CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
2003 - Modern Girl[1]
I knew I was lucky to have such a wealth of resources at my disposal- this was all a far cry from the days I spent making tracks between the dingy trap and my unsecured hidey hole on Halsey.
Marisol and Donya, modern businesswomen that they were, had installed high speed modems in every single room of the house, minus the kitchen and bathrooms. When I’d moved in, they’d told me Internet access was included in my rent and urged me to buy a computer as soon as I could. The opportunity for that came much quicker than expected.
The bank I opened an account with was having a “Dads & Grads” special- if I opened a checking account and deposited $500 into it, they’d give me a brand-new computer and an inkjet printer. It was a serviceable warhorse of a desktop, but I was happy to say it was mine, all mine.
Simone, recently released from Beacon and currently living with her wack boyfriend, the Scam King of Harlem, had slipped me a thousand dollars on the sole occasion we’d actually managed to find time to meet up. I didn’t ask if he’d handed it to her or if she’d liberated it from him, but it didn’t really matter. Simone was looking out for me and I loved her for that. Plus, it tickled my funny-bone to think that the Scam King’s girlfriend was skimming his skrilla. At least she was finding a way to reap some sort of benefits out of her current shitty situation.
And I was gonna do my best to keep her out of my mess, whatever that mess might be. Simone was doing a great job of staying clean and even though, I too, was currently not using, I didn’t want to be a bad influence. She had enough on her plate with that clown of a man of hers, anyway.
I mean, taking inventory- I was in a good place at the moment. Nice apartment, gorgeous roommates, modern technology at my finger tips and a lucrative side hustle looming on the horizon.
I wanted that for my friend, as well. But Simone had to want it for herself.
[1] Courtney Melody, “Modern Girl,” 1987
