Chapter One Part 1
Jazzlyn stands at the end of the corner underneath an old, weathered street lamp. The dim yellow light flickers slightly and the buzzing of weak electricity hums loudly in the quietness. The night is frigid and the wind claws its' icy fingers across the air in the dimness of the evening. The road is empty and old papers and cups blow in the gutters and corners of the street.
Though the night is cold, Jazzlyn is clothed in a honey brown, skin tight shorts that skims her bottom; her top, a loose and flowing white blouse, is as thin as a blade of grass; and whips around her body, clinging to all the right areas in the wind. Her bra could clearly be seen underneath, as it lifts and pushes her seventeen year old breasts into positions that is the envy of many grown women, and too much of a temptation for many grown men. A small black handbag hangs from her wrist and swings freely. Its' only contents a loaded Tomcat Beretta handgun, condoms, and a roll of one dollar bills totaling $20. Her long hair is tied back in an simple yet well placed tussled bun. As she tucks a loose strand of black hair behind her ear, Jazzlyn's eyes searches the streets for approaching cars. Eyes moving quickly and taking in everything, she considers the uneasy lull.
Nothing is coming and she begins to wonder why the night is so slow. Granted, she did not want to be out on the corner, especially on the icy cold night. But the rent is due in a few days and Jazzlyn did not want to dip into her savings for any money. She had worked hard in the past few months to build up both her clientele and her cash. She thinks through every penny, earns and saves, and keeps to a strict budget. Jazzlyn is a girl with a plan, and only items necessary in furthering her plan are purchased.
If Jazzlyn could just collect the rent money from her tricks in the next few days she would almost have enough money to see Joe, and in the process help get herself off the streets for good.
"Hey Sweetie! What you doin' out here?" The voice rings out in the night and startles Jazzlyn out of her thoughts. She turns around to see Carla walking towards her.
Carla moves casually down the block towards Jazzlyn. Her full hips swaying with each step, a practiced welcome to anyone who watches. Carla is a veteran of the street in more ways than one. And at twenty-eight, the years have taken a heavy toll on more than her face. Her brown skin is dull, lacking vitality. Discolored blotches dot her upper arm while black needle tracks grace her lower arm. Her stomach hangs loose and gelatinous over her mini skirt, making unappetizing fluctuations with each step. Jazzlyn watches Carla's midsection jerk and sway before answering her call.
"Hey girl, where is everybody," asks Jazzlyn? "I was starting to wonder if I was the only one who wanted to get some money."
"Naw girl," Carla laughs. "Didn't you hear about the busts?"
"Busts," asks Jazzlyn?
"You are really out of it girl," Carla retorts. "That's why I say you have to talk to people and quit bein' so stuck the fuck up! Ain't no body around here gonna tell you nothin' and you need to know what the fuck is up so you don't get yo' ass popped!"
"I know, I know," Jazzlyn responds quickly. "Now can you tell me what busts you talkin' 'bout?"
Carla stares at Jazzlyn, considering whether to tell her or not. Jazzlyn did sometimes act like she was too good for her, thinks Carla. Yeah she didn't use dope like a lot of the other girls, but she was still out here selling ass like everybody else, she goes on in her head. Carla continues to study Jazzlyn while deciding whether to give her the information. Her eyes skims over Jazzlyn, knowing she has the upper hand.
Jazzlyn sighs inwardly thinking, whether male or a female, bitches stay beggin' for attention, before giving in and stroking Carla's ego.
"Come on, girl! Don't be like that," coaxes Jazzlyn. "We girls ain't we?! We both out here hustlin' and shit. I know you think I'm out of it, but I'm out here by myself. I need someone like you to a help a bitch out every now and then!
Carla stares at her. She is sure that Jazzlyn is gaming her for information. But she has a way of making a bitch feel needed, Carla thinks.
"OK, so the cops was up there on 15th street poppin' them tricks like it wasn't nothin'," Carla begins. "They got decoys on the streets an' everything. If they catch any hoes they lock they ass up too! Word is, they makin' they way back this way. That's why you don't see nobody down here...ain't no money to make. Cops is catching our money down the road and shit. We got to just wait it out, ya know?"
"Fuck! This is just what I need," yells Jazzlyn! "My rent is about to be due!"
"Now I know YOU got some money," Carla quips. "Everybody around here see how you be pullin' them tricks in! Unless you started smokin' you should have yo' rent." Carla laughs as she looks over at Jazzlyn. Who was she trying to fool, thinks Carla? She just knew Jazzlyn has money stashed. Hell she didn't even have to give up her cash to a pimp, she thinks.
Jazzlyn takes in a long breath trying to steady her temper. That's the problem with these bitches, she thinks to herself. They always got their eyes on your prize like it theirs and shit. Jazzlyn considers going over to Dale street and trying to work there, but she knew how hard those females fought over their turf, and their pimps was no joke either.
"Damn! Looks like no money tonight," says Jazzlyn. "You know how long they supposed to be over here?"
"My dude says until Saturday night. So Sunday, everybody will be back out here," answers Carla.
Jazzlyn nods her head. "Cool. Thanks for the info Carla. See ya on Sunday."
Carla nods her head and watches Jazzlyn head down the street. She was a gorgeous girl, Carla gave her that. Too cute to be on the streets; but she was tough as hell and held her own, so Jazzlyn got her respect. But Carla wonders whether the streets would get to her. Jazzlyn had been on the West Side Stroll for about five months and no one ever saw her so much as take a smoke or hit a pipe. She was unique to say the least, and most took her quiet ways as stuck up. Carla even thought so for a while, but after a few conversations with her, Carla soon came to realize that Jazzlyn was not conceited, she was just determined and would knock anyone out of her way to get what she wanted.
