Savage Instinct by Leila Jefferson

child. On top of that, when he died she never fucked with anyone else. She held down the house and the girls, and Lexi admired her for that. She wondered why Chrisette and Christina wilded out so much. She didn’t know much about them, but she knew both had kids when they were teenagers and were always terrorizing some girl over a nigga. Lexi could be sure of at least one thing, they damn sure weren’t punks.
    She looked at Christy, the one that could have been her sister. She was so weak and pathetic. Everybody treated her like the punk she was, even her younger nieces. She wasn’t sure how long she would stay, but she knew she would have fun running Christy.
    “ How are you doing?” Elizabeth asked. She pulled Lexi closer for a hug.
    Lexi shrugged her shoulders. She wasn’t sure how much Elizabeth knew about her life and she didn’t want to give her any more than she already had. Bank Roll always told her she’d learn more from listening than talking. “I’m fine.”
    “ I haven’t seen you since the funeral. How you been holding up? Where’s Yesina?”
    “ Sin’s been fine. I was staying with someone in the neighborhood to stay at the same school. That’s not cool for me no more, so I was wondering if it would be OK to stay here?”
    “ Honey, you know you’re always welcome. Yesina is, too, if she needs somewhere to go. Next time you see her, you make sure you tell her that.”
    Elizabeth remembered how Yesina looked when she saw her last. She looked so much older and had bruises. She could tell the guy that stayed glued to her side was her pimp. Elizabeth wanted to snatch her up then, but she told her if she ever needed anyone or needed a place to stay that she always knew where to find her. She was glad Lexi felt comfortable enough to come to her before she got too caught up trying to be in the same wild streets that claimed her parents.
    “ That’s means a lot, Auntie Liz.”
    “ So, where are you in school?”
    “ I’m doing great. I’m ready to go to the tenth grade when school starts.”
    “ Well, that’s a good start. I’ll start looking into getting you transferred. You and Christy can go to school together and she can look after you. Meanwhile, while summer is still here, there are some house rules.”
    Lexi looked up at Elizabeth like she was soaking up every word. “Yes, ma’am,” she replied. Lexi knew how to flip the switch from grown woman to little girl in an instant.
    Elizabeth gave her a warm smile. She thought Lexi was such an adorable little girl. She had heard about her living with the older man that was her pimp. When she looked in her eyes, she didn’t see a wild girl who had been turning tricks and doing more than she had to at her young age. She didn’t see a girl that had parents that cared more about their high than their kids. She saw a young girl that could be turned into an extraordinary woman if guided correctly, and that was what she planned to do. She knew it wasn’t her fault, but she had always felt guilty that Derrick was in so much despair that he had turned to a young prostitute for empty emotions.
    “ We have chores around here. I work the swing shift at the hospital and I have to be sure I can trust you guys. I usually prepare dinner, but it’s your job to keep your room clean, the kitchen, and living room. It’s summer, so you’re allowed to be out until ten and since I don’t get off until eleven thirty, I’m trusting you girls will be in when you are supposed to.”
    “ Yes, ma’am, I certainly understand. I really appreciate you giving me so much trust and I promise not to take advantage of it.” Lexi gave her aunt that puppy dog look as she had done so many times to Bank Roll, and knew she had Elizabeth right where she wanted her.
    “ One more thing. I don’t tolerate alcohol, cigarettes, or any illegal drugs in my home. We go to church on Sundays in this house, too.”
    “ I understand, ma’am.” Lexi reached over, gave her aunt a