Lord. When it rains it pours, doesn’t it? I just found out they’re gonna sell this building on Sunday if I don’t come up with ten thousand dollars.”
My problems seemed miniscule compared to hers. “I’m sorry, Katrice.”
“It’s all right. I’ll make a way. How much do you owe in tickets?”
“I don’t know. Probably about seven hundred dollars.”
“I told you about parking wherever the hell you please. You can’t flirt your way out of tickets if you’re not there when they write them, Kerri.”
“I know. I was gonna pay them next week.” Katrice gave me this skeptical look like she knew I was lying.
“Come on in the house so I can get out of this uniform and I’ll make you a cup of tea.” Katrice and I drank tea with brandy in it for almost forty-five minutes before Jordan came in the house.
“What time is it?” he demanded.
“Almost ten o’clock. Why?”
“’Cause they’re getting ready to give the lottery results.” Jordan ran in front of the TV and turned it on.
“You buy any tickets, Kerri?” Jordan asked as Katrice and I walked over to the sofa.
“Just the ones that sorry-ass Charlie left when I found out he was married.”
“Would it be funny or what if he left you the winning ticket?” Katrice laughed.
“No, it wouldn’t be funny,” Jordan added, “’cause that would mean my tickets aren’t the winner.”
“Kerri, run get your tickets so we can see if you won.”
I knew it was a long shot, but I ran upstairs to grab the handful of tickets. I was glad I didn’t burn them like I started to. I made it back down to her apartment just in time to see the blond woman with the plastic smile announce it was time. Katrice had her own line of tickets spread on the table in front of her and so did Jordan. He looked like he must have spent two or three hundred bucks. I arranged mine on my lap.
“And the first number is nineteen,” Blondie said as the plastic ball with the one and nine filled the television screen. I looked down at my tickets and scanned for the number. All of a sudden, I saw it. It was right on the next to the last ticket.
“I got that,” I said.
“Me, too.” Jordan smirked.
“Not me,” Katrice mumbled.
“The next number is twenty-six.”
I scanned the ticket and saw that I had it on two tickets, including the one that held nineteen.
“I got that, too.” I frowned at the ticket and picked it up to be sure. Maybe my luck was changing.
“I ain’t got that shit on any of these,” Jordan snapped.
“Fifty-four.”
My heart began to beat so fast, I was squirming in my seat.
“Girl, you got that?” Trice looked at me. I couldn’t answer her. I just nodded.
“Oh shit,” Jordan yelled. “If you hit, you gonna split it with us. Right, Kerri?” I didn’t answer him. I just waited for the next number.
“Fourteen.”
I glanced at the ticket and started screaming, “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
“That’s four, Kerri. You can do it,” Katrice encouraged.
“Kerri, you gonna split it with us if you win?” Jordan asked again, and again I ignored him.
“Thirty-three.”
I looked at the ticket, hoping thirty-three was there, but it wasn’t.
“Damn.” I sighed.
“Don’t worry. If you get at least five numbers, you still get a couple grand,” Katrice told me, still excited.
“And the final number is…nine! If your ticket has the following numbers, nineteen, twenty-six, fifty-four, fourteen, thirty-three, and nine, you are the winner of the fifty-million-dollar jackpot.” She smiled her plastic smile.
“Did you get five out of the six?” Trice asked.
“Yeah, I did.” I nodded.
“You did?” Jordan’s eyes got huge.
“I got all six. Problem is, they’re on three different tickets. Four numbers on one, two on the other, and one by itself.” I was frustrated and balled the tickets up in a tight ball.
“Well, I guess I’m gonna lose this building. Thanks to my husband gambling up the rent money.”
“Don’t fucking start, Katrice,” Jordan cursed.
“I wouldn’t have to start if you didn’t fuck up my money, Jordan!” She rolled her eyes, almost daring him to reply.
Jordan didn’t say another word. He just grabbed his coat and walked out. Katrice sat back and folded her arms. She looked like she wanted to cry. Hell, if she did, I’d probably join her. But I knew she wasn’t in the mood for company anymore, and I really didn’t want to be there either.
“Girl, I’m gone,” I told her, and turned to leave.
“Where you going?” she murmured.
“Upstairs to bed. Maybe my life will be better in my dreams.” I walked out and closed the door behind me before she could say anything more. I was so fucking depressed that I didn’t see Rodney coming out of his place and bumped right into him.
“I take it you ain’t win, either.” I pointed at the small slips of paper in his hand.
“Fuck, naw. I ain’t win shit. And you need to watch where the fuck you going.” He glared at me. I really didn’t know Rodney all that well, but I did know that he and Paul had some words on more than one occasion. I tried to stay clear of him, but I wasn’t going to be disrespected either.
“Whatever. You bumped into me, remember?” I turned to go up the steps and I heard him mumbling something.
“What did you say? I know you ain’t say nothing about me,” I said.
“I said shit around here ’bout to get real crazy and you motherfuckers better watch the fuck out. I’m getting tired of everyone around here’s mouth. And I better not find out any of y’all got that envelope.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means exactly what I said.” He looked at me like I’d stolen something. I didn’t know what he was talking about and didn’t want to know.
I just looked him in his eyes and said, “You better not do nothing stupid.”
He pushed the door so hard that it hit the other side of the building. I shook my head. That’s why I don’t do thugs. They’re more moody than a woman on her period.
I didn’t even bother taking off my clothes when I got in my apartment. I just climbed in my bed and tried to sleep my bad luck away.
8
Paul
I walked into Joe’s Liquor Store next to the Quick-Mart about quarter to nine, wearing a suit I just got out of the cleaners and carrying a dozen roses. I was about to head over to Kerri’s little get-together, but before I showed up I had to pick up the champagne she requested.
“What’s up, Paul?” The owner smiled at me as if he was impressed. “Got a hot date?”
“I don’t know how hot it is, but I’m hoping to get lucky. Let me have a bottle of Dom Perignon and a bottle of Moet.”
“Wow,