Rock Bottom

Poppie

The party started jumping and I knew I should have left before everyone started showing up. The room was packed with guys and chicks wall to wall. Smoke filled the air so thick a person would swear that something was on fire somewhere.

I hung out with Marcus for a bit, sitting on his lap while he played Spades, I was just there to smoke the blunts that were going around. I was feeling lifted as I kept refilling my drink to the point I wasn’t adding any mixer, it was just alcohol. Straight vodka.

I was talking softly with Marcus when Tony passed him a plate with two lines of coke. Marcus inhaled a line quickly and pinched his nose. He sniffed his nose, looked at me and he offered the plate and waited for my response. I should have said no, but my stupid ass didn’t and I did the line.

My nose burned crazy hot, then I sniffed again hoping it would subside soon. I closed my eyes and pinched my nose mimicking Marcus. Marcus rubbed my back while he passed the plate back.

“You good?”

“Yeah, I’m good.” At least, I thought I was. I wasn’t. I was fucked up.

After a while, I was sitting next to Marcus, moving to the music and Marcus excused himself from the table. My eyes were barely open as I leaned against the wall waiting for Marcus to return. He was in the corner talking to two chicks that were looking back at me. I really didn’t do anything about it and just shrugged it off. Marcus returned and leaned in to me.

“Hey Poppie,” he spoke softly to me so as to not draw attention. “You wanna make an easy $500?”

“How easy?” I said sitting up. ” Wait a minute, I don’t know, I’m kinda tired.” I just had two guys and I wasn’t planning on a replay.

“And you ain’t gotta fuck no Niggas,” he said. I looked at him strangely. “It’s some Bitches that wanna get with you.”

I looked at him to see if he was serious - he was.

“Who?” I asked and he pointed to two chicks sitting on the bed having a moment between themselves.

“Oh,” I watched them as they kissed and caressed each other on the bed. Everyone was fucked up and to be honest, this was one of those ‘freaky’ parties so people didn’t give a fuck.

E’erybody was doin’ sum’ of e’erythang, e’erywhere. Feel me?

“They said they wanted to get down with you, if you didn’t mind. I told ’em you had a price tag.”

“For real?”

“Yup. It’s PoppieLuv123, right?”

“Yeah,” I replied. He looked at me and apparently I gave him the go ahead and he went to provide them with my cash app ID. By the time he got back to the table, I received $500 from muffbuddy420.

The two girls were hot as fuck, neither one of them were ‘Butch’; I figured I could get my pussy eaten correctly with passion from those who know exactly how to handle the vajayjay and know all the secrets hidden deep within. I walked over to the side of the bed and they invited me to join in - and for $500, I did.

My alarm buzzed and woke me up, scaring the shit out of me to be honest. I looked at the clock, it read 9:35 am. SHIT! I had overslept - AGAIN!

“FUCK!” I yelled as I jumped my ass out the bed and ran to the bathroom. I was supposed to be at the office at 8:30!

Ever since the party at the hotel, I have not kept my shit together. I had been hooking up with Marcus and his parties weekly since he had been hooking me up with some people who have been paying good money to keep my lights on. Yet lately, I’ve been struggling staying on top of shit like before. I was already on a temporary basis and on two write ups since the last party. I had one more chance before I would be shit canned.

Hanging out with Marcus has been a blessing and a curse as it gave me more money but I started a habit that I didn’t expect to pick up. Since Marcus throws the parties and he has me involved, I get free access to weed and shit. So I’ll do a couple lines with Marcus every now and then to help cope with shit. I still hadn’t heard from Shayla and I don’t know if she’s alive or dead.

One day I went into work, high as fuck right directly from the hotel. I got sent home from the client and was immediately reassigned. My employment manager, Monica, at the agency told me that I was walking on thin ice and that I needed to have no attendance concerns for at least 2 months before I would be back to good standards.

Well I fucked that up.I looked at the mirror at my reflection. I didn’t even look like myself. It looked like I hadn’t slept in days, there were dark blueish circles underneath my eyes. My hair wasn’t as silky as it is usually and I looked paler than pale. I looked like a goddamn ghost or even worse, I looked dead! I knew I was white but I was too fucking white!

Just then, my cell phone rang. I could hear it from the living room of my small apartment. The ringtone let me know it was my job calling me. I didn’t want to answer it. I already knew what they were going to say. Fuck. Shit. Damn. I just shook my head and let it go to voicemail. I didn’t even want to deal. I had another hook up set for later on and I needed the fucking money, especially since I knew they had fired me.

I didn’t have to pick up the phone to know, I just had a feeling. I brushed my teeth and washed my face. I turned on the shower as hot as possible while I went to grab a change of clothes. On the way back, I played the voicemail that was left:

[Employment Manager] This message is for Penelope Matthews. This is Monica Andrews, the Manager at Employment Express. Could you please give me a call as soon as possible? Your assignment for today has been reassigned. Please call me at your earliest convenience.]

Yeah, I already knew that shit would happen. “Fuck!” I was mad at myself because this shit could have been avoided. I had no one to blame but myself. I took off my sleeping shirt and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water burn my skin turning it red. The pain felt so good sending chills through my entire body.

I let the water fall over my head as the water trickled down through my hair to flow down my face as I closed my eyes. The warmth of the water brought my skin back to life because I was struggling this morning. I needed to find another job as this temp shit wasn’t cutting it. I had overheard someone say that the Tootsie Roll factory was hiring. Shit, I need to get that job. I would have to get my ass up extra early to make that work because I heard they have three shifts at the factory. I wanna work early so I can get that shit done and over with. I just need to stop fucking with Marcus and his parties.

The water saturated my hair as I smoothed my hair back and raised my head to allow the water spray on my face. I needed to get my shit together. I just need a come up and I need it now. I can see myself going down, slowly - but a steady decline.

After the shower, I wrapped myself with my robe and rolled a blunt before calling the agency. I figured if I was going to get fired, I might as well be in a good mood about it. I grabbed my wallet and pulled out a small baggie with a small amount of coke. Marcus gave me this to start my day. I poured the contents on the back of past due notice and made two lines. I did both quickly, pinched my nose, picked up the residue and spread it across my teeth. I was hooked, I knew it. I didn’t want to be but it was the only ‘friend’ at the moment that I had to confide in.

I lit the blunt, picked up the phone and dialed the number.

“Hi, may I speak to Monica please?”

“Whom shall I tell her is calling?”

“Penelope Matthews,” I answered and she put me on hold. I inhaled and blew out the smoke slowly, making circles in the air.

“Hold on while I transfer you,” she quipped and immediately transferred the call.

“Penelope,” Monica answered sternly.

“Hello,”

“Are you okay?”

“No, I’m not, if you want an honest answer. But I know I need this job,” I said pleading my case, but not really.

“I understand you need the job but you need to show up for the job you need. I can’t promise a client a temporary replacement who doesn’t show up.”

“I know, if you could just give me..,”

“You’re out of chances Ms. Matthews. We discussed this the last time this happened. I don’t know what is going on in your personal life, but it seems to be hindering you from completing assignments.”

“I know, I’ve just had a few personal things happen, but I’m working on it,” I stammered trying to save my job.

“That’s what you said the last two times. I’m sorry, but it seems as though your personal matters do not allow you to meet our requirements. Therefore I am closing your contract with us. I’m sorry but we will no longer be contacting you for any future assignments. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.” she calmly said.

I didn’t know what to say. I had no rebuttal because she was telling the truth.

I was a liability for the company and she was right, she can’t tell a client that she has someone who just doesn’t show up. I really fucked up this time.

“I understand and I’m sorry for everything.” I finally replied.

“I’m sorry too Ms. Matthews, have a good day.” Monica said as she disconnected the call.

I just put the phone face down and pulled long on the blunt. I put my feet up on the cocktail table as I had nowhere to go since I was no longer employed. I really needed to show up for the hook up tonight because now, a Bitch really needs money.

---

Shayla

I hoped I could find Poppie’s ass before she goes and does something stupid as shit. I had been hearing she had been out here slinging her shit for some ends and if that was the case, then I had an offer she couldn’t refuse. The last thing I had heard was that Poppie had been hanging out with Marcus and she got hooked on the powder. She is so much better than that, but I know she was lost after I left. I didn’t have a choice. It was either stay in jail or go back with my Auntie who got me out of jail.

Only thing is, that shit didn’t last long. She acted that since she paid for me to get out of jail that I was her live-in slave! This bitch had me doing every fucking thing around the house and a bitch didn’t even work. I got tired of that shit after I was on my hands and knees cleaning that nasty ass, dirty floor and this bitch came walking in crossing the floor I just cleaned and mopped with muddy ass shoes because it was raining outside and she stepped in a mud puddle.

I lost it on that Bitch! I swung on her and she is glad I didn’t make contact. My Aunt was talking out the side of her mouth thinking she was gonna treat me like that because she put up the money. She said had my mother been alive, she would have left me there. Shit to be honest, Auntie should have left me there if she was gonna act like that towards family.

I left about a month after I had moved in with her. Luckily I still had money from Mike, it wasn’t a lot but it kept me until I got my ass back in Chicago. I ran into someone who helped me out in more ways than one and I wanted to get Poppie hooked up with her. After working for her for a few months, I have my own place, money saved in the bank, a wardrobe out of this world and I don’t work a regular 9 to 5.

My Aunt was floored when I sent back her fucking bail money. I told the Bitch I don’t want nothing else from and to lose my fucking number. Of course, the bitch is always trying to call me asking me for some money. I just ignore her calls and go about my day, I don’t have time for the bullshit.

I heard that Poppie got fired from the temp agency. Word on the street is that she’s been hanging out with Marcus having these ’play parties ’cause she needs money. I also heard she may be strung out as well. If that is true, I really need to find her because she needs to get clean in order to work.

It was early in the morning by the time I reached Poppie’s apartment. If she ain’t got a job, then she should be at home, I thought. I walked up the steps and rang her doorbell. I could hear her coming down the stairs to open the door.

“Who the fuck is it?” she yelled from behind the door.

“Bitch, open the fucking door, it’s cold out here!”

Instantly, I heard locks being unbolted and the door knob turn. Poppie opened the door looking fucked up - she lookedfucking tired.

“Shayla!” she screamed.

“Poppie!” I yelled in return. We grabbed each other and held on tightly.

“Bitch, where you been?” she said, stepping out the way to let me in the door. She closed and locked the door and we walked into to her apartment.

“Bitch, I’ve been here actually. I was taking care of my shit so I could come and get you.”

“What you mean? Come and get me?”

“I heard you lost your job.”

“Oh damn, that shit just happened like 3 hrs ago, how the fuck..,”

“Monica called me. She had been keeping an eye on you for me.”

“So she knew where you were all this time?” she said, sounding as if she was getting pissed off.

“No, she was just letting me know how you were doing since I had left.”

“Oh,” she said, lighting up a blunt. “So where you been?”

“Well, it’s complicated but rewarding. I don’t know how to explain it.”

“So you staying in Chicago?”

“Yep, I got myself an apartment in Lincoln Park.”

“Lincoln Park! How you swing that?”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. You need to get clean.” I said. She knew what I meant. She knew I had my ways of finding out.

“I know,” she said, pulling on the blunt and passing it over to me. “I hadn’t even planned on starting, now I gotta get off this shit.”

“Well in order for me to bring you in with me, you need to get clean. Weed is okay, but you gotta get off any other shit you are on, for real.” I said pulling on the blunt. It was nice to be back smoking with my girl.

“Okay, what you got a job for me?”

“A good job that has hella benefits.”

“For real, how much it pay?” she said, trying to see if it was worth it.

“I get 2 grand a night.” I said and watched her eyes get big in her head.

“2 Gs for real? What the fuck do you do?”

“I go on dates.”

“Dates?”

“Yes, and it’s more if sex is involved.”

“What?” she answered. I knew she was confused but everything will make sense later.

“I’ll tell you more about it, but you definitely need to get off the coke.”

“Yeah,” she said as she took the blunt and pulled on it. “Well, I did two lines today. That was the last of my shit. I got a hook up tonight though.”

“Cancel it. You’re coming with me.”

“Cancel? Bitch I have no money. I’m behind in rent and I barely kept the light on in this motherfucker last month.”

“Bitch, cancel the hook up. You are moving in with me. I need you clean so you can be my partner in crime again. We’re gonna do this shit legit and make bank.”

“Moving with you?” she said, looking at me. “Are you serious?”

“Yup, pack yo’ shit.” I said as I took the blunt from her and puffed on it. I blew the smoke in her face as she looked at me. “Go. get. yo’. shit. I’ll wait.”