He teed the ball as he let off a chuckle. “Good. Come to the house for dinner. You and me, like the good ole days.”
The ball flew into the air, making a single drop. “You didn’t make that shit. You're not even close. Also, those good days you speak of never existed,” I told him as I pulled a club from the bag.
I crouched down and eyed the ball. “Tell me, Dad, how can a parent who exists in the home be non-existent?” I said as I slowly lifted and swung the club in practice before connecting with the ball, swatting it just enough to bounce off the grass, roll four inches to the left, and land in the hole.
I turned to look at him, and I could tell he had no words. “Just as I thought,” I said.
He closed his eyes briefly. “How can I make up for it. Your mother and I are trying. We really need to talk.”
I cut my eyes at him. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
My father moved closer, placing his hand on my shoulder. “Braylen, I need you to give me a chance to explain. Every time I try, you shut me out. When did you become like this? This angry person. It’s almost as if I don’t know who you are. Maybe your mother was right. Those Zoo folks are changing you. Likethis June Calloway. Do you know his story? Do you know where he came from? Diamond Blanco? What about him? All of them have a past that I don’t think you should be a part of. It won’t be long until the crew turns their back on you.”
People always wanted to know why I had become so cold, and the answer was my parents. The word control stuck out like a sore thumb, and anybody who thought they could control even a piece of me had me fucked up, and that was something I stood on.
“Just like you and Ma did,” I finished as I walked off.
As soon as I got to my car, my phone rang with an unknown number. I was reluctant to answer, but I thought about Scooter. “Yo!” I called out.
“Nigga, Beans, it’s me, Scooter.”
I nodded. “Man, I’ve been calling you. Where are you at?”
“Uh, yo’, what’s this address?” he asked someone in the background.
I could hear mumbling, then the person said a street name, one that was very familiar. Once he told me the house numbers, I sped off. The drive from the country club to that side of the Cove was about forty minutes, and when I turned onto the street, that feeling emerged. I pulled up to the address I knew all too well.
2016 Loch Ness Dr.
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I didn’t know if Bop stopping me from killing myself was a good or bad thing. He shoved the shit out of me, causing the gun to fly out of my hand and go off. Hearing the loud bang and what it could have done to me fucked me up. The truth was Bishop saved Keith from having to cry over my body, but it didn’t erase the problems. Once I had calmed down, I explained everything to them. Although they told me not to worry about it, I still did. Bop claimed he knew someone who could handle Clark, but how could that be when the nigga had been running rampant for years?
Bleek and Bishop had decided to bring me to a place they said would keep me safe while they went on a manhunt for Naheem. When I first got here, and the older lady answered the door, I knew these niggas didn’t know what they were doing.How could I be safe with a grandma who looked like all she did was bake cookies and shit?After being here for the last couple of days, the first chance I got, I called Beans.
A part of me wanted to run the fuck out of here. Between Baking Best and a wheelchair rolling Nancy, I didn’t know whatto do. When I heard someone knocking at the door, I knew it had to be that nigga Beans. Best had gone to answer the door while I anxiously waited.
“Well, hello? I’m Best,” I heard her say.
“Hi. The name is Beans,” he replied.
That’s when I didn’t hear anything else but saw him come around the corner. I hopped up but froze when his gaze seemed to focus on the family pictures on the wall. The look on his face was the very same one I had when I, too, became envious of other happy families. She walked up alongside him, “That’s my son Leek, Pierre, and my daughter Paige,” she told him.
He moved closer toward the picture, staring at the muhfucka like a stalker. “I know her,” he mumbled.
Best smiled brightly. “So, you are the infamous Beans?” she asked. “I’ve heard your shows. Interesting topics.”
He glanced down at her as if he were surprised. “I’ve heard a lot about you. You’re more handsome than she described.”
It was the look he had.This nigga fucking with her daughter.I thought.
He glanced up at me.Nigga, let’s go.I mouthed.
He looked back down at Best as if he wanted to say something, but he said nothing. “She’s a sweet girl. Don’t let your mother come between you two,” she said to him.
The nigga looked shook. He turned to leave, and she stopped him. “Is everything ok?” she asked.
I rushed over toward her, “Yeah, he’s fine. Thanks for letting me stay. Tell Pierre I will get up with him,” I said as I rushed behind Beans.
