“Well, where were you at this morning that was more important than being there for your best friend? I know he would’ve been there for you.”
"I was relaxing at the country club, mama."
The door to the guest bedroom off the kitchen creaked open, and my shit talking baby sister Jasmine came out of the room with her hair scattered on top of her head like a bird’s nest.
“Mama, Crew was probably at the strip club. I don’t know why he fronts like he's not a freak seven days a week.”
“Ugly ass.” I mumbled even though I knew that shit wasn't true.
Even with her hair not done, my sister was still pretty as hell. Shid, all my sisters were pretty just like my Mama. That why I had to beat up plenty of niggas for getting after them, especially the niggas I didn’t approve of. My older sisters were popping pussy regardless, but the baby Jasmine, I tried to protect growing up. One bitch ass nigga however slipped through the cracks and got her pregnant, but he got stomped out in return.Still to this day, when Reggie comes to pick up his son, that scary ass nigga couldn't even look me in the face. Sometimes I would just stare at the nigga just to make him piss on himself.
“So Crew, why you lying to mama? Where were you?”
“Shut your bald head ass up,” I said, ducking the swing I knew was coming.
She laughed and shoved me upside my head anyway, and then came back and hugged me seconds later.
Jasmine was the baby, then there was me, and then my older sisters Vanessa and Laporsha. We talked shit to one another, but we were all close and had to be, growing up in that small ass apartment, sleeping shoulder to shoulder, fighting over the fan during the summer and the heat during the winters. Some nights it felt like the walls were sweating with us and I dreamed of living better. Shit, I remember the first time I visited Carl Davis’s house, I knew that broke ass shit wasn’t for me. Back then, I wanted his house and with his daughter Cashmier walking through it as my lady. I remember when I first saw her chocolate ass skin, I didn’t think any girl could be prettier. Now I repulse that bitch or the idea of being like Carl Davis.
“Crew, did Mama tell you that she has a boyfriend now?” Jasmine sat at the seat across from me.
“I have a man friend, Jasmine, and I was going to tell your brother when I wanted to. Do you tell him about your little friends before you get serious with them?”
“Mama, I do not get serious with these men. To me, they are just a good time, if that.”
“And a good time could end you up with a big stomach or an itchy vagina, Jas.”
“Mama, that's not happening, trust.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” I tried to hush them both up.
“Let’s take this shit back a minute. Who is this new nigga Ma?”
“He is an old friend whom I was seeing back in the day who has moved back to New York. We are nothing serious and just spending time with each other.”
“Spending time? Where? What the fuck?”
If my Mama could see my face, she would see how distraught I looked from hearing this shit. The last boyfriend my Mama had, I beat up and sent on his way one day that she was at work at the hospital, and he was lying back on the couch watching Maury like he was the bitch in the relationship. My Mama still to this day thinks that Vick left her for another woman or family after the day she came home, and he was gone. But little does she know he left her because he had to choose whether he wanted to live or die, and not because some other woman started giving his goofy ass pussy.
“Most of the time, we have only been spending time together here. He calls me every morning and comes over in the evening with the things I need from the store. He’s actually a great help to me now, son.”
“Mama, I told you I would make sure you had everything you need, even if your sorry ass daughters won’t. I told you I would hire someone to move in here full-time to be with you if need be.”
“I do not need anyone to move into my house, watching over me like I’m completely helpless, Crewshon.” My Mama raised her voice, turning her body to where my voice was coming from.
“I am doing just fine, and I am not helpless. Shoot, I can’t be too helpless still being able to get a man as fine as he probably still is. Back in the day he was one of the most handsome men in New York. Tall, brown, beautiful skin and teeth.”
“I know that’s right, Mama. Can’t even see and can still spot a fine man. I think he’s very handsome still, Mama.”
Jas hyped her up like this shit was fly. It wasn’t though. It had me heated like them hot dogs on Mr. Applewhite fuckin grill outside.
“When do I get to meet him, Ma?”
“Brother, he comes through every day around 4:30. So if you stick around today, you will.” Jasmine hurried the words out of her mouth because I know she secretly enjoyed seeing me heated. I looked at my clock and saw that it was only 3:00, so I had some time to spare.
I'm not going anywhere until mystery man shows up.
When my Mama got done frying the fish, I ate three fish sandwiches back-to-back and chased them down with two bottles of water and a cup of my Mama's sugar-free ginger ale. That meal hit so good I could barely move afterward, so I made my way straight to Mama’s bed, which sat up high like a throne, at least four feet off the ground. I took off my shoes because she didn’t play that shit and flopped on top of the cover, ready to sink into that nap that always hits different after a home cooked meal.
