I so much wanted to lie in bed all day. I didn’t feel like getting up to do anything. I was having one of those "lazy" days. I knew I had to get out of bed real soon because night was approaching quickly and I was down to my last $75. I had to go out and get some money to pay for my hotel room for the next day. Once I paid the daily fee of $60, I usually would try to take the rest and save it. I could easily save more money by sharing a room with Brooke and Shy, but I refused to be lying in a room that guys ran in and out of all day. It was bad enough that I already had different men running in and out of my room, with three girls in one room that would have bought more traffic. Some nights, I couldn’t get money at all, so I would have to dip into my stash and spend what I had made the nights before, which would set me back again. I always tried to save at least $25 a day. I figured I could maybe save up a couple of thousands of dollars within the next six months. I was trying to get out of the shit hole hotel, and the shitty life I was so called living. When I first started doing this shit, I said I would give it a few months run and that was it. I didn’t want to be caught in the game like the other hoes on the block. Sometimes, I didn’t give a fuck about my life, but at the same time, I didn’t want to be lying on my back and getting fucked for the rest of my life, either. Lately, shit had been rough! It was like as quick as I got some money, I had to spend it. Either it was on clothes, food, minutes for my phone, rides, and occasionally, my drinking habit that I began to slowly adopt. Knowing I had to get up, I was still lying my lazy ass in bed, thinking, but not thinking about nothing in particular. When I heard the knock at the door, I knew it was either Brooke or Shy letting me know it was almost time to go. I slowly drug my naked ass out the bed and went to answer the door. "Damn, Ivy, why you ain’t dress yet?" Brooke asked."I don’t know. I’m about to get dressed now.” “How long you going to be?” “Give me twenty minutes,” I replied while grabbing my towel and headed for the shower. I took more than twenty minutes. I took a nice, hot shower. Once I got out the shower, I noticed that Brooke was gone so I picked up the hotel phone and called her room. Brooke informed me to hurry up because she ain’t have all day. I stood naked in the mirror, looked myself up and down, shook my head, and began to get dressed. I knew it was cold as shit outside, so I made sure I looked my best. Dressing like a granny was not going to get any chick no cash. Rain, sleet, or snow, you had to dress like a hoe. I grabbed my knee length jean skirt off the shelf that fit tightly around my ass. I topped my skirt off with a cute shirt and grabbed my thigh high black leather boots, also known as fuck me boots. My boots reached the top of my thighs, so I was going to be somewhat warm. I went for my make-up bag and grabbed one of my wigs. I decided I would wear my bob cut wig. I began to apply make-up, but I said fuck it because I wasn’t in the mood for all of that. I brushed my wig to make sure it was in tact and decided to just put on a little bit of my red lip stick. I was light enough to pull it off. Once I was done, I looked in the mirror and was satisfied. I grabbed my purse and my fake mink coat, and headed out the door. It was going to be another cold night in Baltimore, but I knew I had to do what I had to do to make it another day. Back on the block again. By me being out there doing what I was doing, it was an escape from my past life. Night after night and man after man kept a lot of things off my mind. Getting money also became a drug for me. Shit, I had a bad habit. Worse than a crack addict. The streets in Baltimore were no joke. The first couple of days I was in Baltimore I got hip to the streets real quick. I thought Baltimore was like my sweet home in Bel Air, MD, I was wrong. There was nothing like home, so I knew I had to get hip to the street because if you weren’t, the streets would eat you alive. I used to go to Baltimore from time to time to do shopping with my parents, besides that, I never walked the streets. After a few weeks of being in Baltimore, my whole attitude changed with the way I dressed, walked, and talked. It was no more of that preppy dressing or that ‘I’m a rich girl walk’, I was keeping up with the Joneses. The “Oh my gosh, no you didn't, girl!” talk was replaced with “Nigga, what? Nigga, who?” “I need to get at least three hundred dollars more tonight,” I said to another hoe walking beside me.“You ain’t never lied,” the hoe replied. “I have shit to do, bills need to be paid.” The two of us walked the cold streets of downtown trying to find a trick to spend some money on us before the night was up. As I walked further down the block, I seen the D boys posted up on the corner where the liquor store was located. I was mad at the fact that I didn’t have a damn penny on me. I was in need of a half pint of gin because I knew my night was going to be long and boring. Being on the block was just like a nine to five, except for it was more like a nine p.m. to five a.m. job, and the money came more quickly. I, and the other hustlers, hoes, pimps, and strippers on the block, could all agree to that it was our nine to five. No matter if you were selling drugs or pussy, or sitting behind a desk, it was still an income and we all were getting it how we lived. A gold Malibu started to slow down on the side of us. “What’s up with you, daddy? You want some of this?” I said to the guy, trying to stop him, hoping that he had some money to spend on me. “Pull over.” Once I seen the guy pull over, I pulled my skirt up so just the bottom of my ass could show, and hurried up and switched over to the car. “What’s up, daddy?” I asked again while I leaned into the driver side of the window so my 42 DDs could be in his face. “What you doing out this late?” the guy asked while licking his lips and looking at my big breasts. “I’m trying to have some fun,” I replied. “What are you doing out this late?” “Trying to have some fun, too,” the guy said. “How much is it to have fun with you?” “Only a buck fifty,” I said while rubbing my breasts, letting the guy know that I was down for whatever. “A buck fifty for the whole night?” he asked. “No, until you cum,” I said. “Get in,” the guy instructed while unlocking his doors. “Aight,” I said while going over to the passenger door. Once I got in the car, I put my seat belt on and instructed the guy how to get back to my room. The whole time, I kept an eye on him. I never trust any of those tricks. One minute Mr. Nice Guy would be all cool and before you knew it, he would be a crazy, mad man. That was how those guys out there would try to get you, but not me, I knew better to let my guard down with any of those tricks. Once we pulled up to the hotel, I called Brooke and told her I was at the room. It was a rule for the three of us. If one of us left with a trick, we had to inform one or the other where we were at and what kind of car we left in. It was for safety. Once in the room, I was the same ole bullshit. I was either lying on my back and getting fucked for a good five to fifteen minutes, or I was on my knees sucking dick. It was never anything special. Not that I wanted it to be anything special. It was all business, nothing personal. When we got done, I got the trick to take me back downtown so I could try to make some more money. I never knew the real reason why I was doing tricks. Every day I prayed that daddy was still alive to come and save me. I knew if he were living, I wouldn’t be living that life. With the men after men that I fucked, I knew daddy was turning over in his grave hurting and begging me, “Ivy, please, stop! Ivy, please, stop selling your soul to the devil!” I was selling my soul to the devil for dirt cheap and he was willing to buy it. At first, I thought that the money I was making was going to help me get my baby sister back, but I knew I had to wait until I was eighteen years old. At sixteen, I knew I had no plans on doing tricks for another two more years. Back downtown, I saw Shy talking to two guys in a car. I was hoping that they wanted to spend some money. I stood back and watched as Shy talked to the guys, not wanting to walk up to the car and step on her toes. Once I felt the vibration of my phone in my pocket, I knew it was Shy calling me for the double date with the guys. “Ivy, you back down here yet?” Shy asked. “Yea, I’m right here looking at you.” “Okay, come on, girl, I got a double for us.” “Okay,” I said as I walked toward the car. When I got up to the car, I noticed it was two younger guys, and I was hoping the niggas wasn’t on no bullshit. “Damn, she thick and fine,” the driver commented. “That’s what’s up, you ain’t so bad looking yaself.” “Y’all hoes going to get in or stand outside?” the passenger asked with an attitude. “Unlock the fuckin’ door,” Shy answered. I already knew the passenger was going to be trouble and I wasn’t for it. I just wanted to make my money and catch another trick. By the time we got to the end of the block, I was ready to get out the car. I just knew them niggas was bluffing. “Shorty, ain’t no one bluffing,” the driver stated. “I hear you talking, but money talks and bull shit walks.” “How much you want, bitch?" “This bitch and her friend want two hundred each.“Here, hoe.” “That’s what’s up,” I replied while trying to catch the money that he had thrown at us. Once Shy and I counted our money and made sure it was right, Shy started giving directions back to the hotel. Lucky for me, I had to fuck the smart mouth bastard. I knew it wasn’t going to be nothing nice. Once I took my clothes off, he had no more mouth. “What happen to all that mouth you had in the car?” I asked while stroking his already hard dick. “Shut up and give me my money’s worth,” he demanded while pushing me on the bed. I did the usual, laid there with my legs wide open and closed my eyes, that was, until I felt something wet between my legs. When I looked up, he was licking between my thighs, which led to him eating my pussy. Oh shit! “Ahhh,” I moaned. Maybe his mouth is good for something, I thought. Now in ecstasy, I laid back and enjoyed the head I was receiving. “Ahhh, what the fuck!” I yelled. I looked up as that nigga was stabbing me hard as shit, trying to force his dick inside of me. “Slow down!” I yelled. “Well, open up more, you a hoe! I know you be getting fucked all the time, so it’s no need for you to be this tight!” I grabbed his dick and guided it inside of me, hoping it would be over real soon. To my surprise, his sex game was just as good as his head game. I knew I was enjoying myself a little too much, and I was getting way too comfortable with that nigga. As soon as he was done, he had the nerve to lie beside me and try to hold me. I immediately got up, grabbed my bag, and headed for the bathroom to take a hot shower. A few minutes in my shower, I was interrupted by a hand rubbing my ass. I turned around to see dude in the shower with me. “What you doing?” “Washing my ass, just like you.” “Just don't touch me, okay? “‘Cause ya date is over, unless you got some more money to spend?” “Money ain’t shit, shorty.” “Like I said before, money talks and bullshit walks.” He began to massage my breasts and snuck a wet kiss in. I didn’t mind that for some reason, and I kissed him back. I was steaming on the inside. For some odd reason, dude had me feeling some type of way. I never let a date shower with me, let alone kiss me. Once we got done showering, we went to get dressed. “Ya name Ivy, right?“Yea, how you know?” “’Cause I heard shorty calling you Ivy.” I couldn’t get mad at the fact that he now knew my real name, I knew Shy didn’t mean to call me by Ivy on purpose. “Yea, that’s my name, or you can call me Chyna like everyone else,” I said while putting the rest of my clothes on and headed to the mirror to fix my wig and lipstick. “What’s yours?” “No, I ain’t calling you no Chyna, I will stick with Ivy. Mine is Tony.” “Oh, aight, whatever floats your boat.” “Where you about to go?" he asked. “Back out to get some more money” “Here, can I stay the night with you?” he asked while handing me some money. I counted the money and realized it was four hundred and fifty dollars. “Nah, I’m good,” I said as I gave him the money back. I didn’t want him to think I was too good for him or anything, I just didn’t want to stay the night with him. I knew my weak ass would end up catching feelings. The way he was staring me in my eyes already had me feeling some type of security, despite that he treated me like a hoe and called me names. So, as bad as I wanted that money, I had to turn it down for the sake of me. And, like daddy said once before, “All money ain’t good money.” “Oh, so you too good for my money?” “No, I just think it’s a bad idea right now.” “I hear you. So, Ivy, you going to give me your number so I can call you sometime?” “Yea, and I will take you up on that offer later.” We sat and talked while I waited for Shy to come let me know she was ready. I went back into the bathroom and hid my money. On my way back out the bathroom, I heard Shy knocking at the door. On our ride back downtown, everyone was just talking and laughing. Once we got to our spot, Tony informed me he was going to hit me up around three a.m. Before I got out the car, he gave me another hundred. “What’s this for?” I asked. “It’s a tip for you being sexy, see you later,” Tony said as he pulled off. “Damn, you must have fucked the shit out of him,” Shy said as we walked down the street. “You know how I do,” I jokingly said. Angel Williams 7 “Well, his friend coming back to get me at three thirty and he paying me to stay the night.” “That’s what’s up. Tony wanted to stay the night with me, too, but I said no.” “Why! Bitch, is you crazy! You better make that money, plus, he seems like he falling for you.” “Whateva,” I said as I walked over to the car with a white guy in it. He was bluffing, so I walked off looking for Shy or Brooke. As I walked up Baltimore Street, I noticed a bad bitch walking down the street. I could tell by the sassiness in her walk that she was getting money. As I walked past her, I soaked in the smell of her Love Spell body spray. Her heels were making a loud clicking noise while hitting the pavement. When she finally got past me, I turned around to get a good look at her. She was a redbone like me, except that she was skinny and I was thick. I noticed that she, too, wore a pair of fuck me boots that were red suede with buckles going down the bottom. She had a matching red suede knee length coat on with the matching handbag. I just loved the way her long blonde wig flowed to her waist. With every step she took, her hips moved from side to side along with her long wig. And, hell no! I was not gay, I just knew a bad bitch when I saw one. I knew by the way she dressed and walked she was with a big time pimp. Once I was done looking at her, I turned back around and continue walking. “Bitch, I got eyes in the back of my head,” the bad bitch gulped as she turned around. “Good for you,” I replied as I turned around to face her. I was hoping the chick didn’t want any beef. I was far from a bitch, but I just hated all the unnecessary drama. “Why were you looking at me like that?” she asked while walking toward me. “’Cause, yo, I like ya outfit.” “That’s good, step ya cookies up and you can have one like this, too.” “Step my cookies up?” I replied. “And, what you mean by that?” “Shit, I just mean get ya money up.” “And, how you know my money ain’t up?” I asked with my hands on my hips, letting that bitch know that she wasn’t going to be talking to me any type of way. “Look, my name is Dutches, I don’t want any beef with you. I was just saying step ya game up and you can get whatever you want. It’s too much pretty money out here to let it go to waste. This money on the block is aight for the time being, but, honey, it’s bigger and quicker money out here. I didn’t mean any harm at all.” “I feel you, I’m Chyna. So, you telling me to step my game up and there is bigger money out here that I can get quicker, but you not telling me how?” My phone began to ring, it was Tony. I either could have stayed and chatted with the high class hoe or go make some money. “Well, this is money on my phone, I have to go,” I replied as I walked away. “It must be your pimp,” she stated as she followed behind me. “But, before you go, take my number, ok?” I ignored the whole ‘it must be your pimp’ thing. Shit, she looked like she had more of a pimp than I did! “What is it?” I asked as I push the end button on my phone so I could get Dutches’ number. “And, I hope it aint your pimp number, ‘cause I don’t do no pimps.” “Believe me, boo, I don’t have a pimp. This is a woman’s world. I ain’t giving no nigga nothing I make.” Once I got her number, I walked off, leaving her standing there. I began to dial Tony’s number to see what was up with him. “I will see you tomorrow, Chyna,” I heard Dutches say as I walked up the street. I just waved my hand in the air and kept it moving. Tony’s homeboy must have already picked up Shy, and Tony was on his way to get me. I had plans on what I was going to do with that $450. I was so in deep thought thinking about the money that I didn’t notice Tony pulling up beside me. “This you?” I asked while looking at his Yukon Denali, which was sitting on 26s. “Yea, are you going to get in?” I opened the door and hopped in, and then turned around and faced Tony with my hand out. Brooke and Shy been taught me that no matter how many times you went with a trick, you had your money up front. I didn’t know much about Tony, so he was still considered a trick. “You going to get ya money.” “When? I hope now, ‘cause you ain’t pulling off until a bitch gets paid,” I stated. “Here.” Tony gave me the money and I counted it. He gave me five hundred dollars when I expected four fifty. Even better. “I got to make some runs first, is that okay with you?” Tony asked. “Oh, I’m good.” Shit I’d rather ride around the city with him than go back to the room and fuck all night. As we rode through the city, Tony made stop after stop. I didn’t ask any questions ‘cause I already knew he was selling drugs. What he Angel Williams 9 did was his business, and I was not for knocking anyone’s hustle. We were about to hop on I-95 when I asked Tony where we were going. He informed me that we were going to Laurel, MD, which was only twenty minutes away. I still didn’t mind, I ain’t have anywhere to be. As we were on our way to Laurel, I began to think about how I my life used to be. About all the good times I used to have, about the times where I was actually happy and felt whole.