On The Come Up

Shayla

I finally got Poppie over to my apartment and set her up in the extra bedroom. I intentionally decided to get a 2 bedroom, so I could find Poppie and help her out. We have been through a lot together and I know she was struggling when I left. I was like her protector, I took care of her when we were in the facility because all we had was each other. She was like my sister.

The first week of detox was hard for Poppie as she went through a lot of shit getting off the cocaine fix. Within the first day, which was the day I found her, she informed me that she had just taken two lines. I didn’t see any need to wait for her to detox so we started shortly after she moved in.

Poppie started experiencing withdrawals within a few hours after her last hit. I had taken a personal leave, so I had the next few days off to help her get back on her feet. At times, Poppie was exhausted and sweating so much, she would get pissed off at me because I wouldn’t turn on the air conditioning. If she wasn’t throwing up she would sit up for hours walking around the apartment because she was sleep deprived. Poppie went through so many withdrawal symptoms I didn’t know if she would make it - she was going through itbad.

She had tremors, convulsions and even hallucinations. She looked like she was dying right in front of me. Shespaced outat times that I had to check on her to see if she was still breathing. I cried for her because she was in so much pain and discomfort, I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t take it away and I felt horrible. It had gotten so bad, that I found myself praying to God that she would wake up the next day feeling just a little bit better.

Seven days went by and Poppie emerged from the bedroom one night as I was watching tv.

“Hey,” Poppie said as she walked into the living room.

“Hey girl, how you feelin’?” I looked at her and she looked so pale.

“Like shit,” she said, flopping down on the couch wrapped in a huge, fleece, hooded robe. She wrapped it tightly around her and sat with her legs folded in front of her.

“Well, you had me worried for a few days, but it’s good to see you on the other side,” I said, looking over at her and smiling.

“Thank you girl,” she said as she sniffed. “I....really...,” she hesitated.

“I know,” I interrupted her. “I got you.” Poppie smiled a weak smile. She was almost 100% but not quite there yet. I wanted her to be at her best because I knew she would do well.

“Thanks,”

“You hungry?” I asked.

“Yeah,” she responded questionably.

“You wanna smoke?” I asked, passing her the blunt I had rolled on the table. “It might help with your appetite.”

“You’re right,” she said as she took it and lit the end. She inhaled the smoke and closed her eyes to let it resonate in her soul. She had missed it. I knew she did.

“Weed only, okay?” I reminded her.

“Yeah, I got it.” I handed her the ashtray and went to grab her a bite to eat.

I had ordered a Giordano’s Pizza which we both loved. It’s been a while since Poppie’s had one I’m sure. It feels good to be able to give it to her when she needs sustenance.

“Ooooo Shit, Giordano’s?” she said looking at the slice of deep dish pizza on the plate I was handing her. She reached for and held on to it as if it was her last meal.

“So,” I started. I sat down on the couch, opposite of her. “I’d say next week I’ll bring you in with me to meet my boss.”

“Your boss,” she said with her mouth fairly full of food. “You got it like dat?”

“Yes,” I said, handing her a paper towel. “I got it like that.” I said pronouncing ‘that’ with emphasis.

“Oh, ’cuse me then Miss Thang,” she said, waving her hand and holding her pinky in the air.

“I know I’ve changed a bit but for the better.” I said, taking a sip of my drink. “But I can still be dat Bitch when I need ta be, ya feel me?” We giggled; it felt good to have her here with me.

“But for real though, what do you do?”

“I work for a very wonderful woman, named Vanessa McBride. She has helped me in so many ways, I can’t even explain it,” I said looking at her.

“That still ain’t telling me what you do,” Poppie stated rolling her eyes. She stabbed a piece of pizza stuffed in her mouth while waiting for me to respond.

“We were close Poppie, but we were nowhere near close to the level she is,” I was right. Vanessa was in her entirely one realm.

“What the fuck are you talking about, Shayla?” Poppie said getting frustrated with me. I smiled and turned towards her.

“I met Vanessa the day I got bonded out of jail. To be honest, I should have left with her instead of my Aunt, had I known what my Aunt was going to do with me. I could have been on my own much earlier and I probably would have been able to get you sooner.”

“Damn,”

“Right. Anyway, I met her when my Aunt had just paid my bail. Vanessa was in the waiting room when I was released. When I saw her I was like, why would a woman like her be in a place like this? She was dressed, Poppie. She was breathing money. She looked she dropped coins as she walked, just leaving change,”

“Damn, got so much money it just flows off of her huh?”

“Girl, if you only knew,”

“Bitch, I’m trying but yo’ ass draggin a fuckin story man,” Poppie said getting irritated.

“Chile please,” I said, throwing a pillow at her. She caught it and giggled. “Okay shit, it’s just that she saved me Poppie....she really did.”

“Well let me in on it, shit,”

“She gave me her card that day. She told me that she knew about my record and that I had a good concept but I went about it all wrong. She told me if I ever wanted to know how to do it the right way then to give her a call”

“The right way to do what?”

“She knew I was hosting the Play Parties. She said she wanted me to bring me in and learn the ropes. I told her about my Aunt and she said when I was ready to let her know and she would take care of everything.”

“Damn, who is this woman?” she asked.

“Vanessa McBride is the owner and CEO of Elegant Escorts and Distinguished Women.”

“Okay?”

“She’s also known as The Notorious Madame of Chicago,”

“Oh shit! For real?” Poppie said as her eyes got bulged out. She knew exactly who I was talking about.

Vanessa had a trial not long ago which made her known as the Madame of Chicago because she was accused of having a brothel or what some may call it, a ‘whorehouse’. She beat the wrap because the prosecution couldn’t get any of the charges to stick. Their case started to fall apart due to no evidence and those who were supposedly clients of Vanessa wouldn’t go against her. The Bitch was Bad with a capital ‘B’.

“Yup,”

“Wait, you work for her?”

“Yup and the shit is legit Poppie. It’s not like what you think,”

“So you fuck guys for money, big money,”

“That’s one way of thinking about it but not exactly. It’s not all like that,”

“So fill me in,” she said leaning in for a better understanding.

“Not all of its sex. We get paid to go on dates. And the dates are with distinguished men like politicians, business executives and international representatives,”

“International representatives? Are you serious? Politicians?”

“Yes. Vanessa makes sure we are totally schooled in what we need for any type of client and interaction that we may have during the date. Sex is extra,”

“You fucking me?”

“Not at all, straight truth Bitch,”

“Shit, we on the come up!”

“That’s what I’m saying!”

“So what do I have to do?”

“Well, for starters you have to go to what is called ‘Finishing School’,”

“What the fuck?” she yelped. I giggled.

“I know right? I had the same reaction. But apparently, it was called that back in the day whereas women who were basically born into a rich family had to attend these classes to enhance their social graces and etiquette as well as cultural studies which will prepare them for social activities,”

“What the fuck?” Poppie said again tilting her head.

“Basically, the goal is to teach us how to be cultivated, educated and graceful. They teach us how to host, entertain, and socialize with the elite,”

“Oh shit,” Poppie’s mouth hung open. She couldn’t believe what I had just said. I couldn’t either, but I must admit, I learned a lot.

“Yeah,”

“Was it hard?”

“Nah, it’s easy. We just gotta smooth off the rough edges. That’s what Vanessa likes. She wants real women who are hungry to get theirs and work hard at getting it. She said a sophisticated and educated woman is a woman....shit, how did she say it? Um., ”

“How to say sophisticated and educated?”

“No silly, she said a Sophisticated and Educated Woman is a woman who ought not be crossed. It won’t end well.”

“Damn,”

“She knows her business and there is no one like her. She said she admired that I tried to host parties and she wanted to show me the correct way,”

“Well fuck,” Poppie said as she caught herself and covered her mouth. “Um, I guess we don’t curse, huh?”

“We do, but when the time is appropriate. You will learn just like I did. It’s not hard Poppie, I swear. Before you know it, you will be bringing in that cash and speaking three different languages.” I said and she turned and looked at me.

“Bitch, you speak another language?”

“Si, Mamacita,” I answered. Poppie squinted her eyes and looked at me.

“Bitch, you already know Spanish,”

“Oui, mon ami,” I spoke in French.

“Well fuck me,” she sat back and smiled. “Bitch, what you say?” I looked at her with my head tilted and the corners of my lips turned up. “Sorry, what did you just say?”

“I said, yes my friend,”

“Aw shit, yeah, I’m ready, I’m down. I wanna learn a new language. I want to learn Italian or Chinese or,”

“Mandarin is very hard to learn just so you know. It is possible, just hard,” I responded.

“I don’t want to learn Mandarin, I want to learn Chinese,”

“Mandarin is their language,”

“Oh, well yeah, fuck it, I want to learn it. I want to learn how to place my order at the Chinese food restaurants,” she said smiling. I just shook my head.

Poppie was always the one who made me smile. She might not be the smartest cookie but she had her moments.

“Well you just worry about getting better first and we’ll start next week after you have your one on one with Vanessa,”

“One on one?” she said, sounding concerned.

“Yes, she meets with everyone one on one. It’s okay, she doesn’t bite. She just wants to get to know a bit about you and to learn your strengths and weakness so she and enhance what you have and grow what you don’t,”

“Oh ok, if you say she’s cool, then we’re cool,”

“I’m sure she’s going to love you Poppie, you’re my girl. I’ve already told her so much about you. She knows that we were both in a facility together. She likes to bring in girls of a certain age, legal of course, and of different backgrounds and ethnicities so she can cater to those of her clientele,”

“Oh ok Vanessa,” Poppie sang.

“Yep, she is on top of her shit for real,”

“So you really made 2 grand a date?”

“Yep, but it depends. It starts between $500 - $1000, that is the starting rate. As I told you it varies because it depends on the clients. But sexual dates will start at $1500 and can go up from there,”

“Shit!” Poppie fell back on the couch and looked up to the ceiling in disbelief. “Thank you for coming to get me, girl. I really appreciate it. I tried to hold on but...,”

“It’s okay girl, that’s why I had to get my shit together so I could help you get your shit together,”

“Cool, thanks.”

“You’re welcome girl. You my sistah for real. You know I love your light, bright ass,” I said smiling while walking over to give her a hug. She opened her arms and we embraced each other.

“I love you too girl, I wouldn’t have made it this far without you. You are the only people I got,” Poppie said as I sat next to her. I held her hands looking at her fingers. She needed a manicure, badly.

“I know. You are the only family I care about. All them other niggas can kiss my black ass,” I said and she smiled.

Poppie and I sat up and finished off another slice of pizza each and I opened a nice bottle of wine for us to enjoy. She wasn’t ready for the wine but I told her I attended culinary classes and totally fucked her up when I bought out a charcuterie board with fruit, meats, cheeses and crackers. She seemed excited to get to my level and I wouldn’t be surprised if Poppie excelled in all of her classes.

As long as she keeps her shit together, smoke weed and her nose clean she will go far.