Fresh off my last deployment as an active member of the US Army, I cruised through the streets of Cambridge. I was a thick built girl, hips and tittles galore, but that didnât stop me from being one of the toughest women you could ever meet, or at least thatâs what everyone told me. I remember my first conversation with my drill sergeant.
âYou look like someone pissed in ya cereal and stole ya puppy, Washington. Why you always looking angry?â He raised his eyebrow and stared back at me as I gulped down half of gallon of water like I was dying of extreme thirst. I answered simply in the most country accent youâd ever hear.
âPeople donât mess with you when you look like youâd murder their entire familyâŚâ
âI⌠you need some counseling Washington?â He blinked quickly, leaning closer to me.
âIâm sorry. Too morbid?â I grinned, raising an eyebrow.
âIâve been in the military for 15 something years, and that is the most batshit crazy thing I have ever heard.â He shook his head and stood up straight.
âThereâs a strong possibility that I could be crazy.â I giggled, standing from my seated position.
It seemed as if I was going in circles since I had been driving so long. I picked up my phone from the passenger seat and dialed the number I was given when I landed. It belonged to this girl named âShy.â I was told she could help me find some quick work and get settled. This was my first time in Massachusetts and anywhere else on this side of the country without being confined to my uniform. The phone rang for a while and after the 3rd ring, someone answered.
âHello?â A voice spoke from the end of the phone.
âHey⌠Is this Shy?â
âDepends on whoâs asking,â she asked, sounding slightly alarmed.
âUh⌠My name is Aly'Sha. Rico gave me your number when I landed.â
âAahhh⌠you must be the army girl looking for some quick cash until they send you that first check,â she giggled.
âI guess you could say that. They said it might take awhile but apartment buildings donât exactly take smiles for payment.â I chuckled, turning the corner as the light turned green. I could hear her giggling through the phone.
âOh, I wish they did. My rent would be paid for a whole year at this point.â She laughed causing me to join in.
âHell yeah. So where would you like to meet up?â I asked, pulling over to keep from wasting gas.
âThere is a Spanish Restaurant not to far from the campus we can meet there.â I heard shuffling in the background, sounding like she had just stood up.
âItâs called Cuchi Cuchi.  Itâs  more of a dinner spot so itâll be opening at 5. Iâll meet you there are 4:45. That sounds good to you?â I nodded like she could see me as I typed the name of the restaurant into my GPS.
âYeah thatâs cool.â
âPerfect! Iâll see you soon.â
âAlyâSha!â a voiced yelled from the hallway. I lifted my head slowly, looking at the clock: 8:45am.
Who in Godâs name is waking me up this early, knowing damn well I donât do well in the morning?â
âWhat the fuck you want man?â I grumbled, burying my face back into my pillow. My pitbull Koda shifted beside me as my door flew open.
âFirst of all, who the fuck you yelling at, lil girl?â questioned the small, thick woman at my bedside. She always had a way of scolding me as if I broke something and lied about it.
âSorry Mama, but you know Iâm not a morning person,â I muttered, lifting my head to look up at her.
âMmhm, getcho lazy ass up. You got clients,â she said with a thump to my forehead as she walked away. âBanging on my door like they the police or some shit. Odell put my damn apple juice down!â she screamed as she bolted down the hall as fast as her tiny legs could carry her.
After another five minutes of comfort, I pushed myself off the bed and made my way to the bathroom to freshen up. The patter of Kodaâs soft paws and the thud of the thick Cuban link chain around his neck followed as I made my way to the kitchen. I was greeted by the sight of Odell on the floor, curled into a ball holding his shins. Immediately knowing the culprit, I looked over at Shy.
âWhat? He had my apple juice and he knows tiny people donât fight fair,â she stated with a shrug before grabbing the bottle of juice from the counter.
âSo you kicked him in the shins?â I groaned, helping the big noodle headed beast off the floor.
âYou damn right I did,â she nodded, walking out of the kitchen happily sipping the juice.â
âCome on Jr.,â I said, grabbing a bottle of gatorade from the fridge. We walked arm in arm to the gym where the rest of the athletes were waiting. After many uncounted hours, I emerged back to my office, resting my head on my desk. This was a daily thing when football wasnât in season. Athletes fly all the way across the country just to train with me and working 60-80 hours can be tiring, especially for someone that doesnât sleep as it is.
âSha, Sha?â A deep groggy voice echoed throughout the empty gym.
âIn my office, Daka.â I spoke up lifting my desk off of the desk. The thud of his boots echoed louder the closer he got to the entrance. He finally emerged, dressed in cargo pants and a tight-fitting shirt.
âHow long you been out here?â he asked as he leaned against the doorframe.
âSince 9 this morning,â I groaned, covering my eyes with my arm.
âBabygirl itâs midnight, why you still out here?â he asked with a raised eyebrow.
âBecause I donât have the energy to get up and go in the house,â I confessed with a shrug.
âYou know, you a lil lazy muthafucka.â He walked over and stood me up out of my chair.
âYou one to talk. You sent Killa to bring a bowl into the kitchen and when he was asleep you sent a roomba.â He lifted my body and tossed me over his shoulder with a laugh.
âI was hurt that one time.â He turned off all the lights as we walked out of the gym.
âYou broke your ankle. You mean to tell me the mighty King Jaguar has weak ankles and beard game?â I pulled on his beard lightly as we walked the pathway back to the house.
Cutting his eyes to me, he growled. âDonât make me put you down lil girl.â
âIf you do, I ainât moving. Imma be sleeping with the gravel tonight.â I smirked playfully making him laugh.
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