It was cool and a little damp this early in the morning, but Early just wanted to get this over with. He walked up her wooden stairs, leaving mud prints behind and harshly knocked at her door. After a few seconds passed, there was no answer. Getting a little frustrated, Early knocked at the door a little more harder.
"Come on, nah...you want this here jawb or what, Miss Hicks ?!" Early shouted through the rough chipped wood of her door. About a minute later, the door slowly opened revealing Chante's in an apron and oven mittens. The overwhelming and delicious aroma of bacon and eggs reached Early's nose, causing his stomach to ache with hunger.
"Sorry 'bout that, sweetie...I had the radio on...ya'll ready to leave nah?" Chante's asked him, untying her apron. Leaning his head so that he could get a better smell creeping from her house, Early closed his eyes and sighed with a large smile on his face. "Ummm...no...we..uhh...don't have to be there 'till 'nother hour er so..."
"You sure...I don't want you to be late-
"S'iight...we have time 'case ya'll wanted finish...ya know...eatin' 'n all..."
"I can just tell my daughter to wrap it up fo-
"No, no, no...g'on finish yer meal...really...its fine..."
Leaning against the door way and resting her hand on her hip, Chante' gave Early an suspecious smile. "Mr. Cuyler...did you want to come inside for sum breakfast 'fo we lea-
"Well since you asked darlin', I don't see why not!" Early shouted adjusting his large cap and pushing past Chante'. He strolled the hallway, following the sweet aroma. Finally, reaching the kitchen, Early saw the food cooking on the oven and an already pulled out chair at the small dining table. Making himself comfortable, Early removed his hat and placed it on the seat beside him, and then took the napkin from under her silverwear and tucked it in his shirt. Chante' walked passed him and over to the oven where she reached for a clean plate and began to fill it with food. Over from the kitchen doorway, Uniqua slowly entered the kitchen, dragging her slippers on the ground as she walked in. He hair was wrapped up in a scarf and she wore a long black T-shirt with red shorts. Keeping her eyes closed, she slowly made her way over to the dining room table where she plopped herself down.
"'Mornin', baby..." Chante' said, looking over her shoulder. Uniqua rested her head in her hand and yawned loudly. "*Yawn*..'mornin, Mamma..." She replied drousily.
"You say 'mornin to Mr. Cuyler?" Chante' said walking over the table and placing a plate of food in front of Early, who tore at it as soon as it hit the table. Uniqua watched him for a minute, then it dawned on her who exactly it was. "G'mornin' Mr. Cuyler...Rusty here with ya?" She asked, fully awake now.
Chewing on his food, Early looked up at her for a second, then back down at his food. "He sleep..." He answered coldly, scraping the last bits of food from his plate. Chante' walked over to the table and placed a plate down in front of Uniqua. "I'ma be gone all day, baby girl..you gonna be iight by yoself?" Chante' asked her daughter, taking off her oven mittens.
"Yeah...I'll be fine..." Uniqua answered, taking a bite of her food.
Finally finishing his plate, Early sat back in the chair and burped aloud. Rubbing his flat stomach, Early stood up and sighed. "Welp...we'd best be gettin' on..." Early said walking towards the front door. Chante' grabbed her purse from the table and followed Early.
"I'll see ya tonight, hon!" she yelled so that her daughter would here.
Walking outside, Chante's eyes went wide as soon as she saw the large, ten foot high "Truck Boat Truck" sitting outside Early's shack. She watched as he careless climbed up into the driver's seat with ease. A few seconds passed and Early beeped the loud horn telling her to hurry up. "You comin' or what?!" He shouted from high above her.
"You crazy? I can't climb up this thang?" she yelled from down below.
"Well...I guess you don't want this jawb that much then do ya, Miss Hicks?!" He snapped back.
Sighing, Chante' placed the strap of her small purse in her mouth and lifted up her leg to climb on top of the large wheel. This wasn't going to be easy with heels on. Several moments passed until she finally made it to the door. Looking through the window, she saw Early leaning against the wheel, tapping his fingers against it. As soon as Chante' closed the door behind her, she nearly screamed as she heard the sound of the roaring engine and was jerked backwards as Early took off. She watched as he barely stayed on the road, plowing over small trees and bushes. Early leaned his left arm outside the window, keeping his one hand on the wheel. He reached to turn the radio on, which came out raspy and snowy at first, but then turned into an up beat country song. Chante' just fixed her blouse and held tightly to her seat as they sped down the street.
As soon as Early took his seat across from Dan Halen's desk, he rested his large black dirty boots on the ends of the desk, leaning on the chair's back legs. Chante' just took a seat next to Early and awaited Dan to look up from his paper work. Moments passed before Dan noticed that they were even present in his office. Finally, he raised his head and smiled at Early.
"Early...what can I do for you?" He asked.
"Uhh...I came to ask you fer a favor...this here woman just moved in next to us...and she 'lookin' fer a jawb...I was just a' wonderin'...if-
"My god..." Dan exclaimed looking at Chante' who smiled kindly at him, hoping that he would be pleased. "You mean to tell me this enchanting creature...is now living next to you?" Dan asked Early, keeping his eyes locked on her.
"Uhh...yeah...and I like I was sayin' to ya'll earlier...she be needin' a j-
"What is your name?" Dan asked asked, walking from behind his desk over to where she was sitting.
"Chante' Hicks, sir..." She said with a little laugh as he took her hand in his and kissed. Early rolled his eyes from where he sat. Turning and facing Early, Dan shook his head.
"I'm sorry Early...what where you saying?" He asked, still not really paying attention to what Early had to say.
"I say she lookin' for a jawb! Can you give her one?!"
"A job?" Dan questioned looking at Early then back at Chante'. He then began to laugh as he returned to his seat. "Oh...Early..." Dan said, wiping a tear from his eye. "How many times must I remind you that YOU are MY boss...there for the decision is not up to me...I however will help you find her a suitable job for whatever skills she may have..." He then leaned over and smiled seductively at Chante' who stared at him a little uneasy. "And what skills do you have, my sweet?"
"Well...I went to beauty school for 'bout two years back in Atlanta..." She answered, playing with the stockings on her legs. Dan's eyes lit up as soon as had finished saying this.
"A Cosmetologist! Perfect!" Dan exclaimed, inking his pen and beginning to write something down on a piece of paper. Early looked at him confusingly.
"Umm...what exactly do we need...involving...cosmertolgery 'gain?" Early asked.
"Why, my dear Early...Image is everything! All the wealthy and powerful business men didn't become what they are now just by their business skills alone...no...it's about LOOKING the part...she will work for me as my personal Cosmetologist ...making sure that I am presentable at all times..." Dan exclaimed, handing Chante' a stack of papers. "Here are your working papers, you may start TODAY if you wish...I have a meeting with Russians today..."
"Thank you so much, Mr. Halen..." Chante' said standing up and reaching her hand out to him to shake. " I really need this, I really do..."
"The pleasure is all mine, my dear..." He replied, taking her hand in his.
Sitting up straight, Early cracked his neck and stood up. "Whelp...I've done all I can do...I'm off to lunch...see ya'll in a few hours..." He said, turning around walking towards the door.
"Early...it's 8:30 in the mornin-
SLAM!
Early was gone, leaving Chante' and Dan alone in the office. Leaning down from his chair, Dan opened a drawer pulling up a box of hair supplies, bows, nail polish and makeup. He then smiled brightly at Chante' "Shall we get started"
I was almost 9 and Early leaned against the wheel of his truck with a cigarette in his mouth, waiting. The Sheriff was about to pass him, but Early was hoping that he could just ignore him.
"Evenin' Early!" The Sheriff said, walking up to him. Early just grumbled and, took a deep puff from his cigarette.
"What you doin' here s'late? Your usually gone by 3?" The Sheriff questioned.
Early just shifted in his postioned and sighed. "Hmm...got caught up in this here neighbor mess...gettin that there Miss Hicks a job..."
"Well that awfully generous of ya, Early..." The Sheriff said with a smile.
"Don't start belly achin'...it's just one time...she 'goin to have to find herself 'nother way to get here in the mornins...cuz I sure as hell ain't takin' her all the dayum time..."
No sooner than he had finished saying that, Chante' walked out of the glass doors and towards Early, who she was actually surprised to see. "Aww...Mr. Cuyler...you didn't have ta wait for me nah...I got me a bus schedual...I can take that home..."
Getting a little angry that he had waited that whole ten minutes for her to get outside, Early just stood up straight and pointed towards his car door. "Uh uh! I waited for ya'll to stawp playin' dress up nah...you'd best take the dayum right home 'for I get angry..."
Figuring that deep deep down...maybe...he might have meant well...Chante' didn't argue back, just walked over to the car and climbed in. Besides...she really didn't feel like waiting. Standing down below, Early grumbled angrily as he was about to climb up to the driver's seat.
"Well, nah..." Sheriff started, giving Early a playful look. "Looks like yer fancyin' the new neighbor...hehe...shoulda figured...ya would..."
Folding his arms, Early snickered. "Are you out of yer dayum mind...I don't like her...she been here no more then three dayum days...how in the hell am I 'spose to like her?" Early questioned climbing up into his car. The Sheriff just smiled and sighed as watched Early speed away with the engine roaring down the street.
"You thirsty, lil gal?" Early asked after several minutes of silence between the two. Chante' looked at him with an "Are you Serous" look on her face.
"What?!" He demanded.
"You got money?"
"YES I have money...nah do you want somethin' ta drink or what?!" Early shouted, pissed off.
Chante' just smirked and rested her head against the window. "I guess...if you got mon-
"Know what?! Don't even matter if you want somthin' I'm goin in whether you want somethin' or nawt!" Early shouted, hitting hard on the breaks, causing Chante' to jerk forward. He then reached in the back seat and pulled out his riffle and a brown paper bag, then opened the door and hopped out. Chante' watched from up above as he pulled the brown paper bag over his head as he walked inside the small General store. Several seconds later there was shouting and the sound of glass breaking. After another several seconds, the sound of a gun shot went off and Early came running outside with two huge "BIG SIP" cups in his hands.
When he made it up to his seat, he threw the cup at Chante', spilling a little on her shirt.
"Here!" He mumbled, taking a sip of his. "It's diet...figure you lady folks like that mess..."
Knowing that Early probably didn't nice things for people often...or ever...Chante' smiled a little and turned and faced him as he drove. She looked at his skinny arm which had many tattoos on them. One in particular was designed to look like bob wire around his arm.
"There a problem there, Miss Hicks?" Early asked in a rude tone, not taking his eyes of the road.
"No" She answered with a little attitude behind it.
"Better watch that tone of yers, lil gal...I hear how you be slippin' that country attitude in some of the thangs you be sayin'...unless you speak like that all the time...people gonna walk all over you here..." Early warned.
" I can take care of myself, thank ya kindly..." Chante' replied, crossing her legs.
"Hehehhe...you in the country nah...ain't no more city here...ain't no streets to walk or hide in lil gal, Atlanta ai-
"First of all...what do YOU know 'bout Atlanta?!" Chante' snapped. "You sittin' there talkin' out yo ass sayin' a whole mess of nothin'! I was born here in the mountains you dumb ass! I moved to Atlanta when I was thirteen! I know what to expect here! I ain't no dummie straight out the city! Things just change here is all! I needed a little help gettin' a job is all!"
Chante' folded her arms and looked outside the window.
"Who in the HELL do you think yer talkin' to, lil gal?!" Early yelled.
"I'm talkin' to you! And anotha thang! Don't call me lil gal no mo! I am I grown ASS woman, and you need to start treatin' as such!" She snapped, making Early sit back in his seat.
He sighed and smiled a little. "Heheh...I knew you had a lil country in ya..."
The rest of the ride home was short and painless...well somewhat...
Chante' hopped down from the large truck and waited until Early got down from his seat.
"Miss Hicks..." Early grumbled, tilting his hat a little as he began to walk towards his front door.
"Chante'..."
"Huh?" Early questioned.
"M'name is Chante'...you can call me that..." She said coldly beginning to walk over to her porch. Early just stood there staring at her for a while. "Hmm...call me Early then..."
As soon as she heard him say that, she turned around and faced him. " Umm... I dunno if I'ma have breakfast ready tomorrow 'gain...the bus get here pretty early..."
Hearing this, Early thought for a moment. He really didn't want to wake up early again just to take her into work....but then again...that breakfast was pretty damn good...one more day wouldn't hurt. Early just turned around and sat with his back against the house wall. "I'll be there 'round 7...have breakfast on the table and be ready to go..." He said with a huff, titling his hat over his eyes. He heard a faint sigh, then the creaking of a door. He then heard a whispered "Thank ya..." right before the door closed. He twitched his nose. He wasn't going to say "Your welcome" he nice enough for one day, and frankly...it was exhausting.
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