“’Preciate it, Ma. What made you get up and cook?” I inquired.
“Child, if I knew, I’d tell you. What you out here thinking ‘bout? Seem like you got something on your mind.”
I do.
She knew me better than anybody. I indeed had some shit on my mind. The only thing that occupied my thoughts for the past few months was the shit Royce did to Walt. That news hit a nigga ears quick as hell.
“Aye Black, shit went left. That nigga Royce killed my uncle. Kenny just hit me with it. We got to step nigga!” Hulk shouted. You could hear hurt and anger in his voice.
“The fuck you calling me for. That nigga ain’t shit to me.”
“Yeah, but I am muthafucka. We got to spin the block.”
“I ain’t got to do a fuck ass thing. Y’all wanted to do that gig so deal with the aftermath. It’s always been all or none and y’all seemed to forget that. Muthafuckas die every day so what the fuck makes yo’ uncle so special. And let’s make something clear, calling me ‘bout a lick I didn’t orchestrate or agree to, ain’t on me to clean up. Y’all want to holla Twenty-One when it’s up but wasn’t shit Twenty-One ‘bout that lick. Get the fuck off my line.”
I wasn’t expecting things to go the way they did and that was the God honest truth. I found it funny how Royce even allowed himself to get locked up behind it. He was too careful, so him doing a bid behind that shit had to be intentional. However, I wasn’t ‘bout to let Adele know that. She carried pure hate in her heart for the Atkins.
“Just thinking of the next lick. I ain’t sure on where to go or who to hit. Ain’t shit hit my radar,” I said pulling one last time before passing the blunt. She took it from me and inhaled just as deep letting that THC fill her lungs.
“You want to take it back to the Springs or elsewhere?” Adele always spoke like she was the one planning this shit, too. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I just said I ain’t sure on where to go or who to hit Ma. You ain’t hearing a nigga or something?” I threw back.
“Don’t get smart with me you red muthafucka. I was just curious to see when y’all was making moves. I been thinking on a way to get Royce again. I think I found a way in,” she spoke with a throat full of smoke.
“You obsessed with that nigga ain’t you? Twenty-One just hit him damn near a year ago and got out that muthafucka unscathed. Let that shit be. He’ll get his in due time.”
“Ain’t nobody obsessed with his ass. He enjoying fruits of a labor that’s supposed to be yours. All I’m trying to do is get you what you deserve.” She loathed that nigga more than I did my donor. I was confused on who the real enemy was sometimes.
“Why you want to put him down so bad but not that fuck ass baby daddy of yours? He the one that shipped you off, told you what his bitch was on, dropped off a few bands, and said make do. Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but what the fuck Junior do to you?”
I was all for knocking the Atkins down a few pegs but make it make sense. I knew where the fuck my animosity stemmed from, but where the hell did hers truly stem from. Like I said, all her hate was for Junior leaving none for Senior. She knew something I didn’t and that was evident. She claimed everything she told me ‘bout them was the truth but now I was starting to think otherwise.
“Fuck him, his bitch ass mama, and the dick we shared. Why can’t you ever have my back when it comes to them?” she shouted.
“Who the hell you hollerin’ at, Ma? I can hear you just fine without you amping up. I done had yo’ back from day one. Don’t put that shit on me. This ain’t ‘bout no bread no more either. What’s the real, Ma?” This was the time for her to give it to me raw.
“I done told you a million times already. Look, that dumbass lick y’all did with his lieutenant wasn’t shit. He did three months and was out like he never left. Ain’t nobody hurting but us. He living on compounds making our shit look like a fuckin’ outhouse. I’m tired!”
“How the fuck you know how he living? Even Twenty-One don’t know that, so what’s up? You stalking that nigga to get to yo’ baby daddy?” I questioned with dipped brows.
“I been known where the hell he lived, Genesis.”
“Where the fuck yo’ bitch ass baby daddy reside, Adele?” A grimacing grin pierced my lips.
The entire time we spoke she gave me eye contact but once I started talking ‘bout the nigga that kicked her out the city, shefound everything else more interesting to look at. She still loved that deadbeat ass muthafucka. I released a hearty laugh as I took steps back. She fed me plates on Royce Senior and all of them was distasteful. However, she was beginning to sing a different tune these days.
“It’s a compound, Genesis. Where else you think he lives?” she yelled for the umpteenth time.
“So, you ain’t stalking Junior, you stalking Senior. I got it. You a fuckin’ joke. I’m ‘bout to get up through.” I tossed the plate of food in the green dumpster on the side of the patio and entered the house.
“Why can’t daddy come see us? He only calls once a year and that’s on my birthday.”
“Don’t ever think yo’ father loves anyone outside of his trifling wife and the bastard they made. He swore he would be here for us but all he did was pay us off with some hush money. Stop asking ‘bout him and that’s final!”
I was ten when Adele cut speaking ‘bout Senior off altogether. It never left my thoughts and with her out to get Royce, I could only wonder what the hell really went down. Muthafuckas was starting to irritate me more and more with this secrecy shit. I was too blunt to keep shit under wraps and I thought my mama was too. I witnessed her bring niggas to tears just from speaking truth so what the fuck was holding her tongue now.
Entering my bedroom, I rummaged through the closet to find a fit to throw on. I damn sure wasn’t ‘bout to stay here with her ass. I was seconds from hopping on her head too. I didn’t know why she thought keeping me in the dark was the right thing to do. She knew I had no understanding when I found out muthafuckas done lied to me. I didn’t give a fuck who you were. I built my character on truth and loyalty. I would’ve hated to put her down too.
