Shirley punished her for the entire weekend by making her stay in her room. Charles took full advantage of that time, too by fondling her every day of her punishment.
“You got your welfare check already, Lola?” Shirley said in the bathroom on the phone to her friend. “Well let me see if mine here, too.”
"Yes, nana." Harmony said, standing at the open bathroom door. Steam crept from the tub and carried with it the smell of soap, dirty pussy and cigarettes.
"Bitch, what took you so long to answer me?" She asked.
"I didn’t hear you." She lied.
"I see you gonna make me start puttin’ my hands on you. Where is Charles?”
“ He went to the store.”
“ Well go outside and get my mail. I’m expectin’ my welfare check. Lola already done got hers.”
"Okay, nana." She said in a sweet voice, although rolling her eyes when she wasn’t looking.
With a chance to see Jace's honey colored skin, curly hair and cool disposition, she grabbed her coat, bolted out of the door and ran down the steps. The cold air attacked her body because it was the middle of December. Out of the corner of her eyes she could see the way Jace’s wavy hair shined under the winter sun and couldn’t get over how cute he was. Kali, the neighborhood menace was out there, too. Jace Sherrod was cut from the same cloth as Harmony, they both grew up in lavish homes headed by notorious drug dealers. He was speaking to Brittany, the neighborhood freaky girl. Harmony wondered if Brittany was doing all of the things to Jace her uncle had taught her to do to him. She felt if she could be friends with Jace, she could make him feel good like she did her uncle, and maybe he would like her more.
After grabbing the mail, she slowly walked back up the steps with her back-faced to Jace. She was hoping he'd see her and call her name, before she was forced to speak first. Maybe the kiss they shared, when their fathers gambled one night, would reenter his mind like it did hers. But when he remained silent, giving Brittany his undivided attention, she knew she'd have to speak first.
Turning toward him, her back faced the door, she said, "Hey, Jace." And waved. Jace waved back but his swag wouldn’t allow him to do much else. He was a boy of few words and that both confused and appealed to Harmony. "You gonna be out all day?" Harmony continued. Brittany rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips.
"Maybe." He said hunching his shoulders.
"Can I bounce the ball with you later?"
"Where your uncle at? I thought you couldn’t talk to boys."
“It’s fine,” she said feeling bolder. "I’ma give my nana the mail and I’ll be right back so we can play. Okay?"
“Aight.” Jace smiled.
Harmony made a decision that no matter what, she would do whatever she could to see him. She was tired of being bored, lonely and scared. She needed some fun and was willing to take the chance. Even if it meant making her uncle, “smile again”. Which was the phrase he gave his molestation. Already she was learning the power of seduction.
With a plan hatched in her mind, s he was preparing to give Shirley the mail when she was met with jab so strong that she was knocked down the steps. The blow caused her to fall face first into a pile of Dingo’s dog shit. Who as of yesterday was nowhere to be found.
"You okay?" Kalive asked. He had a crush on her, but she never noticed him. Kali’s large body and stern look told her he would knock Shirley on her back if he could.
"Get your fat ass from out in front of my house!" Shirley told the boy who hadn't budged an inch. "And Harmony, get up these stairs!" She yelled from the top of the steps wearing only a towel, which partially exposed her stomach that was ripped to shreds because of her pregnancies.
When Shirley was gone, Kali helped her off the ground. "Thank you." Harmony said once on her feet. “I ‘ppreciate it, Kali.” She was panicky not knowing what Shirley would do to her once inside.
“You aight? You want me