Arsel and I were both struggling college students, but we made things work as best as we could. My grandmother couldn’t do too much, but she helped when she could. I didn’t have as many classes as Arsel, so I got a job at the school’s bookstore. It wasn’t much, but we made it work. Arsel’s parents would give him money, and sometimes we would go out to dinner or the movies. Arsel always looked out for me, even when he didn’t have it, and for that, I knew he was special. I also knew I was too, though. We just got a little lost along the way, but we were back like nothing happened.
By the time we finished eating, Mikayla started crying.
“I’ll get her. I know you need to shower still,” I told Arsel as I climbed off his lap.
He smacked my ass and stood from the couch.
“Okay. Do you have anything you want to do today?” he asked as he gathered the trash from our food.
“No. I figured we could just hang out here. Maybe we can play some games with her and watch some movies.”
Mikayla’s cries stopped, but I knew she was still awake.
“That works.”
Arsel went into the kitchen, while I went upstairs to get Mikayla.
When I walked into her room, she was standing up in her crib. The minute she saw me, she stretched her arms.
“Good morning, mama.” I reached in to pick her up.
Her eyes were still watery, so I wiped her face, then carried her to the bathroom. I ran the water in the tub to give her a quick bath, even though she’d gotten one before bed. We were in the process of potty training her, so she wore diapers to bed.
It took a few minutes to wash her up because she loved to play in the tub, and I always gave her a few minutes to do that. Arsel had gotten a basketball hoop and balls for the bathtub, and that seemed to be her favorite thing to play with.
“Looks like we might have a future WNBA player on our hands,” Arsel said from the doorway. He’d changed into sweatpants and a T-shirt.
Mikayla’s face lit up when she saw him.
“That would be nice. I guess she’s ready to get out since you are here,” I joked as I let the water out of the tub.
“Your face lights up, too, when you see me.” Arsel winked.
I wrapped the towel around Mikayla and sucked my teeth. “You wish.”
He and I both knew I was lying. I definitely lit up whenever I saw him. How could I not?
“Please. Anyway, I made her some oatmeal and bananas.”
“Okay. Thanks. I’m gonna get her dressed, then we’ll be down.”
I carried Mikayla back to her room while Arsel went downstairs. Mikayla talked to me while I lotioned her body, then put her clothes on. Of course, I hardly understood what she said, but that didn’t stop her from talking or me from responding.
“You ready to eat?”
“Eat.” She clapped her hands.
This child would clap her hands for everything. I laughed, then picked her up. I kissed her cheek as we left her room.
She knew how to walk down the steps, but sometimes I liked to carry her. I put her down when we reached the bottom of the steps, and she ran to Arsel, who bent down to pick her up.
“Hey, pretty girl.” Arsel kissed all over her face as she giggled.
The three of us went into the kitchen so she could eat. Arsel helped her while I fixed sandwiches for us to eat later in the day for lunch.
When Mikayla was done eating, the three of us migrated to the living room.
Mikayla pulled out some of her toys and played with Arsel while I scheduled some promo for the last book I put out. When I was done, I joined them on the floor.
