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“You good?”

Pops’ voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked at him.

“Yeah.”

He didn’t say anything right away. His eyes just stayed on me. I knew that look.

“You sure?” he asked.

“I’m sure.”

He still didn’t look convinced, and I knew if I stood there long enough, he was going to start digging. I glanced down at my brother before carefully shifting him in my arms.

“You get your hip checked?” I asked to take the heat off me.

Pops’ expression changed immediately. Good, I thought. My question did exactly what it was supposed to.

“No,” he said flatly.

“Thank you,” Ma said as she looked at me before turning her attention to Pops. “I’ve been telling you to get it checked.”

“I’m fine,” he said with an attitude.

“You fell hard,” I said, adding fuel to the flame.

Pops stared at me for a second.

“I bet it’s hurting,” I added.

Every time he’d shifted in that wheelchair since last night, there had been a slight tightness in his face. He could pretend nobody noticed if he wanted to, but that didn’t make it true. Ma reached over and rested her hand on his arm.

“Malik, please let them look at it.”

Pops’ eyes moved to her.

“I don’t want to leave y’all yet.”

The room went quiet. There wasn’t any irritation in his voice that time. It was just filled with honesty. I looked down at my brother. Ma squeezed his arm.

“We’re okay.”

“I know.”

“Then go make sure you’re okay too.”

He glanced toward the baby in my arms.

“I’ll stay with them,” I said.

Pops looked at me, and something in his expression shifted. It was small, but I saw it. For once, I wasn’t asking him to stay and take care of something. I was telling him I had it. After a moment, he nodded.

“Aight.”

“Thank you,” Ma said with a smile.

I looked down at my brother one more time before carefully giving him back. Pops took him and settled him against his chest. One of his hands spread across his little back. My phone vibrated. I reached into my pocket.

Penelope: They got the plate.