A Street Girl Named Desire: A Novel Read Online Free PDF

could get money, for the candy that makes you sing. The candy in the green bag. I could get it from the guy on the corner.” She rocked her mother faster. “I remember how you showed me. Give him the money real fast in one hand, get the bag with the other. Fast.”
    Shaking her head, Sandy said, “No … no, baby, the store is closed.”
    “We could get on the train and tell people we are homeless. Last time we did that we made almost forty dollars.”
    Sandy thought about it for a second. “No, we did that at rush hour last time, it's … it's too late now.”
    Nika put her head down and accepted another hungry night.
    “All right, Ma.”
    Nika went into the bedroom and came back with a blanket. She wrapped it securely around her mother's rail-thin, shaking body. She walked into the kitchen and returned with two ice cubes. She stuck one into her mother's mouth. She slowly slid the other back and forth across her mother's forehead.

     
    Nika must have drifted off. When she opened her eyes there was someone standing in front of her that she didn't fully recognize. It was a woman. She had a blanket wrapped around her body. Her black hair was soaking wet, matted against her head. Her eyes, small and dark, were surrounded by a shade of yellow thatmatched her lone three teeth. Her eyes had large, dark circles around them as if she had been punched. Her lips were bloated and puffy, like balloons.
    “Come here.” Sandy curled her finger from beneath the blanket, motioning for her daughter to come closer. “It is time that you start earning some money for Mommy, for a change.”
    Sandy dragged Nika into the bathroom, and brought her out decorated in heels and lipstick.

CHAPTER THREE
     
    I t was several months before Desire was released from the hospital. By this time the story had long ceased being of interest to news reporters—and thus, politicians—but not to government agencies.
    Prior to the custody hearing taking place on that day, Nika's lawyer had her criminal charges dropped. She was relieved not to have to worry about jail time. However, she did have to concern herself with the Administration for Children's Services. Once they started an investigation, they stayed on offenders like a plague.
    Nika stood nervously before the judge in her custody case. Standing alongside her was her court-appointed lawyer. Nika gripped the Bible Hattie Mae had given her.
    Judge Katie Ross, black, in her late forties, glanced intermittently at the defendant and the court papers in front of her. She was surprised by the young age of the defendant.
    “Ms. Mitchell,” the judge barked. “After reviewing your case and all the issues involved, I'm mandating you to an eighteen-month drug rehabilitation program, at which time a social worker will monitor your progress on a weekly basis. Now, in the matter of Desire Mitchell, the court will assign her to the custody of the foster care system.”
    Nika screamed loudly and covered her face with her hands.
    “No … don't take my baby from me. I'm sorry for what I did. I won't smoke no crack no more. Please don't take my baby!”
    Her lawyer attempted to calm her.
    Nika yelled louder, “Get ya fuckin hand off of me, bitch. I'm not letting y'all take my baby!”
    In an instant, a female court officer hurried over to restore peace.
    “Ms. Mitchell. You must restrain yourself and allow me to finish,” the judge said, pounding her gavel on the desk.
    In a stern whisper, her lawyer said, “Nika, listen to me. If you ever want to see your daughter again, I suggest you calm down right now. Keep your mouth shut. Do you understand?”
    The lawyer challenged Nika's malicious stare until Nika gave in to a more calmed expression.
    The lawyer turned smoothly to the judge. “Your Honor, please forgive us for our brief moment of outburst. I'm sure you can understand a mother's feelings under such circumstances.”
    The judge stared at the counsel briefly, then at Nika. “Ms. Mitchell, right now