel and my 14-year old daughter, Diamond are cut from the same cloth, yet completely different personalities. They are so close in age, when they were two and three years old, they looked like twins except a boy and girl. They are both smart, funny, and doing well in school. I would kill for them if I had to. Praise Almighty God I have not had to, and I hope I am never tempted.
It’s so hard for me to tell them that I am out of work. I feel like I am disappointing them and letting them down. We have never missed a meal, came up short on the mortgage, or any utilities. Thankfully, I have a hustle on the side, which allows me to pay all our bills. I have not had assistance from their inconsiderate, selfish, absent father, nor have I asked him. If he does not want to help care for his children, then that is between him and God. I know God can and will take care of his trifling, low life, flamboyant ass.
After I arrived home, the kids decided on pizza and movies at home, which helped break the news since we were in our own element.
“Well, before I put the next movie in, I need to share some news with y’all, okay. You know I like to keep it 100 with y’all and today was the last day at the job I’ve been on for the past few months,” I said a little nervously.
“Huh, what do you mean, you don’t’ have a job anymore.... did you hurt someone or do something bad?” Jewel questioned me.
My children knew me well. I was not a stranger to opening a can of whup ass on someone or professionally cussing someone out in a royal way.
“No Jewel, I did not do any of that. The previous person decided she wanted her job back, they kicked me to the curb, and they are allowing her to return.”
“She must be of the privileged huh?” Diamond asked.
Now, let’s not get things twisted, I did not raise my children to be racially bias. I did raise my children to be aware of racial injustices, racial biases, unequal rights, poverty, crime, and other injustice tactics. Neither of their replies were surprising to me.
“Yeah baby, she’s privileged; they usually are. Not many of us black folks’ own large corporations, but we should. I don’t know why so many of us, including me, can’t get it right.”
“Well mom, don’t be sad, you always get another job,” Diamond indicates.
“Yeah momma, we've been okay so far, so I believe we'll be okay again, right?” Jewel asks.
CHAPTER 3
On Saturday mornings I like to sleep in, it is the only day I’am able to do so. On Sunday's, I get up and go to church, then the rest of the week, it’s back to the grind. This particular Saturday was not going to be a lazy one for me. I needed to find my burner phone because I'm quite sure I got some minutes on it. I got to call my connect so I can re-up. I will have to charge it first. Then I will text Moses and enter my code to let him know I’m ready and put Tuesday as the day. It's not my usual day and time so he'll probably call me back to question it. I need to go ahead and do this now while I'm not working in case, I get a call to go to work I can have this business taken care of.
I think I'll go ahead and cook breakfast for the kids, maybe watch some cartoons with them while I’m waiting for Moses to respond. Honestly, some of these new cartoons are way too violent and gothic for me and especially for my children. Cartoons should be fun and serious but not violent. Sho’Nuff about 15 minutes went by after I text Moses, he called me back.
“Hey Moe, this Twin,” I say so he knows it’s me and we can get right to business.
“Hey baby girl, how you doing? I'm not sure I understand your text so I thought I would reach out to you,” he says. Too bad he does not look as good as he sounds. He has that Barry White sexy sounding slow seductive voice that makes it really easy to have phone sex.
“Yeah I gotta move a little sooner than I usually do. I got some unexpected time off my day job.” I reply.
“Yeah I feel you. You want your usual or what?” he asks me.
My usual, being an ounce of weed and a few pieces of crack rock.
“Yes, my usual is fine. I just need to know where you want to meet this time since it’s not my normal day.”
Moses and I usually meet up at a park on a Saturday afternoon like two lovers meeting. We hug each other while at the same time making our exchange of money and work. We stay and talk for about 30 minutes or so, then retreat and go our separate ways until I call him for the next re-up.
“How about we meet at the Applebee's in the Bell-Air Shopping Center at 12:30 on Tuesday. It should be good and busy with y’all working folks taking a lunch break. Lunch will be on me, but you can order to go if you want.”
That was something else I liked about Moses, although he operated on the other side of the law, he was a gentleman. Sometimes when meeting in the park, he would bring me flowers or a cup of hot chocolate, or a bag of chips with something to drink.
One time he brought me a single red rose. I was totally confused. Our relationship was always only business. He knew I was about my business and I knew he had a wifey at home with, I think two kids. I asked him with the most quizzical look on my face I could conjure up, “Moses, what is this about? You do know what a single red rose represents, right?”
He said, “It’s because you are a responsible woman and I respect you a lot. I’m not trying to push up at all, don’t get me wrong. I see you out here, taking care of your children, working, holding my boy down, and you always have it together. Your hair, your figure, and you keep a job. You not one of dez hood rat tramp’s skimming off da’ top or trying to play games.”
I was surprised, shocked and appreciative all at the same time! “Wow, Moe,” I said and went into his arms for our customary exchange, while accepting the rose. When our embrace ended, I continued saying, “Good looking out, Moe. I really appreciate you saying that and recognizing my efforts. You already know it’s hard out here.”
“Hello, Twin, is that cool with you?” he asked again breaking my sweet flashback.
“Yeah, that’s cool, I was just wondering what I might have for lunch since it’s on you,” I replied in a jovial tone.
“Now, you know whatever you want, it’s all good,” Moses said.
“Alright player, I'll see you soon,” I disconnected. I had to get some more minutes added to this phone.
Moses knew me by Twin because we went all the way back to high school. He was one of those bad boys that never came to class and would hang out on the corner getting his grind on. Often, if me or one of the girls wanted a dime bag, we would find Moe. He had the best weed and would always say he kept fat bags for the girls with the fat asses. We would just laugh and smile, thinking that was so cute. Then years later, after I started seeing JahVay and learned that his connect was Moses, who I already knew, it made being a mule a little easier. I knew the connect and some of his family too. I felt comfortable enough that Moses would not try to harm me or give me some bad work to slang.
CHAPTER 4
Later that morning, after my exchange with Moses, I hear the children starting to stir around upstairs. I yell up to them and say, “Hey, get y’all clothes down here so I can wash them for school next week. Make sure all homework is done, straighten up, and vacuum your rooms.”
I got to keep it moving and get ready for the work and school week. Just because I was dismissed from work does not mean the flow stops. Regardless if I have a job to go to or not on Monday, life goes on. I only get feedback from my daughter, but that’s cool, I know they both heard me.
