“Look, whatever, boy. Don’t be surprised if you pull up, and I aint here,” I grumbled, as I scooted out of bed.
“You tripping. I’ma call my daddy and see what he got shaking. Cause you aint moving, if he aint. So, that’ll tell me everything that I need to know.”
“Your daddy?” I chided. “That nigga aint the boss of me.”
“Mama, nobody said all that. But you don’t spend your Sundays away from him.” He pointed out.
“You don’t know—” I was cut off by my line once again clicking.
Glancing at the screen, I realized that Jhyrah had hung up, and now JJ was calling.
“Junior, let me see what your brother wants,” I told Little Jahrein.
“Okay. We’ll be over there in a minute,” he claimed.
Not bothering to respond, I clicked over. “Hello?”
“Hey, mama, you up?” JJ questioned.
“I wasn’t trying to be,” I groaned. “But what’s up?”
“Let me guess, your kids have already been calling,” he chuckled.
“You know it.”
“I figured that. But I can’t even blame them. I been thinking about that food you cooked last Sunday, all week. So, I definitely need a plate today.”
“But who said that I was cooking?” I asked, as I stepped into my spacious bathroom, while my voice bounced off the walls.
“Aw, come on, mama. Don’t be like that.”
“Boy, bye.” I pursed my lips. “I aint got but one child left here, and Reagan don’t even be worried about me cooking. She’d rather go to brunch.”
“Mannn,” he drawled. “That’s because she don’t know no better.”
“Uh huh,” I absently uttered, while loading toothpaste onto my toothbrush. “I hear you,” I claimed, before brushing my tongue.
Once again, my line beeped. Checking out the screen, I saw that it was Naomi.
“JJ, why is your girlfriend calling me on the other line?”
He sighed. “Ion know. She been getting on my fuck—I mean, she been getting on my nerves.”
“And why is that?” I questioned, while brushing my teeth.
“Cause. She so insecure. I keep telling her that the internet is gonna be her downfall.”
“Is it the internet, or the shit that you do that makes it to the internet?”
He lightly chuckled. “Same difference.”
I shook my head, recognizing the bullshit. Out of all the kids, JJ often exhibited the traits that Jahrein had when he was steeped in toxicity. The slick womanizer, who thought that he ruled the world. And that stemmed from the fact that JJ didn’t just carry what we’d instilled in him, but also what he’d witnessed prior to living with us.
Flat out, Tyra’s side of the family were comprised of losers and hood rats, who had taught JJ plenty during his adolescence. Unfortunately, I didn’t come to terms with accepting him, until he was old enough to understand plenty. Then even after he moved in with us, we didn’t immediately shift into parental guidance. Some healing had to happen first, and we all had to get used to each other, which meant that he was naturally closer to his mama’s side for a long while. Gradually, things fell into place. And although me and Jahrein tried to show him healthier ways to navigate through life…he was his mother’s son. So, he was stubborn, and always had to learn shit the hard way. So, in thisseason, I could honestly say that JJ had no business trying to be anybody’s boyfriend, but he wouldn’t listen. Therefore, he’d gotten with the beautiful, suburban raised Naomi, and had knocked her up, back-to-back with babies, but still wanted to run around like he was single.
With me understanding Naomi’s plight, I would often listen to and advise her, as she dealt with my son. But…I always stopped short of just telling her to leave his ass and never look back…because JJ did love her…and I wasn’t super sure of where his mental state would go, if she ever left. Because JJ battled with depression, and had been diagnosed as bipolar. Which I believe was inherited from Tyra. So, as whorish as he was, he also had this obsessive nature when it came to Naomi, probably worse than how Jahrein stalked me.
“JJ, you know that I don’t find that sh’it funny,” I lectured. “Cause you’d be looking crazy if that girl decided to leave your ass. Them two kids won’t stop shit.”
