I chuckled. “’Cause you don’t get to ignore me. I do the ignoring in this siblinghood. Hell wrong with you.”
I heard the scraping off Striker’s boots sliding across the rocks and opened my eyes. He was standing there with a ticket in his hand. I snatched it from him. “Took you long enough. See you same time next month,” I joked.
I didn’t wait around for him to respond as I peeled away, being sure to kick up as much dust as I could on his bitch ass. That nigga was getting fat off all the tickets he was writing me. Katana cackled on the other end of the phone. “You need to stop talking to them people crazy ’fore they haul your ass downtown.”
“Shit, a nigga can’t go to jail for having a smart mouth.”
She scoffed. “Boy, you forgot this America. A nigga can go to jail for breathing. Be for real. They just like the fact that you got money. They rather get it out of you that way than to lock your Black ass up.”
I knew she was right. Even the judge had said as much the last time I was there. Other than loving to push my foreign engine to the maximum speed, I really was a law-abiding citizen. It was more beneficial for them to keep me on the streets and pull me over every opportunity they got.
“Anyways, I ordered the decal. This party is going to be so cute. You’re sure Mama doesn’t know, right?”
“She doesn’t have a clue. She thinks I’m taking her to the spa.”
“I mean, you’re still doing that, right?”
I nodded as if she could see me before responding. “Yeah, she’s going to spend the day getting pampered before her party, so make sure you book all the appointments.”
Katana clapped her hands together excitedly. “Right! I’m going to do that tomorrow. I’m excited like this party is for me. Hurry up and get here so we can start on this balloon arch.”
“Man, I don’t understand why you couldn’t just hire a party decorator to do it.” I mugged her as if she was sitting in the car with me. Katana never respected my time. Instead of delegatingthis shit off to someone qualified, she wanted to drag me along for the hell of it.
“Because sibling bonding time, duh.”
See what I mean!“Whatever you say. Do you need me to stop anywhere? Because I’m almost there.”
It was like I could hear the gears in her mind spinning. “Well, since you asked. I have a whole list. Thank ya!”
I mentally cursed myself for even asking. Katana was the neediest sister to ever exist. Even worse was that she knew, after I talked shit, I would always do whatever she was requesting of me. She was only three years younger than me at twenty-seven and swore she was the boss of somebody. After our father passed away a few years ago, I stepped up to make sure she and my mother never lacked anything.
When I was in high school, I had no clue what I would do with my life. I ended up going for my real estate license when I graduated on a whim and started making bank. Now that I was in the wholesale market, I was getting paid more to do less work. And you gotta know my girls were reaping the benefits.
“You added the flyer to Eventbuzz, right?” she asked me.
“Yes, Katana. The family has already started rsvp’ing, so can you please relax?” I heard my phone ping and looked down to see the list Katana sent me. “Why Mama need condoms for her party?” I asked with a frown on my lips.What the fuck?
My sister chuckled. “Oh, no, boo, those are for me.”
“Bye, man.” I hung up that phone so damn fast she never got a chance to say anything else. I tossed my phone in the passenger seat, even though I saw Tana calling me back. She had better tread lightly before I took my ass home, and she’d be forced to put that balloon arch together on her own.
Twinski: Okay, okay my bad mr. grumpy pants. That wasn’t funny. Forget the condoms but geteverything else please. Thank you! Love you favorite brother!
“Only brother,” I mumbled. I honestly couldn’t wait for this party business to be over so I could go back to my regularly scheduled program. I should’ve been on my way to a little bar for some wings and a few shots of whiskey. It was a week away, so I would be free from the grasp of Katana’s planning and micromanaging. “One week, Tai. One week.” I encouraged myself to push through because my mama was worth it.
After losing my father, she was always a little sad these days. Celebrating herself with the people she loved most was going to lift her spirits. And that was why I pulled into the Walmart parking lot, ready to check everything off Katana’s list.
“Sister! Oh my God! I really can’t believe you’re back. It’s been too long,” Tampa squealed excitedly on the other end of the phone.
We had identical smiles on our faces, but physically, we looked nothing alike. It was the result of having different mothers. Still, we never considered each other to be half of anything. We were sisters, and that was all that mattered, so over the years, we never involved ourselves in the drama surrounding our parents by keeping our own relationship alive and separate from anything the rents had going on. Distance couldn’t have even made us any closer. I told Tampa everything, and vice versa.
“I know. Surprisingly, it feels good to be back. I can’t wait to see you,” I admitted through my tears.
Tampa walked closer to the camera. “Aww, don’t cry, baby. I’ll clock out right now and come wrap my arms around you.”
I shook my head while sniffling. After pausing for a moment to gather myself, I wiped away my tears. “No, no, it’s okay. I’m fine. I promise.”
She watched me pensively. “Are you sure?”
