The Opposite Side of the Tracks

By L.A.W.S.

Delonte a street pharmacist. Comfortable with himself. He is dealing with men and women while running and pushing dope through the streets. Him and his man Cam close as brothers. His family having his back as he always has theirs. An altercation breaks out and him and his sister find themselves needing a lawyer.
The McClain family has there own law firm McClain and McClain. Their father started the firm and he is now giving his sons their very own spot to see how they do. They are both good at what they do. But things change when feelings get involved.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 5, 2020
• ISBN: 9781796092547

L.A.W.S.

Im just somebody that always liked writing. I enjoyed it although I hated English. So I just decided to go with my heart and put some words on a page. Its been a long time coming.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Two men are walking down the street, talking and laughing, enjoying the sunny day. They see a pretty girl sitting on the porch. She’s looking good in a half shirt, posted on the stoop on her cell phone.

The short man says, Damn, ma, you sexy.

The lady shakes her head and keeps on talking on the phone.

The tall man says, Fuck you, bitch! You ain’t all that.

She tells whoever is on the phone to hold on. She stands up. Who the fuck you calling a bitch?

The tall man turns around. You, bitch.

You got me fucked up. Your ma the bitch. That’s why she had your trifling ass.

He starts walking back toward her. Who the fuck you talking to?

The lady says calmly, Your ass.

His friend stops him. Bitch, I’ll smack the shit out of your ass.

Two things. One, you smack me, I’ma smack you back. Second, you talking too much. I’m more worried about him than I am about you. She points to the short man. He pushes his friend’s arm out the way and keeps walking to her.

His friend stops him again.

This man walks out of the house. He looks at the two men. Angel, are we having a problem?

Yeah, your bitch keeps running her mouth.

Angel speaks up. That’s my brother, and like I said, your ma the bitch.

You better control this bitch before I smack her, and you too.

The man starts laughing. Nigga, you ain’t smacking nobody out here but you and maybe your man.

Angel starts laughing. Lonte, he damn sure ain’t smacking us!

Bitch, I’ll smack you and your punk-ass brother.

Angel is still laughing. ’Ey Lonte, his smacker broke.

Lonte is smiling. Yeah, sis. He shook his head. You ready to go in the house?

Nah, I was enjoying the fresh air, plus he just rapping. He ain’t bout that life. You good, you can go in.

The tall man starts to walk upon the porch with anger in his face. Bitch, you better realize where the fuck you at and who you talking to.

Angel is shaking her head. Nigga, it’s never where you from. It’s always how you go.

Lonte shakes his head, looking at the man’s friend. He’s still not saying anything but just standing there. His body expression tells Lonte, As soon as it jumps off, I’m going to jump in. Lonte turns his head back to the situation and sees the tall man walking up the steps. The big man swings on Angel. Angel ducks. Lonte hits him with a right. The man stumbles down the steps. The short man runs over there and meets Lonte on the sidewalk. He swings on Lonte. Lonte ducks and throws a two-piece. The short man dodges them. Lonte says, Oh, nigga, you nice.

The tall man gets himself together and throws a punch at Lonte. Angel hits him before it could connect with Lonte. He stumbles back again. Stunned, he looks at Angel.

Angel is smiling. I told you, nigga, you got us fucked up!

The short man throws a couple of jabs at Lonte. He bobs and weaves through those. While he weaves through the last one, he throws a jab of his own. As soon as Lonte sees that he caught him, he hit the man with an uppercut. The man’s head goes up, and Lonte catches him with another jab. The short man falls. He gets back up. Shakes it off. He throws his hands back up and walks back up to Lonte.

Lonte smiles. I like this.

The tall man walks up on Angel. She two-pieces him quick. The police pull up with sirens on. The two men don’t stop fighting. The tall man goes to backhand Angel. She ducks. She hits him in the ribs and backs up. Come on, nigga, you fighting like a bitch.

The short man throws a jab then a cross. Lonte ducks. The man comes up with a knee and catches Lonte. Police jump in and pepper-spray the scene. Two more police pull up. An older lady comes out of the house Angel and Lonte was at. The lady asks the police, What’s going on?

One of the police officers tells her to go back in the house. These people are fighting outside your house.

The lady says, Those two are my kids. He lives in my basement.

Well, ma’am, I saw all of them throw punches. So, they are all going to jail.

What! the lady says with a confused look on her face. But if they live here, ain’t it self-defense?

Ma’am, we seen them fighting, and they didn’t stop when we pulled up.

But they live here.

With attitude in his voice, the police officer said. Well, ma’am, that doesn’t mean you can put your hands on people. Matter of fact, these two are bleeding, so their charges will be malicious wounding. That’s a felony. They will get no bond.

The lady looks at her kids, shaking her head. I’ll get a lawyer, and I got Monte.

Angel looks at her mom and smiles. Tell him I love him.

The lady smiles and nods OK. I love y’all. Tell Delonte I got it.

Angel looks at her mom. We know.

Delonte is shaking his head. Here, we go again.

Angel throws her head back. Yes, but I ain’t tripping. Those niggaz started it.

Yeah, that nigga caught me with a knee at the end, Delonte says, smiling.

Angel is laughing. How you let him do that?

Shit, sis, I thought we was just going hands.

Angel laughs even harder. Nigga, this ain’t your first rodeo.

Yeah, shit, he caught me slipping.

Oh, I heard we are getting malicious wounding charges. So neither one of us will be getting a bond.

Delonte puts his head down. Damn. They ride off in the cop car.

The next day came, and all four of them are in the courtroom. The judge calls Andre Jenkins. The short man says, Yes, sir.

You are being charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction to justice. Do you understand the charges that are against you?

Yes, sir.

What do you want to do about a lawyer?

I would like to get my own lawyer.

All right, come back September 15 with your lawyer. Your bail is at ten thousand. I will keep it there.

Andre nods. Thank you, sir.

Eric Ryder, the judge calls.

The tall man steps up. Yes, sir.

You are also charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction to justice. Do you understand the charges that are against you?

Yes, sir.

What would you like to do for a lawyer?

Buy one, Your Honor.

All right, be back September 15 with your lawyer. Your bail is set at ten thousand. I will keep it there.

Thank you, sir. He steps back.

Delonte, Thomas.

Delonte steps up. Yes, sir.

You are being charged with disorderly conduct, obstruction to justice, and malicious wounding. Do you understand the charges that are against you?

Yes, sir.

What do you want to do about a lawyer?

I’m here, Your Honor. In walks a well-dressed five-foot-ten, about-190-pounds light-skinned African American man.

The judge looks at him. You are?

I’m Quincy McClain, with McClain and McClain. I’m here representing Delonte and Angel Thomas.

The judge nods his head OK. The judge calls Angel Thomas. Another man stands by her side. He is a little lighter than Quincy but bigger and taller. The judge looks at him.

He speaks up. I’m Marquise McClain, with McClain and McClain.

The judge continues. Angel Thomas, you are also charged with disorderly conduct, obstruction to justice, and malicious wounding.

Angel looks him right in the eye. Yes, sir.

Now that you both have lawyers, I’m taking it y’all will like to talk about bail.

Yes, sir, Quincy answers.

The district attorney stands up. We will agree to a fifteen-thousand-dollar bond for each of them.

Both the lawyers agree.

The bailiff walks Angel and Deonte to the back. The lawyers walk to the back with them.

When the bailiff leaves, Quincy shakes Delonte’s hand. I’m Quincy McClain, and your mother hired us to represent you two.

Marquise shakes Angel’s hand. Then he shakes Delonte’s hand.

Delonte says to himself, Damn!

Angel smiles.

Quincy shakes Angel’s hand. He holds on to her hand, looking her in the eyes. We will take care of this.

Delonte looks at him strangely. So does Marquise.

Angel looks at him and smiles. Thank you. She is already aware of his intentions.

Your mother said she can and will get y’all out as soon as you two got a bond, Quincy says, his eyes never leaving Angel’s.

Marquise looks at Angel, then at Delonte. When you two get out, come down to our office.

Delonte nods OK. Quincy is still staring at Angel, smiling.

Marquise look at Quincy, shakes his head, then looks at Delonte. OK, we will see you then. He grabs Quincy’s arm as he starts to walk out.

Angel look at Delonte as the bailiff walks in. I’m sorry for getting you in all this.

Delonte shakes his head as the bailiff is grabbing his arm, putting the handcuffs on. You know I neva regret handling business for our family.

Yeah, I know, but still.

Shit, I had fun anyway.

Yeah, I did too.

Delonte’s mom walks out of the courtroom into her car. She pulls her cell phone out. She scrolls down her contacts and hits a button. Tony, it’s your favorite lady.

Long time no hear from Mrs. Thomas.

We been dealing with each other long enough. Tony, you know better than to call me that.

He laughs. OK, Terri.

I need you again, Tony.

I figured that. You never call to check up on me.

The phone works both ways, Tony.

You still with your crazy lazy-ass husband?

She starts laughing.

That’s what I thought. What’s up, baby? What do you need?

Both my kids need to get out.

Didn’t you just move?

Yeah, we been here for a couple weeks.

That was fast.

Yeah, I know.

All right, baby. Where y’all at now?

Just two hours away.

What’s the name of the jail?

Tomocca Regional Jail.

All right, I’ll make the call, young lady. Just go home, and I will bring them home.

You sure, Tony? I can pick them up.

Nah, I’m pretty sure you left your grandson at home with your—his voice scratches—husband. You get home to him. Just have me something real good to eat.

Terri starts smiling. Thank you so much. How about lasagna?

Perfect! Now get off the phone and get home to Monte.

Terri hangs up the phone and pulls off.

Tony is in the car with Delonte and Angel. So are you all going to tell me what happened, or do we have to wait till we get home again?

Mr. Tony, you know we always appreciate you coming to get us.

Delonte interrupts Angel. Even though we know it is so, you can see our ma.

Tony looks in the rearview mirror at Delonte. Shit, you know I want your momma. Ain’t shit change about that.

Delonte ice-cold stares Tony back in the mirror.

So I guess you and your dad ’bout to be mad that your ma made me this lasagna.

Angel interrupts before the conversation gets any crazier. Oh, that’s what’s up. Monte is going to be so happy. That’s his favorite. Angel always knew just the mention of Monte always calmed Delonte down.

Delonte doesn’t even know why he gets mad at Mr. Tony. Tony has always been there for him and his family. More than his own dad, but Delonte feels he has to have loyalty to his father, even though he knows his father ain’t shit.

They pull up to the house. Delonte gets out first. Angel goes to open the door. Tony does not even look at Angel. You bet not.

Mr. Brown.

He looks at her. You know I hate when you call me that.

Angel laughs.

Tony gets out of the car, watching Delonte walk around his car. Tony stops at the back driver’s side door. He looks at Delonte. Delonte makes a rude face and opens his sister’s door.

Angel smiles. Thanks, brother. Angel always liked how her mom and Mr. Tony always made Delonte do gentlemanly things.

No doubt, you know I always got you, Delonte says, still looking at Tony.

Tony laughs. That’s my boy, Tony says to himself. He knew Delonte wasn’t really his, but he has been looking after him since he was ten.

Angel walks into the house. A man is sitting in a chair, watching TV, with a bottle of Wild Irish Rose. Angel walks past him, Hey, Dad.

Where the fuck you been? I had to watch your child.

Angel starts laughing. Come on, Dad, I know Ma already told you.

This little boy and a pit bull run around the corner. Hey, Ma!

She bends down and hugs him. "Hey, Monte. Did you have fun with