2003
“Mommy, when you have the baby can we all go to Astros World?” Jhyrah asked me.
Jahrein Junior, Jahrae, Jhyrah, and Jahreiah were all playing in the park. Jahreiah, my new baby, was just seven months old and was about to be an older sister. I became pregnant again before my baby girl was even six weeks old. I swear that nigga Jahrein was trying to set some kind of world record. Let him tell it, the pussy was just too good to wait it out for six weeks.
All my days were spent changing shitty diapers and whatnot. Jahrein couldn’t have been more content. He was already making plans to move us again. We’d moved just a year ago from our first home. Now he wanted us in a larger home to accommodate our forever growing family. Graduating from ounces to kilos could do that for you. The four bedroom house that we were living in just wasn’t big enough. Thankfully, we knew this smoker with A1 credit, so she would get everything in her name. After she’d purchased things in her name, we’d get her to add our names to the paper work. We had to have somebody to help us upgrade the whips. Hell, I couldn’t even drive my Benz SUV when I had all four of my children because it couldn’t seat all of those damn car seats. So, I had to roll out in his Escalade.
Money wasn’t a thing for us. Anything I wanted he got it for me. There was never a too large of a request. He’d upgraded my wedding ring three times. He didn’t even like for me to wear it when we visited family in the hood. Shopping sprees and exotic trips was a habitual thing for us.
Yeah, on the outside looking in you’d think that I had it all. But sometimes I swore that I would trade all this shit in a heartbeat.
“Mommy, look!” Junior yelled from the monkey bars. He was five years old and was like his daddy in every way. They were both bossy and wanted all of my attention. Junior didn’t resemble me at all. He was all Jahrein Sr. In fact, the only child that did sort of favor me was Jhyrah. She at least had my dimples but that’s where the similarities ended. Jahrein had some strong ass genes.
Jahrein had even trained my boys. Other men couldn’t even come near me. Jahrein Junior was quick to say, “I’m going to tell my daddy.” And his little ass would mean it too. My children idolized their father and in their eyes he could do no wrong.
I could rarely be alone with my thoughts on most days. There was always something that needed my attention. Like right then, Rae, the three year old was pulling Yah-Yah’s hair. “Jahrae, let your sister’s hair go before I beat your ass.” I threatened, knowing that I wasn’t.
“Rae, stop it. I’m going to tell daddy.” Junior told his younger brother.
Immediately, Rae released his grip. I didn’t understand how the mention of his father could make him stop dead in his tracks.
Jahrein was over at the basketball court getting his hoop on. I was keeping an eye on our bad ass children. All of his boys, including Amir’s fine ass, and their women were there at the park as well. Some were there watching their kids play on the playground but most were observing the men play basketball. I preferred watching them play basketball myself, but that wasn’t possible. I always had my hands full. That was the story of my life.
“Raven, when is that baby due?” Tony’s girlfriend, Tameka, asked. She was one of the few chicks that I actually got along with as far as Jahrein’s friends’ girls went. She was a pretty girl with a nice shape. She reminded me of that girl that used to play Zaria on that Robert Townsend show calledParent Hood. I think her name was Raven too. If I’m keeping it real, I think that the fact that she wasn’t intimidated or jealous of me is what made me like her. She had enough confidence in herself to not feel threatened by me or any other broad.
“Oh, I have three more months.” I told her.
“I know you’ll be glad, huh?”
“Girl, will I? I’m so tired of being pregnant.” I sighed.
“Well, at least you look good. Pregnancy suits you.” She giggled. “That nigga Jah’s keeping that belly swollen.”
“That’s alright because I’ma get my tubes tied on his ass.”
“Girl, you will have three more kids before that happens.” she chuckled.
“No ma’am.” I laughed.
I stood up to stretch my legs.
“Damn, bitch. Look at that ass you’re carrying around. No wonder Jahrein keep you so close.” she commented.
I just shook my head at her. I was wearing a green and white Boston Celtics jersey dress with some Melissa’s. My hair was pulled up into a ponytail. I felt plain.
“Could you keep an eye on them while I walk to the court?” I asked her as I held Jahreiah on my hip.
“Sure, go ahead.” she nodded. “Go check on our men, girl. I can see some fishy shit from here.” she squinted, trying to see what was going on at the basketball court.
As I cut across the grass to the court I noticed that there were extra chicks hanging around. There were about ten dudes playing ball and about sixteen or seventeen hoes hanging there. When I stepped on the court I caught about two skimpily dressed chicks mugging me. One of the light skinned broads looked awfully familiar. I openly stared. That’s when it hit me.
The one in the short ass shorts was the same chick that gave Jahrein some napkins at the mall when I hit him in the nose. That was way back, but I knew that it was definitely her.Andshe was the pregnant bitch from the salon beefing a couple years back. I don’t know how I didn’t realize who she was the first time. Maybe it was because her pregnancy had altered her look a bit. Now she resembled Melissa a lot, but she was thicker. She had a nice ass on her too, but mine was bigger. She was rocking honey blonde and auburn freestyle braids like Beyonce. Her swag was okay, but if that’s what she called bringing her A game then I had to give her a C minus.
After my little stare down with the two chicks I focused on my man. Jahrein was playing ball with his shirt off. Over the years my baby had become an Adonis. He had so many ripples and cuts in his chest. Those bowlegs were so strong. His body was glistening with sweat. He was tatted up with my and our kids’ names all over him. He actually had my name twice; one was on his hand and the other on his chest right near his heart. Just watching him made my clit tingle a bit.
Jah was double crossing those niggas left and right.
He glanced over his shoulder and spotted me. “This for you, Jahreiah.” he winked at us as he made a basket.
