Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Aaron McGruder's "The Boondocks".
I am the stone that builder refused
I am the visual
The inspiration
That made lady sing the blues
I'm the spark that makes your idea bright
The same spark
that lights the dark
So that you can know your left from your right
I am the ballot in your box
The bullet in your gun
The inner glow that lets you know
To call your brother son
The story that just begun
The promise of what's to come
And I'm 'a remain a soldier till the war is won
Chapter 9 - It Ain't Hard to Tell
LRC
Most of crew slept in the van parked in an underground parking lot. Jack and Sergio had left earlier to pick up a few things Huey had listed. Jazmine, Ming, Cindy, and Riley were all knocked out in the back. Ruckus and Lamilton were snoring, which was making it difficult for Huey to think.
Knock, knock. Slide.
The door slid open revealing Jack and Sergio, each with two large bags in both hands. Everyone woke up except for the four in the back.
"What time is it?" Lamilton asked.
"Time to stop dreaming about Candyland get off your ass," Sergio answered.
He then threw a red sweater with black sweatpants and a red beanie at Ming, a blue sweater with a black beanie at Cindy, a white sweater with a black baseball cap at Riley, and a purple sweater with white pants at Jazmine.
Jack threw a black sweater at Huey, another black sweater, sunglasses, a fake beard (legit), and a black hat at Thugnificent, a light blue sweater at Leonard, a couple of sunglasses at Ed and Rummy, and a razor at no one in particular.
"Shaving time," Sergio said.
After numerous groggy walks to the bathroom, everyone had changed into their new clothes and shaved whatever they needed to.
Huey now had a fade, Riley was bald but hid it under his hat, Jazmine let her hair flow down past her shoulders. Sergio shaved all of his facial hair and wore a grey suit. He kept his revolver.
Ruckus and Lamilton had also shaved off all of their hair. Now, they all squeezed back into the van (Sergio rode shotgun) and took off into the rainy downtown Chicago streets. They passed a jewelery store, some homeless people, and a couple of restaurants.
As expected, there were only white and black people in the streets that day; it seemed as if all the life had been sucked out of the city. Huey was looking for something in particular though, someplace where-
"Pull over," Huey commanded, prompting Jack to immediately find a parking spot next to a corner store that was named "Jack's".
"Everyone stay inside. Serg, Jack... come with me."
Huey slid the door open and hopped outside, pulling his hood over his head to block the raindrops. Sergio and Jack followed him into the store.
Ding dong sound.
Huey walked up to a middle-aged black man with a beard at the cash register.
"Hello sir," Huey started, "me and my partners would like to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind."
The man took a look at Jack and Sergio.
"What kind a' questions?"
"First if all," Huey responded, "what is your name?"
"... Frank."
Huey extended his hand towards Frank.
"Nice to meet you Frank-"
Frank shook his hand.
"-My name's Malcolm... and this is Sergio and Jack."
Frank: Yeah, yeah. Well, what is it you want? Money? Drugs? I ain't got shit.
Huey: We were wondering if you have a basement?
Frank: Yeah. What for?
Huey: Me and my partners would like to rent this basement. You won't have to worry about any damages to your property, we will fully reimburse you if anything should happen.
Frank: What in the hell would you want to use my basement fo'?
Huey: Sir, have you heard about the government's plan to...
Van
The rest of the gang were still waiting outside, kicking the back of the seats and leaning their heads against the windows.
Riley: Ey yo, Cindy. You got a stain on yo' sweater.
Riley pointed at Cindy's chest with a wide smile.
Cindy: It's brand new, you moron.
Riley (snickering): Damn, then that's even worse. It ain't even a day old an' you done fucked it up already.
Cindy rolled her eyes and look at his sweater.
"Huh?". She squinted and pointed at it. "What does that say?"
"Oh," Riley answered, looking down like a dumbass, "it says-"
Flick.
"Ow! Yo' finger went up my nose."
"Well sorry," Cindy snickered, "next time you shouldn't be so-"
"Hey Cindy," Ming interrupted.
"Yeah? What's-"
Cindy whipped her head around and ran into Ming's fist.
"Gullible right?" Ming joked, as Jazmine and Riley laughed.
Ed: Hey, I ain't one to complain, but shut the fuck up and let me get some sleep, damn it.
Everything grew silent again as Ed leaned his head back against the door. Suddenly, it slid open, sending him tumbling onto the wet pavement.
"Out of the car," Sergio ordered as Jack opened the opposite door.
Ed grumpily rose to his feet. "Man, what the fuck's your problem?"
"Oops."
Everyone made their way into the liquor store, confused about what was going on.
"Over here," Frank called from the stairs across the room.
The crew made their way over to and down the stairs. The place was large and pretty clean except for a spider web in the corner.
"We'll be staying here for a little while," Huey said, "Frank agreed to let us stay for free."
"Nigga are we sleepin' on the floor?" Thugnificent asked.
Huey: For a couple days tops...
Ruckus: Surely you can't be serious.
Huey: I am serious, and don't call me Shirley... but that's not the main purpose for this place.
Rummy: Then what is?
Televisions across America
Obama sat in his big chair at the oval office.
"My fellow Americans... as you probably already know, yesterday we began the deportation of illegal aliens. Uhh, we feel that this was a necessary step to ensure the nation's security. It is a fact that Latinos were the fastest growing population in the United States. If we hadn't of taken action, Latinos would have become the number one race in the US by next year... and I was not about to learn spanish. It would take time and money to adapt to this so... uhh, we decided on the more expensive- but quicker route."
Obama looks down at his papers.
"Next order of business. Starting next week, in order to help combat terrorism, every citizen will have chips implanted in their buttocks... Now let me be clear... my first name ain't Ronald so I sure ain't talking about no hamburger buns. The chip will get... dipped uhh, in your salsa, if you will..."
Short pause.
"So, prepare for that and uhh...God bless you, and God bless the United States of America."
LRC - Group 1
Ming, Riley, Cindy, and Sergio sat in the van across the street from a large park. The rain had let up and the sun was beginning to shine down on the city.
The crew watched as Jazmine and Huey sat on a bench, talking to a white married couple. They were asking the strangers if they had heard about-
"-the government's plans to control America and turn into a police state?" Huey asked.
Man: Yeah, I've head of that. The bastards.
Jazmine: My parents always told me that...
Jazmine then put her hands up to her face and sobbed.
Woman: What's wrong little girl?
Huey: Her parents were murdered by the government.
Woman (sad face): Oh you poor thing! Is there anything we can do to help?
Huey: There is actually...
Huey pulled out a pen and grabbed the woman's hand. He wrote a phone number on it.
Huey: If you wanna help the cause, call the number. Ask for the free diet Coca-Cola. Tell only the people you can trust about this.
Man: What happens when we call?
Huey: My partner will speak with you and give you the information.
Woman: Well, we will surely call.
Jazmine got a pat on the back by the woman as she and her husband walked away. Jazmine continued to cry silently.
"Good job, Jazmine."
Her head rose.
"Good job? That actually hurt to say, Huey."
Jazmine playfully punched Huey on his shoulder as she wiped away whatever tears she had.
Huey looked around... there was no one around for now.
"Sorry," he said.
"It's ok."
"No, I mean... that was a sorry excuse for punch. You should really-"
Harder shoulder punch.
"Ow! That actually tickled," Huey teased.
Jazmine giggled. "Yeah, whatever Mr. Boxing man..."
Jazmine then looked down at her feet and swung them back and forth. The cold wind blew her hair sideways as she looked back up at Huey. Normally, his afro would be doing the same.
"You look better like this," she complimented.
"Thanks."
LRC - Group 2
Lamilton carried a big stack of chairs on his back as Ruckus walked down the street with him. Ed, Rummy, Leonard, and Thugnificent carried boxes as they followed Ruckus into the van where Jack was waiting.
Lamilton collapsed onto the floor, letting all the chairs pile on top of him.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Ruckus yelled, "you just scratched the window with your lazy ass. That's fifty sit ups..."
Lamilton groaned.
"... with a KFC bucket in yo' face."
Jack sped off back towards the liquor store.
Ed: ... you see, I think Europeans are the finest bitches in da' world. Everyone be talkin' about Brazil an' shit but all they got is that Adriana Lima bitch.
Rummy: See, this ain't even an argument, nigga. Latinas take a mean shit on every race.
Leonard: I prefer the Asian women, myself.
Thugnificent: Yeah, Asians ain't bad but I think I'm rollin' with Ed on this one. White bitches over everything.
Ruckus: Well if you ask me, nothin' beats an old fashioned sophisticated American blonde.
Thugnificent: Oh you a Marilyn type eh, Ruckus? Not surprisin' but-
Ruckus: Well, as much as I wanted to do dirty things to Marilyn, I think Grace Kelly was the most beautiful actress to ever live.
Jack: That's a bold statement. For my money I'd go with Audrey Hepburn.
Rummy: Well you'd be as broke as a beer bottle in a bar fight. Everyone and their grandpa knows that title belongs to Jessica Alba.
Ed: I think I'm goin' with my man Jack, here. If we talkin' strictly face, then it's gotta be Audrey.
Leonard: See that ain't even-
A few hours later...
The crew gathered in the basement as Lamilton placed the last chair right where Huey indicated. A podium had been assembled up front along with a pair of tables on each side of the room.
"So how many people you get?" Rummy asked.
"About ten," Huey answered, turning to Ed (who was holding a briefcase) and Sergio. "You guys ready?"
They nodded.
"Ready for what?" Jazmine asked, worriedly.
"There's something I have to do... one of you will have to speak for me tonight if I don't make it back in time. Jack will stay here and help keep things organized."
Huey pulled out a few pieces of paper and handed them to Jazmine.
Jazmine: Uhhh... you want me to do it?
Huey nodded confidently and turned to go upstairs. He was followed by Jack, Sergio, and Jazmine. He made his way past Frank and to the front door, but before he opened it, he was attacked with a hug by Jazmine.
"Don't take too long, OK?"
"I won't, I promise."
Jazmine let go and walked downstairs as Huey, Sergio, and Ed made their way into the van. Sergio was in the driver's seat with Ed riding shotgun and Huey in the middle. It was around seven o'clock and the sun had set. The van started up and took off down the road.
"Alright," Huey said, "give it to me."
Ed nodded and handed a brown folder to Huey. He opened it and inspected the contents, then he closed it again.
"Take a right up here."
Jack's Basement
Lamilton was doing sit ups while Ruckus held a bucket of KFC in front of his face. Riley, Cindy, Ming, Rummy, Thugnificent, and Leonard were in the corner talking amongst themselves. Jack and Jazmine were at the podium going over the speech Huey wrote.
"OK," Jack said, "are you sure you can do this?"
"I think so."
"There's nothing to it, really. You just gotta have a little power behind your voice... like one of those black church preachers."
Jazmine smiled. "Oh, I think I can do that."
"OK, well Huey said I should do it if you can't handle it."
"What?" she responded angrily, "he thought I couldn't handle it?"
"No, no, he just-"
"He just nothing. He gave me the papers, you're not touching them. This is my speech, Mr."
"OK," Jack responded, "you're ready."
"Hey, is this the place?".
Everyone turned and saw a white man and woman walking down the stairs.
"Yes," Jack began, "you can-"
Jazmine quickly bumped past him and went over to the couple she had met earlier.
"Thank you for coming, you can sign in at that table over there and grab a seat wherever you like."
The crew dusts off and tries to look professional as the couple sign in and grab a cookie from one of the three plates.
"Are you expecting anyone else, Mr and Mrs..." Jazmine takes a peek at the paper. "... Fonda?"
Mr. and Mrs. Fonda sat down in the front row.
"Yes," Mrs. Fonda answered, "two of my friends and two of my husband's friends."
For the next half hour, people continued to file in. Pretty soon, all the chairs filled up and ten people were standing in the back. In total, twenty guests had shown up.
Jazmine stood up at the podium and cleared her throat. Like a black preacher...
"Welcome everyone. I'm sure you all know why we are here today... besides the delicious chocolate chip cookies Frank took the time to make."
Numerous chuckles in the crowd.
"No, the real reason we are gathered here today... can someone tell me what that reason is?"
"Cuz Obama is a bitch nigga!" a random guy shouts.
Even more laughs and some nods.
"Yes... and no," Jazmine answered. "Over the last couple of weeks, numerous laws have been passed. Laws designed to keep us, the people, down. These people... politicians, CEO's... take something like terrorism and use it to scare people for their benefit... but now... now it has gotten out of control."
"Speak it sistah!"
"Obama is not the only one to blame... he is a puppet. The real demons behind this madness are not seen on TV, they are behind the curtains, they pull the strings. So... you must be asking yourselves... what can I do about this? I live in a small apartment, working a nine-to-five job... what can I do? Well... what can you do?"
"Organize a protest!"
"And what will you do at this protest?" Jazmine asked the man.
"... you know... protest."
"Well that is a possiblity," she responded. "You guys have already taken the first step... getting educated about what is going on."
Some more steps are heard coming down the stairs. It's Huey, Ed, and Sergio.
"Sorry I'm late," Huey joked. "I brought a couple of friends."
"You guys can stand in the back," Jazmine replied. "Have a cookie if you like."
The three crew members each took a cookie and stood in the back as Jazmine continued...
"The next step is-"
Huey, Ed, and Sergio - Earlier
Sergio parked the van next to a restaurant called, "Paulino's Pizzeria". They all exited the van and entered. A hot Italian woman with curly hair greeted them at the front of the descent sized restaurant.
"Ciao! How are you guys doing today?"
"We have an appointment with Mr. Green," Sergio answered as Ed internally drooled at the sight of this woman and her thick accent.
"Mr. Green? I don't know a Mr. Green... how do you spell it?"
"V-E-R-D-E," Huey answered.
"Just like yo' gorgeous occhi, baby."
The girl giggled. "Come with me."
She led them through a few people eating pizza and pasta. Ed had his eyes on one thing the whole way.
The girl opened a door that led into the kitchen, then opened another that led into an office with a big chair. The chair was turned away from them and facing a bookshelf. A table separated the chair from three smaller chairs across from it. There was also two Italian men in suits standing next to the table.
The men walked over and patted down each one of them. They removed Sergio's revolver and Ed's pistol from them and returned next to the table.
"Sono qui per la nomina (they're here for the appointment)," she said.
"... Grazie, Elisa."
A deep voice with an accent came from behind the chair, which was followed by smoke. Elisa exited and shut the door behind her.
"Have a seat, amigos," the voice calmly said as the three took a seat across the table.
"Folder on the table," one of the men ordered, prompting Huey to do just that.
The man then pointed his gun at it. "Open it."
"Why are you pointing the gun at the folder for?" Sergio asked. "It's dead already."
The deep voice from behind the chair chuckled a bit, then coughed. Huey opened the folder, revealing a few papers.
Huey begins. "I have a business propositions for you. I want access to the best hit men in the world..."
The big chair spins around and faces them. In that chair sits a middle-aged bald man with a beard and reading glasses, smoking a cigar.
Mr. Green: Did I hear you correctly?
Huey: Did I misspeak? You know them don't you?
Mr. Green nods and put out his cigar on the ash tray.
Mr. Green: You are aware of their price, aren't you?
Huey:... are you familiar with the Heart of Eternity, Mr. Green?
Mr. Green: I'm guessing it's a diamond of some kind?
Huey: One of the most valuable diamonds in the world... currently in display here in Chicago. Twenty-seven point six four carats.
Mr. Green: How much is it worth?
Huey: Sixteen million. I think that should cover the cost of the hit men, don't you?
Mr. Green chuckles yet again.
Mr. Green: Well thank you for this lesson in diamond history Mr. Jackson... but that thing is unobtainable.
Huey places the papers in front of Mr. Green. The papers were blueprints to a newly built Chicago museum.
Huey: A close friend of mine managed to snag these. That same friend estimates that it would take around fifty thousand dollars to get the materials needed to pull this off.
Mr. Green picked up the papers and inspected them for a couple of minutes.
Mr. Green: Why do you need the hit men and all this money? If you don't mind me asking.
Huey: I have my reasons.
Mr. Green handed the papers back to Huey.
Mr. Green: I'll tell you what... since I'm in a good mood, I'll pay the fifty thousand and throw in a few of my men to help you out. Only I get eighty percent, which would leave you with roughly three million dollars.
Huey: Works for me.
Huey extended his hand and Mr. Green shook it as the three stood up.
Mr. Green (to Ed): Oh an uhhh... in case you're wondering, Elisa's single.
Ed smiled devilishly.
Chicago Streets - Present
A black car rode through the slums of Chicago again, passing a jewelery store, some homeless people, a couple of restaurants, and a corner store named, "Jack's". The five men in suits sat in the car. The driver parked next to the store.
"Not yet Huey Freeman, not yet..."
The car then continued to go down the road.
Jack's Basment
The speech had ended and people were now socializing and listening to the music coming from a boombox in the back. Nearly everyone had gone up to Jazmine and thanked her for an amazing speech. She went over to Huey who was talking with Jack at the moment.
"So how did the thing go?" she asked as Huey turned around. Jack went over with Sergio to let them talk.
"Oh, it went good."
"Yeah? What was it about?"
"Not much."
Jazmine looked confused. "... you know, you're lying to me... but I don't feel like talking anymore so thank you, Huey."
"For what?"
Jazmine had big smile on her face now. "For letting me do this... I've had dreams about it but actually doing it felt... well I don't really know how to say it, but it was a good feeling."
Huey then grabbed her hand. "Come with me," he said as he led her through the crowd.
"Where are we going?"
Huey didn't answer, he simply led her up the stairs and towards a door (that had been through some years) in the back of the store.
"OK, now close your eyes."
"What?"
"It's very simple Jazmine."
Jazmine closed her eyes shut. Very tightly.
Huey then pulled a key out of his pocket and swung the door open. All that was there was a staircase that led up to...
Huey flipped a switch and turned on the light in the room.
... that lead up to the roof. He grabbed a white box in the corner of the room and led Jazmine up ten stories, unlocking the door at the top.
Without letting go of her hand, they walked over to the edge of the building, Jazmine held on tighter to Huey's hand with each step.
"OK, open them."
She looked down to the street below and gulped. "Was this supposed to be make me smile?... what is that?"
Jazmine had her eyes locked on the white box Huey held in his arm. He handed her the box as they let go of each other's hands. Jazmine then quickly got on her knees and opened it.
"Oh my God!"
"Keep your voice down, Jazmine."
Jazmine then got up with her present and gave Huey a big hug. She would have said, "thank you" but her eyes were full of tears. So, she simply looked up at the city lights as they glimmered, listening the sounds of the streets.
"The world is a cold place, Jazmine. One day, all of this will be gone... so enjoy it while you can."
Jazmine wiped off her tears and let go of the hug. They both all there and stared at Chicago as Jazmine's hair blew in the wind. All four of them; Huey, Jazmine, and the two bears named Mr. and Mrs. Dubois.
A/N:
"Loved the discussion about sports at the beginning. Especially when they got to badminton. By the way, what exactly happened to Jazmine last chapter?"
Thanks, and I might do a short chapter that explains what happened that night. For now, just use your imagination ;)
"update this mutha fucka"
Here you go. Also, Bruce Lee fan eh?
Songs:
Riding through rainy Chicago: Perfect Dark - "Maian Tears"
Boombox music: A Tribe Called Quest - "Can I Kick it"
Huey and Jazzy sitting on a rooftop/End Credits: Will Sessions - "It Ain't Hard to Tell" Instrumental (Highly recommend it to add to the ending)
