“Damn, I remember them days,” Rhonda recalled. “I’m glad these little muthafuckas ain’t infants no more, I remember how high that milk was.”

Verna lifted the bag. “You ain’t lying. These shits is five dollars a can. I can’t do much more of this.”

As Rhonda and Verna continued their conversation, two girls came walking up the block, with a familiar-looking young man trailing them. From what Rhonda could tell, the young man was pleading with them about something, but the girls were ignoring him. One girl wore an indifferent face, while the other’s was twisted in anger. Rhonda had no idea who they were or what their intentions were, but Verna seemed to.

“I know muthafucking well this nigga ain’t bring these bitches through my hood,” Verna whispered to Rhonda, tightening the grip on her plastic bag.

“Who the fuck is they?” Rhonda asked, ready to ride out with her homegirl.

“Don’t even worry about it, Rhonda. You got your kids with you. I got this.”

“Ay yo, bitch. I need to holla at you!” the angry one barked.

Verna tilted her head. “Bitch? Little girl, who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”

“I’m talking to the bitch that’s been tipping with my man,” the girl shot back.

“I ain’t gonna be too many bitches, yo,” Verna said seriously.

“Why don’t you cut this shit out,” the young man said, finally catching up.

“I’ll deal with your ass in a minute,” the girl shouted at him. “Like I was saying,” she turned back to Verna, “I heard you’ve been creeping with my man.”

“Did he tell you that?”

“It ain’t important who told me that, what I’m trying to figure out is if you got a death wish, bitch.”

Verna flexed her jaw. “You got one more time to call me a bitch and we’re gonna have a problem.”

“Let me tell you something, bitch…” That was as far as the girl got. In a flash, Verna clobbered her with the bag. Cans of baby formula scattered all over the street as the girl staggered back. The second girl looked like she wanted to do something, so Rhonda caught her with a two-piece. Seeing the blood that was now running from her nose, the girl took off running before Rhonda could swing again.

Verna picked up one of the loose cans from the ground and walked over to the angry girl, who was now lying on the ground, clutching her head. “You little bitches is always coming from up on the hill talking shit.” Verna hit her in the face with the can, breaking her nose. “You think about this ass whipping the next time you put your mouth in grown people’s business.” She whacked her again. “The dick was wack anyway.”