could finish her sentence, I stepped forward and slung the pillowas hard as I could at her hand that held the stun gun. Toyaâs arm jerked away from her body. With my left hand I grabbed her wrist, planted my right leg behind her left one, and in one quick move swept one of her legs from beneath her.
âWhat the hell!â Toya cried out as she reached for my hair. I quickly jerked away so that she couldnât pull it.
Toya easily went to the ground. I stepped on her wrist with my left foot, breaking her hold on the stun gun, and then dropped my right knee into her chest, knocking the breath out of her lungs. Gasping for air, Toya gave up easily.
âIf youâre going to zap me, then do it, donât waste time talking.â I stepped on Toyaâs wrist a little harder. Her hand opened up and I took the weapon. Toya rolled over onto her side and started coughing. I glanced down at her, feeling very little pity. I pulled the trigger on the stun gun, and thought about zapping her with it and taking everything on the bed. I was just about to do it when I felt a little arm wrap around my leg. I looked down and Toyaâs son was balancing himself against my leg while sucking a blue pacifier.
âToya, I know youâre in there. I heard you tumbling around. Did you trip or something? You need to take Junior. You know I canât watch him for you now that heâs starting to crawl and walk.â I looked over my shoulder and saw Toyaâs grandmother. She had on black glasses, a one-size-fits-all flower-print dress draped over her round body, and a pair of brown house slippers. She stood as still as a tree, with a broom in her hand, ready to use it as a weapon if need be. âToya, are you okay? I heard you come in here with someone. Did that boy hit you again? How many times are you going to let him beat up on you before you realize he doesnâtlove you?â I donât know what happened to me in that moment. Maybe it was the fact that Toyaâs blind grandmother was so concerned, or the fact that Toyaâs boyfriend was beating her, something that I personally would not have put up with. I just know that for reasons I donât fully understand, I felt a little sympathy for her.
âToyaâs okay,â I answered.
âWho are you?â Her grandmother looked in the direction of my voice. I put the stun gun down and helped Toya to her feet. She jerked her arm away from me as she massaged the spot where Iâd planted my knee.
âIâm Viviana, from upstairs,â I answered.
âOh, well, where is Toya? Did she leave you in here by yourself?â she asked, anxiety etched across her features.
âNo, Grandma.â Toya finally spoke.
âWell, why didnât you say something? Iâve told you about playing around like that with me. You know I only have one good nerve left,â her grandmother scolded.
âI know,â Toya answered. âIâm sorry, I wasnât paying attention when you walked in. I have Junior.â Toya picked up her son and perched him on her left hip. She moved toward the doorway, took her grandmotherâs hand and said, âCome on, tell me what show you want to listen to and Iâll turn the television to that channel.â
When Toya returned to the room a few minutes later, Iâd once again picked up the stun gun and was toying around with it. She stood in the doorway and cleared her throat. I looked over at her and she still had her son perched on her hip.
âYour move. What now?â Toya asked, apparently humbledby the fact Iâd rendered her completely helpless. I pressed the trigger on the stun gun again and then approached her. She took a deep breath, perhaps fearing that I was going to jolt her.
âYouâre one twisted chick. Do you know that?â Toya looked me directly in the eyes but said nothing. âYou need to use this on your boyfriend and not me,â I said as I
âWhat the hell!â Toya cried out as she reached for my hair. I quickly jerked away so that she couldnât pull it.
Toya easily went to the ground. I stepped on her wrist with my left foot, breaking her hold on the stun gun, and then dropped my right knee into her chest, knocking the breath out of her lungs. Gasping for air, Toya gave up easily.
âIf youâre going to zap me, then do it, donât waste time talking.â I stepped on Toyaâs wrist a little harder. Her hand opened up and I took the weapon. Toya rolled over onto her side and started coughing. I glanced down at her, feeling very little pity. I pulled the trigger on the stun gun, and thought about zapping her with it and taking everything on the bed. I was just about to do it when I felt a little arm wrap around my leg. I looked down and Toyaâs son was balancing himself against my leg while sucking a blue pacifier.
âToya, I know youâre in there. I heard you tumbling around. Did you trip or something? You need to take Junior. You know I canât watch him for you now that heâs starting to crawl and walk.â I looked over my shoulder and saw Toyaâs grandmother. She had on black glasses, a one-size-fits-all flower-print dress draped over her round body, and a pair of brown house slippers. She stood as still as a tree, with a broom in her hand, ready to use it as a weapon if need be. âToya, are you okay? I heard you come in here with someone. Did that boy hit you again? How many times are you going to let him beat up on you before you realize he doesnâtlove you?â I donât know what happened to me in that moment. Maybe it was the fact that Toyaâs blind grandmother was so concerned, or the fact that Toyaâs boyfriend was beating her, something that I personally would not have put up with. I just know that for reasons I donât fully understand, I felt a little sympathy for her.
âToyaâs okay,â I answered.
âWho are you?â Her grandmother looked in the direction of my voice. I put the stun gun down and helped Toya to her feet. She jerked her arm away from me as she massaged the spot where Iâd planted my knee.
âIâm Viviana, from upstairs,â I answered.
âOh, well, where is Toya? Did she leave you in here by yourself?â she asked, anxiety etched across her features.
âNo, Grandma.â Toya finally spoke.
âWell, why didnât you say something? Iâve told you about playing around like that with me. You know I only have one good nerve left,â her grandmother scolded.
âI know,â Toya answered. âIâm sorry, I wasnât paying attention when you walked in. I have Junior.â Toya picked up her son and perched him on her left hip. She moved toward the doorway, took her grandmotherâs hand and said, âCome on, tell me what show you want to listen to and Iâll turn the television to that channel.â
When Toya returned to the room a few minutes later, Iâd once again picked up the stun gun and was toying around with it. She stood in the doorway and cleared her throat. I looked over at her and she still had her son perched on her hip.
âYour move. What now?â Toya asked, apparently humbledby the fact Iâd rendered her completely helpless. I pressed the trigger on the stun gun again and then approached her. She took a deep breath, perhaps fearing that I was going to jolt her.
âYouâre one twisted chick. Do you know that?â Toya looked me directly in the eyes but said nothing. âYou need to use this on your boyfriend and not me,â I said as I
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