CHAPTER TEN
1999- Share My World
“Damn,” I complained as we were finally walking away from that godforsaken project building, “I thought we were never gonna get out of there. I gotta pee like a mofo!” Mundo laughed and handed me an empty Sprite bottle. I threw it on the ground and stalked to the Volvo, ready to get the fuck out of Dodge.
Time spent at The Edge was never what you would call a day at the beach, and the details surrounding what exactly took us 5 hours to collect our package are not worth mentioning. Suffice it to say, we got what we came for. Her-on, as the old school players pronounce it. That made me happy on multiple levels. I loved to snort it. I loved to package it up. I loved to see the money that it brought us rolling in. I was addicted.
Designated driver Cabrón drove maaaaaad slow all the way home, no music at all this time, just to be extra cautious. It was pushing 11pm by the time we made it back to Halsey and Throop.
‘Brón pulled up to the curb in front of my brownstone and told Mundo that he'd scoop him back up in 4 hours or so. “I’mma head out to Mount Vernon now. Take care of that thing for you,” he said.
"Page me before you leave," Mundo replied. "I may not need a ride home tonight." He cut a very, very, very subtle eye at me. Cabrón lifted his chin in acknowledgement and drove off into the night.
Ummmm…
It was very difficult for me to keep a straight face as we walked up the steps to my front door. I was about to turn 22 in a few weeks. Maybe tonight I’d get an early birthday present.
Once inside, we made quick work of bagging up and shifted into cool out mode. I lit some Nag Champa and threw on Mary’s Share My World album. Mundo set out a nice, little taste for me to enjoy, then pulled out a fronto leaf from the leather pouch he kept on my coffee table and rolled himself a perfectly symmetrical blunt.
Before I even touched the dope, I got up and went into the kitchen. I got Mundo a glass of Negrita rum, neat, with a lime wedge on the side- his favorite. I poured the rum into the Baccarat brandy snifter I’d taken from my parents’ house in Hartsdale, the day I moved out. I was pleasantly surprised it had found its way to Brooklyn with me. I poured a mini shot into a red Solo cup for myself and added a splash of Snapple fruit punch. Then I rejoined Mundo in the living room.
As my dope and Mundo’s weed hit, we both melted back into the couch, eyes closed, knees barely touching, deep breaths exhaled in tandem. After a moment we both slowly opened our eyes and looked at each other. Something in Mundo’s face softened. I knew exactly what he was thinking.
And before he had a chance to act, I just leaned over and pressed my lips to his.
It was as good as I thought it would be. And I hoped it would last.
