“You’re the dummy,” Andrew grumbled allowing Sanaa to bait him.
“Aight that’s enough. Both of y’all ease up. Shit is getting ridiculous,” Jahlil parented.
“Tell him to ease up and read me my book,” Sanaa huffed before stomping over to Andrew snatching the book from him and coming back to her iPad. “I don’t need you.”
“Girl, if you don’t apologize to him and get some damn sense,” Jahlil shot. “You too, Drew.”
Sanaa’s entire facial expression changed as she looked at Andrew. “Sorry. Ugly.”
Andrew mushed her on his way out of her room. “Sorry. Ugly.”
Jahlil shook his head. “Open the book up, Babygirl.”
Sanaa opened it and showed him the first page. Jahlil didn’t need to read it word for word. He knew it like the back of his hands. “You see it?”
“Yep, get your blanket and your lovie,” he directed. She did. “The Toad and the Princess.”
“Like me. I’m the princess and Andrew is a toad,” Sanaa mumbled, rolling her eyes.
“Ready?” Jahlil chuckled. “One day, Jane was jumping through puddles.”
“Splish, splash,” Sanaa added.
“Mud was everywhere. It covered her boots and her princess dress. She jumped and skipped. And hopped and dipped. Twirled and whistled. Perfectly content and then something went, “hey little princess, look down here.” Jane froze and scrunched her nose. She looked down and said, “I don’t talk to toads.” She skipped away, continuing to dilly and dally. Jumping and skipping, hopping and dipping, twirling and whistling. Almost content and then something went, “ hey little princess, look down here.” She huffed, scrunched her nose and said, “I don’t talk to toads.” “But I’m alone and you are too. Can I hop, skip, and jump with you?” Jane groaned and moaned and went away on her own. This time, the toad hopped up on top of her boot! Jane scrunched her face and shook him off. “Go do what toads do and leave me alone, you!” “But I have no friends, and you don’t either.” Jane looked around and frowned. It was true, she had no friends, no brother or sister. She was alone and always played on her own. “One game, and I’ll go on my way. I don’t have all day.” “I promise it won’t take long. I’ll hop and sing my song. So the two jumped and skipped, hopped and dipped. Splished and splashed all day long until at last, “Jane, it’s time for supper!” her mother called. Jane looked at the toad and scrunched her nose. “Since your my friend, can we do this tomorrow?” “I’m alone and you are too. I will always hop along and skip with you.” Jahlil retold the story word for word, although Sanaa had only flipped to the third page before falling asleep. “I love you, baby girl.”
Andrew roamed back in and covered her up with her blanket and kissed her forehead. “Thanks, Aunt Violet and I tried.”
“Don’t sweat the small stuff. You good?” Jahlil questioned.
Andrew nodded. “I’m cool. Bored and my legs are sore. You said you’re coming home Sunday?”
“Let me find out you miss me,” Jahlil stated with a chuckled.
Andrew smiled enough to let his braces show. “Aight, aight cool out.”
“Get your ass in bed, you got to be up early.”
“I don’t get no days off?” Andrew asked.
“No, not at all. Enjoy this baby ass training because when the season starts, I’m putting you on my schedule.”
“Damn, if losing sleep is the punishment just say that,” Andrew huffed. “I’m going to sleep.”
“Aight, bro. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Jahlil hung up not realizing that Emani had been standing there to experience the tail end of his story telling and his check in with Andrew. She wore an expression he hadn’t seen in what felt like ages. He licked his lips and sat back. “What’s that look?”
“Fatherhood looks so good on you,” she stated. “I didn’t mean to impede. The deejay started playing that song and I had to wander off.”
Jahlil furrowed his brow. “What song?”
Emani tilted her head in a telling notion.
“Ohh that song.” Jahlil snapped his fingers and began to recite the lyrics he used to hum into her hair. Words she remixed on his tough days. “My pretty lady. My baby. My girl. For her I’ll give the world.”
“Don’t start. I’m drunk,” she warned as he stood. “And my feet hurt.”
