“This should be the last inspection. I’m ready to be done with this shit so we can finally open. It’s been months.” Chubby came around the bar and took a seat at one of the tables. I pulled up next to him and sat as well.
“I know. All this red tape ain’t been easy. I’m glad Chris ass helped a lot.” I said.
“Chris? What that smart nigga been on?”
“Shit. You know he's strictly into that computer shit.” I spoke of my tech guy. Chris was the nigga to see about anything technically, and I was happy to have a nigga like him on my payroll.
“His smart ass. I may get a cut with ya ass. You know these new school barbers have more links than these bitches at the beauty shops. Last time I went to a nigga, he had me stretched out talking bout some, you want a wash and a facial for an extra 50.”
“What’s wrong with a facial?” I asked, chuckling.
“Nigga, I ain’t bout to have a nigga’s balls by my face while they leaned over me washing my hair. I wash it before I come. Just cut my shit bro! All this new shit going on, I can’t get with.”
“Yo ass always acting like you 50 or some shit. But, nah, guess who I ran into? Dyami’s pretty ass.”
That made him sit up. “Damn, I ain’t seen Dyami in a minute. What is she doing here? Visiting her people?”
“She lives here now. Say it’s been a couple of years.”
“She must be tucked all the way in. I don’t ever see her. She was always screaming, she was never coming back.” Chubby replied.
“Right! She still bad as fuck. I got her number the other day when I took ma to breakfast.”
“Oh, I see why you ain’t worried about Crystal. Dyami been your girl since forever. She got kids?”
“I wouldn’t give a damn if she did. I got one.”
“Everything seems to be in order!” The inspector came back.
“That was quick.” Chubby stood and shook his hand.
“This was a follow-up. All boxes are checked. Have a wonderful opening, guys.”
The inspector walked out as quickly as he came in.
“Damn, so that’s it? This shit really happening?” I couldn’t ignore Chubby’s excitement as we went to the door and locked up. On the way to get a haircut, we discussed the plans for the restaurant. We were so excited and filled with so many ideas that the ride passed in a blur.
Chubby and I walked into the shop shoulder to shoulder.
“T!!!” Nate called as soon as he saw me. He came and slapped hands with Chubby as well to get started on our cuts. Brick Cutz was still standing even though Brick had passed. Usually, there were at least 10 barbers there on a weekday, but since his passing, a lot of barbers have started to straggle in here and there. There were six barbers here today. Chubby and I slid into the two free chairs.
We started talking shit like always. Halfway through the cut, we looked up, and a hush fell over the room. A nigga walkedin, I wasn’t familiar with, but apparently those here must have known him well. I sat up, and Chubby looked in my direction to gauge me.
“I guess muthafuckas around here really don’t know who the fuck I am for real. When I come in niggas get out the chair.” The nigga said cockily.
“Kole? What up, bruh? Where you been? It ain’t too often that you get out this way.” A barber said on my left and pushed a nigga out of the chair with his hair half cut for the new nigga that walked in. I made a note of his name.
“You know I gotta touch down now and then so niggas know I ain’t forgot.” Kole walked up to the chair, and his eyes fell on me a little too long.
“That’s what’s up. You know I got you.” His barber said, patting his chair and getting to work. I looked around at all the niggas that were in here, damn near fangirling over a grown ass man. He was dripping in jewels, and you could tell he had money, but the niggas trying to be seen were worse than females. Too many niggas in here chasing hood dreams.
“What up, Terror?” Kole calling my name caused another hush to come over the room. I didn’t respond. The tension rose, and Chubby looked at me to gauge my levels again.
“How you know me, bruh?” I asked. There were so many who knew me, but I could tell when he walked in the door, this shit was on some personal level. I wasn’t about to pop off in here, but I wasn’t going to act like I was cool with a nigga that was disrespectful to me. Simply calling my name was out of pocket. I wasn’t the type to keep the peace, but I also knew to choose my battles wisely.
“Damn, we ain’t cool? I thought since we were fucking on the same bitch we were something like brothers. No, wait, y’allbroke up, right?” He batted the barber away with his hand and rose from the seat. I stood up, too, and so did Chubby. He may not have been a street nigga, but he was a thorough ass friend. We’d throw hands together plenty. I didn’t need his help with this, though. Whatever lil shit Crystal was on, he was free to have her.
“Ain’t no way yo tender ass approaching me about a bitch, bro.” I laughed in his face.
