Some Things Never Change

“I’m basically the front man or the face of “Hookah Promotions.” You’ve been to one of our parties, you have seen how we roll. We offer a wide range of tobacco flavor and machines for your disposal. I negotiate all the business deals, handle all the public relations as well as the accounting side of the business. It was hard to get financial backing at first but now that we got more contracts, people like what we offer, our popularity has grown and we get more offers on a daily basis. I expect big things over the course of the year as our company has started to expand.”

“Bullsh*t.”

“Is it so hard for you to trust me and accept that what I say is true?” Asked Wayne.

“It’s a known fact that if you’re looking to score at parties the Dutty Bloodz got the hook up.”

“As long as there are people wanting to have fun, get high and experience the ultimate in pleasure. There will be people pushing drugs, as long as there is market for it. I’m not saying that I’m involved but that’s just life. I deal with the legitimate aspect of the business. I don’t openly solicit illegal drugs. At the parties we try to provide patrons with a safe environment. Somethings you can’t control Lou, it’s not that you’re making an allowance but it happens and you deal with it or ignore it.”

“You are prospering from crime and the death of your own people. How can you think any of that is ethical?”

“It’s not about what I think but about what sells. We stay away from the heavy stuff like crack/cocaine. What we sell is the light stuff like hookah and weed anything that makes the party experience worth it. Who am I to deny a customer that pleasure? If we stopped doing it today somebody else would just take up right where we left off. Some get addicted, others don’t, that too is a part of life. What we are doing isn’t any different from that of the alcohol or tobacco company. These corporations get the law behind them and set the police on us to erase the competition when we dip into their market. I don’t see you storming into their office and giving any of the managers there the third degree with questioning.”

“Oh is that how you feel about my caring about you?” Lou looked like she was about to cry.

“Sh*t!” Wayne swore. “I’m sorry Lou I didn’t mean to make light of your feelings or take you for granted.”

“Honestly Wayne, I don’t know what to think, about all you’ve told me right now.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t possibly be in a relationship with a guy that condones the sale of narcotics no matter how harmless the drugs appear, it’s deceptive and unscrupulous the way you take advantage of people and try to paint a pretty picture of it all. When you know without a doubt that in the long term it does more harm than good to our people.”

Wayne didn’t like where this conversation was going, was she about to deny the obvious bond between them. He was pretty sure it wasn’t his imagination and she felt the connection they shared of a man very much in tune with his woman. 

“Hear me out Lou, I’ve come a long way with the crew, to the point where I feel like I’ve finally outgrown them. I ain’t about to leave this game empty handed. I can’t just abandon them, they have treated me like family and I feel loyal to them. We have taken a lot of flak and disrespect from people trying to con us and make us lose our lives but we triumphed despite the haters. Where were those haters when we needed guidance and support, that’s right, nowhere to be found. We had to make it on our own by any means necessary to put food on our families’ tables. Can you honestly fault me for that, don’t stand there and judge me when you have no idea what I’ve been through.”

His blood boiled when she told him the people in her neighborhood had warned her about Wayne. They knew he had an absentee father and an alcoholic mother. They gossiped about how she had allowed him to run wild in the streets with those other hoodlum boys. He was a disgrace and would never amount to much. Those thugs he called friends terrorized the neighborhood on a daily basis and were responsible for the increased crime rate. Police had them under suspicion and anyone caught sporting their tattoo or insignia were immediately brutally searched without a reason in a bid to catch them with contraband.

“I’m not judging you Wayne, and honey I appreciate you opening up and sharing with me. How long are you planning to stay in that line of business, weeks? Months? Years? The longer you stay in the game the harder it will be for you to get out, can’t you see that.”

“You’re right Lou. This business is tiring and I’ve come to the end of my limits. It’s hard to constantly be looking over your shoulder wondering who is gonna betray me next because they want to take my place. Just let me handle my business and cut all ties on my own. I need you to trust me and I don’t want you to get involved, just let me do it my way. Now that I have a steady income coming in from this television series I will definitely be getting out.”

“Wayne I care for you and you have my full support, I’m glad that you’re gonna take my advice and come out, for the sake of us, promise me that you will.”

She tried her best to ignore those offhand comments that circulated about Wayne. She had to admit it bothered her because Wayne was such a sweetheart around her. It was hard for her to see him doing any of the actions people accused him of. She let him know thoroughly that she did not support or approve of his chosen lifestyle. If he wanted to continue their friendship he would have to give it up. They hadn’t known each other long and what she asked of him was a big step for him to take on the road to recovery. She had faith that he could do it, the little she knew of his character showed that he was intelligent, of strong mind and inner strength.