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Back Hood Rat Save as PDF
Chapters (51)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Notice
  3. Acknowledgments
  4. Part One
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. Part Two
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. Part Three
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. Sometimes It Goes Down Like That
  49. Also by K’wan
  50. About the Author
  51. Newsletter Sign-up

Paul felt that familiar tug at his heart, telling him to be more attentive. He knew where Marlene was coming from, because he often did it to himself. It is often said that artistic people live in a world unto themselves, and whoever came up with that observation must’ve shared a room with Paul as a child. He could articulate himself through art with an almost magical fluidity, but saying exactly what was on his mind was like a circus trick. His mind said one thing, but his words and actions mispronounced the verses. More often than not, he chose silence as his defense.

He fought back his sharp retort and decided to bend. “Marlene, I know you wanna do it real official with a nigga, but its gonna be some time. I wanna be able to take care of my family on the constant basis, not in spurts.”

“Sweetie, you know it’s never been about money with me,” she said, taking the blunt from him and sipping from the stream of smoke trailing it. “I did it before you, and during. You know I’ll go out and get it without coaching. It’s just that, more often than not, I’m lonely.”

“I know.” He stood and kissed her on the forehead. “Soon as I sell one of these joints. I promise.” He tapped her once more on the tip of her nose and left the sanctuary.

Marlene watched him leave, dangling his half-empty Corona. Even while upset with him, she couldn’t deny the fact that there was a sex appeal to him, in an innocent yet wicked way. Marlene, who would be turning forty the following month, was more settled and focused on what she wanted from life and what she was going to make it give her.

When she had first discovered the young felon, she knew he was something special. He was still really a little boy, yet with grown people’s responsibilities. The gangsta part about it was that he was handling it. She could recall countless stories about her friends’ baby daddies and them dipping out on the kid. Paul handled his with a high head. Even though his baby’s mama was a royal pain, he kept the bond with his seed strong. That was rare in this day and age.

Paul was damn near perfect, except for his reluctance to let go of his past. He had more than a great deal of potential, but no one to give him that extra bit of direction. That’s where Marlene came in. She had already resigned herself to the fact that he could cop or blow.

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