“Boy, you’ll only be twenty minutes away, and don’t you worry about my dating life. I got this.”
He ate a few spoonfuls of cereal and shrugged.
“I don’t think you got it, Ma. It’s been like ten years since you dated.”
I gasped. “Boy, it hasn’t been that long.”
“It’s been long enough. I don’t want you sitting around here in this empty house all lonely. It’s cool if you find a man to keep you company.”
“How sweet of you to give me your permission, Son.”
“I know you don’t need my permission. I just wanted you to know I’m cool with it.”
I watched my baby boy as he ate his bowl of cereal as if it were his last meal. He’d been my main priority since I’d found out I was pregnant. As a single mother, I tried to make up for the absence of his father as best I could. Thankfully, my father, brother, and a few of his coaches filled the voids I couldn’t.
There were only a few times he questioned his father’s absence, but once I shared his identity and told him the truth about my relationship with him, he didn’t ask any more questions.
“Maybe once I get you settled in your dorm, I’ll think about dating again. We still have the whole summer to get through together,” I responded.
“Ma, you just reminded me I’ll only be twenty minutes away, and now you’re making it sound like I’ll be halfway across the world. You work on campus, so I’ll probably see you every day.”
“That’s true, but it won’t be the same. How about you worry about what you and your lil girlfriend will do when she leaves for college, and not me.”
He laughed. “Dang, Ma. Why she gotta be my ‘lil girlfriend’ and not just my girlfriend, or better yet, Amani?”
“Because that’s what she is. You know I don’t like that girl. She’s always involved in some mess and trying to drag you into it. I’ll be glad when she goes away to school. And you better be wrapping that little dick up of yours because?—”
“Ma, please. Let’s not go there. My dick is much bigger than the last time you saw it, and I always wrap up, using rubbers that I purchased. Can we not have this conversation again?”
I popped him on the back of his head.
“First of all, watch your mouth and your tone. I’ll stop telling you to wrap up when you get married. You don’t need?—”
“Ma, I know, okay. I promise not to make the same mistakes that you and my sperm donor made. Plus, if it does happen, and it won’t, but if it does, I’ll take care of my responsibilities.”
He drank the milk from the bowl, stood, and went to the dishwasher. After putting his bowl and spoon inside, he closed the door, leaned against the counter, and looked at me.
“Nyeem, you weren’t a mistake. How many times do I have to keep telling you that?”
“I know you don’t regret having me, but I wasn’t planned either. I understand, and it’s cool.”
“You know you’re my biggest blessing and accomplishment, right?”
“Yeah, Ma, I know. I also know that raising me alone wasn’t easy. Two things can be true at the same time. I love you.”
He kissed my forehead and left the kitchen. I stood there for a moment, holding back tears and wondering when my baby became a man. I had to remember he’d always made good choices, and every night I prayed that he would continue to do so.
Hey, Daddy,” I greeted when I entered the kitchen.
“Hey, baby girl. Where’s my favorite grandson?” my father asked before kissing my cheek.
“Youronlygrandchildgot stopped by his uncle outside. Where’s Ma?”
“She’s out back doing something. I just came in to use the bathroom.”
“All right. Let me go see what your wife is doing.”
I went to the backyard and found my mother under the gazebo, moving furniture around.
