Jovanis had never felt his heart beat so fast in his life. Margie parked in front of apartments that all looked the same. There was no grass on the lawn, and the siding could’ve used afew coats of paint. He looked at his mother as she shut off the engine.
“Why do I have to stay here?” he asked.
“Because.” She touched the side of his face. “Your uncles are going to teach you something that I can’t.”
“What’s that?”
“How to be a man.”
“But I’m just a boy,” he argued. “I can’t be a man right now.”
She smiled at him. Her disposition was a big contrast to the one she’d had at the house. In this moment, Margie was soft with him. Jovanis loved this side of his mother where she was gentle and understanding. Most times, she was frustrated, stressing over money that she didn’t have. With his father being overseas in the army, he sent what he could, but he didn’t make Jovanis his top priority. Which explained why he only saw him once a year.
“Listen, you don't need to be scared. Your uncles are going to make sure you're good, Van. I can’t teach you how to be a man because I’m a woman. We can only do so much for our sons before they need their father. Since yours isn’t around, Uncle Mel and Uncle Fish are going to lookout for you.”
Tears crowded his brown eyes. This felt like a farewell, as if he wouldn’t see his mother anymore, and it cracked his heart.
“Will I see you again?” he muttered, eyes descending to his Chuck Taylor sneakers.
“Of course.” She chuckled. “Why wouldn’t you see me again? I’m your mother.”
Jovanis wanted to express how this felt like the end of their journey. She was giving him away to uncles that he didn’t know that well. What would his life be like moving forward? She suddenly wanted him to be this man when Jovanis still loved sitting in his underwear, eating cereal, and watching Saturday morning cartoons.
“Come on. Let’s go inside.”
Reluctantly, he opened the door and got out the car. His mother opened the trunk. After grabbing his bag, she led the way toward the house. Jovanis heard loud music as they drew near the front door. Margie kicked it a few times, and his Uncle Mel answered the door. His expression was grim until he realized who it was.
“Baby sis. What’s up, girl?” He pulled her in for a hug while Jovanis nervously stood.
“What’s going on?” she greeted him, playfully pinching his cherub cheek.
“Shit.” He then placed his attention on Jovanis. “I see you brought my soldier with you.”
“Yeah, it’s time,” she muttered, giving Jovanis a forced smile.
“Y’all come on in.”
They all walked inside where the furniture was scarce. The only thing in the living room was a TV, two big speakers, and a leather couch.
“Aye, Fish! Margie and Jovanis out here!” Mel yelled.
Seconds later, Uncle Fish emerged from the back, dragging his feet in his house shoes. Fish was shorter than Mel with light skin and wild, kinky hair. While Mel was taller with a chocolate tone and deep waves.
“You ready to get jumped in, lil’ man?” Fish teased him.
Jovanis looked at Margie, who waved her hand dismissively. “Boy, they just messing with you.”
“All that scary shit gotta go. If you gon’ hang with us, you gotta be a soldier. You can’t be a fucking mama’s boy acting all soft.”
Jovanis didn’t understand why being a mama’s boy was so bad. He loved Margie, despite her mood swings. She was good to him when life was good to her. When it wasn’t, she released her frustrations with cruel words that she often apologized for.
“Don't be over here abusing my son. I just want y’all to toughen him up. Not take him through the ringer,” she warned.
“Ah, girl, get the fuck on. You want us to make a man outta him, right?” Fish retorted.
“Well, yeah.”
“Then, let us do what we do.”
