Ain't Gonna Be the Same Fool Twice Read Online Free Page A

Constitution a little bit far, myself,” I said.
    â€œStevie, there you go, acting like a Libra. Well, you can’t always see both sides,” Sharlinda insisted. “Not if you’ve got soul.”
    â€œI’ve got plenty of soul, Ms. Leo,” I shot back at Sharlinda. I picked up the phone. If I were lucky, I’d get a dial tone. And at least, I would appear tough. But instead, I heard the breathing again. “Now look, I’m gonna give y’all two minutes to get off this phone or else your ass is gonna be grass!”
    I turned toward Sharlinda and Today, cradling the receiver in my hand. “How do you like me now?”
    â€œDid you hear her? My girl went ‘Chicago’ on ’em. She got hipped to her constitutional rights, honey.” Sharlinda and Today gave each other five.
    â€œSho did!” Today agreed. “She told ’em their ass is gonna be grass!”
    â€œYou see, Stevie might act all educated, but you better not fuck with her. They done made her show her color now. She’s still a sistah from the Southside,” Sharlinda bragged.
    I prayed for a dial tone. I hoped that my mouth hadn’t written a check that my behind couldn’t cash.
    Today grabbed the receiver. “Ain’t this a blip! They still breathing.”
    â€œStevie, you said they ass was gonna be grass,” Sharlinda reminded me. “It’s been two minutes and I still ain’t heard no dial tone.”
    â€œOK!” I shouted into the phone. “You’ve left me no other choice. Now, your ass is grass!” I slammed down the phone.
    â€œShe’s in Room Five Thirty-two,” Today said calmly.
    Sharlinda slapped my back, excitedly. “If you gon’ kick some ass, let’s go kick some ass!”
    For some reason, I lacked Sharlinda’s enthusiasm. “What about her boyfriend? What if he runs over here?”
    â€œFuck her boyfriend. We got boyfriends too,” Sharlinda insisted. I knew that she was braiding Kenny’s hair, but he hadn’t asked her to go with him yet. And as for me, yeah, I’d gone to the quarter movie with Myron twice and he’d even paid. But we were technically still in the talking stage. He was at least three movies away from getting over. Maybe one, if he produced a joint. I didn’t know Today’s business. She seemed to be in love with anybody tall, dark, and Greek.
    â€œPlus, we got the whole Kappa line,” Today interrupted my thoughts.
    Maybe so, but none of these people were here now. I gulped down the rest of my wine for strength. I crushed the waxy paper cup in my hand.
    â€œOK, I’m ready.” I stood up and headed for Room 532 with Sharlinda and Today at my heels.
    My fist was raised to knock on the girl’s door.
    â€œWhat you fixin’ to knock for?” Sharlinda groaned. “Would you invite somebody to come in your room who said they were gonna kick your ass? Just open the goddamn door!”
    I dropped my hand and turned my head. “I just can’t run up in the girl’s room. It might be illegal or something.”
    â€œYeah, this is a legal ass kicking,” Today answered sarcastically.
    â€œWhat if the door is locked?” I asked hopefully.
    â€œWell, we can’t stand here all night wondering. Let’s get this show on the road!” Sharlinda reached in front of me and tried the doorknob. To my horror, the door swung open easily.
    A stocky white girl stood planted with her back to us, holding the telephone. She was wearing a long denim work shirt and her head was wrapped up in a towel.
    â€œThat’s right, it’s all my fault! You had nothing to do with it!” she shouted in a French accent. “Everything is all my fucking fault!” Suddenly, the white girl turned and faced us. “Pardon me, but I’m utilizing the phone. What do you want here?”
    We continued to stand in the doorway, but no one