“You can come for a day or two… I got mouths to feed and a strip club to tend to… so I’m gone need at least one hundred and fifty dollars from you and for you to watch these damn kids while I go to work.”
I sighed hard as hell. Shadonna had been my friend since we were kids. Both our mommas were strung the hell out. While I found honest jobs, she used her body to help her survive. She had three bad ass kids and the worse trait attached to her personality was being beyond fucking selfish.
“Don’t be looking all surprised bitch! I don’t see why you stayed with the nigga after the last ass whooping! I oughta slap ya ass for looking sad for losing that bastard ass baby! The nigga doesn’t take care of you to begin with… hell, that was God talking to your dumb ass! Take it or leave it! I’ll be here till eleven thirty. Then, after that, these kids will be home alone watching themselves.”
She took another hit of her cancer stick, then rolled her eyes again at me and hung up.
“That bitch ain’t yo fuckin’ friend.” King mumbled, as we pulled up to my house. Fiends sat out on the porch. There was no sight of Glen car, so I felt relieved. All I needed to do was pack the little clothes and shoes I had and do another walk to Shadonna’s house. King opened his glove compartment and pulled out a handgun. Stepping outside his truck, he tucked it in front of his jeans, letting his shirt fall over it. He yelled at the junkies, telling them to leave. Once he flashed them his gun, they all scattered like roaches. Helping me out the car, he let me lean most of my weight on him.
“Thanks King, I really appreciate everything you have done for me… I would pay you back, but my mom stole the last of the money I had.”
It felt like I was starting to ramble on as he just nodded his head a couple of times, letting me know he heard me. Truth was, I didn’t know what was going on behind the doors of my house. I was nervous that he would try to come in and continue to help me. Fiddling with the keys, knowing damn well the door was already unlocked, I stalled.
“Again, thanks, I got it from here.”
“Loni, open up the door, so we can get your things. I’ll take you some where safe.” He sounded agitated.
“I appreciate you, but I don’t need you to help me… I mean, you are a stranger…”
“Yo… you talk a whole lot baby girl. How old are you?”
“I’m a grown woman,” I snapped, getting offended.
“Well, check it Miss Grown Woman. I ain’t got all day… my mom just got out the hospital too. I need to see bout her. Open up the damn door, don’t give me all that stranger shit when I just seen you naked an hour ago.”
He had my mouth wide open at his choice of words. Seeing that I wasn’t budging, he sighed hard and reached around me,twisting the knob, then holding the door wide open for me to enter.
“Look King… my mom’s a dope head, ain’t no telling what she gone say or do.”
Nodding his head like he understood some shit, I rolled my eyes and walked in. As I figured, my mom was on her knees giving a drug dealer head. The sight was pathetic, but it wasn’t nothing new. When the guy realized we were standing there, he pushed her off of him and put his small dick back in his pants. Ignoring us, he dug in his pocket and threw a baggie of small rocks at her.
“King, is that you? Nigga! Aww shit, you came to get done up too?” he spoke like he was excited. King’s jawline tightened and his face became angry, once dude seen that King wasn’t pleased by his presence, he threw his hands up. Mocking a fake ass surrender he said, “My bad, I was just leaving.”
He got up and quickly walked out the door, leaving it wide open. I wanted to ask King how the guy knew him but knew it wasn’t my place.
“Well, I hope Glen beat some sense in your ass! I’ve been sucking and fucking just to get the got damn lights back on! Where have you been Layloni?” she yelled, as she struggled to stand on her feet from being on her knees for lord knows how long.
“I’m just coming to get my things momma. I’m done with you and Glen,” I said softly as the scene of her cheering him on while he beat me kept replaying in my brain.
“Bitch, please… you know damn well you ain’t going nowhere.” She scratched her chest hard as her eyes scanned the living room for something. When she spotted it, she picked her pipe up proudly and plopped down on the couch, ripping the baggie open then stuffing her pipe.
“Who is this fine ass man, and what is he doing in my house?” her right eye twitched
“Loni, hurry up and get what you need,” was all King said as he stood still, not offering up any more words. He looked over at my momma with disgust written all over his face.
I was so used to men and women entertaining my momma’s theatrics that it actually surprised me seeing King take a different stance with her.
“I sure hope you ain’t fucking him behind my son in law back! Well, hell, this type of fine ass nigga ain’t finna fuck no fat hoe anyway.”
She lit her pipe then inhaled deeply, within seconds she sat back slumped on the couch in lala land. I hurried my steps to gather my things before any other surprises came about. When I went inside my room, everything was messed up. Clothes and shoes were missing, along with my Tv and iPad. Shaking my head, I packed my underwear and bras, a couple of leggings, and my dirty uniform from my clothes hamper. When I got to Shadonna’s house, I planned on washing it in the sink and sitting it outside overnight to air dry.
Zipping up my old worn-out Nike backpack, I made my way back to the living room. King had his back turned towards the door. I glanced over at my momma and felt embarrassed as hell. She had her legs opened wide, exposing her funky ass pussy. She rubbed her saggy breasts and moaned out loud. I wanted to throw up, but I tried to ignore it and walk out the door with King. I was tired of crying over my problems all the time. I needed to let this shit go.
I loved my mom, no matter how fucked up she was. But she needed to love herself and get help. I was tired of dealing with her shit. Never in a million years would the young me think my mom would be strung the fuck out like this. All because a no-good nigga left her. She was supposed to love me more insteadof turning to drugs. What’s done was done. I was tired of holding my own self back because of her. I knew I could live without Glen as well, but it was my mom I worried the most about.
I didn’t want to leave her and then get a call saying she was dead. That was my worse fear. All I could do at this point was pray for her. Between her and Glen, they were both running me down and I needed to get away. Turning around before I left out, my voice cracked and so did my heart. “I love you, mommy.”
Then, I walked out, refusing to let my heart break any further.
