Chapter 4: Pool Cues and Proud Fools

Grove Street, Ganton, Los Santos 1992

Sweet woke up in his bed in his home on Grove Street, he lit a blunt and took a big hit before getting out of bed. Laying in bed beside him was a hood rat from the block, she laid naked in the bed asleep. Sweet stood up, he put on his pants and his green t shirt and ball cap. The radio was playing, Radio Los Santos. "Hey, good morning LS. This is Julio G, playing the newest and best hip hop in the state. This one goes out to my homies over on Grove Street, because you know they getting they hustle in today. Here's Ice Cube with Check Yo Self. Radio Los Santos, this is Julio G." The DJ said through the speakers before the song came on. Sweet changed the station, he liked some hip hop. But he was more partial to jazz and funk. He turned on Bounce FM, the radio was playing "Give Up The Funk" by Parliament.

A knock on the door caught Sweet's attention, he walked to the door and opened it. Smoke and Ryder were there, they were a little older as was Sweet. It had been five years since Brian's death, and Sweet was still angry at his brother for letting it happen. "Wassup Smoke, Ryder?" He said as he shook their hands in their own way. "Nothing much, just thought we'd hang out awhile." Big Smoke replied. Ryder was the next door neighbor to Beverly, while Smoke lived in a housing project a block away. Sweet handed the blunt to Smoke, who took a hit and handed it to Ryder. The three sat down, Smoke and Sweet on the couch, and Ryder on the chair cornered to the couch. "Man, this smoke needs a little boost. Want me to light up the one I got laced?" Ryder asked the other two. "Hell naw. You crazy." Sweet replied.

The door opened to the other bedroom, Kendl walked out. SHe was wearing a green halter, with a blue denim mini skirt and white sneakers. Her dyed red hair was in a bun. "Hey, Kendl. Anyone call last night? I'm expecting a call from the cable man." Sweet asked her. "No, nobody called yet." Kendl replied. She grabbed her bag and walked out the door. "That damn girl, doesn't she realize she's a target?" Smoke asked Sweet. "I know, she is wearing green and lives in this hood. Ballas would take her out just to get to me." Sweet replied. He stood up and followed Kendl out the door. "Where are you going!?" He asked her abrasively. "I'm going out, you ain't my motherfuckin daddy!" Kendl replied. She got into a red Savanna driven by a hispanic looking man before it left the cul de sac.

Sweet turned around, he walked back inside and slammed the door. He walked back into the living room where his homies were. "So, what y'all wanna do?" Sweet asked them."Wanna play cards?" Smoke asked him. "Naw, I feel like getting out. What do you say we go shoot some pool at the Ten Bottles?" Sweet suggested. "Sounds good man. I'll wipe the table with y'all." Smoke replied. "Motherfucker, you in that green shirt you can be the fuckin' table. Let's go." Sweet said with a laugh. They finished the blunt and got up, they walked outside and got into Sweet's blue Greenwood sedan. Sweet started the car and drove down the street. Smoke turned on the radio to Bounce FM "Mary Jane" by Rick James was playing. "Man, this station is the shit." Smoke exclaimed. "Man, this old folk music. Play some NWA motherfuckers." Ryder said with a hint of disappointment. "Fuck them busters. They just a bunch of wannabes who get famous talking about shit they've never done." Sweet replied.

They pulled into the parking lot of the local bar, The Ten Green Bottles. It was a dive, that had mainly GSF members and locals that lived nearby. They got out of the car and walked in, the pool table wasn't being used so they walked up to it and Ryder started racking the balls. Sweet grabbed a pool cue and chalked the tip, the balls were ready to go and Sweet aimed his stick. He broke the pyramid and two solids went into two different pockets. "Hell yeah!" Sweet shouted. "You got little ones." Smoke said as he stood up and walked over to the bar. Sweet shot again, he was aiming for the six ball in the corner pocket. He missed, giving Ryder the opportunity to make his shot.

Smoke walked up to the bar, he sat down on a stool and the bartender looked at him. "What'll it be?" He asked Smoke. "Gimme a forty of your cheapest beer, and a plate of wings." Smoke replied. "Wings, what the fuck you think this is? This ain't no restaurant tubby." THe bartender replied. "Alright fuck the wings, just gimme my beer asshole." Smoke said aggressively. The bartender sat down a forty of Old British, a cheap malt liquor. Smoke took a big drink, he watched Sweet and Ryder play pool. "Have you heard from CJ?" Smoke asked Sweet. "Fuck that mark, punk ass nigga." Sweet replied before taking a shot. "He's your brother, dog. Last one you got." Smoke said as he took a sip of beer. "That buster ass showed hisself." Ryder said as he chalked his cue.

After a few drinks and a couple games, the crew headed back to Grove Street. Sweet parked his car outside of his house and they all piled out. "Hey, I'm gonna head back to the PJ, I'll catch y'all later." Smoke told them. He got in his station wagon and drove off, Ryder looked at Sweet. "Yeah, I'm gonna head home." He told Sweet. "Later." Sweet replied. Sweet walked over to his mother's house and walked in the door. Beverly was sitting on the couch smoking a cigarette, she was watching a rerun of Just The Five Of Us. "Niggas never get a good tv show. It's all white folk pretending they happy." Beverly said as she smoked on her cigarette. Sweet closed the door and sat down beside her. "Have fun with your no good ass friends?" She asked Sweet. "Yeah, it was aight." Sweet replied. "How are you?" Sweet asked his mother. "Aching, work killed me. Luckily I got vacation starting next week." Beverly replied. Sweet watched TV with his mother until dark, before leaving and going home.