Brick City Love Story
A Brick City Love Story
By:
Chanelle Alexandria
© Copyright 2015 Chanelle Alexandria & Cole Hart Presents.
All rights reserved. The text of this publication, or any part, thereof may not be reproduced in any manner without written permission from the author and/or publisher.
This novel is a work of fiction. Characters names, places, or events are of the author’s imagination. Any references to actual events or real people is entirely coincidental.
Dedication
To My Children the loves of my life:
Zuri, Ashton and Tamara
My love for the three of you is never ending.
You all have blessed me in the most indescribable ways.
I dedicate this to each of you:
There is nothing you can’t do if you put your mind to it.
Mommy loves you three so much
To my Guardian Angel:
Albert “Uncle Knookie” Fontaine Jr.
I miss you beyond words.
Though this isn’t that college degree you wanted from me
This is my dream. Which you always told me to follow.
I’d give my life if it meant you could live. I miss you.
I miss your jokes, smile and laughter.
I know you are watching from up above and
I promise to not disappointment you.
Can’t promise that I will ever stop crying.
We are on our way to the Billionaire’s Club.
Continue to watch over me. I love you.
I dedicate this to you for always being
The rock I needed. For making me stronger.
For being one of the greatest Uncles that ever walked this Earth.
There were only 4 and They are all mine.
#212Strong
To My Lady in Heaven:
Lucy “Nana” Simon
Nana I miss you so much.
I want to thank you for taking me in as your
Own. You are one of the best grandmothers I
Could ever ask for. There was nothing you wouldn’t do for me
And for that I dedicate this to you. I love you
Acknowledgements
First off, I want to thank God, the Heavenly Father whom all things are possible. He has blessed me with such powerful gifts and a platform to change the world with my gifts. No repayment is great enough for you. Thank you Father.
To My Mother, Sumoya, I can’t thank you enough for these past twenty-five years. I am actually speechless for once. Though some of our times together haven’t been the easiest know that I love you with every fiber in my body.
To my stepfather Leroy “Mookie” Simon Jr, yo POPS I love you and thank you for putting up with me. getting me out of countless ass whoopings. Thank you for putting a continuous smile on my mother’s face.
To my father, Michael Bryson: Daddy, I am always going to be your little girl. I love you so much. You are always there in my corner whether I am right or wrong. You support me and all my dreams. I love you Dad.
To my grandparents Albert Sr. and Clara you are the best second parents in the world. I love you both more than you’ll ever know. Without you two I can’t imagine where I would be.
To my siblings: Breyannah and Leron: Bad asses I love ya’ll and always will. Though ya’ll irk my nerves every day. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for ya’ll. Obadiah(Simba), Shahidah, Nyshea, Oshea, Victor, my Twin Nana (Shafee) and Khalilah I love ya’ll so much. I’m always here if you need me. Just call and I’ll come running.
To my cousins Omar (Poodie) you mean the world to me and you know that football head. Aiyana (Byrd), Kimani (Mooda), Sakiyah (Suga Momma): I love you young ladies and just know I will always have your backs.
To my remaining favorite uncles: Jerome and Marvin Sr. Thank you both for all that is me. You both had a tremendous part in my upbringing and without ya’ll and Uncle Knookie I would have never made it this far. Thank you both for making me feel like your daughter. I could never repay you. “Though my plan is to show that I understand. You are appreciated”
To My aunts, Donyetta, Donna, Gigi, Fahimah, Heather: I love you women beyond words. Thank you all for all that you have done for me.
To my kids father Yves: though we never see eye to eye I love you and that will never change no matter what. You’ve been there through every storm and though we stay in an argument I wouldn’t trade you for no one else. You showed me what it really meant to hustle. Our bond is unbreakable and what’s understood amongst us never has to be explained. Just know…you know. Lol.
TO: Kee Kee, Siah, Auntie Lynn, Uncle Hass, Auntie Shonda, Auntie Boobie, Malik, Tyshawn, Tay, Day Day, Daeshawn and my baby DJ, MJ and his 30 kids(lol), Tyron and Mel, Quandah and Jaz, Des, Tike, June and Boo Boo and the rest of my HUGE family I LOVE YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. IF I FORGOT YOU PLEASE CHARGE IT TO MY HEAD AND NOT MY HEART
To my best friend, Alicia: You hold the spare key to my heart. Your pain is my pain. Your joy is my joy. Thank you for all the talks, arguments, text, countless times we needed each other. the late night rides. Tell Chrissy Auntie loves her and I will always have her no matter what.
To Ish: my world of inspiration thank you for the continuous wave friend. I got mad love for you kid. You are truly the greatest guy friend I ever had. I can’t thank you enough for the inspirational wave. Our grind talks and just listening to me ramble on about nothing. *purple smiley devil face*
An emotional thank you to Chrissy J and Cole Hart for giving me my push. If I would have heard that I would pursue my writing career last year, I would have died laughing. But here I am and thanking these two. Cole, you have been the best big brother and bawss I could ask for. Always dropping knowledge and making sure I stay on my path. Checking in on me to see if I’m okay and taking me from 100 back to 0. A lot of people should thank you for keeping me sane. You helped me overlook the small things and kept my focus on my brand and business. Salute big bro. I LOVE YOU.
Chrissy…Chrissy… sissy pooh THANK YOU for opening up to me and accepting me. I love you so much. You are truly and angel on Earth. And we are surely gonna get Money and Montana on that big screen. Thank you for sparking that dwindling fire of hope. I took a leap of faith that day and was scared as hell but you were so genuine and made my dreams a reality.
I want to thank my sister, my friend, my pumpkin Neice Holland… where do I begin. In the short time we’ve known each other we have managed to discover that not only are we two peas in a pod but God meant for us to be sisters. Our bond is unexplainable and just know I got you through whatever. Thanks for believing in me and pushing me to the bar. You done messed up now cuz you stuck with my crazy self for life. Let’s strut our way into the Billionaire’s club.
To Janice Ross, my miracle worker, my editor. Thank you for the diligent work you did on my first baby. I cannot thank you enough for putting your blessed hands upon it. Thank you and hope to continue working with you on all of my projects. You are a gem and an inspiration.
To my entire family TBRS / Cole Hart Signature, I THANK EACH AND EVEY ONE OF YA’LL FOR THE CONSISTANT SUPPORT. FOR WELCOMING ME INTO YOUR CIRCLES. SALUTE!
Last but certainly not least, I want to thank my readers in advance for sticking with me. We are about to be on one hell of a ride. I love each and every one of you. There is more of this silly crazy girl from the Bricks coming your way. LOL
Yours Truly
Chanelle Alexandria (Sharmy)
Mílan
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mílan, and it’s pronounced “Mee-Lin”. But if it’s easier, then you can call me Mimi. I'm twenty-eight years, young and kid-free. I'm also single; at leas
t I think I am. I have commitment issues, so to speak. I'm loved by few and hated by many, rightfully due to my beauty. Moreover, I'm five feet five inches tall and thicker than a snicker. Weighing roughly one hundred and forty-five pounds soaked and wet, my measurements are 38-28-45. One would think I got ass injections, but Hunnie this is all natural. I have the prettiest set of brown, slanted Chinese-like eyes and the softest, blemish and acne free skin you've ever seen in your life. Not to mention, my natural curly jet-black hair that falls to my back.
~~~~~
Someone once said I’d fall in love with the wrong nigga one day. They said he’d do me dirty, just like I was out here doing these nothing ass niggas. But until that day comes, you’ll find me in Newark, A.K.A. Brick City, pimping these nigga’s pockets. Some of these hating ass bitches call me a thot and some of these unlucky niggas call me a quick fuck. But what you won’t hear in these parts is “broke” and my name in the same sentence. If these niggas want to fuck me or fuck with me, then they’d better be ready to finance me. Furthermore, their pockets better be Grand Canyon deep because a bitch like me ain’t in the business of fucking with broke men.
Thanks to my numerous sponsors over the years, I haven’t needed a job. I know how to use what I have to the best of my advantage. People confuse me for a slum whore. The difference between me and these bird bitches out here is that I know how to use my pussy to get me the finer things in life. I’m no different than these crooked ass politicians, fucking their way to the top. But not having a job hasn’t stopped me from pushing the latest custom, cherry red 2015 Audi R8 coupe. Nor did it have an effect on my closet staying slayed with the most expensive designer shit.
Gucci, bitch, what’s that?
Bye Felicia!
I was living way above my means. Let’s not forget that my bills stayed paid and on time, might I add. Thanks to the state of New Jersey and the beautiful city of Newark, my rent was only one hundred and fifty dollars a month. Moreover, my refrigerator, cabinets and pantry stayed stocked to capacity. A bitch was truly winning.
Now before you go judging and calling me names, please understand that I lived a rough life. For starters, when I was six, my father up and left. My mother, Brenda, was an evil son of a bitch. She blamed me for all of her shortcomings. That bitch has hated me for my entire life. Years after my father left I found out the real reason she resented me, my beauty. She claimed that my father left her because, when she got pregnant with me, I stole all her beauty and perfect figure; none of which she ever regained. Brenda was a stocky, sloppy two hundred and fifteen pound middle-aged women. She had long, silky curly hair, which I inherited, but always wore it in those cornrows similar to Queen Latifah’s in Set It Off. Her face stayed caked with makeup to hide the nasty blemishes that she’d gotten over the years. She would have a nice shape if she worked out more but instead, all she did was sit around and drink beer; which was the reason for the tire around her midsection. Brenda, who never wanted to acknowledge the fact that she was my mother, always used my looks against me. A day never went by without her telling me that boys would only want me for my looks and pussy. She said I wouldn’t make it past the age of seventeen without kids. I was locked in my room whenever she bought her dirty johns over, out of fear that they would see me and realize how ugly she was.
When I was thirteen, one of her johns at the time, waited until the last hour of the night, crept into my bedroom, and tried to rape. The scratchy feeling of a calloused hand palming my ripe breasts awakened me. After realizing he was fixing to do the unimaginable to me, I reacted as most females in my situation would. I drew back my knee and, with much force, thrust it in between his legs, feeling his manhood go limp against my bare flesh. I ran into the kitchen and saw Brenda passed out drunk in the middle of the kitchen floor. When her john came after me, I did the only thing I could think of at that time. I picked up the first knife I saw and began stabbing him repeatedly. Once I thought he was dead, I ran away and slept in Branch Brook Park for two whole days. I didn’t bother to go to anyone out of fear that they’d call DYFS and I’d be placed into foster care.
When I returned to Brenda’s house on the second night, I found her sitting in the living room and staring at a blank television set. I attempted to go to my bedroom. She lunged at me. I almost got knocked backwards. Her mocha skin was noticeably black and blue with bruises. Her full lips were swollen to the point of splitting. The area around her eyes was discolored, but her left one was the worse; it was completely closed. Her entire right side drooped like a few of her bones might’ve been broken. It looked like Mayweather had rearranged her face. Even a few patches of hair were missing.
“My looks wasn’t enough for your ass, huh? You stabbed my man because he wouldn’t fuck your little hot ass? Bitch, you must’ve lost your damn mind coming back after nearly killing my man. You’re grown, right? Fight me, bitch?” she hissed through gritted teeth. Well, what little teeth remained.
“Momma, he tried to rape me. Please Momma, you gotta believe me. Momma please?” I pleaded with her in hopes that she’d snap back into mommy mode and protect me like a mother was supposed to.
“You fucking dumb bitch. How many times do I have to tell you not to call me Mommy, you dumb slut? I’m not your fucking mother. I hate you. I wish I had abort you just like the rest of them.” She balled up her fists and made an unsuccessful attempt at hitting me.
That was it! The woman that stood in front of me was a demon and had surely lost her fucking mind, mother or not. It looked like her john had done enough damage to her, yet here she stood trying to fight me. Growing up in Brick City, you had to learn to fight at a young age, especially if you had a pretty face. People in Brick City nowadays, no matter the age, had nothing to lose. They would go great lengths to destroy anything they felt inferior towards. For instance, on my thirteenth birthday, I had to whoop this nineteen year old's ass because she felt like I was after her man. He couldn’t stay out of my face. She tried to slice my face. That was a no-no. So here I was in front of Brenda, who obviously thought I couldn’t rock, about to go toe to toe. She punched me in the eye. I lost it. I wore her ass out. If her john didn’t do enough damage, then I surely did. When I was done, I went to my room, packed as much of my shit as I could carry, and never looked back.
After leaving Brenda’s house for good, I ran to my Auntie Tonya’s house. Now Auntie Tonya was Brenda’s younger sister and the total opposite. Whereas Brenda didn’t have a motherly bone in her body, Auntie Tonya was the greatest mother figure I ever had in my life. Auntie Tonya was diagnosed with some type of rare kidney disease that made it impossible for her to conceive. She welcomed me with open arms and treated me just like she would her own, if she’d had kids. When I showed up at the doorstep crying and with a bruised eye, she demanded an explanation. I told her everything that went on, she called up my grandmother, Gail. Grandma Gail, or Gigi as I loved to call her, was that country-southern woman who valued God and family more than anything. Going against any of those two called for a severe ass whooping, though she was a saved woman. When Gigi got wind of what I went through with Brenda, she called up my uncle Buck.
Now Uncle Buck was a career criminal. He was on parole at the time and forbidden from leaving the state of North Carolina. But he’d do anything for his only niece. Uncle Buck came to New Jersey with a mob of my relatives from North Carolina and beat Brenda’s john’s ass so bad, he ended up having to piss and shit through a bag for months. Auntie Tonya took Brenda to court after severely beating her ass and won guardianship of me, since my father was nowhere to be found. The last we heard, Brenda was hooked on dope and prostituting. I wouldn’t recognize her ass if I saw her today.
Auntie Tonya became the best mother a girl could’ve asked for. Though she tried to repair the mental damages Brenda caused, the damage was beyond repair. She tried to keep me from living the life I've come to live, but it was bound to happen. All throughout high school, I had different niggas, every semester. I even star
ted having sex during the first week of high school with a senior who was the star quarterback. After I lost my virginity to him, I ended up with nigga after nigga. Week after week. It started with boys offering to carry my books home, and then escalated to men buying me expensive clothes. As I got older, other lavish gifts followed.
Thanks to Brenda and my messed up mental state, I used niggas before they ever had the opportunity to take advantage of me. In doing so, I ruffled a lot of these birds’ feathers. Some hated me for living better than them. Even though we were doing the same shit, others just hated me. Maybe it had to do with me sleeping with their man, baby daddy or husband. Hell, I’ve had grown ass men’s teenaged daughters mad at me because I slept with their fathers. Just like my favorite Instagram comedian East Ivo says, “Respect me today or I might become your stepmother overnight.”
I’ve been through it all living in Brick City, all my life: trips to the Green Monster, the jail for women. Even clinical visits, and always an everlasting beef with some bitch or two. But one thing was for certain and two things for sure: I always had my girls. Though those hoes were more like sisters to me than anything, no matter how much we fought or went days without speaking. And speaking of, they kept my phone ringing off the damn hook.
“Hello?” I squinted to look at the clock, eleven-thirty in the morning. I closed my eyes to keep out the sun’s beaming rays.
“Bitchhhh, are you still in the bed? Ya’ll, this bitch is still in the bed like it’s not Saturday morning,” Jamaya’s loud ass yelled in my ear. I should’ve looked at the caller ID before I answered because this hoe was what you would call a ghetto hood booger early in the morning, Jamaya was the loudest of the five of us.
Then there was Nydia, who was the quiet one but had the nastiest attitude and would pop off at the drop of a dime. Next was Tanika, she and I were the closest. She was my ace boon if anything went down. She was always down for whatever, no matter the circumstance. She had moved in with Auntie Tonya and me when her mother went to jail for burning down the house and killing her boyfriend in the process, after catching him with another women in their bed. Last but not least, there was Renee. She was the mother in the group, the voice of reason, even though she could be a bit judgmental. She did it with love. It still annoyed the hell out of me, especially since she didn’t agree with my life choices. That was us in a nutshell. When we’re together, we’re a force to reckon with.