Page 1 of Do You Right

Iwas four years old the first time I picked up a violin. My parents had just taken me for ice cream on a hot summer day. You know the ones where the sun is frying every molecule of moisture out of your skin, and the only way to feel a little relief is to sit in front of an AC unit on full blast. I remember I skipped happily down the street full of innocence, glee, and childlike wonder, but before I could even take my first lick, I heard it. A beautiful melody stopped me right in my tracks like it had the power to control me. Curiously, I searched for the source until my eyes landed on a homeless man playing on the corner across the street.

The entire world melted away as I raced across the busy intersection, without regard for the screams of my parents behind me or the honking cars that barely had enough time to slam on their brakes before colliding with my little body. By the grace of God, I made it safely across and walked up to him still in complete awe. What was that angelic sound? I handed him my uneaten ice cream cone while my eyes latched on to the strings of his instrument. Bending down, I used a finger to pluck one of the taut strings and gasped when it sang back to me. As the sound reverberated through my body, I remembered feeling a fire roar to life inside of me, and from that day forth, it was never contained again.

By the time my parents made it over to me, the man was enjoying my ice cream while I was busy playing his violin. My parents said they couldn’t fathom how I was able to play so well, since it was my first time ever seeing a violin, but to me it felt like coming back home to myself. I didn’t have to search for the music; the music sought me and used my body as a vessel to share the sound of God’s love with the world. A child prodigy . . . that was what they’d called me. And for a long time, I wore that title like a badge of honor, but even child prodigies could make mistakes that cost them everything they’d worked so hard for.

The water temperature began to drop, snapping me back into the steamy shower. I dipped my face under the water, allowing my tears to disappear into the choppy water flow. Suds continued to slide down my body right as the shower shut off without warning. For a second, I merely stood there, water droplets falling to the floor and hair on the verge of curling up into tight ringlets from getting it wet.

My bottom lip quivered as reality crashed into me, and the thundering of someone knocking on the door almost made me jump out of my skin. “Time’s up, sweetheart. I have paying customers lined up for showers.”

I could tell the voice belonged to the truck stop attendant, despite his voice being muffled by the door that kept his greedy eyes from catching a glimpse of my naked body. Swallowing the sadness that wanted to bubble out of me, I snatched the curtain open and bent down in front of my things. I chose not to think about the fact everything I owned was sprawled across the bench waiting to be packed back inside of my book bag.

Today I chose to wear my jeans, a plain white T-shirt, and old Vans, but it would have to do. I was even a little pissed when I noticed the shirt had a stain on it, but since I hadn’t snagged a spot in the shelter all week, almost every piece of clothing I owned was dirty in one way or another. Since it wasn’t extremely noticeable, I decided not to make a big deal about it. My options were limited, and at this point, I was lucky to even have clothes to wear.

In my twenty-eight years of life, I never could’ve imagined such a day would come. Flashbacks of all my technical training and prestigious education in my youth were reminders of where I’d come from, but they were not the reason I ended up in this pitiful state. I only had myself to blame, and that was why I silently got dressed before packing up my tiny and insignificant wardrobe.

I was headed for the sink to do something with my hair when a knock startled me. I cracked the door open, leaving only enough space for me to see who it was. Henry stood there with a salacious grin and lustful eyes that desperately desired a deeper look at what I was hiding behind my side of the door.

“Five more minutes, please,” I pleaded in a sweet tone. I batted my eyelashes and did my best impersonation of a puppy dog expression. As expected, he fell for the charm.

He shyly scratched his eyebrow and sighed. “Okay, fine. Five more minutes, but after that I really have to get it cleaned for the next person.”

I nodded. “I understand. Thank you. I’ll be quick.” I slammed the door closed and locked it before he could utter another word or try anything slick. Rushing to the sink, I could only use water from the sink to soften my hair enough to run a comb through it. After giving myself a middle part, I braided two cornrows to hold me over for the next few days because I had no clue when I’d be able to shower again.

Refusing to really look at myself in the mirror, I backed away and grabbed my book bag. Tossing it over my shoulder, I bent down for my violin case next. With it secured in hand, I felt a spark of hope as I unlocked the door to let myself out. I saw Henry leaning against the wall, tapping away on his phone when I stepped into the hallway.

“Thank you,” I whispered on my way past him.

He winked with a grin. “You know I got you, Chai.”

I could tell he wanted to say more, but I didn’t have the time to waste on his flirting that was a dead end with me. I’d spent up the little money I had collected this week to purchase new strings for my baby. Now, she was sounding clearer, and that could be very lucrative for me.

I left the truck stop behind and rushed across the parking lot when I saw the bus I needed to take coming down the street. Swinging my book bag around to the front, I unzipped the front pocket then dug inside for my bus pass. I pulled it out just as the doors came open. After sliding it through the machine, I turned to find a packed bus. I found a place to disappear near the back doors and sighed as it took off.

My mind was in a million places as I watched the city blur by and people come and go on the bus. I decided to get off at the Lincoln Street stop today because I made the most money in that area. All kinds of professionals occupied the neighborhood, and most of them enjoyed a classic R&B song on my violin.

I walked about two blocks down until I got to the intersection of Lincoln and Maple Drive. On the Lincoln side, there were shopping centers while the Maple side was where the rows of modern townhomes began. I loved that each of the townhomes came with a gated yard for privacy and hosting. If I could afford it, I would live in this neighborhood. There were hundreds of people coming and going, which added up even if every person only spared me even a dollar.

“Ty, cut it out. I gotta get to practice.” The deep voice caused my steps to halt and my eyes to locate the source of the vibrations tingling every nerve ending in my body. He stood blocking my path with his arms wrapped around the slim waist of the caramel beauty before him. The wind carried a mix of his earthy cologne and her flowery fragrance that short circuited my brain because of the richness of their notes. Only someone with wealth could wear something so potent and vibrant.

That deep voice was dangerous on its own, but as my eyes skimmed who it belonged to, I could only stare in admiration. The man was well over six feet with honey-golden skin that radiated beneath the late morning sun. His hair was long, thick, and curly, but it was piled on the top of his head in the sexiest man bun. His jawline was square and sharp while those eyes were low, sexy pools of chocolate brown. His eyebrows were thick like his kissable mauve hued lips. Even though he was turned to the side, his side profile revealed a straight and pointy nose sitting right above a mustache with a soul patch on his chin.

“But I’m not ready for you to leave me yet,” the woman whined unashamedly. Her bottom lip poked out while her almond eyes lowered in sadness. “Five more minutes.” She balled his shirt in her hands and erased what little distance there was between them. He licked his lips as he looked her up and down. I could feel the hunger and desire to have her close from where I stood watching it all unfold. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

“Ty, cut it out. Let that man go handle his business,” a third person said as he walked up. He was brown skinned, lanky as hell, and not really worth remembering like his friend whom I had yet to take my eyes off. Something about his aura was so captivating even a straggler like me couldn’t help but to bask in it for a minute.

While his voice was playful, there was something about the way his eyes were locked in on the entangled couple that made my spidey senses start tingling. His jaw ticked and his eyes drifted closed, but once they opened again, the ease in his voice matched his expression.

“Let him go. You can suck his dick later,” he teased while playfully ripping them apart.

The girl whacked him on the arm. “Do you have to be so vulgar, JoJo?”

He shrugged. “What? It’s the truth, ain’t it?”

She scoffed and waved him off. “Whatever. Mind your business, nigga.” Returning her attention to the man readjusting the strap of the duffel bag on his shoulder, she smiled widely. He was looking scrumptious in his black Nike Tech outfit. Somehow on him, even Crocs really looked like fashion instead of laziness. I wasn’t sure what he did for a living, but by his athletic build, I could tell he did whatever it was well. “Let me know what you want for dinner tonight, and I’ll have it ready by the time you get home from practice. JoJo will let me in.”

“Aight, cool. I’ll see you later.” He stepped forward to place a soft kiss on her lips, smacked her loudly on the ass, then jogged to the matte-black Corvette C8 purring nearby. It had sexy red trimming that I thought was fire but should’ve expected from someone with so much authentic swagger. Other men couldn’t duplicate that, but I was almost certain they probably tried and hated him when they couldn’t replicate.

The three of us watched his car speed off down the street like lightning. He was barely out of sight before the man JoJo walked up on the woman they’d called Ty and yanked her to his chest. My mouth snapped open in surprise when they began to make out right where she’d just stood with the man I would without a doubt dream about tonight.