DRIVE SLOW

Royal Hustle’s entryway was guarded by a big dude named, Head. He smiled rose-gold at us and held the door open. Inside, it was all red, gold, black and white. Bank$ led us down the labyrinth of hallways to the master recording studio. 

“Here, hit this,” Mikhel said, and passed the blunt to me. It was good. The wrap sweet and natural.

Soon Bank$ was behind the glass. 

“So, how come girls from New Orleans are so mean?” Mikhel asked Sigrid, while rolling up another cigar.

“I’m not from New Orleans. I’m from New York.” Sigrid fake flipped her hair over her shoulder.

“Y’all mean too, but you…” Mikhel pointed at me. “Y’all some muh’fucking trouble makers that’s for sure. Turned this city out. Y’all both mean but I like it…” 

Mikhel hit a switch on the wall, and the lights dimmed down all the way. The sound of Bank$’ voice from the glassed in booth filled the room. I stood up and did a little dance for them. Fake it till you make it, Sigrid mouthed. 

“Man, I woulda told KeeKee and them to come, but Bryan said he was recording.” 

A new voice broke in the dark.  The new voice sucked his teeth. Then another voice answered.

“Man, that’s cold. Them lil’ chicks was tryna come through so bad too.”

“Don’t mind my little brother and his people.” Mikhel turned up the lights.

 “What you laughing at? And why you have them shoes on?” the young one laughed and pointed at my feet.

“I’m from New Orleans. This is all I got, fam.”

The young one sucked his teeth and I sneered at him, bit down hard not to cry. I felt that jabbing way down low in my belly, every time I put these shoes on. I remembered digging them out of a heap of beat up things. 7.5, 9, 9.5; finally an 8.

 Bank$ told the engineer to cut the recording off. 

“Nigga, you lucky, I ain’t really working. Let’s get outta here. Y’all wanna go to Magic City? These lil’ niggas not even old enough to get in.”  Bank$ threw his hat at the one who had said something about my shoes. 

“I’m a man though. Got bodies on me already,” the boy answered.

Bank$ just shook his head and we walked out Royal Hustle into the night.