beds available in the detox wing and the hospital wants to discharge you within the next few hours.”
Tamika’s eyes widened. “Gracie, I can’t stop on my own, I just can’t. I need to be off the streets, for as long as it takes.”
“I know baby, I know. Lamar and I spoke with the nursing staff and they gave us some rehab options, but with all the cutbacks by the state there is a long waiting list.” Gracie left out the part of the conversation with the nursing staff. The conversation that centered around the fact that even if Tamika found a bed in a public drug rehab center, the places were crawling with the worst of the worst. Finding drugs in those places was apparently easier than scoring on the street. Vultures, everywhere.
Tamika frowned. “And we can’t afford private care, of course.”
“No, unfortunately we can’t. As a matter of fact, from what the nurses told me about the prices for quality private care, I’m not sure many people can.” When the nurse at the front desk had told Gracie how much it would cost to get Tamika quality treatment, she’d nearly fainted. Who could afford such astronomical prices? Weren’t these places built to help people? Or perhaps it was just rich people they were built for.
“So, where am I going to go?” Tamika asked. “Can I stay with you? I know you don’t have the space but I think Lamar is fed up with me.”
Gracie shook her head. “Lamar is just angry. You know as well as I that when push comes to shove, that man would lay down his life for us.”
“So am I going to stay with him? He’s never home Gracie, I’ll be by myself all the time. I’m scared.”
Gracie took her sister’s hand in hers. “I’ll be there with you. I’m going to move in with Lamar and share his spare bedroom with you.”
A puzzled look spread across Tamika’s face. “But what about your job? Your poetry? You’re even busier than Lamar is.”
“I’m going to quit my job, Tamika. And I’m going to put my poetry on hold, for now at least. We need to focus on what’s important.”
Tamika shook her head. “No Gracie, I can’t do that to you. I don’t want you to give up on your dream just to babysit me.”
“This isn’t up for debate, Tamika. If you feel bad about me putting my life on hold for you, then focus all your attention on getting better. As long as you get clean, and more importantly stay clean, then it will all be worth it. Plus, I will have all the time in the world to work on my poetry, so don’t you worry.”
Tamika cracked a smile. “I love you so much Gracie. And I’m sorry for putting you through all of this, I really am.”
Gracie patted her sister on the head. “I love you too, Tamika, and so does Lamar. Everything is going to be ok.”
At least Gracie hoped it would be.
*
Gracie entered her apartment armed with a moving box. She still had a few weeks left before she had to be out of the place but she needed a few essentials in the meantime. For the past three days she’d been wearing Lamar’s old college sweats and wearing cheap underwear she’d picked up at a CVS near Lamar’s place. Now that Tamika was settled into Lamar’s place, however, Gracie wanted to get her own grooming products and her usual undergarments.
The past few days had been rough on all three of them. Tamika was depressed, Lamar was still edgy and Gracie was mourning the loss of her job. She’d called Patty at Steak Exchange and informed her of her current predicament. Patty was gracious and told Gracie she was disappointed to lose her and that when Gracie was ready to work again she could call back and see if their were any openings available. Gracie thanked her for the kind words and told her she would indeed call back, once Tamika was safely back on her feet, whenever that was.
Gracie headed to her bedroom and emptied the contents of her dresser into a cardboard box. The feminine supplies from the bathroom were next and after than it was
Tamika’s eyes widened. “Gracie, I can’t stop on my own, I just can’t. I need to be off the streets, for as long as it takes.”
“I know baby, I know. Lamar and I spoke with the nursing staff and they gave us some rehab options, but with all the cutbacks by the state there is a long waiting list.” Gracie left out the part of the conversation with the nursing staff. The conversation that centered around the fact that even if Tamika found a bed in a public drug rehab center, the places were crawling with the worst of the worst. Finding drugs in those places was apparently easier than scoring on the street. Vultures, everywhere.
Tamika frowned. “And we can’t afford private care, of course.”
“No, unfortunately we can’t. As a matter of fact, from what the nurses told me about the prices for quality private care, I’m not sure many people can.” When the nurse at the front desk had told Gracie how much it would cost to get Tamika quality treatment, she’d nearly fainted. Who could afford such astronomical prices? Weren’t these places built to help people? Or perhaps it was just rich people they were built for.
“So, where am I going to go?” Tamika asked. “Can I stay with you? I know you don’t have the space but I think Lamar is fed up with me.”
Gracie shook her head. “Lamar is just angry. You know as well as I that when push comes to shove, that man would lay down his life for us.”
“So am I going to stay with him? He’s never home Gracie, I’ll be by myself all the time. I’m scared.”
Gracie took her sister’s hand in hers. “I’ll be there with you. I’m going to move in with Lamar and share his spare bedroom with you.”
A puzzled look spread across Tamika’s face. “But what about your job? Your poetry? You’re even busier than Lamar is.”
“I’m going to quit my job, Tamika. And I’m going to put my poetry on hold, for now at least. We need to focus on what’s important.”
Tamika shook her head. “No Gracie, I can’t do that to you. I don’t want you to give up on your dream just to babysit me.”
“This isn’t up for debate, Tamika. If you feel bad about me putting my life on hold for you, then focus all your attention on getting better. As long as you get clean, and more importantly stay clean, then it will all be worth it. Plus, I will have all the time in the world to work on my poetry, so don’t you worry.”
Tamika cracked a smile. “I love you so much Gracie. And I’m sorry for putting you through all of this, I really am.”
Gracie patted her sister on the head. “I love you too, Tamika, and so does Lamar. Everything is going to be ok.”
At least Gracie hoped it would be.
*
Gracie entered her apartment armed with a moving box. She still had a few weeks left before she had to be out of the place but she needed a few essentials in the meantime. For the past three days she’d been wearing Lamar’s old college sweats and wearing cheap underwear she’d picked up at a CVS near Lamar’s place. Now that Tamika was settled into Lamar’s place, however, Gracie wanted to get her own grooming products and her usual undergarments.
The past few days had been rough on all three of them. Tamika was depressed, Lamar was still edgy and Gracie was mourning the loss of her job. She’d called Patty at Steak Exchange and informed her of her current predicament. Patty was gracious and told Gracie she was disappointed to lose her and that when Gracie was ready to work again she could call back and see if their were any openings available. Gracie thanked her for the kind words and told her she would indeed call back, once Tamika was safely back on her feet, whenever that was.
Gracie headed to her bedroom and emptied the contents of her dresser into a cardboard box. The feminine supplies from the bathroom were next and after than it was
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