“What’s going on, Rita?” I asked her as she sat next to me.
“How is he?” she asked, referring to Quest.
“He’s…” I stumbled because I couldn’t really answer that question. Quest had been through some shit and he just pushed through and let it roll of his back. He hadn’t fully dealt with that shit about his mother and how his real father wasn’t who he had always thought it was. No sooner had he found out that Rashid was his real father, the casino was shot up and then I was kidnapped, and now there was the whole Serenity situation.
“You know Quest. He’s putting on his brave face but I think he’s suppressing anger.”
“I need you to look out for him just as hard as he’s looking out for you and everyone else in this family. When this mess blows over and we get Serenity back, he needs to really deal with his pain around Rashid. When you don’t process grief, it can eat at you and turn into disease. I saw that on Oprah once,” she chuckled as she turned her head to the side.
“I know. I hope we get Serenity home soon and that he can take a breather.”
“Me too.”
But there was still the matter of Janelle. I wanted her dead for what she did to me. However, it felt inconsequential. Maybe we should let it go and move on. She wasn’t going to try that shit again. And if she did I’d be much better prepared.
“Storie! Come up here and help with these dishes,” Rita called out to her. “You and Zainab cooked for us, she can help with clean up,” she continued.
Then there was silence. No running up the stairs to obey Rita’s order. “Maybe she didn’t hear you.”
“STORIE!” I called out.
Nothing.
“Dream!” Rita yelled.
Immediately I heard the pitter patter of tiny feet climb the stairs. “Yes, Grandma,” she said in her sweet little voice.
“Where is your sister?” Rita asked her.
“Watching television. She said that she don’t feel like washing dishes,” Dream responded as her eyes darted from side to side before landing at her feet. Even she knew that this was a big no-no.
“You go tell her if she don’t bring her butt up here I’m gonna knock her into next Wednesday!” Rita’s eyes were wide and raging to the point that Dream was shaken.
“Baby, I’m not mad about you. Just go get your sister, okay? I’ll give you some chocolate chip cookies when you get back,” Rita continued as she grabbed her tiny trembling hand.
Baby girl nodded her head, those pretty coils shaking back and forth, then ran downstairs to retrieve her defiant sister.
“What in the hell is going on with her?” I asked.
“Justice told me she’s been having problems in school and in the house. That she’s been back talking. I told him to leave her with me for a week. I may be old but I’ll nip that shit in the bud.” She smirked.
“Jesus.” I shook my head in disappointment.
In a matter of moments I heard feet stomping up the stairs and in walked Storie with a look of annoyance contorting her face.
“What?” she blasted.
“Lil girl, wash those dishes and then sit in the living room in the dark until your father comes back.”
“You wash them. I heard being active at your old age will keep you from dying.”
“STORIE!” I barked.
Rita smirked and walked out of the room. When she returned she had a thick leather belt. “You’re right little girl. I do need to be active.”
Immediately Storie started to back away but it didn’t matter, Rita swung that belt and tore up her legs and ass. Yusef came back into the room to see the commotion but then immediately turned right back out with a look of “oh shit,” strewn across his face.
“IF.Whack.YOU.Whack.EVER.Whack.TALK.Whack.To.Whack.Me.Whack.LIKE THAT AGAIN.WHACK.I will send you back home to GOD!” Rita beat her.
